Abstract:
A device for use in conjunction with a standard three-point seat belt harness assembly to provide for restraint of potential rearward motion of a vehicle occupant. The device includes a secondary belt which is fixedly attached to one portion of the harness assembly on one side of the seat and affixedly to the floor attachment post on the opposite side of the harness assembly at the other side of the seat. An adjustable unit is provided on the second belt to tighten across the back of the occupant and for when the seat or the back of the seat is moved or adjusted.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a safety device for use in conjunction with a conventional three-point harness or shoulder belt now utilized in most vehicles, such as automobiles and the like. 
     2. Background Art 
     There is widespread use of, and requirement of use of, conventional three-point harnesses or shoulder belts in most vehicles such as automobiles and the like. Such harnesses or shoulder belts are conventionally attached to vertically-spaced first and second mounting points on the vehicle&#39;s framework, such as a reinforced post and the like. The opposed terminal belt ends are attached to these mounting points and a fastener is provided upon the intermediate run of belt such that the belt may be drawn across one&#39;s shoulder and chest and affixed on the other side of the seat to a third vehicle mounting point. In addition, some mechanism to allow the belt to be gradually played out and frictionally withdrawn to provide a comfortable yet snug belt fit upon the user in a seated position upon the vehicle seat while additionally providing for fixed restraint during an emergency, such as a vehicle accident. The general intention of such belts is to prevent the vehicle&#39;s occupants from being thrown forward during a frontal vehicle crash. Such belts have met with remarkable success for such purpose. 
     There are, however, a number of accident types which, instead of subjecting the driver or passengers to a forward motion, subject them to motion that includes at least rearward force such that the vehicle&#39;s occupants, particularly those sitting in the front seats, are thrown rearward and injured as a result thereof. Strongly reinforced vehicle front seat backs in most cases could prevent the rearward motion of the front seat occupants, but such added restructure is costly and involved and may interfere with the operation of the seat backs which afford access to the rear seats to provide desirable tilting movement thereto. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide some means by which passengers and vehicle drivers are prevented from being physically thrown rearward during such accidents. 
     While there are some devices that provide back support or restraint to vehicle occupants or operators, especially bicycles and motorcycles and the like, none of these devices is especially adapted to or particularly useful with the standard three-point shoulder belt or harness provided in modern vehicles. Examples of such prior art devices are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 482,271, U.S. Pat. No. 558,019, U.S. Pat. No. 2,663,031, U.S. Pat. No. 2,960,180, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,166. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,048, U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,468, U.S. Pat. No. 3,233,941, U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,404, U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,965, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,229. 
     BROAD DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of the invention is to provide a device for use in association with a conventional three-point safety harness which restrains rearward movement of the vehicle occupants in a straightforward, efficient yet low cost manner. Another object of the invention is the provision of such a device which additionally provides for occupant back support in the form of supplementary pillow or pad which can be additionally inflated and deflated. A further objective of the present invention is a device which can be used either in combination with a three-point shoulder harness to provide for added back support of the vehicle occupant seats especially the front seats thereof. Other objects and advantages of the invention are set out herein or are obvious here from to one skilled in the art. The objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by the device of the invention. 
     The device of the invention dealing with the three-point safety harness is meant primarily for use with adults and with children weighing at least 70 to 80 pounds. 
