Static analysis of harness fit in forward - facing child restraints

Análise estática do posicionamento do sistema de cinco pontos em dispositivos de retenção infantil Abstract The present study examines several important contributors to appropriate child restraint systems (CRS), including harness routing (chest and lap straps) and the location of important protective components. Three forward-facing CRS equipped with five-point harnesses were evaluated in a laboratory vehicle mockup using the Hybrid-III three-year-old crash dummy. CRS elements and landmarks on the dummy were recorded using a three-dimensional coordinate digitizer (FaroArm). It was analyzed some important CRS components to the security of children in an impact. Results showed that harness routes and the lateral head frame varied widely among the CRS. Variation in harness slot position produced differences in fit at the shoulders and chest. Lap straps on one CRS routed the straps onto the dummy’s abdomen rather than the preferred pelvis position. The CRS lateral supports for head also varied relative to the dummy head center of gravity indicating that, in some cases, the head may not be laterally protected and move through a wide range in a car lateral impact which might cause injury. The results of this study suggest that the design of CRS still fail to fit all anatomical differences in the age range it is designed for.