Chairs and seats – Body or occupant restraint or confinement – Front guard or barrier
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-21
2001-10-16
Nelson, Jr., Milton (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Body or occupant restraint or confinement
Front guard or barrier
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302490
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a chest protector for use with a shoulder belt and lap belt in a vehicle.
Current automobiles generally include seat belt systems which include a lap belt and a shoulder strap. The lap belt should be positioned snugly across the hips of the user, and the shoulder strap should extend generally over the shoulder and diagonally across the chest of the passenger. The shoulder strap and lap belt provide increased protection over a system including only a lap belt. Seat belts systems in some automobiles are designed for the body proportions of an adult over 90 lbs. As a result, shorter passengers, such as young children and small adults, are often endangered by the position of the shoulder strap. The shoulder strap of some vehicle safety restraint systems is dangerously positioned across their neck or face. As a result, the seat belt is uncomfortable and they may refuse to wear the seat belt, or may position the shoulder strap behind him or under an arm. More, importantly, in an auto accident, the impact of the shoulder strap on the neck or head can seriously injure the passenger due to the improper positioning of the shoulder strap across the neck or face. If the child has moved the shoulder strap behind him or under his arm, he will defeat the additional safety of a shoulder strap/lap belt combination. This problem has been somewhat alleviated by seat belt systems in many newer vehicles, which provide for the adjustment of the shoulder strap up or down.
One known child chest protector generally comprises a plate placed between the shoulder strap/lap belt combination and the child's chest and abdomen. The plate includes a first plurality of fingers opening downwardly generally along the path of the shoulder strap. A guide extending outwardly from the plate is positioned below the opening of the first plurality of fingers and is spaced away from the first plurality of fingers to facilitate insertion of the seatbelt shoulder strap. The chest protector further includes a second plurality of fingers generally disposed along the path of the lap belt. At least one of the second plurality of fingers are positioned above the lap belt path and open downwardly. At least one of the second plurality of fingers are positioned below the lap belt path and open upwardly.
In operation, the chest protector is worn by the child between the child and the shoulder strap and lap belt. The lap belt is inserted into and retained by the second plurality of opposed fingers. The shoulder strap is inserted into the opening of the first plurality of fingers. Depending upon whether the particular vehicle includes an adjustable shoulder strap, and depending upon the current setting of the adjustable shoulder strap, the first plurality of fingers may deflect the shoulder strap away from the neck and face of the child to the proper safe location across the chest. Further, the plate will increase the surface area of contact between the shoulder strap and lap belt, and the chest and abdomen of the child.
The current design of child chest protectors has several drawbacks. First, the shoulder strap is not securely retained by the first plurality of fingers. Due to the inevitable movement of the child during transportation, the shoulder strap slips out of the first plurality of fingers and may return to the dangerous position across the child's neck or face. Further, the second plurality of opposed fingers improperly positions the lap belt above the hips of the child to a dangerous position. Further, because the plate is flat, the known chest protector is uncomfortable and will tend to concentrate any impact forces in the center of the child's chest and abdomen, rather than distributing the forces more evenly across the entire plate.
In the known chest protector, the plate is manufactured from a relatively hard plastic. Again, this increases the discomfort and does not evenly distribute the force of an impact across the entire area of the plate. Further, the hard plastic does not provide ventilation to the child's body through the plate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a chest protector for use with a shoulder belt and lap belt in a vehicle. The chest protector includes an upper retention bracket opening downwardly from an upper end of the chest protector. The chest protector further includes at least one locking tab positioned opposite the upper retention bracket. The upper retention bracket and at least one locking tab define a shoulder belt path.
A center convex portion opens downwardly and forms an upper lap retention portion. A lower lap retention bracket opens upwardly toward the upper lap retention portion to define a lap belt path. The chest protector includes a lower end which extends generally forwardly and which includes the lower lap retention bracket. As a result, the lap belt path is tilted from the vertical position, with the lower lap retention bracket being positioned forwardly of the upper lap retention portion. This properly positions the lap belt on the hips of the wearer.
The outer shell of the chest protector is preferably convex having a rear surface which is concave. The outer shell is preferably hard plastic and includes a foam lining on the rear surface. Ventilation openings in the foam lining generally align with vents in the outer shell.
In operation, the locking tabs are resiliently biased to a position which substantially closes the opening of the upper retention bracket. In order to insert the shoulder strap into the upper retention bracket, the locking tabs must be depressed during insertion. When the shoulder strap is inserted fully into the upper retention bracket, the locking tab is released, returning the locking tab to its original position, substantially closing the opening of the upper retention bracket and retaining the shoulder strap in the upper retention bracket. In order to remove the shoulder strap from the upper retention bracket, the locking tab must be again depressed rearwardly to permit removal of the shoulder strap. As a result, the shoulder strap will be retained in the retention bracket during use.
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Hanna Patrick
Hanna Robert J.
Carlson & Gaskey & Olds
Jr. Milton Nelson
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