U.S. patent application number 10/770634 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-12 for barnes & barnes neck reliever.
Invention is credited to Barnes, Ray.
Application Number | 20040154141 10/770634 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46300793 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040154141 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barnes, Ray |
August 12, 2004 |
Barnes & Barnes neck reliever
Abstract
A unitary shoulder strap neck reliever for a seatbelt having two
straps comprising a base with a front side and a back side, said
base including an H-shaped slit having a left opening and a right
opening, and a clip connected to said base defining a strap holding
area therebetween, wherein the first strap is threaded into said
left opening and along the back side of the base and threaded out
through said right opening, and the second strap is clipped into
said strap holding area.
Inventors: |
Barnes, Ray; (Bowdon,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ray Barnes
3190 Victory Church Road
Bowdon
GA
30108
US
|
Family ID: |
46300793 |
Appl. No.: |
10/770634 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10770634 |
Feb 3, 2004 |
|
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10213198 |
Aug 5, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
24/198 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 24/4088 20150115;
B60R 22/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
024/198 |
International
Class: |
A44B 011/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A shoulder strap neck reliever for a seatbelt having two straps,
comprising: a base with a front side and a back side, said base
including an H-shaped slit having a left opening and a right
opening, and a clip spaced apart from and connected to said base
substantially parallel to the base and defining a strap holding
area therebetween, wherein said base and said clip are
non-releasably attached.
2. The shoulder strap neck reliever of claim 1, further comprising:
a first strap threaded into said left opening and passing along the
back side of the base and threaded out through said right opening,
and a second strap clipped into said strap holding area.
3. The shoulder strap neck reliever of claim 2, wherein said first
strap is a shoulder strap and said second strap is a lap strap.
4. The shoulder strap neck reliever of claim 2, wherein said first
strap is a lap strap and said second strap is a shoulder strap.
5. The shoulder strap neck reliever of claim 3, further comprising
slack pulled from said shoulder strap and wrapped around said clip.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of co-pending Ser. No.
10/213,198, filed Aug. 5, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus that provides
the user of a seat belt shoulder strap with greater comfort than
provided by the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention (the Barnes & Barnes seat belt
shoulder strap Neck Reliever) has been specifically designed for
the sole purpose of providing the user with dramatically increased
comfort. As a result the Neck Reliever encourages greater use of
seat belt shoulder straps since one of the major reasons for their
non-use is the discomfort afforded by standard seat belt shoulder
strap arrangements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The flexibility of the Neck Reliever results in a lack of
hazardous edges or corners that could cause injury or penetrate the
body in an accident. It has been found that the use of the Neck
Reliever prototype provides a decided advantage in safety in that
it will, if adjusted according to the instructions, hold the
shoulder strap flat, i.e. sideways, against the neck instead of the
normal position. The normal position for the shoulder strap is
lying flat on the shoulder thereby presenting a cutting edge
similar to a sharp knife against the neck. The shoulder strap in
its normal position under the pressure resulting from an automobile
accident can, and has according to news reports, caused
decapitation of users.
[0005] Although it would be difficult to adequately quantify the
degree of comfort to one using the Neck Reliever, all users tested
reported increased comfort compared to a standard seat belt
shoulder strap arrangement.
[0006] Instructions for using the present invention, referring to
FIGS. 7-12:
[0007] 1. Insert the top of the lap seatbelt into flap A. (This
side of the Neck Reliever will be against the stomach of the
user.)
[0008] 2. Insert the bottom of the lap seatbelt into flap B.
[0009] 3. Insert the shoulder strap of the seatbelt into flap C.
(This side of the Neck Reliever will be on the outside.)
[0010] Adjust the Neck Reliever to a comfortable position for the
shoulder strap.
[0011] The present invention is a unitary shoulder strap neck
reliever for a seatbelt having two straps, comprising a base with a
front side and a back side, said base including an H-shaped slit
having a left opening and a right opening, and a clip spaced apart
from and connected to said base substantially parallel to the base
and defining a strap holding area therebetween, wherein said base
and said clip are non-releasably attached. Advantageously the
shoulder strap neck reliever further comprises a first strap
threaded into said left opening and passing along the back side of
the base and threaded out through said right opening, and a second
strap clipped into said strap holding area. Preferably said first
strap is a shoulder strap and said second strap is a lap strap.
Alternatively said first strap is a lap strap and said second strap
is a shoulder strap. Advantageously any slack present in the strap
can be pulled from said shoulder strap and wrapped around said
clip.
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