Abstract: A passenger restraint system for a vehicle is disclosed. Embodiments provide an automatic release mechanism to automatically lift a restraint bar in the event of a rear-end collision, thereby reducing the risk of occupants getting rammed by the safety bar due to seat deflection from the seat in front of the occupant. A linkage is connected between the seat and an interior surface of the vehicle, such as wall or floor. During a rear-end collision, occupants are pushed back into their seats, and depending on the force of the impact, the seats will deflect rearward. The linkage is coupled to a lifting mechanism, such that when the seat back deflects during a collision, tension in the linkage operates to lift the restraint bar, thereby reducing the risk of injury for occupants sitting in the seat behind the restraining bar, such as in a school bus, for example.

Abstract: A passenger restraint system for a vehicle is disclosed. Embodiments provide an automatic release mechanism to automatically lift a restraint bar in the event of a rear-end collision, thereby reducing the risk of occupants getting rammed by the safety bar due to seat deflection from the seat in front of the occupant. A linkage is connected between the seat and an interior surface of the vehicle, such as wall or floor. During a rear-end collision, occupants are pushed back into their seats, and depending on the force of the impact, the seats will deflect rearward. The linkage is coupled to a lifting mechanism, such that when the seat back deflects during a collision, tension in the linkage operates to lift the restraint bar, thereby reducing the risk of injury for occupants sitting in the seat behind the restraining bar, such as in a school bus, for example.

Abstract: A restraining device for use with bench seats of the type used in school buses, wherein the restraining bar is attached to a forward seat to restrain passengers in the rearward seat directly behind the forward seat. The device includes a hinge plate mounted on the frame of the forward seat presenting a profiled cam with a generally arcuate rear face having an upper limit position, a lower limit position, and a locking lower position. The plate means has a pivot pin on the outside of said plate. A restraining bar is provided with a restraining support sized to be positioned across the waist of passengers seated in the rearward seat. The restraining bar has an arm at each end of said support and extends to the frame of the forward seat. The arm has a slot sized to receive the pivot pin of the hinge plate.