U.S. patent application number 11/490472 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-24 for child seatbelt release restriction mechanism.
Invention is credited to Kelly E. Riddle.
Application Number | 20080016660 11/490472 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38970029 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080016660 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Riddle; Kelly E. |
January 24, 2008 |
Child seatbelt release restriction mechanism
Abstract
A seat belt buckle safety housing encompassing the female end of
a seatbelt to prevent a child from pushing the release button and
thereby becoming a safety issue within a vehicle. Specifically, the
invention has a sliding locking device on the lid that when slid
opened and pulled, reveals the release button for the seat belt.
Likewise, when closed, the lid protects the seat belt release
button and prevents a child from removing the safety belt. The
housing cover is designed with a pen type hinge that prevents a
young child from pulling open the cover due to the pound per inch
force and sliding locking mechanism. The device comes in two
sections with the front attaching to the remaining three-sides
through the use of tension screws.
Inventors: |
Riddle; Kelly E.; (San
Antonio, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Kelly E. Riddle
Ste. 200, 2553 Jackson Keller
San Antonio
TX
78230
US
|
Family ID: |
38970029 |
Appl. No.: |
11/490472 |
Filed: |
July 21, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/633 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 24/45623 20150115;
A44B 11/2576 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/633 |
International
Class: |
A44B 21/00 20060101
A44B021/00 |
Claims
1) A seat belt button release restriction mechanism comprising a
front section that fits on one side of the female part of a seat
belt and is compressed against the seat belt to hold it in place by
screws that draw it against the back portion of the device. The
seat belt release is "sandwiched" and encompassed in this
mechanism. The mechanism forms a type of housing surrounding the
female portion of the seat belt device while still allowing for the
insertion of the male portion of the seat belt device. A cover (or
lid) with a spring-action latch can be opened and shut to give
access to or deny access to the seat belt release button.
2) The mechanism of claim 1, said front section is formed in an
inverted "L" shape with the top having a cover (or lid) on a hinge
that can be raised and lowered to give access to or prevent access
to the seat belt release button.
3) The mechanism of claim 1, said cover (or lid) has a sliding
spring-action latch that when pulled, allows the cover to be raised
to expose the seat belt release button. Additionally this same
cover can be lowered and locked in place by the spring-action latch
to prevent access to the seat belt release button.
4) The mechanism of claim 1, the housing, is fabricated out of hard
plastic.
5) The mechanism of claim 1, the hinge, is fabricated out of
metal.
6) The mechanism of claim 1, the cover, is fabricated out of hard
plastic.
7) The mechanism of claim 1, the spring-action latch, is fabricated
out of metal with a hard plastic finger grip attached.
8) The spring-action latch is simultaneously pushed inward with two
fingers while pulling the cover open to expose the seat belt
release button.
9) The spring-action latch is simultaneously pushed inward with two
fingers while pushing the cover closed to prevent access to the
seat belt release button.
10) The mechanism of claim 1, the cover, is designed and shaped
with a small gap between the cover and the edge of the device to
allow the male portion of the seat belt to still be inserted into
the female portion of the seat belt.
Description
FIELD OF SEARCH
[0001] 24/633,573.1,636,637,638,639,640,641,642
TABLE-US-00001 References Cited [Referenced By] U.S. Patent
Documents 1384001 July 1921 Splittstoesser 3789467 February 1974
Aratani et al. 4321734 March 1982 Gandelman 4575908 March 1986
Gloomis et al. 4624033 November 1986 Orton 4675956 June 1987 Cohen
4937923 July 1990 McEntire 5184376 February 1993 Hunter et al.
5442840 August 1995 Ewald 5907892 June 1999 Todd 6694578 February
2004 Nicoll
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to devices for preventing
young children from simply pushing the seatbelt release button,
allowing the child to become a safety issue within a vehicle.
Current designs are based on the older style of seatbelt apparatus
and this present invention is designed with current manufacturing
seatbelt devices in mind. Additionally, the new invention is
designed primarily as an after-market device although manufacturers
could install the device at the onset.
[0004] Automotive seatbelt devices have a basic male and female
operation. When the male device is inserted into the female device,
the seatbelt is designed as a restrictor and safety device. The new
invention does not alter this design or concept and instead
prevents access to the release button found on the female part of
the seatbelt while allowing a more mature person easy and
convenient access and operation of the release button.
[0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0006] Children in general are inquisitive and learn quickly
through demonstration. It does not take long for a child to observe
and understand how simply pushing the seatbelt release button
allows freedom from the restraint and can also be a source of
entertainment for the child. It is therefore desirable to have a
child's seat belt buckle locking mechanism that would prevent the
child's access to the seatbelt release button while giving an adult
quick and easy access.
