Safety belt adjuster

#The present invention relates to an automobile seat belt adjuster, and specifically, a seat belt adjuster adapted for use with children. The seat belt adjuster is adapted to receive a conventional three-point seat belt and pulls the seat belt to a proper position around a child's shoulder and waist/abdomen so that the seat belt does not extend across and interfere with the child's neck and face.

#Conventional three-point automobile seat belts are normally provided with one original strap with a latch plate slidably positioned there along. When pulled, the latch plate divides the original strap into two straps, a waist strap and a shoulder harness or strap. To use the seat belt, an individual pulls the latch plate and fastens the latch plate to a buckle secured to a side of the automobile seat. When the latch plate is pulled, it slides along the original strap to adjust the respective lengths of the waist strap and the shoulder strap to the body size of the individual. When the latch plate is fastened to the buckle, the waist or abdomen strap is wrapped about the individual's waist to prevent the individual from being dislodged from the seat in the event of an accident. The shoulder strap is wrapped about the individual's shoulder and chest to prevent the individual's upper body and head from being thrown forward.

#The term "waist strap" is used herein to describe the strap which secures the lower body of the individual to the seat. Depending on the physique of a particular individual, this strap may be either wrapped about the individual's waist or abdomen. In either case, the strap performs the same function.

#A better understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the drawings wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the safety belt adjuster of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the safety belt adjuster shown in FIG. 1 with a three-point safety belt properly positioned in the safety belt adjuster.

#Referring now to FIG. 1, the safety belt adjuster 10 of the present invention for receiving and properly positioning a conventional three-point seat belt about a child's body is shown. The safety belt adjuster 10 is shown with a body 12 having opening 15 and exit slot 20 for receiving a conventional three-point seat belt. The body 12 is shown with an optional divider 25 which divides opening 15 into a shoulder strap opening 15a and a waist strap opening 15b. The safety belt adjuster 10 is also shown with a plush character safety belt accessory 30 releasably attached along the attaching means 35.

#The body 12 of the safety belt adjuster 10 may be made from a variety of materials and may have a cavity for receiving padding. For example, the body 12 may be from materials which are soft and flexible, such as cloth, nylon, Mylar, PVC, rubber, leather or foam. If the body 12 has a cavity for receiving padding, the padding is preferably made from a soft material such as foam, rubber, soft plastic, or textiles. The body 12 and the padding are preferably soft, so that the safety belt adjuster 10 can rest comfortably in the waist and shoulder portion of the child.

#The shape of the body 12 is generally not critical as long as it results in the proper positioning of the three-point safety belt about the child. The body 12 may assume a round, curved or other shape. In FIGS. 1-4, the body 12 is shown as a quadrilateral having sloped upper and side edges wherein the upper edge slopes down from the side adjacent opening 15.