GB2250176A

GB2250176A - Seat belt comfort shield

Info

Publication number: GB2250176A
Application number: GB9022997A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Colin Marles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-11-30
Filing date: 1990-11-30
Publication date: 1992-06-03
Also published as: GB9022997D0

Abstract

A personal comfort shield 1 attached to a vehicle seat belt 3 will insulate the wearer from uncomfortable high temperature effects transmitted from the hot seat belt and provide a comfortable interface between belt and wearer. The shield is releasably attached to the belt and may enclose the belt along the shield length 1(i) or be located over the belt surface in contact with the wearer (ii). An integral low power electrical heating element 9 may be included in the comfort shield construction to maintain a warm contact zone in a cold vehicle, and can be operated from the vehicle battery via a cigar lighter socket 4. The shield may also be cooled. <IMAGE>

Description

PERSONAL COMFORT SHIELD This invention relates to a personal comfort shield.

Black seat belt harness webbing when exposed tó solar radiation within the confines of a vehicle will act as a passive solar collector leading to an increase in its surface temperature to a greater level than the internal air temperature of the vehicle [ vehicle means for example a motor vehicle, lorry, coach etc.] Personal discomfort to vehicle occupants from hot seat belts is an observable fact and may be witnessed by noting the number of car drivers holding the seat belt away from their body while driving in an effort to prevent contact with the seat belt harness. This practice is dangerous since it reduces a arivers concentration and can lead to accidents.

While the principle cause of discomfort to the seat belt wearer may often be heat transfer via contact with the belt, other factors may also give rise to personal discomfort such as for example: (a) a cold seat belt (b) a soiled or dirty looking seat belt (c) an aversion on the part of the wearer to contact with the belt material According to the present invention there is provided a detachable comfort shield to isolate unwanted thermal heat gains conducted from a seat belt to the wearer and to offer a cool and comfortable interface between the seat belt and the wearer.

The shield may also incorporate an integral electrical heater to provide thermal heat comfort to the wearer in a cold vehicle.

The shield comprises a flexible glove or muff designed to fit easily around the seat belt harness webbing and means for releasably securing the shield to the belt while allowing the user and the seat belt harness and automatic locking device to function normally and without obstruction.

The shield may enclose both surfaces of the belt or it may enclose only the inside belt surface in contact with the wearer.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in. which: Figure 1 shows in sketch form the normal seated position of a vehicle passenger with the comfort shield in place.

The relative position of the shield worn by the vehicle driver will be similar.

Figure 2 shows in cross section the seat belt and shield prior to attachment for: (i) A comfort shield that encloses both surfaces.

(ii) A comfort shield that encloses one surface.

Figure 3 illustrates in sketch form the shield attached to the seat belt webbing for the enclosed shield.

Referring to Fig 1 of the drawing, the comfort,shield consists of a length of appropriate material 1 of a sufficient length to protect the seat belt wearer 2 from contact with the seat belt 3 in the normal zone of contact-that is from the upper shoulder to the waist region.

The shield may also be used with the waist belt section of the harness.

The shield may also include an electrical heating element of low power requirement suitable for operating from the vehicle battery via for example the cigar lighter socket by way of a flying lead and adaptor 4. This addition will provide thermal comfort to the user in cold weather.

Figure 2 shows the shield 1 separated from the seat belt 3 prior to attachment in which the shield has a sprung or elastic edge 5 thereby enabling the shield to be slipped over the belt and held in place by the closing force 6 generated by the sprung edge of the shield.

This method of manufacture of the shield will enable the shield to fit snugly over the belt, retain its position while in use and ensure flexibility along the X and Y axis as shown in Fig3.

Also shown in Fig 2 is an electrical heating element 9 along the area of the shield in contact with the wearer.

The shield may also be attached to the seat belt by other methods such as studs, zips or other similar means but must allow detachnent for inspection of the belt webbing for safety purposes.

The shield may also be in the form of a single attachment to the belt as 8 (ii) which is clipped to the belt edges by flexible hooks.

Since the comfort shield is intended to reduce heat tranfer from a hot seat belt to the wearer while remaining as cool as possible during periods of solar gain within the vehicle and therefore onto the shield, an important feature is the characteristics of the shield material.

The shield is manufactured therefore from material/s 7 having a low solar absorption coefficient and a maximum emission coefficient for long-wave infra-red radiation.

Thus the shield operating characteristics are opposite to a flat plate solar collector which has a high solar absorption coefficient and a low emission coefficient for long-wave infra-red radiation thereby enabling fairly high absorber plate temperatures to be achieved.

In the case where the shield is constructed to be located against the underside of the belt 8 (li) any solar radiation falling on the surface of the belt will keep the belt temperature high and in this case the shield will be manufactured from material having good thermal insulation characteristics to reduce heat transfer from the belt to the wearer.

Claims

CAIMS

1 A detachable comfort shield to isolate unwanted thermal heat gains conducted from a seat belt to the wearer, reduce solar radiation and therefore heat gain onto a seat belt and to provide a cool and comfortable interface between belt and wearer.

The shield may also incorporate an integral electrical heater to provide thermal comfort to the wearer in a cold vehicle.

The shield comprises a flexible glove or muff designed to fit easily around or under the seat belt harness webbimg and means for releasably securing the shield to the belt while allowing the wearer and the seat belt harness and automatic locking device to function normally and without obstruction.

2 A personal comfort shield as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the shield is secured to the seat belt which enable it to remain in position permanently except when needed to clean or inspect the seat belt or shield.

3 A personal comfort shield as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the operating characteristics of the shield material can be improved upon.

4 A personal comfort shield as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein a cooling coil embedded in the shield will improve its performance in hot conditions.

5 A personal comfort shield substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawing