Abstract:
A seat and shoulder belt protective cushion configuration for use in motor vehicles and the like. The cushion has pairs of elongated cushion extension arms extending from a central body member and a removable vertically disposed cushion portion that extends to provide shoulder belt displacement preventative element above the co-planar top edge surface of the respective upper cushion arm extensions for a child. The protective cushion is positioned between the occupant and a seat belt assembly securely restraining the occupant in place in the motor vehicle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to vehicle safety restraints used in transportation vehicles to engage and position seat belt shoulder belt combinations from direct contact across the occupant&#39;s waist and upper torso. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   Prior art devices of this type have been directed to a variety of safety belt covers and select pads, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,595,618, 4,984,849, 5,114,185, 5,275,468, 6,322,150, 6,394,554 and Patent Publications 2002/0074847A1 and 2003/0052528A1. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,618 a vehicle seat belt accessory can be seen having a stuffed animal characterization such as a bear through which a seat belt is selectively positioned with the article being positioned forward of the belt which is in contact with the user. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,849 discloses a cover for a vehicle seat belt restraint shield for an infant car seat. The cover has a fanciful three-dimensional animal representation that fits over the typical T-shaped shield of a car seat belt and harness construction. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,185 illustrates a protective cushion for automotive vehicles. The so-configured cushions are removably secured to the interior vehicle surfaces such as a dashboard and can be formed as stuffed animal configurations with an alternate form for use on a seat belt. 
   A child restraining seat belt aid is claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,468 in which a body engagement plate having multiple belt engagement fingers is positioned on a lap and shoulder belt. The plate extends therebetween and is of an integral synthetic resin material. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,150 addresses safety issues for pregnant women in which an elongated belt cushion pad is removably secured along a portion of the lap belt section of a seat belt assembly in which the cushion has multiple folded layer configurations incorporated about the belt and for strategic positioning of the cushion element associated therewith. 
   Patent Publication 2002/0074847A1 shows a protective covering for a vehicle seat belt having a two sided triangular shape body member which are formed together around a lap and shoulder belt combination increasing the effective body contact area of the assembly, 
   Finally, Patent Publication 2003/0052528A1 defines a detachable protective pad for the abdominal area of a human in which an oval shaped pad is selectively secured to either the front or back surface of a lap and shoulder belt combination. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A two part child and adult seat belt contoured protective cushion configuration that is held in place against the occupant by the lap and shoulder belt assembly of the vehicle for use with or without a child&#39;s car seat. The protective cushion of the invention has fixed multiple arm like extension portions and a detachable upstanding arm that allow the selective engagement of the lap and shoulder belt there across isolating the child from possible injury reducing direct contact with the belt during impact. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the assembled safety cushion of the invention on a child in a motor vehicle; 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the base safety cushion of the invention independent of use configuration; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a detachable cushion arm portion of the safety cushion as seen in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged front elevational view of the assembled safety cushion of the invention illustrating projected seat belt engagement paths in broken lines; 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view thereof; and 
       FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of an alternate use configuration for an adult. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–3  of the drawings, a safety seat belt cushion  10  can be seen having a two part configuration with central elongated contoured body member portion  11  which has a plurality of integral oppositely disposed arm extensions  12  and  13  and  14  and  15  in pairs extending therefrom. The central elongated rectangular body member portion  11  and extension arms  12 – 15  are preferably formed from fabric material defining a front surface  16  and a back surface  17 . Sidewall panels  18  and  19  extend between and interconnect respective front and back surfaces  16  and  17  with contoured side edges  20  and  21  corresponding to arm pairs  12  and  13  and  14  and  15 . An upstanding extension cushion portion  23  as best seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings has a fabric attachment loop  24  extending therefrom. The loop  24  is selectively engaged transversely about the central contoured body member portion as seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  5  of the drawings. Top and bottom panels  26  and  27  respectively extend between and interconnect associated remaining portions of respective front and back surfaces  16  and  17  forming the integral cushion configuration of the body member  11 . A resilient synthetic foam material F fills both the cushion  10 &#39;s portion  11  and  23  interiors defined by the hereinbefore described interconnected fabric portions as will be well known and understood by those skilled in the art. 
   Alternately, the cushion arm portion and body member of the invention could be formed from a pair of monolithic contoured molded blocks of synthetic foam material, but preferably a fabric covering as hereinbefore described would be used for durability and tactile comfort for the user due to the nature and positioning during use as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter as best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 6  of the drawings. 
   In typical application use for a child the assembled safety cushion  10  of the invention is placed onto the lap L of the child C in a car seat (not shown) or a vehicle seat  29  in a vehicle V generally illustrated in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. A typical vehicle seat belt assembly  31  having a lap belt portion  32  and an interconnected shoulder belt portion  33  is retractably deployed from attachment to the vehicle (not shown) over the safety cushion  10  of the invention as follows. 
   The lap belt  32  extends through openings S defined between the respective arm extensions  12  and  13  and  14  and  15  and then over a central area  30  of the main body member portion  11  therebetween and interlocks with a receiving belt buckle (not shown) which typically extends from within in this example the vehicle&#39;s back seat  29 . 
   Correspondingly, the shoulder belt portion  33  extends over and across the upper portion of the main body member  11  and extension arm  12  and down through the opening S between the respective arm extensions  12  and  13  joining with the lap belt  32  at its attachment engagement end fitting point as previously described interlocking a belt receiving buckle (not shown) on its respective joint end. 
   It will be seen that the upstanding extension cushion portion  23  will protect the child&#39;s C head and face  33 A from the shoulder belt  32  by lateral engagement therewith. It will be evident that the size of the child C will change the portions of the safety cushion  10 &#39;s engagement therewith. With the combination lap and shoulder seat belt  31  and  32  deployed, the safety cushion  10  of the invention is held firmly against the child C which protects against direct force impact which would be imparted by the seat belt assembly  31  during an accident and sudden deceleration of the occupants within the vehicle. The safety cushion  10  of the invention has been so designed that the child C will be comfortable and secure while still able to see around the upstanding extending cushion portion  23  from the main body member  11  by lateral displacement during application use of the extension cushion portion  23  against the shoulder belt  33  as best seen in  FIG. 1  of the drawings and as indicated graphically in broken lines in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. 
   An alternate use configuration for adults can be seen in  FIG. 6  of the drawings wherein just the central elongated contoured body member portion  11  with the integral oppositely disposed arm extensions  12 – 15  is used. In such alternate use, the main body member  11  alone is placed on the lap of an adult A, the seat belt assembly is positioned across the safety cushion  10  as previously described isolating the user from direct contact with the belt by providing a cushioned intermediate material therebetween. 
   It is the unique combination of the so-configured safety cushion  10  of the invention which utilizes the integral oppositely disposed spaced pairs of arm extensions  12  and  13  and  14  and  15  for an adult and the upstanding cushion portion  23  for a child will allow for the traditional seat belt assembly to be effectively and easily engaged over the safety cushion  10  and placed against the occupant thus isolating them from direct contact with the seat belt assembly yet while maintaining the child or adult in a safe and secure position within either a car seat (not shown) or on the vehicle seat  29  as illustrated. 
   The ease and use of adaptability of the universal safety seat cushion  10  of the invention is evident from the above description and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.