U.S. patent application number 10/282408 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-01 for child resistant seat belt.
Invention is credited to Bates, Andrew Martin, Dean, Arvie Clyde III.
Application Number | 20030079321 10/282408 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26961429 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030079321 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dean, Arvie Clyde III ; et
al. |
May 1, 2003 |
Child resistant seat belt
Abstract
A permanent enhancement for seat belts and child safety seat
belt buckles that is resistant to release by children. The device
is molded from rubber, plastics, polymers, or composite materials
as to not be excessive in size and it can be color coded to match
the materials used in the vehicle or child safety seat. The force
required to release the belt can be controlled through material
choice and the size of the release button. Thus, discouraging the
untimely release of the seat belt buckle.
Inventors: |
Dean, Arvie Clyde III;
(Gainesville, FL) ; Bates, Andrew Martin;
(Gainesville, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Arvie Clyde Dean III
205 N.E. 9th Street
Gainesville
FL
32608
US
|
Family ID: |
26961429 |
Appl. No.: |
10/282408 |
Filed: |
October 29, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60345906 |
Oct 29, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
24/633 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 11/2576 20130101;
Y10T 24/45623 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/633 |
International
Class: |
A44B 011/25 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A permanent enhancement to the female section (buckle) of a seat
belt or child safety seat belt comprised of: Rubber, plastic,
polymers, or composite materials. The material is chosen to provide
a resistance force to adequately dissuade the average child of 2 to
8 years of age from releasing the buckle. The material covers the
end of the buckle to prevent lifting or removal by a child. The
material completely covers the buckle to prevent removal. The
enhancement is manufactured by methods suitable for the material of
choice and encase the buckle of the seat belt or child safety seat
belt. The device is slim, attractive, and permanent.
2. A child resistant seat belt comprised of: A release button of
variable dimensions as to conform to Title 49 of the U.S. Code of
Federal Regulations, and to adjust the release force to be adequate
to disuade a child under 8 years of age from releasing the belt.
The release button is separated from the main body of the seat belt
by an air gap of a distance to regulate the force required for
release of the buckle.
3. A seat belt cover comprised of: A material covering both ends of
the seat belt with a slot provided to accept the tongue without
interfering with the normal operation of the seat belt. The strap
attachment is covered with the material for safety and resistance
to removal.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a non-provisional patent application
having Ser. No. 60/345,906 filed on Oct. 29, 2001, which is owned
by the same inventors.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to seat belt
restraint devices, and, more particularly, to a seat belt restraint
for children.
[0003] Child safety is among the most important issues of today's
parents. These concerns are heightened in the area of automobile
safety. When children reach the age/size where the use of a toddler
child safety seat or a booster seat is warranted, parents are
subjected to the frustration and danger that is presented by these
devices.
[0004] Seat belts save lives. Most people wear seat belts and many
states have enacted seat belt use laws. Many laws require infant,
child seats, and booster seats for children below a specific
age/weight. This device can be used with a seat belt or child
safety seat alone or in any combination.
[0005] The problem addressed is, as many parents know, children at
that age resist restraint, exploring the world, and are prone to
play with the buckles that secure the seat belt, creating a
dangerous situation should the buckle become released. As a result
parents must monitor their children which creates the additional
risk of taking their eyes off the road. To complicate the issue, a
child may release the seat belt and the parent may not realize that
the seat belt is unbuckled and this could increase the seriousness
of injuries if involved in an accident. Other times the rider may
release the seat belt and move about the vehicle or cause harm to
other passengers, or interfere with the driver.
[0006] It is a serious problem when riders can release the seat
belt themselves at inappropriate times. If the driver notices the
belt is released they must stop the vehicle and reattach the belt.
This is inconvenient at the least and can require stopping on busy
street or highway posing a hazard to the person who exits the car,
if necessary, to reattach the belt. Many cities have expanded the
roads within and around the city and added medians to the point
where no safe egress is available. This creates a situation in
which the is attempting to negotiate through traffic while trying
to get a child to reattach the belt.
