Locking harness

Abstract

A retainer apparatus including a first retainer portion, a second retainer portion, and a sensor comprising a motion detector and an alarm. The retainer apparatus includes the first retainer portion configured to be slidably attached to a first harness strap and a second retainer portion configured to be slidably attached to a second harness strap. The first retainer portion is removably attached to the second retainer portion. The motion detector is configured to detect movement of the retainer apparatus and activate the alarm to alert a user in a vehicle if movement of the retainer apparatus is detected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retainer system comprising:
 a first retainer apparatus comprising: a first retainer portion configured to be slidably attached to a first adjustable harness strap of a car seat, a second retainer portion removably attached to said first retainer portion and configured to be slidably attached to a second adjustable harness strap of the car seat, a first transceiver, a first sensor comprising a first motion detector, and a first braking mechanism configured to resist movement of said first retainer portion and said second retainer portion along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap, wherein said first motion detector is configured to detect first movement of said first retainer apparatus, wherein said first motion detector is configured to transmit a warning signal, via said first transceiver, to a controller within a vehicle comprising said first retainer apparatus to alert a user in said vehicle if said first movement of said first retainer apparatus is detected, wherein said first braking mechanism comprises a first braking device comprising first braking portions configured for locking together thereby contacting opposite surfaces of said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap for applying resistance to said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap to hold at least one of said first retainer portion and said second retainer portion in a first stationary position along at least one of said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap, wherein said first braking mechanism further comprises a first locking portion configured to apply first mechanical pressure and lock said first braking portions of said braking device, and wherein said first transceiver, said first sensor, and said first braking mechanism are contained within at least one of said first retainer portion and said second retainer portion; and   a second retainer apparatus comprising: a third retainer portion configured to be slidably attached to said first adjustable harness strap, a fourth retainer portion removably attached to said third retainer portion and configured to be slidably attached to said second adjustable harness strap, a second transceiver, a second sensor comprising a second motion detector, and a second braking mechanism configured to resist additional movement of said third retainer portion and said fourth retainer portion along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap, wherein said second motion detector is configured to detect second movement of said second retainer apparatus, wherein said second motion detector is configured to transmit a warning signal, via said second transceiver, to said controller within said vehicle comprising said second retainer apparatus to alert said user in said vehicle if said second movement of said second retainer apparatus is detected, wherein said second braking mechanism comprises a second braking device comprising second braking portions configured for locking together thereby contacting said opposite surfaces of said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap for applying resistance to said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap to hold at least one of said third retainer portion and said fourth retainer portion in a second stationary position along at least one of said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap, wherein said second braking mechanism further comprises a second locking portion configured to apply second mechanical pressure and lock said second braking portions of said second braking device, and wherein said second transceiver, said second sensor, and said second braking mechanism are contained within at least one of said third retainer portion and said fourth retainer portion.   
     
     
         2 . The retainer system of  claim 1 , wherein said first movement comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in a first vertical direction extending from lower attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively, wherein said first movement further comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in a second vertical direction extending from first upper attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively, wherein said second movement comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in said first vertical direction extending from said lower attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively, and wherein said second movement further comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in said second vertical direction extending from said first upper attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The retainer system of  claim 2 , wherein said first movement further comprises said first retainer portion being disconnected from said second retainer portion, and wherein said second movement further comprises said third retainer portion being disconnected from said fourth retainer portion. 
     
     
         4 . The retainer system of  claim 2 , wherein said first vertical direction comprises an opposite direction from said second vertical direction. 
     
     
         5 . The retainer system of  claim 1 , wherein said first movement comprises said first retainer portion being disconnected from said second retainer portion, and wherein said second movement comprises said third retainer portion being disconnected from said fourth retainer portion. 
     
     
         6 . The retainer system of  claim 1 , wherein said first movement comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in a first vertical direction extending from lower attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively, wherein said first movement further comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in a second vertical direction extending from first upper attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively, and wherein said second movement comprises said third retainer portion being disconnected from said fourth retainer portion. 
     
     
         7 . The retainer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said braking mechanism further comprises a magnetic structure configured to apply said first mechanical pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The retainer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said braking mechanism further comprises an electro/mechanical device configured to apply said first mechanical pressure. 
     
     
         9 . The retainer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first retainer apparatus further comprises an electrical motor and a signal receiving device, wherein said electrical motor is configured to slidably move said first retainer apparatus along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap, wherein said signal receiving device is configured to receive a control signal from a control device, and wherein said control signal is configured to command said electrical motor to slidably move said first retainer apparatus along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap 
     
