Deformable restraint guide for use with child restraint system

• US 20060071535A1
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoon Y. Kim, Hyun S. Kim
• Original Assignee: Hoon Y. Kim, Hyun S. Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Hoon Y., Kim, Hyun S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,401,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/465
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/04 without movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2812 for securing the child to the child seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/286 using deformation of material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/105 for children adaptation of children's seats for seat belts B60N2/265, B60N2/2803
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/14 incorporating enlarged restraint areas, e.g. vests, nets , crash pads, optionally for children crash pads for occupants' safety on vehicles in general B60R21/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/28 incorporating energy-absorbing devices belt anchors provided with energy-absorbing means for protecting the occupants in case of physical contact therewith B60R21/055; belt retractors comprising energy-absorbing means B60R22/341, B60R22/4676

Abstract

Deformable guides for use with smaller persons and/or in a child restraint system are provided. The guides are of at least two varieties, one for inclusion within a belt system, so as to absorb the impact and stresses of a collision or other abrupt vehicular motion and the other of a type useful to guide the restraint system of an automobile about the correct location on a smaller person. The second type permits a smaller individual to be properly secured to a restraint system in spite of his small stature. The guides are made of multiple layers of metal, plastic or other structurally significant materials, or combinations thereof, and designed to receive the energy of a collision such that a guide will deform, without breaking, absorbing the energy of a collision or other abrupt action.

Claims

1. A supplemental restraint system for use in an automobile in association with the seat and shoulder belts of the vehicle comprising:

a vest to be worn by a person within a vehicle; and

at least one guide for attaching the seat and shoulder belts of the vehicle to the vest.

2. The supplemental restraint system of claim 1 wherein the guides are made of layers of metal that can deform under stress.

3. The supplemental restraint system of claim 1, wherein each of one set of the shoulder and seat belts of a vehicle can be attached to the vest by at least one guide.

4. The supplemental restraint system of claim 3, wherein the vest comprises three guides such that the shoulder belt of the vehicle is attached to the vest by one guide and the seat belt of the vehicle is attached to the vest by two guides.

5. The supplemental restraint system of claim 3, wherein the vest comprises four guides such that the shoulder belt of the vehicle is attached to the vest by one guide, the guide being attached to the vest at or near the shoulder, and the seat belt of the vehicle is attached to the vest by two guides, a fourth guide being attached at or near the other shoulder of the vest such that the vest can be warn for use with either the right or left shoulder belt of the vehicle.

6. The supplemental restraint system of claim 1, wherein the guide is comprised of layers of a material having characteristics consistent with a deformable item capable of withstanding the stress of an automobile accident.

7. The supplemental restraint system of claim 6, wherein the guide is composed of plastic.

8. The supplemental restraint system of claim 6, wherein the guide is composed of a metallic alloy.

9. The supplemental restraint system of claim 6, wherein the guide is composed of structural steel.

10. The supplemental restrain system of claim 6, wherein the guide is formed by layers of steel attached together such that when stressed the layers remain attached but become deformed.

11. The supplemental restraint system of claim 6, wherein the layers are made of different materials each having desirable properties such that their combination gives more desirable properties.

12. The supplemental restraint system of claim 1, wherein the guide comprises generally a rectangular shaped member having a first end, for attachment to a belt and a second end for attachment to a belt and intermediate said first and second ends at least one tab for holding and guiding a belt.

13. The supplemental restraint system of claim 12, wherein the guide is comprised of at least two layers, the upper layer defining the at lease one tab.

14. A supplemental restraint system for use in an automobile having a seat belt system, comprising:

a seat belt portion comprising a first anchor portion of belt and a female buckle portion of belt;

a seat belt portion comprising a second anchor portion of belt and a male buckle portion of belt; and

,

at least one guide for insertion between one of said first and second anchor portions and either said respective female buckle portion or said male buckle portion, the other buckle portion being attached directly to its respective anchor portion, such that guide is integrated into the automobile seat belt system.

15. The supplemental restraint system of claim 14, wherein the guide is inserted between both said male buckle portion and said female buckle portion of belt.

16. The supplemental restraint system of claim 14, wherein the guide comprises at least two generally rectangularly shaped elements attached together such that they can deform under stress.

17. The supplemental restraint system of claim 16, wherein the generally rectangular shaped elements are made of metal.

18. The supplemental restraint system of claim 16, wherein the generally rectangular shaped elements are made of plastic.

19. The supplemental restraint system of claim 16, wherein the generally rectangular shaped elements are made of metallic alloys.

20. The supplemental restraint system of claim 16, wherein the layers are made of different materials each having desirable properties such that their combination gives more desirable properties.

21. The supplemental restraint system of claim 14, wherein the system includes shoulder belts of the type having a buckle and an anchor portion, and the guides are placed between a should belt anchor and buckle portion.

22. The supplemental restraint system of claim 16, including a tether for use in association with the seat belt system of the automobile and a child restraint system, including a tether, wherein the guide is inserted within the belt system of a tether such that segments of belt are attached to two sides of said guide.