LATCHPLATES
AIRBAGS
CAR SEATS 101
LATCH
RETRACTORS
100
This latchplate keeps car seats in place when you simply thread through belt path and tighten.
What is a LOCKING latchplate?
100
This type of airbag is usually close to the roof of the vehicle and protects the adult passenger's head.
What is a CURTAIN airbag?
100
This type of car seat has 2 belt paths, can go rear or forward facing, and then can become a booster seat too!
What is a 3-in-1 car seat?
100
This is the standard width between the middle of one LATCH bar to the middle of the other.
What is 11 INCHES?
100
If I slowly pull the seat belt out all the way, and it locks in place each time that I let it go back in, I have this kind of a retractor. Techs love them!
What is an ALR (Automatic Locking Retractor)?
200
While this latchplate might APPEAR to lock, it is really meant to hold an adult's hips back against the seat in a crash.
What is a DYNAMIC latchplate?
200
This type of airbag is found on the inside of the driver's seat and protects the driver from hitting a passenger.
What is a FRONT CENTER airbag?
200
This is a pole that extends from the base of a rear facing car seat that prevents or reduces excessive forward rotation in a crash.
What is a FOOT PROP or LOAD LEG?
200
Since 2014, there is now a weight limit on lower anchors. If the car seat and vehicle manufacturers offer no weight limit in the manuals, you should stop using LATCH at this weight.
What is WEIGHT OF CHILD PLUS WEIGHT OF CAR SEAT IS MORE THAN 65 POUNDS?
200
This type of retractor will always be in the driver's seat and only locks in the event of a crash or sudden stop.
What is an ELR (Emergency Locking Retractor)?
300
This latchplate has a button that can be moved from one position to another for adults and car seats.
What is a SWITCHABLE latchplate?
300
This airbag is located on the shoulder portion of a lap/shoulder belt.
What is an INFLATABLE SEATBELT?
300
This is a hard bar on some rear facing car seats that helps reduce movement of the car seat towards the REAR of the vehicle seat (rebound) in a crash.
What is an ANTI-REBOUND BAR?
300
This device holds the back of the car seat (and some booster seats) against the back of the seat in order to reduce forward and side movement.
What is a TETHER?
300
Lap only seat belts have this type of retractor.
What is NONE?
400
This latchplate is found in most newer cars and has no locking feature or moveable parts.
What is a SLIDING latchplate?
400
These airbags are turned "on" or "off" by the vehicle based on the occupant seated in the front passenger seat.
What is a "SMART" airbag?
400
This is a piece of plastic that holds shoulder straps together over the child's chest and is positioned at armpit level.
What is a RETAINER CLIP or CHEST CLIP?
400
Per FMVSS 225, since 2002 MOST vehicles are required to have this many complete LATCH systems.
What is TWO?
400
This type of retractor can be changed from one that does not lock pre-crash to one that does.
What is a SWITCHABLE RETRACTOR?
500
This latchplate has material attached to the latchplace, has no locking feature or moving parts. You might have to use a belt shortening clip too!
What is a SEWN ON latchplate?
500
This type of car seat must NEVER be placed in the front seat in front of an active airbag!
What is a rear facing car seat?
500
Use this device when there is an emergency locking retractor, a sewn on latchplate and no locking feature on the seat belt. Probably haven't used one since your certification class!
What is a BELT SHORTENING CLIP?
500
If I wanted to install a car seat using lower anchors in this seating position in the vehicle, I would have to check both the car seat instructions as well as the vehicle instructions first.....or perhaps the LATCH Manual, Table C!
What is the CENTER?
500
I have installed a rear facing car seat using a lap/shoulder belt and locked the retractor to hold in place. However, the car seat is tilted. No worries! I can use this device.
What is a LOCKING CLIP?
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