     The invention involves a device which is used in combination with a vehicle seat restraint of the type known as a three-point shoulder belt. The three-point shoulder belt has a first unitary belt including opposed first and second terminal ends which are in turn respectively fixedly attached to a first vehicle mounting point above the user&#39;s shoulder and a second vehicle mounting point below the user&#39;s lap when the user is normally seated upon the vehicle seat. Both of the first and second mounting points are located on one side of the seat. The first belt includes a first fastener segment mounted thereon and through which the first belt is adapted to run freely. The first fastener segment is attached to the vehicle at a third vehicle mounting point located proximate to the seat and on the opposite side thereof from which the first and second vehicle mounting points are located such that the belt is restrained at three points when the first fastener segment is releasably attached to the third vehicle mount point in the normal use position of the three-point shoulder belt. The third vehicle mount point is usually a post comprised of a flat, rigid material. The device comprises a second belt having first and second terminal ends and first and second intermediate runs. The first terminal end of the second belt is fixedly attached to the first belt at a position proximate to the seat on the same side thereof as the first and second vehicle mounting points. The second belt passes across the seat and in back of the user. The second terminal end of the second belt is fixedly attached to the third vehicle mounting point below the first fastener segment. The first and second intermediate runs of the second belt are adjustedly affixed together. The second belt is in a use position so as to restrain the user from rearward motion as during a vehicle accident. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the drawings, which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention: 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing a vehicle driver restrained by a three-point shoulder harness assembly which is modified by the device of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial side elevational view taken from the right side of FIG. 1, that is, from left of the driver; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial side elevational view taken from the opposite side; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the portion of the second or back belt near the right side of the driver; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the adjustment portion of the second belt; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the slide fastener through which the looped portion of the harness belt extends; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial sectional plan view taken along the line  5 — 5  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a somewhat schematic view showing a modified form of the device of the invention; and 
     FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but showing a further modified form of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, the device  10  of the invention is adapted for use with a three-point shoulder harness assembly  12  conventionally provided in modern vehicles, such as automobiles. Such assembly  12  is designed to restrain the driver or occupants O from forward motion during a vehicle accident while the occupant is seated in the normal position upon a seat  14 . Such seat includes a lower portion  16  on which the occupant sits and an elevated or essentially vertical back portion  18  which may or may not be tiltable either in a forward or rearward direction dependent upon the particular automobile&#39;s features. 
     The harness assembly  12  includes a first belt  20  having opposed terminal first and second ends  22  and  24 , respectively, and an intermediate run  26 . The first terminal end  22  of the first belt  20  is conventionally attached to a first vehicle mounting point P 1  generally above the occupant&#39;s shoulder and at a generally reinforced portion of the vehicle body or frame such as a post or the like (not shown). This first vehicle mounting point P 1  very often takes the form of a frictional roller which enables the belt to be alternately played out and frictionally retracted for positioning and comfort of the occupant yet provides for fixed retention during an emergency situation. Such roller constructions are conventional and, accordingly, have not been shown. Other provisions for the conventional operation of the three-point shoulder assembly  12  may also be utilized. 
     The second terminal end  24  of the first belt  20  is generally fixedly positioned at a second vehicle mounting point P 2  at a position lower than the occupant&#39;s lap and also to a reinforced body or frame vehicle portion schematically shown FIG.  7 . In harness assemblies  12  of this type, the intermediate belt run  26  is generally provided with a fastener segment  30  as shown in FIG. 4 which, when coupled with a mating fastener segment  36  provided at a third vehicle mounting point P 3 , enables the belt to be drawn across the occupant&#39;s body and releasably positioned in that attitude vis-a-vis the cooperative releasable engagement of the fastener segment  30 . The fastener segment  30  in turn serves to divide the looped or intermediate belt run  26  into upper and lower runs  26   a  and  26   b , respectively. In the particular case shown, the fastener segment  30  cooperates with a third vehicle mounting point P 3  including a post (rigid leaf member)  32 . In the present case, the third vehicle mounting point is shown including the post portion  32 , but this may indeed be a fixed point or include a strap member or the like (not shown). 
     Since the above is primarily a description of a conventional three-point harness assembly, attention is again directed to the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1 through 3, to illustrate the manner in which the device  10  of the present invention is operatively associated with such three-point harness assembly  12  so as to provide for novel features of the present invention. Therein the device  10  includes a second belt  40  having first and second terminal ends  42  and  44 , respectively, and intermediate runs  40   b  and  40   a , respectively. The first end  42  is preferably fixedly attached to the second belt portion  26   b  at a point generally in line with occupant&#39;s thigh or buttocks. Such attachment is preferably achieved by rivet  70  or may be provided by sewing or the like. As the belt portions  26   a  and  26   b  move upward and downward and between use and storage positions, the first end  42  of the second belt  40  moves therewith to some extent. But because of the fixed length of belting between P 2  and where the first end  42  is fastened to the belt portion  26   b , the first end  42  generally remains at a position proximal to the level of seat  16  or next to the occupant&#39;s thigh. 
