GB2307711A - Seat belt child safty arrangement - Google Patents

Seat belt child safty arrangement Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2307711A
GB2307711A GB9524392A GB9524392A GB2307711A GB 2307711 A GB2307711 A GB 2307711A GB 9524392 A GB9524392 A GB 9524392A GB 9524392 A GB9524392 A GB 9524392A GB 2307711 A GB2307711 A GB 2307711A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
seat belt
enclosure
release
seat
arrangement
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9524392A
Other versions
GB9524392D0 (en
Inventor
Terence Heath
Adrian Terence Heath
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB9524392A priority Critical patent/GB2307711A/en
Publication of GB9524392D0 publication Critical patent/GB9524392D0/en
Publication of GB2307711A publication Critical patent/GB2307711A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44BBUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
    • A44B11/00Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts
    • A44B11/25Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts with two or more separable parts
    • A44B11/2503Safety buckles
    • A44B11/2569Safety measures
    • A44B11/2573Locking means preventing an unauthorised opening, e.g. by children
    • A44B11/2576Buckle covers

Landscapes

  • Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Automotive Seat Belt Assembly (AREA)

Abstract

An enclosure (1) of resilient plastics material is fitted around the clip arrangement (3) of a vehicle seat belt (8) so as to allow normal insertion of the tongue (7) pendant from the seat belt but to discorage depression of the release button (4) by the seat occupant e.g. by a child in the seat. An aperture (9) may be formed in the enclosure to allow release by insertion of e.g. the vehicle ignition key. In another embodiment an electromagnetically operable locking member is used instead of the enclosure to prevent release of the seat belt, and is controlled by a dashboard-mounted switch.

Description

SEAT BELT SAFETY ARRANGEMENT AND DEVICE The present invention relates to a seat belt arrangement which is arranged to prevent unwanted release of the seat belt by a child. and to a device in the form of an enclosure for preventing such unwanted release. As is well known, young children frequently undo their car seat belts during car journeys and hence can become unprotected in the event of a crash and can also distract the driver.
An object of the present invention is to improve the safety of children restrained by vehicle seat belts.
In one aspect the invention provides a seat belt arrangement for a vehicle comprising preventing means for preventing operation of the seat belt release member and means inoperable by a child in the seat for negating said preventing means to allow release of the seat belt.
Preferably said preventing means comprises an enclosure which at least partially covers said release member.
Preferably an aperture is formed in said enclosure which is located and dimensioned to allow depression of the release member by an implement inserted through said aperture but to prevent release by a child finger.
For example a vehicle ignition key can conveniently be used for this purpose.
In another aspect the invention provides an enclosure capable of being fitted around a seat belt release mechanism to prevent normal operation of the seat belt release member.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section of an arrangement in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the arrangement shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the above arrangement. and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a further arrangement in accordance with the invention.
Referring to Figure 1, a standard seat belt clip 13 is arranged to receive the tongue 7 of a seat belt 8 and includes a release button 4 which operates a standard release mechanism (not shown) to release the seat belt when the button is normally depressed. The clip is anchored to the vehicle floor (not shown) by a strap 5.
In order to prevent unwanted release, e.g. by a child in the seat (not shown) an enclosure 1 of resilient plastics material e.g. polypropylene or a suitable thermosetting plastic surrounds the clip 13. As best shown in Figures 2 and 3 an aperture 6 allows normal insertion of tongue 7. However, the enclosure covers the release button.
In order to enable the seat belt to be released at the end of the journey by the driver, an aperture 9 is formed in the enclosure 1l above the upper surface of the release button 4 and the shank of the vehicle ignition key (not shown) can be inserted through this aperture to operate the release button.
As best shown in Figure 1, the enclosure 1 has two flap portions 10 and 11 which form its bottom wall and terminate in mutually engaging barbed portions 2 and 3 respectively, which form a snap fitting. This snap fitting is sufficiently secure to make its release by a child in the seat difficult or impossible. However, It can be released by an adult to enable the flaps 10 and 11 to be bent back to a near-vertical position to enable the enclosure 1 to be lifted off the clip 13 (after release of the seat belt) if necessary. The enclosure 1 is fitted over clip 13 by the reverse procedure.
Figure 4 shows a further embodiment in which the clip 13' of a rear seat belt 8 is provided with a solenoid 15 which, when actuated by a pushbutton switch 18 in series with the vehicle battery 21 overcomes the action of a spring 16 and attracts a slidable armature 14 of magnetically soft material into a position in which it blocks the release button 41. Armature 14 is normally held in the non-blocking position shown by compression spring 16.
Switch 18 is provided with a latching mechanism (not shown) which ensures that the solenoid remains energised until the switch is again actuated by the driver, e.g. at the end of the journey. The switch is mounted on the dashboard 19 out of reach of a child in the rear seat 20. The wiring between solenoid 15 and switch 18 conveniently includes the wiring conventionally included in a seat belt to detect that the passenger has fastened the seat belt. To this end, a resistor (not shown) may be provided between the open contacts of switch 18 which passes insufficient current to actuate the solenoid 15 but sufficient current to operate a warning light or other indicator in the event that the seat belt is not fastened. The circuitry required to operate the warning light is well known and need not be described here.

