Threading device for installing a child's car seat
OwnerDeanna L. Georgeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A car seat that rests on a seat of an automotive vehicle is secured with a restraint system including a seat belt having lap and shoulder sections, a coupler including a latch plate located between the two seat belt sections and a buckle located along the seat. A threader sleeve is installed over the shoulder section behind the latch plate and with tabs attached to the lap section. Then with the sleeve, which is considerably stiffer than the belt, the shoulder and lap sections and the latch plate which separates them are pushed through a channel in the car seat, to present the latch plate on the other side of the seat where it is engaged with the buckle. The tabs are released and the sleeve is withdrawn over the shoulder section to a position remote from the seat.
Claims22
In combination with a seat in an automotive vehicle, with the seat having a cushion and a backrest, and also in combination with a restraint system at the seat, with the restraint system including a coupler and a belt, with the coupler having first and second engageable members and the belt having lap and shoulder sections separated by the second coupler member, and further in combination with a child's car seat having a seating portion located over the seat cushion of the vehicle seat and a back portion located along the backrest of the vehicle seat, the back portion having a channel for receiving the lap and shoulder sections of the seat belt;
- a threading device for facilitating securement of the car seat on the vehicle seat with the restraint system, said threading device comprising:
- a stiffening member fitted to one of the sections of the seat belt and having one end at the second coupler member and another end remote from the second coupler member, the stiffening member extending along the one section of the seat belt and being attached to the one section at and remote from the second coupler member, the stiffening member being stiffer than the seat belt, so that the seat belt, where the stiffening member is fitted to it, may be pushed through the channel in the back portion to present the second coupler member at the first coupler member.
A process for installing a child's car seat on the seat of an automotive vehicle, said process comprising:
- placing the child's car seat on the seat of the automotive vehicle;
- fitting a stiffening device to a segment of a seat belt immediately behind a first coupling member on the seat belt and also remote from the first coupling member, so that the stiffening device extends along the segment of the seat belt away from the coupling member and does not separate from the segment both at the first coupling member and remote from the first coupling member;
- with the stiffening device so fitted to the segment of the seat belt, pushing the segment of the seat belt, to which it is fitted, and the first coupling member through a channel in the child's car seat;
- and
- engaging the first coupling member with a second coupling member.
In combination with a vehicular seat in an automotive vehicle, the seat having a seating cushion and a backrest;
- with a restraint system including a seat belt having lap and shoulder sections attached to structural members of the vehicle and also a latch plate between the lap and shoulder section and a buckle attached to a structural member of the vehicle;
- and with a child's car seat including a seating portion located over the seat cushion of the vehicle seat and a back portion along the backrest of the vehicle seat, the car seat having a channel opening laterally out of its sides;
- a threading device for facilitating the installation of the child's car seat on the vehicle seat, said threading device comprising:
- a sleeve fitted around one of the sections of the seat belt behind the latch plate and being stiffer than the seat belt;
- and tabs on the sleeve and fitted around the other section of the seat belt behind the latch plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.