Abstract:
A vehicle passenger safety device for use on vehicles such as airplanes and automobiles. The device includes a horizontal member that is configured to be secured to a back support of a seat in a vehicle, and two vertical members, each being attached to the horizontal member, and each having a loop through which the seat belt is capable of being fed and fastened above the lap of the person, wherein the vertical members are configured to rest over the person&#39;s shoulders. The device further includes a strap-holding device that is attached to the vertical members at a position substantially above the second end of the vertical members, wherein the strap-holding device is configured to maintain a predetermined distance between the vertical members.

Description:
This is a continuation application that claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/986,656 filed Nov. 12, 2004, now U.S Pat. No. 7,021,719, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/615,299 filed Jul. 9, 2003 (abandoned), which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/096,914, filed Mar. 14, 2002 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,242), which is a continuation-in-part of application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/643,868, filed Aug. 23, 2000 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,251), each of the four referenced parent applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   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. A number of specific embodiments were previously disclosed in application Ser. No. 09/643,868, filed Aug. 23, 2000, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. The previously disclosed embodiments include: (1) a “soft” vehicle safety device made exclusively of straps and fasteners; (2) a briefcase style folding vehicle safety device; and (3) a vehicle safety device having a rigid front-support with an inflatable cushion to fill up the space between the passenger and the rigid front-support. 
   This continuation-in-part application discloses improvements to the previously disclosed embodiments and discusses additional embodiments. The new embodiments disclosed herein, like those previously disclosed, improves passenger safety. All embodiments of the present invention includes a seat strap assembly adapted to attach the device to the vehicle seat, a body strap assembly adapted to secure the passenger on the device, and at least one loop adapted to receive the existing seat belt of the vehicle. The seat strap assembly may include one or both of a horizontal strap and a strap web. The body strap assembly may include one or more of a vertical body strap, a diagonal body strap, a horizontal body strap, and a crotch strap. In some embodiments, the loop may be part of the back-support portion. Alternatively, a loop may be part of the body strap assembly. 

   
     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. 
       FIG. 4   a  is a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of a vehicle passenger safety device, showing the front and side views of the device. 
       FIG. 4   b  is a schematic diagram of the vehicle passenger safety device of  FIG. 4   a , showing the side and rear views of the device. 
       FIG. 4   c  is a schematic diagram of the vehicle passenger safety device of  FIG. 4   a  shown in use on an existing vehicle seat. 
       FIG. 5   a  is a schematic diagram of a fifth embodiment of a vehicle passenger safety device, showing a loop as part of a body strap assembly. 
       FIG. 5   b  is a schematic diagram of the vehicle passenger safety device of  FIG. 5   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. One or more of vertical straps  101 ,  102 , and strap holding belt  103  may be considered as the body strap assembly. Horizontal strap  104  may be considered as the seat strap assembly. Preferably, each of vertical straps  101  and  102  is length adjustable and may be tightened using fasteners. For example, vertical strap  101  may be tightened using buckle  101   d  and length-adjusted using adjustable portion  101   e . Similarly, vertical strap  102  may be tightened and length-adjusted by buckle  102   d  and length-adjusted using adjustable portion  102   e , respectively. Buckle  101   d  may be located at any position along vertical strap  101 . Preferably, buckle  101   d  is located at a position between locations  101   a  and  101   b . Buckle  102   d  may be similarly located along vertical strap  102 . 
     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. One or both seat-pan portion  210  and back-support portion  220  may have a rigid skeleton enclosed by padded materials. 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 . One or more of vertical straps  201 ,  202 , and crotch strap  204  may be considered as the body strap assembly. Horizontal strap  203  may be considered as the seat strap assembly. 
     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 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. One or more of cross-straps  304 ,  305 , crotch strap  302 , and rigid front-support  301  may be considered as the body strap assembly. Horizontal strap  303  may be considered as the seat strap assembly. 
     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 . 
     FIG. 4   a  is a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of a vehicle passenger safety device  400 . Back-support portion  420  is preferably constructed with materials similar to those used for vehicular seats. For example, back-support portion  420  may have a padded interior that is protected by an upholstery such as cloth, leather, vinyl, or other materials. Preferably, back-support portion  420  has a rigid exterior frame that can provide a strong attachment for a seat strap assembly and a body strap assembly. Alternatively, back-support portion  420  may have a rigid skeleton that serves the same purpose. Back support portion  420  may be identical or substantially similar to back-support portion  220  described above. 
   Back-support portion  420  has body straps  401  and  402 , attached to back-support portion  420  at locations  401   a  and  402   a , respectively. Horizontal strap  403  is part of the seat strap assembly. Horizontal strap  403  is attached, preferably by sewing, to body strap  401  at location  401   b  and to body strap  402  at location  402   b . Portions  405   a ,  405   b , and  405   c  are three components of three-way fastener  405 . Horizontal strap  403  has fastener  403   a , adjustable portion  403   b , and portions of three-way fastener  405   b  and  405   c . Fasteners  403   a  and  405  are preferably buckles. The first end of crotch strap  404  is secured to back-support portion  420  at location  404   a . The second end of crotch strap  404  has portion  405   a  of three-way fastener  405 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4   b , there are one or more loops  411  that are part of back-support portion  420 . Loops  411  are adapted to receive existing seat belt  13  of existing airplane seat  10 . Loops  411  can be located in many places on back-support portion  420 . Preferably, loops  411  are located near the bottom part of back-support portion  420 . Preferably, loops  411  are located on the back side of back-support portion  420 , as shown in  FIG. 4   b.    
