Patent CA-2993382-A1 (CA)
Title: Safety first restraint
Inventor: MARTIN ELIZABETH C
IPC: B60N2/24
Filed: 2018-01-30
Abstract: The invention (Safety First Restraint) provides a new way of securing animals in the back or front seat of any vehicle. The frame is made out of 2 pieces of polyester webbing that are parallel to each other and joined together with 3 pieces of polyester webbing vertical to the frame (the center). The 2 pieces of polyester webbing that make up the frame; each have a metal cam buckle sewn onto one side of them. The other side of the polyester webbing will then feed into the cam buckle. As for the three pieces of polyester webbing perpendicular to the frame (the center), 2 of the polyester webbing will be sewn at the top, with a D-ring inserted at the top, and another D-ring sewn at the base. Therefore there will be a total of 4 D-rings, 2 on each creating a 4 point for anchor usage. These two will comprise the outside of the center while the middle piece of polyester webbing will be sewn at the top and bottom for extra strength and security. Each D-ring will have a nylon hook tape in each D-ring to attach and adhere to a harness. Safety First Restraint Therefore/Description 1. This invention provides a unique way to restraining animals in either the front or back seat. This invention changes the way one attaches the restraint to the car. Instead of using seatbelt buckles, or a cord attached to the overhead handles on the back passenger and driver seats, it is physically attached to the seat itself. It is an improvement upon seatbelt restraints. 2. It also provides 4 D-rings (4-point restraint/anchor usage) sewn in place, to safely attach to any harness. Currently I have seen only 1 and 2 point anchor usage in place to attach an animal to a dog seatbelt. Our own vehicles only have 3-point safety belt in them and that has only been around since 1959. I am suggesting a 4 point restraint/anchor usage system, which are demonstrated in Figures 1 ¨ 8. Wolko of the Center For Pet Safety has said in 2011, she conducted a pilot study of four seat belts that seemed to be the highest quality offered on the market. Not even one passed basic safety criteria. "We had a 100-percent failure rate," Wolko said. "The dogs were flying off the seats." [Forbes, The Best Seat Belts For Your Dog, by Hannah Elliott] "Subaru Executives said that 2/3 of their drivers own a dog. AAA reports that nearly 90% of US pet owners say they travel with their pet. To compile the report, CPS recreated the same crash tests used to rate child safety products. Subaru and CPS enlisted MGA Research Corporation, an independent lab often contracted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to study commonly available pet safety harnesses." [Forbes, The Best Seat Belts For Your Dog, by Hannah Elliott]. Testing included fake dogs built around steel frames--a 25-pound "terrier mix," a 45-pound "border collie," and a 75-pound "golden retriever." The models were weighted and packed to give a realistic representation of a dog's body. Each device was also fitted with internal computer instrumentation to measure harness performance and collect baseline data. The ultimate goal of each harness is to maintain the dog's stability and restrain movement under duress. Each should also help stabilize the dog's spine and limit rotation during an accident in much the same way seat belts for humans work. The results were 4 of the 7 dog harnesses they tested failed. [Forbes, The Best Seat Belts For Your Dog, by Hannah Elliott]. After watching the videos that show the results they all had one thing in common, it wasn't the actual harness that was failing, it was the materials they used to attach to the seatbelt or restraint. Therefore leaving room for improvement especially around the way our animals are attached to the restraints on the current market. Summary of the Invention Safety First Restraint is a unique way of restraining your dog in a vehicle while traveling with a 4 point harness system. Dog harnesses are the current innovation used for pet safety. However they have a failure point, and minimal anchor points. The polyester webbing has a low stretch value, between 5 and 15%. It is lightweight, resistant to abrasion, UV rays and water absorption. It has a tensile strength of 6000 Lbs, and a working load limit of 2000 Lbs with a 2" width. Since these will be made in three sizes the 1.5" (medium), polyester webbing has a tensile strength of 4500 Lbs and working load limit of 1500 Lbs. The 1" (small), polyester webbing has a tensile strength of 3000 Lbs and working load limit of 1000 Lbs. The cam buckles are made of metal (Zinc die cast with a black resin finish) with a break strength of 1", 1.5", 2" (1300 Lbs, 1500 Lbs, and 3000 Lbs). The D-rings are made of welded wire, which all three sizes have a break strength of 700 Lbs. Nylon hook tape has peel 2.5 N/cm, shear 10N/sq. cm, and a strength of 205 N/cm. Detailed Description of the Invention The embodiments of the Invention which are Exclusive Property or Privilege is Claimed Are Defined as Follows; 1. Safety first is a unique way of attaching a restraining system for your pet to a car seat and not a seat belt 2. It has a 4 point restraint/anchor system The following diagrams use the materials mentioned above in the summary of the invention (please refer above for tensile strength and break strength of the products seen in the below diagrams). Drawings Figure 1 - Front view of Safety First Restraint without hardware Figure 2 - Front view of Safety First Restraint with cam buckles, loops and reflective tape Figure 3 - Enlarged view of the center of the Safety First Restraint Figure 4 - Side view of the Safety Frist Restraint in a vehicle (front passenger seat) Figure 5 - Rear view of the vehicle seat with the Safety First Restraint attached Figure 6 ¨ Front view of the vehicle seat with Safety Frist Restraint Figure 7 ¨ Side view of Velcro tape assembly through D-rings Figure 8 ¨ Complete view of Safety First Restraint