Abstract:
A passenger safety device for use on vehicles such as airplanes and automobiles is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the device is a “soft” device, i.e., a safety harness comprising exclusively straps and fasteners. A horizontal strap wraps around the back-support of a vehicle seat to secure the harness to the vehicle seat. In a second embodiment, the device comprises a back-support portion and a seat-pan portion. When folded, the exterior frame resembles a small briefcase with a shoulder strap. In a third embodiment, the device comprises a rigid front-support with an inflatable cushion that fills up the space between the passenger and the front-support.

Description:
This application claims benefit of provisional application 60/150,355, filed Aug. 24, 1999. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to vehicular safety devices and more specifically to passenger safety devices for use on vehicles such as airplanes and automobiles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has reported that the use of seat belts on airplanes has reduced injuries and saved lives during air turbulence and air crashes. The utility of airplane seat belts has prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to promulgate rules requiring all airlines to provide seat belts to their passengers. However, despite the FAA regulations, not every airplane passenger receives the full protection of a seat belt. For example, children under 40 pounds do not receive the full benefit from seat belts that are designed for adults. As there is no federal regulation requiring the provision of seat belts specifically designed for children lighter than 40 pounds, airlines do not provide them. This inequity to young passengers is aggravated by the fact that airlines often require children over the age of two to buy a ticket without affording these young travelers the same protection other passengers receive. 
     Until the law requires the use of airplane child safety devices, children will continue to suffer from injuries, sometimes fatal injuries, during air turbulence or air crashes. The current practice of adults holding on to children is simply inadequate. The NTSB has reported numerous instances in which children held by an adult during air turbulence or air crashes suffer from severe injuries, including fatal injuries. The NTSB has also reported that child safety belts currently used in a limited number of smaller airplanes have saved the lives of young passengers. 
     Taking the initiative to provide adequate protection to their children, some parents have attempted to use car seats in airplanes. Currently, only six car seats manufactured in the United States comply with FAA standards for use in airplanes. Although some of these car seats fit and buckle in more easily than others in an airplane, all such car seats are heavy, cumbersome, and awkward to handle. The FAA and the NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration) have reported that many car seats are not suitable for use in airplanes either because they are too wide to fit into the airplane seats or because the rows of airplane seats are too close together to accommodate them. Parents who use car seats in airplanes must also haul them through airports, which often creates problems at security checks. In the past, some airlines even prohibited parents from using car seats. As crash safety test results began to demonstrate the danger of carrying infants in the arms of adults and using ordinary seat belts for toddlers, the FAA passed a rule prohibiting airlines from banning car seats on airplanes. Nonetheless, some airlines continue to prohibit their flight attendants from assisting parents with the installation of car seats in airplanes. 
     Therefore, it is apparent that children lighter than 40 pounds can still benefit from the protection of an airplane child safety device as much as an adult can benefit from the use of a seat belt. However, it appears that airlines will continue to be reluctant to provide airplane child safety devices for at least two reasons. First, existing car seats that comply with FAA standards are not user-friendly and their use could adversely affect flight schedules. Second, the airlines do not have a system to handle the logistics associated with the provision of the car seats in reservation, delivery, storage, maintenance, and redistribution. 
     Although each airline uses its own proprietary airline reservation system, all airline reservation systems do essentially the same things. All reservation systems reserve a place on an airplane and record a fair amount of information about the passenger such as the passenger&#39;s credit card number, preference for an aisle or window seat, special meal request, frequent flyer number, and so on. Passengers who regularly use a particular travel agent often have a travel “profile” that automatically downloads when a reservation is made. However, while some data in the agent&#39;s profile is automatically downloaded, the choice of a special meal or seat preference must be “clicked in” to the ticket reservation system separately by the travel agent with each reservation. Because no airline is providing airplane child safety devices, the current reservation systems do not record whether a vehicle child safety device has been requested. 
