Abstract:
The present invention is directed to providing a simple, cost effective device for tightening a restraining device such as a belt, strap, rope or the like that requires very little space, and that can be easily operated to provide complete tightening of the restraining device, even when the restraining device is in a difficult to reach area. Exemplary embodiments can be configured as a unitary structure wherein arms of the unitary structure are each slotted and attached to a base of the unitary structure so that a belt can be easily inserted into the slots. The unitary structure can then be used to clamp the restraining device, such as a seat belt used to hold a child safety seat, in place. Tightening of the belt can be achieved through the use of a removable lever that tightens the belt with each rotation. Upon tightening of the belt to a desired tension, a secure locking mechanism, such as a nut, can be used to hold the belt in its tightened state without concern of belt slippage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for assisting in proper engagement of restraining devices. More particularly, the invention relates to the tightening of restraining devices such as belts, straps, ropes or the like, including, but not limited to vehicle seat belts used to hold a child safety seat in place. 
     2. Background Information 
     Devices for tightening restraining devices, such as belts, straps, ropes or the like, are well known, but suffer a variety of deficiencies. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,773 is directed to an automobile seat belt tightener. The described seat belt tightener is configured to engage a seat belt used to hold a child safety seat in place within a vehicle. The device mounts to the seat belt, and is tightened using a tightener mechanism that includes a non-circular bifurcated pin or reel and a complementary, non-circular aperture in the tightener frame to ensure that the pin or reel cannot be rotated until the pin or reel is fully inserted in the frame. 
     A ratcheting mechanism is used in the device of the &#39;773 patent to lock the tightened belt in place. However, because ratcheting mechanisms are susceptible to slippage, such a device will not necessarily comply with National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) standards. Moreover, the use of the ratcheting mechanism disclosed in the &#39;773 patent adds to the complexity of the device. In addition, the use of a knob as disclosed in the &#39;773 patent for tightening the belt does not provide adequate leverage to the user, thereby rendering installation in difficult to reach places (such as the center rear seat of a vehicle) impractical. 
     In addition, the device described in the &#39;773 patent is configured as a U-shaped frame for receiving the pin or reel, the pin or reel being configured with a slot therein for receiving the seat belt. Thus, the pin or reel must be inserted into the frame with each use, and therefore care must be taken to guide the slot through the belt so that the belt can be subsequently tightened. Such an operation requires use of both hands and is difficult to implement, particularly when the seat belt tightener is being used in a difficult to reach area. Other known devices which are more simple in design than that described in the &#39;773 patent, are difficult to install, or if easily installed, do not lend to adequate tightening of the belt. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a relatively simple device, which is easy to install and which can provide adequate tension of a restraining device such as a belt, strap or the like in an easy-to-use operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to providing a simple, cost effective device for tightening a restraining device such as a belt, strap, rope or the like that requires very little space, and that can be easily operated to provide complete tightening of the restraining device, even when the restraining device is in a difficult to reach area. Exemplary embodiments can be configured as a unitary structure wherein arms of the unitary structure are each slotted and attached to a base of the unitary structure so that a belt can be easily inserted into the slots. The unitary structure can then be used to clamp the restraining device, such as a seat belt used to hold a child safety seat, in place. Tightening of the belt can be achieved through the use of a removable lever that tightens the belt with each rotation. Upon tightening of the belt to a desired tension, a secure locking mechanism, such as a nut, can be used to hold the belt in its tightened state without concern of belt slippage. 
     Generally speaking, exemplary embodiments relate to an apparatus for tightening a restraining device, such as a belt, strap, rope or the like, comprising: a unitary structure having a generally U-shaped configuration formed by a base with two arms, each of said arms including a slot to receive the restraining device, at least one of said arms being rotatable relative to a remaining portion of said unitary structure; and a locking device for selectively retaining said at least one rotatable arm in a fixed rotational position relative to said base. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, wherein like elements have been designated by like numerals, and wherein: 
     FIGS. 1A and 1B show exemplary embodiments of an apparatus configured in accordance with the present invention for tightening a belt; 
     FIG. 2 shows an application of the present invention to a child safety seat; and 
     FIG. 3 shows an alternate exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1A shows an exemplary apparatus for tightening a restraining device in accordance with the present invention. The FIG. 1A apparatus is configured as a unitary structure  100  having a generally U-shaped configuration formed with a base  102  and two arms  104  and  106 . Each of the two arms includes a slot  108  and  110 , respectively, to receive the restraining device. In the FIG. 1A example, the restraining device  112  is a belt, such as the seat belt of a vehicle used, for example, to hold down a child safety seat. 
