Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-08
2001-04-10
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S808000, C296S068100, C297S468000, C297S482000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213508
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a safety device for use in conjunction with a conventional three-point harness or shoulder belt now utilized in most vehicles, such as automobiles and the like.
2. Background Art
There is widespread use of, and requirement of use of, conventional three-point harnesses or shoulder belts in most vehicles such as automobiles and the like. Such harnesses or shoulder belts are conventionally attached to vertically-spaced first and second mounting points on the vehicle's framework, such as a reinforced post and the like. The opposed terminal belt ends are attached to these mounting points and a fastener is provided upon the intermediate run of belt such that the belt may be drawn across one's shoulder and chest and affixed on the other side of the seat to a third vehicle mounting point. In addition, some mechanism to allow the belt to be gradually played out and frictionally withdrawn to provide a comfortable yet snug belt fit upon the user in a seated position upon the vehicle seat while additionally providing for fixed restraint during an emergency, such as a vehicle accident. The general intention of such belts is to prevent the vehicle's occupants from being thrown forward during a frontal vehicle crash. Such belts have met with remarkable success for such purpose.
There are, however, a number of accident types which, instead of subjecting the driver or passengers to a forward motion, subject them to motion that includes at least rearward force such that the vehicle's occupants, particularly those sitting in the front seats, are thrown rearward and injured as a result thereof. Strongly reinforced vehicle front seat backs in most cases could prevent the rearward motion of the front seat occupants, but such added restructure is costly and involved and may interfere with the operation of the seat backs which afford access to the rear seats to provide desirable tilting movement thereto. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide some means by which passengers and vehicle drivers are prevented from being physically thrown rearward during such accidents.
While there are some devices that provide back support or restraint to vehicle occupants or operators, especially bicycles and motorcycles and the like, none of these devices is especially adapted to or particularly useful with the standard three-point shoulder belt or harness provided in modern vehicles. Examples of such prior art devices are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 482,271, U.S. Pat. No. 558,019, U.S. Pat. No. 2,663,031, U.S. Pat. No. 2,960,180, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,166. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,048, U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,468, U.S. Pat. No. 3,233,941, U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,404, U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,965, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,229.
BROAD DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the invention is to provide a device for use in association with a conventional three-point safety harness which restrains rearward movement of the vehicle occupants in a straightforward, efficient yet low cost manner. Another object of the invention is the provision of such a device which additionally provides for occupant back support in the form of supplementary pillow or pad which can be additionally inflated and deflated. A further objective of the present invention is a device which can be used either in combination with a three-point shoulder harness to provide for added back support of the vehicle occupant seats especially the front seats thereof. Other objects and advantages of the invention are set out herein or are obvious here from to one skilled in the art. The objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by the device of the invention.
The device of the invention dealing with the three-point safety harness is meant primarily for use with adults and with children weighing at least 70 to 80 pounds.
The invention involves a device which is used in combination with a vehicle seat restraint of the type known as a three-point shoulder belt. The three-point shoulder belt has a first unitary belt including opposed first and second terminal ends which are in turn respectively fixedly attached to a first vehicle mounting point above the user's shoulder and a second vehicle mounting point below the user's lap when the user is normally seated upon the vehicle seat. Both of the first and second mounting points are located on one side of the seat. The first belt includes a first fastener segment mounted thereon and through which the first belt is adapted to run freely. The first fastener segment is attached to the vehicle at a third vehicle mounting point located proximate to the seat and on the opposite side thereof from which the first and second vehicle mounting points are located such that the belt is restrained at three points when the first fastener segment is releasably attached to the third vehicle mount point in the normal use position of the three-point shoulder belt. The third vehicle mount point is usually a post comprised of a flat, rigid material. The device comprises a second belt having first and second terminal ends and first and second intermediate runs. The first terminal end of the second belt is fixedly attached to the first belt at a position proximate to the seat on the same side thereof as the first and second vehicle mounting points. The second belt passes across the seat and in back of the user. The second terminal end of the second belt is fixedly attached to the third vehicle mounting point below the first fastener segment. The first and second intermediate runs of the second belt are adjustedly affixed together. The second belt is in a use position so as to restrain the user from rearward motion as during a vehicle accident.
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Fisher Christen & Sabol
Mai Lanna
Seatbelt Partners Corporation
To Toan C
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