New Child Car Seat Buckle Tests Reassure Consumers

A Lloyd Instruments product story

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team May 30, 2003

Britax, a leading high street supplier of child car seats, has chosen the LFPlus affordable, low force testing machine from Lloyd Instruments to check release mechanisms on its child car seat buckles.

For years, Britax relied heavily on conventional force gauges to test car seat buckles.

With strict Euro NCAP standards gaining wider acceptance with consumers and vehicle manufacturers alike, a more accurate and reliable testing solution was required.

Britax selected the Lloyd Instruments' LFPlus due to its high specification, value for money, versatility, and accompanying service expertise.

The buckles are currently being tested to meet ECER44.03 European standards.

Britax was first attracted by the modular nature of the LFPlus, which allows users to choose various options in the final design.

Unlike other low force machines, this machine also features a generous working area to test larger than average sized samples.

It comes with a 1kN (225lbf) force capacity and accepts XLC Series loadcells or CHATILLON digital force gauges as the load measuring device.

Britax took advantage of the machine's versatility and designed their own grips for child car seat buckles.

Lloyd Instruments also supply a wide range of grips and fixtures.

Britax is particularly interested in two testing conditions.

The first one measures the peak forces of the seat button in a relaxed state, to prevent accidental release of the buckle.

The second measures the button in a 'loaded' state, so the buckle has sufficient restraining strength yet is not too difficult to open if a passenger has become trapped.

For additional control, Britax is using the new Lloyd Instruments' NEXYGEN_ MT V4.5 software, with its vast library of international standard test set-ups.

New features on this comprehensive upgraded version include strict multi-level user security and audit trails for full traceability of data, video capture and playback of 'live' tests for training and additional analysis, integrated LabVIEW industry platform drivers and more.