GB2497270A

GB2497270A - Child proof seat belt cover

Info

Publication number: GB2497270A
Application number: GB1117426.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Teresa Croasdell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-10-06
Filing date: 2011-10-06
Publication date: 2013-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 2031-10-06
Also published as: GB201117426D0; GB2497270B

Abstract

The invention presents an apparatus for child-proofing a vehicle seat belt buckle comprising: a release button cover 100 , a tongue retention aperture 104, and a folding portion 102 between said release button cover and said tongue retention aperture; wherein said folding portion further comprises a release button access aperture 101. The folding portion may comprise at least two living hinges 106, 108 and be thinner than the said cover. The apparatus may also be formed from a single part.

Description

patent pplication of Teresa Croasdell for child proof seat belt cover dofe Invention [1] The present invention relates to vehicle seat belts and to means for making such seat belts child proof.

[21 Means for covering a seat belt buckle to prevent a child from releasing the seat belt are known in the artS The 0') simplest of these are mechanical means for either covering the r seat belt release mechanism completely, or making it more difficult to access.

° [3] For example, WO 2009041939 to Kerr discloses a cover that fits over a child seats harness buckle and locks in place 0 to prevent a child from pressing the release button on the buckle. An adult user opens the cover and places it beneath the harness buckle of the child seat and then attaches the harness halts in the usual manner around the child When this task is complete, the user simply closes the cover and locks the latch underneath the cover. To remove the child from the safety seat, the iscr would simply open the cover by undoing the latch, and then the release button on the buckle can be pressed.

[41 Furthermore, wo 2009068903 to Banks discloses an s.nti-tamper device for use with a seat-belt clasp and buckle of the type in which the buckle has a narrowed tongue projecting from a belt loop and the clasp has an opening into which the tongue can be lockably inserted, with a release element that is manually

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operable to unlock the buckle from the clasp, as used in most adult seat belts. A first portion of the device has an aperture through which the tongue can be inserted into the opening in the clasp so that, when the tongue is locked in the clasp, the first portion is trapped between the clasp and the belt loop of the buckle. A second portion is mounted relative to the first portion and able to move between a closed and an open position. When closed, the first portion is trapped between the clasp and the belt loop, and the second portion covers the release element.

When open, the release element is accessible. A child-proof locking arrangement releasably locks the first and second portions in the closed position. When the device is no longer required, it can simply be removed, when the seat-belt is undone, because the device is no longer trapped between the clasp and the belt Loop, and the device can then be stored in a safe place.

[5] WO 9320728 discloses a child proof seat belt device for 0 a regular seat belt of the type described above. The device compri?es a buckle housing for surrounding the seat belt buckle, 0 and a pressure release button disposed over the seat belt release button. The pressure release button on the device activates the release button on the seat belt when pressure is applied by a user. The pressure release button provides added stiffness to the seat belt release button such that a child cannot release it.

[6] (IS 5052087 to Portuese discloses a child proof cover for covering and protecting a seat belt buckle assembly which includes a channel which provides access to the release control of the seat belt buckle assembly. The channel is directed away from the child when in the seat, such that the child cannot reach the release control, but an adult can. The cover is an integral, one-piece unit and the channel extends forwardly of and at ar.

angle to one end of a lower section thereof. The other end of the lower section is open-The cover is intended to be stored on the seat belt when not in use, [7] US 4497094 to Morris discloses a safety sleeve for a regular veh:cle seat belt such as those described above having a buckle and a tongue for insertion into the buckle. The sleeve is slipped over and encloses the buckle housing, and has an aperture at one end for receiving the tongue, which retains the housing in place. The sleeve has a limited access opening in one face to overlie the release button. The limited access opening is sized to allow, for example, the tip of the ignition key to pass through the opening, to depress the release button and unfasten the belt.

co 4c S1n of the Invention r [Si I: can be seen from the forgoing that a need has arisen ___ for a simple and user-friendly means for preventing a child from C unfastening a seat belt while allowing easy access for an adult to unfasten the seat belt.

O [9] Ii would be advantageous for the adult to be able to operate the device without additional equipment. It would be further advantageous for the adult:0 be able to operate the device with one hand rather than two.

[1OJ It is therefore an object of the present invention to urovide a user-friendly means for preventing a child from unfastening a seat belt while allowing easy access for an adult to unfasten the seat belt, having the abovementioned adventages.

[11] to this end, an apparatus for child-proofing a vehicle sea: belt buckle is disclosed, comprlslnq a release bUtton cover; a tongue retention aperture; and a folding cortion between said release button cover and sa!d tongue retention aperture; oherein said folding port on further comprises a release button access aperture.

l2] An advantage of the present invention is that the seat belt is covered in a way that the adult can open it with a simple, single-handed manoeuvre and without additional equipment.

