Mesa Police Department Traffic Section
Dictionary of Child Safety Seat Terms
2-Point Seat Belt: A restraint
system with two attachment points. A lap belt.
3-Point Child Restraint Harness (CR)
Harness: A restraint system with three attachment points, two at the
shoulder and one between the legs.
3-Point Seat Belt: A seat belt
with both a lap and a shoulder portion, having three attachment points (one
shoulder, two hips).
5-Point Child Restraint (CR) Harness:
A child restraint harness with five attachment points, two at the shoulder, two
at the hips, one between the legs.
Advanced Air Bags: Supplemental
restraint systems with deployment adjustments to better protect children and
improperly positioned adults.
Air Bag: A passive (idle)
restraint system that automatically deploys during a crash to act as a cushion
for the occupant. It creates a broad surface on which to spread the forces of
the crash, to reduce head and chest injury. It is considered “supplementary”
to the lap/shoulder belts because it enhances the protection the belt system
offers in frontal crashes. Also known as SRS - supplemental restraint system;
SIR - supplemental inflatable restraint; SIPS - side impact protection system;
IC - inflatable curtain; SIAB - side impact air bag)
Armrest (child seat): A U-shaped
bar encircling the child on older models of child restraints; not connected to
the shoulder straps and not part of the system intended to restrain the child.
Not a shield. No longer allowed on child restraints meeting FMVSS No. 213
(Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard).
Armrest (vehicle): Found in the
middle of the back seat of some vehicles. These usually pull down from the top
of the vehicle seat back cushion. Some child seat manufacturers recommend
against placing a rear facing child seat in a seating position which has a pull
down armrest.
Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR):
A safety belt retractor that locks maintaining a fixed seat belt (lap belt)
length during use. Good for child seat installation.
Automatic Restraint: Passive
restraint that requires no action by the user; (e.g., shoulder or lap/shoulder
belts that automatically wrap around the occupant; air bags).
Base (of a child seat): The base
of a child seat is the lower portion that rests on the vehicle seat. A
detachable base that comes with many infant seats is used to permit a fixed
installation into the vehicle allowing the chilc seat to be taken in and out of
the vehicle without having to do a new installation each time.
Belt Anchor Points: Fixed
locations where the safety belt's latchplate and buckle are anchored to the
vehicle structure.
Belt Path/Route: The
manufacturer's required place where the safety belt passes around or through the
child restraint.
Belt-Positioning Booster Seat (BPB):
A platform that raises the child (provides a taller sitting height) so adult lap
and shoulder belts fit better; some have high backs as well. Never use with a
lap belt only across the child.
Belt-Shortening
Clip or Heavy Duty Locking Clip: A heavy duty locking clip intended for
use to shorten lap belts which have emergency locking retractors (ELRs) for use
with a child restraint. Not to be confused with a standard locking clip. Heavy
duty locking clips can only be obtained through a vehicle manufacturer.
Belt
Webbing: A term used to refer to the vehicle seat belt material.
Booster
Seats: Are intended to be used as a transition to lap and shoulder
belts by older children who have outgrown convertible seats (over 40 pounds).
They are available in high backs, for use in vehicles with low seat backs or no
head restraints, and no-back; booster bases only.
Buckle:
The locking mechanism of the vehicle belt and child safety seat buckle/latchplate
system. Buckles are typically mounted/attached to fabric webbing and/or by metal
or plastic stalks.
Car Seat:
Common term for a specially designed device that secures a child in a motor
vehicle, meets federal safety standards, and increases child safety in a crash.
Chest Clip:
The chect clip is the device on the harness straps of the child safety seats
used to position the straps properly on the child.
Child
Safety Seat/Child Restraint: A crash tested device that is specially
designed to provide infant/child crash protection. A general term for all sorts
of devices including those that are vests or car beds rather than seats.
Children
With Special Transportation Needs: Children whose physical, medical, or
behavioral condition makes the use of particular, often specially-designed,
restraints necessary.
Cinching
Latchplate: (also known as lightweight locking latchplate) Found on
some continuous loop lap and shoulder belts. A latchplate which has a sliding
lock/cinch feature intended to keep the vehicle belt at a fixed length for child
seat installation.
Combination
Child Seat/BPB: A type of forward facing child restraint that is used
with an internal harness system to secure a child up to 40 pounds and then, with
the removal of the internal harness, is used as a high back belt positioning
booster (BPB) seat.
