Combined seat belt cover and pillow

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to restraint devices. Stated more particularly, the present patent discloses and protects a combined seat belt cover and pillow arrangement for improving the safety, comfort, and enjoyment of automobile occupants, particularly child passengers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Even the casual observer will be aware that restraint systems for use in automobiles have undergone an effectively continuous evolution with the ever present goals of improving the safety and comfort of vehicular occupants. Early automobiles with no restraint systems eventually gave way to automobiles with simple lap belts designed for keeping the occupant generally in place in his or her seat during a vehicular collision or other rapid change in velocity or orientation.

Eventually, designers of automobile safety systems realized that merely fixing an occupant in place was insufficient; it became clear that restraining the occupants upper torso against lateral and forward movement was also necessary. With this, a number of designers and inventors designed systems for restraining occupants' upper torsos in addition to their midsections. These systems typically have fallen into two categories. The first is the provision of a supplementary diagonal shoulder belt that is functionally separate from the vehicle's lap belt. The second type of system provides upper torso restraint by means of a three-point safety belt system wherein a shoulder belt and a lap belt are mutually coupled to a first buckle element that can be drawn across an occupant's body and engaged with a second buckle element.

More recently, air bag cushioning and restraint systems have been disclosed with the intent of supplementing belt-type restraint systems. Under a typical air bag system, a bag element is retained in a folded configuration in a vehicle's steering wheel for the driver and in the vehicle's dashboard for the front seat passenger. Still more recent developments have yielded inflatable elements disposed lateral to an occupant's head. In each of these air bag systems, a vehicular collision will trigger an inflation mechanism that will nearly instantaneously inflate the bag element thereby interposing the inflated bag element between the occupant and hard surfaces of the occupant's vehicle and external objects such as other vehicles and environmental structures.

The above-summarized developments in the field of occupant restraint systems unquestionably have usefully cooperated to establish the present state of the art. Vehicular occupants have gone from having no protection in the event of a collision other than the actual body of the vehicle to having the possibility of multi-point restraints in combination with air-filled cushions. With this, present-day passengers undoubtedly enjoy markedly safer travel options than those of years past.

Nonetheless, one knowledgeable in the art will be aware that, as with most fields of endeavor, there remain a number of needs left unmet in the art of occupant restraint systems. A number of these needs become particularly apparent when standard occupant restraint systems, which are nearly without exception designed for use by adult-sized and aged occupants, are attempted to be used relative to younger vehicular occupants.

One problem with employing standard belt-type occupant restraint systems relative to children is that the tightly woven, narrow shoulder belt often tends toward passing over the child's head or neck. With this, the shoulder belt oftentimes is slipped behind the child, placed under the child's arm, or simply allowed to rest against the child's neck and chin. Of course, each practice is less than ideal. Placing the shoulder belt behind the child obviates its effectiveness while placing the belt under his or her shoulder not only reduces the belt's effectiveness but also places the belt in a dangerous position where it can be driven into the child's abdomen or ribs during an impact or the like. At least as disadvantageous is the practice of leaving the narrow belt pressing against the child's throat, which can lead to choking, chafing, and discomfort even absent a collision.

Even in light of the aforedescribed adversities, it is beyond question that a child's wearing of his or her seat belt in any manner is preferable to wearing no seat belt at all. While children wearing seat belts under the less than advantageous circumstances summarized above can lead to discomfort and certain injuries, wearing no seat belt at all is typically even more dangerous since it subjects the child to being ejected from the vehicle and to being violently thrown about within and against the interior of the vehicle.

All too often, however, children forego wearing their seat belts. Often it may be due to the discomfort and awkwardness discussed above that results in part from the belt's being designed primarily for use by adults and in part from aspects of the typical belt's design that make it uncomfortable or disadvantageous for all vehicular occupants. Just as often, a child's failure to wear his or her seat belt is the result of inadvertence. In other words, children often simply forget to fasten their seat belts.

In light of the foregoing, it becomes apparent that children would be well served by a device that would help to make their wearing of seat belts safer and more comfortable. Just as clearly, one will appreciate that there is a need for a device for motivating children to fasten their seat belts. On a similar note, it is clear that a device providing an active reminder to children to fasten their seat belts would also enhance child safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Advantageously, the present invention is founded on the basic object of providing an arrangement for use relative to seat belts that provides a solution to each of the needs set forth above while providing a number of still further benefits and advantages.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide an arrangement that covers the narrow standard seat belt strap to provide a broader and softer surface pressing against a vehicular occupant.

