Abstract:
A three-point seat belt system adapted for use with a seat frame having a seat back and a seat bottom, wherein the system comprises: (a) retractor shoulder belt with a single first connector on its distal end, adapted to be fixedly attached at its opposite end to the underside of said seat bottom, and extending to the front side of said seat back; (b) multi-connecting lap and shoulder belt comprising: (i) seat belt webbing connected to a Y-junction; (ii) a second connector consisting of a post connector attached to one end of the Y-junction, which releasably attaches to said first connector; and (iii) a third connector consisting of a tongue connector attached to the second end of the Y-junction; and (c) a single lap belt with a fourth connector consisting of a buckle on its distal end, which releasably attaches to said third connector.

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/705,583 filed on Nov. 10, 2003. 

   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Three-point seat belts may be retrofitted to a seat belt ready seat frame. In the specification that follows the following terminology will be utilized. The term “seat belt ready” means a seat frame, which without any substantial modification is adapted to be used with a seat belt assembly. The term “connector” as referred to at various times is intended to include commonly used connector components such as a tongue, a buckle, a clasp, or a post-type configuration. The term “Y-junction” will refer to the location at which the webbing connects to a junction, which splits off into two separate directions in the approximate direction of a Y. The term “retractor belt” will refer to the webbing and single connector which extends and retracts from a retractor over the shoulder and chest of an occupant. The term “single lap belt” will refer to the webbing and single connector, which extends across from one side of the lap of an occupant. The term “multi-connecting lap and shoulder belt” will refer to the webbing, Y-junction, and two connectors (or the embodiment wherein a tongue with a male post connector is incorporated therein in lieu of the Y-junction and two connectors) is located on an opposite side of the occupant, extending across the lap of the occupant and connected to both the retractor belt and to the single lap belt. The term “lap belt assembly” refers to the webbing and connectors at the junction of the single lap and multi-connecting lap and shoulder belt. One example of these terms is illustrated by the construction shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   A first embodiment of the invention permits a school bus seat belt ready seat frame to be retrofitted with a three-point seat belt. A retractor assembly is mounted inside a housing unit, which is then mounted to the underside of the seat frame. Mounting the housing unit to the underside of the seat frame may include the use of bolts, straps, and/or other means including welding the housing unit to the underside of the seat frame. The retractor assembly mounted inside the housing unit contains a retractor mechanism, as well as the retractor belt, which has mounted on its distal end a seat belt connector, which in the first embodiment is a tongue connector. The retractor belt which serves as a shoulder and chest protective belt extends out of the housing unit and is routed up and over the back of the seat frame, over the shoulder of the occupant and at its distal end is connected to a lap belt assembly. The retractor belt with its mounted connector is preferably routed through or over the seat back cushion. Channels (which are not shown) may be created in the seat back cushion to facilitate such routing of the seat belt. A single lap belt attached to the seat frame contains a buckle connector at its end. A multi-connecting lap and shoulder belt configuration is utilized containing what is in effect a Y-junction with two connectors. The first of the two connectors is a buckle, which releasably attaches to the tongue connector on the retractor belt. The second connector is a tongue connector, which connects to the belt connector on the single lap belt. The described first as well as all other embodiments of the invention may readily be adapted for use in other vehicles, including vans, trucks and cars, with both regular and bench-type seating as well as being adaptable for use as original equipment on new school buses. Alternative embodiments also include the use of the lap belt assembly alone without the use of the retractor belt to accommodate infant or child seats. Also included would be variations where the retractor belt connects to child restraint connectors. Also recognized is that the three-way connection used in the first as well as other embodiments of the invention and which serves to join the lap and shoulder belts may also be used separately of the illustrated retrofit housing. 
   A second embodiment of the invention provides a retrofit design for a school bus seat belt ready seat frame with multiple seat belt assemblies per bench seat. A retractor assembly in this second embodiment is mounted to the underside of the seat frame beneath the seating area for each occupant and the retractor belt for each occupant is routed similar to the routing for the first embodiment. Such embodiment can be employed for school bus bench seats seating multiple occupants including seats of 26 inches, 32 inches, 39 inches, 45 inches, and 90 inches as well as other size bench seats. Different configurations than as illustrated in  FIG. 4  may include variations for left and right seating. 
   A third embodiment of the invention includes a clasp connector on the retractor belt. The two connectors on the multi-connecting lap and shoulder belt in this third embodiment are a tongue connector with a male post connector. The clasp connector on the retractor belt connects to the male post connector of the multi-connecting lap and shoulder belt. The single lap belt contains a buckle, which releasably attaches to the tongue connector of the lap and shoulder belt. 
   A fourth embodiment of the invention includes a tongue connector on the retractor belt and the multi-connecting lap and shoulder belt contains two buckles. The first buckle releasably attaches to the tongue of the retractor belt. The second buckle releasably attaches to a tongue connector attached to the distal end of the single lap belt. 