Combination
(Switchable) ELR/ALR Retractor: A safety belt retractor that can be
operated in the emergency locking mode for adults and switched to the automatic
locking mode for use with a child safety seat.
Compliance
Tests: Rigorous crash and static testing done to assure that
manufacturers meet required federal standards (in this case, FMVSS 213).
Performance requirements established by National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA).
Continuous-Loop
Lap/Shoulder Belt: A three-point belt that uses one continuous piece of
webbing, that slides through a latch plate. It is connected at one end to the
vehicle at the anchor point and the other to a retractor system.
Convertible
Child Safety Seat/Restraint: A child restraint that can be used in more
than one mode; usually rear-facing for infants and forward-facing for toddlers.
CPS:
Child Passenger Safety.
Emergency
Locking Retractor (ELR): Allows the belt to move freely, locks only
when the vehicle or occupant slows quickly/abruptly or stops suddenly. Will not
secure a child safety seat. An ELR may be switchable, converting from an
emergency locking to automatic locking system.
Fixed
Latchplate: Latchplate is permanently sewn/attached to the lap belt to
or the combination lap and shoulder belt.
FMVSS 213:
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard that pertains to all restraint systems
intended for use as crash protection in vehicles for children up to 50 pounds.
FMVSS No.
225: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard that pertains to the
standardized vehicle anchorage systems for child safety seats (upper and lower)
that are independent of the vehicle seat belts.
Foam
Noodle: This is a is a foam rod or tube about 4-5 inches in diameter
and five feet long; these are found in pool and toy stores. Cut off a piece the
width of the child seat base and use to raise the base of the seat to obtain a
45 degree angle. A rolled up towel or newspapers, etc., serve the same purpose.
Forward-Facing
Child Restraint: A restraint that is intended for use only in the
forward-facing position for a child at least age one and at least 20 pounds up
to 40 pounds.
Free
Sliding Latchplate: Type of latch plate that has no lock feature to
securely position the latchplate along the belt webbing. The latchplate
“freely” slides along the belt. This type of system must have a locking
retractor to keep the belt at a fixed length for child seat installation or it
must be used with a regular locking clip.
Frontal Air
Bag: A frontal air bag is one installed in the dashboard.
Harness
Retainer Clip: A plastic tie or clasp that holds the two shoulder
straps close together over the child's chest at armpit level; intended to keep
harness straps in position on the shoulders. Used for pre-crash positioning.
Harness
Strap: This refers to the child seat straps used to secure the child
into the safety seat.
Harness
Threading: Harness straps should be in lowest slots for rear facing
infants (at or below shoulder level); in top slots for forward facing use (at or
above shoulder level). Always refer to the child seat manufacturers instructions
for proper location.
Heavy Duty Locking Clip (HDLC) or Belt
Shortening Clip: A flat, H-shaped metal clip, intended for shortening a
lap belt with an emergency locking retractor so it will secure a child
restraint. Can also be used to prevent webbing from sliding through a sliding
latch plate. Heavy Duty Locking Clips can only be obtained from a vehicle
manufacturer.
Infant-Only Restraint: A restraint
designed for use only by a baby (usually weighing less than 17-22 pounds) in a
semi-reclined, rear-facing position.
Integral/Integrated Child Seat: A
child-sized, forward facing restraint or belt-positioning booster built into a
vehicle seat. Some have a full harness and hold children over 20 pounds; others
are belt-positioning boosters for use with the adult lap and shoulder belts.
Lap Belt: A safety belt anchored
at two points, for use across the occupant's thighs/hips.
Lap/Shoulder Belt: A safety belt
that is anchored at three points and restrains the occupant at the hips and
across the shoulder; also called a “combination belt”.
LATCH: Lower Anchors
and Tethers for CHildren (new acronym for
standardized vehicle anchorage system).
Latchplate: The part of the buckle
mechanism that slides into the buckle; usually the part that affects the length
of the belt. Switchable latchplates have a lock button to allow the seatbelt to
be locked around the child safety seat.
Locking Clip: A flat H-shaped
metal clip intended to fasten together belt webbing (lap and shoulder portion)
at a sliding latch plate, to prevent the webbing from sliding through. Typically
the clip which comes attached with most child safety seats. Should be fastened
just above the latch plate. Cannot be used in place of a Heavy Duty Locking
Clip.
Locking Latchplate: A latch plate
that holds the lap belt snug after it has been adjusted. Type of latchplate that
contains a metal bar on the underside of the hardware that “locks” the belt
in position.