An incidental object of the invention is to provide an arrangement that improves the comfort and safety of vehicular occupants, particularly children.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined seat belt cover and pillow that motivates vehicular occupants, particularly children, to fasten their safety belts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combined seat belt cover and pillow that actively reminds vehicular occupants, children in particular, to affix their safety belts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combined seat belt cover and pillow that can be easily and conveniently removed and replaced relative to a vehicular seat belt.

An even further object of the invention is to provide a combined seat belt cover and pillow that can be adjusted in position relative to a vehicular seat belt thereby to accommodate vehicular occupants of a variety of sizes.

Of course, these and further objects and advantages of the invention would be readily obvious not only to one skilled in the art who reviews the present disclosure and the accompanying drawing figures but also to one who has an opportunity to take advantage of an embodiment of the present invention.

In accomplishing the aforementioned objects, a most basic embodiment of the present invention for a combined seat belt cover and pillow is founded on an elongate seat belt cover with a first end that is coupled to a pillow and a second end. In preferred embodiments, the combined seat belt cover and pillow can comprise a simulation of any one of a number of different animals or structures. Where the combined seat belt cover and pillow simulates an animal, the pillow can simulate a head and the elongate seat belt cover can simulate a body of the animal. A tail can be fixed to and extend from the second end of the elongate seat belt cover. Also, a set of simulative front legs can be coupled to the elongate seat belt cover adjacent to the first end thereof while a set of simulative rear legs can be coupled to the elongate seat belt cover adjacent to the second end thereof.

The pillow can have a pair of simulative ears coupled to opposite sides thereof, a pair of simulative eyes coupled to a central portion thereof, a simulative nose coupled near a distal end thereof, and a simulative tongue coupled to the distal end thereof.

The simulative front legs can form a first widened portion of the elongate seat belt cover while the simulative rear legs can form a second widened portion of the elongate seat belt cover. Ideally, the first and second widened portions can be somehow reinforced or rigidified with a resiliently deformable material to disperse further the force of the shoulder belt against the chest and abdomen of the vehicular occupant, which can be particularly advantageous in a collision or rapid braking situation where shoulder belts not encased in the combined seat belt cover and pillow often tend to be driven into and to injure vehicular occupants, particularly children.

Even further, a speaker can be incorporated into the pillow or the elongate seat belt cover. By means well known in the art, the speaker can be crafted to provide audible communications to the vehicular occupants. For example, the speaker could be designed to play songs, stories, or other entertaining communications. These communications could be triggered automatically upon a movement of the pillow or they could be triggered by a vehicular occupant's triggering of a switch. Even more advantageously, the speaker could be designed to provide a reminder to the vehicular occupants to fasten their seat belt arrangements. Still further, a small item imitating the simulated structure of the combined seat belt cover and pillow can be tucked into a pocket that is included on the elongate seat belt cover.

With certain embodiments of the present invention for a combined seat belt cover and pillow generally described, one will appreciate that the foregoing discussion broadly outlines the more important features of the invention merely to enable a better understanding of the detailed description that follows and to instill a better appreciation of the inventor's contribution to the art. Before any particular embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it must be made clear that the following details of construction, descriptions of geometry, and illustrations of inventive concepts are mere examples of the many possible manifestations of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawing figures:

FIG. 1

is a view in front elevation of a combined seat belt cover and pillow according to the present invention shown coupled to a typical vehicular seat belt;

FIG. 2

is a view in front elevation of a miniature version of the combined seat belt cover and pillow for being retained by the combined seat belt cover and pillow;

FIG. 3

is a view in rear elevation of the combined seat belt cover and pillow in a partially opened configuration;

FIG. 4

is a view in side elevation of the combined seat belt cover and pillow of

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 5

is a view in front elevation of an alternative embodiment of the combined seat belt cover and pillow again shown coupled to a typical vehicular seat belt;

FIG. 6

is a view in front elevation of another alternative embodiment of the combined seat belt cover and pillow also shown coupled to a typical vehicular seat belt; and

FIG. 7

is a view in front elevation of yet another alternative embodiment of the combined seat belt cover and pillow again shown coupled to a typical vehicular seat belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As is the case with many inventions, the present invention for a combined seat belt cover and pillow is subject to a wide variety of embodiments. However, to ensure that one skilled in the art will be able to understand and, in appropriate cases, practice the present invention, certain preferred embodiments of the broader invention revealed herein are described below and shown in the accompanying drawing figures.

