GB2371830A

GB2371830A - Cover for safety harnesses

Info

Publication number: GB2371830A
Application number: GB0102798A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Anderson Hope; Christopher Hoskin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-02-03
Filing date: 2001-02-03
Publication date: 2002-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 2021-02-03
Also published as: GB2371830B; GB0102798D0

Abstract

An accessory suitable for car seat belt buckles comprises a sleeve 2 of flexible material, e.g. leather, adapted to be slid over a first part of a buckle 32 and means 16,18 connected to the sleeve for releasably engaging a second part of the buckle 36. When in place the sleeve denies access to the release mechanism 34 of the buckle, thus preventing accidental release of the buckle. The sleeve is preferably formed from a single flap of material which has its free ends sown together. The sleeve may be formed with a relatively stiff inflexible outer part and a relatively elastic inner part. The means for releasably engaging the second part of the buckle may be in the form two strap parts 16,18 which fold around the second buckle part and are fastened to one another by hook and loop fastening tape.

Description

ACCESSORY FOR SAFETY HARNESSES

The present invention relates to an accessory for a safety harness, in particular, though not exclusively, for a safety harness for the occupants of motor vehicles, e. g. cars.

A problem which arises, particularly with children, in cars, is that the safety harness, or seat-belt, has a quick-release mechanism which may be accidentally triggered to release the seat-belt.

It is an object of the invention to overcome or at least ameliorate this problem.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an accessory for a safety harness, wherein the harness includes two separable parts interconnected by a buckle, wherein one part of the buckle is connected to one part of the harness for receiving and releasably locking the other part of the buckle connected to the second part of the harness, the accessory comprising a sleeve of flexible material adapted to slide over a first part of the buckle, and means connected to the sleeve for releasably engaging over the second part of the buckle, whereby to prevent accidental release of the buckle.

In accordance with the invention, when release of the safety harness buckle is required, the releaseable engaging means of the accessory is first disengaged from the second buckle part to permit the sleeve to be moved away from the first part of the buckle, to permit disengagement of the two buckle parts.

The present invention has particular application to car seat belts and application to "baby-seats"having seat belts for small children. However, the present invention may be applied to other types of safety harness, for example, safety harnesses worn by workers on high buildings, such as construction workers or window cleaners.

As preferred, the sleeve is formed of a material which is sufficiently flexible to

permit manoeuvring over the buckle of the safety harness, whilst being sufficiently stiff to prevent finger pressure applied to the sleeve disengaging the buckle. For example, the sleeve may be formed of leather or a plastics material. The sleeve may have a relatively stiff outer part (relative to the buckle) and a relatively flexible inner part, for example an elasticated webbing. The sleeve may taper from a small diameter further from the buckle to a larger diameter at an open end adjacent the buckle, for ease of sliding the sleeve over the buckle. The sleeve may be partially closed at the wider end so as to prevent fingers entering the sleeve from above. The sleeve is preferably integrally formed, but as an alternative it may be formed as a flap of material which is folded over with an engagement means, for example a lockable zip for defining the sleeve form.

The releasable engaging means of the accessory may comprise any suitable means,

for example a lace or strap. A strap may be provided as two parts with a single buckle UTJ interconnecting the two parts, alternatively the ends of the strap may have VELCRQMape attached thereto to lock the free ends of the strap together around the second part of the

buckle. As preferred, the strap is formed of the same material as the sleeve and is attached to the sleeve by some means, for example, sewing, or alternatively is integral with the sleeve.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompany drawings, wherein: Figures 1,2, 3 and 5 are respectively perspective, front and side views of a sleeve accessory for a car seat belt buckle; Figure 4 is a rear view of the sleeve accessory; Figure 6 is a sectional view of the sleeve accessory along the line X-X; Figures 7 and 8 are end views of the sleeve accessory from above and below; and Figure 9 is a front view of the sleeve accessory with the two ends of the strap fully extended, and showing schematically in dotted lines a two part seat belt buckle located therein.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figures 1 to 9, the sleeve accessory comprises a sleeve part 2 of leather material which is formed as a flap and sewn as at 4 in order to provide a sleeve which tapers from a narrow lower end 6 to an wide upper end 8. At the upper end 8, the sleeve is sewn as at 10 to an upper part 12 of the accessory which is of leather and comprises a flap

14 for partially closing off the upper erd 8 fnd two parts 16, 18 of a strap. The free ends of ( ri strap part 16, 18 have areas of VELCR tape 20 attached thereto.

