GB1584148A

GB1584148A - Vehicle seat belt having a device for repositioning the path of the seat belt across a vehicle seat

Info

Publication number: GB1584148A
Application number: GB3680876A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HARRIYOTT J
Current assignee: HARRIYOTT J
Priority date: 1977-08-26
Filing date: 1977-08-26
Publication date: 1981-02-04

Description

(54) A VEHICLE SEAT BELT HAVING A DEVICE FOR REPOSITIONING THE PATH OF THE SEAT BELT ACROSS A VEHICLE SEAT (71) I, JOHN EDWARD HAR RIYOTT, a British subject of 2 Sawyard Cottages, Sheffield Park, Uckfield, Sussex, TN22 3QP do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a vehicle seat belt having a device for repositioning the path of the seat belt across a vehicle seat.

More specifically, this invention provides a vehicle seat belt having a device for repositioning the path of the seat belt across a vehicle seat, the device comprising a first part having an aperture through which a loop ob the seat belt can be passed, and an elongate second part which is larger than the aperture and which is adapted to be located in the loop by being pushed into the loop from one open side of the loop, the device being such that in its assembled condition the ends of the second part extend out of both the open sides of the loop with the first and second parts being positioned side by side and with portions of the first and second parts trappling the seat belt and preventing the loop from being pulled back through the aperture.

The device can be positioned anywhere along the seat belt. Thus, for examples a pregnant woman may be unable to use a conventional seat belt because a portion d the belt which is designed to go across her stomach is uncomfortable. With the device on the seat belt, the path of the seat belt can be repositioned to one which is suitable for a pregnant woman. The device on the seat belt can also be used to reposition a vehicle seat belt to make it suitable for a child.

Preferably, the device is such that the aperture is centrally positioned in the first part. Usually, the aperture will be rectangular but other shaped apertures, for example round or oval apertures, can be employed if desired.

The first part may advantageously be sub stantially rectangular in over-all shape, and the corners of the first part can be rounded.

The second part is also preferably rec tangular although other shapes can obviously be employed. Advantageously, the second part has a head at each end to stop the second part inadvertantly slipping out of the loop.

Preferably, the head that is first to be in serted through the loop is in the shape of an arrow head.

The device can be made in various mat erials such for example as in a metal or a plastics material. If the device is made in a metal, then it may be stamped out in a press. The metal can be covered with a plastics material if desired. If the device is made wholly of a plastics material, then it may be moulded to the desired shape. The plastics material will obviously be one that will not easily break during use of the seat belt.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 respectively show first and second parts od the device for use on a vehicle seat belt; Figure 3 shows the device ob Figures 1 and 2 in operation on part of a vehicle seat belt; Figure 4 shows schematically the repositioning of a seat belt between a three point fixing; Figure 5 shows schematioally the repositioning of two fixing straps from a four point fixing; Figures 6 and 7 show front and side views of a first part of another device for use on a vehicle seat belt; and Figures 8 and 9 show front and side views of a second part of the said other device.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a first part 2 ob the device and a second part 4 of the device. The part 2 is rectangular and is provided with a centrally positioned rectangular aperture 6. The part 4 is also rectangular and it will be seen that it is longer than the length of the aperture 6. When the part 4 is inserted in a loop 8 of a seat belt, the ends of the part 4 extend out of the open sides of the loop 8 and they can engage the sides 10, 12 of the part 2 so that the part 4 cannot be pulled through the part 2.

As shown in Figure 3, the loop 8 of the seat belt is composed of two strips of material 14, 16. It will be appreciated that the device will work equally well with one strip of material or with more than two strips of material. The loop 8 can be formed at any desired position along a strip of seat belt material and no special fixing attachments for the device are needed. In particular, the device 2 does not have teeth or pins which would cut into the material of the seat belt and ultimately weaken it. Further, the device' can be easily removed from the seat belt and stored, for example in a vehicle glove compartment, unril it is needed.

In Figure 4, there is shown in the part marked BEFORE a normal car seat belt arrangement consisting of two belt runs 18, 20 extending between three fixing points 22, 24, 26. In Figure 4, in the part marked AFTER, there is shown the two belt runs 18, 20 as repositioned by the device in Figures 1 to 3, it being appreciated that the repositioned belt runs 18, 20 have been lengthened/ shortened as necessary to provide the appro priate length of material between the fixing points 22, 24, 26. Length adjusting means are provided as a standard part of the car seat belt arrangements.

In Figure 5, there is shown in the part marked BEFORE a vehicle seat belt arrangement and which consists of two strap runs 28, 30 extending between four fixing points 32, 34, 36, 38. In the part of Figure 5 marked AFTER, the two strap runs 28, 30 are shown repositioned between three fixing points 32, 34, 40, the fixing point 40 being a new fixing point This repositioning is effected using a device as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The repositioning shown in Figures 4 and 5 can also be effected using a device as shown in Figures 6 to 9. In Figures 6 and 7, the first part 42 of the device is shown. This part 42 is substantially a rectangular plate although its corners have been rounded as shown. The part 42 has a centrally positioned rectangular aperture 44.