   Many variations are contemplated in addition to those described above. While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the first embodiment showing the seat belt ready seat frame, without the seat cushions, but showing the housing unit and belt attachments for a single occupant. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the retractor and belt housing unit with the seat belt retractor. 
       FIG. 2A  is a reduced side view of a portion of the assembled retractor and belt housing unit showing the aperture through which the retractor belt is extended and retracted. 
       FIG. 3  is a pictorial view of the first embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the seat and back cushions and deployment of seat belts. 
       FIG. 4  is a pictorial view of the second embodiment with three retractor and belt housing units, three multi-connecting lap and shoulder belts, and three single lap belts for three occupants. 
       FIG. 5  is a pictorial view of the third embodiment illustrating use of a clasp and post-type connector. 
       FIG. 6  is a pictorial view of the fourth embodiment illustrating use of a multi connecting lap and shoulder belt with a two-buckle arrangement. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The first embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . Seat belt ready seat frame  10  is composed of back seat frame  20  and bottom seat frame  30 . Metal sheet  31  is attached to back seat frame  20  and supports back cushion  11  shown in  FIG. 3 . The seat frame  10  is mounted onto the floor of a vehicle by mounting legs  39   a ,  39   b ,  39   c  and  39   d . Alternative embodiments may include fewer legs as well as variations where the seat is mounted to the side of the vehicle. In this first embodiment, retractor and belt housing unit  40  is mounted to the underside of the seat frame  30  at the front bar portion  32  of bottom seat frame  30  by mounting straps  51   a  and  51   b  and by studs  52   a  and  52   b  and nuts  53   a  and  53   b . The housing unit  40  is attached to the rear of the seat frame  10  at rear bar portion  55  by stud  56  and nut  57 . In alternative embodiments of the invention, the housing unit may be attached solely to the rear of the seat frame by bolts and nuts or by other attachment means such as by welding the housing unit to the underside of bottom seat frame  30 . Retractor belt  60  exits the aperture  58  ( FIG. 2A ) of the housing unit and back cover portion  59  and extends up and over the back of the back seat frame  20 . Back cover portion  59  slideably attaches to enclosure portion  41  and secures to a wooden rail  42  located near the bottom of back seat frame  20 , protecting the belt webbing from tampering by occupants in the immediately adjacent seats to the rear. Tongue connector  65  is connected at the distal end of webbing  60 . Multi-connecting lap and shoulder belt  70  is attached to rear bar portion  55  by bolt  71  and nut  72 . Single lap belt  80  is connected to rear bar portion  55  by bolt  81  and nut  82 . 
     FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of retractor and belt housing unit  40 . Housing unit  40  is composed of an enclosure portion  41  and a lid portion  48 . Mounting straps  51   a  and  51   b  attach via studs  52   a  and  52   b  and nuts  53   a  and  53   b , respectively. The straps are wrapped around front bar portion  32  of bottom seat frame  30  shown in  FIG. 1 . The conventional retractor mechanism is mounted inside a retractor housing  25 , which is then mounted inside enclosure portion  41  onto stud  46  and fastened with nut  47 . Lid portion  48  is attached to enclosure portion  41  by bolts screwed into openings  49   a ,  49   b ,  49   c ,  49   d ,  49   e , and  49   f  in enclosure portion  41  and corresponding openings  49   aa ,  49   bb ,  49   cc ,  49   dd ,  49   ee  and  49   ff  in lid  48 . Housing unit  40  is attached to rear bar portion  55  (see  FIG. 1 ) by bolt  56  and nut  57 . Back cover portion  59  slideably attaches to and mounts on the top portion  45  of enclosure portion  41  and is secured by screws  42   a  or other suitable means to wooden rail  42  located near the bottom of back seat frame  20 . Alternative fastening means are also contemplated in addition to those described herein. 
     FIG. 2A  is a reduced side view of the assembled retractor and belt housing unit  40  showing the aperture  58  through which the retractor belt  60  extends and retracts from the enclosure portion  41 , lid portion  48  and back cover portion  59 . 
     FIG. 3  shows a pictorial view of the first embodiment of the invention. Seat belt ready seat frame  10  has seat back cushion  11  removably attached to back seat frame  20  ( FIG. 1 ) and seat bottom cushion  12  removably attached to bottom seat frame  30 . Seat frame  10  is mounted to the floor of the vehicle by mounting legs  39   a ,  39   b ,  39   c , and  39   d  ( FIG. 1 ). Retractor and belt housing unit  40  ( FIG. 1 ) is mounted to frame  10  by mounting straps  51   a  and  51   b . Retractor belt  60  extends from housing unit  40  up the back and over the top of back seat frame  20  or through a channel  15  in seat back cushion  11 . Alternative embodiments include routing the retractor belt  60  over the top of the seat back cushion or utilizing molded cushions that permit routing of the webbing through the cushion. Retractor belt  60  has at its distal end a tongue connector  65 . Multi-connecting lap and shoulder belt  70  is connected to the seat frame and at its distal end has a Y-junction  75  with a buckle connector  76 , which releasably attaches to tongue connector  65 . Y-junction  75  also has a tongue connector  77 . Single lap belt  80  is connected to rear bar portion  55  and at its distal end to buckle connector  85 , which releasably attaches to tongue connector  77 . Multi-connecting lap and shoulder belt  70  has the ability to adjust its length to fit various size occupants. Alternative embodiments would permit adjustment of the length of the single lap belt  80 , rather than by adjusting the length of belt  70 . 