     The second terminal end  44  of the belt  40  is preferably fixedly attached to post  32  by sewing  46  or may be provided by riveting or the like. Referring to FIG. 5, intermediate run  40   a , which is relatively short, fits through slot  72  in buckle unit  74  and doubles back on itself so that one end thereof overlies the other end thereof. The overlying ends of intermediate  40   a  are sewn or otherwise fixedly attached to post  32  below mating fastener segment  36 . Intermediate run  40   b , which is relatively long, extends along the side of buckle unit  74 , fits through slot  76  of buckle unit  74 , extends towards and fits through slot  78  of buckle unit  74  so as to extend back towards end  42 . In this manner, the end of portion  80  of intermediate run  40   b  doubles back on itself. End portion  80  of intermediate run  40   b  and buckle unit  74  provide means for adjusting the length of belt  40  to fit the crosswise size of the back of the driver or the occupant of the automobile. The device  10  can be used with children of at least 70 or pounds and adults. The device  10  is positioned with belt  40  in back of the occupant, preferably at the small of his or her back. 
     In this manner, it will be apparent that when the occupant O is subjected to rearward forces, the device  10  restrains such motion without the need for additional mounting points and in a straightforward, low-cost manner. The device  10  in restraining such rearward motion of the occupant additionally reduces the strain placed upon the seat back  18  such that it is less likely the seat back will fail and, accordingly, secondarily injure occupants in the automobile&#39;s back seat or second or third seats, if so provided. 
     Referring now particularly to FIG. 8 of the drawings, the belt  40  may be provided with a back support member  60  either through which the intermediate run  40   b  of the belt  40  passes or, alternatively, where the back pad  60  is connected to intermediate run  40   b  of the belt  40 . It is preferable to provide for the belt  40  to pass entirely through the pad  60  or for the pad to be attached to the inner portion of the belt  40 , so that the belt  40  is positioned proximate the inner surface of the seat back  18  and the pad  60  is positioned immediately against the occupant&#39;s back, rather than vice versa. This eliminates the need to concentrate or focus on the pad  60 &#39;s material composition or manufacturing method, and thus one can rely entirely on the strength of the belt  40  for the rearward motion restraint. In some cases it is desirable to make the pad  60  of an inflatable and deflatable type. For that purpose a tube  62 , which is provided with a squeeze bulb  64  and a pressure release button  66 , is included. 
     Referring now particularly to FIG. 9 of the drawings, it will be seen that a third belt  70  may be positioned essentially in back of the seat back  18  to restrain it directly from rearward movement, as during a vehicle accident and the like. In this case, the third belt  70  includes opposed first and second terminal ends  72  and  74 , respectively, which are mounted to fourth and fifth vehicle mounting points  76  and  78 , respectively. The third belt  70  may be utilized in conjunction with the device  10  or separately therefrom. It should be pointed out that the first terminal end of the belt  70  is preferably attached to a strengthened vehicle portion, such as the reinforced post P 2  shown, and at a height preferably about midway up the vertical extent of the seat back to reduce movement or leverage forces that may be imparted thereto by any rearward motion of the occupant o unrestrained by the device  10 . Similarly, the fifth vehicle mounting point  78  should also be somewhat elevated, although some downwardly slanted belt  70  attitude from the fourth vehicle mounting point  76  to the fifth vehicle mounting point  78  may be permitted. 
     A fourth belt  80  may also be provided either separately or in conjunction with belt  70 . The belt  80  is provided with first and second terminal ends  82  and  84 , respectively, and are mounted to fourth and fifth vehicle mounting points  76  and  78 , respectively. The fourth belt  80  goes in front of the seat portion (back)  18  and thus restrains the seat from forward motion similar to the action provided by belt  70  in the case of rearward force. The belts  70  and  80  may be formed from a single belt having intermediate portions extending in back of and in front of the vehicle seat  18 , or two separate belts interconnected at their respective first and second terminal ends, or even entirely separate belts. 
     While there is shown and described herein a certain specific structure embodying this invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. It will also be manifest that the inventive concept is not limited to the particular forms shown and described herein, except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.