Patent ID: 8444221

Claim:
A booster seat assembly for use with an associated bench seat assembly comprising: a bench seat base portion including an occupant contact surface that is suitable for contacting and supporting at least two associated adult sized occupants; a bench seat back portion including an occupant contact surface that is suitable for contacting and supporting the at least two associated adult sized occupants; and for use with an associated seat belt assembly for each of the associated adult sized occupants and suitable for restraining each of the associated adult sized occupants to the bench seat assembly, each seat belt assembly comprising: a female receptacle that extends above the bench seat base portion; a seat belt; and, a male element that is attached to the seat belt and that is latchable to the female receptacle to restrain the associated adult sized occupant and that is unlatchable from the female receptacle to release the associated adult sized occupant; the booster seat assembly comprising: a substantially-horizontal booster seat base portion that is suitable to be supported to the occupant contact surface of the bench seat base portion and that includes an occupant contact surface that is suitable for contacting and supporting at least two associated child sized occupants, the booster seat base portion having a thickness measured in a vertical direction when the booster seat base portion is supported on the occupant contact surface of the bench seat base portion; a first opening formed through the booster seat base portion thickness, within which is positioned at least one of the female receptacles; wherein the booster seat assembly is suitable to support each associated child sized occupant to the vehicle by contacting each associated child sized occupant to the booster seat base portion and by contacting each associated child sized occupant to the bench seat back portion; and, wherein the booster seat assembly is suitable to permit each associated child sized occupant to access: (1) a corresponding male element; and (2) a corresponding female receptacle within the first opening for self latching to restrain the associated child sized occupant and self unlatching of the corresponding seat belt assembly.