Restraint harnesses and associated methods of use and manufacture

• US 8,777,323 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2011
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Merrill, David T., Walton, Michael J., Estrada, Zulma Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODEN JR, BARRY J
• Application Number:
  US13/187,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20120019043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 297/464, 297/465, 297/468, 297/474, 297/480, 297/483, 297/484, 297/486, 280/748, 280/801.1, 280/801.2, 280/806, 280/807, 280/808, 180/268, 180/271, 180/274, 180/282
• US Class Current: 297/484
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 35/0006 Harnesses; Accessories therefor
• 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 25/06 Harnessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Various embodiments of restraint harnesses for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, for example, a restraint harness can include a first shoulder web, a second shoulder web, and a torso web. A first end portion of the torso web can include a buckle that is configured to engage a connector at a second, opposite end portion of the torso web. The restraint harness can further include first and second portions of a stiffening material attached to first and second portions of the first and second shoulder webs, respectively. The stiffening material can form the first and second shoulder webs into preformed openings with inverted U-like shapes.

Claims

1. A restraint system, comprising:

a first shoulder web having a first end portion opposite a second end portion;

a second shoulder web having a first end portion opposite a second end portion;

a torso web coupled to the first and second end portions of the first and second shoulder webs, wherein a first end portion of the torso web is coupled to a buckle configured to engage a connector coupled to a second, opposite end portion of the torso web;

a first portion of a stiffening material attached to a first portion of the first shoulder web;

a second portion of the stiffening material attached to a second portion of the second shoulder web, wherein the stiffening material forms the first and second shoulder webs into preformed openings with inverted U-shapes;

a tail web coupled to the torso web, the tail web having an end fitting configured to releasably engage an engagement feature on a vehicle; and

a retainer clip having an engagement feature, wherein the engagement feature of the retainer clip includes an opening configured to receive the end fitting and at least two opposing protrusions extending into the opening, and wherein the engagement feature of the retainer clip is configured to releasably retain the end fitting between the at least two opposing protrusions.

2. The restraint system of claim 1 wherein the stiffening material comprises at least one of spring steel, foam, molded plastic, formed metal pieces, layers of webbing, and structural sewing.

3. The restraint system of claim 1 wherein the first and second shoulder webs each include an outer layer of webbing substantially enclosing the stiffening material.

4. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein the encasement feature of the retainer clip is a first engagement feature, and wherein the end fitting is configured to releasably engage a second engagement feature on the vehicle proximate a turret gunner position.

5. The restraint system of claim 1 wherein the engagement feature further comprises a spring portion extending at least partially between the at least two opposing protrusions.

6. A restraint system, comprising:

a first shoulder web having a first end portion opposite a second end portion;

a second shoulder web having a first end portion opposite a second end portion;

a torso web coupled to the first and second end portions of the first and second shoulder webs, wherein a first end portion of the torso web is coupled to a buckle configured to engage a connector coupled to a second, opposite end portion of the torso web;

a first portion of a stiffening material attached to a first portion of the first shoulder web;

a second portion of the stiffening material attached to a second portion of the second shoulder web, wherein the stiffening material forms the first and second shoulder webs into preformed openings with inverted U-shapes;

a tail web coupled to the torso web, the tail web having an end fitting configured to releasably engage an engagement feature on a vehicle; and

a retainer clip attached to at least one of the first shoulder web, the second shoulder web, and the torso web, wherein the retainer clip includes a magnet configured to releasably retain the end fitting.

7. The restraint system of claim 6 wherein the first and second portions of the stiffening material are configured to facilitate insertion of a wearer'"'"'s arms into the preformed openings.

8. The restraint system of claim 6, further comprising:

a back web between the first and second shoulder webs, wherein the first and second shoulder webs and the back web form an opening; and

a back panel substantially covering the opening.

9. The restraint system of claim 6, further comprising:

a first identifying feature on the first shoulder web and on a portion of the torso web proximate to the first shoulder web; and

a second identifying feature on the second shoulder web and on a portion of the torso web proximate to the second shoulder web, wherein the second identifying feature is different from the first identifying feature.

10. A restraint system, comprising:

a first shoulder web having a first end portion opposite a second end portion;

a second shoulder web having a first end portion opposite a second end portion;

a torso web coupled to the first and second end portions of the first and second shoulder webs, wherein a first end portion of the torso web is coupled to a buckle configured to engage a connector coupled to a second, opposite end portion of the torso web;

a first portion of a stiffening material attached to a first portion of the first shoulder web;

a second portion of the stiffening material attached to a second portion of the second shoulder web, wherein the stiffening material forms the first and second shoulder webs into preformed openings with inverted U-shapes;

a tail web extending from the torso web, wherein the tail web includes an end fitting configured to releasably engage an engagement feature on a vehicle;

a back web between the first and second shoulder webs, wherein the first and second shoulder webs and the back web form an opening;

a back panel substantially covering the opening, wherein the back panel comprises a mesh material;

a retainer clip having an engagement feature and an attachment feature, wherein the engagement feature of the retainer clip is configured to releasably retain the end fitting, and wherein the attachment feature is configured to mount the retainer clip on at least one of the first shoulder web, the second shoulder web, and the torso web;

a first identifying feature on the first shoulder web and on a portion of the torso web proximate to the first shoulder web;

a second identifying feature on the second shoulder web and on a portion of the torso web proximate to the second shoulder web, wherein the first identifying feature is different from the second identifying feature; and

wherein the stiffening material comprises spring steel.

