Abstract:
Systems and devices which allow smaller passengers, such as children, in vehicles to direct a seatbelt along a more comfortable path are disclosed. A rear seat shoulder belt guide system for routing of a shoulder belt for a passenger in a vehicle seat includes a guide adapted to engage a seatbelt therein, a base plate secured to a seat back of the vehicle seat, and a tether connecting the guide to the base plate. The base plate may be secured to a headrest sleeve on the seat back of the vehicle seat, and the guide may be adapted to slidingly or frictionally engage the seatbelt. The guide may be stowed in contact with the base plate when the guide is not in use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to the field of safety restraint systems. In particular, the invention provides systems and devices for routing a shoulder belt for a passenger in a vehicle seat. 
   In conventional systems, passengers seated in the rear or middle row of seats are provided with a lap belt and a shoulder belt. Often, the shoulder belt is mounted to the roof of the vehicle. Thus, the shoulder belt may extend from the passenger&#39;s hip, across the chest and shoulder, and to the roof of the vehicle. 
   When the passenger is a young child or a small adult, for example, the routing of the shoulder belt may extend across the passenger&#39;s face, rather than the shoulder and chest. The passenger may thus be uncomfortably situated. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The disclosed embodiments of the present invention provide a system which allows smaller passengers, such as children, in vehicles to direct the seatbelt along a more comfortable path. 
   One aspect of the invention relates to a rear seat shoulder belt guide system for routing of a shoulder belt for a passenger in a vehicle seat. The shoulder belt is anchored to a vehicle roof. The guide system includes a guide adapted to engage a seatbelt therein, a base plate secured to a seat back of the vehicle seat, and a tether connecting the guide to the base plate. 
   In a particular embodiment, the base plate is secured to a headrest sleeve on the seat back of the vehicle seat. 
   In one embodiment, the guide may be adapted to slidingly engage the seatbelt. In another embodiment, the guide is adapted to frictionally engage the seatbelt. 
   In a particular embodiment, the guide is adapted to be stowed in contact with the base plate when the guide is not in use. Further, the base plate may include a groove for receiving the tether when the guide is not in use. The base plate may include a receptacle for receiving at least a portion of the guide therein when the guide is not in use, and the receptacle may include a groove for receiving the tether when the guide is not in use. The tether may include an elastic cord. 
   In a particular embodiment, the guide has a C-shaped configuration. The guide may include an opening for receiving and removing the shoulder belt. 
   In another aspect, the invention includes a rear seat shoulder belt guide system for routing of a shoulder belt for a passenger in a vehicle seat. The guide system includes a base plate adapted to be secured to a headrest sleeve on a back of the vehicle seat, a guide adapted to engage a seatbelt therein, and a tether connecting the guide to the base plate. The base plate includes a receptacle for receiving at least a portion of the guide therein when the guide is not in use. 
   Another aspect of the invention includes a rear seat shoulder belt system for securing a passenger in a rear seat of a vehicle. The system includes a roof anchor mounted to a roof of the vehicle, a seatbelt fixed at one end thereof to the anchor, a guide adapted to engage a seatbelt therein, a base plate secured to a seat back of the vehicle seat, and a tether connecting the guide to the base plate. 
   In a particular embodiment, the rear seat shoulder belt system may also include a tensioner/retractor engaging the seatbelt and operative to provide a tensioning of the seatbelt and to at least partially retract the seatbelt therewithin and to at least partially let out the seatbelt when used by a passenger. The system may also include a first seat anchor connected to the tensioner/retractor and anchored to at least one of the seat and the floor; a second seat anchor connected to at least one of the seat and the floor; and a seat buckle arrangement having a first portion connected to the second seat anchor and a second portion slidably connected to the seatbelt. The first portion and second portion are adapted to selectively engage and disengage each other. The guide engages the seatbelt to maintain the seatbelt in an approximate vertical position relative to the roof anchor when the seatbelt guide is in use to thereby provide a shoulder strap adjustment for a smaller person or child sitting in the rear seat. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Exemplary embodiments will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of a seatbelt system according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the system of  FIG. 1  illustrating an embodiment of a seatbelt guide system in greater detail; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the system of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a rear view of the system of  FIGS. 1-3  with the seatbelt guide system in the stored position; 
       FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate the storing of an embodiment of the seatbelt guide system; and 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of a headrest sleeve assembly for securing a seatbelt guide system to a vehicle seat. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a front view of an embodiment of a vehicle seating arrangement is illustrated. The seating arrangement  10  is adapted to provide a safety restraint system for a passenger  12  seated in a vehicle seat  14 . The vehicle seat  14  includes a seat back  16  and at least one headrest assembly  18 . The headrest arrangement is described in greater detail below with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The vehicle seat  14  may be a rear seat in a vehicle or a middle row seat, as is commonly found in many minivans. 
