News

Expired CR Brands, Removed from the LATCH Manual

The following car seat brands have been out of business in the U.S. for many years and their CRs models are expired and should no longer be in use.  Therefore, we’ve removed these entries from the 2015 and newer LATCH Manuals.  For anyone interested in this information, however, we’ve posted it here:

Note: All products are now expired and should be replaced. By providing information in this entry, SRN does NOT suggest that these expired CRs should continue to be used.

LENOX

This company is no longer in business and has no forwarding address or telephone number.

This entry reflects company input for the 2005 LATCH Manual and review of product owner’s manuals. All products are now expired and should be replaced. By providing information in this entry, SRN does NOT suggest that these expired CRs should continue to be used.

TattleTale convertible—EXPIRED

Use from 5 to 33 pounds RF; 22 to 40 pounds FF. Sensors alert driver if child gets out of CR, if belt is not tight, if harness is unbuckled.

TattleTale combination—EXPIRED

Use from 22 to 40 pounds with harness; 40 to 80 pounds as BPB. Features same sensor as convertible when used in harness mode.

Lower Attachments

Design: Flexible lower attachment strap with push-on connectors and a push-button adjuster.
Tension sensor: CR has belt-tension sensor that the user slides onto the attached strap (on side without the adjuster) after connectors are attached. Sensor will indicate when strap is properly tightened.
RF/FF conversion: Connectors are “handed,” so the connectors must be routed through the belt path to the opposite sides to convert between RF and FF.
Center installation in a nonstandard LATCH position: Not allowed; install using lower attachments in standard LATCH positions only (11 inches apart).
Storage: Hook connectors to storage bars on sides or back of CR.

Tether Use

Design: Single strap with push-button adjuster.
Storage: Put unused strap in fabric pouch at back of CR.

Belt-Positioning Booster Use

BPB with LATCH: Do not use lower attachments or tether when the combination CR is used in BPB mode.


SAFETY ANGEL

This company’s website (www.safetyangel.com) is still up, but sales are discontinued.

This entry was approved by a representative of the former Safety Angel to support units that may still be in use. Safety Angel states the useful lifespan of the Kid Y Harness is six years.

Kid Y Harness

Harness for use from 40 to 80 pounds in a personal vehicle, or 30 to 100 pounds in a school bus.

Similar to E-Z-ON’s 86Y Universal Harness, but with lighter-weight adjusters, a harness retainer clip, narrower webbing; must be used in combination with a backless booster with armrests to keep the lap belt in position.

Safety Angel’s Ride Ryte BPB is no longer available, but Safety Angel approves use of other manufacturers’ boosters that have prominent armrests. Also check with manufacturer of BPB before using with harness.

Provides upper-body restraint. This is especially helpful in seating positions with a lap-only belt, but may also be used with a lap-shoulder belt.

Lower Attachments

No lower attachments on this product.

Tether Use

Tether MUST be used.
Maximum weight for tether use: May use factory-installed tether to 80 pounds OR vehicle manufacturer’s stated TA weight limit, whichever is lower. If the vehicle manufacturer’s limit is lower than the 80-pound harness use limit, install a heavy-duty TA for continued use (see below).
Tether hook orientation: May be hooked onto TA backwards (180-degree twist) if necessary and allowed by vehicle manufacturer.
Seat belt as tether anchor: Seat belt from the row behind may be used as a tether anchor if no other option exists.

Heavy-Duty Tether Anchor

The heavy-duty TA that was included with the harness can be used up to the full weight allowed for harness use. (It has been tested to hold up to 160 pounds.) No longer available.


XPORTATION SAFETY CONCEPTS

This company is out of business; customer service support and replacement parts are not available.

This entry reflects input from the company from a previous LATCH Manual and review of the product owner’s manual. All units are expired and should be replaced with a newer CR. By providing information in this entry, SRN does NOT suggest that this expired CR should continue to be used.

Pioneered Safety Systems Infant Car Seat—Expired

Air-bag-compatible infant restraint for babies weighing 5 to 22 pounds. The structure of the shell absorbs the tremendous force of a deploying frontal air bag. This CR met a need in vehicles with inadequate space in the back seat for a RF-only CR and no air bag on-off switch.

Lower Attachment

Design/Use: A single strap with push-on connectors and a tilt-lock adjuster. The manufacturer recommended using the lower attachments whenever possible, instead of the seat belt.
Route strap through only the lower of the two belt paths in the CR base.
Arrows on the connectors must point upward and strap must not be twisted.
Center installation in a nonstandard LATCH position: Not allowed; install using lower attachments in standard LATCH positions only (11 inches apart).
WARNING: Do not press down on the mechanism located inside the base! Doing so may damage the CR connectors and cause the CR to not lock securely into the base. Instead, push down on the sides of the base during installation.
Storage: Hook connectors to storage bar under the base.

Tether—No tether on this CR.