Child seat belt safety cover

Abstract

A removable cover for a seat belt buckle is disclosed herein. In some versions, the removable cover includes a front panel, a pair of side panels extending from opposite sides of the front panel, and a top panel attached to a top side of the front panel. The removable cover attaches to the seat belt buckle and the top panel covers a release button thereof to prevent a child from pressing the release button. The top panel however is able to be depressed by an adult, enabling the adult to press the release button and unbuckle the seat belt from the child.

1 . A removable cover for a seat belt buckle, the removable cover comprising:
 a front panel configured to contact a front of the seat belt buckle;   a pair of side panels, each side panel attached to and extending rearwardly from opposite sides of the front panel and configured to contact opposite sides of the seat belt buckle; and   a top panel attached to and extending rearwardly from a top side of the front panel and configured to cover a release button of the seat belt buckle, the top panel including sufficient flexibility so as to allow depression of the top panel into the release button to press the release button, and wherein said depression of the top panel into the release button requires a force exceeding that exertable by a child, thereby preventing the child from pressing the release button.   
     
     
         2 . The removable cover of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of top-side members fixed to and extending rearwardly from the top side of the front panel at opposite sides of the top panel, wherein in a depressed position, the top panel is angled relative to the pair of top-side members, and wherein in a neutral position, the top panel is generally flush with the pair of top-side members. 
     
     
         3 . The removable cover of  claim 2 , wherein the top panel and the pair of side panels define a generally U-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         4 . The removable cover of  claim 3 , wherein the pair of side panels each include a gripping lip extending laterally and generally perpendicular to the pair of side panels, and wherein each gripping lip is configured to grip the seat belt buckle at a rear side thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The removable cover of  claim 4 , wherein the top panel includes a thickness sufficient to prevent said depression of the top panel when a force exertable by a child is applied. 
     
     
         6 . The removable cover of  claim 5 , wherein the thickness of the top panel is between 1-2 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The removable cover of  claim 6 , wherein a force of about 10 pounds or less is not sufficient to depress the top panel into the release button. 
     
     
         8 . The removable cover of  claim 7 , wherein the top panel is constructed from a plastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The removable cover of  claim 8 , wherein the front panel and the pair of side panels are constructed from the plastic material. 
     
     
         10 . A removable cover for a seat belt buckle, the removable cover comprising:
 a clip mechanism for attaching to a main body of the seat belt buckle; and   a top panel attached about the clip mechanism, the top panel sized to cover a release button of the seat belt buckle when the clip mechanism is attached to the main body of the seat belt buckle;   wherein the top panel includes sufficient flexibility so as to allow depression of the top panel into the release button to press the release button; and   wherein said depression of the top panel into the release button requires a force exceeding that exertable by a child, thereby preventing the child from pressing the release button.   
     
     
         11 . The removable cover of  claim 10 , further comprising a front panel and a pair of side panels attached to and extending rearwardly from opposite sides of the front panel, and wherein the clip mechanism is integral to the pair of side panels. 
     
     
         12 . The removable cover of  claim 11 , wherein the top panel is attached to and extends rearwardly from a top side of the front panel. 
     
     
         13 . The removable cover of  claim 12 , wherein the top panel includes a thickness sufficient to prevent said depression of the top panel when said force exertable by a child is applied. 
     
     
         14 . The removable cover of  claim 13 , wherein the thickness of the top panel is between 1-2 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The removable cover of  claim 14 , wherein a force of about 10 pounds or less is not sufficient to depress the top panel into the release button. 
     
     
         16 . A removable cover for a seat belt buckle, the removable cover comprising:
 a front panel;   a pair of side panels extending rearwardly from opposite sides of the front panel and each including a gripping lip for gripping opposite sides of the main body of the seat belt buckle; and   a top panel attached to and extending rearwardly from a top side of the front panel; and   wherein the top panel covers a release button of the seat belt buckle and prevents a child from pressing the release button.   
     
     
         17 . The removable cover of  claim 16 , wherein the top panel includes sufficient flexibility so as to allow depression of the top panel into the release button to press the release button, and wherein said depression of the top panel into the release button requires a force exceeding that exertable by a child, thereby preventing the child from pressing the release button. 
     
     
         18 . The removable cover of  claim 17 , wherein the top panel includes a thickness sufficient to prevent said depression of the top panel when a force exertable by a child is applied. 
     
     
         19 . The removable cover of  claim 18 , wherein the thickness of the top panel is between 1-2 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The removable cover of  claim 19 , wherein a force of about 10 pounds or less is not sufficient to depress the top panel into the release button.