Seat belt shoulder strap adjustment device

Abstract

An adjustment device, e.g., for use by children and small adults, retains the shoulder strap of a vehicle seat belt in a position comfortably away from the user's neck and face. The adjustment device comprises a body attachment device which is adjustably positioned about the user's body, especially a user's shoulder, and a releasable securement device which secures the seat belt shoulder strap to the body attachment device, drawing it away from the neck and face region of the user.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A seat belt shoulder strap adjustment device comprising: 
       a body attachment device adjustably positionable about a user's shoulder; and  
       a releasable securement device positioned along the body attachment device to draw a seat belt shoulder strap comfortably away from the user's neck and face region, when the body attachment device is positioned about the user's shoulder.  
     
     
       2. The adjustment device of  claim 1 , wherein the body attachment device comprises an adjustment strap that is formed from flexible material. 
     
     
       3. The adjustment device of  claim 2 , wherein the adjustment strap is formed from woven fiber. 
     
     
       4. The adjustment device of  claim 2 , wherein the adjustment strap is releasably attachable. 
     
     
       5. The adjustment device of  claim 4 , wherein the adjustment strap comprises a fastener for releasable attachment and adjustment. 
     
     
       6. The adjustment device of  claim 5 , wherein the fastener comprises an area of hook-and-loop fastening material secured to the adjustment strap. 
     
     
       7. The adjustment device of  claim 5 , wherein the adjustment strap further comprises a second fastener for releasable attachment to the releasable securement device. 
     
     
       8. The adjustment device of  claim 7 , wherein the second fastener comprises an area of hook-and-loop fastening material. 
     
     
       9. The adjustment device of  claim 2 , wherein the releasable securement device is adjustable along both the seat belt shoulder strap and the adjustment strap. 
     
     
       10. The adjustment device of  claim 9 , wherein the releasable securement device is a clip. 
     
     
       11. The adjustment device of  claim 10 , wherein the clip comprises releasable engagement portions for both the adjustment strap and the seat belt shoulder strap. 
     
     
       12. The adjustment device of  claim 11 , wherein each releasable engagement portion is defined by an arm which resiliently impinges upon the material of the respective strap to resiliently secure the clip relative to the respective strap. 
     
     
       13. The adjustment device of  claim 9 , wherein the releasable securement device is a hinged-clamp. 
     
     
       14. The adjustment device of  claim 13 , wherein the hinged-clamp is formed from folded woven fiber material. 
     
     
       15. The adjustment device of  claim 13 , wherein the hinged-clamp comprises 
       a plurality of arm portions,  
       a hinge portion coupling the arm portions together, and  
       a fastener, the fastener providing securement of the seat belt shoulder strap to the adjustment strap when the arm portions of the hinged-clamp are folded over the shoulder strap and the adjustment strap.  
     
     
       16. The adjustment device of  claim 15 , wherein the hinged-clamp further comprises plastic stiffening members positioned within said arm portions. 
     
     
       17. The adjustment device of  claim 15 , wherein the fastener comprises an area of hook-and-loop fastening material. 
     
     
       18. A method of securing a seat belt shoulder strap comfortably away from the neck and face region of a seat belt user, comprising the steps of: 
       attaching a seat belt shoulder strap adjustment device to a user, the adjustment device comprising a body attachment device for adjustable positioning about the user's shoulder, and a releasable securement device positioned along the body attachment device for securing the seat belt shoulder strap to the body attachment device;  
       adjustably positioning the body attachment device about the user's shoulder;  
       using the releasable securement device to releasably secure the seat belt shoulder strap to the body attachment device; and  
       adjusting the adjustment device to draw the seat belt shoulder strap into a position comfortably away from the face and neck region of the user.  
     
     
       19. A seat belt shoulder strap adjustment device comprising: 
       a means for releasably securing a seat belt shoulder strap comfortably away from a user's neck and face region; and  
       a means for attaching the releasably securing means adjustably and positionably about the user's shoulder.  
     
     
       20. A seat belt shoulder strap adjustment device comprising: 
       
         a body attachment device constructed to be adjustably positioned about a user's shoulder; and  
       
       
         a securement device positioned along the body attachment device to draw a seat belt shoulder strap comfortably away from the user's neck and face region when the body attachment device is positioned about the user's shoulder. 
       
     
     
       21. The adjustment device of  claim 20 , wherein the body attachment device comprises an adjustment strap formed from flexible material. 
     
     
       22. The adjustment device of  claim 21 , wherein the adjustment strap is formed from woven fiber. 
     
     
       23. The adjustment device of  claim 21 , wherein the adjustment strap is releasably attachable. 
     
     
       24. The adjustment device of  claim 23 , wherein the adjustment strap comprises a fastener for releasable attachment and adjustment. 
     
     
       25. The adjustment device of  claim 24 , wherein the fastener comprises an area of hook- and - loop fastening material secured to the adjustment strap.   
     
     
       26. The adjustment device of  claim 21 , wherein the securement device is adjustable along both the seat belt shoulder strap and the adjustment strap. 
     
     
       27. The adjustment device of  claim 28  wherein the releasable securement device comprises a clip. 
     
     
       28. The adjustment device of  claim 28  wherein the releasable securement device comprises a hinged- clamp.   
     
     
       29. The adjustment device of  claim 30  wherein the hinged- clamp is formed from folded woven fiber material.   
     
     
       30. The adjustment device of  claim 20 , wherein the securement device is releasably attachable to the body attachment device. 
     
     
       31. The adjustment device of  claim 26 , wherein the securement device comprises an area of hook- and - loop fastening material secured to the securement device.   
     
     
       32. The adjustment device of  claim 20  wherein the securement device is releasably attached to the seat belt shoulder strap. 
     
     
       33. A method of securing a seat belt shoulder strap comfortably away from the neck and face region of a seat belt user, comprising the steps of: 
       
         adjustably positioning a body attachment device of a seat belt shoulder strap adjustment device around the shoulder of a user, with a securement portion of the adjustment device positioned along the seat belt shoulder strap; and  
       
       
         adjusting the seat belt shoulder strap adjustment device to draw the seat belt shoulder strap into a position comfortably away from the face and neck region of the user. 
       
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 33 , further comprising mounting the securement portion on the shoulder strap prior to adjustably positioning the body attachment device around the user's shoulder. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 33  further comprising releasably securing the body attachment device to the securement portion. 
     
     
       36. A seat belt shoulder strap adjustment device, comprising: 
       
         means for securing a seat belt shoulder strap comfortably away from a user's face and neck region; and  
       
       
         means for attaching the securing means adjustably and positionably about the user's shoulder;  
       
       
         said means for securing being releasable from the means for attaching. 
       
     
     
       37. The seat belt shoulder strap adjustment device of  claim 36  wherein said securing means is releasable from the seat belt shoulder strap.