Abstract:
The device consists of a base channel detachably secured to the buckle element of a seat belt so that the buckle rests in the channel and secures the channel to the buckle. A hinged cover can be closed and detachably locked over the buckle so that the release button, either on top or in the front of the buckle assembly, is covered. Pressure on the two sides of the cover releases the latch connection on each side of the device which normally holds the cover closed over the buckle mechanism of the seat belt.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to new and useful improvements in release guards for seat belts on automobiles and other vehicles. 
     Seat belts which are used to retain both small children and children&#39;s car seats in position, are easily released by young children who quickly learn that a push of the button on the seat belt buckle, releases same. This action is not always noticeable by the driver, particularly if the child is in a car seat situated in the rear seat of an automobile as is conventional. 
     Once the seat belt has been unbuckled by the child, whether in a car seat or in the automobile seat itself it is relatively easy for the child to reach the door and open same apart from the obvious danger of being loose in the car without being buckled in, in the event of a sudden stop or accident. 
     The present device overcomes this problem of young children either inadvertently or purposely releasing the seat belt mechanism yet at the same time permits rapid emergency quick release operation. 
     It has been found that once a child is old enough to manipulate the guard release, he or she is old enough to understand the importance of not interfering with the seat belt mechanism while the car is moving. 
     Prior art known to the applicant includes the following patents: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,303 issued June 23, 1987 to Paula J. Salcone shows a safety lock for a seat belt buckle which is designed specifically for a top release buckle and cannot be used in an end release situation inasmuch as the lid or cover hinges parallel to the longitudinal axis of the seat belt. 
     U S. Pat. No. 4,497,094 issued Feb. 5, 1985 to Roy E. Morris shows a safety sleeve engaged over the seat buckle assembly and can only be release by a relatively small member such as the ignition key engaged through a small aperture in the sleeve in order to depress the latch button of the seat belt. Once again this is for top button type seat belts only. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,194 issued Mar. 5, 1985 to Roy E. Morris shows a method similar to the previous patent once again requiring a small tool to be engaged through a small aperture in order to release the top or upper mounted release button of a seat belt. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,033 issued Nov. 25, 1986 to Dale W. Orton shows a relatively involved safety seat belt securement device which partially covers the release button so that direct access is restricted. Actuator mechanism is difficult if not impossible for a young child to operate due to its complicated or multi-step operation or force required for actuating same. 
     U S. Pat. No. 4,675,954 issued June 30, 1987 to Daniel J. Gullickson shows a cover or sleeve for a seat belt having an upper surface which is resilient so that only an adult can depress the upper surface in order to engage the seat belt button therebelow. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,912 issued Mar. 22, 1988 to Helen A. Boriskie et al shows a side hinged cover adapted for use with a central upper release type seat belt assembly and cannot be used for end release type seat belts as the end flanges hold the device in position and cover an end release mechanism. 
     The present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages inherent with prior art devices and in accordance with the invention there is provided a seat belt release guard for use with a seat belt assembly in which said seat belt includes a latch plate on one free end and a latch plate receiving buckle assembly on the other free end, said latch plate receiving buckle assembly including a spring release member thereon, said release guard comprising in combination a buckle assembly receiving component and a cover component hingedly secured to adjacent one end of said receiving component and moveable in an arc parallel to the longitudinal axis of said release guard, from an open, unguarded buckle release position to a closed, guarded position detachably covering the associated spring release member against inadvertent access, means to detachably latch said cover component to said receiving component when in the closed position, means to selectively release said cover component from said release component to move said cover component to the open unguarded position and means to detachably secure said release guard to the associated buckle assembly. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a device in which the cover component can be adjusted vertically relative to the receiving component to accommodate seat belt buckle assemblies of different thicknesses. 
     A still further advantage of the invention is to provide a device which is useable with top release and end release type seat belts. 
     Still another advantage of the invention is to provide a device which is easily secured to the underside of a seat belt buckle assembly and can be removed when desired. 
     A still further advantage of the invention is to provide a device with the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed. 
     With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the best mode known to the application and of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention, in which: 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the device shown in the closed position over the buckle assembly of a seat belt and designed for use with top release seat belts. 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to the buckle end portion of FIG. 1 but showing the cover in the raised position and designed for use with end release seat belts. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view of the buckle receiving portion of the device. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of the cover portion per se broken away in part to show the interior thereof. 
     In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference should first be made to FIGS. 1 and 2 which shows a portion of a seat belt assembly including the engaging tongue 10 on one free end of one side 11 of a seat belt and the buckle assembly 12 secured to the free end of the other portion 13 of the seat belt assembly. 
     It will be noted that the buckle assembly 12 includes the transverse slot 14 into which the latch plate 10 may engage and can only be released by depression of the central release button of the buckle assembly identified by reference character 15. 
