Non-slip seat belt cover

A non-slip seat belt cover includes an elongated, rectangular section of covering material having an interior surface and an exterior surface; a first elongated strip of hook-and-pile fastener, attached along one of the longer edges of the exterior surface; a second elongated strip of hook-and-pile fastener, attached along the longer edge of the interior surface opposite the edge to which the first fastener strip is attached; and a securing mechanism including a plurality of prong members secured to the interior surface of the interior surface adjacent one of the shorter ends of the rectangular section. The securing member is preferably a cleat pad having a plurality of rows of prong members extending from the cleat pad. The prong members are preferably angled with respect to the cleat pad at an angle between twenty-five and sixty degrees. When angled prong members are utilized, the point of the prongs should be oriented away from the adjacent shorter edge of the rectangular section.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to covers for seat belts and more 
particularly to covers for seat belts that include a mechanism for 
preventing the seat belt cover from sliding with respect to the seat belt. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Seat belt covers can lessen the discomfort of wearing the seat belt, as 
well as, provide an excellent area upon which an advertiser can display an 
advertising message. The seat belt cover is generally wrapped around the 
shoulder belt and secured with fasteners. This securing arrangement 
secures the seat belt cover to the seat belt but provides no mechanism for 
preventing the seat belt cover from sliding with respect to the seat belt. 
When the seat belt cover is allowed to slide with respect to the seat 
belt, the seat belt cover can become bunched up at the end of the seat 
belt adjacent the seat belt rewind mechanism. It would be a benefit, 
therefore, to have a seat belt cover that provided a mechanism for 
preventing the seat belt cover from sliding with respect to the seat belt. 
GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF INVENTION 
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a non-slip seat belt cover 
that includes a mechanism for preventing the seat belt cover from sliding 
with respect to the seat belt. 
Accordingly, a non-slip seat belt cover is provided that includes an 
elongated, rectangular section of covering material having an interior 
surface and an exterior surface; a first elongated strip of hook-and-pile 
fastener, attached along one of the longer edges of the exterior surface; 
a second elongated strip of hook-and-pile fastener, attached along the 
longer edge of the interior surface opposite the edge to which the first 
fastener strip is attached; and a securing mechanism including a plurality 
of prong members secured to the interior surface of the interior surface 
adjacent one of the shorter ends of the rectangular section. The securing 
member is preferably a cleat pad having a plurality of rows of prong 
members extending from the cleat pad. The prong members are preferably 
angled with respect to the cleat pad at an angle between twenty-five and 
sixty degrees. When angled prong members are utilized, the point of the 
prongs should be oriented away from the adjacent shorter edge of the 
rectangular section.

EXEMPLARY MOD FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a representative seat belt arrangement, 
generally referenced by the numeral 10, of the type that the non-slip seat 
belt cover of the invention may be used. Seat belt arrangement 10 includes 
a securing belt 12, a lap belt 14, and a shoulder belt 16. Shoulder belt 
16 is secured to a rewind mechanism 18. FIG. 2 shows seat belt arrangement 
10 with an exemplary embodiment of the non-slip seat belt cover, generally 
referenced by the numeral 20, secured to shoulder belt 16. As can be seen 
in the figure, cover 20 forms an elongated sleeve within which a section 
of shoulder belt 16 is disposed. 
FIG. 3 is a plan view of an interior surface 22 of cover 20. Cover 20 is a 
substantially rectangular sheet of quilted, canvas fabric having a length 
"L" of about thirty (30") inches and a width "W" of about four and 
one-half (41/2") inches. A first strip 24 of hook-and-pile fastener of a 
length about one-half (1/2") inch shorter than length "L" is attached 
along a longer edge 26 of exterior surface 22. Two cleat pads 28a-28b are 
secured to interior surface 22 about one-half (1/2") inch from a shorter 
edge 30 of cover 20. Two additional cleat pads 28c-28d are secured to 
interior surface 22 about one-half (1/2") inch from a second shorter edge 
32 of cover 20. 
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of one of cleat pads 28 in isolation. Each 
cleat pad 28 includes a plurality of pointed prong members 32 that extend 
from a substantially planar base 34 at an angle of about forty-five 
(45.degree.) degrees from base 34 and arranged in four parallel rows. Each 
cleat pad 28 is oriented in a manner such that the points 36 of prong 
members 32 are oriented away from the edge 30,32 to which the cleat pad 28 
is adjacent. In this embodiment, cleat pads 28 are metal and prong members 
32 are stamped out of cleat pad 28 in a can opener fashion. 
FIG. 4 shows an exterior surface 38 of cover 20. A second strip 40 of 
hook-and-pile fastener of a length about one-half (1/2") inch shorter than 
length "L" is attached along a longer edge 42 of exterior surface 38. In 
this embodiment, first strip 24, second strip 40 and the four cleat pads 
28 are adhesively attached to cover 20. Exterior surface 38 may be screen 
printed or carry other advertising indicia if desired. 
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of cover 20 secured about shoulder belt 16 
along the line A--A of FIG. 2. As shown in the figure, prong members 32 of 
cleat pads 28 contact and become engaged with shoulder belt 16 when 
interior surface 22 of cover 20 is wrapped about shoulder belt 16. Cover 
20 is secured about shoulder belt 16 by placing first strip 24 against 
second strip 40. 
The use and operation of non-slip seat belt cover 20 is now described with 
general reference to FIGS. 1-5. Cover 20 is installed over shoulder belt 
16 by placing shoulder belt 16 onto interior surface 22 while cover 20 is 
folded over in a manner such that a first section of shoulder belt 16 is 
sandwiched between cleat pads 28a,28b, and a second section of shoulder 
belt 16 is sandwiched between cleat pads 28c,28d. First and second strips 
24,40 are then placed into contact to secure cover 20 in place. It can be 
appreciated from the foregoing description that as any end of cover 20 is 
urged toward the other end, prong members 32 act against shoulder belt 16 
to resist the urging. 
can also be seen from the preceding description that a non-slip seat belt 
cover that includes a mechanism for preventing the seat belt cover from 
sliding with respect to the seat belt has been provided. 
It is noted that the embodiment of the non-slip seat belt cover described 
herein in detail for exemplary purposes is of course subject to many 
different variations in structure, design, application and methodology. 
Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the 
scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because many 
modifications may be made in the embodiment herein detailed in accordance 
with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that 
the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a 
limiting sense.