With this in mind and looking more particularly to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present invention for a combined seat belt cover and pillow is indicated generally at

10

in

FIG. 1

where it is shown employed relative to a typical vehicular seat belt arrangement

100

. In

FIG. 1

, one sees that the seat belt arrangement

100

, which is typical of the prior art in a wide variety of vehicle types, can be said to be founded on a seat belt spool housing

108

. A lap belt

106

has a distal end fixed to a first buckle element

112

and a proximal end extending from the spool housing

108

.

A diagonally communicating shoulder belt

104

has a distal end fixed to the first buckle element

112

and what may be considered a proximal end looping over an apertured loop element

110

. In this case, the proximal end of the shoulder belt

104

is really not an end at all but merely integrally couples to a vertical belt

102

that has a proximal end extending from the spool housing

108

. As is well known in the art, the proximal ends of the vertical belt

102

and the lap belt

106

are extendable and retractable relative to the spool housing

108

by spring-loaded spools, which are not shown, that are retained in the spool housing

108

.

With this, a vehicular occupant seeking to fasten the seat belt arrangement

100

can being by grasping the first buckle element

112

. The user can then draw the lap belt

106

and the shoulder belt

104

toward a second buckle element

114

until the first buckle element

112

can be matingly engaged. With the first and second buckle elements

112

and

114

matingly engaged, the lap belt

106

and the shoulder belt

104

will be fastened in place to restrain respectively the mid section and upper torso of the vehicular occupant.

Of course, the seat belt arrangement

100

of

FIG. 1

is merely representative of the many three-point restraint systems disclosed by the prior art. As one skilled in the art will be well aware, a wide variety of seat belt arrangements have been disclosed for providing three points of restraint to vehicular occupants. For example, although they are not shown in the drawings, the knowledgeable reader will appreciate that certain seat belt arrangements have entirely independent shoulder and lap belts while others have a single expandable loop of belt material with a first buckle element slidably coupled thereto to divide the single loop of belt material into lap and shoulder belts when the first buckle element is coupled to a second buckle element.

With such a plurality of different seat belt arrangements known in the art, it must be noted that the seat belt arrangement

100

in

FIG. 1

is depicted as background only. The type of seat belt arrangement is of little consequence other than as a foundation upon which embodiments of the present invention for a combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

can be attached. It should be noted further that, although the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

is shown in the drawings as being coupled to the shoulder belt

104

of a three-point seat belt arrangement

100

and although the invention is primarily intended for being so coupled, it is just as possible that the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

could be coupled to the lap belt

106

of a three-point or a two-point seat belt arrangement

100

.

In any event, looking more particularly to the present invention for a combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

, one sees again that it is coupled to the shoulder belt

104

of the seat belt arrangement

100

such that it would tend to communicate diagonally across the chest of a vehicular occupant, who is not shown in FIG.

1

. As its name would suggest, the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

is founded on an elongate seat belt cover

14

with a first end that is coupled to a pillow

12

and a second end. In this embodiment, the elongate seat belt cover

14

simulates a body portion of a dog while the pillow

12

simulates the dog's head.

In this case the dog is a Dalmatian. However, it will be clear that the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

could simulate a wide variety of things and animals. For example, it could simulate other animals such as a cat, a mouse, a cow, or even a person or any one of an endless variety of animals. Of course, the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

could simulate things other than animals including inanimate things, plants, or substantially any other structure that is amenable to being simulated by a pillow

12

and an elongate seat belt cover

14

. As will be discussed below, when simulating an inanimate thing, one possible scheme for the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

is the simulation of a sports ball by the pillow

12

and, possibly, a striking implement by the elongate seat belt cover

14

.

As will be discussed more fully hereinbelow, the elongate seat belt cover

14

surrounds the shoulder belt

104

while the pillow

12

merely rests against the shoulder belt

104

. The elongate seat belt cover

14

and the pillow

12

could be formed from a wide variety of materials. For example, the elongate seat belt cover

14

could have an outer surface of nylon, cotton, faux fur, or any of a wide variety of materials. Preferably, the material of the outer surface of the elongate seat belt cover

14

will be durable yet flexible and relatively soft. The same is true of outer surface of the pillow

12

. However, the pillow

12

is of course stuffed with a soft stuffing material, which is not shown, to give it the volume and softness of a comfortable pillow. Preferably, the elongate seat belt cover

14

is also padded somewhat thereby softening and widening the otherwise harsh effects of a typical tightly woven shoulder belt

104

.

