GB2120080A

GB2120080A - Handles for seat belts

Info

Publication number: GB2120080A
Application number: GB08301992A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry Maurice Hattersl Pickard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-04-30
Filing date: 1983-01-25
Publication date: 1983-11-30
Also published as: GB8301992D0; GB2120080B

Abstract

As car seat belt 1 is provided with a forwardly projecting handle 6, which is at or adjacent shoulder level when the belt 1 is stowed. The handle 6 enables an occupant of the respective seat to take hold of the seat belt 1 more easily, thus encouraging the occupant to use the seat belt. The handle 6 also serves as a visible reminder of the presence of the seat belt, when stowed, and to this end, may be coloured or carry a coloured sticker. Handles may be provided as stick-on accessories Fig 2, for use in converting existing seat belts to seat belts in accordance with the invention. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Seat belts This invention relates to seat belts and is concerned, particularly although not exclusively, with seat belts in motor cars.

One of the reasons why some peopie are reluctant to use a seat belt in a car is because it entails a little bother to put on. In some cases, the main obstacle is the mental attitude, but many people do find a safety belt quite an awkward thing to deal with. Seat belts for those in the front seats of a car are usually fitted to a pillar behind the front door, which may be several inches behind the person in the seat, such that there is some difficulty in reaching the belt. This is particularly so in the case of a two-door car, and especially if the seat is in a forward position to suit a short-legged person. Short arms and a body of ample proportions also add to the difficulty of reaching the belt.

The present invention aims to facilitate the reaching of a seat belt stowed to one side of a seat.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat belt adapted to be stowed to one side of, and adjacentor behind the rear of a seat, the belt being provided with a handlewhich projects forwardly when the belt is so stowed, to enable a user to take hold of the belt.

Preferably, the handle is an elongate projection which extends generally ar right angles to the adjacent portion of the seat belt. The handle may with advantage be from 5 to 25 cm. in length, and preferablyfrom 1 Oto 20cm. in length. A handle which is from 13to 17cm. in length can be particularly convenient.

The handle may be so positioned that it is generally at or adjacent shoulder level when the belt is stowed.

In addition to providing a meanswherebythe belt may be grasped by a user, the projecting handle also serves as a visible reminder of the presence ofthe belt, when the belt is stowed. This aspect may be enhanced if the handle is of or carries a prominent colour.

Particularly prominent colours may be yellow and/or orange, and a fluorescent colour may aid prominence.

In a convenient arrangement, at least one sticker or prominent colour may be affixed to the handle.

The invention is applicableto various types of seat belt, but may be used with particular advantage with inertia seat belts.

Seat belts often carry fastening members, which are moveable along the belt to provide adjustment. Such a fastening member may drop down to an awkward position when the belt is stowed. However, in a belt in accordance with thefirst aspect of the invention, the handle may retain the fastening member above the handle when the belt is stowed, thus furtherfacilitat- ing use ofthe belt.

The handle may be offabric, and may be ofthe same fabric as the belt itself.

In a particularly advantageous arrangement, the handle may comprise a length of material which is doubled over and secured to or around the belt. The doubled length of material may have a central portion where opposing portions of the material are affixed to one another. The material may befolded overatthe front ofthe handle, and a filling disposed within the fold to afford an increased thickness atthe front of the handle, thereby facilitating grasping ofthe handle. A suitable such filling may comprise a length of cord or the like.

Preferably, the position ofthe handle on the belt is fixed. The handle may be secured to the belt by adhesive, and forthis purpose, at least oneself- adhesive pad may be used.

The invention also extends to a seat belt according to the first aspect of the present invention, when fitted to a vehicle, for example, adjacent or behind the rear of a front seat.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of modifying a seat belt, comprising the step of securing to the seat belt a handle to provide a seat belt according to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a third aspect ofthe present invention, there is provided a handle adapted for use in modifying a seat belt by a method according to the second aspect of the invention.

Fora better understanding ofthe invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, byway of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a seat belt in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 illustrates, in longitudinal section, a handle forattachmentto a seat belt; and Figure3 illustrates, in longitudinal section, an alternative handle.

