AU2005100698A4

AU2005100698A4 - Seat Belt Buckle Guard with Spacer

Info

Publication number: AU2005100698A4
Application number: AU2005100698A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Fok Lawrence
Original assignee: Fas Therapeutic Equipment P L
Current assignee: FAS THERAPEUTIC EQUIPMENT P/L
Priority date: 2005-08-30
Filing date: 2005-08-30
Publication date: 2005-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 2013-08-30
Also published as: AU2005100698B4

Description

Seat Belt Buckle Guard with Spacer-Descriptions Page 1 of 2 BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 0 Technical Field: ;The present invention is an adaptable and a portable device utilized to restrain access to a seat belt buckle from the unsupervised or accidental depress of release button.

Background of Invention: 00 Seat belt is a safety device and has had served motor vehicle industry for many Cpurposes but there has been a growing concern among parents, drivers and health related workers or alike that a passenger with behavioural problem may intentionally _or accidentally release his/her or other passenger's seat belt buckle, thereby exposing the occupants to grave danger by not being properly restrained within the motor Svehicle and cause distraction to driver. Likely a consequential motor vehicle accident may occur resulting with property damages, injury or death.

This invention is invented with a view for people with disabilities or a person with a cognitive or behavioural disorder whereby they do not understand the need to remain restrained when travelling in a motor vehicle. However this invention will be also useful for anyone who would like to prevent any unsupervised or accidental release of seat belt in a motor vehicle or other situations.

The applicant is aware there are many designs of seat belt on market and therefore this invention has been specially devised in order to provide a simple, effective, adaptable and portable construction to prevent unsupervised or accidental depress of release button of seat belt.

Brief Description of the drawings: The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a front view of the rectangular body of a Seat Belt Buckle Guard with Spacer.

Figure 2 is a front view of the Wedge-shaped Spacer which can also be snapped into two pieces.

Figure 3 is a front view of the Wedge-shaped Spacer positioned at the bottom of the rectangular body of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a front view of the snapped off Wedge-shaped Spacers. One is positioned at the bottom and the other one is on the side of the rectangular body of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a front view of the rectangular body of Figure 1 and one piece of Wedgeshaped Spacer of Figure 3 applied to a fastened seat belt buckle. The release button can be accessed by inserting a car key or similar object into one of the key slots.

Seat Belt Buckle Guard with Spacer-Descriptions Page 2 of 2

SDESCRIPTION

In the preferred embodiment, the Seat Belt Buckle Guard with Spacer is provided with a rectangular body and a snap-off wedge-shaped spacer or 7 and 8) constructed with a see through plastic material.

MC) Slide the seat belt buckle into the fully-open end of the rectangular body Insert the buckle tongue through the half-open end of the rectangular body to 00 Cfasten the seat belt.

SThe incorporation of the snap-off wedge-shaped spacer or 7 and 8) is depended on _the size of seat belt buckle The idea of using spacer(s) is (are) to ensure the tn buckle sit snugly inside the rectangular box and restricts the loose movement of Sbuckle. It can be used as a single part or be snapped off into two parts (7 and 8).

The spacer(s) or 7 and 8) is (are) placed under and/or at the side(s) inside the rectangular body and secured to its place by using double sided adhesive tape.

Once the spacer(s) or 7 and 8) is (are) in place the rectangular body can be removed from and inserted freely into the seat belt buckle Insert a car key or any similar object (12) into one of the "key slots" (9 or depending on position of seat belt release button (11) whether it is on the top of buckle or side, and by depressing the release button (11) the seat belt would be unfastened (Figures The utilization of the present invention will not be restricted on the use with car seat belt buckle. It will find its way into other areas, including but not limited to baby car seat, baby capsule, children car seat, wheelchair, stroller, pusher, safety belt, restraint vest, mounting belt, fixing belt and any other devices where a belt buckle is required to be protected against accidental or unsupervised release.

All alternations and improvements based on the same structure, characteristics and principles of this invention should be included in the scope of this innovation patent application.

Claims

1. A Seat Belt Buckle Guard with Spacer of the type comprising: a rectangular body having a fully-open end and a half-open end into which a seat belt buckle and a buckle tongue may be inserted for fastening therein and having a snapped off wedge shaped spacer providing a snugly accommodation for the seat belt buckle whereby preventing unsupervised or accidental depress of Crelease button of the seat belt.

2. A Seat Belt Buckle Guard with Spacer as claimed in claim 1 has two "key slots", one of them is located at the top of rectangular body and the other is at I the half-open end, which allows access to the release button of the buckle with a car key or similar object.

3. A Seat Belt Buckle Guard with Spacer as claimed in claim 1 to 2 wherein the wedge-shaped spacer, which can also be snapped into two pieces, is positioned inside the rectangular body, underneath or at either sides of seat belt buckle in order to restrict loose movement of the buckle.

4. A Seat Belt Buckle Guard with Spacer as claimed in claim 1 to 3 wherein the rectangular body and wedge-shaped spacer are made of see through plastic material which allows for visual inspection of the seat belt buckle at all time. A Seat Belt Buckle Guard with Spacer as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 2 9 th day of August 2005 Lawrence Fok