GB2133970A

GB2133970A - Seat belt cover

Info

Publication number: GB2133970A
Application number: GB08302342A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Elsie Christine Asquith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-01-28
Filing date: 1983-01-28
Publication date: 1984-08-08
Also published as: GB8302342D0

Abstract

Seat belt cover for increasing wearer comfort is provided with cushioning in the form of padding (2) having a backing layer (3) and lining (4). The cover is formed by fastening together opposite edges (5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to seat belts This invention relates to seat belts in motor vehicles and in particular to devices for increasing the comfort of seat belts.

Until recently many people have ignored the risk of facial injury caused by not wearing a seat belt in the event of a car crash and avoided wearing a seat belt because they find seat belts too uncomfortable to wear, the belt biting into their neck or shoulder. Other people have simply endured the discomfort of the seat belt, and, in any case, it is illegal in many countries to travel in the front seat of a car or motor vehicle without wearing a seat belt.

According to this invention a seat belt cover is arranged to form a sleeve around at least the part of a seat belt causing discomfort to a wearer, the cover being of a material with sufficient cushioning to provide comfort to the wearer.

The cover may be formed of a padded material but preferably includes a layer of padding and a layer of backing material covering one face of the padding.

The cover may be permanently attached to the seat belt, the cover being manufactured as a sleeve, and the belt being threaded through the cover so that the cover is permanently attached to the belt.

Preferably such a cover is slidable with respect to the belt so that it may be moved to the part of the belt causing most discomfort.

Preferably, however, the seat belt cover is readily attachable and detachable from the seat belt. In this case the cover may be formed in a strip with releasable fastenings along two parallel edges. The cover is then folded around the seat belt with the padding nearest to the belt so that the parallel edges with fastenings meet. These can be fastened to secure the cover to the belt.

In this way such a cover can be used with seat belts such as inertia roll seat belts and also the cover may be detached for washing since these covers may easily become dirty.

The releasable fastenings may be press-studs or a zip but are preferably formed by Velcro (R.T.M.), a strip of Velcro being attached to each edge of the cover.

Preferably the cover also includes a layer of lining which is attached to the side of the padding not covered by the backing member. Thus the padding is fully covered.

The padding may be wadding or foam rubber.

The backing material may be nylon or silk, but is preferably hard-wearing and easily cleaned. A particularly useful material is vinyl.

Preferably a layer of reinforcement ribbon is attached to the centre of the lining where the cover is folded over the seat belt to prevent the cover from wearing out at the fold too quickly.

The width of the sleeve formed by the cover is typically 5-8 cm so that when the cover is placed around the seat belt it fits snugly around the seat belt and does not slip easily.

The cover may be elongate so that it covers a considerable length of the seat belt or may be of a small size which may be used to pad the seat belt only at the neck and shoulder where the seat belt would normally rub and cause discomfort.

An example of a seat belt cover in accordance with this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partly cut away plan of the cover not attached to the seat belt; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cover in use attached to the seat belt.

A seat belt cover 1 comprises a layer of padding 2 which is wadding, covered on one side by a layer of velvet serving a backing member 3 and covered on its other side by a layer of nylon lining 4. Two strips of Velcro 5 are fixed along each edge of the cover.

The cover 1 is folded around a seat belt 6 with the lining 4 nearest the belt 6. The strips of Velcro (R.T.M.) 5 adhere to each other to fasten the cover 1 to the seat belt 6, thus providing padding for the wearer.

The width of the cover 1 between the two strips of Velcro 4 is 11 cm forming a sleeve of width 5.5 cm. The length of the cover 1 is 68 cm.

1. A seat belt cover arranged to form a sleeve around at least the part of a seat belt causing discomfort to a wearer, the cover being of a material with sufficient cushioning to provide comfort to the wearer.

2. A seat belt cover according to claim 1, which is formed of a padded material.

3. A seat belt cover according to claim 1 , which comprises a layer of padding and a layer of backing material covering one face of the padding.

4. A seat belt cover according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the cover is permanently attached to the seat belt, the cover being manufactured as a sleeve, and the belt being threaded through the cover so that the cover is permanently attached to the belt.

5. A seat belt cover according to claim 4, which is slidable with respect to the belt.

6. A seat belt cover according to any one of the claims 1, 2 or 3, which readily attached and detachable from the seat belt.

