GB2281188A

GB2281188A - Cushioning for restraining devices such as seat belts

Info

Publication number: GB2281188A
Application number: GB9316133A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Allan Dixon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-08-04
Filing date: 1993-08-04
Publication date: 1995-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2013-08-04
Also published as: GB2281188B; GB9316133D0

Abstract

A cushioning device for releasable attachment to a seat belt diagonal strap provides enhanced comfort without reducing the efficiency of the belt. The device comprises a substantially flat base (10, Fig. 2), eg of aluminium, provided on one side with a cushioning cover to lie against the body of the wearer. On the other side of the base member are wing elements (12 - 15) extending parallel to and partially across the said base member. The wing elements secure the device to the belt whilst allowing freedom of movement for the device along the belt. A cover 2 is a snap fit onto the base member to enclose the said wing elements and prevent the base member becoming inadvertently disengaged from the belt. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT TO RESTRAINING DEVICES USED IN VEHICLES The present invention relates to a device for attaching to restraining apparatus, such as seat belts providing enhanced comfort when such restraining apparatus are used in vehicles and other transport.

Drivers and passengers in many forms of transport, for example motor cars, are required by law to wear suitable restraining apparatus such as seat belts. Such belts are required to provide restraint to the upper torso in addition to providing restraint at the lap or top of the thighs. In consequence the most popular form of seat belt fitted to motor vehicles is the lap strap and diagonal seat belt.

In lap strap and diagonal seat belts the diagonal strap portion passes from the waist of the wearer to a point behind, and normally above, the wearer's shoulder with the result that pressure is applied to the area of the upper chest and shoulder which can lead to considerable discomfort, in particular to women and especially when the vehicle brakes sharply and the wearer is urged against the belt. This problem is especially acute with static seat belts; the use of spring loaded retractable belts is only partially successful in combating the discomfort.

I have now developed a device which can be releasably attached to the seat belt diagonal strap to provide enhanced comfort for the user, without reducing the efficiency of the belt.

My device comprises a first member having a substantially flat base which in use is parallel to the seat belt and includes means for releasably attaching the member to the belt, the said means permitting the member to slide freely there along; a second cap member for releasable attachment to the said first member whereby the belt is enclosed between the two said members, and a cushioned cover for at least one of the first or second members, the said cover being secured to the member which, when in use, lies between the belt and the wearer, the position of the device being adjusted along the belt to provide maximum comfort.

The device may be formed of any suitable material, for example, it may be a metal such as aluminium, a plastics material or stiffened fabric or leather.

The cushioning may be a foam material, which should be fire resistant, covered with a fabric or other material such as leather.

Any suitable means for releasably attaching the base member to the belt may be used. For example, such means may comprise wing elements substantially parallel to the base and extending from each side of the member towards the opposite side to partially encase the belt when attached thereto. Such wing elements preferably extend less than half way across the width of the base member to allow easy attachment to the belt and they are preferably integral with the base member. The cap member may comprise a hollow box structure that is a snap fit over elements extending at right angles to the base member and that are preferably integral therewith. In another form the cap member may have an open end and side portions dimensioned and shaped to be a sliding fit over the side edge portions of the base member. Other methods of releasably securing the cap to the body member may be used but all are preferably of the "invisible" type.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the device of the present invention attached to a portion of a car diagonal seat belt; Figure 2 is a plan view of a base member of a device of Figure 1, Figure 2(a) is a section through A-A of Figure 2, Figure 2(b) is a section through B-B of Figure 2, Figure 3 is a plan view of the cap.member of the device of Figure 1, Figure 3(a) is a side view of the cap member of Figure 3, and Figure 3(b) is an end view of the cap member of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, one embodiment of a device of the present invention comprises a lower member 1 and cap member 2 slidably attached to a seat belt 3. Lower member 1 consists of a base member (illustrated and described with reference to Figures 2, 2(a) and 2(b)) to which belt 3 is attached and to which is secured a layer of fire resistance foam material covered with a leather outer cover 4 to form a cushion.

The device is attached to the belt member such that, in use, lower member 1 is positioned between the belt 3 and the wearer.

Cap 2 (described with reference to Figures 3, 3(a) and 3(b)) consists of a hollow box structure contained within an outer leather cover 5.

Referring to Figures 2, 2(a) and 2(b), base member 10 is formed from 0.09 mm aluminium sheet and comprises a flat base 11 and four inwardly directed identical wing elements 12 - 15 integral with base 11 and formed by bending shaped elements from a flat-sheet. Wing elements 12 - 15 are substantially parallel to base 11 and are spaced therefrom to provide a gap 16 (Figure 2(a)) to accept the seat belt there between and allow free movement of the device along the belt. The distance between wings 12, 14 and 13, 15 is sufficient to allow easy insertion and removal of the seat belt between the wing elements 12 -15 and the base. Six stud elements 17 - 22, 7 mm high, extend upwardly of the base and normal thereto and are provided with outwardly directed protrusions 17a - 22a, over which the cap 2 is dimensioned to be a snap fit. The depth of stud elements 17 - 22 preferably does not exceed the internal depth of dimensions of the side portions of cap 2. Typically base 11 is 180 mm long and 55 mm wide; the wing elements having a maximum length of 60 mm and a maximum depth of 20 mm. Gap 16 is typically 2 mm.

Cap 2 illustrated in Figures 3, 3(a) and 3(b) is a shallow box structure again formed from 0.09 aluminium sheet having a top 30, longitudinal sides 31 and transverse sides 32. Top 1 is dimensioned to allow sides 32 to be a snap fit over protrusions 17a - 22a of stud elements 17 to 22. Typically the dimensions of cap 2 are length 181 mm, width 58 mm with sides 31 and 32 7 mm deep.

In use the device is secured to a seat belt by sliding one edge portion of the belt between two adjacent wing elements e.g. elements 12 - 13, and then folding the belt to allow the opposite edge to enter the gap between the opposite pair of elements, e.g. 14 and 15 such that the cushion portion 1 will be adjacent the wearer. Cap 2 is then snapped onto the base member to complete the device. The device is then moved along the belt to a postion on the upper chest and close to the shoulder of the wearer, the exact position being determined by the needs of the wearer. So positioned the device holds the belt away from the upper chest and lower portion of the wearer's shoulder making the belt more comfortable in use.

Claims

1. A device for attachment to a restraining apparatus including a belt member passing across the body of a person being restrained comprising a first member having a substantially flat base which in use is parallel to the said belt and includes means for releasably attaching the member to the belt and permitting the member to slide freely therealong, a second cap member for releasable attachment to the said first member whereby the belt is enclosed between the two said members and a cushioned cover for at least one of the first or second members, the said cover being secured to the member which, when in use, lies between the belt and the person being restrained, the position of the device being adjusted along the belt to provide maximum comfort.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the means for releasably attaching the first member to the belt comprises wing elements substantially parallel to the said flat base and extending from each side of the member towards the opposite side thereof to partially encase the belt when attached thereto.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the wing elements extend less than half across the width of the base member to provide convenient attachment to the belt.

4. A device according to claim 2 wherein the wing members are integral with the base member.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base member includes elements extending substantially at right angles to the said base and the said cap member is a snap fit over the said elements.

6. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the cap member comprises an element having an open-E structure closed at one end, the sides of the said structure being dimensioned and shaped to be a sliding fit over the side edge portions of the said base member.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the restraining apparatus is a vehicle seat belt.

8. A device according to claim l substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.