Patent Application
20090066144
(1) Field
The present application generally relates to a device for fastening a child's car seat. In particular, the present application is directed to a threading device that engages the buckle end of a seat belt and pulls the seatbelt through the slots of a child's car seat.
(2) Description of Related Art
Children's car seats must be securely fastened into a vehicle using the vehicle's standard seatbelt. Typically, the car seat has two small slots in the back that the vehicle's seatbelt is threaded through to secure the car seat in the car. The space between the back of the car seat and the seat of the car is very small and can make it extremely difficult to maneuver the seat belt through the slots.
It is crucially important for a child's car seat to be properly installed and secured in a vehicle to ensure that the car seat works properly and protects the child. Because of the difficulty of threading the seatbelt though the slots, some car seats are not properly secured. This can lead to child injuries or death.
One aspect of the present application is a seatbelt guide for use in a child's car seat having a handle end and an opposing engaging end with an extending length portion between the handle end and the engaging end, the engaging end being effective to grasp a tab end of a seatbelt, and where the extending length portion is sized to be threaded through slots of a child's car seat.
Another aspect of the present application is a method for fastening a child's car seat into a car having a standard seatbelt with a buckle end and a tab end, including the steps of providing a seatbelt guide where an engaging end is effective to grasp the tab end of the seatbelt; pushing the seatbelt guide through seatbelt slots in the rear of the car seat; engaging the engaging end of the seatbelt guide with the tab end of the seatbelt; pulling the seatbelt guide through the seatbelt slots thereby threading the seatbelt through the seatbelt slots; releasing the buckle end of the seatbelt guide from the tab end of the seatbelt; and attaching the tab end of the seatbelt with the buckle end of the seatbelt that is installed in a vehicle.
For the purpose of illustrating the present application, the drawings show a form that is presently preferred. However, it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts, and in particular, to
Handle end 24 and engagement end 26 are opposing one another. Extending length portion 22 is disposed between handle end 24 and engagement end 26. Seatbelt guide 20 has a length effective to reach behind a car seat and grasp a tab end of a seatbelt in a vehicle. In one embodiment, seatbelt guide 20 has an approximate length of about 22 to 26 inches. Seatbelt guide 20 has a width and thickness effective to slide through the slots in a child's car seat. In one embodiment, seatbelt guide 20 has a width of about 1 to 3 inches and a thickness of about 0.25 to 0.5 inches. Seatbelt guide 20 needs to be made of a material that has strength and flexibility. One suitable material is plastic. Seatbelt guide 20 can be manufactured in a variety of colors or patterns. For example, seatbelt guide 20 can be designed to match the interior of a vehicle or a car seat.
Handle end 24 of extending length portion 22 is adapted to be held by a user. In one embodiment, as shown in
As shown in
Buckle 28 can be secured to extending length portion 22 by any means. In one embodiment, buckle end 28 can be constructed of plastic and seatbelt guide 20 can be constructed of one solid piece. In another embodiment of the present application, buckle end 28 can be a manual buckle like that on an airplane. (not shown)
Turning now to
Seatbelt guide 20 is guided through slots 46 by a user. Once seatbelt guide 20 is through both slots 46, engagement end 26 engages tab end 38 of seatbelt 40. Seatbelt 40 is now secured to seatbelt guide 20. Seatbelt guide 20 can then be pulled through slots 46 towards the user, thereby threading seatbelt 40 through the slots.
Referring now to
The present application offers advantages over traditional car seats. There is no need to slip a user's hand through the back of a car seat. The seatbelt guide allows the user to simply push the device through the slots of a car seat and fasten it to the seatbelt on the other end.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein and thereto, without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter.
