GB2233878A - Padded sleeve for a vehicle seat belt - Google Patents

Abstract

The sleeve (1) is used to increase the comfort of the user (4) and comprises a rectangular piece of padded material (ABCD) in the form of e.g. a quilt which is folded around a seat belt (2) so that its opposite edges (CD and AB) overlap to form a sleeve (1) with padding which encircles the seat belt (2). The overlapping edges (CD and AB) are releasably fastened together with fastening strips (3A, 3B), e.g. of Velcro (Trade Mark). <IMAGE>

Description

PADDED SLEEVE FOR A VEHICLE SEAT BELT This invention relates to a padded sleeve for use with a vehicle seat belt.

In many countries, seat belts are a legal requirement and must be fixed in position for the safety of the driver and passenger. To perform their function they must of necessity be very strong. This frequently results in seat belts having "harsh" edges which can be extremely uncomfortable for the user. The pressure imposed by the seat belt on the user is also not pleasant.

h number of attachments have plevivusly ben proposed for use with a seat belt, for example to provide a covet for the belt to prevent it becoming soiled. to prevent the user's clothes becoming soiled or to provide decorative effect (see, for example GB-A-2048651, GB-A-l27b0C and GB-A-1169159. Other attachments have been proposed to minimise friction between the belt and the user's clothes, e.g. Gi3-A-1178Si2, ano for cusnlc.ning t.e strap against the user's shoulder, e.g. GS-A-83522G.

Ail these known attachments have disadvantages and the applicant is not aware that any of them have achieved commercial success. The advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description given below.

The present invention provides a padded sleeve for use with a vehicie seat belt to increase the comfort of the user, the sleeve being formed from a substantially rectangular piece of padded material which may be folded around a seat belt so that opposite edges of the rectangle overlap each other to form a sleeve with padding that encircles the belt, the overiapping edges of the rectangle being provided with touch-and-close fastening means so they may be releasably fastened together.

Preferred features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the subsidiary claims of the specification.

The invention will now be further described, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of a padded sleeve according to the invention fitted to a seat belt such as that used by the driver of a car; Figure 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of the padded sleeve shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the inner side of the sleeve shown in Figure 2 when opened out flat; and Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the outer side of the sleeve shown in Figure 2 when opened out flay.

The drawing Illustrates a padded sleeve i formed from a re.tanbie of padded materl-S which can be folded about a seat belt 2 so that opposite educes of the rectangle overlap and can be fastened together by means of strips 3A and 3B of ioop-and-hook type fasteners, such as Velcro (Trade Mark).

The sleeve i thus provides a 'cushion' between the user 4 and seat belt 2.

The sleeve 1 completely encircles the belt 2 and is closed in position by the fastener strips 3A and 3B. The sleeve 1 fits the seat belt 2 snugly but due to the material from which it is made can be adjusted with ease to suit the comfort of the user 4.

The primary function of the sleeve i is thus to improve the comfort of the user although at the same time it may protect both the seat belt and the user's ciothes from wear and from becoming soiled and may also enhance the appearance of the seat belt.

It will also be seen that the padding encircles the belt 2 so the user is protected from both sides and both edges of the belt. Thus, not only does the sleeve prevent the inner side and the edges of the belt 2 from pressing into the user 4 but the user's neck and chin are also protected from the outer side of the belt where it extends from the shoulder across the chest.

As shown' in Figures 3 and 4, the sleeve 1 comprises a substantially rectangular piece of padded material ABCD. This preferably has an outer covering of soft and flexible, hard wearing material such as proofed and glazed nylon, which forms the opposing faces of the rectangular piece of material, with a soft padding, e.g. in the form of a polyester wadding such as Dacron Hollowfii (Trade Mark), between the two nylon faces. The outer covering may be formed of one piece of nylon folded in two or from two separate pieces of nylon. Stitchng 5 is provided around the edges of the piece of material forming the rectangle ABC: and also along lines 5A and 5B extending along the length cf the rectangle.These lines of stitching 5A and 5B extend adjacent the iniiermost edges of the fastener strips 3A ane 3B and help to keep the fastener strips 3 A and 32. flat. They also help increase the longitudinal rigidity of the folded sleeve i to heip prevent it being compressed along its axis and 'bunching up' on the seat belt 2. The stitching 5 may be formed of any conventional material such as nylon spun t.lzead.