In furtherance of its simulation of a dog or other legged animal, the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

has a tail

16

that is fixed to and extends from the second end of the elongate seat belt cover

14

. Also, a set of simulative front legs

24

is coupled to the elongate seat belt cover

14

adjacent to the first end thereof while a set of simulative rear legs

26

is coupled to the elongate seat belt cover

14

adjacent to the second end thereof. Making the simulation of the dog even more realistic, the pillow

12

has a pair of simulative ears

20

coupled to opposite sides thereof, a pair of simulative eyes

21

coupled to a central portion thereof, a simulative nose

19

coupled near a distal end thereof, and a simulative tongue

18

coupled to the distal end thereof.

Even under this most basic arrangement, the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

achieves a number of its objects. For example, by surrounding the shoulder belt

104

, the elongate seat belt cover

14

disperses the force of the shoulder belt

104

on the occupant over a greater area. With this, the seat belt cover

14

will tend to the make the vehicular occupant more comfortable during normal driving conditions. Also, the seat belt cover

14

, especially when padded, will prevent the shoulder belt

104

from digging in to an occupant's chest and abdomen in the event of an impact or harsh braking situation. Furthermore, the pillow

12

of the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

will provide a place for a vehicular occupant to rest his or her head when tired and will provide support for the occupant's head even during normal occupancy conditions. Still further, the pillow

10

can act to cushion the vehicle occupant's head in the event of an impact or other rapid change in velocity. Just as importantly, the simulative nature of the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

will tend to motivate vehicular occupants, particularly children, to fasten their seat belt arrangements

100

thereby accomplishing what is among the most basic goals of the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

.

Nonetheless, a number of further aspects of the invention, which ideally are incorporated in many cases into the previously-described simulative structures of the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

, allow it to accomplish even more effectively the goals alluded to above while also accomplishing a number of still further advantages. For example, one will note that the simulative front legs

24

form a first widened portion of the elongate seat belt cover

14

while the simulative rear legs form a second widened portion of the elongate seat belt cover

14

. Ideally, the first and second widened portions, which can also be considered to be indicated at

24

and

26

, are somehow reinforced or rigidified with a resiliently deformable material. For example, the first and second widened portions

24

and

26

could be formed from panels of semi-rigid cellular foam or any number of other generally rigid yet resiliently deformable materials. As a result, the first and second widened portions

24

and

26

will even further disperse the force of the shoulder belt

104

against the chest and abdomen of the vehicular occupant, which can be particularly advantageous in a collision or rapid braking situation where shoulder belts

104

not encased in the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

often tend to be driven into and to injury vehicular occupants, particularly children.

An even further aspect of the invention that is incorporated into the simulative structure of

FIG. 1

is an area of ultra-smooth material, which in this case is incorporated into the simulative tongue

18

but could be applied elsewhere as well. A number of ultrasmooth materials could be employed and are well within the scope of the invention. In this preferred embodiment, the ultra-smooth material can comprise an area of silk or the like. Advantageously, as the experienced child caregiver will attest, children often enjoy touching and rubbing things made from ultra-smooth material. With this, a child occupying a seat that is provided with an embodiment of the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

will be further motivated to employ his or her seat belt arrangement

100

and will be provided with an entertaining and comfortable diversion during travel.

One can perceive still another aspect of the invention by reference to

FIG. 1

where a speaker

22

is shown to be incorporated into the nose portion of the pillow or head

12

. By means well known in the art, the speaker

22

is crafted to provide audible communications to the vehicular occupants. For example, the speaker

22

could be designed to play songs, stories, or other entertaining communications. These communications could be triggered automatically upon a movement of the pillow

12

or they could be triggered by a vehicular occupant's triggering of a switch, which could for example be incorporated into the simulative dog's nose

19

. Even more advantageously, again by means well known in the art, the speaker

22

could be designed to provide a reminder to the vehicular occupants to fasten their seat belt arrangements

100

as soon as the vehicle is started, the door is closed, or the pillow

12

is first jostled. The reminder communication could continue for a set period, could turn off on the fastening of the seat belt arrangement

100

, or could be turned off manually by a pressing of the switch, which again could comprise the nose

19

, a traditional switch, or substantially any other effective means. With this, the invention's further object of providing an active reminder to the vehicular occupant would be achieved most effectively.

Even further still, one may look in combination to

FIGS. 1 and 2

to gain an understanding of yet another aspect of the invention. In

FIG. 1

, one can discern that a small item

30

is tucked into a pocket

44

that is included on the elongate seat belt cover

14

. As

FIG. 2

shows more clearly, the small item

30

in this preferred embodiment is a miniature imitation, which is also indicated at

30

, of the larger simulation presented by the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

. Accordingly, since the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

in this exemplary embodiment simulates a Dalmatian, the miniature imitation

30

of the larger simulation also simulates a Dalmatian. With this, the miniature imitation

30

has a simulative head portion

32

and a simulative body portion

34

. Although not directly improving the safety and comfort provided by the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

, the miniature imitation

30

certainly provides a number of further advantages of the invention in that it will further motivate vehicular occupants to fasten their seat belt arrangements

100

and will provide a further entertaining diversion during travel.

