NZ529943A

NZ529943A - Belt guide

Info

Publication number: NZ529943A
Application number: NZ529943A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Robert Wise
Original assignee: Igc Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2002-12-04
Filing date: 2003-12-03
Publication date: 2005-08-26
Also published as: AU2003266477B2; AU2003266477A1; AU2002953098A0

Abstract

A vehicle safety belt guide for a child booster seat, including an elongate member having a middle portion and at least one end portion. Retaining means are connected to the middle portion and define an upper middle portion and a lower middle portion. Fastening means are located on the at least one end portion. The at least one end portion is engageable with the retaining means and is releasably securable to itself by the fastening means thereby defining an aperture through which a vehicle safety belt may be received.

Description

004403258 k , 529 9 4 3 BELT GUIDE Field of the Invention intellectual property office of n.z. - 3 DEC 2003 RECEIVED This invention relates to a vehicle safety belt guide for use with a child booster seat.

Background of the Invention Generally, vehicle seat belts are designed to form a lap belt and a sash which sits diagonally across an adult wearer's chest. Children's booster seats are known, they raise the sitting position of a young child to a height more closely to that of an adult to enable them to use the vehicle seat belt. However, depending on the size and height of the child, the sash may still extend diagonally across the child's head or neck in an uncomfortable and/or dangerous position.

Devices are known which hold the sash closer to the lap belt, placing it in a position away from the head and neck of the child. These devices are commonly known as belt guides and take on a variety of different forms.

Such forms include partially open apertures formed in the back portion of the frame of a child's booster seat. The opening of the apertures allows a seat belt to be received and removed.

Another type incorporates a guide, with open slots for holding the belt, which is attached to a securement strap that allows for adjustment.

A further type of belt guide is known, where the booster seat includes a number of tabs which are connected at the top and allow the seat belt to slide underneath the tab at the bottom.

Each of these devices allow for easy removal of the seat belt from the belt guide. However, this also allows for accidental removal of the seat belt from the 25 guide by the child or during vehicle breaking or an accident. If the seat belt were to disengage from the belt guide it may move into a position on the child such as . 004403^,58 across the head or neck, which is dangerous and could cause serious injury to the child, especially in the event of an accident.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved belt guide for use with a child booster seat.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention provides a vehicle safety belt guide for attachment to a child booster seat, including: an elongate member having a middle portion and at least one end portion; retaining means connected to the middle portion, defining an upper middle portion and a lower middle portion; and fastening means located on the at least one end portion; whereby the at least one end portion is engageable with the retaining means and is releasably securable to itself by the fastening means, thereby 15 defining an aperture through which a vehicle safety belt is receivable.

Advantageously, the elongate member includes two end portions, at opposite ends of the middle portion. Fastening means are located on each of the two end portions. Preferably, each of the two end portions is engageable with the retaining means and is releasably securable to itself by the respective fastening 20 means, thereby defining an upper and lower aperture through which the vehicle safety belt is receivable.

Advantageously, the elongate member is a strip of webbing material.

The elongate member is preferably attachable to an upper side of a child booster seat, and more preferably in a location able to receive the sash of a 25 lap/sash vehicle safety belt to enable the sash to be secured away from the head .004403258 3 and neck of the child using the booster seat. The elongate member may be attached to a child booster seat by stitching, and preferably by stitching at two locations.

Preferably the retaining means is a three bar slide which is threaded onto 5 the middle portion, and is movable to vary the lengths of the upper and lower middle portions.

The fastening means is preferably a hook and loop fastener, however it will be understood that the fastening means may be any equivalent device, such as press studs.

Preferably, each end portion threads through the retaining means and folds back over itself to releasably secure the fastening means.

Advantageously, the child booster seat has a belt guide attached to both sides, however it may be located on only one side. It is also possible to provide a plurality of belt guides on the one side of the child booster seat.

The invention also includes a child booster seat having a vehicle safety belt guide, and to a cover for a child booster seat, the cover including a vehicle safety belt guide.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with 20 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the belt guide with one end portion extended according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the belt guide in Figure 1, with both end portions engaged by the retaining means; 004403258 ' * J 4 Figure 3 is another perspective view of the belt guide of Figures 1 and 2, in a closed position with a vehicle safety belt guide through one of the apertures; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the belt guide of Figure 3 whilst attached 5 to a child booster seat.

Description of Preferred Embodiments Figure 1 illustrates a belt guide 10 having an elongate member 12 having a front face 14 and a back face 16. The elongate member 12 is divided into a middle portion 24 and two end portions 26 and 28. Figure 4 shows the belt guide 10 10 attached to a child booster seat 18 at two locations 20 and 22.