   The seating arrangement  10  includes a seatbelt  20  which includes a lap belt  22  and a shoulder belt  24  which are integrally formed. Such seatbelts are well known to those skilled in the art. One end of the seatbelt  20  is anchored to the roof  25  of the vehicle. A roof anchor  26  is provided to securely anchor the seatbelt  20  to the roof  25 . The roof anchor may be made of steel or other heavy duty material and may be secured to the roof  25  with bolts, screws or other fasteners. 
   The other end of the belt  20  is connected to a tensioner/retractor module  28 . The tensioner/retractor module  28  is adapted to tension the seatbelt  20  as needed. The tensioner/retractor module  28  is also adapted to let out and retract at least some of the belt as needed. Such retractor/tensioners are well known to those skilled in the art. 
   The tensioner/retractor module  28  is connected to a first seat anchor  30 , which is secured to the vehicle. In this regard, the first seat anchor  30  may be secured to the seat  14  or the floor of the vehicle. As with the roof anchor  26  described above, the first seat anchor  30  may also be secured to the vehicle seat or floor using bolts, screws or other fasteners. 
   The seatbelt  20  is slidably connected to a latch  38  of a buckle arrangement  34 . In addition to the latch  38 , the buckle arrangement  34  includes a belt buckle  36  adapted to selectively engage and disengage the latch  38 . The belt buckle  36  is anchored to a second seat anchor  32  via a belt  40  for securing the belt buckle  36  to the vehicle. The second seat anchor  32  may be secured to the seat  14  or the floor of the vehicle. 
   Thus, when the passenger  12  is secured in the vehicle seat  14  with the belt  20 , the lap belt  22  is stretched across the passenger&#39;s lap. When the buckle arrangement  34  is secured such that the latch  38  is engaged with the buckle  36 , the tensioner/retractor module  28  tensions the belt to secure the passenger in the seat  14 . 
   In the illustrated example, the passenger  12  is a child or a small adult. A smaller passenger&#39;s head may be positioned at approximately the height of the shoulders of an average adult. Thus, without correction, the shoulder belt  24  would pass across the smaller passenger&#39;s face. In this regard, the embodiments described herein include a belt guide system  50  to prevent this from occurring. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the belt guide system  50  causes a shoulder pivot point of the seatbelt  20  to be lowered from the roof anchor  26  to the location of the belt guide system  50 . The belt guide system  50  is described in greater detail with reference to  FIGS. 2-5C . 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  are front and rear views, respectively, of the seating arrangement and illustrates the belt guide system  50  in greater detail. The belt guide system  50  includes a guide  52 , a base plate  54  and a tether  56  connecting the guide  52  to the base plate  54 . 
   The base plate  54  is secured to the seat back  16  of the vehicle seat  14 . In the illustrated example, the seat back  16  is provided with a headrest assembly  18 . The headrest assembly  18  includes a headrest  18   a,  one or more vertical legs  18   b  extending from the headrest  18   a,  and headrest sleeves  80  for accommodating the vertical legs  18   b  therein. At least one of the headrest sleeves  80  has a raised portion  74  extending slightly above the surface of the top of the seat back  16 . In the illustrated example, the base plate  54  is secured to the raised portion  74  of the headrest sleeves  80 . In this regard, the base plate  54  may mechanically engage the raised portion  74  of the headrest sleeve  80 , thereby securely affixing the base plate  54  to the seat back  16 . This mechanical engagement may be implemented by making the base plate  54  out of plastic or metal material that may be pressure clamped around the raised portion  74  of the headrest sleeve  80 . An embodiment of a headrest sleeve assembly providing one such mechanical engagement is described below with reference to  FIG. 6 . In other embodiments, the base plate  54  may be secured to the raised portion  74  of the headrest sleeve  80  with fasteners such as screws, bolts, clamps and the like. 
   The guide  52  is adapted to engage the seatbelt  20  therein. In a particular embodiment, the seatbelt  20  is slidably engaged within the guide  52 . Thus, the seatbelt  20  is engaged by the guide  52 , but allowed to slide therethrough. Alternatively, the seatbelt  20  is frictionally engaged within the guide  52 . 
   In the illustrated example, the guide  52  has a C-shaped cross-section. In this regard, the guide  52  has an opening through which the seatbelt  20  may be selectively received into and removed from the guide  52 . Thus, when a user wishes to use the guide  52 , the seatbelt  20  can be engaged within the guide  52  by inserting the seatbelt  20  through the opening of the C-shaped cross section. The guide  52  may be made of a variety of materials. In a particular embodiment, the guide is made of a hard plastic or rubber material. 
   The configuration of embodiments of the guide  52  and the base plate  54  are described below in greater detail with reference to  FIGS. 5A-5C . 