iie rectanglar piece ol material ABCD is titus in tne form of a soft quilt and the padding extends across substantially the entire length and width of the piece of material apart from one of the overlapping edges. The paading extends under one of the fastening strips, preferably strip 3B which is innermost on the sleeve shown in Figure 2 to ensure that the padding encircles the seat belt, but not under the other fastening strip 3A so as to avoid forming an uncomfortable ridge on the sleeve.The padding is preferably i to 2 cm thick or 0.5 to 1.00 cm thick when compressed. it is held in place by the stitching 5 around three sides of the perimeter of the piece of material ABCD and by the iine of stitching 5B adjacent the fastener strip 3A.

The sleeve i may be formed of flame resistant or fire rest ardent materials or may be treated to provide these properties.

The sleeve 1 is formed entirely of textile materials and may easily be removed for cleaning, for instance in a washing machine.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the fastening strips 3A and 3B are provided adjacent opposite edges of the rectangular piece of material ABOD and on opposite faces thereof. For instance, a strip 3A of the hook part of a Velcro (Trade Mark) fastener may be provided on the inner face of the sleeve 1 adjacent the edge CD as shown in Figure 3, and a strip 3B of the loop side of the Velcro (Trade Mark) fastener provided adjacent the edge 3B on the outer face of the sleeve i as shown in Figure 4. Thus, when the rectangular piece of material is folded so that the edge CD overiaps the edge AB as shown in Figure 2, the two fastening strips 3A and 3B may be releasably pressed together to hold the material in the shape of a sleeve 1.

As shown in Figure i, when the sleeve is fitted to a seat beit, the overlapping edges CD and AB may be positioned on the outwardly facing side of the sleeve i so they are easily accessibie to the user 4 and do not form an uncomfortaole ridge on the side of the sleeve i in contact with the user. The overlapping attachment of the edges provides an easy form of fastening and ensures that the sleeve can be fitted around the belt at the required tightness even if the material stretches after it has been used for some length of time or the belt is of a non-standard width. It also enables the means to be neatly concealed and there are no exposed parts of the fastening means to catch on the users clothing etc.

The sleeve i described above is of simple construction and is therefore relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, The rectangular piece of material ABCD has a width sufficient to enable it to be folded closely about a seat belt 2 with the opposite edges CD and AD overlapping by approximately one-third to one-half of the width of the seat belt as shown in Figures i and 2. For instance, the rectangular piece of material ABCD may have a width of substantially 18 cm so it can be folded about a standard 4.5 cm wide seat belt with an overlap between the edges CD and AB of 2 to 4 cm.

The rectangular piece of material ABCD has a length sufficient to extend across the body of the user, e.g. from above the shoulder to the opposite side of the body when used on the diagonal portion of a conventional seat belt 2 as shown in Figure 1. The sleeve i may thus be typically 55 to 70 cm long and preferably substantially 58 cm long. A sponger sleeve 1 may interfere with the seat belt mountings 6 at each end of the sleeve whereas a shorter sleeve would only provide cushioning across part of the body. As the outer covering is formed of a relatively smooth material such as glazed nylon, the sleeve i can be easily slid along the seat belt 2 so it can be adjusted to provide cushioning in the required areas.

Shorter sleeves may be provided for use on the lap portion of a conventional seat belt, on children '5 seat belts, or on other fori-is of belt.

A shorter sleeve may also be usec; to cuAion a seat belt only where it passes over the shoulder of the user. A sleeve substantially 46 cm long has been found to be suitable for this.

In a preferred arrangement, a set of two padded sleeves may be provided, the first, longer sleeve being of a length suitable for use on the diagonal strap of a cnventional seat belt, e.g. substantially 58 cm long, and the second, shorter sleeve being of a length suitable for use on the lap belt of a conventional seat belt, e.g. substantially 46 cm long. The use of a sleeve on the lap belt is particularly suitable for pregnant iadies.

