Abstract:
A restraint safety device. A chest clip is slidingly attached to a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap. At least one chest clip stop is attached to each shoulder strap. The chest clip stops function to prevent or limit the sliding of the chest clip and to keep the chest clip properly positioned over the user&#39;s chest. In a preferred embodiment the restraint safety device is a child car seat and the user is a young child. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the chest clip stop is a button that may be removably positioned at an appropriate position on at least one of the shoulder straps. In another preferred embodiment, the chest clip stops remain in a permanent position on the shoulder straps and the position of the chest clip is adjusted by removing the chest clip from the shoulder straps and reattaching the chest clip at a desired position.

Description:
[0001]     The present invention relates to restraint safety devices, and in particular, to child safety harness systems.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     All states in the U.S. have laws of varying requirements regarding child safety seats for automobiles. For example, in California children must be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint (safety seat or booster seat) in the back seat of a vehicle until they are at least 6 years old or weigh at least 60 pounds.  
         [0003]      FIG. 1A  shows prior art child car seat  1  and  FIG. 1B  shows a child strapped into prior art child car seat  1 . Car seat  1  utilizes popular 5-point harness system  2  to secure the child. The 5-point harness system includes five straps: two shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B, two hip straps  4 A and  4 B, and  1  crotch strap  5 . The length of shoulder straps  3 A,  3 B and hip straps  4 A,  4 B can be adjusted by pressing latch  91  to release compressive pressure on strap  92 . Prior art child seat  1  is available from the Evenflow Corporation with Offices in Piqua, Ohio, Model No. 3261420.  
         [0004]     After placing the child into the car seat, crotch strap  5  is drawn upwards between the child&#39;s legs and buckle tongues  7  ( FIG. 2 ) are slid into buckle  6 . Clip half  9 A and Clip half  9 B ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ) are snapped together to form chest clip  8  ( FIG. 1B ). Both halves  9 A and  9 B of chest clip  8  are free to slide up or down shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B so that clip  8  is appropriately positioned over the child&#39;s chest.  
         [0005]     Applicants have discovered a dangerous problem with the car seat design described above.  
         [0006]     What is needed is a better child safety seat.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention provides a restraint safety device. A chest clip is slidingly attached to a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap. At least one chest clip stop is attached to each shoulder strap. The chest clip stops function to prevent or limit the sliding of the chest clip and to keep the chest clip properly positioned over the user&#39;s chest. In a preferred embodiment the restraint safety device is a child car seat and the user is a young child. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the chest clip stop is a button that may be removably positioned at an appropriate position on at least one of the shoulder straps. In another preferred embodiment, the chest clip stops remain in a permanent position on the shoulder straps and the position of the chest clip is adjusted by removing the chest clip from the shoulder straps and reattaching the chest clip at a desired position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIGS. 1-4  show a prior art child safety seat.  
         [0009]      FIGS. 5-7D  show a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIGS. 8-11A  show a preferred method for attaching preferred chest clip stops to the shoulder straps.  
         [0011]      FIG. 11B  shows a preferred method for removing chest clip stops.  
         [0012]      FIGS. 12-15  show another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 16  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 17  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 18-20  show another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 21-24  show another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     The Problem  
       [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates a dangerous problem associated with prior art child car seats, which was discovered by the one of the Applicants.  
         [0018]     In  FIG. 4 , the child has grabbed chest clip  8  and has slid it down shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B so that it is no longer appropriately positioned over the child&#39;s chest, but instead is near buckle  6 . The act of sliding chest clip  8  down shoulder straps  4  puts the child in a position of increased danger. For example, the child has wiggled her shoulders so that her upper body is no longer covered by shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B. At this point, if the automobile is involved in an accident, the child could potentially suffer head and/or neck injuries, which may include skull fractures, broken neck and jaw fractures, as well as injuries resulting from what is known as “Seat Belt Syndrome”. Seat Belt Syndrome has been characterized as a collection of injuries specifically resulting from passengers who were only wearing lap belts upon the impact of a vehicle crash. Injuries typically include: severe abdominal injuries, fractures of the lumbar spine and serious closed head and facial injuries-or even death because the upper body is no longer restrained.  
