Vehicle passenger seat restraint

A multi-point seat restraint system configured to provide restraint for a passenger superposed a seat in a supine position. The multi-point seat restraint system includes a plurality of upper belts having a first end anchored behind the seat back of the associated seat. A junction bar is further included wherein the junction bar is configured to releasably secure the upper belts proximate the second end of the plurality of upper belts. The junction bar further includes a first belt portion and a second belt portion integrally secured thereto. The first belt portion and second belt portion and configured to be releasably secured to a first lower belt and a second lower belt. The first lower belt and second lower belt are retractably mounted to the floorboard of the vehicle. In an alternative embodiment of the second lower belt, the second lower belt includes a first portion and a second portion being angularly mounted.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a seat restraint for a passenger of a vehicle, more specifically but not by way of limitation a seat restraint that is operable to provide proper restraint for a passenger in a supine position.

BACKGROUND

Passenger restraint systems such as seat belts are known to increase safety and substantially inhibit injuries during an accident. The increased awareness of seat belt utilization and the benefits thereof have propagated the driving community over the last several decades. Most states in the United States have instituted legislation mandating their use by vehicle occupants. Currently manufactured vehicles utilize numerous different types of configurations of seat belts. Lap belts are commonly utilized in the rear passenger seats of a vehicle and are configured to traverse an occupant's lower abdomen. The lap belt typically utilizes a releasable buckle for fastening. Another conventional type of seat belt is a lap belt combined with a shoulder harness. This configuration combines the belt traversing the lower abdomen with an additional belt that traverses the upper torso and shoulder region providing an additional point of restraint. Both of the aforementioned seat belt configurations are utilized in the rear seats of many passenger vehicles manufactured today.

One problem with current seat belt configuration is the failure for the seat belt to properly restrain a passenger in a supine position. It is very common for individuals engaged in a long trip to lie in a prone or supine position in the rear seat of the vehicle. Current lap belts and other seat belt configurations are unable to be adjusted to provide proper restraint for the passenger in the supine position. Conventional lap belts may traverse the supine passenger's legs or neck area, which could potentially result in significant injury if an accident occurred.

Another problem with current passenger restraint systems is there inability to be adapted to secure cargo. Many owners of vehicles will utilize the rear seats of their vehicle to place a variety of objects to be transported. Without the ability to secure these items, the items can be potentially dangerous to the occupants of the vehicle if the vehicle is involved in an accident. These items can become deadly projectiles potentially causing substantial injuries to the occupants of the vehicle.

Accordingly there is a need for a passenger restraint system for a vehicle that can be adapted to properly restrain a passenger in a supine position wherein the passenger restraint system is further configurable to secure cargo.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a vehicular restraint system that is configurable to provide improved restraint for passengers in a supine position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular restraint system that can be configured to restrain cargo in the seat of the vehicle when not in use by an occupant.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular seat restraint system that includes a plurality of upper restraint belts and a plurality of lower restraint belts.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular seat restrain system operable to secure a supine passenger that includes a junction bar to secure the plurality of upper restraint belts and the lower restraint belts.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a lower seat restraint that further includes a y-adapter operable to provide a lower seat restraint leverage point for adjacent passengers wherein one passenger is in a seated position and the adjacent passenger is in a supine position.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a passenger seat restraint system that secures a passenger in a supine position that includes lower restraint belts that are retractably mounted to the floorboard of the vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a passenger seat restraint system configurable to secure a passenger in a supine position that can integrate with existing seat belts of a passenger vehicle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a passenger seat restraint system that is configurable to provide restraint for a passenger in a supine position or cargo that has been placed in the rear seat that is easy to use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The multi-point restraint system100further includes a plurality of upper belts10having a first end11and a second end12. The plurality of upper belts10traverse the upper portion of the seat5and are generally planar in manner and are manufactured from a suitable durable material such as but not limited nylon or other similar materials. Proximate the first end11of the upper belts10is are tongue plates15. The tongue plates15are generally planar in manner are manufactured from a suitable durable material such as but not limited to metal. The tongue plates15include an angular front perimeter edge20that is designed to facilitate the guidance of the tongue plates15into the slots25of the junction bar30. The tongue plates15include an aperture16that will receive therethrough a pin (not illustrated herein) disposed within the junction bar30so as to releasably secure the tongue plates15. The pins are operably connected to buttons31and function similarly to conventional seat belt securement mechanisms. The upper belts30provide an increase in restraint points over conventional three point seat belt systems. Conventional three point seat belt systems fail to provide proper restraint points for either an object placed in the seat5or for a person in a supine position in the seat5. The upper belts10are distributed along the seat so as to promote increased points of restraint and load distribution for either an object placed in the rear seat or a person in a supine position. While good results have been achieved utilizing three upper belts10in constructing the multi-point restraint system100, it is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the more or less than three upper belts10could be utilized in the multi-point restraint system100to increase or decease the load restraint points. The multi-point restraint system100functions to provide sufficient restraint points for a supine passenger. In order to provide restraint points for a supine passenger superposed the seat5, good results have been achieved by utilizing three upper belts10that are approximately eighteen to twenty four inches apart so as to distribute the load impact across the supine passenger in the event of an impact.

