Flexible seat belt adjuster

A seat-belt adjusting apparatus mounted on the seat below the head rest of a vehicle's seat which catches a seat-belt buckle such that it sits closer to the passenger's shoulder when disengaged. The adjuster has two parallel rods connected by a seat-belt buckle guard for catching a seat-belt buckle and two adjustable plates each having two parallel, hollow, cylindrical-shaped sides through which the parallel rods can be inserted such that the plates can freely slide between the ends of the rods and the seat-belt buckle guard. Each plate includes an aperture through which a pin from a head rest can be inserted such that the seat belt adjuster can rest on a vehicle seat and receive a seat belt having a seat belt buckle.

BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Virtually every vehicle capable of moving at reasonable speeds has seat belts for driver and passenger safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that seat belt use in passenger motor vehicles saves over 10,000 lives in the United States annually. Since the 1960s, individual states have passed legislation requiring the use of seat belts in passenger motor vehicles. To enhance the effectiveness and convenience of seat belts, many advancements in their designs and mechanisms have been made in the past. However, the need remains for a device to make seat belt access easier in certain cars and trucks. This class of vehicles predominately consists of two-door sedans, whose seat belts are mounted far behind the front passenger seats. This placement of seat belts renders it necessary to reach far behind ones head to access the seat belt. Numerous devices exist to mitigate this problem; however, all existing devices are tailor fitted for a particular vehicle. A device which could be used interchangeably between any car or truck would be desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the aforementioned need in the art by providing a seat belt adjuster that mounts on the head rest of a vehicle to catch the seat belt buckle such that it sits closer to the passenger's shoulder. The present invention makes seat belt use more convenience by reducing the distance a passenger needs to reach to seat belt buckle, especially in two-door vehicles. Importantly, the seat belt adjuster of the present invention is flexible or adjustable such that it can mount on almost any motor vehicle's seat below a headrest. Specifically, the seat belt adjuster comprises of two parallel rods each having two ends whereby the rods are connected at the first ends by a seat belt buckle guard for catching a seat belt buckle. The flexible seat belt adjuster also includes two plates, each having at least two, parallel, hollow, cylindrical-shaped sides through which the parallel rods can be inserted such that the plates can slide freely between the ends of the rods. The plates further include apertures through which pins from a head rest can be inserted such that the seat belt adjuster can rest on a vehicle seat and receive a seat belt having a seat belt buckle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now toFIG. 1, the flexible seat belt adjuster10is shown having plates12and14moveably mounted on rods16and18. The plates12and14have cylindrical-shaped sides20and22with holes24and26for receiving rods16and18so that plates12and14can slide along rods16and18. Plates12and14have apertures28and30for receiving pins or rods from a head rest on top of a vehicle seat to which seat belt adjuster10can be mounted. Rods16and18are connected to the seat belt buckle guard32having a triangular solid plate34that is molded to or with a rectangular brace36. The buckle guard32has a rectangular opening38sized for catching a seat belt buckle. The buckle guard32extends outward perpendicularly from triangular solid plate34. The rectangular brace36of buckle guard32further includes a slit40so that the belt (not shown) of the seat belt can be slid through into rectangular brace36.

FIG. 2depicts a bottom perspective view of the flexible seat belt adjuster10in which at least one of cylindrical-shaped sides20,21,22or23of plates12,14includes a hole for receiving a screw42that can engage with one of rods16,18so that plates12and14can be secured in place. The seat belt adjuster10preferably has both cylindrical-shaped sides20,22of plate14having holes for receiving screws42,44that are engageable with rods16,18so plate14can be secured in place on rods16,18. Most preferably, plate12similarly has hole and screw combinations46,48such that both plates12,14can be secured in place to rods16,18. In this way, plates12,14can be moved to affix to any sized head rest of a vehicle as opposed to that of just one particular vehicle model, thereby enhancing the versatility of the flexible seat belt adjuster10of the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4illustrate perspective views of flexible seat belt adjuster10, and more clearly, depict rectangular opening38for catching the buckle of a seat belt assembly on a vehicle. It should be understood that rectangular opening38may be modified to any desired shape so long as it achieves the purpose of catching or restraining buckles on car seat belts. As mentioned earlier, slit40allows the belt portion to slide into rectangular opening38. In practice, a head rest on a vehicle seat would be removed, and its studs, rods, pins or similar-shaped apparatuses slid into apertures28,30on plates12,14. If, however, the head rest studs do not fit through apertures28,30, then plates12,14can be slid along rods16,18until they do. Screws42,44are loosened and tightened as needed when plates12,14need adjustment to receive a particular vehicle's head rest studs. Preferably, flexible seat belt adjuster10also includes screws46,48for enhanced flexibility and ease of adjustment to a vehicle's heat rest studs design. Screws,42,44,46,48can be pins, plastic, steel or otherwise, that can provide the necessary engagement and disengagement with rods16,18. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the wide variety of mechanical devices that could be substituted for the screws42,44,46,48and holes design depicted herein.

The flexible seat belt adjuster10can include rods16,18that are made from steel, and plates12,14that are made from plastic. Rectangular brace32can also be made from plastic. Alternatively, plates12,14, rectangular brace32and rods16,18can be made from metal. A wide variety of other materials and combination of materials may be substituted for the various components of flexible seat belt adjuster10without departing from the scope of the invention.

FIG. 5illustrates a top view whileFIG. 6illustrates a bottom view of the flexible seat belt adjuster10of the invention.FIG. 5shows the smooth top of the flexible seat belt adjuster10that would be seen once affixed to the seat of a vehicle. Of course, the head rest would block views of apertures28,30as head rest studs would be inserted into them.FIG. 6clearly shows hole and screws42,44,46,48for adjusting plates12,14to fit whichever vehicle head rest stud design is on the user's vehicle. The aesthetics of the flexible seat belt adjuster may be modified as desired, for example, all or parts may be in different colors or have decorative stickers to enhance salability.