Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Strap tighteners – Accordion straps
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-10
2001-05-15
Sakran, Victor N. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Strap tighteners
Accordion straps
C024S0680AS, C024S909000, C410S110000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230370
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to belt shortening devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to devices suitable for shortening seat belt webbing. In addition, the present invention relates to the removal of slack from seat belt webbing retaining a baby seat in place on a supporting vehicle seat.
In the prior art, lengths of belt material or webbing are commonly used to retain a structure in place. For example, belts are frequently used to retain stacked articles in place on a pallet. Belts are also commonly employed in vehicles to secure an occupant for safety purposes. In particular, these existing belts in vehicles are typically used to secure a baby's seat to the supporting vehicle seat. While belts are effective for security, they suffer from the disadvantage of having unwanted slack which decreases the effectiveness of the belts ability to secure and retain.
To address the inherent problem of slack in belts for retaining, there have been many attempts in the prior art to reduce or eliminate such slack. For example, ratcheted spindles have been available in the prior art. The belt webbing is typically routed around the spindle and wound about the spindle with the assistance of the ratchet. Further, the ratchet provides additional leverage and locking to enable the belt to be tightened and released as desired. Also, spring clips have been provided to grip excess portions of the belt to thereby shorten the belt.
However, these prior art devices suffer from many disadvantages which makes them undesirable to use. These prior art devices commonly require that a free end of the belt be routed through the device to enable winding of the belt by the device to effectuate shortening. Other devices permanently incorporate the ratchet take-up mechanism directly on the belt itself. Such devices are commonly used on special belt systems for retaining articles on a pallet. As can be understood, the foregoing prior art devices are unsuitable for shortening vehicle seat belts because vehicle seat belts are not capable of being routed onto a ratchet take-up mechanism due to the presence of bulky buckles, both male and female, present on the free ends of the belts.
In view of the foregoing, there is a demand for a belt shortening device which is well suited for shortening vehicle seat belts. There is a particular demand for a belt shortening device that can be easily retrofitted to an installed baby seat without disengaging the existing belt connection. In addition, there is a demand for a belt shortening device that is compact, inexpensive and easy to operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art belt shortening devices. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available devices and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available devices.
The invention is generally directed to a novel and unique belt shortening device that can be easily mounted to an existing belt with detaching the belt from its existing connection. The belt shortening device of the present invention includes a side access slot for receiving a belt to be wound. The device includes a frame and a spindle rotatably mounted thereto. The spindle includes a mount end in communication with the frame and a free end opposite to the mount end. The spindle has a slot extending from the free end toward the mount end a length defining a first finger and a second finger. Optionally, a first and second plates are, respectively affixed to the first and second fingers proximal to the free ends thereof. The plates are positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle and, respectively emanate away from the slot. The plates are positioned from said mount end a distance greater than the width of a belt to be shortened. The plates prevent accidental lateral ejection of the belt out of the slot. A ratchet mechanism is provided to control the rotation of the spindle and winding of a belt therearound. The belt shortening device is easily retrofitted to an existing belt without detaching the belt from its existing connection.
For installation and operation, the belt shortening device of the present invention is slid laterally over a existing length of belt webbing which is, perhaps, securing a baby seat to a vehicle seat. The belt webbing is inserted into the slot of the device with the entire width of the belt residing completely within the housing of the device. The belt is threaded between the two fingers of the rotating spindle. A window through the housing of the device assists in the initial installation of the webbing. The handle of the ratchet mechanism is repeatedly pulled by the user to rotate the spindle and, thus, rotate the fingers which bound the belt on its opposing sides. Safety plates are positioned on the free ends of the fingers to prevent the belt from sliding out of the slot during installation. Rotation of the fingers causes the belt to be wound about the spindle reducing the overall length of the belt. The window through the housing further assists in determining how much belt material has been wound by the device.
When the desired tension is achieved, pulling of the handle is stopped thus ceasing any further winding of the belt webbing. The ratchet mechanism is provided with a suitable locking device to prevent unwinding of the belt from the spindle. In addition, a lock release is provided to permit the belt to be unwound from the spindle, such as for when removal of the device from the belt is desired. Once the belt is completely unwound, the device can be easily slid off in a lateral direction.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device that can shorten a belt such as a seat belt.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a belt shortening device suitable for shortening a seat belt retaining a baby seat in place on a vehicle seat.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a belt shortening device that can be easily retrofitted to an existing belt web without detaching the belt from its existing connection.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a belt shortening device that requires no additional belt webbing or additional buckles.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a belt shortening device that is inexpensive to manufacture.
Another object of present invention is to provide a belt shortening device that is easy to install and operate.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a belt shortening device that is compact and portable.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a belt shortening device that can remove undesirable and unsafe slack present in a seat belt securing a baby seat to a vehicle seat.
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Barlow Josephs & Holmes, Ltd.
Berger Constance F.
Sakran Victor N.
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