Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
F4A/s/4.l4o ~ ~ `S~3
S P E C I F I C A T I O N
PROTECTIO~ ASSEMBLY FOR ABDOMINAL AREA
This invPntion is directed towards a protection
assembly generally in the form of a covering or overlying
shield at least partially surrounding the abdominal area
of a pregnant woman and primarily designed for use in
vehicles to prevent any blows or other orces being
delivered directly to such abdominal area thereby pro-
viding additional protection -to the unborn child against
such forces. The shield assembly is secured in place by
existing seat belts and includes a casing having force
directing means secured thereto wherein the casing and
such force directing means are cooperatively structured
to transfer any absorbed forces primarily to the support-
ing seat or like structure on which the user is supported
or positioned.
Various safety devices exist in the prior art which
are primarily designed for the protection of occupants of
an automobile during emergency situations. Such prior
art structures include lap and/or shoulder safety har-
nesses, cushions, padding, air bags, all of which are
~enerally intended to maintain the occupant of a vehicle
within his seat when the vehicle is involved in a col-
lision or comes to an emergency stop or slow down. While
many of such structures are effectively designed for
accomplishing their intended purpose, none of such prior
art structures of which the inventor is aware, a~e speci-
fically utili7ed for the protection of the abdominal area
~r~:
F4A/B/4.140
~2~ 3
of a pregnant woman. Specifically, while many of the
noted devices sufficiently and effectively maintain an
occupant or driver of a vehicle within the seat, numerous
of such structures frequently allow forces or s-tresses to
be exer-ted on the body concurrently to restrain it. This
is particularly true of conventional safety harnesses
which comprise lap and/or shoulder straps and which are
commonly referred to as seat belts. Such a safety har-
ness covers and/or fre~uently overlaps -the portio~s of
the abdominal area such that during a collision or sudden
stop force is exerted directly thereon. Such force would
normally be absorbed directly by the abdominal area of
the body and would have a natural tendency to harm an
unborn child if such forces were exerted directly on the
distended abdominal area of a pregnant woman.
Accordingly, there is a need in this field for a
protection or shield assembly specifically ~esi~ned to
absorb any extraordinary force or stress applied to the
abdominal area. Such force is instead transferred or
directed to the supporting structure and/or seat on which
the user is positioned.
The present invention is directed towards a pro-
tection assembly in the form of a shield or similarly
configured casing designed to protect the abdominal area
of a pregnant woman from forces being exerted thereon.
More particularly, the shield or protection assembly of
the present invention is designed to be mounted in at
least partially surrounding relation to the a~dominal
area of a pregnant woman when seated in a vehicle such as
an automobile, airplane, etc.
F4A/B/4.140 ~2$~
A casing is formed from a substantially rigid high
resistance material and has an outwardly pro-truding con-
Eiguration generally similar in dimension and configura-
tion to the outwardly exending or protruding abdominal
area of a woman in various stages of pregnanc~. Accord-
ingly, the outer or exposed surface of the casing is
partially spherical and has a convex cross-sectional
configuration. Similarly, the interior surface of the
casing has a substantially concave cross-sectional con-
figuration. An appropriate padding such as foam or
sponge rubber is affixed to portions of the casing parti-
cularly along the inner surface area so as to add comfort
and prevent continuous direct contact of the casing with
the abdominal area which it surrounds. Further, the
overall dimension and configuration of the casing is such
that the inner surface and preferably the padding located
therealong are maintained in spaced relation from the
abdominal ca~ity such that any forces directed onto the
casing will not be transferred to the abdominal area but
will be directed or transferred to a supporting seat
~ structure on which the user of the device is positioned.
To accomplish the above, a force directing means is
incorporated within the casing and is disposed in either
fixed or adjustably mounted position relative to opposite
ends of the casing. Such force directing means comprises
a flange portion connected and disposed to define an
extremity of each of the longitudinal ends. In one
embodiment, to be described in greater detail herein-
after, the force directing means is disposed in a sub~
stantially outwardly flared relation to opposite longi-
F~A/B/~.140
~2`~a3
tudinal ends of the casing thereby defining the extrem-
i-ties thereof. The force direc-ting means further in-
cludes a foot portion exposed in ou-twardly extending
angled relation to both the plane of the flange and the
outer surface of the casing. The foot portion is further
disposed to define an extremity of the end along the
lower peripheral boundary or edge thereof. The flange
portion of each end of the casing is disposed in sub-
~tantially abutting relation to the backrest poxtion of
the seat supporting the user while the foot portion is
arranged in a somewhat horizontal orientation so as to be
positioned in abutting relation to the exposed surface of
the seat portion of the seat structure.