Middle portion 24 is divided into an upper middle portion 38 and a lower middle portion 40 by retaining means 42, which is preferably slidable along middle portion 24. Retaining means 42 illustrated is a three bar slide, having outer bars 44 and 46, and centre bar 48. Preferably the three bar slide 42 is threaded onto 15 the elongate member 12 before attachment of the elongate member 12 to the child booster seat 18.

End portions 26 and 28 have respective outer tips 30 and 32, and as best shown in Figure 2, fastening means in the form of hook and loop fasteners 34a, 34b, 36a and 36b, such as velcro™ strips, located on their back face 16. When the 20 end portions 26 and 28 are secured, apertures 52 and 54 are created. The beit guide 10 retains seat belt 50 by selectively receiving it through either aperture 52 or aperture 54 as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 1 shows end portion 28 in an open and extended position. It can then be seen from Figure 3 that, in use, a seat belt 50 is positioned over lower 25 middle portion 40. Outer tip 32 of end portion 28 is threaded under and folded back over bar 46 of three bar slide 42, creating aperture 54, which fully encloses seat belt 50. Once threaded through, outer tip 32 is pulled downwards, as shown by the arrows in Figure 2, and fastener 36b releasably secures to opposing fastener 36a.

By fully enclosing the seat belt the reliability of seatbelt retention is good, providing a seat belt guide wherein the seat belt cannot be accidentally disengaged from, or easily tampered with by a child.

When the belt guide 10 is fastened to a child booster seat 18, as shown in Figure 4, the seat belt 50 may be selectively received through either the upper aperture 52 or the lower aperture 54. This allows adjustment to be made to the location of the seat belt 50 to gain a comfortable and safe position on the wearer.

The belt guide 10 illustrated in Figure 4 is attached to the child booster seat 18 at two locations 20 and 22, by means of stitching. It will be understood that the belt guide 10 may be attached by any means and may be positioned at any location on the side of the child booster seat 18. It may further be provided on both sides of the child booster seat 18 and more than one belt guide 10 may be attached to each side.

It will be appreciated that the invention described provides an improved belt guide for use with a child booster seat. It provides good retention by fully enclosing the seat belt and fastening the end portions, and an ability to adjust the height of the seat belt so as to place it in a position which is not uncomfortable or dangerous for the child wearer.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims

.004403258 6 The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A vehicle safety belt guide for attachment to a child booster seat, including: an elongate member having a middle portion and at least one end portion; 5 retaining means connected to the middle portion, defining an upper middle portion and a lower middle portion; and fastening means located on the at least one end portion; whereby the at least one end portion is engageable with the retaining means and is releasably securable to itself by the fastening means, thereby defining an aperture through which a vehicle safety belt is receivable.

2. A vehicle safety belt guide according to claim 1, wherein the elongate member includes two end portions, at opposite ends of the middle portion.

3. A vehicle safety belt guide according to claim 2, further including fastening means located on each of the two end portions.

4. A vehicle safety belt guide according to claim 3, wherein each of the respective end portions is engageable with the retaining means and is releasably securable to itself by the respective fastening means, thereby defining an upper and lower aperture through which the vehicle safety belt is receivable.

5. A vehicle safety belt guide according to any preceding claim, wherein the 20 elongate member is a strip of webbing material.

6. A vehicle safety belt guide according to any preceding claim, wherein the elongate member is attachable to an upper side of a child booster seat. 004403258

7. A vehicle safety belt guide according to claim 6, wherein the elongate member is attachable to a child booster seat in a location able to receive the sash of a lap/sash vehicle safety belt to enable the sash to be secured away from the head and neck of a child using the booster seat. 5

8. A vehicle safety belt guide according to any preceding claim wherein the elongate member is attachable to a child booster seat by stitching.

9. A vehicle safety belt guide according to any preceding claim, wherein the retaining means is a three bar slide which is threaded onto the middle portion, and is movable to vary the lengths of the upper and lower middle portions.

10 10. A vehicle safety belt guide according to claim 9, wherein each end portion threads through the retaining means and folds back over itself to releasably secure the fastening means.

11. A vehicle safety belt guide according to any preceding claim, wherein the fastening means is a hook and loop fastener. 15

12. A child booster seat including a vehicle safety belt guide according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. A child booster seat according to claim 12, wherein the child booster seat has two side portions and includes said belt guide attached to each of the side portions. 20

14. A child booster seat according to claim 12 or 13, including a plurality of said belt guides on one or both side portions of the child booster seat.

15. A cover for a child booster seat, the cover including a vehicle safety belt guide according to any one of claims 1 to 11. 25

16. A cover according to claim 15, wherein the cover has two side portions and includes said belt guide attached to each of the side portions. 004403258 529 9 4 3 8

17. A cover according to claim 15 or 16, including a plurality of said belt guides on one or both side portions of the cover. IGC (Australia) Pty Ltd By its Registered Patent Attorneys 5 Freehills Carter Smith Beadle 2 December 2003