     
         10 . A car seat apparatus comprising:
 a first adjustable harness strap;   a second adjustable harness strap;   a first retainer apparatus comprising: a first retainer portion slidably attached to said first adjustable harness strap of a car seat, a second retainer portion removably attached to said first retainer portion and slidably attached to said second adjustable harness strap of the car seat, a first transceiver, a first sensor comprising a first motion detector, and a first braking mechanism configured to resist movement of said first retainer portion and said second retainer portion along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap, wherein said first motion detector is configured to detect first movement of said first retainer apparatus, wherein said first motion detector is configured to transmit a warning signal, via said first transceiver, to a controller within a vehicle comprising said car seat apparatus to alert a user in said vehicle if said first movement of said first retainer apparatus is detected, wherein said first braking mechanism comprises a first braking device comprising first braking portions configured for locking together thereby contacting opposite surfaces of said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap for applying resistance to said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap to hold at least one of said first retainer portion and said second retainer portion in a first stationary position along at least one of said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap, wherein said first braking mechanism further comprises a first locking portion configured to apply first mechanical pressure and lock said first braking portions of said braking device, and wherein said first transceiver, said first sensor, and said first braking mechanism are contained within at least one of said first retainer portion and said second retainer portion;   a second retainer apparatus comprising: a third retainer portion slidably attached to said first adjustable harness strap, a fourth retainer portion removably attached to said third retainer portion and slidably attached to said second adjustable harness strap, a second transceiver, a second sensor comprising a second motion detector, and a second braking mechanism configured to resist additional movement of said third retainer portion and said fourth retainer portion along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap, wherein said second motion detector is configured to detect second movement of said second retainer apparatus, wherein said second motion detector is configured to transmit a warning signal, via said second transceiver, to said controller within said vehicle comprising said car seat apparatus to alert said user in said vehicle if said second movement of said second retainer apparatus is detected, wherein said second braking mechanism comprises a second braking device comprising second braking portions configured for locking together thereby contacting said opposite surfaces of said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap for applying resistance to said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap to hold at least one of said third retainer portion and said fourth retainer portion in a second stationary position along at least one of said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap, wherein said second braking mechanism further comprises a second locking portion configured to apply mechanical second pressure and lock said second braking portions of said second braking device, and wherein said second transceiver, said second sensor, and said second braking mechanism are contained within at least one of said third retainer portion and said fourth retainer portion; and   a car seat structure comprising a harness apparatus mechanically attached to said car seat, wherein said first retainer apparatus, said second retainer apparatus, said first adjustable harness strap, and said second adjustable harness strap are comprised by said harness apparatus, and wherein said harness apparatus is configured to restrain an occupant of said car seat apparatus and prevent said occupant from being ejected from said car seat apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . The car seat apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said first movement comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in a first vertical direction extending from lower attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively, and wherein said second movement further comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in a second vertical direction extending from first upper attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively 
     
     
         12 . The car seat apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said first movement further comprises said first retainer portion being disconnected from said second retainer portion, and wherein said second movement further comprises said third retainer portion being disconnected from said fourth retainer portion. 
     
     
         13 . The car seat apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said first vertical direction comprises an opposite direction from said second vertical direction. 
     
     
         14 . The car seat apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said first movement comprises said first retainer portion being disconnected from said second retainer portion, and wherein said second movement comprises said third retainer portion being disconnected from said fourth retainer portion. 
     
     
         15 . The car seat apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said first movement comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in a first vertical direction extending from lower attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively, wherein said first movement further comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in a second vertical direction extending from first upper attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively, and wherein said second movement comprises said third retainer portion being disconnected from said fourth retainer portion. 
     
     
         16 . A retainer system comprising:
 a first retainer apparatus comprising: a first retainer portion configured to be slidably attached to a first adjustable harness strap of a car seat, a second retainer portion removably attached to said first retainer portion and configured to be slidably attached to a second adjustable harness strap of the car seat, a first transceiver, and a first sensor comprising a first motion detector, wherein said first motion detector is configured to detect first movement of said first retainer apparatus, wherein said first motion detector is configured to transmit a warning signal, via said first transceiver, to a controller within a vehicle comprising said first retainer apparatus to alert a user in said vehicle if said first movement of said first retainer apparatus is detected, and wherein said first transceiver and said first sensor are contained within at least one of said first retainer portion and said second retainer portion; and   a second retainer apparatus comprising: a third retainer portion configured to be slidably attached to said first adjustable harness strap, a fourth retainer portion removably attached to said third retainer portion and configured to be slidably attached to said second adjustable harness strap, a second transceiver, and a second sensor comprising a second motion detector, wherein said second motion detector is configured to detect second movement of said second retainer apparatus, wherein said second motion detector is configured to transmit a warning signal, via said second transceiver, to said controller within said vehicle comprising said second retainer apparatus to alert said user in said vehicle if said second movement of said second retainer apparatus is detected, and wherein said second transceiver and said second sensor are contained within at least one of said third retainer portion and said fourth retainer portion.   
     
     
         17 . The retainer system of  claim 16 , wherein said first movement comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in a first vertical direction extending from lower attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively, wherein said first movement further comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in a second vertical direction extending from first upper attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively, wherein said second movement comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in said first vertical direction extending from said lower attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively, and wherein said second movement further comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in said second vertical direction extending from said first upper attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively. 
     
     
         18 . The retainer system of  claim 17 , wherein said first movement further comprises said first retainer portion being disconnected from said second retainer portion, and wherein said second movement further comprises said third retainer portion being disconnected from said fourth retainer portion. 
     
     
         19 . The retainer system of  claim 16 , wherein said first movement comprises said first retainer portion being disconnected from said second retainer portion, and wherein said second movement comprises said third retainer portion being disconnected from said fourth retainer portion. 
     
     
         20 . The retainer system of  claim 16 , wherein said first movement comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in a first vertical direction extending from lower attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively, wherein said first movement further comprises moving along said first adjustable harness strap and said second adjustable harness strap in a second vertical direction extending from first upper attachment points of said first adjustable harness strap to said car seat and of said second adjustable harness strap to said car seat respectively, and wherein said second movement comprises said third retainer portion being disconnected from said fourth retainer portion.