Claims (11)

1. A seat belt arrangement for a vehicle comprising preventing means for preventing operation of the seat belt release member and means inoperable by a child in the seat for negating said preventing means to allow release of the seat belt.
2. A seat belt arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein said preventing means comprises an enclosure which at least partially covers said release member.
3. A seat belt arrangement as claimed in Claim 2. wherein an aperture Is formed in said enclosure which is located and dimensioned to allow depression of the release member by an implement inserted through said aperture but to prevent release by a child's finger.
4. A seat belt arrangement as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said aperture is shaped and dimensioned to fit around the shank of a vehicle ignition key.
5. A seat belt arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein said enclosure has a snap fitting which Is releasable by an adult to enable the enclosure to be removed.
6. A seat belt arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said preventing means comprises an electromagnetically actuatable locking member which is controlled by a switch which is inaccessible from the seat.
7. An enclosure capable of being fitted around a seat belt release mechanism to prevent normal operation of the seat belt release member.
8. An enclosure as claimed in Claim 8, which has an aperture which allows depression of a release button by an implement.
9. An enclosure as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8. which is as defined in Claim 4 or Claim 5.
10. An enclosure capable of preventing normal operation of a seat belt release button, substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.
11. A seat belt arrangement substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
GB9524392A 1995-11-29 1995-11-29 Seat belt child safty arrangement Withdrawn GB2307711A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9524392A GB2307711A (en) 1995-11-29 1995-11-29 Seat belt child safty arrangement

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9524392A GB2307711A (en) 1995-11-29 1995-11-29 Seat belt child safty arrangement

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9524392D0 GB9524392D0 (en) 1996-01-31
GB2307711A true GB2307711A (en) 1997-06-04

Family

ID=10784631

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9524392A Withdrawn GB2307711A (en) 1995-11-29 1995-11-29 Seat belt child safty arrangement

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2307711A (en)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0927525A1 (en) * 1998-01-05 1999-07-07 Staysafe Child Products Limited Seat belt safety device
GB2356890A (en) * 1999-12-01 2001-06-06 Hubbard Davies Deborah A seat belt buckle presenter with guide member for tongue
GB2391900A (en) * 2002-08-12 2004-02-18 George Percival Potter Cover with slot and hole for use with seat belt latch
ES2234377A1 (en) * 2002-12-04 2005-06-16 Federal Signal Vama, S.A. Protective device for protecting seat belt closure of vehicle, has housing equipped with frame that is attached with closure for activating button when door of vehicle is opened
GB2421052A (en) * 2004-12-11 2006-06-14 George Cowie Seat belt buckle and reel locking system
EP1704790A1 (en) * 2005-03-07 2006-09-27 Eggshell Restraints Pty Ltd Remotely lockable seat belt arrangment
WO2008092189A1 (en) * 2007-01-29 2008-08-07 Wwm Concepts Pty Ltd Shield device
WO2008128578A1 (en) * 2007-04-19 2008-10-30 Gegossa Investment S.A. Attachment for a belt buckle
IT201600118023A1 (en) * 2016-11-23 2017-02-23 Giuseppe Carlino ELECTROMECHANICAL RELEASE SYSTEM FOR SAFETY BELTS.

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4497094A (en) * 1982-11-26 1985-02-05 Morris Roy E Child proof seat belt
US4674303A (en) * 1986-05-19 1987-06-23 P. J. Salcone's Inc. Safety lock for seat belt buckle
US4675954A (en) * 1986-01-27 1987-06-30 Gullickson Daniel J Cover for control mechanism
US5182836A (en) * 1991-08-30 1993-02-02 The Walt Disney Company Pressure activated seat belt locking mechanism
US5307544A (en) * 1992-01-06 1994-05-03 Craig D. Quarberg Seat belt buckle guard

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4497094A (en) * 1982-11-26 1985-02-05 Morris Roy E Child proof seat belt
US4675954A (en) * 1986-01-27 1987-06-30 Gullickson Daniel J Cover for control mechanism
US4674303A (en) * 1986-05-19 1987-06-23 P. J. Salcone's Inc. Safety lock for seat belt buckle
US5182836A (en) * 1991-08-30 1993-02-02 The Walt Disney Company Pressure activated seat belt locking mechanism
US5307544A (en) * 1992-01-06 1994-05-03 Craig D. Quarberg Seat belt buckle guard

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0927525A1 (en) * 1998-01-05 1999-07-07 Staysafe Child Products Limited Seat belt safety device
GB2356890A (en) * 1999-12-01 2001-06-06 Hubbard Davies Deborah A seat belt buckle presenter with guide member for tongue
GB2391900A (en) * 2002-08-12 2004-02-18 George Percival Potter Cover with slot and hole for use with seat belt latch
ES2234377A1 (en) * 2002-12-04 2005-06-16 Federal Signal Vama, S.A. Protective device for protecting seat belt closure of vehicle, has housing equipped with frame that is attached with closure for activating button when door of vehicle is opened
GB2421052A (en) * 2004-12-11 2006-06-14 George Cowie Seat belt buckle and reel locking system
GB2421052B (en) * 2004-12-11 2007-06-06 George Cowie Seat belt buckle and reel locking system
EP1704790A1 (en) * 2005-03-07 2006-09-27 Eggshell Restraints Pty Ltd Remotely lockable seat belt arrangment
WO2008092189A1 (en) * 2007-01-29 2008-08-07 Wwm Concepts Pty Ltd Shield device
WO2008128578A1 (en) * 2007-04-19 2008-10-30 Gegossa Investment S.A. Attachment for a belt buckle
IT201600118023A1 (en) * 2016-11-23 2017-02-23 Giuseppe Carlino ELECTROMECHANICAL RELEASE SYSTEM FOR SAFETY BELTS.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9524392D0 (en) 1996-01-31

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)