GB2440501A

GB2440501A - Maternity trousers with seatbelt retaining means

Info

Publication number: GB2440501A
Application number: GB0704872A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Craig Woodley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-03
Filing date: 2007-03-14
Publication date: 2008-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-14
Also published as: GB2440501B; GB0704872D0; GB0615427D0

Abstract

Maternity trousers 2 for retaining a vehicle seat belt 1 comprises means for holding the seat belt 1 in a position so as to prevent the seat belt 1 from crushing a foetus in the event of an accident. The trousers 2 have two straps 3 attached thereto, the straps 3 are positioned over the lower abdominal area. A clip 4 is attached to each of the straps 3, the clip 4 being moveable in a vertical direction along the strap 3. Once the clips 4 are in the optimum position the clips 4 are attached to the seatbelt 1 so that the seatbelt 1 is held firmly in position across a passenger's pelvis. The trousers 2 may have pocket at the front which conceals the straps 3 and clips 4 when not in use.

Description

I

Vehicle Maternity Safety Trousers The invention relates to a pair of maternity trousers 2 (as worn during pregnancy) with the unique ability to hold a vehicle seat-belt I in a fixed optimum' position across the occupant's pelvis ensuring that the seat-belt remains below the fetus/abdomen, thus preventing the occupant from crushing the fetus in a frontal collision or during emergency braking.

The invention comprises of a pair of maternity trousers 2 fitted with two straps 3 and two clips 4 that hold the seat-belt across the occupant's pelvis preventing the seat-belt from riding up against the occupant's abdomen/fetus whilst in the vehicle. The two clips 4 can slide along the two straps 3 for adjustment of the vehicle's seat-belt position throughout the stages of pregnancy thus maintaining the optimum seat-belt position across the occupant's pelvis.

When not in use (ie when not in the car) the two clips 4 and two straps 3 are folded away into a pocket located at the front of the maternity trousers 2. This is to conceal the clips 4 and straps 3 therefore minimizing the aesthetic impact of the clips 4 and straps 3.

If the vehicle is fitted with seat-belt pre-tensioners the invention will also prevent unnecessary loads being applied to the fetus/abdomen during the pre-tensioners operation.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE I' shows the seat-belt I being worn in the correct position low down and across the pelvis.

FIGURE 2 shows the two straps 3 and two clips 4 that hold the seat-belt I in the optimum position.

FIGURE 3 shows a side view of the seat-belt I, strap 3 and clip 4.

FIGURE 4 shows one of the two clips 4 that are used to hold the vehicles seat-belt 1 into position with the aid of the two straps 3.

Figure jI shows the seat-belt being worn in the correct manner low down and across the pelvis, by having the seat-belt 1 in this position ensures that the lap part of the seat-belt I is kept below the abdomen/fetus and thus will not crush' the fetus in an accident, the invention also minimises inherent slack' in the seat-belt I because the seat-belt will be placed close to the occupants body with only the trousers between the occupant and seat-beit whereas without the invention there is a tendency for the occupant to place the seat-belt I over baggy clothing such as jumpers and coats which induces unnecessary slack'.

Figure 2 shows the two straps 3 and two clips 4 located on the maternity trousers that hold the seat-belt in the optimum position, the two straps 3 form the runners that the two clips 4 can slide along during adjustment. Once the pregnant occupant is happy with the position of the two clips 4 and hence the position of the vehicles seat-belt I the occupant then attaches each of the clips to the seat-belt I which firmly (with respect to the positive Z-axis) holds the vehicles seat-belt into place across the occupant's pelvis The two clips 4 attach to the two straps 3 by means of hook-and-loop fasteners (Velcro) or by clamping the seal-belt I to the straps 3 using the load produced by displacing the clips 4.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the seat-belt I, strap 3 and clip 4.

Figure 4 shows one of the two clips 4 that are used to hold the vehicles seat-belt into position with the aid of the two straps 3.

Claims

Claims Vehicle Maternity Safety Trousers 1. The invention relates to a

pair of maternity trousers 2 (as worn during pregnancy) with the unique ability to hold a vehicle seat-belt I in a fixed optimum' position across the occupant's pelvis ensuring that the seat-belt remains below the fetus/abdomen.

2. The invention prevents the pregnant occupant from crushing the fetus in a frontal collision or during emergency braking by fixing the seat-belt across the pelvis region of the occupant.

3. The invention prevents unnecessary loads being applied to the fetus/abdomen during the seat-belt pre-tensioners operation if fitted to the vehicle.

4. The invention allows for adjustment of the seat-belts position ensuring that the seat-belt remains across the occupant's pelvis and below the fetus throughout the stages of pregnancy.

5. The invention prevents the seat-belt from riding up against the occupant's abdomen and causing discomfort and chafing during driving.

6. The invention uses hook-and-loop fasteners (Velcro) to attach the clips 4 to the straps 3.

7. The load induced by displacing the clips 4 can be used to hold the seat-belt 1 against the straps 3.

8. The invention minimises inherent slack' in the seat-belt I by by-passing the tendency to wear the seat-belt 1 over clothing such as jumpers and coats.

9. When not in use (ie out of the vehicle) a pocket located at the front of the maternity trousers 2 conceals the two clips 4 and two straps 3.

IPV Amendments to the clai:s have been filed as follows Claims Vehicle Maternity Safety Trousers I. Maternity trousers comprising means to retain a seatbelt in position across the pelvis of an occupant.

2. The maternity trousers as claimed in claim 1 wherein the retaining means comprises two vertical straps attached to the front of the trousers, each strap having a clip attached.

3. The maternity trousers as claimed in claim 2 wherein both the clips are adjustable along the length of both of the straps.

4. The maternity trousers as claimed in claims 2 and 3 wherein the clips are attached to the straps by hook and loop fastener.

5. The maternity trousers as claimed in claims 2 to 4 wherein the trousers have a pocket on the front which conceals the straps and clips when not in use.