Child Vehicle Seat Tether Extension and Method

Abstract

A child vehicle seat tether extension apparatus includes a main body member having a first end and a second end, wherein clips or other attachment means are disposed on both ends thereof. The clip on the first end is attached to the anchor point in the rear seat of a vehicle, and the clip on the second end is attached to a tether that is connected to the child safety seat. Optionally, the tether extension apparatus may be adjustable. The main body member of the tether extension apparatus may be made of either a rigid material or a flexible material, such as strap. The attachment means may be any suitable type of clip, carabiner, hook or similar mechanism for securing the tether extension to an anchor point in a vehicle at one end, and the tether of a child's safely seat on the other end thereof.

Claims

1. A method for securing a child safety seat into a vehicle, comprising the steps of: providing a tether extension member comprising a main body member having a first end and a second end; providing attachment means on said first end; providing attachment means on said second end; attaching said first end to an anchor point in a vehicle; and attaching said second end to a tether that is connected to a child safety, seat.

2. The method for securing a child safety seat into a vehicle as set forth in claim 1; wherein said main body member comprises a strap.

3. The method for securing a child safety seat into a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main body member is made from a rigid material.

4. The method for securing a child safety seat into a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said attachment means is selected from the group consisting of a clip, a carabiner, and a hook.

5. The method for securing a child safety seat into a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting a length of said main body member.

6. A method for securing a child safety seat into a vehicle, comprising the steps of: providing a tether extension member comprising a main body member having a first end and a second end; providing attachment means on said first end; providing attachment means on said second end; attaching said first end to an anchor point in a vehicle; and attaching said second end to a child safety seat.

7. The method for securing a child safety seat into a vehicle as set forth in claim 6, wherein said main body member comprises a strap.

8. The method for securing a child safety seat into a vehicle as set forth in claim 6, wherein said main body member is made from a rigid material.

9. The method for securing a child safety seat into a vehicle as set forth in claim 6, wherein said attachment means is selected from the group consisting of a clip, a carabiner, and a hook.

10. The method for securing a child safety seat into a vehicle as set forth in claim 6, further comprising the step of adjusting a length of said main body member.

11. A tether extension apparatus for securing a child safety seat within a vehicle, said tether extension apparatus comprising: a main body member having a first end and a second end; said first end having an attachment means for attachment to an anchor point of a vehicle; said second end having an attachment means for operative attachment to a child safety seat.

12. The tether extension apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein said main body member comprises a strap.

13. The tether extension apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein said main body member is made from a rigid material.

14. The tether extension apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein said attachment means is selected from the group consisting of a clip, a carabiner, and a hook.

15. The tether extension apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein a length of said main body member is adjustable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of two child vehicle seat tether extensions shown attached to respective anchor points in a vehicle seat for securing the child vehicle seat to the vehicle;

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a pair of child vehicle seat tether extension shown attached to respective anchor points in a vehicle seat;

[0033] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a child vehicle seat tether extension, including a clip attached to one end of a strap, and a ring attached to the other end of the strap;

[0034] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a child vehicle seat tether extension, also including a clip attached to one end of a strap having adjustment means for shortening, lengthening and tightening the strap, and a buckle having an opening attached to the other end of the strap;

[0035] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a child vehicle seat tether extension, including a clip attached to both ends of a strap;

[0036] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a child vehicle seat tether extension, including a clip attached to a rigid body member on a first end thereof, and a ring attached to the other end of the rigid body member;

[0037] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a child vehicle seat tether extension, wherein the apparatus includes a rigid main body member, a clip on one end and a loop on the other end; and

[0038] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a child vehicle seat tether extension, wherein the apparatus includes a rigid, extended main body member, a clip on one end and a loop on the other end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] The present invention includes, in a first embodiment, a child safety seat tether extension apparatus 10 comprising a main body member 12 having attachment means 14 at each end thereof. In the first embodiment, the main body member 12 comprises a flexible strap. The attachment means is preferably a clip 14, as shown in FIG. 5, but it is contemplated that the attachment means on either end of the strap could be any suitable mechanism for attaching the tether extension apparatus to the anchor point 18 of a vehicle, such as a hook, carabiner, loop 16, ring, snap-fit mechanism, or the like, or a combination thereof, as shown in FIGS. 1-6.

[0040] The clip 14 on first end of the strap 12a attaches to an anchor point 18 in the seat 20 of a vehicle, and the clip 14 on the second end of the strap 12a attaches to the distal end of a tether 22 that is connected to the child safety seat 24. The strap 12a may be made of any suitable material, as long as it has the strength to maintain the child safety seat 24 securely in place, even in the event of an automobile accident. In a preferred embodiment, the strap 12a is made of nylon webbing, similarly to the strap material commonly used in automotive safety belts, but other types of material may be used.

[0041] In an alternative embodiment, the tether extension apparatus 10 may include a generally rigid main body member 12b that is made from a rigid material, such as metal or plastic, as shown in FIGS. 6-8. The rigid tether extension apparatus 10 functions in a similar manner to the strap embodiment, which simply serves as a connector between the tether 22 of a child safety seat 24 (or may be attachable directly to the child safety seat 24) and the anchor point 18 disposed between the seat cushion 26 and the backrest 28 of an automobile or truck seat 20. FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the clip 14 and the loop 16 are pivotally attached to the main body member 12b, and FIGS. 7 and 8 depict an embodiment wherein the clip 14, the main body member 12b and the loop are rigid and are disposed in a fixed position relative to one another.

[0042] This arrangement allows a user to install the tether extension apparatus 10 by clipping the first end thereof to the anchor point 18 of the vehicle, and allowing the second end to extend outwardly from the seat crack between the seat cushion 26 and the backrest 28, so that the tether extension apparatus 10 is always visible and accessible to a user, as shown in FIG. 2. For families who own multiple vehicles, a tether extension apparatus 10 may be installed in each car, so that a user simply has to attach the car seat tether 22 to the clearly visible and easily accessible tether extension apparatus 10. This arrangement prevents a user from having to squeeze the child safety seat tether 22 between the seat crack, feeling around for the anchor point 18, and attaching the tether 22 to the anchor point 18 by sense of feel (as the anchor point 18 is typically not visible to a user during the installation process).

[0043] It is contemplated that both embodiments of the tether extension apparatus 10 (the strap embodiment and the rigid embodiment) may optionally include adjustment means 30 for adjusting the length thereof, as is well known in the art, and as shown in FIG. 4. For example, the strap 12a version may include an adjustable buckle 30 in order to adjust the length thereof, and the rigid tether extension apparatus may include adjustable means, as well, comprising two telescoping or sliding portions, for example, where one portion slides inwardly or outwardly with respect to the other portion. Further, both portions may be locked into place to achieve a desired length by using a securing means such as a spring loaded button and a series of holes that may be engaged by the spring loaded button. Other means for adjusting the length of the tether extension apparatus 10 may be used, and are well-known in the art.

[0044] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.