     In the FIG. 1A embodiment, the arm  104  is rotatable relative to a remaining portion of the unitary structure  100 . The arm  104  extends through an aperture in the base  102  for rotation by the user. Bearings can be included in the aperture to improve rotation of arm  104  within the aperture. Retention of arm  104  within the aperture can be achieved in any desired fashion including, but not limited to, forming a portion  118  of arm  104  with a diameter larger than the aperture such that upon insertion of the arm through the aperture, the portion  118  abuts the base  102 . A nut, lock washer or other suitable attaching device can then be placed over the slotted end of arm  104  and into abutment with an opposite side of the base  102  to hold the arm  104  in place. 
     Alternately, an exterior periphery of the arm  104  can be configured with threads  122 , that mate with threads included in an aperture of the base  102 . As such, the arm can be threaded through the aperture in the base  102  up to a point where the slot  108  protrudes from the base  102  sufficiently to receive the belt  112 . 
     An end  114  of the arm  104  is also shaped to mate with a removable handle  116 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the shape of the end  114  can be configured in any desired manner. For example, the shape can be square or hexagonal, such that when the removable handle  116  is placed about its periphery, the handle locks to the end so that the end can be rotated with rotation of the handle  116 . However, exemplary embodiments are not limited to use of a square or hexagonal shape, and any number of shapes will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Regardless of which shape is selected, some mechanism can be provided in order for the handle  116  to lock to the end  114  such that the arm  104  can be rotated. 
     As shown in FIG. 1B, a locking mechanism such as a springbiased ball  124  and recess  126  are provided. For example, the end  114  is formed as part of the handle  116  and extends in a direction toward base  102  for insertion into a mating opening  128  of arm  104 . The arm  104  can be a hollow mating cylinder, the hollow opening  128  being shaped to mate with the end  114  (e.g., square shaped). The spring-biased ball can protrude from a peripheral surface of the end  114  to mate with the recess  126  on an inner periphery of the opening  128  in the cylindrically shaped arm  104 . Of course, any other suitable locking mechanism can be used. 
     The handle  116  can include a ratchet wheel  130  and ratchet pawl, or catch,  132  such that arm  104  can be repeatedly rotated to tighten the belt  112  without having to completely rotate the handle  116  by 360°. A lever  134  connected to the catch  132  can be used to vertically shift catch  132  between an upper position at which the handle  116  can be freely rotated in a clockwise direction (that is, to permit rotation of arm  104  in a counterclockwise direction without having to rotate handle  116  by 360°), or in a lower position at which handle  116  can be freely rotated in a counterclockwise direction (that is, to permit clockwise rotation of arm  104  without having to rotate handle  116  by 360°). 
     The handle  116  can be configured in any of a variety of shapes readily apparent to those skilled in the art, such as a knob or other handle. In the exemplary FIG.  1 A and lB embodiments, a lever is illustrated to provide the user enhanced leverage when rotating the arm  104 . 
     The FIG. 1A apparatus further includes a locking device for selectively retaining the rotatable arm  104  in a fixed rotational position relative to the base  102  after the belt has been tightened to a desired tension. In the FIG. 1 embodiment, the portion of the arm  104  designated  118 , which extends from the base  102  toward the handle  116  is configured with exterior threads  122  to receive a nut rotatable about the threads. As such, tightening of a restraining device, such as a belt, strap, rope or the like, can be implemented by threading the restraining device through the slots included in each of the two arms  104  and  106 . After the lever  116  has been used to rotate the arm  104  a desired number of revolutions to achieve a desired tension in the belt  112 , the nut  120  can be rotated to tighten against the base  102  and hold the arm  104  in a fixed rotational position. 