A yet further advantage is that it is formed from a single piece of inexpensive material.

Brief Description of the Several _søfjeDtaWifl

rl3] The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings1 in which: [d Figure 1 shows the apparatus of the invention in aT' open position.

r [l5 Figure 2 shows the apparatus of the invention in a closed position.

0 [16 Ficure 3 shows the apparatus of the invention in posrt:on on a seat belt buckle, saL2escri tion of the Invention [17] In the following description, the term tongue' is used to refer to that part of a regular vehicle seat belt which projects from the belt and is inserted into a slot to fasten the seat belt -The term buckle' is used to refer to that part of a reçulavchicle seat belt which is attached to the hctLom of the seat and into which the tongue is inserted. The term release huttorJ i s used to refer to that part of a regular vehicle seat belt which is depressed to unfasten the belt. Figure 3 i.ilustrates Loose components with tongue 300, buckle 301 and :eleese button 302.

[IS] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 1 to 3 in which like numerals refer to like components, an aoparatus for child-proofing a vehicle seat belt buckle is disclosed, comprising: a release cutton cover 100; a tongue retention aperture 104; and a folding portion 102 between said release button cover and said tongue retention aperture; wherein said folding pot lion further comprises a release button access aperture 101.

:l9J The release button cover is preferably shaped to cover the top of the buckle of a regular vehicle seat belt as known in the art. Since the release button is commonly situated at the top of the buckle, the cover thereby covers the release button and prevents a child from depressing it, The cover may cover all or part of the buckle housing and may accommodate release buttons disposed in other parts of a buckle or buckle housing.

[20] The release button cover preferably comprises r polypropylene of a thickness sufficient to retain its shape, although other olastics or suitable materials may be used.

[21] The folding portion preferably comprises a concertina o as shown, manufactured from polypropylene, havinq two living hinges 106, 108 enabling the concertina to fold and unfold repeatedly. Living hinges are known in the art and are an tnexoensive form of hinge comprising a thinned strip of polypropylene or similar plastic which is able to repeatedly bend without breaking. The folding portion preferably comprises polycropylene thinner than the polypropylene of the release button cover, which is able to flex when the button cover is pulled away from the buckle, allowi ng the concertina to unfold into the open position. Preferably both the folding portion and the portion containing the tongue aperture are thinner and more flexible than the cover since this will aid the unfolding of the folding portton. However, alternatively only the folding portion racy he thinner.

[22: Alternatively, the folding portion may comprise regular mechanical hinges, or may be a fabric, a chain, or another plastic or other material having the ability to flex and unfold.

1231 The tongue retention aperture is an aperture shaped to admit the tongue and aflow It to pass through the apparatus to fasten the seat belt. The tongue retention aperture thus holds the apparatus in place on the fastened seat belt.

[24: The release button access aperture is an aperture having a width preferably similar to that of the release button and at least sufficient to admit a finger, and a length preferably extending over the release button and along the Length of the folding portion, and at least long enough to admit a finger over the release button. Thus the access aperture ___ preferably changes shape with the operation of the apparatus, or at least becomes covered and uncovered as the apparatus folds and C unfolds respectively. An advantage of the access aperture extending over the folding portion is that the folding portion N thereby comprises less material making it both easier to fold and 0 unfold, and cheaper to produce.

[25) When the apparatus is in the open position, and the fo.dirg portion is unfolded, the access aperture is open and the release button can be accessed and depressed. When the apparatus is in the closed position, the folding portion is folded and the access aperture is covered by the release button cover, thus the release button cannot be accessed.

126] The cover preferably comprises finger grips 110 to indicate to a user where to hold and pull the apparatus.

[27: The apparatus is preferably formed from a single pc.ypropylene part thus the apparatus is cheap to produce.

Alternatively the apparatus may be formed from several parts.

(28] In operation, a user folds the folding portion so that the apparatus is in the closed position, and places the apparatus over the seat belt buckle such that the release button is covered by the cover. The user then inserts the seat belt tongue through the tongue retention aperture and into the buckle slot, to fasten the seat belt. To unfasten the seat belt, a user first pulls the cover away from the release button, opening the access aperture and exposing the button, and then depresses the release button to unfasten the seat belt. An advantage of the invention is therefore that it can be operated very easily, with a single hand and without extra apparatus. cy)

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. n aoparatus for child--proofing a vehicle seat belt buckle comprising: a reiease button cover; a tongue retention aperture; and a folding portion between said release button cover and said tongue retention aperture; wherein said folding portion further comprises a release button access aperture.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said folding portion no:nor±ses at least two living hinges.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said folding portion is thinner than said cover. r</claim-text> <claim-text>4, The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is formed from a single part.N-</claim-text>