     The level of demand for child safety devices and a system to provide them to air travel passengers would increase if a regulation were promulgated to require the use of child safety devices on airplanes for children lighter than 40 pounds. In addition, the demand for child safety devices and a system to provide them would increase if airlines voluntarily make the devices available as part of a “passenger bill of rights.” Currently, there is considerable interest in expanding passenger rights to include “appropriate safe devices” for children. “Forward thinking” airlines might view the provision of airplane child safety devices as giving them a competitive edge. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a passenger safety device that can be used in different vehicles including airplanes and automobiles. Three specific embodiments are disclosed. In a first embodiment, the present invention is a “soft” vehicle safety device, i.e., it is a harness made exclusively of straps and fasteners. In this embodiment, the present invention has two vertical straps, a strap-holding belt, and a horizontal strap. When the present invention is installed, the horizontal strap wraps around the back-support of a vehicle seat. Preferably, the horizontal strap is length adjustable having a fastener and an adjustable portion. The vertical straps rest over the back-support of the vehicle seat. Each of the vertical straps is attached to the horizontal strap. Preferably, the vertical straps are sewn to the horizontal strap. The second end of each of the vertical straps has a loop to incorporate the existing vehicle seat belt. In a preferred embodiment, the loop can be “sealed” tightly by the use of hook-and-loop fasteners. The strap-holding belt is located below the horizontal strap, and it is designed to be fastened around a passenger&#39;s chest to keep the vertical straps in place. 
     A second embodiment of the present invention resembles a folding seat. In this embodiment, the present invention comprises a seat-pan, a back-support, a hinge connecting the seat-pan and back-support, a horizontal strap, two vertical straps attached to the horizontal strap, and a crotch strap attached to the seat-pan. In its folded position, the present invention resembles a small briefcase with a to shoulder strap. Preferably, when deployed, a pair of small “feet” can be snapped out at the bottom of the seat-pan to tilt the seat-pan toward the back-support slightly. The existing vehicle seat belt feeds through a loop located at the bottom of the seat-pan to hold it in place. The horizontal strap wraps around the vehicle seat and is tightened to hold the present invention in place. 
     In a third embodiment, the present invention comprises a rigid front-support with an inflatable cushion to fill up the space between the passenger and the rigid front-support. The rigid front-support is made of tough polyurethane or another similar material. An inflatable cushion attached to the rigid front-support has a pump for use to inflate the cushion. To provide additional restraint, a pair of cross-straps is provided. These cross-straps are attached to the rigid front-support and the horizontal strap. The inflatable cushion, when not inflated to surround the passenger, is folded inside the rigid front frame. 
     Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to improve passenger safety by providing vehicle passenger safety devices that are lightweight, portable, and easy to install. This and other objects of the present invention are described in greater detail in the detailed description of the invention, the appended drawings, and the attached claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 a  is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a vehicle passenger safety device. 
     FIG. 1 b  is a schematic diagram of the vehicle passenger safety device of FIG. 1 a  shown in use on an existing vehicle seat. 
     FIG. 2 a  is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a vehicle passenger safety device. 
     FIG. 2 b  is a schematic diagram of the vehicle passenger safety device of FIG. 2 a  shown in its folded position. 
     FIG. 2 c  is a schematic diagram of the vehicle passenger safety device of FIG. 2 a  shown in use on an existing vehicle seat. 
     FIG. 3 a  is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a vehicle passenger safety device. 
