When were 5pt harnesses introduced?

robbertbobbert

New member

• Nov 4, 2011

• #1

Does anybody know when manufacturers started making 5-pt harnesses instead of 3?

I found a picture of my sister as a newborn from 1988 in her car seat in what appears to be a 5pt harness. My mom said she doesn't remember if it was or not, but she thinks it looks like it too.

 

dneul

New member

• Nov 4, 2011

• #2

I'm not sure but would be interested in knowing as well.

 

M

Maisie&BodensMommy

New member

• Nov 4, 2011

• #3

I have no idea when they were introduced, but my friend's son was born in late 2002, and I remember her specifically looking for a new car seat with a 5 point harness b/c she had heard they were safer. And, at that point, if I remember correctly, there was a pretty even mix of 5 pt and 3 pt carseats. I cannot, however, remember if she got him an infant bucket or a convertible.

 

aetj115

New member

• Nov 4, 2011

• #4

I had one in 2000 for my son.

 

C

catfeet

Member

• Nov 4, 2011

• #5

My cousin was born in 1989 and had a OHS. That was the earliest I used a CRS.

Ann

 

M

Mysweethoneybee

New member

• Nov 4, 2011

• #6

My eldest was born in 1995 and got a convertible seat in July of that year. I made sure to buy him a 5-point harness seat even though they were more expensive because I had already read that they were less likely to cause injury in an accident. Which is why I always wondered why they continued to produce ones with OHS.

 

Dillipop

Well-known member

• Nov 4, 2011

• #7

The carseat I came home from the hospital in in 1979 had a 5 point harness.

 

mom of six

Active member

• Nov 4, 2011

• #8

Well, I have been a car seat nerd for a long time and this is what I remember...At the tender age of 8 (1980) I started collecting pictures of car seats from catalogs and sales fliers. They fascinated me. Back then there were 5 point convertible car seats but they were usually the budget models. The T-sheilds and OHS had the nicer covers, extra pillows and padding and higher price tag. As far as infant car seats go, I think the trend really started in the late 90's to early 2000. The first seat I bought for DD1 (2000) was a SR with a 3 point harness but by DD3 (2004) I was able to get a second hand (don't think less of me) SR with a 5 point and the front pull strap .

For many years I had saved all those pictures from catalogs and such. I went looking for them the other day as I thought it would be fun to post a few...but alas, too many moves and too many kids and I think I threw them away. :

 

unityco

Ambassador - CPS Technician

• Nov 4, 2011

• #9

Dillipop said:

The carseat I came home from the hospital in in 1979 had a 5 point harness.

Click to expand...

My first carseat (GM Loveseat, not infant) in maybe 1974 or 75 had a 5-point harness (and my parents used it for my sister 11 years later. )

 

AustinMusic

Active member

• Nov 4, 2011

• #10

To my knowledge, the first 5 point harness car seat to be sold was in 1962 here in the UK. I have an electronic copy of small article written by the manufacturing company's director that appeared in The Motor magazine a few years after the seat went to market. I am currently in the process of obtaining permission from the copyright owner to publish it here on the forum (along with many other historic news items).

I must add, that my knowledge is largely of the UK and does not yet extend to the wider European and North American markets. There may well be a 5 point harness seat released before 1962 in another country of which I am not aware.

 

classicseats

Active member

• Nov 4, 2011

• #11

unityco said:

My first carseat (GM Loveseat, not infant) in maybe 1974 or 75 had a 5-point harness (and my parents used it for my sister 11 years later. )

Click to expand...

I agree, the GM love seat is probably the first in the US.

 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician

• Nov 4, 2011

• #12

classicseats said:

I agree, the GM love seat is probably the first in the US.

Click to expand...

That must be it, then. classicseats is pretty much the authority on this topic.

And he probably has one sitting in his attic.

 

classicseats

Active member

• Nov 4, 2011

• #13

Here is the gm love seat for those who wondered

 

Last edited: Jan 21, 2014

robbertbobbert

New member

• Nov 4, 2011

• #14

Oh that's awesome! Way earlier than I expected.

I'll try to post a picture later if I can figure my scanner out.

 

Judi

CPST/Firefighter

• Nov 4, 2011

• #15

The base reminds me of my GM seat. A little older that that one, but a 2 point harness, 4 point with lap belt added.