Further, the force directing means may be inte~rally
or fixedly attached to opposite ends of the casing for
abutting relation to the exposed surface of the seat
structure in the manner set forth above. Alternately,
the force directing means may include adjusting means
specifically structured to selectively position the force
directing means. Such includes the flange and foot
~ portion of each end of the casing connected in adjustable
relation thereto so as to selectively vary the distance
from which the casing may project outwardly or extend
away from the us~r of the device as well as the exposed
surface of the seat structure. Such adjustment facili-
ties are provided to accommodate variances in outward
projection of the distended abdominal area of a pregnant
woman dependent upon the stages or term of pregnancy.
For example, the outward projection of the abdominal area
of a woman would be much greater in her third trimester
F~A/B/~.140
1 2 ~ 3
of pregnancy as versus her first trimester. Therefore,
the force directing means would be selectively positioned
to dispose and maintain the casing at a greater outwardly
projecting distance from the exposed surfaces of the seat
structure on which the user is supported, during the
third trimester of pregnancy.
Alternately, the protection assembly could come in
one of a plurality of sizes wherein the distance from
which the casing projects outwardly from the supporting
seat is non-adjustable. ~Iowever, in such a situation the
outwardly extended dimension or overall configuration and
dimension of curYa-ture of the casing would vary between a
plurality o~ substantially standard sizes to accommodate
for the variance in the outward projection of the abdom-
inal area dependent upon the stages of pregnancy. It is
important to note that in each of the embodiments, the
casing would be maintained in sufficiently spaced dist-
ance from the abdominal area so that all forces directed
onto the casing would be absorbed by the seat structure
rather than the user of the assembly.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of
construction, combination of elements, and arrangemen-t of
parts which will be exemplified in the construction
hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention
will be indicated in the claims.
For a fuller understanding of the nature of the
present invention, reference should be had to the
following detailed description taken in connection with
the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure l is a side elevational view of the pro-
F4A/B/4.1~0
tection and shield assembly of the present inventiondisposed in its protective position about a user seated
within a vehicle.
Figures 2 and 3 are front elevational views of the
protection assembly of the present invention mounted in
substantially surrounded relation to passengers seated in
different locations within the front seat of an auto-
mobile or like vehicle.
Figure ~ is an isometric view of e~-terior portions
of the casing wherein attachment s-tructure is pxovided
for cooperation with a conventional safety harness or
seat belt.
Figure 5 is a sec-tional view along line 5-5 of
Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of
Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a rear elevational view in partial
cutaway showing structural components of the present
invention.
Figure 8 is a top view of one embodiment of the
2~ present invention in varying sizes.
Figure 9 is a sectional view in partial cutaway
showing structural details of an adjustment assembly for
adjusting the outward extension of the protection assem-
bly relative to a supporting seat for the user.
Fi~lres 10 and 11 are sectional views in partial
cutaway showing operation of the adjustment assembly as
shown in Figure 9.
Figure 12 is a sectional view in partial cutaway
along line 12-12 of Figure 9.
F4A/B/4.140
~ 2 ~
Figures 13 and 14 are front elevational views of one
embodiment of the present invention shown in surrounding
relation to an occupant seated a-t various loca-tions in
the back seat of an automobile or like vehicle.
Figure 15 is a sectional view of the embodiment of
Figure 4 wherein the height at which the casins extends
varies depending upon varying sizes of the casing in-
tended to accommodate women of varying sizes and in
diferent s-tages of pregnancy.
Like reference characters refer to like parts
throughout the several views of the drawings.