A greater understanding of how the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

is preferably coupled to the shoulder belt

104

can be gained by review of FIG.

3

. There, one sees that the elongate seat belt cover

14

has a first panel

36

that has a strip of loop material

40

affixed thereto and that the elongate seat belt cover

14

has a second panel

38

that has a strip of hook material

42

affixed thereto. The strips of loop and hook material

42

and

40

are disposed on the first and second panels

36

and

38

to align with one another when the central panel

41

is applied to the shoulder belt

104

, the first panel

36

is folded against the shoulder belt

104

, and the second panel

38

is folded into contact with the first panel

36

. With this, the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

can be quickly and easily removed and replaced relative to the shoulder belt

104

. Furthermore, the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

is slidably associated with the shoulder belt

104

whereby the position of the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

can be adjusted to accommodate vehicular occupants of a variety of sizes.

One may have reference to

FIG. 4

for a still greater understanding of the configuration of the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

. There, it is shown that the elongate seat belt cover

14

and the simulative front and rear legs

24

and

26

are essentially thin and panel-like. On the other hand,

FIG. 4

further shows that the head or pillow

12

is quite thick relative to the elongate seat belt cover

14

whereby it most effectively accomplishes its objects of providing cushioning and comfort to a vehicular occupant. Still further,

FIG. 4

shows that the miniature imitation

30

in the pocket

44

provides a cognizable bump in the elongate seat belt cover

14

whereby it can be easily located.

Turning next to

FIG. 5

, one sees an alternative embodiment of the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

again associated with a shoulder belt

104

. In this embodiment, however, it is depicted that the invention need not necessarily simulate an animal or other structure. Instead, the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

incorporates the inventive aspects discussed above without simulating any given structure. The combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

again includes a pillow

12

that again is fixed to an elongate seat belt cover

14

. First and second widened portions

24

and

26

again project from the elongate seat belt cover

14

and in this embodiment are explicitly drawn as being constructed from cellular foam. The speaker

22

again is incorporated into the pillow

12

and again can be crafted in any of the ways discussed above. Still further, an area of ultra-smooth material is provided, which in this case comprises a dedicated strip

28

of ultra-smooth material instead of the tongue

18

of the first embodiment.

Next, one may have reference to

FIG. 6

where still another embodiment of the invention is shown. There, by simulating a cat, the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

makes it still more clear that the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

could simulate any one of a number of structures or animals. Of course, the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

is again founded on a pillow

12

and an elongate seat belt cover

14

. The pillow

12

simulates a cat's head while the elongate seat belt cover

14

simulates a cat's body. The first and second widened portions

24

and

26

simulate a cat's front and rear legs, and the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

again has a tail

16

coupled to the second end of the elongate seat belt cover

14

. A tongue

18

of ultra-smooth material again projects from the pillow

12

, and a miniature imitation

30

is slipped into a pocket

44

. A speaker

22

with the abovedescribed characteristics is again included but in this case is incorporated into the elongated seat belt cover

14

and not the pillow

12

.

Lastly,

FIG. 7

shows yet another embodiment of the invention wherein the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

demonstrates its ability to simulate an inaminate object. In this case, the combined seat belt cover and pillow

10

simulates a striking implement and game projectile combination. To do so, the pillow

12

simulates a game projectile, which is depicted as a baseball, and the elongate seat belt cover

14

simulates a striking implement, which is depicted as a ball bat. Of course, the pillow

12

could simulate a number of other game projectiles including soccer balls, footballs, basketballs, or hockey pucks. Similarly, the elongate seat belt cover

14

could simulate a variety of other striking implements such as hockey sticks, player's legs, and the like.

It will be clear from the foregoing that the present invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments that merely exemplify the broader invention revealed herein. Certainly those skilled in the art can conceive of alternative embodiments. For instance, those with the major features of the invention in mind could craft embodiments that incorporate those major features while not incorporating all of the features included in the preferred embodiments.

With the foregoing in mind, the following claims are intended to define the scope of protection to be afforded the inventor. The claims shall be deemed to include equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. A plurality of the following claims express certain elements as means for performing a specific function, at times without the recital of structure or material. As the law demands, these claims shall be construed to cover not only the corresponding structure and material expressly described in the specification but also equivalents thereof.