Patent US4609205A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4609205A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shoulder belt positioner
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1985-09-26
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Granted: 1986-09-02
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Expires: 2005-09-26
Abstract
Abstract A shoulder belt positioner is provided for vehicles, and the like of the type having safety belt restraint systems. The positioner comprises a flexible strap having a hanger bracket at one end, and an open hook at the other end. The hanger bracket releasably supports the positioner on the door of the vehicle, preferably by an inverted U-shaped clip that is closely received in the window slot of the vehicle door. The positioner hook has a generally V-shaped configuration to releasably engage the shoulder belt in the extended, locked position, and pull the same slightly off of the user's shoulder to provide improved comfort. The positioner hook automatically releases the shoulder belt when the belt is moved to its retracted, storage position. The positioner preferably moves with the door as it is opened to an out of the way location to permit unobstructed exit from and entry into the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Margaret L. McKeever
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:08
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/18; B60R22/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A safety belt positioner for vehicles and the like of the type having a door, a seat disposed adjacent to the door, and a shoulder belt having an extended, locked position in which the user is restrained in the vehicle seat, and a retracted, storage position in which the user is free to move out of and into the vehicle seat; said positioner comprising: a flexible strap having first and second ends; a hanger bracket connected with the first end of said strap, and shaped to removably support said positioner on the vehicle door at an interior side thereof; an open hook connected with the second end of said strap, and shaped to releasably and selectively engage the shoulder belt; and means for adjusting said positioner to a location wherein the shoulder belt is pulled slightly away from the shoulder of the user in the extended locked position for user comfort, and said open hook automatically releases the shoulder belt as the shoulder belt is moved into the retracted storage position, and bodily translates with the vehicle door as the door is opened to an out-of-the-way position to facilitate unobstructed exit from and entry into the vehicle seat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A safety belt positioner for vehicles and the like of the type having a door, a seat disposed adjacent to the door, and a shoulder belt having an extended, locked position in which the user is restrained in the vehicle seat, and a retracted, storage position in which the user is free to move out of and into the vehicle seat; said positioner comprising: a flexible strap having first and second ends; a hanger bracket connected with the first end of said strap, and shaped to removably support said positioner on the vehicle door at an interior side thereof; an open hook connected with the second end of said strap, and shaped to releasably and selectively engage the shoulder belt; and means for adjusting said positioner to a location wherein the shoulder belt is pulled slightly away from the shoulder of the user in the extended locked position for user comfort, and said open hook automatically releases the shoulder belt as the shoulder belt is moved into the retracted storage position, and bodily translates with the vehicle door as the door is opened to an out-of-the-way position to facilitate unobstructed exit from and entry into the vehicle seat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A safety belt positioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said hook has a smooth interior surface which permits the shoulder belt to slide thereover to accommodate for user movement in the vehicle seat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A safety belt positioner as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said hanger bracket includes means for adjusting the location of said positioner along the length of the vehicle door.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A safety belt positioner as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said hanger bracket adjusting means includes a support leg shaped to be closely received in a window slot portion of the vehicle door.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A safety belt positioner as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said hanger bracket has an inverted, generally U-shaped configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A safety belt positioner as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said hook has generally V-shaped configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A safety belt positioner as set forth in claim 6, including: means for adjusting the effective length of said strap to adapt said positioner for a wide variety of different types of vehicles and users.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A safety belt positioner as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said strap is elastic and stretches longitudinally.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A safety belt positioner as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said hook includes first and second legs interconnected along an arcuately shaped base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A safety belt positioner as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said hook is manually inelastically deformable to adjust the mutual position of said first and second hook legs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A safety belt positioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said hanger bracket includes means for adjusting the location of said positioner along the length of the vehicle door.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A safety belt positioner as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said hanger bracket has an inverted, generally U-shaped configuration, with a support leg shaped to be closely received in a window slot portion of the vehicle door to define said hanger bracket adjusting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A safety belt positioner as set forth in claim 1, including: means for adjusting the effective length of said strap to adapt said positioner for wide variety of different types of vehicles and users.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A safety belt positioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said hook has a generally V-shaped configuration and includes first and second legs interconnected along an arcuately shaped base; and said hook is manually inelastically deformable to adjust the mutual position of said first and second hook legs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