         [0019]     Furthermore, from the position shown in  FIG. 4  it is possible for the child to climb out of the 5-point harness system, placing her in even greater danger. If the child climbs out of the car seat and the car is involved in an accident, even a relatively minor accident, the child could suffer severe life threatening injuries.  
       The Solution  
       [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Child safety seat  10  includes 5-point harness system  12 . In 5-point harness system  12 , chest clip  8  has been replaced with chest clip  18  and buttons  19  have been attached to shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B. In the first preferred embodiment, buttons  19  function as chest clip stops in that they stop the child from sliding chest clip  18  downward or upward, enabling chest clip  18  to remain appropriately positioned over the child&#39;s chest. Because chest clip  18  stays positioned over the child&#39;s chest, the child is prevented from escaping from the 5-point harness system and remains securely protected by the car seat harness system.  
       Chest Clip  
       [0021]     A front view of preferred chest clip  18  is shown in  FIG. 7A  and a rear view is shown in  FIG. 7B . In a preferred embodiment, clip half  61 A can be removed from shoulder strap  3 A and clip half  61 B can be removed from shoulder strap  3 B.  
       Buttons Attached to Shoulder Straps  
       [0022]      FIG. 6  shows of chest clip  18  and buttons  19 . As stated above, buttons  19  prevent the child from sliding clip  18  downwards or upwards. If the child attempts to move chest clip  18 , the chest clip will contact the buttons  19  and the movement of chest clip  18  will be blocked by the buttons. Preferably, buttons  19  should be of sufficient thickness and diameter to prevent chest clip  18  from sliding over the buttons. A preferred portion of chest clip  18  located just underneath the cover of chest clip  18  is shown in dotted line in  FIG. 6 .  
       Preferred Method of Attaching the Buttons to the Shoulder Straps  
       [0023]      FIGS. 8-11A  show a preferred method for attaching buttons  19  to the shoulder straps.  
         [0024]     In  FIG. 8 , hole  14  has been punched through shoulder strap  3 A.  
         [0025]     In  FIG. 9 , upper part  19 A of button  19  has been positioned over hole  14 . Lower part  19 B has been positioned under hole  14 . Upper part  19 A preferably includes ductile plastic barb  33 .  
         [0026]     In  FIG. 10 , barb  33  has been pushed through hole  14  and partially pushed through the hole in lower portion  19 B.  
         [0027]     In  FIG. 11A , barb  33  has been pushed the rest of the way through the hole in lower portion  19 B. Barb  33  is preferably ductile enough so that it can be squeezed through the hole in lower part  19 B yet sufficiently firm so that it prevents lower portion  19 B from separating after barb  33  has been completely pushed through the hole.  
       Buttons Permanently Attached to Shoulder Straps  
       [0028]     In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5-7B , buttons  19  are permanently attached to shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B in a manner similar to that shown in  FIGS. 8-11B . As the child grows (or if a larger child uses the car seat), it will most likely be necessary to adjust the length of shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B and the length of hip straps  4 A and  4 B. Also, it may be necessary to adjust the position of chest clip  18  so that it remains appropriately positioned over the child&#39;s chest.  
         [0029]     Because buttons  19  are intended to be permanently attached, an adult will need to remove chest clip  18  from shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B prior to repositioning chest clip  18 . As shown in  FIG. 7B , clip half  61 B of chest clip  18  includes openings  61 B 1  and  61 B 2 . Likewise, clip half  61 A includes openings  61 A 1  and  61 A 2 . To remove clip halves  61 A and  61 B from the shoulder straps, an adult slides straps  3 A and  3 B out through the openings.  
         [0030]     For example,  FIG. 5  shows a 3 year old child strapped in child car seat  10 . Chest clip  18  is positioned as shown. Prior to placing a larger child (for example, a 6 year old child) into the car seat, the adult will need to increase the length of shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B and hip straps  4 A and  4 B. Accordingly, chest clip  18  has been raised so that it is positioned between a different set of buttons  19 , as shown in  FIGS. 7C and 7D . The position of chest clip  18  has been adjusted so that it will now be appropriately positioned over the larger child&#39;s chest.  
       Buttons Removably Attached to the Shoulder Straps  
       [0031]      FIG. 12  shows infant car safety seat  50  having 3-point harness system  51 . 3-point harness system includes shoulder straps  52 A and  52 B and crotch strap  53 .  
         [0032]     An infant grows very fast and will commonly double their birth weight in the first 4 to 5 months of life. To accommodate the infant&#39;s fast growth, the shoulder straps of car safety seat  50  may need to be adjusted every 2 to 3 weeks. Because the alignment between relative positions on strap  52 A and  52 B shifts as the straps are being lengthened it is preferable to remove buttons  19  prior to adjusting the lengths of straps  52 A and  52 B. Then, buttons  19  should be reattached after the lengths of straps  52 A and  52 B have been adjusted.  
         [0033]     For example,  FIG. 13  shows a simplified top view of shoulder straps  52 A and  52 B of car seat  50 .  
         [0034]     In  FIG. 14 , an adult has removed buttons  19 . A preferred method for removing buttons  19  is shown in  FIG. 1B . Hard flat tool  65  is inserted between strap  3 A and backing  19 B. Backing  19 B is then pried off.  
         [0035]     Then, as shown in  FIG. 14 , an adult has reached behind car seat  50  and has pressed button  55  of latch  56 . This releases compressive pressure on strap  52 B and has allowed the adult to pull strap  52 B in the direction indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 14  to lengthen shoulder straps  52 B and  52 A.  
         [0036]     In  FIG. 15 , the adult has appropriately adjusted the position of chest clip  8  and has reattached buttons  19  in a fashion similar to that described above in reference to  FIGS. 8-11A .  
       Alternate Applications  
       [0037]     Although the above preferred embodiments specifically showed how the present invention can be utilized for child safety seat harnesses, it can likewise be utilized for a variety of other applications. For example, buttons  19  (or a similar stop) can be utilized for but not limited to preventing sliding of a chest clip for the following devices: an infant/toddler front carrier, a stroller, a grocery cart infant seat, a highchair, an infant/toddler backpack carrier, car booster seats, a jogging stroller. There are adult applications for the present invention as well. For example, automobile race car drivers usually utilize shoulder straps as part of their safety harnessing system. Buttons  19  attached to the shoulder straps of an automobile racer can prevent unwanted sliding of a chest clip. This idea could also apply to outdoor recreational safety gear as well as safety restraints used by medical personnel.  
       Decorative Buttons  
       [0038]     In another preferred embodiment, buttons  19  include a design on the front that is decorative and visually appealing to enhance the attractiveness of the car seat.  
       Decorative Chest Clip Cover  
       [0039]     In another preferred embodiment, chest clip  18  ( FIG. 6 ) includes cover  87  ( FIG. 17 ) that preferably includes the logo of the seat supplier.  
       Snaps as Chest Clip Stops  
       [0040]     In another preferred embodiment, snaps are utilized as chest clip stops. For example,  FIG. 21  shows chest clip stop halves  156   a  and  156   b  snapped to shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B. Snaps  157  are attached to shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B.  
         [0041]     In  FIG. 22 , the parent has unsnapped chest clip stop half  156   a  from shoulder strap  3 A. The parent then also unsnaps chest clip stop half  156   b  in a similar manner.  
