Section : Seats

Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

Posted By : Tony Hall, 04-Jun-2007, 06:00pm

• Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

  Posted By : Charles Bushell, 04-Jun-2007, 06:51pm

  Since you obviously can't fit 3 point belts with the hood in the way, it might be worth looking at "Isofix" mountings which seem to be just hooks strategically place behind the seat?

  
  
  Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

  • Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

    Posted By : Tom Longley, 04-Jun-2007, 07:36pm

    Charles, I'm sure it would be possible to fit these type of fixings but unless I'm missing the point, you would only be able to fit them relatively low down, in a position similar to that for a lap belt, which might be fine for child-seats depending on the model, but it won't address the issue of an upper mounting point if you were ever intending to fit the more preferable three-point belt.
    
    Much has been written about the topic of rear seatbelts on this site which I think is on the Vitesse Message Board. Someone was talking about getting a steel frame built that could be bolted to the car that would provide appropriate mounting points for three-point belts. Does anyone know if there's been any progress on this?
    
    Regards,
    
    Tom

• Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

  Posted By : Susan Hare, 04-Jun-2007, 09:36pm

  We have fitted a lapbelt in the middle of the back seat in our 13/60. Our daughter is 17 months old and we use a Britax carseat as these can be used with 3 point and/or lapbelts.
  
  This has been drilled through the box section that hides the diff and strengthened with an additional steel plate behind it.
  
  Regards, Ron

  • Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

    Posted By : Simon Forsdyke, 06-Jun-2007, 12:48pm

    I was concerned about using lapbelts in my Herald and have created a frame made of 30mm square section which bolts onto the rear wheelarches, two ponts on the floor and the top of the rear seat frame. The 'top' belt fixing bolts to the frame and over the back of the seat where the frame provides additional strength to prevent the seat frame collapsing in any crash.
    My design is bound to be controversial and it is in no way tested but it does provide a stronger mounting plus allows for the hood to be closed without fouling.
    I have attached the design.

    
    
    Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

    • Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

      Posted By : Mike Crewes, 06-Jun-2007, 02:24pm

      Simon
      
      Thanks for your work in this department, I often get questions through Cop Shop on how to do this. However, the Club Shop is currently researching a simpler DIY kit to allow owners to fit inertia reel seat belts in the rear of Herald chassis cars. We have yet to complete the testing and I cannot give any details, because the manufacturer is likely to apply for a patent, but if we are able to build the kits we are researching, it will be a very simple thing to fit.
      
      If we can acheive this it will be another unique product available only through the Club Shop. Watch this space!
      
      Regards
      Mike

      • Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

        Posted By : Simon Forsdyke, 06-Jun-2007, 03:53pm

        This is what the frame looks like before painting and some of the mounting holes drilled:

        
        
        Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

        • Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

          Posted By : Tom Longley, 07-Jun-2007, 01:58pm

          Simon, it looks like you've done a very nice job with your rear seatbelt frame. I am surprised you haven't had enquiries from others requesting similar frames for their cars.
          
          It would be good to see a photo of the frame being fitted to the car (it wasn't entirely clear to me exactly how it fits to the vehicle but I get the general idea).
          
          In case you're interested, I attach a photo of my own rear seatbelt frame that I have made for my Vitesse; it differs to yours in that mine attaches to a rollover bar that I fitted to the car some time ago. The frame fits forward of the hood-well so allowing the hood to be folded down in the normal way. All I have to do now is find a good upholsterer.....
          
          Regards,
          
          Tom

          
          
          Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

          • Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

            Posted By : Simon Forsdyke, 08-Jun-2007, 08:08am

            Tom
            That looks to be a seriously strong frame. How are you planning to fit the seat back? Really neat way of using inertia belts. Mine just uses fixed belts.
            I did have some pictures of mine but was incredibly difficult to get any decent ones. I will try to add some later.
            Mine effectively fits hard against the back of the seat. Either end of the long bar bolts through the top of the inner wheelarches.
            The 'cranked' pieces sticking towards you on the photo sit on the rear axle tunnel and bolt through to secure it.
            The top fixing (with captive nuts) rests hard against the top rail on the seat and are bolted to the rail. There is also a fixing through the existing rear seat uprights (to horizontal bar) to give an additional fixing.
            All the fixings allow for the seat back to be replaced without any modding. Infact in practice, other than the top fixings which can be seen, the whole thing is largely invisible.
            The actual belt fixing is to the horizontal bar with the belt feeding over the back of the seat across the strengthened point on the top rail. I did topy with the idea of putting some kind of belt retainers on the top rail but didnt really see the need plus I thought it looks neater with the hood cover fitted.
            I am happy for people to use my design but take no responsibility over safety.

            • Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

              Posted By : Simon Forsdyke, 08-Jun-2007, 10:04am

              This picture should make things a little clearer. It was taken looking down into the LH hood stowage area behind the seat. The lettering refers to:
              
              A = fixing through wheel arch (10mm)
              B = fixing through axle tunnel (10mm)
              C = seatbelt fixing through bar (10mm). The actual belt then goes over the top of the seat. Other belt bolt points are as per lapbelt fixing positions.
              D = fixing to seat upright (10mm) - bolt head does not interfere with seat
              E = fixing to seat rail (8mm) - bolts through from behind seat. Again the seat back should fit okay afterwards.
              
              Simon

              
              
              Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

              • Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

                Posted By : Tom Longley, 08-Jun-2007, 02:03pm

                Hi Simon,
                
                Thanks for posting a photograph and writing a description of the frame; it makes it entirely clear how it fits. It all looks very neat and it appears to have minimum impact on the hood-well.
                
                I would have only one comment/observation, IMHO I think it would be a good idea to include a "guide", fixed to the highest point of the frame, for the seatbelt to go through. This would avoid any reliance on the rather flimsy seat back and ensure that the frame takes the force of the person...... You did mention this in your previous posting: "I did toy with the idea of putting some kind of belt retainers on the top rail". I think it would be quite a straighforward mod to do. I used standard shoulder-level guide mounted upside down, which I think is visble in my photo.
                
                Regards,
                
                Tom
                
                

                • Child Seats & Rear Seatbelts - Herald Convertible

                  Posted By : Simon Forsdyke, 08-Jun-2007, 09:00pm

                  Tom
                  When the kids are in the back, the belt goes over the top of the seat frame where I have strenthened it with the re-enforced uprights bolted to the top of the frame. I reckon this will be okay as it would need a tremendous collision for the frame to bend now it is connected to the new uprights. Even with the 'loops', the force would in theory still pull on the frame.
                  That is the trouble with our designs, we dont have the luxury of testing with crash test dummies etc to be sure what will happen.
                  Best just to drive carefully to be sure I guess.