   The tether  56  connects the guide  52  to the base plate  54  and facilitates maintaining of the guide  52  at a desired position. The tether  56  may include an elastic cord having a predetermined elasticity. In one embodiment, the elastic cord has a thickness of between 4 and 6 mm. Thus, based on the desired movement of the seatbelt  20  to be allowed, a material having a corresponding elasticity may be selected for the tether  56 . In other embodiments, the tether  56  may be made of a relatively inelastic material, such as a fabric. The length of the tether  56  should be selected based on a desired re-direction of the seatbelt  20  when the guide system  50  is in use. Thus, the length of the tether  56  is selected to position the guide  52  such that the seatbelt  20  passes across the shoulder of the small passenger rather than his or her head. In accordance with embodiments in which the tether is an elastic material, the length of the un-stretched tether is shorter than desired so that the tether in use will be under a certain amount of tension thus keeping the guide in a relatively stable position. 
   In operation, when the seat is occupied by a child or a small adult, the seatbelt  20  is engaged into the guide  52 . The tether  56  connects the guide  52  to a fixed base plate  54 , thus limiting the movement of the guide  52 . The seatbelt  20  engaged within the guide  52  is thus maintained at an approximately constant vertical position relative to the roof anchor, for example. 
   When the seatbelt guide system  50  is not in use, as may be case when the seat is occupied by an average size adult, the seatbelt guide system  50  may be placed in a stored position.  FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of the seatbelt guide system  50  in a stored position. As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 4 , the guide  52  is stored with the base plate  54  under the headrest  18   a . As described in greater detail below with reference to  FIGS. 5A-5C , the tether  56  and the guide  52  may be stored in engagement with the base plate  54 . Thus, when not in use, the guide system  50  may be positioned out of sight, but may be readily available when a passenger desires to use the guide. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5A-5C , the configuration of an embodiment of the guide system  50  is illustrated. Referring first to  FIG. 5A , the guide system  50  includes the base plate  54 , the guide  52  and the tether  56  connecting the guide  52  to the base plate  54 . The illustrated exemplary base plate  54  is provided with a central opening  58  adapted to engage the raised portion  74  of the headrest sleeve  80  (not shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C ). The central opening  58  may be provided with features  59 , such as cutouts along the perimeter, to facilitate the engagement of the base plate  54  with the headrest sleeve. 
   The base plate  54  is also provided with a grooved channel  60  extending from the connection point of the tether  56  to an edge of the base plate  54  having a receptacle  62 . The grooved channel  60  is sized to accommodate the tether  56  therein, and the receptacle is sized to receive therein a tapered portion  52   a  of the guide  52 . 
   Thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 5A , when the guide system  50  is to be used, the guide  52  may be pulled away from the base plate  54  as much as may be allowed by the tether  56 . When the guide system  50  is not be used, it may be stored away. In this regard, the tether may be positioned within the grooved channel, as illustrated in  FIG. 5B . The guide  52  may then be stored away by inserting the tapered portion  52   a  of the guide  52  into the receptacle  62 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5C . Thus, the guide system  50  may be stored away in a clean manner. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of a headrest sleeve assembly  70  for securing the seatbelt guide system  50  to a vehicle seat. The headrest sleeve assembly  70  may be made of any suitable material, such as a plastic or a metal. The headrest sleeve assembly  70  includes a hollow shaft  72  and the raised or head portion  74 . The shaft  72  is sized to slide through the central opening  58  off the base plate  54  and into an opening on a top portion of the seat back  16  ( FIG. 1 ). At one end, the shaft  72  splits into a plurality of flexures  76  with protrusions  76   a  for engaging an internal latch (not shown) within the seat back  16 . When the shaft  72  is inserted into an opening in the seat back  16 , the flexures  76  allow the protrusions  76   a  and the shaft  72  to pass through the internal latch within the seat back  16 . The protrusions  76   a  prevent removal of the flexures from the internal latch and secure the shaft  72  within the seat back  16 . 
   The shaft  72  is also provided with longitudinal protrusions  78  at least near the head portion  74 . The protrusions  78  correspond to and align with one or more of the features  59  of the central opening  58  of the base plate  54 . Further, one or more of the protrusions  78  may engage with complementary features of the internal latch within the seat back  16 . In this manner, the raised or head portion  74  is prevented from rotating. Thus, when the shaft is inserted into the seat back  16 , the protrusions  78  prevent rotation of the base plate  54  relative to the seat back  16 . 
   The head portion  74  is provided to vertically secure the base plate  54  of the seatbelt guide system  50 . When the shaft is inserted into the seat back  16 , the base plate  54  is secured between the top portion of the seat back  16  and the head portion  74  of the headrest sleeve assembly  70 . The head portion  74  is also provided with an opening to a central channel  80  forming the headrest sleeve  80  extending longitudinally through the hollow shaft  72 . 
   In the foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It is evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate description of the exemplary embodiments. 
   While the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the Figures and described above are presently preferred, it should be understood that these embodiments are offered by way of example only. Other embodiments may include, for example, different techniques for performing the same operations. The invention is not limited to a particular embodiment, but extends to various modifications, combinations, and permutations that nevertheless fall within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.