Protector for vehicle occupant

• US 3,941,404 A
• Filed: 02/25/1975
• Issued: 03/02/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jose Maria Otaegui-Ugarte
• Original Assignee: Jose Maria Otaegui-Ugarte
• Inventors: Otaegui-Ugarte, Jose Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodman, Philip
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/553,040
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 280/150 AB, 280/150 B, 280/150 SB, 2/92, 2/DIG. 3, 297/390, 297/389, 297/384, 244/122 B, 244/122 AG
• US Class Current: 280/733
• 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

Abstract

A protective breastplate rigidly attached to the straps of a vehicle seat belt in which fiber reinforced material layers are shaped to form an air-tight, hollow chamber anatomically adapted to the upper thorax and abdomen of a vehicle occupant; a metal mesh lining is provided on the interior of the chamber to prevent pointed objects from piercing the protector, and an air intake valve is attached at the bottom.

Claims

1. A chest protector for a vehicle occupant comprising a substantially flat, hollow air chamber shaped to conform to the thorax and abdomen of the occupant, said chamber having a metal mesh interior lining and a fiber-reinforced exterior covering;

an air valve on said chamber establishing selective communication with the interior of the chamber for supplying pressurized air thereto; and

seat belts to which said air chamber is rigidly secured for protective disposition against the lower chest and abdomen when the belts are buckled about the occupant.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said seat belts include a diagonal shoulder belt having said air chamber as an integral, central portion thereof and having a buckle interposed in the diagonal belt portion below said chamber;

and wherein said seat belts further include a lateral belt extending from a side of said air chamber for attachment to the body and floor of the vehicle.

3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said air valve is disposed in superposition with said diagonal belt portion below said chamber so as to be shielded from the occupant.