GB2489010A

GB2489010A - Belt lock engagement guide

Info

Publication number: GB2489010A
Application number: GB1104342.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence John Watson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-15
Filing date: 2011-03-15
Publication date: 2012-09-19
Also published as: GB201104342D0

Abstract

A belt lock engagement guide 10 for assisting a user in locating a first connector element 22 of a lock with a second connector element 24 of the lock. The guide comprises a guideway 12 comprising a mouth 16 at one end and coupling means 14 disposed adjacent to the mouth. The coupling means is arranged to couple with at least a portion of the first connector element. The guideway may comprise a fluted or trumpet shaped mouth. The guideway is preferably resiliently deformable. The first connector element may be a seat belt socket, and the second connector element may be a tang of a safety belt.

Description

A Belt Lock Engagement Guide The present invention relates to a belt lock engagement guide.

Belt lock systems are well known and typically comprise a female socket part of a lock and a length of belt coupled to a male part of the lock (termed a tang). In use, the tang is detachably engaged with the socket to achieve reversible locking of the tang to the socket and hence consequential locking of the belt to the socket. In the example of a motor vehicle three-point safety belt system, a belt is arranged to retractably extend from an anchor point disposed upon a vehicle door pillar, through an aperture disposed in a tang and is anchored at a distal end thereof to a vehicle body at one side of a seat.

The socket is typically anchored to the vehicle floor on an opposite side of the seat, such that in use, the belt is extended from the anchor point on the door pillar, to enable the tang to couple with the socket. The tang and socket may be subsequently uncoupled by pressing a release button mounted on the socket. These procedures can often be difficult however for users who suffer from conditions such as arthritis or poor eyesight for example.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a belt lock engagement guide for assisting a user in locating a first connector element of a lock with a second connector element of the lock, the guide comprising: a guideway comprising a mouth at one end thereof and coupling means disposed adjacent to the mouth, the coupling means being arranged to couple with at least a portion of the first connector element, wherein the guideway is arranged to assist a user in locating the second connector element with the first connector element.

The guideway of the belt lock engagement guide thus assists a user in coupling a first connector element with a second connector element. This may help simplify the task for an elderly user or for a user performing the task under low-light conditions.

Preferably, the guideway is further arranged to align the second connector element with the first connector element.

Preferably the guideway is arranged to extend away from the mouth. The guideway thus enables a user to easily locate the first connector element by moving their hand along the guideway towards said first element.

Preferably, the coupling means comprises a channel which is arranged to receive and couple with at least a portion of the first connector element. Preferably, the coupling means is arranged to position the first connector element substantially within the mouth.

The coupling means is preferably arranged to receive the first connector element from the side of the mouth which is substantially opposite the side from which the guideway extends.

Preferably, the coupling means is arranged to couple with the first connector element by a push-fit attachment.

Preferably, the mouth of the guideway is fluted to further assist a user in locating the second connector element with the first connector element.

The guideway, mouth and coupling means are preferably formed integrally.

Preferably the guideway is contoured to guide a user's hand to the first connector element.

The guideway preferably further comprises longitudinal side edges thereof which diverge away from each other in a direction which is along the guideway from the socket.

Preferably the guideway is resiliently deformable, so that the guideway can conform to a side of a vehicle seat or a users' leg, for example.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a seat belt socket which is arranged to receive a seat belt tang, the socket comprising an opening for receiving the tang and a guideway which extends from a position upon the socket disposed proximate the opening, substantially toward a seat associated with the seat belt, to assist a user in locating the tang within the opening of the socket.

Preferably, the guideway is formed integrally with the socket.

Further preferred features of the seat belt socket of the second aspect, may comprise one or more of the preferred features of the seat belt engagement guide of the first aspect.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure Ia is a perspective view from below of a belt lock engagement guide according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure lb is a side view of the belt lock engagement guide illustrated in Figure 1 a; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the belt lock engagement guide of Figure la in a coupled arrangement with a seat belt socket and illustrating a seat belt tang located proximate the guide; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the belt lock engagement guide of Figure Ia in a coupled arrangement with a seat belt socket and illustrating a seat belt tang engaged with the seat belt socket; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the belt lock engagement guide of Figure Ia in a coupled arrangement with a motor vehicle seat belt socket, and illustrating a user locating a seat belt and seat belt tang towards the guide; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the belt lock engagement guide of Figure la in a coupled arrangement with a motor vehicle seat belt socket, and illustrating a user being assisted by the guideway in locating a seat belt tang towards the socket.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated a belt lock engagement guide according to an embodiment of the present invention. The belt lock engagement guide 10 comprises a guideway 12 having a mouth 16 at one end thereof and coupling means 14 disposed adjacent to the mouth 16.

The coupling means 14 comprises a deformable channel 20 which is arranged to receive at least a portion of a seat belt socket 22 by means such as a push-fit attachment. The channel 20 comprises a cross-sectional area which is sized and shaped to conform with a cross-sectional area of a standard motor vehicle seat belt socket, and is fabricated from a resiliently deformable material such as rubber or plastic.

The mouth 16 is disposed at an upper region 15 of the channel 20 and is formed integrally with the channel 20. The mouth 16 is fluted so that the cross-sectional area of the mouth 16 increases in a direction which is substantially away from the channel 20.

