Child seat safety strap system

• US 6,842,952 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kevin E. Gilbert
• Original Assignee: Kevin E. Gilbert
• Inventors: Gilbert, Kevin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US10/440,559
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 246/33, 246/34, 246/64, 246/29, 242/65.R, 242/65.BC, 242/65.EC, 241/70, 241/71, 241/91, 245/791.1, 280/801.1, 280/808, 280/807, 297/474, 297/475, 297/468, 297/473, 297/483, 297/485
• US Class Current: 24/629
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2549 Fastening of other buckle elements to the main buckle buckles with several tongues released by the same mechanism A44B11/2507 - A44B11/2542
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4016 Pivoted part or lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4019 Sliding part or wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4072 Pivoted lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45602 Receiving member includes either movable connection between interlocking components or variable configuration cavity

Abstract

A strap system can be retrofit onto the backseat of a motor vehicle to securely mount a child safety seat in the backseat of the motor vehicle. The strap system includes a shoulder strap that is mounted on the back support portion of the backseat and a connector element that couples the shoulder strap to one lap belt portion of the seat belt system of the motor vehicle. The connector element is releasably coupled to the seat belt buckle to releasably couple the shoulder strap to the lap belts of the seat belt system of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A child seat safety strap system comprising:

a) a backseat of a motor vehicle which includes

(1) a seat portion,

(2) a back support portion,

(3) a seat belt system which has

(A) a first lap belt anchored at one end thereof to the motor vehicle and having a second end located near the seat portion of said backseat,

(B) a seat belt buckle on the second end of the first lap belt of the seat belt system of said backseat, and

(C) a second lap belt anchored at one end thereof to the motor vehicle and having a second end; and

b) a retrofit kit which includes

(1) a seat belt roller device which includes

(2) a housing having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first end of the housing and the second end of the housing, a first side, a second side, a transverse axis extending between the first side of the housing and the second side of the housing,

(3) a planar flange on the first end of the housing,

(4) a seat belt exit on the housing near the second end of the housing,

(5) three mounting bolt-accommodating holes defined through the planar flange, the mounting bolt-accommodating holes being spaced apart from each other in the direction of the transverse axis of the housing of said seat belt roller device, each mounting bolt-accommodating hole having a diameter that extends in the direction of the transverse axis of the housing of said seat belt roller device, the diameters of the three mounting bolt-accommodating holes being aligned with each other,

(6) the housing of said seat belt roller device being mounted on the back support portion of said backseat,

(7) a seat belt shoulder strap having a first end connected to said seat belt roller device and a second end,

(8) a one-piece monolithic Z-shaped connector element which includes

(A) a planar main body portion having a first side, a second side, a transverse axis extending between the first side of the main body portion of said connector element and the second side of the main body portion of said connector element, a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first end of the main body portion of said connector element and the second end of the main body portion of said connector element,

(B) an offset body portion on the first side of the main body portion of said connector element, the offset body portion including a first end that is coplanar with the first end of the main body portion of said connector element, a second end that is is coplanar with the second end of the main body portion of said connector element, a first side that is spaced apart from the first side of the main body portion of said connector element, the offset body portion forming an angle with the main body portion of said connector element,

(C) a planar extension portion that has a first side spaced apart from the first side of the offset body portion of said connector element, a second side that is connected to the first side of the offset body portion of said connector element, the planar extension having a longitudinal axis that extends between the first side of the planar extension and the second side of the planar extension and which extends in a plane that is parallel to a plane containing the planar main body portion of said connector element and which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the main body portion of said connector element,

(D) a handle mounted on the main body portion of said connector element near the first side of the main body portion of said connector element,

(E) a belt-accommodating connector hole defined through the main body portion of said connector element near the second side of the main body portion of said connector element, and

(F) a seat belt buckle latch accommodating hole defined through the planar extension portion of said connector element;

(9) the second end of the second lap belt of said seat belt system of said backseat being connected to the body portion of the connector element via the belt-accommodating hole defined through the main body portion of said connector element and the second end of said seat belt shoulder strap also being connected to the body portion of the connector element via the belt-accommodating hole defined through the main body portion of said connector element in a set up condition of said retrofit kit, and

(10) said connector element being releasably locked to the seat belt buckle element to releasably attach the first lap belt of said seat belt system of said backseat to the second lap belt of said seat belt system of said backseat and to the second end of said seat belt shoulder strap via said connector element in a use condition of said connector element and in the set up condition of said retrofit kit.