[0007] When the belt is re-attached the rider will often times
release the belt again requiring attention, to once again reattach
the belt.
[0008] Accordingly, the need has arisen for a means by which the
child is denied the ability to release the seat belt.
[0009] Others have attempted to prevent a child from releasing the
seat belt by providing devices which limit access to the seat belt
lock. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,303 to Salcone and U.S. Pat.
No. 4,497,094 to Morris disclose seat belt covers which require the
use of a key in order to be released. Such an arrangement seems
dangerous and thus undesirable, in that it might prevent emergency
personnel from releasing the child from the automobile by following
an accident.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,767 to Reitsma discloses a closure
device security cover which has a top half which secures over the
seat belt lock with a series of flanges selectively engaged into
slots. Unfortunately, because Reitsma is a two piece construction,
the components of which are not permanently attached to each other,
it seems quite likely that a user will quickly loose one or both
pieces thereof.
[0011] U.S. Pat No. 4,731,912 to Boriskie et al. discloses a seat
belt buckle guard which is hinged on one side, and has a latch on
the opposite side. With this configuration, there is no reason why
a child could not unlatch the device and release the seat belt.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,277 to Portuese discloses a child-proof
seat belt restraint which requires the adult to place their hand in
an elongated channel to release the seat belt. The theory of
operation is that a child's hand is too small to reach into the
channel far enough to release the seat belt. However, Portuese
seems to provide an open invitation for a child to get his or her
hand stuck within the channel.
[0013] U.S. Pat No. 6,041,480 to White discloses a seat belt lock
cover for selectively preventing the child from accessing the seat
belt release button. The theory of operation is that a child will
not depress two buttons on opposite sides of the device. There is
no reason why a child, of 3 to 4 years of age, could not unlatch
the device and release the seat belt.
[0014] While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose
employed; or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the
purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0015] It is the intention of this invention to provide a seat belt
enhancement that effectively prevents a child from releasing the
seat belt.
[0016] It is another object of this invention to provide a seat
belt enhancement which allows an adult or older child, over 8 years
of age, to easily release the seat belt.
[0017] It is further the object of this invention to produce a seat
belt enhancement which decreases the possibility of accidental
release of the seat belt. Thus a parent/driver need not be
concerned that a child thought to be secured in the seat is, in
fact, unsecured.
[0018] It is yet a further object of this invention that the
enhancement be permanent, attractive, and slim. Accordingly, any
device that adds any substantial bulk to a seat belt would not be
used and the benefits of said device will be lost.
[0019] The invention is a permanent enhancement to a seat belt
having a seat belt release button that complies with Title 49 of
the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations in size and force required for
release. The invention is comprised of a molded body of a material
that allows for the device to be slim, attractive and of high
durability.
[0020] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the
invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact; however,
that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are
contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the
scope of the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the
invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating the
relationship of the inventions release button and the release
button of the seat belt.
[0023] FIG. 3 is an end view illustrating the opening to receive
the tongue of the seat belt.
[0024] FIG. 4 is an end view illustrating the connection of the
seat belt strap to the buckle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a permanent enhancement (B) over the
buckle of seat belt (A) and the tongue (C) inserts into the buckle
with enhancement (B) in the standard manner of seat belt (A).
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates the permanent enhancement (D) on the seat
belt buckle (G). The release button (E) is variable in size to
produce the desired release force. Furthermore, release button (E)
can be embossed with the word "press" and/or colorized to indicate
the desired use. The air gap (F) is variable in width to produce
the desired release force. By selective use of the release button
(E) size and width of the air gap (F) materials may be formed to
meet the specifications of this invention with the smallest
dimension possible.
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates an end view of the device, in which, the
enhancement (H) overlaps the end of the buckle (I) that receives
the tongue without interfering with the tongue receiver (J).
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates an end view of the device, in which, the
enhancement (K) fully covers the strap end of the buckle, but a
slot (L) is provided for the attachment of the strap to the
buckle.
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