Child Seat Belt Safety Cover

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

The present invention relates generally to the field of seat belt buckles of existing art and more specifically relates to a child safety cover for a seat belt buckle.

Seat belts are essential safety devices designed to protect occupants in vehicles by restraining them during sudden stops or collisions. They consist of a strap, or webbing, that crosses the body; and a seat belt buckle, which securely fastens the strap in place. The strap typically comprises a male connector that engages with a female connector in the seat belt buckle, ensuring the belt remains securely fastened during travel. One of the key components of the seat belt buckle is the release button, strategically placed for easy access by occupants. This button allows users to disengage the buckle, facilitating entry and exit quickly and easily from the vehicle while providing a reliable means of release in emergencies.

However, children, especially younger ones, may be tempted to play with the release button during rides in vehicles. They may inadvertently or intentionally press the button, causing the seat belt to become unbuckled while the vehicle is in motion. This poses a significant safety issue as it compromises the effectiveness of the seat belt system in restraining the child during sudden stops or accidents. In the event of a collision, a child whose seat belt has been released prematurely may be at risk of being ejected from their seat or suffering severe injuries due to the lack of restraint. Accordingly, a suitable solution is desired.

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known seat belt buckle art, the present disclosure provides a novel child safety seat belt cover. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a durable and rigid shield that attaches to a seat belt buckle and prevents a child from pressing a release button on the seat belt buckle.

A removable cover for a seat belt buckle is disclosed herein, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The removable cover may include a front panel configured to contact a front of the seat belt buckle; a pair of side panels attached to, and extending rearwardly from, opposite sides of the front panel and configured to contact opposite sides of the seat belt buckle; and a top panel attached to, and extending rearwardly from, a top side of the front panel and configured to cover a release button of the seat belt buckle. The top panel may include sufficient flexibility so as to allow depression of the top panel into the release button to press the release button; however, the depression of the top panel into the release button may require a force exceeding that exertable by a child, thereby preventing the child from pressing the release button.

According to one or more additional embodiments, a removable cover for a seat belt buckle is also disclosed herein. The removable cover according to these embodiments may include a clip mechanism for attaching to a main body of the seat belt buckle; and a top panel attached about the clip mechanism and sized to cover the release button of the seat belt buckle when the clip mechanism is attached to the main body of the seat belt buckle. Similar to above, the top panel may include sufficient flexibility so as to allow depression of the top panel into the release button to press the release button; however, the depression of the top panel into the release button may require a force exceeding that exertable by a child, thereby preventing the child from pressing the release button.

According to one or more additional embodiments, the removable cover for a seat belt buckle is also disclosed herein. The removable cover according to these embodiments may include a front panel; a pair of side panels extending rearwardly from opposite sides of the front panel and each including a gripping lip for gripping opposite sides of the main body of the seat belt buckle; and a top panel attached to, and extending rearwardly from, a top side of the front panel. The top panel covers a release button of the seat belt buckle and prevents a child from pressing the release button.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a seat belt safety device and more particularly to a child seat belt safety cover. Generally, the child seat belt safety cover may include a durable shield device configured to clip onto a release mechanism, or release button, of a seat belt. With a flap of the durable device positioned over the release mechanism, a child is unable to press the release mechanism, whilst an adult is able to apply enough force to press the release mechanism if/when needed.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in, various views of a removable cover for a seat belt (“removable cover”).

Referring first to, there are shown front perspective views of the removable coverand the seat belt buckle; and a side perspective view of the removable coverremoved from the seat belt buckle, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown here, the removable covermay include a shape and size similar to that of the seat belt buckle, which may be contemplated to be a standard size seat belt buckleknown in the art. As shown in these figures, the removable covermay include, in some embodiments, a front panel, a pair of side panelsa,b and a top panel. As shown inin particular, the top panelcovers the release buttonof the seat belt buckle. In doing so, the top panelprevents a child from pressing the release button, whilst allowing an adult to press the release button. In particular, depression of the top panelinto the release buttonmay require a force exceeding a force that is exertable (able to be exerted) by a child, as will be discussed in more detail below.