7. A seat belt cover according to claim 6 comprising a strip with releasable fastenings along two parallel edges.

8. A seat belt cover according to claim 7 in which the releasable fastenings are formed by Velcro (R.T.M.), a strip of Velcro being attached to each edge of the cover.

9. A seat belt cover according to claim 3, or any one of claims 4 to 8, when dependent upon claim 3, in which lining which is attached to the side of the padding not covered by the backing member.

10. A seat belt cover according to claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 9 when dependent on claim 3, in which the padding is wadding or foam

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to seat belts This invention relates to seat belts in motor vehicles and in particular to devices for increasing the comfort of seat belts. Until recently many people have ignored the risk of facial injury caused by not wearing a seat belt in the event of a car crash and avoided wearing a seat belt because they find seat belts too uncomfortable to wear, the belt biting into their neck or shoulder. Other people have simply endured the discomfort of the seat belt, and, in any case, it is illegal in many countries to travel in the front seat of a car or motor vehicle without wearing a seat belt. According to this invention a seat belt cover is arranged to form a sleeve around at least the part of a seat belt causing discomfort to a wearer, the cover being of a material with sufficient cushioning to provide comfort to the wearer. The cover may be formed of a padded material but preferably includes a layer of padding and a layer of backing material covering one face of the padding. The cover may be permanently attached to the seat belt, the cover being manufactured as a sleeve, and the belt being threaded through the cover so that the cover is permanently attached to the belt. Preferably such a cover is slidable with respect to the belt so that it may be moved to the part of the belt causing most discomfort. Preferably, however, the seat belt cover is readily attachable and detachable from the seat belt. In this case the cover may be formed in a strip with releasable fastenings along two parallel edges. The cover is then folded around the seat belt with the padding nearest to the belt so that the parallel edges with fastenings meet. These can be fastened to secure the cover to the belt. In this way such a cover can be used with seat belts such as inertia roll seat belts and also the cover may be detached for washing since these covers may easily become dirty. The releasable fastenings may be press-studs or a zip but are preferably formed by Velcro (R.T.M.), a strip of Velcro being attached to each edge of the cover. Preferably the cover also includes a layer of lining which is attached to the side of the padding not covered by the backing member. Thus the padding is fully covered. The padding may be wadding or foam rubber. The backing material may be nylon or silk, but is preferably hard-wearing and easily cleaned. A particularly useful material is vinyl. Preferably a layer of reinforcement ribbon is attached to the centre of the lining where the cover is folded over the seat belt to prevent the cover from wearing out at the fold too quickly. The width of the sleeve formed by the cover is typically 5-8 cm so that when the cover is placed around the seat belt it fits snugly around the seat belt and does not slip easily. The cover may be elongate so that it covers a considerable length of the seat belt or may be of a small size which may be used to pad the seat belt only at the neck and shoulder where the seat belt would normally rub and cause discomfort. An example of a seat belt cover in accordance with this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partly cut away plan of the cover not attached to the seat belt; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cover in use attached to the seat belt. A seat belt cover 1 comprises a layer of padding 2 which is wadding, covered on one side by a layer of velvet serving a backing member 3 and covered on its other side by a layer of nylon lining 4. Two strips of Velcro 5 are fixed along each edge of the cover. The cover 1 is folded around a seat belt 6 with the lining 4 nearest the belt 6. The strips of Velcro (R.T.M.) 5 adhere to each other to fasten the cover 1 to the seat belt 6, thus providing padding for the wearer. The width of the cover 1 between the two strips of Velcro 4 is 11 cm forming a sleeve of width 5.5 cm. The length of the cover 1 is 68 cm. CLAIMS

10. A seat belt cover according to claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 9 when dependent on claim 3, in which the padding is wadding or foam rubber.

11. A seat belt cover according to claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 10, when dependent on claim 3 in which the backing material is vinyl.

12. A seat belt cover according to claim 9, in which a layer of reinforcement ribbon is attached to the centre of the lining where the cover is folded over the seat belt to prevent the cover from wearing out at the fold too quickly.

13. A seat belt cover according to claim 12, arranged substantially as described herein.

14. A seat belt cover arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.