Lower Anchorage System: New method
to affix Child Restraint System (CRS) to vehicles independent of the vehicle
seat belts.
Manual Seat Belt: A seat belt that
must be fastened and adjusted by the occupant, often found in the rear center
seating position.
Model Year (MY): Date of
manufacture of either a vehicle or a child restraint system.
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA): The federal agency that sets performance
requirements for motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle equipment such as
child restraints.
Overhead Shield: See “Tray
Shield”.
Passenger-Air Bag: An air bag that
is in the right front part of the passenger compartment. It is larger than the
driver bag and would restrain either center or right-front occupants. Air bags
are a supplement to the use of seat belts and designed to protect adult
occupants in frontal crashes.
Rear-Facing Infant Seat: Type of
child restraint system that is specifically meant for use by children from birth
up to approximately 20 pounds used in the rear-facing mode only.
Retractor: A mechanism that rolls
up the unused webbing of the safety belt when it is not in use and takes up
slack around the user.
Seat Belt: The webbing, anchor and
buckle system that restrains the occupant and/or child safety seat in the
vehicle.
Seat Belt Positioning Devices:
These are products marketed and sold to adjust the vehicle seat belt to fit a
child. There are no federal safety standards for these products. NHTSA
recommends the use of child safety seats and booster seats instead of these
products.
Seat Bight/Seat Crack: The
intersection between the bottom vehicle seat cushion and the back cushion.
Sewn-On Latchplate or Fixed Latchplate:
Latch plate is permanently sewn to the lap or lap and shoulder belt.
Shell: The molded plastic
structure of the child restraint. In some models, the shell is attached to or
reinforced by a metal bar or frame.
Shield Booster Seat: A platform
that raises the child and positions a small convex shield across the lap and
lower abdomen to restrain the child. A vehicle lap belt restrains the booster
seat. Some models have removable shields and covert to a belt-position booster
seat (BPB).
Shoulder Belt Positioners or Comfort
Guides: Devices (some built in and some add-ons) that can be used to
reposition shoulder belts so they fit across the shoulder rather than across the
neck. Aftermarket belt positioners are not currently tested by NHTSA.
Shoulder Harness Slots: Slots in
the back of the child restraint through which the shoulder straps are routed.
Side Impact Air Bags: Provide
additional chest protection to adults in many side crashes. Children who are
seated in close proximity to a side air bag may be at risk of serious or fatal
injury if the air bag deploys. Check with the vehicle dealer or vehicle owner's
manual for information about danger to children.
Sliding Latchplate: A latchplate
that moves freely on a continuous loop of vehicle belt webbing.
Stroller System: A combination of
child safety seat and stroller frame/wheels allowing the child safety seat to be
removed from the vehicle and attached to the stoller frame for stoller usage.
Switchable Retractor (ELR/ALR):
Are designed for adults to use the emergency locking retractor (ELR) and
children in safety seats to use the automatic locking retractor (ALR). Check the
vehicle belt for a label describing the switchable function in addition to the
information provided in the vehicle owners manual. Some convert from ELR to ALR
by pulling the belt all the way out of the retractor, as it rewinds, it should
lock and hold at the appropriate length.
T-Shield: Part of a restraint
system in a child safety seat; a roughly triangular or “T” shaped pad that
is attached to the shoulder harness straps, fits over the child's abdomen and
hips and buckles between the legs.
Tether Anchor: Attachment point in
vehicle for child safety seat tether strap. Refer to vehicle owner's manual
regarding anchor location.
Tether Strap: An additional belt
that anchors the child safety seat top to the vehicle frame; keeps the restraint
from tipping forward on impact; can provide an extra margin of protection. Can
be optional or factory installed. A tether strap is typically available on most
child safety seats manufactured after September 1, 1999.
Tilt-lock tether strap adjuster:
Tether can be tightened or loosened after installation in the vehicle without
unhooking or re-threading the strap.
Tray Shield: Part of a restraint
system in a child safety seat; a wide, padded surface that swings down in front
of the child's body, attached to shoulder straps and crotch buckle. Looks like a
padded armrest, but is an integral part of the harness system.
Vest: A child
restraint system that has shoulder straps, hip straps (and sometimes) a crotch
strap. Can be specially made to order according to a child's chest measurement,
etc. Must be used along with the vehicle belt system.
Whiplash Injury: An
injury to the neck usually caused by sudden whipping of the head backward during
a rear impact collision.
(Compiled from NHTSA
Sources)
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