Chairs and seats – Body or occupant restraint or confinement – Front guard or barrier
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-14
2001-01-16
Nelson, Jr., Milton (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Body or occupant restraint or confinement
Front guard or barrier
C297S483000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174032
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to vehicle seat belt assemblies of the type having a lap belt and a diagonally-extending shoulder strap. The invention more particularly relates to shoulder strap repositioners, which may also be referred to as “adjusters,” for repositioning or deflecting the diagonally-extending shoulder strap component of the vehicle seat belt assembly.
Conventional vehicle seat belt assemblies, which include a lap belt and a diagonally-extending shoulder strap, are designed primarily for use by adults of average size. When used by an adult, the shoulder strap extends generally across the chest and shoulder of the individual.
However, when the seat belt assembly is used by a child or a smaller adult, the shoulder strap typically extends across the neck or face of the child because his or her upper body is not quite as long as that of a taller individual.
A variety of shoulder strap repositioners or “adjusters,” particularly for use by children, have been proposed, and several have been commercially produced. Examples are disclosed in McCracken U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,439; Kornblum et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,940; Barr et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,910; Vicanti U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,468; Golder U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,957 and Zheng U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,614.
While many of these repositioners or “adjusters” are apparently effective for their intended purpose, there nevertheless remains room for improvement in areas such as ease of use, comfort, and manufacturability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a shoulder strap repositioner takes the form of a body positionable against the torso of a seated person. The body has a pair of opposed surfaces and a pair of laterally spaced generally vertically-extending slots in the body. The slots have respective relatively upper and relatively lower terminations and have closed peripheries. The slots are configured such that, during use, the lap belt and shoulder strap pass through the slots. The lap belt and shoulder strap cross over portions of one of the opposed surfaces in the region between the slots, and cross over portions of the other one of the opposed surfaces and regions outside of the slots. During use, the lap belt is positioned adjacent the lower terminations of the slots, and the shoulder strap contacts the upper termination of one of the slots.
In another exemplary embodiment, a shoulder strap repositioner comprises a body including left and right side wings, each of which has a rear surface that faces the torso during use, as well as an opposed front surface. The left and right side wings have respective generally vertically-extending outer edges defining the left and right sides of the body, and have respective generally vertically-extending inner edges facing towards each other. The body additionally includes a center section likewise having a rear surface, and an opposed front surface, as well as generally vertically-extending left and right side edges. Each of the side wings is joined to the center section at the top and bottom, so that the inner edges of the side wings and the side edges of the center section cooperate to define generally vertically-extending left and right side slots having respective relatively upper and relatively lower terminations and having closed peripheries. The slots are configured such that, during use, the lap belt and shoulder strap pass through the slots with the lap belt and shoulder strap crossing over portions of the front surfaces of the side wings, and crossing over portions of the rear surface of the center section, with the lap belt positioned adjacent the lower ends of the slots, and with the shoulder strap contacting the upper end of one of the slots.
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Millennium Products “Child Protector,” P.O. Box 117, Oshtemo MI 49077-0117. Photograph and description downloaded from internet http://2001safe.com/protector.htm Aug. 5, 1999. Actual effective date unknown.
Carter & Schnedler, P.A.
Jr. Milton Nelson
LandOfFree
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