It will be appreciated that when the sleeve ; is fitted around a seat belt, it may be fitted sufficiently tightly to hold itself in position although its position may also be adjusted by sliding it along the seat belt 2. The 'snugness' of the fit thus holds the sleeve i in place on the belt 2 and the user can easily adjust its position by sliding it along the belt so o to provide protection in the areas required.

The sleeve i does not impair the function of the seat belt 2 but makes it move comfortably and in the event of an accident or sudden halt may help to reduce injuries or bruising caused by the belt 2 pressing into the user.

The sleeve i may be left on the seat belt 2 when the seat belt is released or may be easily removed by sliding a finger or thumb between the fastener straps 3A and 3B to disengage the overlapping edges of the sleeve i.

With most self-retracting seat belts, it is found that the sleeve i may be left in place when the seat belt is disengaged. The belt then retracts as far as the sleeve 1 allows it leaving the sleeve hanging neatly from the upper seat belt mounting or bracket ready for when the vehicle is next used.

The sleeve is designed for use by anyone who finds vehicle seat belts uncomfortable 'out is particularly suitable for children, the elderly, and invaiids. It is also particularly suitable for use in warm weather when light clothing worn by the user orfers little pl-vte.tior.. The sleeve may also be used in a wide variety of other situations, e.g. on the straps of a rucksack or golf-bag.

To provide additional padding, e.g. on the shoulder of an invalid, a second, shorter sleeve (not shown) may be fitted ovel the first sleeve. This second sleeve rnay be of corresponding design but formed from a rectangular piece oi material approximately i8 cm long and 20 cm wide.

Claims (9)

CLA;MS

1. A padded sleeve for use with a vehicle seat belt to increase the comfort of the user, the sleeve being formed from a substantially rectangular piece of padded material which may be folded around a seat belt so that opposite edges of the rectangle overlap each other to form a sleeve with padding that encircles the belt, the overlapping edges of the rectangle being provided with touci-and-close fastening means so they may be rue'easily fastened together.

2. A padded sleeve as claimed in claim i in which the substantially rectangular piece of material has a width sufficient to enable it to be folded closely around a seat belt with its opposite edges overlapping, e.g. substantially ;8 cm wide for folding around a seat belt substantially 4.5 cm wide with an overlap of 2 to 4 cm.

3. A padded sleeve as claimed in claim i or 2 in which the substantially rectangular piece of material has a length sufficient to extend across the body of the user when used on the diagonal portion of a conventional seat belt, e.g. 55 to 70 cm long, and preferably substantia-*ly 58 cm long.

4. A padded sleeve as claimed in any of ciaims i, 2 or 3 in which the rectangular piece of padded material comprises an outer covering with opposing faces made of a hard wearing material (such as nyLon) with a soft padding, (such as polyester wadding) therebetween, e.g. in the form of a quilt, with the padding extending across substantially the entire length and width of the rectangular piece of material apart from one of the overlapping edges thereof.

5. A padded sleeve as claimed in claim 4 comprising lines of stitching extending along the length of the substantially rectangular piece of material adjacent the innermost edges of the touch- and- close fastening means provided along the edges thereof.

6. A padded sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim in which the touch and-close fastening means comprises a hook and loop type fastener (such as Velcro - Trade Mark) with one part of the fastener provided adjacent an edge on one face of the substantially rectangular piece of material and the other part of the fastener provided adjacent the opposite edge on the other face of the piece of material so that the two parts of the fastener engage each other when the opposite edges of the piece of material are overlapped with each other.

7. A set of two @@@@@@ sleeves as claimed in @@@ preceding claim but of differing lengths, olie vi the sleeves being f d length suitable for use on the diagonal strap of d conventional SCdt belt and the other sleeve being of a length suitable for use on the lap belt of a conventional seat belt, the longer sleeve having, for example, a length of subtantially 53 cms and the shorter sleeve having, for example, a length of substantially 46 cogs.

8. A paddle sleeve or set of padded sleeves as claimed in any preceding claim when fitted to a vehicle seat belt.

9. A padded sleeve or set of padded sleeves as claimed in claim 8 in which the or each sleeve is fitted around the seat belt sufficiently tightly to hold itself in position although its position can still be adjusted by sliding it along the seat belt.

iO. A padded sleeve or set of padded sleeves substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.