U.S. patent application number 10/634343 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-29 for seatbelt attachment to facilitate seatbelt access.
Invention is credited to Meloul, Raphael F..
Application Number | 20040080203 10/634343 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32110045 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040080203 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meloul, Raphael F. |
April 29, 2004 |
Seatbelt attachment to facilitate seatbelt access
Abstract
A simple inexpensive one-piece device to aid one in acquiring
the seatbelt within a motor vehicle. This one-piece flexible device
is meant to be temporarily or permanently attached above the male
member of the seatbelt buckle. The attachment may be accomplished
with a snap on method as seen in this preferred embodiment but may
also be done by other methods as will be obvious to those trained
in the art. When the seatbelt is in its retracted position a long
handle protrudes towards the windshield so that it is visible to
the driver or passenger. With either arm the seatbelt can be easily
grabbed and pulled across the body to fasten the seatbelt with
minimal reaching. This is ideal for persons with back, neck,
shoulder and arm pain.
Inventors: |
Meloul, Raphael F.;
(Atlanta, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
POWELL, GOLDSTEIN, FRAZER, & MURPHY LLP
16TH FLOOR
191 PEACHTREE STREET, NE
ATLANTA
GA
30303-1736
US
|
Family ID: |
32110045 |
Appl. No.: |
10/634343 |
Filed: |
August 5, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60401134 |
Aug 5, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/463.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 22/03 20130101;
B60R 22/023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/463.1 |
International
Class: |
A47C 031/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A seatbelt handle used in coordination with a motor vehicle seat
and shoulder belt comprising: a single piece seat belt attachment
comprising a base which when wrapped around the seatbelt attaches
to it securely; and a handle easily reachable, which extends toward
the front of the vehicle when in the retracted position in its
ready to use position.
2. The seatbelt aid of claim 1, further comprising a base that
securely fastens to the seatbelt.
3. A seatbelt attachment, comprising: a loop that when in its ready
to use position, protrudes forward and is positioned such that a
driver may, by simply bending his or her arm toward his or her
shoulder, the loop of the seat belt attachment will be easily
grabbed and pulled without over stretching and reaching back as in
conventional seat belt arrangement.
4. The seatbelt attachment of claim 3, further comprising two large
surfaces for advertising and billboarding.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to copending provisional
patent application 60/401,134, filed Aug. 5, 2002 which is
incorporated herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a one-piece device to aid
in acquiring the seatbelt within a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Most seatbelts in modern motor vehicles are located behind
the window and can be adjusted up or down for driver or passenger
comfort, but not forward and backward. If the belt is needed to be
placed at its lowest position, it probably also needs to be pushed
forward for a short person. Many laws govern seatbelt manufactures
for safety reasons, and therefore a compromise is difficult to
achieve that satisfies both the consumer and the safety laws.
However after market rules and regulations allow the consumer to
add accessories to the vehicle without modifying the components or
affecting safety.
[0004] The device developed herein is an accessory device that can
be easily attached to the already existing seatbelt and does not
change the function of the preexisting seatbelt. Located directly
above the shoulder belt buckle, this device enables a short-legged
person to reach the seatbelt more easily. Also it is ideal for
persons with back, neck, shoulder and/or arm pain or those with a
limited range of motion such as the elderly. It may also be
utilized when one's hands are dirty for the prevention of seatbelt
soiling, or simply as a luxury device to make life easier. Lastly
it is a reminder that the seatbelt has not been fastened because
the handle is visible in the driver's peripheral vision. SUMMARY OF
THE INVENTION
[0005] This device is to be temporarily or permanently secured
around the seatbelt by the user above the seatbelt shoulder buckle.
The handle is designed to protrude forward from the retracted
seatbelt allowing easier access to acquiring the seatbelt. This
enables one's hand to grasp the seatbelt without having to reach as
far back as in conventional seatbelt arrangements. Once the handle
has been grabbed it can be pulled across the chest just as a
regular seatbelt normally would.
[0006] The design illustrated herein includes a base, two snaps,
two holes, and a handle. The base is made of two parts, connected
by a thin layer of material, acting as a hinge, so that it can be
folded over the seatbelt. A laminant may be placed over the thin
hinge so that it will not tear. Holes are located on the handle
side of the base and the snaps are at the free end of the base. The
snaps are cylindrical structures protruding from the base with a
larger cylindrical structure at the distal end from the base
allowing a secure fit with the holes. The handle is a cylindrical
curved protrusion that tapers at the two ends so that it forms a
smooth connection to the base. The securing of the seat belt
attachment to the seat belt may be accomplished by multiple other
means while remaining within the spirit of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like
reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout
the figures of which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a view of a seatbelt attachment 1 around an
automobile seatbelt 2 according to one exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an open view of the whole device prior to
installation indicating the open base 3, knobs 4, holes 5, and the
handle 6.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic of the closed seatbelt attachment 1
viewed from the front.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic of the closed seatbelt attachment 1
viewed from the back.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a view of the seatbelt device 1 with a logo on the
back of the device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Ergonomic components in a vehicle are designed for the
average body build to satisfy the majority of the population. The
present seatbelt invention solves the problem of human joint pain
and people that do not have an average sized frame, others having
experienced back, neck, shoulder, elbow and wrist surgery will also
benefit from this invention.
[0014] The invention is a one-piece unit, easily applied to any
ordinary retracted seatbelt above the male member of the seatbelt
buckle located on the shoulder belt component. The handle part of
the device is designed to project out towards the windshield
allowing the passenger or driver to grasp the seatbelt without
reaching as far back.
[0015] The accompanying drawings lead to a detailed description of
one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an
outside view of one exemplary embodiment of the invention around a
seatbelt. The one-piece unit is folded around the seatbelt so that
the snap-like knobs are through the holes securing the device
around the seatbelt. FIG. 2 illustrates an open inside view of the
invention. FIG. 3 refers to the whole base which is to be folded in
the middle to rap around the seatbelt. The knobs 4 are located at
the distal end of the device in the open view. The knobs 4 are
cylindrical protrusions that include a larger cylindrical
protrusion with smaller depth at the distal ends. The holes 5 go
all the way through the base. The cylindrical sweep 6 represents
the handle. Toward the distal end of the handle 6, at the base, a
taper was created to flow from the handle into the base. FIG. 3 is
an inside view of the closed seatbelt invention. FIG. 4 is an
outside view of the closed invention. Lastly FIG. 5 is an outside
view of the seatbelt invention displaying a logo or advertisement.
The knobs 4 have been inserted into the holes 5 and the device can
be securely fastened to the seatbelt.
[0016] Many materials can be used to manufacture this device such
as synthetic rubber, thermoplastics, leather, vinyl, and cloth with
manufacturing possibilities of die cutting and stitching. In one
embodiment the device is made of ethylene methyl acrylate
copolymers for its flexibility, durability, rigidity, and FDA
approval and was injection molded. A logo has been applied using a
hot foil stamp technique. Other ways of attaching a logo include
silk screening, a sticker, pad printing and molded in logo, other
methods of applying a logo may be used per manufacturers
discretion. Other design options included within this patent are
different handle shapes as well as various types of attachment
mechanisms depending on the car and seat configuration in which the
device will be used. The following illustrations will show another
shape of the device in illustrations 8-14.
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