The present invention is directed towards a pro-
tection assen~ly including a shield structure generally
indicated as lO in Figure 1 designed to protect the
abdominal area of a pregnant woman generally indicated as
12 while seated in a vehicle 14 or like structure. The
vehicle, while represented hereinafter as an automobile,
may be any type of vehicle structure wherein an occupant
12 is seated and requires some protection from external
forces being exerted against the abdominal area. The
seat structure generally indicated as 16 is of conven-
tional design and per se does not orm a part of the
present invention. Howeve~, the protection assembly 10
of the present invention is structured and configured for
cooperative, abutting engagement with the supporting
surfaces of the backrest 18 and seat portion 20 in a
manner which will be explained in greater detail herein-
after. It should be noted however that the seat struc-
ture 16 could be defined by a number of varying designs
and/or configurations and still have the protection
~A/B/4.140 ~z~ 3
assembly 10 mounted thereon in protective relation to a
user 12. Also with reference to ~igures 1, 2, and 3, the
protection assembly 10 is designed to be maintained in at
least partially surrounding and protecting relation to
the user 12 through cooperation with a standard safety
harness which may include shoulder strap 21 and/or lap
belt 22. The saEety harness disclosed is representative
only and could assume a mlmber of various structures and
configurations and still accommodate maintenance of the
seat assembly 10 in proper position relative to ~e user
12.
In a preferred embodimen-t, the protection assembly
10 comprises a casing 26 formed of rigid, high resistance
material capable of withstanding blows, forces or any
stress applied to the exterior surface 28 thereof such as
by a steering wheel or other parts of the vehicle. With
regards to Figures 4, 5 and 6, the casing 26 comprises an
exterior surface 28 and an interior surface 29. The
exterior surface 2~, as best shown in Figure 4, is at
least partially spherical and has a convex cross-
sectional configuration ~Fig. 5). Similarly, the
interior surface 29 has a s~stantially concave
cross-sectional configuration and furt~er includes a
cushion or padding material 30 secured thereto. The
material 30 may be foam or like resilient and generally
soft material and is provided so as to add to the comfort
of the user 1~. However, an important structural feature
of the present invention is its dimensioning such that
the casing and particularly the inner surface 29 and
surrounding padding 30 is ~enerally disposed in spaced
F4A/B/4.140 ~ ~ S ~ O ~
relation to the outwardly extending abdominal area of the
user 12. This is to insure that any forces directed
against the exterior surface 28 of casing 26 are not
transferred to or absorbed by the outwardly projecting
abdominal area of the pregnant woman 12.
The transverse dimension of the casing 26 is such as
to be generally disposed beneath the bustline and/or
adjacent and in surrounding relation to the upper portion
of the rib cage. Variation in dimension and confi~ura-
tion will accommodate changes in size of the protruding
abdominal area of the user as will be explained in greater
detail with regard to Figure 15 hereinafter. The lower
peripheral edge as at 34 may be specifically configured
to raise above the legs or thighs of the user (Figs. 1-3)
and accommodate normal placement of the legs as shown in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 13 and 14. Opposite longitudinal ends
as at 36 and 38 are secured to force directing means
generally indicated as 40. The structure of the casing
26 as well as the placement of padding 30 further insures
that forces, created when the vehicle 14 comes to a
sudden stop, will be substantially evenly distributed on
the user's body in surrounding relation to the abdominal
area thereof, but not directly thereon.
The force directing means 40 comprises outwardly ex-
tending flange elements 42 structured and configured to
define extremities of each of the opposite longitudinal
ends 3~ and 38. Each of the flanges 42, as in the em-
bodiments herein described, are substantially outwardly
extended and flared so as to be positionable in abutting
relation with the exposed surface of the backrest 18 of
F4A/B/4-140
~6~3
the seat struc-ture 16 (see Fig. 1). In that the force
directing means 40 engages the backrest 18, in the manner
described, on opposite sides of -the user 12, the force
directing means 40 serves to effectively transfer any
force exerted on the outer surface 28 of casing 26 to the
seat s-tructure 16 through the backrest as well as the
sea-t portion 18 and 20 respectively. Accordingly, the
force direc-ting means 40 further includes a foot portion
4~ disposed to extend outwardly from the outer surface 28
of casing 26 and also to extend away from in substan-
tially angularly oriented and somewhat transverse re-
lation to the length of the flange ~2. Therefore, each
extremity of opposite longitudinal ends 36 and 38 of
casing 26 is defined both by the flanges 42 and the foot
portions 44. The foo-t portions 44 therefore are disposed
to be positioned in abuttin~ relation with the exposed
surface of the seat portion 20 (Figs. 1 through 33.
