Vehicle sleeper restraint

• US 5,375,879 A
• Filed: 08/10/1993
• Issued: 12/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Williams, Jeffry L., Freeman, Keith H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hill, Mitchell J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US08/104,855
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 280/748, 280/749, 280/801.1, 297/487, 297/464, 297/468, 297/481, 5/424, 5/425, 5/118, 5/9.1, 296/24.1, 296/190
• US Class Current: 280/749
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4249 fixed structures, i.e. where neither the seat nor a part thereof are displaced during a crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0034 lying down
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/06 Safety nets, transparent sheets, curtains, or the like, e.g. between occupants and glass B60R21/026 , B60R21/11, B60R21/12, B60R21/16 take precedence

Abstract

A collapsible occupant restraint system for a vehicle sleeper. A net is fixedly mounted to a web framework. The framework is slidably mounted to a plurality of webs extendable and retractable by retracting devices. The net and webbing is extendable from a stored collapsed position to an in use position over a bed having buckles to lockingly engage a plurality of tongues mounted to the framework securing the occupant restraint system in the in use position. A pair of side belts pull the net upwardly increasing the passenger reclining space.

Claims

1. An occupant restraint system for a passenger reclining on a support in a vehicle comprising:

a plurality of flexible frame elements having proximal ends fixedly mounted to the vehicle and further having distal ends, said elements having a stored position and an in use position;

first fastening means mounted to said distal ends of said frame elements;

second fastening means mounted to said vehicle with said support located between said first fastening means and said second fastening means when said elements are in said stored position, said first fastening means and said second fastening means operable to releasably lock together when said flexible frame elements are moved above and across said support from said stored position to said in use position and said first fastening means and said second fastening means are engaged together;

a plurality of webs having said elements slidably mounted thereto and having distal ends secured to said first fastening means and further having proximal ends;

restraining means fixedly mounted to said elements; and

,

web retraction means mounted to the vehicle and having said proximal ends of said webs mounted thereto, said web retraction means operable to retract said webs when said first fastening means and said second fastening means are separated with said restraining means sliding with said elements on said webs and collapsing into said stored position.

2. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:

tent expansion means secured to said restraining means, said tent expansion means operable to pull said restraining means away from said support to maximize space therebetween.

3. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:

a plurality of cross frame supports attached to said frame elements forming a framework upon which said restraining means is mounted; and

,

a cover frame mounted atop said restraining means and attached to said framework securing said restraining means therebetween.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein:

said framework includes a plurality of loops through which said webs freely extend slidably mounting said framework with said restraining means to said webs.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein:

said restraining means is a net.

6. An occupant restraint system for a passenger reclining on a support comprising:

a foldable frame having a proximal end portion in a fixed position and a distal end portion movable therefrom;

a net mounted fixedly to said frame and foldable therewith in a stored position and unfolded in an in use position over a support;

a retraction device;

a retracting web having a proximal end mounted to said retraction device with said web extendable and retractable therefrom, said web further having a distal end affixed to said distal end portion of said frame;

a loop fixedly mounted to said frame with said web extending freely therethrough;

a first lock device mounted to said distal end portion of said frame; and

,

a second lock device mounted to said support releasably lockable to said first lock device and operable to hold said frame, net and web in an unfolded condition over said support when locked.

7. The occupant restraint system of claim 6 wherein:

said foldable frame includes a plurality of flexible bottom webs and a plurality of flexible upper webs secured together with said net affixed therebetween.

8. The occupant restraint system of claim 7 and further comprising:

a belt affixed to said frame and extendable upwardly over said support to pull said frame and net apart from said support increasing space therebetween.

9. The occupant restraint system of claim 8 wherein:

said bottom webs include first webs positioned lengthwise on said frame and second webs positioned widthwise across said frame with said first webs and said second webs secured together.

10. The occupant restraint system of claim 9 and further comprising:

a plurality of retraction devices; and

,

a plurality of retracting webs having proximal ends mounted to said retraction devices with said retracting webs extendable and retractable therefrom, said retracting webs further having distal ends affixed to said distal end portion of said frame; and

whereby;

said second webs extend outwardly of said first webs and are doubled back forming a plurality of loops throughwhich said retracting webs extend freely therethrough.

11. The occupant restraint system of clam 10 wherein:

said plurality of retracting webs include a middle retracting web having a proximal end mounted to one of said retraction devices with said middle retracting web extendable and retractable therefrom, said middle retracting web further having a distal end affixed to said distal end portion of said frame; and

wherein;

said upper webs and said bottom webs are spaced apart from said middle retracting web forming a loop through which said middle retracting web extends freely therethrough.

12. An occupant restraint for use with a bed in a truck cab comprising:

foldable frame means having a proximal end portion mounted to said cab and a distal end portion movable therefrom;

restraining means mounted fixedly to said frame means and foldable therewith in a stored position and unfolded in am in use position over said bed;

retraction means mounted to said cab;

web means having a proximal end mounted to said retraction means with said web means extendable and retractable therefrom, said web means further having a distal end affixed to said distal end portion of said frame means;

guide means fixedly mounted to said frame means with said web means extending freely therethrough;

first lack means mounted to said distal end portion of said frame means; and

,

second lock means mounted in said cab on a side of said bed oppositely of said retraction means, said second lack means operable to releasably lock to said first lock means and hold said frame means, restraining means and web means in an unfolded condition over said bed.

13. The occupant restraint of claim 12 wherein:

said foldable frame means is flexible and includes a plurality of flexible webs secured together upon which said restraining means is mounted, said restraining means includes a net.

14. The occupant restraint of claim 13 and further comprising:

tent expansion means mounted to said cab and connected to said frame means operable to pull said frame means and said restraining means upwardly from said bed to increase the space between said bed and said restraining means.

15. The occupant restraint of claim 14 wherein:

said guide means includes a plurality of loops on said frame means with said web means threadedly and slidably extending therethrough.