The fluting of the mouth 16 enables easy access to both the seat belt socket 22 and a lock disengagement button 28 disposed on the socket 22, from above the socket 22.

The guideway 12 is formed of a resiliently deformable material such as a rubber or plastic, and contoured to guide a user's hand to a seat belt socket 22 to which the guide is coupled. The guideway 12 extends from a peripheral position upon the mouth 16, from a position which extends around substantially half of a circumference of the mouth 16. As a result, the guideway 12 comprises a substantially arcuate cross-sectional profile proximate the mouth 16 and a substantially flattened cross-section profile at a distal end thereof. In an alternative embodiment which is not illustrated, the guideway 12 further comprises longitudinal side edges which diverge away from each other along the guideway 12 in a direction which is from the mouth 16, to provide an increased surface area proximate a user, to enable the user to readily locate the guideway 12.

In use, the belt lock engagement guide 10 is secured upon a seat belt socket 22 by positioning a lower end 18 of the channel 20 above the socket 22 so that the socket becomes partially received within the channel 20. A downward force is then applied to the guide 10 so that the socket 22 becomes fully inserted within the channel 20.

Additional downward force may be further applied to the guide 10 if required, so that the top of socket 22 becomes received within the mouth 16. This enables easy access of socket 22 from above. The guideway 12 is arranged to extend from the mouth 16 and thus the socket 22, in a direction which enables the guideway 12 to extend substantially over a vehicle seat, such that a user positioned upon the seat can readily locate the guideway 12.

Referring to Figures 2 to 5 of the drawings, there is illustrated a belt lock engagement guide 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention secured upon a socket 22 of a seat belt lock, as described above. Figure 2 illustrates a seat belt tang 24 comprising a seat belt 26 secured thereto, and which is positioned proximate the guide 10. Figure 3 illustrates the seat belt tang 26 illustrated in figure 2 of the drawings, coupled with the seat belt socket 22.

In order to couple the seat belt tang 24 with the socket 22, the tang 24 comprising a seat belt 26 secured thereto, is held by a user 30 and moved generally towards the seat belt socket 22 as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. The user 30 subsequently locates the guideway 12 with their hand 32, and moves their hand along the guideway 12 to locate the socket 22 positioned within the mouth 16, as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. In order to uncouple the tang 24 from the socket 22, the user similarly locates the guideway 12 with their hand 32 and moves their hand 32 along the guideway 12 to locate the release button 28.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention which is not illustrated, the guideway may be formed integrally with the socket and arranged to extend from the socket substantially over the vehicle seat.

From the foregoing therefore it is evident that the belt lock engagement guide 10 provides for a simple yet effective means of assisting a user in coupling and uncoupling a vehicle seat belt tang with the respective socket.

Claims

Claims 1. A belt lock engagement guide for assisting a user in locating a first connector element of a lock with a second connector element of the lock, the guide comprising: a guideway comprising a mouth at one end thereof and coupling means disposed adjacent to the mouth, the coupling means being arranged to couple with at least a portion of the first connector element, wherein the guideway is arranged to assist a user in locating the second connector element with the first connector element.
2. A belt lock engagement guide according to claim 1, wherein the guideway is further arranged to align the second connector element with the first connector element.
3. A belt lock engagement guide according to claim I or 2, wherein the guideway is r arranged to extend away from the mouth.
4. A belt lock engagement guide according to any preceding claim, wherein the guideway enables a user to locate the first connector element by moving their hand along the guideway towards said first element.
5. A belt lock engagement guide according to any preceding claim, wherein the coupling means comprises a channel which is arranged to receive and couple with at least a portion of the first connector element.
6. A belt lock engagement guide according to any preceding claim, wherein the coupling means is arranged to position the first connector element substantially within the mouth.
7. A belt lock engagement guide according to any preceding claim, wherein the coupling means is arranged to receive the first connector element from the side of the mouth which is substantially opposite the side from which the guideway extends.
8. A belt lock engagement guide according to any preceding claim, wherein the coupling means is arranged to couple with the first connector element by a push-fit attachment.
9. A belt lock engagement guide according to any preceding claim, wherein the mouth of the guideway is fluted to further assist a user in locating the second connector element with the first connector element.
10. A belt lock engagement guide according to any preceding claim, wherein the guideway, mouth and coupling means are formed integrally.
11. A belt lock engagement guide according to any preceding claim, wherein the guideway is contoured to guide a user's hand to the first connector element.
12. A belt lock engagement guide according to any preceding claim, further comprising longitudinal side edges thereof which diverge away from each other in a direction which is along the guideway from the socket.
13. A belt lock engagement guide according to any preceding claim, wherein the guideway is resiliently deformable, so that the guideway can conform to a side of a vehicle seat or a users' leg.
14. A seat belt socket which is arranged to receive a seat belt tang, the socket r15 comprising an opening for receiving the tang and a guideway which extends from 1-a position upon the socket disposed proximate the opening, substantially toward a seat associated with the seat belt, to assist a user in locating the tang within (\J the opening of the socket.C\I
15. A seat belt socket according to claim 14, wherein the guideway is formed integrally with the socket.