Patent ID: 8070184

Claim:
A supplemental automotive restraint for use with a shoulder and lap belt and engaging the front of a pregnant woman, the restraint comprising: (a) an integrally formed pelvic yoke and crotch post, (i) the crotch post, in an operable position, engaging the pelvic bone of the pregnant woman at her pubis and providing a load path directly to her pubis, (ii) the pelvic yoke, in an operable position, extending laterally across the abdomen of the pregnant woman between her left and right iliac crests and providing a load path directly to each of her iliac crests; and (b) a protective shell integrally connected to the integrally formed pelvic yoke and crotch post and contoured for the anthropometry of a pregnant woman and integrally comprising a breast plate and an abdominal bridge/shell, (i) the integral breast plate having interior padding and contoured to engage and uniformly distribute shoulder belt forces against the chest of the pregnant woman, including the sternum and ribs, (ii) the integral abdominal bridge/shell formed as a bridging arch structure, in an operable position extending over the abdomen between the pelvic yoke and the breast plate, the abdominal bridge/shell having interior padding and contoured to engage and uniformly distribute lap and shoulder belt forces against the abdomen of the pregnant woman and to transmit the forces required to catch and restrain her abdomen away from the abdomen to the lap and shoulder belts; and (c) a shoulder belt retainer formed on the exterior of the protective shell.