188 words
In a vehicle of the type having a door, a seat disposed adjacent to said door, and a shoulder belt having an extended, locked position in which the user is restrained in said vehicle seat, and a retracted, storage position in which the user is free to move out of and into said vehicle seat, the improvement of a shoulder belt positioner comprising: a flexible strap having first and second ends; a hanger bracket connected with the first end of said strap, and shaped to removably support said positioner on said vehicle door at an interior side thereof; an open hook connected with the second end of said strap, having a generally V-shaped configuration to releasably engage said shoulder belt in the extended, locked position and pull said shoulder belt slightly away from the shoulder of the user for user comfort, and to automatically release said shoulder belt as the shoulder belt is moved into the retracted storage position, whereby said positioner bodily translates with said vehicle door a said door is opened to an out-of-the-way position to facilitate unobstructed exit from and entry into said vehicle seat.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
188 words
In a vehicle of the type having a door, a seat disposed adjacent to said door, and a shoulder belt having an extended, locked position in which the user is restrained in said vehicle seat, and a retracted, storage position in which the user is free to move out of and into said vehicle seat, the improvement of a shoulder belt positioner comprising: a flexible strap having first and second ends; a hanger bracket connected with the first end of said strap, and shaped to removably support said positioner on said vehicle door at an interior side thereof; an open hook connected with the second end of said strap, having a generally V-shaped configuration to releasably engage said shoulder belt in the extended, locked position and pull said shoulder belt slightly away from the shoulder of the user for user comfort, and to automatically release said shoulder belt as the shoulder belt is moved into the retracted storage position, whereby said positioner bodily translates with said vehicle door a said door is opened to an out-of-the-way position to facilitate unobstructed exit from and entry into said vehicle seat.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said vehicle includes a window slot in said door; and said hanger bracket has an inverted, generally U-shaped configuration with a support leg shaped to be closely received in said window slot of said vehicle door to support said positioner on said door, and provide means for adjusting the position of said positioner along the length of said vehicle door.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said hook has a generally V-shaped configuration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 15, including: means for adjusting the effective length of said strap to adapt said positioner for a wide variety of different types of vehicles and users.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
A safety belt positioner as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said hook has a generally V-shaped configuration wit first and second legs interconnected along an arcuately shaped base; and said hook is manually inelastically deformable to adjust the mutual position of said first and second hook legs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
180 words
A safety belt positioner for vehicles and the like of the type having a window, a seat disposed adjacent to the window, and a shoulder belt having an extended, locked position in which the user is restrained in the vehicle seat, and a retracted, storage position in which the user is free to move out of and into the vehicle seat; said positioner comprising: a flexible strap having first and second ends; a bracket connected with the first end of said strap, and shaped to removably support said positioner on the vehicle window at an interior side thereof; an open hook connected with the second end of said strap, and shaped to releasably and selectively engage the shoulder belt; and means for adjusting said positioner to a location wherein the shoulder belt is pulled slightly away from the shoulder of the user in the extended locked position for user comfort, and said open hook automatically releases the shoulder belt as the shoulder belt is moved into the retracted storage position to facilitate unobstructed exit from and entry into the vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
180 words
A safety belt positioner for vehicles and the like of the type having a window, a seat disposed adjacent to the window, and a shoulder belt having an extended, locked position in which the user is restrained in the vehicle seat, and a retracted, storage position in which the user is free to move out of and into the vehicle seat; said positioner comprising: a flexible strap having first and second ends; a bracket connected with the first end of said strap, and shaped to removably support said positioner on the vehicle window at an interior side thereof; an open hook connected with the second end of said strap, and shaped to releasably and selectively engage the shoulder belt; and means for adjusting said positioner to a location wherein the shoulder belt is pulled slightly away from the shoulder of the user in the extended locked position for user comfort, and said open hook automatically releases the shoulder belt as the shoulder belt is moved into the retracted storage position to facilitate unobstructed exit from and entry into the vehicle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-09-01 | 1990-03-03 | 1990-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-09-01 | 1994-03-03 | 1994-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-09-01 | 1998-03-03 | 1998-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |