Patent ID: 7648199
Filing Date: 2010-01-19
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. An energy absorbing tether assembly for use with a child safety seat having a plastic shell with a seat bottom portion and a seat back portion, for restraining the child safety seat to a vehicle seat to which it is tethered by the tether assembly, the assembly comprising: (a) a first length of webbing for routing through an adjuster on a front side of the seat back of the shell; (b) a second length of webbing fixed to the adjuster; (c) a first web-retaining slide positioned on the first length of webbing and residing in a first recess surrounding a first slot in the seat back portion of the shell; (d) a second web-retaining slide positioned on the second length of webbing and residing in a second recess surrounding a second slot laterally spaced-apart from the first slot; (e) a first line of stitching extending through and forming a doubled, folded segment of the first length of webbing on the front side of the shell; (f) a second line of stitching extending through and forming a doubled, folded segment of the second length of webbing on the front side of the shell; (g) a hook attached to the webbing for tethering the child safety seat to the vehicle seat; and (h) the first and second lines of stitching on the respective first and second lengths of webbing adapted to break during a forward vehicle impact to increase the first and second lengths of webbing at a controlled rate as the first and second lines of stitching break to thereby reduce forces on the first and second lengths of webbing and on a safety seat occupant.