Child proof seat belt

Abstract

An automobile seat belt includes a latch tongue fixed to one belt segment and having a latching aperture, and a latch housing fixed to the other belt segment, having a recess and opening at its distal end to receive the latch tongue. The tongue is automatically latched within the housing by insertion; and the tongue is released by depressing a release button through an opening in the top face of the latch housing. To render the seat belt child proof, one form of safety cover is a sleeve slipped over the latch housing, the sleeve having one end partially closed to pass the latch tongue and the sleeve having a limited access opening in one face to overlie the release button. The sleeve is retained in enclosing position on the housing by the latch tongue. The limited access opening may be a small opening only large enough to pass the tip of the ignition key to depress the release button and unfasten the belt. The limited access opening may be larger with the housing having means for retaining a child proof safety cap of the type employed for prescription and non-prescription drugs. Another form of safety cover is a band encircling the housing and enclosing the release button opening and secured to the housing in a semi-permanent manner by an adhesive. The band has a limited access opening overlying the release button, and the band itself may be sufficiently stiff to prevent depressing the button through the band, or a stiff aperture plate configured to overlie the release button and adjacent housing may be secured by means of the band. The band may be secured to the housing by a releasable fastening system other than an adhesive cement.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.