The Seatbelt Protection Device For Children "AKA THE TUMMY PROTECTOR" came in to being after an automobile accident in which Mr. Moxey 's youngest daughter, Jenna, suffered from abdominal injuries due to her seatbelt. Seatbelts, while being an integral lifesaving tool, have caused numerous injuries to children, whose bodies are not large enough to properly absorb the impact. Mr. Moxey 's invention purports to further protect children from the shock of vehicle accidents.

Acting as a shield, The Tummy Protector can be used with any standard vehicle seatbelt and is intended for use for children too large for car seat. A slightly curved, plastic front and a rubber closed-cell foam rear, making this device more comfortable for children. The seatbelt is to be threaded through four retaining clips on the plastic front, thus protecting children from the blunt trauma of collisions.

The Tummy Protector helps to spread the inertia of impact cause by accidents, which greatly reduces the potential for "Abdominal Injuries" Contributing to the peace of mind of parents, The Tummy Protector, will also ensure that seatbelts are placed properly, which maximizes their life saving capabilities.

Charles U. Moxey Jr. recently received and Official Patent Confirmation May. 22, 2001 from the UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARKS OFFICE Washington, D.C. 20231 Mr. Moxey, the inventor, is now actively marketing the Tummy Protector to the public to add adequate protection to loved ones who may be involved in automobile accidents.

A sample of real world data for restrained drivers involved in frontal impacts was analyzed. The head/face (38%), thorax (42%) and lower extremity (40%) were the most frequently injured body regions. Contact with the steering wheel was the most common source (67%) of injuries to the head/face region. Seatbelt loading (77%) was the most common source of injury and contact with the steering wheel (72%) was the most frequent source of injuries to the thorax. This study examines accident databases to describe how these population variations relate to injury outcomes. Age is crucial and the over 55-year old age groups are shown to be especially vulnerable.

FACTS ABOUT STATE MANDATORY SEAT BELT HARNESS LAWS

While the use of a seat belt has saved some people in certain kinds of traffic accidents, there is ample proof that in other kinds, some people have been more seriously injured and even killed only because of seat belt use. Although being a lifesaving tool, at the point of impact, a seat belt has the potential of curling into one's abdominal area and becoming a weapon. Patented by the U.S. Government as a seatbelt protection device for children, The Tummy Protector's design will eliminate the curling of the seatbelt, causing abdominal injuries. Although patented as a seatbelt protection device for children, The Tummy Protector can benefit virtually anyone seeking abdominal protection that is over 40 pounds or 4 years of age.

Auto Safety for Children

Automobile accidents are THE MAJOR cause of childhood fatalities and injuries. Fifteen thousand (15,000) children die and over one (1) million are injured in the U.S. yearly in motor vehicle accidents. You can do more to assure your child's continued health by adhering to the guidelines than almost any other measure. A child is at a higher risk from an injury on the ride to the doctor's office than the disease or immunization protection, which prompted the appointment. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the 479 children killed ages five to nine in motor vehicle crashes in 1997, 157 were probably too small for the seatbelt to protect them. NHTSA also estimates that as many as 56,700 children in this age group were injured, despite wearing their seatbelt.