In Figures 8 and 9, the second part 46 is flat as shown. The part 46 is provided with an arrow-shaped head 48 for inserting into a loop of seat belt material. The other end of the part 46 is provided with a head 50. The heads 48, 50 act to help prevent the part 46 from inadvertently falling out of a loop of seat belt material as the loop is being pulled tight to bring the parts 42, 46 into co-operating registry.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above have been given by way of example and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the parts 2, 4 or 42, 46 can be shaped differently than is shown.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: - 1. A vehicle seat belt having a device for repositioning the path of the seat belt across a vehicle seat, the device comprising a first part having an aperture through which a loop of the seat belt can be passed, and an elongate second part which is larger than the aperture and which is adapted to be located in the loop by being pushed into the loop from one open side of the loop, the device being such that in its assembled condition the ends of the second part extend out of both the open sides of the loop with the first and second parts being positioned side by side and with portions of the first and second parts trapping the seat belt and preventing the loop from being pulled back through the aperture.

2. A vehicle seat belt according to claim 1 in which the aperture in the device is centrally positioned in the first part.

3. A vehicle seat belt according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the aperture in the device is rectangular.

4. A vehicle seat belt according to any one of the preceeding claims in which the first part of the device is substantially rectangular.

5. A vehicle seat belt according to claim 4 in which the ends of the first part of the device are rounded.

6. A vehicle seat belt according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second part of the device is rectangular.

7. A vehicle seat belt according to any one of claims 1-5 in which the second part of the device has a head at each end.

8. A vehicle seat belt according to claim 7 in which the head first to be inserted through the loop is in the shape of an arrow head.

9. A vehicle seat belt according to any one of the preceding claims in which the device is made of a metal or a plastics material.

10. A vehicle seat belt according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. than the length of the aperture 6. When the part 4 is inserted in a loop 8 of a seat belt, the ends of the part 4 extend out of the open sides of the loop 8 and they can engage the sides 10, 12 of the part 2 so that the part 4 cannot be pulled through the part 2. As shown in Figure 3, the loop 8 of the seat belt is composed of two strips of material 14, 16. It will be appreciated that the device will work equally well with one strip of material or with more than two strips of material. The loop 8 can be formed at any desired position along a strip of seat belt material and no special fixing attachments for the device are needed. In particular, the device 2 does not have teeth or pins which would cut into the material of the seat belt and ultimately weaken it. Further, the device' can be easily removed from the seat belt and stored, for example in a vehicle glove compartment, unril it is needed. In Figure 4, there is shown in the part marked BEFORE a normal car seat belt arrangement consisting of two belt runs 18, 20 extending between three fixing points 22, 24, 26. In Figure 4, in the part marked AFTER, there is shown the two belt runs 18, 20 as repositioned by the device in Figures 1 to 3, it being appreciated that the repositioned belt runs 18, 20 have been lengthened/ shortened as necessary to provide the appro priate length of material between the fixing points 22, 24, 26. Length adjusting means are provided as a standard part of the car seat belt arrangements. In Figure 5, there is shown in the part marked BEFORE a vehicle seat belt arrangement and which consists of two strap runs 28, 30 extending between four fixing points 32, 34, 36, 38. In the part of Figure 5 marked AFTER, the two strap runs 28, 30 are shown repositioned between three fixing points 32, 34, 40, the fixing point 40 being a new fixing point This repositioning is effected using a device as shown in Figures 1 to 3. The repositioning shown in Figures 4 and 5 can also be effected using a device as shown in Figures 6 to 9. In Figures 6 and 7, the first part 42 of the device is shown. This part 42 is substantially a rectangular plate although its corners have been rounded as shown. The part 42 has a centrally positioned rectangular aperture 44. In Figures 8 and 9, the second part 46 is flat as shown. The part 46 is provided with an arrow-shaped head 48 for inserting into a loop of seat belt material. The other end of the part 46 is provided with a head 50. The heads 48, 50 act to help prevent the part 46 from inadvertently falling out of a loop of seat belt material as the loop is being pulled tight to bring the parts 42, 46 into co-operating registry. It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above have been given by way of example and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the parts 2, 4 or 42, 46 can be shaped differently than is shown. WHAT I CLAIM IS: -

1. A vehicle seat belt having a device for repositioning the path of the seat belt across a vehicle seat, the device comprising a first part having an aperture through which a loop of the seat belt can be passed, and an elongate second part which is larger than the aperture and which is adapted to be located in the loop by being pushed into the loop from one open side of the loop, the device being such that in its assembled condition the ends of the second part extend out of both the open sides of the loop with the first and second parts being positioned side by side and with portions of the first and second parts trapping the seat belt and preventing the loop from being pulled back through the aperture.