Chairs and seats – Body or occupant restraint or confinement – Safety belt or harness; e.g. – lap belt or shoulder harness
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-04
2002-05-28
Stephan, Beth A. (Department: 3635)
Chairs and seats
Body or occupant restraint or confinement
Safety belt or harness; e.g., lap belt or shoulder harness
C297S397000, C297SDIG006
Reexamination Certificate
active
06394554
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to pillows and, more particularly, to a “7”-shaped seat belt pillow to promote buckling of the shoulder restraint strap of a vehicle's seat belt while snoozing comfortably in a moving vehicle or other seat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,094, issued to Syiek, entitled “TRAVEL PILLOW” discloses a pillow having a removable cover and a seat belt coupling strap.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,388, issued to Curtis, entitled “SEAT BELT PILLOW” discloses a seat belt pillow adapted to have a “V”, “U,” “H,” and “C” shapes. The seat belt pillow further includes hook and loop fastening means.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,536, issued to White, entitled “CUSHIONED SEAT BELT ATTACHMENT” discloses a cushioning device for the shoulder restraint portion of the seat belt. The cushioning device is coupled to the shoulder restrain portion in a manner which reduces pressures that are applied to the chest by the shoulder restraint portion.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,185, issued to Reedom, entitled, “PROTECTIVE CUSHION FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES” discloses a cushion which has the shape of people, animals or other objects and is adapted to be coupled to a seat belt. In another embodiment, the cushion can be coupled to the dashboard of a vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,611, issued to Talaugon, entitled “CAR SEAT PILLOW” discloses a car seat pillow which includes a pair of side cushions and a neck cushion extending between the pair. The car seat pillow is adapted to be attached to the shoulder straps of a harness assembly used to restrain a child in a child's car seat.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,282, issued to Finnigan, entitled “ATTACHMENT FOR A VEHICLE SHOULDER HARNESS” discloses an attachment which is designed to cover the shoulder strap of a seat belt so that the shoulder strap is prevented from contacting either the clothes or the skin of the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,327,330, issued to McCullough, entitled “COMFORT PILLOW” discloses a pillow designed to protect styled hair while supporting the neck. The pillow is described to have a L-shaped central body and wing portions which are hingedly coupled to the L-shaped central body via a seam.
As will be seen more fully below, the present invention is substantially different in structure, methodology and approach from that of prior seat belt pillows.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The preferred embodiment of “7”-shaped pillow of the present invention solves the aforementioned problems in a straight forward and simple manner.
Broadly, what is provided is a “7”-shaped seat belt pillow for use in a vehicle having a shoulder restraint strap comprising: a neck-supporting pillow member having a substantially elongated contour; and, a shoulder restraint pillow member angularly affixed to one end of the neck-supporting pillow member. The shoulder restraint pillow member is arranged and constructed with respect to the one end of the neck-supporting pillow member to form substantially a “7”-shaped profile and to approximate an angle of the shoulder restraint strap when buckled. Preferably, the neck-supporting pillow member has a first substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration in a non-compressed state. Additionally, the shoulder restraint pillow member has a second substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration in the non-compressed state wherein the first uniform cross-sectional configuration is larger than said second uniform cross-sectional configuration.
The method of using the pillow of the present invention comprises the steps of: positioning a neck support pillow member, dimensioned and contoured to traverse shoulders, behind the neck, the head or the portion of both the neck and the head of a user; draping a secondary body pillow member having a second longitudinal axis angled with respect to the first longitudinal axis and integrally formed with the neck support pillow member to curve around the neck and drape across a torso of the user; strapping the secondary body pillow member to a top side of a buckled shoulder restrain strap of the vehicle.
In view of the above an object of the present invention is to provide a “7”-shaped seat belt pillow which is comfortable, stable and provides a safe means of resting or sleeping in an automobile, bus or other vehicle or mode of transportation.
In view of the above objects, it is a feature of the present invention to provide a “7”-shaped seat belt pillow which is soft and plump and is contoured to resemble substantially the number “7”.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a “7”-shaped seat belt pillow which is relatively simple structurally and thus easy to manufacture.
A further feature of the present invention is to provide a “7”-shaped seat belt pillow which is easily attached and detached from the shoulder restraint strap of a vehicles seat belt assembly.
A further feature of the present invention is to provide a “7”-shaped seat belt pillow which is easy to use and which encourages proper seat belt usage.
A further feature of the present invention is to provide a 7”-shaped seat belt pillow which provides an inviting and comfortable means for hugging, cuddling or snuggling a torso-draped portion of the seat belt pillow.
The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the drawings, the description given herein, and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3327330 (1967-06-01), McCullough
patent: 3957282 (1976-05-01), Finnigan
patent: 4838611 (1989-06-01), Talaugon
patent: 5114185 (1992-05-01), Reedom
patent: 5205611 (1993-04-01), Stephens
patent: 5584536 (1996-12-01), White
patent: 5586351 (1996-12-01), Ive
patent: 5785388 (1998-07-01), Curtis
patent: 6017094 (2000-01-01), Syiek
patent: 6052848 (2000-04-01), Kelly
patent: 6135560 (2000-10-01), Fagg
patent: 6230348 (2001-05-01), Patrikakis
patent: 6230349 (2001-05-01), Silver
patent: 6254189 (2001-07-01), Closson
Areaux, Esq. Raymond G.
Stephan Beth A.
Velez Lisa
LandOfFree
“7”-shaped seat belt pillow does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with “7”-shaped seat belt pillow, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and “7”-shaped seat belt pillow will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2840078