Figure 1 illustrates a typical arrangement of a seat belt 1 for the occupant of a front seatfo a car. The seat belt 1 is fitted adjacent a pillar (not shown) behind the front doorofthe car, and one end 2 ofthe seat belt 1 is secured to the floor of the car by means of a suitable anchor bracket 3. From there, the belt 1 extends upwardly, and around a loopformed in a guide4, which is secured to the door pillar. From the guide 4, the belt 1 passes downwardlyto an automatic recoil reel 5, anchored at or adjacentthefloor ofthe car. The seat belt 1 thus described is ofthe "inertia" type which is fitted to most new cars, and will be well known to motorists at the present day.

The seat belt 1 is disposed adjacent the respective front seat, and usually somewhat behind it. Of course, it will be appreciated that the distance between the belt 1, when in its stowed position as illustrated in Figure 1, and the front seat will depend upon the actual position of the front seat, which usually will be adjustable.

In orderto put on the seat belt, the occupant of the front seat has to reach behind him, usually with the opposite hand, which is passed overtheshoulder nearest to the belt 1.As mentioned above, this can be something of an awkward exercise, depending on the This print takes account of replacement documents later filed to enable the application comply with the formal requirements of the Patents Rules 1982.

The drawing(s) originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

physical configuration both of the car and of the occupant ofthe front seat.

However, the seat belt 1 which is illustrated in Figure 1 is provided with aforwardly projecting handle 6, which is secured to the belt 1 at a convenient location, to enablethe occupant of the seatto take hold ofthe belt. Preferably, the handle 6 is positioned at or adjacent shoulder level of an average occupant of the respective seat. It will be appreciated that the provision oftheforwardly projecting handle 6 greatly facilitates taking hold of the belt 1, by reducing significantlythe twisting action which is generally involved by the occupant, in reaching for the belt 1.1 considerthisto be avery importantsafetyfactor, in thatfront seat occupants will be greatly encouraged to use their seat belt, as the provision of the handle 6 makes it much easier to use.Also, when used with the inertia type of belt as shown, the handle 6 enables the user to control the rate of recoil ofthe belt. With some types of inertia belts, the belt recoils so vigorously that it is liable to twisting. This can therefore be more easily prevented.

Yet another important safety feature of the illustrated arrangement is that, when the seat belt 1 is stowed as shown, the projecting handle 6 is very visible, and serves as a constant reminderto the occupant of the respective seat that the belt is there, and should be used. As mentioned earlier in the specification, this safety aspect can befurtheren- hanced by making the handle 6 of a prominentcolour, or by applying a prominent colourtothe handle 6. This can be done simply byapplyingfluorescentyellowor orange stickers to one of both sides of the handle 6.

If the seat belt 11 carries a fastening member, which will typically be moveable along the beltfor adjust, ment, this should be positioned above the handle so it is always retained at a position where it can conveniently be handled.

The handle 6may be provided as original equip ment on the seat belt 1, to which it may be secured in thefactory bythe most convenient method-e.g. by sewing, stapling, orglueing.The handle 6may be made ofthe same fabric as the seat belt 1 itself, or any other suitable material may be used.

Another extremely useful feature ofthe invention, however, is the factthat existing seat belts may readily be modified to provide seat belts in accordance with the invention. To this end, there may be provided a handle which is adapted to be secured to an existing seat belt, for example, in the manner shown in Figure 1.

An exampte ofone such handle 7 is illustrated in Figure 2. The handle 7 is made from a length of webbing 8, which may be the same material as is commonly used for seat belts. The length of webbing 8 is doubled over to provide a front portion 9, which is in the form of a loop, a central portion 10, and two free end portions 11. In the central portion 10, the opposing portions ofthewebbing 8 are glued, stapled, or otherwide secured together, such thatthe handle7 there is semi-rigid. At the front portion 9, a short length of cord 12, or the like, is placed in the fold ofthe webbing 8, to provide a portion of increased thickness, to facilitate taking hold ofthe handle 7.

Each of the free ends 11 ofthe handle 7 is provided with a respective self-adhesive pad 13, which has a peel-off covering.The handle 7 as thus described may be sold as an individual item, forfitting to a seat belt 1.

To fit the handle 7, the coverings on the self-adhesive pads 13 are peeled off, and the respective ends 11 of the handle 7 are applied firmly against oppostite faces of the belt 1, at the desired location. The adhesive pads 13 then serve to secure the handle 7 firmly to the belt 1, and the resulting arrangement may resemble that shown in Figure1.Again,fluorescentcoloured stickers are preferably provided on the sides of the handle 7, to make it more prominent.