The upper belts10are secured behind the vertical portion4of the seat5proximate end12. The upper belts10are retractably mounted within the housing35utilizing the refraction mechanism40disposed therein. The housing35is secured utilizing suitable durable methods such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners. The retraction mechanism40is a conventional retraction assembly consisting of a spool41, bracket42and sprocket43that controls the release or retrieval of the upper belts10. While the multi-point restraint system100in its preferred embodiment utilizes a retraction mechanism40disposed within a housing35to store the upper belts10when not in use, it is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the upper belts10could be anchored utilizing bolts or similar fasteners and not utilize the retraction mechanism.

The junction bar30is generally elongated and rectangular in shape and function to operably connect the upper belts10with the lower belts50. The junction bar30is manufactured from a suitable durable material such as but not limited to plastic. The junction bar30functions to provide and equalized load distribution to either an object or a supine oriented person in the event of a vehicle impact. During a vehicle impact the junction bar30will engage a person in a supine position such that the load distribution of the restraint will be axially aligned across substantially the entire torso of the person. This load distribution provides increased restraint to a person in a supine position as opposed to a conventional lap belt or three point belt system that can only engage one restraint point subsequent a person placing themselves in a supine position. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the junction bar30could be manufactured in numerous different lengths to accommodate objects or person of different sizes. While no particular length is required, good results have been achieved utilizing a junction bar30that is approximately eighteen to thirty inches in length. It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the junction bar30could have a gel padding along the bottom surface32to decrease the force of the impact of the junction bar30on either the object or supine oriented person engaged with the multi-point restraint system100.

The junction bar30further includes a first lower belt60and a second lower belt65. The first lower belt60and second lower belt70are planar in manner and secured to the junction bar30utilizing suitable durable methods such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners. The first lower belt60and second lower belt65are integrally attached to the junction bar30and include a tongue plate61,62constructed similarly to tongue plates15as previously described herein. The tongue plates61,62are illustrated being operably coupled to buckles71,72respectively. The buckles71,72consist of a housing73and include an actuator button74configured to release the buckles71,72from the tongue plates61,62. The first lower belt60and second lower belt65of the junction bar30operably engage with the third lower belt68and fourth lower belt69. During impact is a person is in a supine position in the seat5, the first lower belt60and second lower belt65will engage either the thigh region or upper torso region of the person dependent upon the direction of orientation of the individual. As the impact occurs, the first lower belt60and second lower belt65provide additional restraint points for distribution of the load of impact.

The third lower belt68and fourth lower belt69are retractably mounted within housings81,82. The housings81,82are manufactured of suitable durable material such as but not limited to metal and are substantially hollow so as to accommodate the retraction mechanism40therein. The housings81,82are secured to the floorboard99utilizing suitable durable methods such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners. The refraction mechanisms40disposed within the housings81,82and function to facilitate the positioning of the third lower belt68and fourth lower belt69in a retracted position wherein the buckles71,72are proximate the floorboard99when the multi-point restraint system100is not in use. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that while two lower belts98are illustrated herein, that more than two lower belts98could be utilized in the multi-point restraint system100.

Illustrated in particular inFIG. 4is alternative embodiment of the multi-point restraint system200. The multi-point restraint system200includes a first upper belt205and a second upper belt210constructed of a suitable durable material. The first upper belt210includes a first end206and second end207. The first end206is anchored behind the seat299utilizing suitable durable methods such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners. The second upper belt210includes first end211and second end212wherein the first end211is anchored similarly as the first end206. Integrally connected with the second ends207,212are tongue plates215,216. The tongue plates215,216are constructed similarly to tongue plates15as previously described herein. The tongue plates215,216operably couple with buckles225,226respectively.

The multi-point restraint system200includes a lower belt230that has a first portion231, second portion232and third portion233. The first portion231is configured in a generally perpendicular manner with respect to the floorboard298. The first portion231is retractably mounted within the housing250as previously described herein utilizing the refraction mechanism40. Proximate the second end229of the first portion231the second portion232and third portion233are angularly mounted. The second portion232and third portion233are integrally formed with the first portion231. The angular arrangement of the second portion232and third portion233functions to engage a person in a supine position on the seat299with an improved distribution load as compared to a conventional lap belt or three point seat belt. The lower belt230is positioned such that the second portion232will traverse the torso area of a supine user while the third portion233will traverse the thigh region of the user. This arrangement provides increased points of restraint when compared to conventional seat belt systems and promotes a distributed impact load across several points of a supine user during the event of an impact. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the lower belt230could be utilized in conjunction with a conventional lap belt and/or shoulder harness to provide restraint for an individual in a seated position. Additionally, it is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that more than one lower belt230could be utilized to accommodate additional supine users or so as to accommodate a supine user that is adjacent to a seated user. Furthermore, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the lower belt230could be operably connected to the junction bar30.

A description of the operation of the multi-point restraint system100is as follows. Referring in particular toFIGS. 1 and 3, in use a user will orient themselves in a supine position on the seat5. The upper belts10are releasably secured to the junction bar30and the lower belts98are operably coupled. The user is oriented with respect to the junction bar30such that the ends37,38are approximately positioned proximate the lower waist area and the upper torso depending upon directional orientation of the supine user. During the event of an impact, the lower belts98, upper belts10and junction bar provide numerous points of restraint and load distribution to the user in the supine position.