Top tether dampener

Abstract A vehicular child restraint configurable in at least a forward facing orientation, including: a seat shell, having a back portion with side wings and a seating portion, defining a child seating area; and a top tether strap configured to extend from a vehicular anchor point to an upper area of the back portion of the child restraint and to at least one connection at the seat shell; at least one crushable element securely abutting the seat shell; and wherein the top tether strap path is configured to guide the top tether strap at least partially around the crushable element; wherein, upon a vehicle impact, the forces applied to the top tether strap results in the crushable element being compressed and absorbing at least a portion of the impact to reduce the peak load on the top tether strap. Figure 1