In use, as indicated in Figure 9, the accessory is disposed on the"stalk"30 of the seat belt beneath the first part 32 of the seat belt buckle containing a releasable engaging means with a release button 34. When the seat belt is positioned over a person, for example a young child, the sleeve 4 is manoeuvred upwardly over the first part 32 of the seat belt buckle. The second part 36 of the seat belt buckle coupled to a strap 38 is engaged in the

first part. Straps 16, 18 are then folded over second part 36 and fixed together by engaging ( the VELCRQttape flaps 20. This arrangement provides complete security for a young child t4~ 0 P, since it is unlikely to have the finger strength or dexterity to unlock the VELCRtape fixing, and cannot insert its fingers into the upper part of the sleeve 4, by virtue of closure

flap 12. Further, the leather sleeve is sufficiently stiff to prevent manual pressure through the sleeve releasing the seat belt button.

In a modification, the accessory is modified for use with a seat belt for a baby seat of the type which is commonly fixed to the rear passenger seat in a car. This is essentially a simplified version of the accessory shown in the drawings, with the sleeve being formed without a taper and being formed of two parts, the outer part being of a relatively thick leather, and an inner part being formed of an elasticated webbing material sown to the outer leather part. The upper part of the accessory is formed as two straps integral with the

leather part of the sleeve and having a greater length than those indicated in Figure 9. The ti L ends of the straps have pieces ofVELCRtapes affixed thereto. In use, the accessory is

fitted over the seat belt buckle of the baby harness in a manner similar to that described above. The accessory does not make such a close fit over the seat belt buckle, but is nevertheless sufficiently protected to prevent a baby accidentally releasing the seat belt buckle.

Claims

1. An accessory for a safety harness, wherein the harness includes two separable parts interconnected by a buckle, wherein one part of the buckle is connected to one part of the harness for receiving and releasably locking the other part of the buckle connected to the second part of the harness, the accessory comprising a sleeve of flexible material adapted to slide over the first part of the buckle, and means connected to the sleeve for releasably engaging over the second part of the buckle, whereby to prevent accidental release of the buckle.

2. An accessory as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a sleeve is adapted to slide over said one part of the buckle, and the releasable engaging means is adapted to engage over said other part of the buckle.

3. An accessory as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the sleeve tapers from an end at which it is connected to said releasable engaging means to a free end.

4. An accessory as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the sleeve has parallel side walls.

5. An accessory as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve is formed of a single flap of material with the ends of the flap being sown or otherwise fixed together.

6. An accessory as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the sleeve is formed of two parts, namely a first outer part of relatively stiff and inflexible material, and a second inner part of relatively elastic material.

7. An accessory as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve is formed at least partially of leather.

8. An accessory as claimed in Claims 6 and 7, wherein the inner part of the sleeve is

formed of an elastic webbing.

9. An accessory as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said releasable engaging means comprises first and second strap parts extending from one end of the sleeve and adapted to be folded over the second part of the buckle.

10. An accessory as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the free ends of the strap have releasable engaging means.

11. An accessory as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the releasable engaging means is VELCRO tape.

12. An accessory as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the releasable engaging means is integral with the sleeve.

13. An accessory as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the releasable engaging means is formed of a flexible material which is fixed to one end of the sleeve, preferably by sewing.

14. An accessory as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the releasable engaging means has a flap closure means for partially closing an open end of the sleeve.

15. Accessories for a safety harness substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.