     FIG. 3 b  is a schematic diagram of the vehicle passenger safety device of FIG. 3 a  shown in use on an existing vehicle seat. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 a  is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention showing vehicle passenger safety device  100 . As shown in FIG. 1 a , this embodiment of the present invention comprises a pair of vertical straps  101  and  102 , strap-holding belt  103 , and horizontal strap  104 . Vertical strap  101  is attached to horizontal strap  104  at locations  101   a  and  101   b . Similarly, vertical strap  102  is attached to horizontal strap  104  at locations  102   a  and  102   b . Preferably, vertical straps  101  and  102  are sewn to horizontal strap  104  at locations  101   a ,  101   b ,  102   a , and  102   b . In addition, vertical straps  101  and  102  have loops  101   c  and  102   c , respectively. Strap-holding belt  103  is attached to vertical strap  101  at location  103   b , and to vertical strap  102  at location  103   c . Preferably, strap-holding belt  103  has a fastener  103   a . The preferred fastener is a buckle. Preferably, strap-holding belt  103  is sewn to vertical straps  101  and  102  at locations  103   b  and  103   c , respectively. Horizontal strap  104  has a fastener  104   a , such as a buckle, and an adjustable portion  104   b  that can be length-adjusted to tighten horizontal strap  104  around the back-support of an existing vehicle seat such as an airplane seat. 
     FIG. 1 b  is a schematic diagram of vehicle passenger safety device  100  in use on existing airplane seat  10  having seat-pan  11 , back-support  12 , and seat belt  13 . To use vehicle passenger safety device  100  on existing airplane seat  10 , a passenger is seated on seat-pan  11 . Vertical straps  101  and  102  are rested over back-support  12  of existing airplane seat  10  so that locations  101   a ,  101   b ,  102   a , and  102   b  are all at about the same elevation. Horizontal strap  104  is then wrapped around back-support  12 , above and behind the food tray of airplane seat  10  and above or behind the passenger&#39;s head. Fastener  104   a  is then engaged and adjustable portion  104   b  is pulled. Vertical straps  101  and  102  are then placed over the passenger&#39;s shoulders. Seat belt  13  is then fed through loops  101   c  and  102   c  of vertical straps  101  and  102 , respectively, and seat belt  13  is buckled and tightened. In a preferred embodiment, loops  101   c  and  102   c  can be “sealed” tightly by the use of hook-and-loop fasteners such as Velcro™. Finally, strap-holding belt  103  is secured by engaging a fastener such as buckle  103   a . The first embodiment of the present invention is made exclusively of straps and fasteners. 
     To uninstall vehicle passenger safety device  100 , existing airplane seat belt  13 , horizontal strap  104 , and strap-holding belt  103  are detached. Existing airplane seat belt  13  is taken out of loops  101   c  and  102   c , and the passenger safety device is lifted from back-support  12 . The device can then be folded and stored in a small bag or box. 
     FIG. 2 a  is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a vehicle passenger safety device  200  having seat-pan portion  210 , back-support portion  220 , and hinge  230  connecting seat-pan portion  210  and back-support portion  220 . Seat-pan portion  210  and back-support portion  220  preferably have rigid exterior frames and padded interiors. In addition, back-support portion  220  has vertical straps  201  and  202 , attached to back-support portion  220  at locations  201   a  and  202   a , respectively. Horizontal strap  203  is attached, preferably by sewing, to vertical strap  201  at location  201   b  and to vertical strap  202  at location  202   b . Portions  205   a ,  205   b , and  205   c  are three components of three-way fastener  205 . Horizontal strap  203  has fastener  203   a , adjustable portion  203   b , and portions of three-way fastener  205   b  and  205   c . Fasteners  203   a  and  205  are preferably buckles. The first end of crotch strap  204  is secured to seat-pan portion  210  at location  204   a . The second end of crotch strap  204  has portion  205   a  of three-way fastener  205 . Shoulder strap  221  is installed on back-support portion  220 . Alternatively, shoulder strap  221  can be installed on seat-pan portion  210 . In addition, as shown in FIG. 2 b , there is loop  211  and a pair of legs  212  and  213  under seat-pan portion  210 . 