The force directing means 40 including both the re-
spective flanges 42 and foot portions 44 of each extrem-
ity 36 and 38 are structured to be integrally or other-
wise fixedly secured to the respective ends 36 and 38 as
shown in Figure ~. When fixedly positioned, the casing
26 may be particularly dimensioned to extend outwardly a
varying amount from the seat structure 16 in order to
accommodate various degrees of extension of the abdominal
area of the user of the protection assembly based on the
length of pregnancy. Therefore, the longer the term o~
pregnancy the greater the outward extension of casing 26
is provided relative to the seat structure 16. In that
the force directing means 40 is fixedly secured to the
F4A/B/4.140 ~ 003
casing, it will always be disposed in abutting rela-tion
to the correspondingly positioned exposed surfaces o~ the
seat structure 16 for -the reasons set forth above. With
further regard to Figure 8, -the transverse dimension
generally indicated as S may also vary depending upon the
size of the individual user and, for instance, may come
in a small, medium, large or extra large width S. Each
of these sizes therefore would then come in varying outer
extensions of casing 26 relative to the sea-t structure 16
in order to accommodate various size users of the pro-
tection assembly 10 when in varying stages of pregnancy.
Another embodiment of the present invention is best
shown in Figures 4, 5 and 9 through 1~. In such em~odi-
ment, the outward extension of the casing 26 effectively
remains the same. However, the distance between the ends
36 and 38 oE the casing and the seat structure 16 may
vary by selectively adjusting the positioning of the
force directing means 40 relative to the respective ends
36 and 38. In order to accomplish such adjustment, a
locking fixture generally indicated as 50 may be pro-
vided. Such locking fixture includes a longitudinally
movable pin 5~ having an enlarged head portion 53 for
grasping thereof. Head portion 53 is rounded to avoid
injury to the user during inadvertent contact therewith.
Biasing means in the form o~ a spring element 54 is
mounted as shown in Figures 9 through 12. The action of
biasing spring element 54 serves to normally force the
pir. in its inward position (Figs. 9 and 11~ whereby the
distal end 55 is forced through one of a plurality o
locking aperture pairs 57. The locking aperture pairs
F4A/B/4.140
03
are formed in alignable relation to one another and in
correspondingly positioned ends 58 and 60 of a re-
inforcing element to be explained in greater detail
hereinafter. The reinforcing element 56 has a curvi-
linear, longitudinal configuration and is affixed to the
inner surface 29 of the casing 26 ~see Figs. 5 and 6).
The reinforcing element is provided to give addi-tional
strength and thereby resist forces applied to the ex-
ternal surface specifically and the casing generally.
Ends 60 of the reinforcing element 56 is adjustably posi-
tioned relative to end 58 thereof so as to regulate the
position of flange 42 and foot portion 44 relative to
each extremity 36 and 38. This therefore regulates the
outward position of the casing 26 relative to the exposed
surfaces of the backrest 18 and seat portion 20 of the
seat structure 26 to accommodate for any variance in
outward extension of the abdominal area of the pregnant
user 12 based upon an advanced term of pregnancy. To
accomplish such adjustment, pin 52 is pulled outward in
accordance with the indicated directional arrow against
biasing spring 5~ and moved selectively in accordance
with directional arrows 59 to regulate the respective
postions between ends 60 and 58 of the reinforcingelement 55. When the proper position is found, the pin
52 is allowed to move inwardly in accordance with direc-
tional arrow 61 into ~ixed, positive engagement betwe~n
the ends 58 and 60 through aligned aperture pairs 57.
With regard to Figure 12, end portion 58 of re-
inforcing element 56 is effectively slidable within a
channel integrally formed in end 60 by inwardly directed
F4A/B/4 . 140
~ 3
peripheral flanges 60' in order to prevent lateral skew-
ing between the two ends 5~ and 60 when such adjustment
is made and/or when external forces are being applied to
the exterior of casing 26 and transferred, through force
directing means 40 to the respective expsosed surfaces of
backrest 18 and seat portion 20 of the sea-t structure 16.
It should be noted that the reinforcing element 56
is of in-tegral, one-piece construction when considering
the embodiment as shown in Figure ~ comprising the Eorce
directing means 40 being integrally or fixedly secured to
the respective end portions 36 and 38 of the casing 26.
The above set forth adjustmen-t facility has been
described primarily with regard to the relative posi-
tioning of flange 42 to the remainder of the casing 26 so
as to regulate or control the outward position o the
casing from the backrest portion 18. It should be noted
however that similar adjustment facilities can be incor-
porated in the structure of the present invention relat-
ing to the upward adjustment of the casing and the rela-
tive positioning of foot portion 44 of the force direct-
ing means 40 relative to the casing 26. Such relative
positioning would accommodate any "upward" adjustment in
order to comfortably surround the thighs of the user and
maintain the lower edge 34 in a preferred position rela-
tive to the le~s or thi~hs of the user.