[0007] The use of different seatbelt locking mechanisms is known in
the prior art. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,892, Todd discloses a child
safety apparatus for a seat belt buckle that has a sliding locking
mechanism on the female portion of the seatbelt that when
activated, prevents the seatbelt's main release button from being
released. This locking mechanism is designed for manufacturing and
installation in new vehicles and not after market. Although the
Todd '892 patent has a similar function, the new invention differs
in that it covers the existing release button all together and can
placed over the existing female portion of the existing
seatbelt.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,908 to Gloomis et al. is also a device
for manufacturing and installation in new vehicles and not after
market. The Gloomis device has a sliding mechanism on the under
carriage of the invention, when activated pushes a device forward
inside the seatbelt invention to prevent depressing the release
button. The new invention is different in that it is does not
involve redesigning the inner working of the seatbelt. Further, the
prevention mechanism is located on the top and not the
undercarriage as in the Gloomis invention. Additionally, in the new
invention a cover prevents the button from being activated instead
of a device under the button that prevents the button from moving.
The Gloomis invention is also designed for the old style of
seatbelt release buttons (square device with a large square button
inset) instead of the current seatbelt designs.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,376, Hunter et al. involves a
child-resistant safety belt buckle that requires a combination lock
mechanism to be activated in conjunction with a spring-loaded
rotatable or pushbutton member mounted on the top skirt of the
buckle that prevents the release of the belt mechanism. The new
invention differs in that there is no combination locking mechanism
or requirement for a rotatable device. Further, the new invention
is much more user friendly as it does not require a one or two
tumbler combination mechanism to be activated while rotation is
required.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,840 to Ewald, involves a sheath type
housing that slides over the buckle to prevent a child from
pressing the belt's main release button. The Ewald invention is
designed for the old style of seatbelt release buttons (square
device with a large square button inset) instead of the current
seatbelt designs. The Ewald invention simply slides over the
buckle. The new invention differs as it is a two-part housing that
is coupled together with screws and has a cover that can be raised
and lowered via a hinge to protect the release button. The new
invention is based on the current automobile manufacturer's designs
instead of the previous mechanisms.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,578 to Nicoll involves both the male and
female mechanisms of a seatbelt and is designed for new manufacture
of vehicles and not after market. Although similar in objective,
the new invention does not require both the male and female
mechanisms or the intricate locating system in the Nicoll
design.
[0012] The above-mentioned inventions appear to complete the
objectives of the designs. However, most are based on the old
automobile manufacturer's designs of a large square device with a
large square button inset. Further, most are designed for
installation at the manufacturing of the vehicle and not as an
after-market device that can easily be retrofitted by a
non-mechanical type person.
[0013] A need exists for a new and improved seatbelt buckle safety
device that can be easily adapted to current vehicles and if
desired by manufacturers, at the time of new vehicle construction.
The new device takes into account a device that can be easily
operated by an adult with one or two hands while blocking the
seatbelt release button from a child. In this regard, the present
invention substantially fulfills this safety and design need while
substantially departing from the conventional concepts and designs
of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The invention involves utilizing a two-part device that can
easily be attached over the female portion of the seatbelt to
prevent access to the release button. The installed device,
provides a sliding locking mechanism that when pulled, will release
the cover and provide easy access to the seatbelt button. The
housing cover is designed with a pen type hinge that prevents a
young child from pulling open the cover due to the pound per inch
force and sliding locking device. Due to the extreme heat inside a
closed vehicle during summer days, the housing is designed to
withstand varying degrees of weather while remaining resilient and
operational. The pull-open cover is designed with child safety in
mind as well as convenience of application. The invention can
easily be operated with one hand or with two based on the
operator's desire.
[0015] The enclosed is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further modifications and changes may
occur. It is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] A more complete understanding of the invention may be
obtained from the detailed description that follows.
[0017] FIG. 1: View of the exterior of the mechanism with the cover
closed. The front (1) of the mechanism housing that encompasses the
top cover (2) where the latch (5) is contained. Screws (4) that
attach the front (1) of the mechanism to the back (3) part of the
device. The front of the mechanism comprises an inverted "L" shape.
The back of the mechanism comprises three sides (back and two
sides). The female portion of the seatbelt is encompassed by both
sections.
[0018] FIG. 2: A side view of the front (1) of the inverted "L"
shape mechanism showing the screw holes (2) and the hinge (3) for
the cover (4). A view of the side (5) of the second part of the
mechanism.
[0019] FIG. 3: The male section (1) of the seatbelt (not part of
the invention) that is inserted into the mechanism (2) without
being obscured by the device. The seatbelt release button (3) on
the top of the female section (5) of the pre-existing seatbelt
device. The dotted line (4) demonstrating the closed cover
mechanism preventing access to the release button (3). A view of
the entire mechanism (6) encompassing the female portion of a
seatbelt device.
[0020] FIG. 4: A view of the top section (1) of the mechanism with
the pre-existing seatbelt release button (2) on the female seatbelt
device. The mechanism's cover (4) in an open position. The
pre-existing insertion location for the male part of a
seatbelt.
[0021] FIG. 5: A view of the top section (1) of the mechanism with
the cover (3) closed preventing access to the seatbelt release
button. The sliding locking and/or unlocking latch (4) that is
gripped to open and close the mechanism's cover. The area (2) where
the male portion of the seatbelt is inserted showing the cover (3)
of the mechanism stopping before it obstructs the location where
the male part (2) of a seatbelt is inserted.
[0022] FIG. 6: The pre-existing female (1) seatbelt device (dotted
line area) with the three-sided back (2) of the mechanism. When (2)
is attached to the front (3) of the mechanism, the invention
encompasses the female seatbelt device.
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