     Alternately, where a periphery of the arm  104  is threaded within an aperture of the base  102  as described with respect to an alternate embodiment in FIG. 1, the nut  120  can be backed off the base  102  in a direction toward the handle  116  by a desired amount (for example, by an amount equal to ¼ revolution of the arm  104 , or any other desired amount). Upon rotation of the handle  116 , the nut  120  will abut against the base  102 , thereby retaining the arm  104  in its tightened position. The nut  120  can then be loosened again by the predetermined amount, and the handle  116  used to rotate the arm  104  until the nut  120  again abuts against the base  102 . This operation can be repeated until a desired tension has been achieved in the restraining device  112 . Alternately, the nut  120  can be backed off in a direction toward handle  116  to the furthest extent possible. The rotatable arm  104  can then be rotated using the handle  116 , until a desired tension is achieved within the restraining device  112 . When the lever  116  has been rotated sufficiently to impart a desired tension to the restraining device, the arm  104  can be retained in a fixed rotational position by engaging a locking device, such as the nut  120 . 
     The handle  116  can be optionally removed when not in use to reduce the amount of space required for the apparatus. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that rather than using a nut  120  as illustrated in the exemplary FIG. 1 embodiment, the locking device can be configured as any device suitable for maintaining the arm  104  in a fixed rotational position including, but not limited to a wing nut. 
     To release tension in the restraining device, the handle, if removed, can be optionally reinserted over the end  114 . The nut  120  can be rotated in an opposite direction to release the arm  104 . After tension in the restraining device  112  has been released, the belt can be removed from the slots  108  and  110 . 
     The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1A provides a cost-effective, space-saving design which can be easily installed and operated using, for example, a single hand of the user. By using a locking device, such as the nut  120 , a secure locking of the arm  104  in place can be achieved in a manner which complies with all NTSB safety standards. As such, the device is ideal for use with tightening a vehicle seat belt used to hold down a child safety seat, and can be easily operated even when used in difficult to reach places, such as the center location of a rear seat, as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the exemplary FIG. 1A apparatus  100  is used to hold down the base of a child safety seat  200  in a vehicle seat  202 . In the FIG. 2 illustration, the lever  116  has been removed following a tightening of the seat belt  204  using the unitary structure  100  of FIG.  1 A. 
     FIG. 3 shows an alternate exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein a unitary structure  300  is again provided which possesses a generally U-shaped configuration formed by a base  302  with two arms  304  and  306 . Again, each of the two arms includes a slot  308 ,  310 , respectively, to receive a restraining device, such as a seat belt. The arm  304  is rotatable relative to a remaining portion of the unitary structure. 
     In contrast to the exemplary Figure 1A embodiment wherein an end of the arm  104  extended through the base  102 , in the FIG. 3 embodiment the arm  104  is rotatable within the base  302 . The arm  304  can be shaped to mate with a removable handle  316 . For example, the arm  304  is configured with a hexagonal shape that mates with a receptacle  314  of the removable handle  316 . A ratchet mechanism  320  can be included within the base  302  such that upon rotation, the arm  304  can be retained in a fixed rotational position. The ratchet mechanism  320 , upon each partial rotation of the arm  304 , includes teeth on a ratchet wheel  323  which engage a ratchet pawl, or catch  322  fixed within base  302  to a pivot  323 . Alternately, or in addition, a locking device can be implemented using a nut similar to that described with respect to the FIG. 1A embodiment. In this case, an end of the shaft  304  can be configured to extend through the base  302 . A nut  324  can be included to mate with exterior threads on the end of the arm  304 , on a side of the base  302  opposite the arm  304 , in a manner as described with respect to FIG.  1 A. 
     In operation, the restraining device can be threaded though the slots  308  and  310  of the unitary structure  300 . The removable handle  316  can then be used to rotate the arm  304  until a desired tension has been imparted to the restraining device. Where a ratchet mechanism is used, the arm will be retained in place with each rotation thereof. When a nut  324  is used either as an additional locking device or in place of the ratchet, the nut can be backed off only enough that it will abut base  302  with each partial turn of arm  304  or, can be tightened after the desired tension has been achieved. 
     To release tension in the restraining device, the pivotable locking pin of the ratchet  322  can be released (using for example, a button accessible on the base  302 ), away from a ratchet wheel  323  of the ratchet  320 . The arm  304  can then be freely rotated in a reverse direction to release tension in the restraining device. When a nut  324  has been used, the nut can be rotated to render the arm  304  freely rotatable, such that tension can be released in the restraining device. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the unitary structure and removable handle in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be configured using any member of materials including, but not limited to plastics, metals, and so forth. Moreover, any combination of the features described in accordance herewith, and any combination of materials, can be used to implement the device. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restricted. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes that come within the meaning and range and equivalence thereof are intended to be embraced therein.