Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-19
2001-09-25
English, Peter C. (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C297S483000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293589
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to an auxiliary device that attaches to a vehicle seat belt, and, in particular, to an auxiliary device for adjusting the position of the shoulder portion of the vehicle seat belt for a more comfortable and safer fit for the seat belt wearer.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Three-point seat belt systems have been well known in the automobile safety industry for many years. Three-point systems typically include a lap belt portion and a shoulder belt portion. A problem with such types of seat belts is that the shoulder belt portion often rides to close to the neck of a smaller seat belt wearer. This tends to be uncomfortable and can be dangerous in the event of a collision or sudden stop.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,333 to Knight discloses a seat belt adjustment band that can be placed around a lap belt portion and shoulder belt portion and moved over the lap belt portion and shoulder belt portion, across a belt wearer's lap, in order to adjust the position of the shoulder belt portion with respect to the user. Although this adjustment band is capable of repositioning the location of the shoulder belt portion, this is often only temporary because the way the adjustment band is designed causes it to become displaced from its originally set position. Once the adjustment band is moved laterally to a new location, nothing prevents the shoulder belt portion from slipping back to its former, uncomfortable position.
Accordingly, a need exists for a seat belt adjustment device that maintains its position once it is adjusted to a desired lateral location along the lap belt portion of a three-point seat belt system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This problem and others are addressed and solved by the present invention. The present invention involves a sleeve adapted to be placed around the lap belt portion and shoulder belt portion of a three-point seat belt system. The sleeve is adapted to be displaced laterally along the lap belt portion in order to adjust the shoulder strap to a safe and comfortable position for an individual belt wearer. Unlike earlier seat belt adjustment devices, the instant device has a unique means to prevent displacement of the shoulder belt portion once a desired position is established. The sleeve includes an angled slot through which the shoulder strap portion is adapted to pass through. In use, the shoulder belt portion enters one side of the sleeve in parallel with the lap belt portion, and bends upwardly through the slot at an angle of about 45 degrees. The bent shoulder strap portion through the slot is highly effective at preventing unintended lateral displacement of the sleeve once the position of the shoulder strap portion is established.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be evident from reading the following detailed description, which is intended to illustrate, but not limit, the invention.
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patent: 5154446 (1992-10-01), Blake
patent: 5169174 (1992-12-01), Gray
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patent: 5215333 (1993-06-01), Knight
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patent: 5421614 (1995-06-01), Zheng
MacDonald Lionel
MacDonald, Jr. Lionel E.
English Peter C.
Lyon & Lyon LLP
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