Vehicle passenger safety devices

• US 7,021,719 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Louise F. Stoll
• Inventors: Stoll, Louise F.
• Primary Examiner(s): White, Rodney B.
• Application Number:
  US10/986,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20050088030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 297/485, 297/484, 297/468, 297/486, 297/487, 297/254, 297/256.15, 297/256.16
• US Class Current: 297/485
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/265 Adaptations for seat belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2803 Adaptations for seat belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2812 for securing the child to the child seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2839 having a front guard or barrier
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2866 booster cushions, e.g. to lift a child to allow proper use of the conventional safety belts
• 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: B64D 11/0612 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/06 Harnessing

Abstract

A vehicle passenger safety device for use on vehicles such as airplanes and automobiles. In each embodiment of the invention, the device includes a seat strap assembly and a body strap assembly that are attached to a back-support portion. The seat strap assembly is adapted to secure the device onto the back-support of the existing vehicle seat. The seat strap assembly, which may include one or both of a horizontal strap and a strap web, rests over the vehicle seat. The body strap assembly is adapted to secure a passenger on the device. The body strap assembly includes a body strap or a crotch strap, or both. The body strap may be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. The device further includes at least one loop to receive the existing seat belt to secure the device. The loop may be part of the back-support portion or the body strap assembly.

Claims

1. A safety device for securing a person on a seat that has a back-support and a seat belt, the device comprising:

a horizontal strap configured to wrap around the back-support of the seat;

two vertical straps, each having a first end and a second end, wherein each of the first ends is attached to the horizontal strap and each of the second ends comprises a loop through which the seat belt is capable of being fed and fastened above the lap of the person, wherein the vertical straps are configured to rest over the person'"'"'s shoulders; and

a strap-holding device attached to the vertical straps at a position substantially above the second end of the vertical straps, wherein the strap-holding device is configured to maintain a predetermined distance between the vertical straps.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the vertical straps is sewn to the horizontal strap at one or more locations.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the strap-holding device is sewn to the vertical straps.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the loops has a hook-and-loop fastener.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the vertical straps are length adjustable.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the strap-holding device and the horizontal strap are length adjustable.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the strap-holding device comprises a fastener.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the strap-holding device comprises a buckle.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the strap-holding device comprises a clip.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the strap-holding device is a fastener.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the seat is a vehicle seat and the seat belt is a lap belt associated with the vehicle seat.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the vehicle is an airplane.

13. A safety device for integrating with a seat that has a back-support and a seat belt to secure a person on the seat, the device comprising:

an upper portion having a horizontal strap configured to wrap around the back-support of the seat;

two vertical straps attached to the upper portion, the vertical straps are configured to extend over the shoulders of the person, the vertical straps comprising a strap-holding device attached to the two vertical straps; and

a lower portion having at least one loop and an extension, wherein the at least one loop is configured to receive the seat belt to secure the safety device to the vehicle seat and the extension is configured to be attached to the horizontal strap and the strap-holding device.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the seat is a vehicle seat and the seat belt is a lap belt associated with the vehicle seat.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is an airplane.

16. A safety device for integrating with a seat that has a back-support and a seat belt to secure a person to the seat, the device comprising:

an upper portion having a horizontal strap configured to wrap around the back-support of the seat;

a middle portion extending downwardly from the upper portion having two vertical straps and a strap-holding device, the strap-holding device is configured to releasably connect the vertical straps, wherein the vertical straps are extending downwardly from and attached to the horizontal strap and the strap-holding device is attached along the two vertical straps; and

a lower portion attached to a bottom end of the vertical straps and having at least one loop, wherein the at least one loop is configured to receive the seat belt to secure the device to the seat.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the seat is a vehicle seat and the seat belt is a lap belt associated with the vehicle seat.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the vehicle is an airplane.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the strap-holding device is length adjustable.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the strap-holding device comprises one or more of a clip, a buckle, and a fastener.