Child seatbelt release restriction mechanism

Abstract

A seat belt buckle safety housing encompassing the female end of a seatbelt to prevent a child from pushing the release button and thereby becoming a safety issue within a vehicle. Specifically, the invention has a sliding locking device on the lid that when slid opened and pulled, reveals the release button for the seat belt. Likewise, when closed, the lid protects the seat belt release button and prevents a child from removing the safety belt. The housing cover is designed with a pen type hinge that prevents a young child from pulling open the cover due to the pound per inch force and sliding locking mechanism. The device comes in two sections with the front attaching to the remaining three-sides through the use of tension screws.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the detailed description that follows.

FIG. 1: View of the exterior of the mechanism with the cover closed. The front (1) of the mechanism housing that encompasses the top cover (2) where the latch (5) is contained. Screws (4) that attach the front (1) of the mechanism to the back (3) part of the device. The front of the mechanism comprises an inverted “L” shape. The back of the mechanism comprises three sides (back and two sides). The female portion of the seatbelt is encompassed by both sections.

FIG. 2: A side view of the front (1) of the inverted “L” shape mechanism showing the screw holes (2) and the hinge (3) for the cover (4). A view of the side (5) of the second part of the mechanism.

FIG. 3: The male section (1) of the seatbelt (not part of the invention) that is inserted into the mechanism (2) without being obscured by the device. The seatbelt release button (3) on the top of the female section (5) of the pre-existing seatbelt device. The dotted line (4) demonstrating the closed cover mechanism preventing access to the release button (3). A view of the entire mechanism (6) encompassing the female portion of a seatbelt device.

FIG. 4: A view of the top section (1) of the mechanism with the pre-existing seatbelt release button (2) on the female seatbelt device. The mechanism's cover (4) in an open position. The pre-existing insertion location for the male part of a seatbelt.

FIG. 5: A view of the top section (1) of the mechanism with the cover (3) closed preventing access to the seatbelt release button. The sliding locking and/or unlocking latch (4) that is gripped to open and close the mechanism's cover. The area (2) where the male portion of the seatbelt is inserted showing the cover (3) of the mechanism stopping before it obstructs the location where the male part (2) of a seatbelt is inserted.

FIG. 6: The pre-existing female (1) seatbelt device (dotted line area) with the three-sided back (2) of the mechanism. When (2) is attached to the front (3) of the mechanism, the invention encompasses the female seatbelt device.

Claims

1) A seat belt button release restriction mechanism comprising a front section that fits on one side of the female part of a seat belt and is compressed against the seat belt to hold it in place by screws that draw it against the back portion of the device. The seat belt release is “sandwiched” and encompassed in this mechanism. The mechanism forms a type of housing surrounding the female portion of the seat belt device while still allowing for the insertion of the male portion of the seat belt device. A cover (or lid) with a spring-action latch can be opened and shut to give access to or deny access to the seat belt release button.

2) The mechanism of claim 1, said front section is formed in an inverted “L” shape with the top having a cover (or lid) on a hinge that can be raised and lowered to give access to or prevent access to the seat belt release button.

3) The mechanism of claim 1, said cover (or lid) has a sliding spring-action latch that when pulled, allows the cover to be raised to expose the seat belt release button. Additionally this same cover can be lowered and locked in place by the spring-action latch to prevent access to the seat belt release button.

4) The mechanism of claim 1, the housing, is fabricated out of hard plastic.

5) The mechanism of claim 1, the hinge, is fabricated out of metal.

6) The mechanism of claim 1, the cover, is fabricated out of hard plastic.

7) The mechanism of claim 1, the spring-action latch, is fabricated out of metal with a hard plastic finger grip attached.

8) The spring-action latch is simultaneously pushed inward with two fingers while pulling the cover open to expose the seat belt release button.

9) The spring-action latch is simultaneously pushed inward with two fingers while pushing the cover closed to prevent access to the seat belt release button.

10) The mechanism of claim 1, the cover, is designed and shaped with a small gap between the cover and the edge of the device to allow the male portion of the seat belt to still be inserted into the female portion of the seat belt.