Safety restraint for a horizontal passenger

• US 6,217,069 B1
• Filed: 04/12/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Palvannanathan Ganesan
• Original Assignee: Palvannanathan Ganesan
• Inventors: Ganesan, Palvannanathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/289,856
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.1, 280/801.2, 280/748, 280/749, 297/468, 297/483, 297/486, 296/190.02, 511/8, 542/4, 128/875, 128/876
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0034 lying down
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/207 Horizontally or transversally adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/001 Knee, leg or head belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/02 Semi-passive restraint systems, e.g. systems applied or removed automatically but not both ; Manual restraint systems knee, leg or head belts B60R22/001; devices for releasing in an emergency, remote or automatic unbuckling devices B60R22/32
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

The present device provides a plurality of belts to restrain a horizontal passenger within a vehicle. In its preferred embodiment, a diagonal belt is secured to the vehicle proximal the side of the sleeping surface near the hips of the passenger. Where the passenger is lying on his back, the diagonal belt extends toward the shoulder of the passenger and is in contact with the back of the passenger. It is looped over the shoulder and passes over the chest of the passenger. It is then secured to the vehicle proximal the hips of the passenger. The passenger may lie on his side or chest, as well. The restraint also includes two belts positioned transverse to the sleeping surface. The transverse belts may wrap around the sleeping surface; may be secured proximal one side of the sleeping surface and secured proximal the opposite side of the sleeping surface, extending over the sleeping surface; or may be positioned entirely above the sleeping surface. The first transverse belt extends over the chest and under the arms of the passenger; the second transverse belt extends over the thighs of the passenger. The safety restraint comfortably protects a horizontal passenger from forces that may be applied from any direction.

Claims

1. In combination:

a vehicle having a sleeping surface with an upper surface and a length along which a passenger may lie in a horizontal position;

a safety restraint for the horizontal passenger;

said safety restraint comprising;

a first belt having first and second ends, said first belt being operatively secured to the vehicle and positioned transverse to the length of the sleeping surface and having means for adjusting the length thereof;

a second belt having first and second ends, said second belt being operatively secured to the vehicle and located distally from the first belt along the length of the sleeping surface, said second belt positioned transverse to the length of the sleeping surface and having means for adjusting the length thereof; and

a third belt having first and second ends, said third belt being operatively secured to the vehicle having means for adjusting the length thereof and positioned diagonally in relation to the length of the sleeping surface and also positioned on the upper surface of the sleeping surface;

said first belt being adapted to be secured over the chest of the passenger;

said second belt being adapted to be secured over the thighs of the passenger;

said third belt being adapted to be secured over the shoulder of the passenger;

said sleeping surface including a side edge thereof and said third belt being mounted on the vehicle proximal the side edge of the sleeping surface and for positioning proximal the hips of the passenger at said first end thereof, further comprising a third latching means mounted on a second end of said third belt, and a third receiving means mounted on the vehicle for positioning proximal the hips of the passenger, said third latching means being releasably attachable to said third receiving means.

2. The safety restraint of claim 1 wherein said third receiving means is mounted on the vehicle proximal said second end of said third belt.

3. The safety restraint of claim 1 wherein the sleeping surface includes an opposite side edge and said third receiving means is mounted on the vehicle proximal the opposite edge and transverse said second end of said third belt.

4. The safety restraint of claim 1 wherein the sleeping surface has an accessible underside further comprising a first latching means mounted on a first end of said first belt, a first receiving means mounted on a second end of said first belt, a second latching means mounted on a first end of said second belt, and a second receiving means mounted on a second end of said second belt, said first latching means being releasably attachable to said first receiving means, said second latching means being releasably attachable to said second receiving means, said first and second belts adapted to encircle the sleeping surface.

5. The safety restraint of claim 4 wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of fixed brackets positioned along the length of the sleeping surface proximal the side edge thereof, each of said first and second belts being positioned in one of said brackets.

6. The safety restraint of claim 5 wherein the plurality of fixed brackets are mounted on an elongated member, the elongated member being mounted on the vehicle.

7. The safety restraint of claim 4 wherein the vehicle includes an elongated member mounted proximal the sleeping surface and parallel to the length of the sleeping surface, further comprising first and second brackets adjustably mounted on the elongated member and adapted to retain a belt thereon, each of said first and second brackets having securing means for selectively fixing said bracket to a desired position on the elongated member.

8. The safety restraint of claim 1 wherein the sleeping surface has a side edge and an opposite side edge, wherein said first and second belts are mounted on vehicle at first ends thereof proximal the side edge, further comprising a first latching means mounted on a second end of said first belt, first receiving means mounted on the vehicle proximal the opposite side edge and transverse said first end of said first belt, a second latching means mounted on a second end of said second belt, and second receiving means mounted on the vehicle proximal the opposite side edge and transverse said first end of said second belt, said first latching means being releasably attachable to said first receiving means, said second latching means being releasably attachable to said second receiving means.

9. The safety restraint of claim 8 wherein the vehicle includes a first elongated member parallel to the length of the sleeping surface and mounted proximal the side edge and a second elongated member parallel to the length of the sleeping surface and mounted proximal the opposite side edge further comprising first and second brackets adjustably mounted on the first elongated member, said first end of said first belt being mounted on said first bracket, said first end of said second belt being mounted on said second bracket, a nd first and second opposing brackets adjustably mounted on said second elongated member, said first receiving means being mounted on said first opposing bracket, said second receiving means being mounted on said second opposing bracket, each of said first and second brackets having securing means for selectively fixing said bracket to a desired position on the first elongated member and each of said first and second opposing brackets having securing means for selectively fixing said opposing bracket to a desired position on the second elongated member.

10. The safety restraint of claim 9 further comprising a third bracket adjustably mounted on the first elongated member between said first and second brackets, said third bracket having securing means for fixing said third bracket on said first elongated member at a desired position, said third belt being mounted on said third bracket.

11. The safety restraint of claim 9 wherein said third belt is mounted on said second belt.

12. The safety restraint of claim 9 wherein said third belt is mounted on said second bracket.

13. The safety restraint of claim 1 wherein the sleeping surface has a side edge an wherein said first and second belts are mounted on the vehicle at first ends thereof proximal the side edge, further comprising a first latching means mounted on a second end of said first belt, a first receiving means mounted on the vehicle proximal the side edge and said first end of said first belt, a second latching means mounted on a second end of said first belt, a second receiving means mounted on the vehicle proximal the side edge and said first end of said second belt, said first latching means being releasably attachable to said first receiving means, said second latching means being releasably attachable to said second receiving means.

14. The safety restraint of claim 13 wherein the vehicle includes an elongated member parallel to the length of the sleeping surface and mounted proximal said side edge, further comprising first and second brackets adjustably mounted on the first elongated member, said first end of said first belt and said first receiving means being mounted on said first bracket, said first end of said second belt and said second receiving means being mounted on said second bracket, each of said first and second brackets having securing means for selectively fixing said bracket to a desired position on the elongated member.

15. The safety restraint of claim 14 further comprising a third bracket adjustably mounted on the elongated member between said first and second brackets, said third bracket having securing means for fixing said third bracket on the elongated member at a desired position, said third belt being mounted on said third bracket.

16. The safety restraint of claim 14 wherein said third belt is mounted on said second belt.

17. The safety restraint of claim 14 where in s aid third belt is mounted on said second bracket.