The alternative handle 14 which is shown in Figure 3 is again made-up of a length of webbing 8. In this case, however, the length of webbing 8 is provided as a single length, having self-adhesive pads 13 at its two ends 15. A clip 16, for example of spring steel, which may be plastics coated, is provided.

In use ofthe handle 14, the length ofwebbing 8 is passed around the seat belt 1, atthe desired position, and the spring clip 16servesto secure to the belt 1 the loop 17 which isthusformed around it. The two ends 15 ofthe length of webbing 8 are brought into abutment, and are secured to opposing portions of the webbing 8 by means of the self-adhesive pads 13.

It will be appreciated that, in this arrangement, no adhesive orotherfastening means is brought directly into contact with the belt 1.

In Figures 2 and 3, the length ofthewebbing 8, before being doubted over, may be in the range30to 35cm.

It is to be appreciated that handles could be made of single lengths of webbing 8, which are not doubled over, and that adhesives otherthan self-adhesive pads may be used. For example, the handle 7 may be suppiied withoutthe adhesive pads 13.

Claims

1. A seat belt adapted to be stowed to one side of, and adjacent or behind the rear of a seat, the belt being provided with a handle which projects forwardly when the belt is so stowed, to enable a user to take hold ofthe belt

2. Aseat belt as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the handle is an elongate projection which extends generally at right angles to the adjacent portion ofthe seat belt.

3. A seat belt as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the handle is from 5to 25 cm. in length.

4. Aseat belt as claimed in Claim 3,wherein the handle is from 10 to 20 cm. in length.

5. A seat belt as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the handleisfrom 13to17cm. in length.

6. Aseatbeltasclaimed in any preceding claim, whereinthe handle is generally at or adjacent shoulder level when the belt is stowed.

7. A seat belt as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handle is of or carries a prominent colour.

8. Aseat belt as claimed in Claim 7,wherein said colourisyellowand/ororange.

9. A seat belt as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, wherein said colourfluoresces.

10. Aseat belt as claimed in Claim 7,8 or 9, wherein the handle carries at least one sticker of said colour.

11. Aseat beltas claimed in any preceding claim, being an inertia seat belt 92. A seat belt as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the belt carries a fastening member, and the handle reteins the fastening memberabove the handle when the belt is stowed.

13. A seat belt as cfaimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handle is of fabric.

14. Aseat belt as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the belt andthe handle are ofthe same fabric.

15. A seat belt as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handle comprises a length of material which is doubled over and secured to or around the belt.

16. Aseat belt as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the doubled length of material has a central portion where opposing portions of the material are affixed to one another.

17. A seat belt as claimed in Claim 15 or 16, wherein the material is folded over at the front of the handle, and afilling is disposed within the fold to afford an increased thickness at the front of the handle.

18. Aseat belt as claimed in Claim 17, wherein said filling comprises a length of cord ofthe like.

19. A seat belt as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the position of the handle on the belt is fixed.

20. A seat belt as claimed in Claim 19,whereinthe handle is secured to the belt by adhesive.

21. Aseat belt as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the handle is secured to the belt by at least one self-adhesive pad.

22. Aseat belt as claimed in Claim 20 or 21, as appendantto Claim 15, wherein both ends of said length of material are secured scrod as the belt by adhesive.

23. Aseat belt as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 19, wherein the handle is secured D the belt by means of a clip.

24. Aseat belt as claimed in Claim 23 as appen dantto Claim 15, wherein said length C31 material is looped around the belt.

25. Aseat belt as claimed in Claim 24,wherein the ends of said length of material are secured to a central portion ofthe handle, in opposing relationship.

26. A seat belt as claimed in Claim 25, wherein said ends are affixed to said central portion by means of an adhesive.

27. Aseat belt as claimed in Claim 26,wherein said adhesive comprises at least one self-adhesive pad.

28. A seat belt substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

29. A seat belt as claimed in any preceding claim, whenfittedto a vehicle.

30. Aseat belt as claimed in Claim 2S, wl ien lfitted to the vehicle body, adjacent or behind the rear of a forntseat.

31. A method of modifying a seat belt, comprising the step of securing to the seat belt a handle to provide a seat belt as claimed in any preceding claim.

32. A handle adapted for use in modifying a seat belt by a method as claimed in Claim 31.

33. A handle as claimed in Claim 32, and substan- tially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 or 3 ofthe accompanying drawing.