Patent ID: 8714655

Claim:
A vertical divider for separating adjacent passengers in a rear seat of a motor vehicle, the divider formed as a single, free-standing element comprising: a foam block that is compressible and has shape memory, wherein the block comprises a pliable covering and has a base, a front surface, a top surface, and a back surface and further has first and second side surfaces spaced apart from each other by the base, front surface, top surface, and back surfaces; a lap restraint belt interface comprising a first slit that extends into the block from the front surface, wherein the first slit extends from the first side surface to the second side surface, for accepting an inserted lap restraint belt and wherein the first slit is further inclined upward toward the top surface for directing a first compressive force urging at least a portion of the base against a bottom surface of the rear seat and a portion of the back surface toward a backrest when the inserted lap restraint belt is engaged; and a second slit that extends into the block from the top surface, wherein the second slit extends from the first side surface to the second side surface for accepting a second restraint device and wherein the second slit is further inclined toward the front surface for directing a second compressive force at least toward the backrest of the rear seat when the second restraint device is engaged.