Patents by Inventor Donald J. Thome

Donald J. Thome has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6969122
    Abstract: The seat belt extender is a length of material having limited flexibility, with a male seat belt latch tongue extending from one end and a female seat belt latch receptacle extending from the opposite end. The seat belt extender is installed in an existing, conventional three point seat belt system in a vehicle by inserting the tongue into the receptacle of the short anchor strap generally located at the inboard side of the seat, near the center of the vehicle. The semi-rigid nature of the present extender causes it to remain generally upright when secured to the anchor strap, thus enabling a person having limited upper body mobility to easily access the receptacle end of the extender with the tongue of the existing belt and shoulder strap assembly. The present extender also serves to position the shoulder strap more toward the center of the upper body of an occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Inventors: David A. Sachs, Donald J. Thome