The front paneland the pair of side panelsa,b may define a U-shaped cross-section, with the front paneldefining an (elongated) horizontal portion of the U-shape and the pair of side panelsa,b defining vertical portions of the U-shape. As shown in, the front panelmay be configured to contact a front sideof the seat belt buckle. In particular, as above, the removable covermay include a shape and size similar to that of the seat belt buckle. As such, the front panelmay include a rectangular panel covering an entirety of the front sideof the seat belt buckle. Each of the pair of side panelsa,b may extend rearwardly, and perpendicular to, a rear surface of the front panel. As shown in, each side panela,b may be configured to contact opposite sidesa,b of the seat belt buckle, such that the front paneland the pair of side panelsa,b encompass a main bodyof the seat belt buckle. Further, in some embodiments, the removable covermay include a clip mechanismfor securing the removable coverto the main bodyof the seat belt buckle.

Referring now also to, illustrating front and rear perspective views of the removable cover. In some embodiments, as shown here, the pair of side panelsa,b may each include a gripping lipa,b opposite to the front panel(i.e., opposite to the end of the side panelsa,b that attach to the front panel), which may define the clip mechanismalong with the pair of side panelsa,b. As shown here, each gripping lipa,b may extend laterally (inward) and generally perpendicular from the pair of side panelsa,b, and may be configured to grip a rear sideof the seat belt buckle(). In some embodiments, the pair of side panelsa,b may include at least some degree of flexibility, to enable the pair of side panelsa,b to flex and allow the removable coverto ‘snap’ onto the seat belt buckle. This attachment means may particularly enable quick attachment and removal of the removable cover, allowing convenient transfer of the removable coverbetween seat belt buckles or other vehicles.

As above, and as shown here, the front panelmay include a rectangular shape having a bottom side, a top sideand a pair of opposing left and right sidesa,b. One of the side panelsa may be attached to the left sidea of the front panel; and another of the side panelsb may be attached to the right sideb of the front panel. The top panelmay be attached to the top sideof the front panel, extending rearwardly therefrom. Further, as shown in particular in, a pair of top-side membersa,b may be attached to, and extending rearwardly from, the top sideof the front panelat opposite sidesa,b of the top panel.also illustrate the top panelin a neutral position () and a depressed position (). As shown here, in the depressed position, the top panelmay be angled relative to the pair of top-side membersa,b; and in a neutral position, the top panelmay be flush with the pair of top-side membersa,b, thereby defining a cohesive, smooth top of the removable cover.

Referring now also towhich illustrates a cross-section view taken along line-in. As shown here, and as also shown in, the top panelcovers a release buttonof the seat belt bucklewhen the front paneland the pair of side panelsa,b encompass the main bodyof the seat belt buckle, thereby preventing the release buttonfrom being accessed. However, the top panelmay include sufficient flexibility so as to allow depression of the top panelinto the release buttonwithout breaking or snapping the top panelfrom the front panel. This enables the top panelto flex up and down about the top sideof the front panelwhen pressed with enough force. To aid in this, as shown in. a bottom surface of the top panelmay contact the release button, such that once the top panelis pressed with enough force, the release buttonis pressed. In other words, depression of the top panelis able to depress the release buttonand release the seat belt as normal.

As above, it is preferable that depression of the top panelinto the release buttonrequires a force exceeding a force exertable by a child. In other words, the top panelis contemplated to be able to withstand a force that an average child is able to apply. For example, the top panelmay be configured to withstand (without depressing/deforming) a force of about 10 pounds or less (approximately 44 Newtons); and as such, this force may not be sufficient to depress the top panel.

Conversely, the top panelis contemplated to depress, or deform, under a force that an average adult is able to apply. For example, a force of above 10 pounds may be sufficient to cause depression of the top panelinto the release button. In some embodiments, the top panelmay include a particular construction or material to withstand the force applied by the child. For example, a thickness of the top panelmay be sufficient to prevent the depression of the top panelwhen the force exertable by the child is applied. For example, the thickness of the top panelmay be (but is not limited to) between 1-2 mm.

It should be appreciated that the thickness and amounts of force discussed above are provided as examples solely to provide understanding to the invention and should not limit the top panelto a particular thickness or amount of force it is able to withstand.

In some embodiments, the top panelmay be constructed from a plastic material, having a durable rigidity but exhibiting sufficient flexibility to enable depression thereof under sufficient force by the adult. In some embodiments, the removable covermay be of unitary construction. As such, the front paneland the pair of side panelsa,b may also be constructed from the plastic material. It should be appreciated however that the top panel, the front paneland the pair of side panelsa,b are not limited to being constructed from the same material; nor are the top panel, the front paneland the pair of side panelsa,b limited to plastic material.

It should be understood by one of skill in the art that the disclosed invention is described here in a few exemplary embodiments of many. No particular terminology or description should be considered limiting on the disclosure or the scope of any claims issuing therefrom.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the relevant patent offices and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.