Seat belt tightner

• US 6,539,590 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blue Ridge International Products Company (Pencor Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Avraham Ziv
• Inventors: Ziv, Avraham
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor
• Application Number:
  US09/956,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20020033631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 24/68.SB, 24/68.B, 24/68.E, 24/68.F, 24/71.ST, 24/71.SB, 24/711, 24/68.CD, 249/09, 242/69, 246/85, 297/250.1, 297/463.1
• US Class Current: 24/68.0SB
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2839 having a front guard or barrier
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 24/909 Winders for flexible material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1416 Winder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2147 Strap tightener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2168 Seat belt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2175 Cargo tie down
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45895 Includes resilient component separate from portion

Abstract

A tensioning device used to improve the retention of a child seat after its installation in an auto seat using its installed seat belts. After the child seat is placed on the auto seat and the auto seat belt is engaged about the child seat in a desired manner, the device increases tension in the auto seat belt to improve retention of the child seat. The device uses an open-end slotted and rotatable spool around which the auto seat belt is wrapped. Lever means connect with rotating and locking means, which in turn connect to the rotatable spool to wind the spool in a direction such that would result in effectively shortening of the automobile seat belt.

Claims

1. A device for tightening a seat belt comprising:

(a) a spool having a rotational axis, whereabout a plurality of prongs are secured substantially in their lengths to form a slot with an open end and a closed end, such that the spool is extended along the rotational axis from the closed end through a bore of a head of a body and that spool extension is adapted to be secured in the bore so that it is rotatable only in one direction about the rotational axis within the bore;

(b) an arm extension extending from the head away from the rotational axis and connected to a securing arm spaced substantially apart from the spool by the arm extension;

(c) a lever rotatably secured at one end to an end of the spool extension and adapted to cause the spool to rotate in a winding direction in moving the lever toward or away from the securing arm.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the slot is at least as long as the width of the seat belt.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein ratchet means are integrated into the head, spool extension and lever to permit spool rotation only in a winding direction.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein a first ratchet means comprise ratchet and pawl means arranged between an inside surface of the bore and the spool extension to permit spool rotation only in a winding direction.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the securing arm is adapted to abut the seat belt when the seat belt is inserted into the slot and the spool is turned by action of the lever in the winding direction.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the securing arm is adapted to extend across the width of the seat belt in its abutting position, providing the sole means for preventing counter rotation of the device when the seat belt is wound around the spool.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein slippage preventing means are attached to the securing arm and are adapted to prevent slippage of the seat belt from abutment with the securing arm.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein locking means are provided on free ends of the prongs.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the locking means comprise forming non-parallel surfaces on opposing faces of the prong ends such that hoop tension on the prongs will cause the non-parallel faces to lock together and oppose a tendency of the opposing faces of the prongs to slide apart.

10. A device for tightening a seat belt comprising:

(a) a plurality of prongs forming an open end and attached at their other ends to a first extension thereby forming a spool having a rotational axis, such that the first extension is extended along a rotational axis through a bore of a head having the same rotational axis and whereby the first extension is adapted to be secured in the bore so that it is rotatable only in one direction about the rotational axis;

(b) an arm extension extending from the head away from the rotational axis and connected to a securing arm spaced apart from and substantially parallel with the prongs;

(c) a lever rotatably secured at one end to an end of the spool extension and adapted to cause the spool to rotate in a winding direction in moving the lever toward or away from the securing arm.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein ratchet means are integrated into the head, spool extension and lever to permit spool rotation only in a winding direction.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein a first ratchet means comprise ratchet and pawl means arranged between an inside surface of the bore and the spool extension to permit spool rotation only in a winding direction.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein the securing arm is adapted to abut the seat belt when the seat belt is inserted into the slot and the spool is turned by action of the lever in the winding direction.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the securing arm is adapted to extend across the width of the seat belt in its abutting position, providing the sole means for preventing counter rotation of the device when the seat belt is wound around the spool.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein slippage preventing means are attached to the securing arm and are adapted to prevent slippage of the seat belt from abutment with the securing arm.