11. A restraint system, comprising:

a first shoulder web configured to receive a right shoulder of a wearer, wherein a portion of the first shoulder web includes a first portion of a stiffening material, and wherein the stiffening material is configured to preform the first shoulder web into a shape substantially corresponding to a shape the first shoulder web takes when in use;

a second shoulder web configured to receive a left shoulder of the wearer, wherein a portion of the second shoulder web comprises a second portion of the stiffening material, wherein the stiffening material is configured to preform the second shoulder web into a shape substantially corresponding to a shape the second shoulder web takes when in use;

a torso web coupled to distal end portions of the first and second shoulder webs, wherein the torso web is configured to releasably engage around a portion of the wearer'"'"'s torso;

a tail web coupled to the torso web, the tail web having an end fitting configured to releasably engage a portion of a vehicle; and

a retainer clip having an engagement feature, wherein the engagement feature includes an opening configured to receive the end fitting and at least two opposing protrusions extending into the opening, and wherein the engagement feature of the retainer clip is configured to releasably retain the end fitting between the opposing protrusions.

12. The restraint system of claim 11 wherein the stiffening material comprises at least one of spring steel, foam, molded plastic, formed metal pieces, additional layers of webbing, and structural sewing.

13. The restraint system of claim 11 wherein the end fitting of the tail web is configured to releasably engage a feature proximate a turret gunner position of the vehicle.

14. The restraint system of claim 11 wherein the retainer clip has an attachment feature configured to mount the retainer clip to an easily accessibly portion of the restraint system.

15. The restraint system of claim 11, further comprising:

a back web; and

a back panel positioned between the back web and the first and second shoulder webs.

16. The restraint system of claim 11, further comprising identifying features on the first and second shoulder webs, wherein the identifying features are configured to distinguish the first shoulder web from the second shoulder web.

17. A method of making a restraint harness, comprising:

attaching a first portion of a stiffening material to a first portion of a first shoulder web, wherein the stiffening material shapes the first portion of the first shoulder web into an inverted U-shape to define a first preformed opening;

attaching a second portion of the stiffening material to a second portion of a second shoulder web, wherein the stiffening material shapes the second portion of the second shoulder web into an inverted U-shape to define a second preformed opening; and

attaching the first and second shoulder webs to a torso web, the torso web having a buckle at a first distal end portion and a connector at a second distal end portion, wherein the buckle is configured to engage the connector,

wherein the step of attaching the first and second portions of the stiffening material to the respective first and second portions of the respective first and second shoulder webs further comprises integrating a spring steel through the first and second portions of the first and second shoulder webs.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein:

the step of attaching the first portion of the stiffening material to the first portion of the first shoulder web comprises enclosing the stiffening material with a first outer layer of webbing; and

the step of attaching the second portion of the stiffening material to the second portion of the second shoulder web comprises enclosing the stiffening material with a second outer layer of webbing.

19. A method of making a restraint harness, comprising:

attaching a first portion of a stiffening material to a first portion of a first shoulder web, wherein the stiffening material shapes the first portion of the first shoulder web into an inverted U-shape to define a first preformed opening;

attaching a second portion of the stiffening material to a second portion of a second shoulder web, wherein the stiffening material shapes the second portion of the second shoulder web into an inverted U-shape to define a second preformed opening;

attaching the first and second shoulder webs to a torso web, the torso web having a buckle at a first distal end portion and a connector at a second distal end portion, wherein the buckle is configured to engage the connector;

attaching a tail web to at least one of the torso web, the first shoulder web, and the second shoulder web, the tail web having an end fitting configured to engage an engagement feature of a vehicle; and

attaching a retainer clip to at least one of the first shoulder web, the second shoulder web, and the torso web, wherein the retainer clip includes an engagement feature configured to releasably retain the end fitting.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

attaching a back web between the first and second shoulder webs, wherein the first and second shoulder webs and the back web form an opening; and

positioning a back panel at least substantially over the opening.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

attaching a first identifying feature to the first shoulder web and on a first portion of the torso web proximate to the first shoulder web; and

attaching a second identifying feature on the second shoulder web and on a second portion of the torso web proximate to the second shoulder web, wherein the first identifying feature is different from the second identifying feature.