     FIG. 4  shows a pictorial view of a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment multiple seat belt systems are employed on a single seat belt ready seat frame  100  with a seat back cushion  110 , seat bottom cushion  120  and bottom seat frame  130 . 
   Seat frame  100  is mounted to the vehicle by mounting legs  139   a ,  139   b ,  139   c , and  139   d . Three retractor and belt housing units  140   a ,  140   b  and  140   c  are mounted to the front bar portion  132  by two mounting straps each  151   a ,  151   b ,  152   a ,  152   b ,  153   a , and  153   b  respectively. Retractor belts  160   a ,  160   b  and  160   c  are extended and retracted from housing units  140   a ,  140   b  and  140   c  respectively and contain tongue connectors  165   a ,  165   b , and  165   c  respectively. Multi-connecting lap and shoulder belts  170   a ,  170   b  and  170   c  contain Y-junctions  175   a ,  175   b , and  175   c  respectively. Y-junction  175   a  contains both buckle  176   a , which releasably attaches to tongue connector  165   a , and tongue connector  177   a . Y-junction  175   b  contains both buckle  176   b , which releasably attaches to tongue connector  165   b , and tongue connector  177   b . Y-junction  175   c  contains both buckle  176   c , which releasably attaches to tongue connector  165   c  and tongue connector  177   c . Single lap belt  180   a ,  180   a , and  180   c , all of which attach to rear bar portion  55 , contain at their distal end buckle connectors  185   a ,  185   b , and  185   c  respectively. Buckle connectors  185   a ,  185   b , and  185   c  releasably attach to tongue connectors  177   a ,  177   b , and  177   c  respectively. 
     FIG. 5  shows a pictorial view of a third embodiment of the invention. Seat belt ready seat frame  10  has seat back cushion  11  removably attached to back seat frame  20  and seat bottom cushion  12  removably attached to bottom seat frame  30 . Seat frame  10  is mounted to the floor of the vehicle by mounting legs  39   a ,  39   b ,  39   c  and  39   d . Retractor and belt housing unit  40  is mounted to frame  10  by mounting straps  51   a  and  51   b . Retractor belt  60  extends from housing unit  40  up the back and around the top of back seat frame  20  and through a channel  15  in seat back cushion  11 . Alternative embodiments include routing the retractor belt  60  over the top of the seat back cushion or utilizing molded cushions that permit routing of the retractor belt through the cushion. Retractor belt  60  connects at its distal end to clasp connector  66 . Multi-connecting lap and shoulder belt  270  is connected to the seat frame and at its distal end has a tongue connector  265  with a male post connector  275  located at its front side. Clasp connector  66  releasably attaches to male post connector  275 . Single lap belt  80  is connected to rear bar portion  55  and at its distal end to buckle connector  85 , which releasably attaches to tongue connector  265 . Multi-connecting lap and shoulder belt  270  has the ability to adjust its length to fit various size occupants. Alternative embodiments would permit adjustment of the length of the single lap belt  80 , rather than by adjusting the length on belt  270 . 
     FIG. 6  shows a pictorial view of a fourth embodiment of the invention. Seat belt ready seat frame  10  has seat back cushion  11  removably attached to back seat frame  20  and seat bottom cushion  12  removably attached to bottom seat frame  30 . Seat frame  10  is mounted to the floor of the vehicle by mounting legs  39   a ,  39   b ,  39   c  and  39   d . Retractor and belt housing unit  40  is mounted to frame  10  by mounting straps  51   a  and  51   b . Retractor belt  60  extends from housing unit  40  up the back and around the top of back seat frame  20  and through a channel  15  in seat back cushion  11 . Alternative embodiments include routing the retractor belt  60  over the top of the seat back cushion or utilizing molded cushions that permit routing of the webbing through the cushion. Retractor belt  60  has at its distal end tongue connector  65 . Multi-connecting lap and shoulder belt  370  is connected to the seat frame and at its distal end has a Y-junction  375  with a buckle connector  376 , which releasably attaches to tongue connector  65 . Y-junction  375  also has a second buckle connector  377 . Single lap belt  380  is connected to rear bar portion  55  and at its distal end to tongue connector  385 , which releasably attaches to buckle  377 . Single lap belt  380  has the ability to adjust its length to fit various size occupants. Alternative embodiments would include having the adjustment of the length of the multi-connecting lap belt  370  rather than by adjusting the length on belt  380 .