Chairs and seats – Body or occupant restraint or confinement
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-03
2002-08-13
Nelson, Jr., Milton (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Body or occupant restraint or confinement
Reexamination Certificate
active
06431652
ABSTRACT:
RELATED APPLICATIONS AND DISCLOSURES
The present invention was first disclosed in the Disclosure Document filed on Jun. 8, 1998. There have been no previously filed, nor any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to seat belt restraint devices, and, more particularly, to a seat belt restraint lock for children.
2. Description of the Related Art
Child safety is among the most important issues that concern today's parents. These concerns are heightened in the area of automobile safety. When children reach the age/size where the use of a child safety seat is unavailable, parents resort to seat belts to protect their children's lives.
However, as many parents know, children at that age are prone to play with the buckles that secure the seat belt, creating a dangerous situation should the buckle become released. As a result, parents must monitor their children, which creates the additional risk of taking their eyes off the road.
Accordingly, the need has arisen for a means by which the child is denied access to the release mechanism.
In the related art, several devices are disclosed that describe various tamper-resistant seat belt assemblies for child safety seats. These include U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,094, issued in the name of Brown et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,561, issued in the name of Smith et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,249, issued in the name of Ball and U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,910, issued in the name of Itkis et. al.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,481, issued in the name of Willson, describes a seat belt locking device to secure a child's safety seat to a conventional shoulder/lap belt restraint system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,198, issued in the name of Pittone et. al., discloses a vehicle safety strap specifically designed for children.
U.S. Pat. No. D. 365,691, issued in the name of Sedlack, describes a child's booster car seat adaptable to vehicle shoulder/lap belts.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that anticipate directly many features of the instant invention. Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an apparatus and method which overcomes the problems cited above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved seat belt restraint lock for children which denies a child access to the release mechanism, while simultaneously allowing parents to quickly and easily buckle the child into the seat belt and remove the child from the seat belt.
Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a seat belt restraint lock for children is disclosed, comprised of an improved female receptacle for a motor vehicle seat belt buckle. The female receptacle consists of a main body, of a generally rectangular, box configuration. A plate located on the top surface of the main body covers the traditional release button. The plate can only be opened by compressing two locking cylinders located on the lateral sides of the main body. The locking cylinders possess spring tension to ensure that a child cannot open the present invention.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that prevents seat belt tampering by a child, thus ensuring the child's safety and allowing the driver to focus his or her attention on driving.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that easily installs over an existing seat belt buckle and can be easily removed by adults.
Other objects of the present invention include providing a device that is lightweight, sturdy and cost effective to produce.
DESCRIPTIVE KEY
10
seat belt restraint lock for
children
20
female receptacle
25
seat belt
30
main body
40
seat belt connection means
50
receiving orifice
60
male protrusion
70
plate
80
spring loaded hinge
mechanism
90
securement protrusion
100
hole
110
locking assembly
120
locking assembly housing
130
locking cylinder
140
release groove
150
spring
160
locking cylinder hole
170
locking cylinder securement
means
180
standard locking means
190
standard release button
200
main body securement means
210
electrical door locking system
220
electrical switch
230
armature
240
alarm
REFERENCES:
patent: 3818548 (1974-06-01), Meyerson
patent: 4848794 (1989-07-01), Mader et al.
patent: 4946198 (1990-08-01), Pittore et al.
patent: 5000481 (1991-03-01), Willson
patent: 5005910 (1991-04-01), Itkis et al.
patent: 5186520 (1993-02-01), Whitaker et al.
patent: 5328249 (1994-07-01), Ball
patent: D365691 (1996-01-01), Sedlack et al.
patent: 5579561 (1996-12-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5681094 (1997-10-01), Brown et al.
Gugliotta John D.
Jr. Milton Nelson
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