   In addition to or in lieu of horizontal strap  403 , the seat strap assembly of device  400  may be equipped with strap web  430 . Strap web  430  preferably has one or more vertical members  432  and a horizontal member  434 . Each of vertical members  432  is preferably secured at locations  432   a  on back-support portion  420 . Horizontal member  434  is preferably secured at locations  434   a  on back-support portion  420 . Preferably, vertical members  432  and horizontal member  434  are sewn together such that strap web  430  can rest over the existing seat back  12  of seat  10 . Preferably, each of vertical members  432  and horizontal member  434  is length adjustable and may be tightened using fasteners. For example, vertical members may be tightened using buckles  432   a  and length-adjusted using adjustable portions  432   b . Similarly, horizontal member  434  can be tightened using buckle  434   a  and length-adjusted using adjustable portion  434   b.    
     FIG. 4   c  is a schematic diagram of vehicle passenger safety device  400  shown in use on an existing vehicle seat such as an airplane seat  10 . To install vehicle passenger safety device  400 , strap web  430  are fitted around or over the top of back support  12 , buckles  432   a  engaged, and adjustable portions  432   b  shortened, thereby securing back-support portion  420  of device  400  to seat  10 . Strap web  430  rests over seat  10  as shown in  FIG. 4   c.    
   Existing airplane seat belt  13  is then fed through loops  411  behind and/or beneath back-support portion  420  and fastened. A passenger is then seated on existing seat seat-pan  11  with crotch strap  404  of device  400  in between the passenger&#39;s legs. Body straps  401  and  402  (members of the body strap assembly) are rested over the passenger&#39;s shoulders, and horizontal strap  403  is wrapped around him. Fasteners  405  and  403   a  are then engaged, and adjustable portion  403   b  pulled. It is noted that existing seat belt  13 , instead of being fed through loops  411 , may rest over the passenger&#39;s lap as shown in dotted lines  13   a  in  FIG. 4   c.    
   To uninstall, fastener  403   a  and fastener  405  are disengaged. The passenger is then lifted from seat  10 . Existing airplane seat belt  13  is then unbuckled and taken out of loops  411 . Finally, horizontal strap  403  and/or strap web  430  is loosened and removed from seat  10 . 
     FIG. 5   a  is a schematic diagram of a fifth embodiment of a vehicle passenger safety device  500 . Device  500  has a back-support portion  520  that is similar to back-support portion  420  of device  400  as discussed above. For example, back-support portion  520  may be constructed with materials similar to those used for vehicular seats. In addition, back-support portion  520  may preferably have a rigid exterior or a rigid skeleton as discussed above for back-support portion  420 . 
   Back-support portion  520  has body strap assembly  501 , which includes one or more body straps  501   a  and  501   b . Body strap assembly  501  is attached to back-support portion  520 . Horizontal strap  503  is part of a seat strap assembly that is attached to back-support portion  520 . Horizontal strap  503  is utilized to attach device  500  on an existing vehicle seat. Horizontal strap  503  has fastener  503   a , and adjustable portion  503   b.    
   Crotch strap  504  is part of body strap assembly  501 . The first end of crotch strap  504  is secured to body strap assembly  501  at location  504   a . The second end of crotch strap  504  has loop  511 . Loop  511  is adapted to receive the existing seat belt  13  of existing airplane seat  10 . 
   In addition to or in lieu of horizontal strap  503 , the seat strap assembly may include strap web  530 , which is shown in  FIG. 5   b . Strap web  530  may be identical or substantially similar to strap web  430  shown in  FIG. 4   b . The seat strap assembly (comprising one or more of horizontal strap  503  and strap web  530 ) is adapted to secure the back-support portion  520  on airplane seat  10 . 
     FIG. 5   b  is a schematic diagram of vehicle passenger safety device  500  shown in use on an existing vehicle seat such as an airplane seat  10 . To install vehicle passenger safety device  500 , one or both horizontal strap  503  and web  530  are fitted over the top of back support  12 , securing back-support portion  520  of device  500  to seat  10 . Horizontal strap  503  is fastened by engaging fastener  503   a  and pulling adjustable portion  503   b . Strap web  530  rests over seat  10  as shown in  FIG. 5   b . Although not shown in  FIG. 5   b , each vertical and horizontal members of strap web  530 , like its corresponding member in strap web  430 , may have buckles and adjustable portions that make it length adjustable. 
   A passenger is then seated on existing seat seat-pan  11 . Body strap assembly  501 , which includes body straps  501   a  and  501   b , are rested over the passenger&#39;s shoulders, with crotch strap  504  in between the passenger&#39;s legs. Existing seat belt  13  is then fed through loop  511  and fastened. However, if crutch strap  504  is attached to back-support portion  520  (see location  404   a  in  FIG. 4   a ), then seat belt  13  may rest over the lap of the passenger as indicated by dashed lines  13   a  in  FIG. 5   b . The seat strap assembly is then fastened by, e.g., engaging fastener  503   a  and pulling extension  503   b.    
   To uninstall, seat belt  13  is disengaged and taken out of loop  511 . Body strap assembly  501  is then lifted off from the passenger. The passenger is then lifted from seat  10 . Finally, the seat strap assembly is loosened and removed from seat  10 . 
   It is noted that the horizontal strap  503  may be attached to body strap assembly  501 . For example, horizontal strap  503  may have extension  503   c  (shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 5   b ) that is attached to body strap assembly  501  at location  504   a . In that case, location  504   a  would be a 5-way buckle. 
   In describing representative embodiments of the invention, the specification may have presented the method and/or process of the invention as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth in the specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims. In addition, the claims directed to the method and/or process of the invention should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
   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.