The protection assembly 10 of the present invention
further comprises attachment means used to maintain the
casing 26 in proper surrounding and protective relation
relative to the abdominal area of the user 12. Such
attachment means includes apertures 70 formed in each of
F4A/B/4.14C
~ 0 8~
-the extremities of the casing adjacent to or integral
with force directing means 40 as clearly shown in Figure
7. More specifically, the aperture 70, in a preferred
embodiment, is formed in both the flange 42 and -the foot
portion 44 at subs-tantially the junction therebetween.
These apertures are of sufficient dimension to allow
connecting buckles and/or straps of conventional safety
harness 21, 22 in a vehicle to pass -therethrough. The
at-tachment means further comprises open ended hook elem-
ents 72 positioned to embrace and maintain a seat belt
strap 22 or other appropriately positioned parts of the
safety harness in overlying relation relative to the
e~terior surface 28 of -the casing 26 in the manner best
shown in Figure 4.
With regard to Figures 1, 2 and 3, it is seen t~at
when the user 12 is positioned in the front seat of an
automobile type vehicle, the lap belt 22 does not fit
through the aperture 70 on one side of the casing.
Rather, the lap belt 22 fits around the end of the force
directing means 40 and is positioned on the interior of
the first most open ended hoo~ element 72' as well as the
remaining hook elements 72. This is due to the fact that
in the ront seat of an automobile type vehicle, espe~i-
ally of modern design, the lap belt 22 is generally
connected to or defines an integral part of the shoulder
strap 21 which pre~ents its passage through the aperture
70.
With regard to Figure 6, indentation means 74 may be
integrally formed in the outer surace 2~ to accommodate
the strap 22 and/or additional buckling or coupling
14
F4A/B/4.140 ~ 3
facilities which ma~ be used in combination with certain
safe-ty harnass designs and structures. It is important
to note that the relative structure and position of the
apertures 70 as well as the open hook elements 72 and 72'
are such as to cooperate with safety harness (belt 21 and
22) and retain the protection assembly 10 in its proper
protecting position relative to the user 12 regardless of
the position in the vehicle occupied by the user 12 as
best shown in Figures 2 and 3. Accordingly, the safety
harness including straps 21 and 22 may ~e disposed in
retaining, overlying relation to the protection assembly
10 b~ being attached to the interior of the vehicle in
any of a number of posi-tions. The versatilit~ of the
protection assembly 10 of the present invention is
further demonstrated by its application in surrounding
relation to a user 12, in the manner described above,
when the user is seated in various positions in the rear
seat structure 16' of a vehicle or like automobile. When
so positioned, the user is normall~ protected only by a
single lap belt 22 and not the additional shoulder belt
or strap 21 as shown in Figures 1 through 3. In such an
embodiment, both ends of the belt 22 extend through
respectively positioned apertures 70 on each side of the
casing 26 and further pass through the open ended hook
elements 72 and 72' in order to insure retention of the
lap belt 22 in surrounding relation to the outer surface
of the casing 26.
With regard to Figure 15, it is seen that regardless
of the embodiment utilized concerning an integral con-
struction or an adjustable construction (Fig. 8 and Fig.
~4A/B/4.140
~S~0~)3
4 respectively), the casing 26 may be structured in
various dimensions and configurations in order to
accommodate the variation in shape and degree o~
protrusion of the abdominal area which in turn is
dependent upon the size of the expectant mother and the
length of pregnancy. Therefore~ Figure 15 shows dif-
ferent heights at which the upper edge 3~' may be posi-
tioned to accommodate various sized users of the pro-
tection assembly 10 such that in an emergenc~ situation,
the upper and lower edges only would possibly come into
contact with the user above and below the abdominal area
where the unborn child is positioned when being carried.
A safe and convenient protector is provided. While
the embodiments and applications of the inven-tion have
been described herein it should be apparent to those
skilled in the art that additional modifications are
possible without departing from the scope of the intended
invention herein described. The invention, therefore, is
not to be interpreted in a limiting sense and the scope
of the invention is defined by the claims hereinafter set
forth.
16