     The invention collectively designated 17 consists of a guard preferably made of plastic and comprising two components, a buckle assembly receiving component collectively designated 17 and a cover component collectively designated 18. 
     The receiving component 17 is shown in detail in FIG. 3 and consists of a substantially rectangular base 19 having an upstanding side member 20 on each side edge 21 of the base, said side members extending upwardly and spaced in parallel relationship perpendicular to the plane of the base 19 as clearly shown. 
     Hinge pins or lugs 22 extend outwardly from the outer surface 23 of the side members and adjacent the upper rear corners 24 thereof to which the cover member is hingedly attached as will hereinafter be described. 
     It will be noted that the channel forming the receiving component 17 is open-ended and includes the rear end 25. The dimensions of the receiving component 17 are such that it snugly receives the aforementioned buckle assembly 12 of a seat belt which enters from the rear end 22 and extends to adjacent the front end 26 and the receiving component 17 is secured to the underside of the seat buckle assembly 12 by means of a portion of adhesive mounting tape 27 preferably in the form of two-sided tape, one side of which is adhesively secured to the upper surface 19A of the base 19. 
     When it is desired to install the guard to the buckle assembly 12, the protective layer (not indicated) is peeled from the adhesive material whereupon the buckle assembly is placed in the desired position within the channel entering from the rear end 25 as hereinbefore described and firmly pressed in position thus adhesively securing the component 17 to the buckle assembly in the position clearly shown in FIG. 2. 
     A vertical slot 28 is formed downwardly from the upper edges 29 of the side members 20 and extends to adjacent the base 19 and a plurality of latching dogs or members 30 are formed on the inner surface 31 of the side members adjacent the rear surface 32 which defines the vertical slots 28, the purpose of which will hereinafter be described. 
     Reference to FIG. 4 will show the cover component 18 which also includes a planar upper plate 33 with a depending side wall 34 extending downwardly from each side edge of the plate 33 thus also forming a channel, the width of which is slightly larger than the width of the channel forming the base component 17. 
     The rear edge 35 of the upper plate terminates just forwardly of the rear ends 36 of the side walls and these rear ends are provided with a plurality of apertures 37 in vertical array one pair of which is selectively engageable with the aforementioned lugs 22 on the side members of the receiving component 17 thus hinging the cover component to the receiving component for fore and aft hinging movement between the closed position shown in FIG. 1 and the open position shown in FIG. 2. The plurality of apertures 37 is provided so that the distance between the panel 33 of the cover and the base 19 of the receiving component can be adjusted within limits to suit the thickness of the seat belt buckle assembly which will be engaged therebetween. 
     A transversely extending front flange 38 depends downwardly from the front edge 39 of the upper panel 33 and a transverse break-away portion 40 extends downwardly from the lower edge of this flanged portion 38 as clearly shown. When the device is used with buckle assemblies having a top button release 15 as illustrated in FIG. 1, the break-away portion 40 may be removed and the edge 41 thereof in conjunction with the front edge 42 of the base 19 of the receiving component defines a slot through which the tongue 10 of the other portion of the seat belt 11 may engage to engage within the receiving opening 14 of the buckle assembly portion 12. 
     However if a end release type buckle assembly is used as shown in FIG. 2, the transverse opening 14A is on the underside of the front of the buckle assembly and the transversely situated end release button 43 is situated above this opening thus leading to a thicker construction of the buckle assembly and requiring adjustment between the cove component 18 and the receiving component 17 by adjusting the hinging between the two components as hereinbefore described. 
     The break-off section then remains in place to cover the end release button 43 when the cover is in the closed or guarded position. 
     However as mentioned previously, it may be removed when used in conjunction with the top release buckle assemblies shown in FIG. 1. 
     Latch members or lugs 44 extend rearwardly from vertical bars 45 formed on the inner surfaces 46 of the side walls 34 and these bars together with the latch members slide downwardly within slots 28 when the cover is moved to the closed position with the latch members engaging and being held by the latch members 30. The relevant latch member finally engaged depends upon the vertical adjustment of the cove component 18 with the receiving component 17 as hereinbefore described. 
     Once latched, the release button for the seat belt buckle assembly is protected or guarded and cannot be reached until the cover is opened so that the button becomes unguarded. 
     Opening takes place by squeezing each side of the cover side walls 34 adjacent the lugs 46 thus moving these lugs inwardly towards one another and out of engagement from the latch members 30, it being appreciated that sufficient side clearance between the side walls 34 and the side members 20 is provided for this movement. 
     Once disengaged the cover may be pivoted rearwardly to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the release button 15 or 43 may be activated to disengage the seat belt. 
     Finger gripping areas 48 may be formed on the outer surfaces of the side walls 34 of the cover component 18 adjacent the lugs 44 on the inner surface thereof. 
     Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.