         [0042]     In  FIG. 23 , the parent has snapped chest clip stop halves  156   a  and  156   b  back onto shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B in different positions.  FIG. 24  shows a side view of chest clip stop half  156   a  snapped onto strap  3 A.  
         [0043]     Although the above-preferred embodiments have been described with specificity, persons skilled in this art will recognize that many changes to the specific embodiments disclosed above could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, although the above preferred embodiments showed a plurality of chest clip stops on the shoulder straps, it would be possible to prevent or limit the sliding of the chest clip by utilizing just one chest clip stop. Also, although the above preferred embodiments showed buttons  19  attached to shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B, it would be possible to attach other objects to the shoulder straps to prevent the chest clip from sliding. For example,  FIG. 16  shows safety pin  80  attached to shoulder strap  3 A. Safety pin  80  would stop the sliding of chest clip  8  or  18  in a manner similar to buttons  19 . Preferably, a plurality of safety pins would be utilized and they would be attached above and below the chest clip in a fashion similar to buttons  19  shown in  FIG. 15 . Also, a simple stop in the general shape of a hair barrette can be designed to operate as a chest clip stop. For example,  FIG. 18  shows chest clip stop  97  clamped down onto shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B. Also,  FIG. 19  shows a front view of chest clip stop  97  opened and  FIG. 20  shows a front view of chest clip stop  97  clamped down onto shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B. With chest clip stop  97 , there is no need to modify clip halves  9 A and  9 B shown in  FIG. 3A . Also, it should be noted that a variety of objects that penetrate the shoulder straps other than a button or a safety pin could be utilized. Some of the many possibilities include a paper clip, a thumb tack, or a pin. If a thumb tack or a pin is utilized the sharp end should be covered with a backing. For example, a preferred backing would screw onto the sharp end of the pin or thumb tack. Also, in addition to the hair barrette shown in  FIGS. 18-20 , other devices that wrap around the shoulder straps can also be utilized as chest clip stops. For example, fabric can be tied tightly around the shoulder straps. Or duct tape wrapped around the shoulder straps can function as a chest clip stop. Also, it would be possible to run the shoulder straps through a plurality of buckles and utilize the buckles as chest clip stops. Also, it would be possible to attach to the chest clip an object designed to minimize or prevent the sliding or movement of the clip. This object would serve as a redundancy feature that would operate to prevent the sliding and movement of the chest clip in addition to the chest clip stops. For example, the chest clip could include teeth such as teeth on a hair barrette (see  FIGS. 18-20 ), or a non-skid type of rubber or plastic. Also, in another preferred embodiment, shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B each include a plurality of prefabricated holes (such as hole  14  shown in  FIG. 8 ). The parent then may then install, remove and replace chest clip stops of whatever form is appealing to the parent (for example, buttons, pins with backings, buckles, safety pins, hair barrettes, etc.). Also, it should be noted that it would be possible to attach buttons  19  in a variety of ways. For example, buttons  19  can be sewn onto shoulder straps  3 A and  3 B with a needle and thread at the exact position that the parent desires. Then, if it ever becomes necessary to adjust the location of the chest clip, the parent merely need to just cut the thread and move the buttons to the desired location and sew them onto the straps again. By sewing buttons onto the shoulder straps and then re-sewing them at different locations, there is no need to modify clip halves  9 A and  9 B shown in  FIG. 3A . Also, above in the specification in reference to  FIGS. 12-15  it is described how buttons  19  are removed when the length of shoulder straps  52 A and  52 B are adjusted and the position of chest clip  18  is adjusted. It should be recognized that it would also be possible to attach a plurality of buttons  19  to shoulder straps  52 A and  52 B. Then, to adjust the length of shoulder straps  52 A and  52 B the buttons can remain attached to the shoulder straps and the chest clip would be removed and reattached appropriately in a fashion similar to that described above in reference to  FIGS. 7A-7D . Therefore, the attached claims and their legal equivalents should determine the scope of the invention.