     FIG. 2 c  is a schematic diagram of vehicle passenger safety device  200  shown in use on an existing vehicle seat such as an airplane seat. To install vehicle passenger safety device  200 , it is first unfolded as shown in FIG. 2 a . Seat-pan portion  210  is then placed on existing airplane seat-pan  11 . Back-support portion  220  is rested against existing back-support  12  with shoulder strap  221  hidden in between back-support portion  220  and existing back-support  12 . Existing airplane seat belt  13  is then fed through loop  211  under seat-pan portion  210  and fastened. Legs  212  and  213  are then snapped out of seat-pan portion  210  to provide an angle as shown in FIG. 2 c . A passenger is then seated on seat-pan portion  210  with the crotch strap  204  in between the passenger&#39;s legs. Vertical straps  201  and  202  are rested over the passenger&#39;s shoulders, and horizontal strap  203  is wrapped around him. Fastener  205  is then engaged. Finally, horizontal strap  203  is fastened by engaging fastener  203   a  and pulling adjustable portion  203   b.    
     To uninstall, fastener  203   a  and fastener  205  are disengaged. The passenger is then lifted from seat-pan portion  210 . Existing airplane seat belt  13  is then unbuckled and taken out of loop  211 . Legs  212  and  213  are snapped back under seat-pan portion  210 . Finally, horizontal strap  203 , vertical straps  201  and  202 , and crotch strap  204  is placed on seat-pan portion  210 . Back-support portion  220  is then folded toward seat-pan portion  210 . A hook  240   a  fitting into latch  240   b  is used to maintain the vehicle passenger safety device in its folded position. 
     FIG. 3 a  is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a vehicle tis passenger safety device  300 . In this embodiment, vehicle passenger safety device  300  comprises rigid front-support  301 , inflatable cushion  301   a , pump  301   b , crotch strap  302  having loop  302   a , horizontal strap  303 , and a pair of cross-straps  304  and  305 . Rigid front-support  301  is preferably made of tough polyurethane or another similar material. Belt  306 , fastener  306   a , and adjustable portion  306   b  are extensions of rigid front-support  301 . Rigid front-support  301  either wraps around the back-support of the vehicle seat or snaps over the arms of the seat. Crotch strap  302  is attached to rigid front-support  301 . Cross-straps  304  and  305  are attached to horizontal strap  303  at locations  304   a  and  305   a , and they are attached to rigid front-support at locations  304   b  and  305   b . In addition, cross-straps  304  and  305  are attached to each other at location  305   c . Attachments of cross-straps  304  and  305  to each other and to horizontal strap  303  may be accomplished by sewing. 
     FIG. 3 b  is a schematic diagram of vehicle passenger safety device  300  shown in use on an existing vehicle seat such as airplane seat  10  having an existing airplane seat belt  13 . To install the passenger safety device  300 , horizontal strap  303  is wrapped and tightened around existing back-support  12  of existing airplane seat  10 . In a preferred embodiment, horizontal strap  303  is fastened by engaging fastener  303   a  and pulling adjustable portion  303   b . Existing seat belt  13  is then fed through loop  302   a  and fastened. A passenger is then seated as shown in FIG. 3 b  between existing back-support  12  and rigid front-support  301  with crotch strap  302  between his legs. Cross-straps  304  and  305  are rested over the passenger&#39;s shoulders. Rigid front-support  301  is then fastened using belt  306  around back-support  12 . After fastener  306   a  is engaged and adjustable portion  306   b  is pulled, inflatable cushion  301   a  is inflated to fill up the space between the passenger and rigid front-support  301  by using pump  301   b . Other pumping systems, such as compressed gas or carbon dioxide cylinders can also be used. 
     To uninstall, inflatable cushion  301   a  is deflated through vent  301   c . Horizontal strap  303  and belt  306  are detached, and the passenger is lifted out of seat-pan  11 . Existing seat belt  13  is then unbuckled and removed from loop  302   a . Inflatable cushion  301   a  is then folded and stored behind rigid front-support  301 . 
     The foregoing disclosure of embodiments illustrating the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents.