News

12/1/2001

Cosco LATCH Kit Retrofits Non-LATCH Seats

LATCH is an acronym for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. It is a method of installing a car seat in a vehicle without using the vehicle belt system. LATCH compatible car seats have an attached belt with some type of hooks on the ends. The hooks “latch” onto anchor bars located in the vehicle seat where the seat back and bottom meet (the seat bight). For forward-facing LATCH seats, a top tether is also used.

As of 9-1-2002, all car seats must have LATCH attachments. But most new vehicles have LATCH bars now, meaning parents who buy a new vehicle cannot take advantage of the new installation system with most car seats they have purchased in the past 6 years. Cosco's retrofit kit allows parents of Cosco, Eddie Bauer and Dorel Juvenile Group car seats purchased since 1995 to utilize the new LATCH system if they have a LATCH vehicle.

The kit consists of a single belt with an easy-pull adjuster and push-button release. It threads through the car seat belt path the same way the vehicle seat belt does. It can only be used with vehicles originally equipped with LATCH bars or with those where the vehicle dealer has retrofit the bars in the vehicle.

Cosco is a brand name of Dorel Juvenile Group, a leading supplier of car seats, high chairs, strollers, playards, monitors, activity centers and a wide variety of home safety items. It is part of Dorel Industries, Inc. based in Montreal, Canada. Dorel Industries, Inc. is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols DII.A and DII.B in Canada and on the NASDAQ Exchange under the symbol DIIBF.