Engageable With Both Shoulders Of Occupant Patents (Class 297/484)
  • Patent number: 8752895
    Abstract: A child restraint includes a juvenile seat and a child-restraint harness coupled to the juvenile seat. The juvenile seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back extending upwardly from the seat bottom. The juvenile seat also includes a headrest mounted for up-and-down movement on the seat back relative to the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Ward A. Fritz, Andrew W. Marsden, Walter S. Bezaniuk, Joseph D. Langley, Eric Hyman
  • Patent number: 8702177
    Abstract: The shoulder and waist harness for use with a wheelchair includes a horizontal belt that extends around both the torso of an occupant and a seat back of a wheelchair. A pair of shoulder straps attaches to a rear portion of the horizontal belt, and extend vertically up and over the seat back as well as shoulders of an occupant. A front end of each shoulder strap secures to a portion comprising a front cover located at a front portion of the restraining harness. The front cover being comprised of a front member and a rear member that include a nylon hook or loop strip so as to secure to one another. A shoulder strap and corresponding side of the horizontal belt is affixed to the front member, and an opposing shoulder strap and corresponding side are affixed to the rear member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Inventor: Sherry L. Hogue
  • Publication number: 20140103697
    Abstract: A child restraint harness includes first and second shoulder straps, a first chest clip connector held with the first shoulder strap and having an engaging part, and a second chest clip connector held with the second shoulder strap and having a catch structure. The engaging part is operable to engage and lock with the catch structure selectively at a first position to hold the first and second shoulder straps apart from each other at a first distance, and at a second position to hold the first and second shoulder straps apart from each other at a second distance greater than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: BP Children's Products HK Co., Limited
    Inventors: Kyle S. MASON, James M.F. HUTCHINSON
  • Patent number: 8690188
    Abstract: A restraint seat for use in vehicles with restraint systems having inflation devices is disclosed; the seat has a seat body housing, a seat body attachment means for securing the seat to a vehicle seat assembly, the seat body means securable to the seat body and a child restraint harness affixed to the seat body housing for restraining a child. The child restraint harness includes one or more inflatable belts. The harness is connectable to the vehicle restraint system which includes an inflation device, wherein the actuation of the vehicle inflation device inflates the one or more inflatable belts of the child seat. The harness further has a tongue for connecting the harness of the child seat to the buckle of the vehicle restraint system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis M Fiore
  • Patent number: 8684414
    Abstract: A multi-point seat restraint system configured to provide restraint for a passenger superposed a seat in a supine position. The multi-point seat restraint system includes a plurality of upper belts having a first end anchored behind the seat back of the associated seat. A junction bar is further included wherein the junction bar is configured to releasably secure the upper belts proximate the second end of the plurality of upper belts. The junction bar further includes a first belt portion and a second belt portion integrally secured thereto. The first belt portion and second belt portion and configured to be releasably secured to a first lower belt and a second lower belt. The first lower belt and second lower belt are retractably mounted to the floorboard of the vehicle. In an alternative embodiment of the second lower belt, the second lower belt includes a first portion and a second portion being angularly mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Terri McBride
  • Patent number: 8678512
    Abstract: A high chair has a chair device and a fastener device. The fastener device is connected with the chair device and has a main body, a button and a button elastic member. The main body has a buckle recess formed in the main body and having an open side. The button is capable of retracting or protruding relative to a bottom of the buckle recess. The button elastic member is mounted in the main body and presses against the button. To push and pull the button allows a belt buckle to be easily taken out from and inserted into the buckle recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventor: Kun Wang
  • Publication number: 20140070597
    Abstract: The object to provide a child safety seat with which the user is able to restrain and fasten a child in a child safety seat in a optimal way is solved by the child safety seat with the five point harness according to the invention comprises a two tongue buckle, whereby the two tongue buckle comprises guiding means through which webbing is guided and the webbing comprises stopping means to allow a predetermined length of webbing to run through the guiding means and retracting means operatively connected to at least one part of the webbing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Iain Powell, David Shaun Carine
  • Publication number: 20140042793
    Abstract: A restraint seat for use in vehicles with restraint systems having inflation devices is disclosed; the seat has a seat body housing, a seat body attachment means for securing the seat to a vehicle seat assembly, the seat body means securable to the seat body and a child restraint harness affixed to the seat body housing for restraining a child. The child restraint harness includes one or more inflatable belts. The harness is connectable to the vehicle restraint system which includes an inflation device, wherein the actuation of the vehicle inflation device inflates the one or more inflatable belts of the child seat. The harness further has a tongue for connecting the harness of the child seat to the buckle of the vehicle restraint system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Francis M. Fiore
  • Patent number: 8632131
    Abstract: Tensioning apparatuses for occupant restraint systems and associated systems and methods. In one embodiment, an occupant restraint system for a vehicle can include a flexible web configured to extend across at least a portion of an occupant seated in the vehicle and an electrically actuated web retractor operably coupled to a proximal end portion of the web. The web retractor is configured to automatically wind and unwind the web. The system also includes an acceleration sensor operably coupled to the electrically actuated web retractor. The acceleration sensor is configured to send an electrical signal to the web retractor in response to a vehicle acceleration above a preset magnitude. In response to the signal, the web retractor is configured to (a) retract the web, and/or (b) at least temporarily prevent the web from moving inwardly or outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: AmSafe, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Humbert
  • Publication number: 20140008960
    Abstract: A harness retainer for use with a juvenile vehicle seat in accordance with the present disclosure may include a first belt mount that couples to a first harness belt, a second belt mount that couples to a second harness belt and couples to the first belt mount, and a lock that moves from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration, wherein the lock moves from the locked configuration, blocking movement of the first belt mount away from the second belt mount, to the unlocked configuration, allowing movement of the first belt mount away from the second belt mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Meihui Lin, Paul D. Gaudreau, JR.
  • Patent number: 8622478
    Abstract: A child safety seat has a seat back with an upper end, a back side, and a front facing side. A harness system has a pair of safety straps each with a back portion on the back side and a shoulder strap portion on the front facing side. A router is on the back side and has a fixed upper guide, a fixed lower guide spaced below the upper guide, and a slider vertically movable therebetween. The back portions are routed from the respective shoulder strap portions through the slider, up to the upper guide, down to the lower guide, and back up to the slider. The slider is vertically adjustable between a raised position and a lowered position and determines the height of the shoulder strap portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventor: Scott R. Spence
  • Patent number: 8608246
    Abstract: A safety belt holder for holding a safety belt out of a seat associated with the safety belt, the safety belt holder comprising a first part and a second part. The first part comprises an attachment device for attaching the first part to a structure adjacent the seat, a body attached to the attachment device, and a connector first side attached to or embedded within the body. The second part is attachable to the safety belt and comprises a connector second side, which is removably attachable to the connector first side. In particular, the safety belt holder is suitable for use with an infant car seat with a five-point harness and a retractable handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: Adam Teague
  • Patent number: 8550567
    Abstract: A seat for children intended to be installed in a vehicle, in particular an automobile, comprising a seat bottom, a seat back, and a headrest, the headrest is mobile in translation relatively to the seat back between a lost position and a high position. The seat includes a child-restraint harness intended to maintain a child seated in the seat and configured to include two shoulder straps, each of the shoulder straps carrying a strap-receiving pad adapted to contact a child seated on the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard M Biaud
  • Patent number: 8534756
    Abstract: A child car seat includes a seat body, a headrest connected to the seat body, a seat belt disposed on the seat body, and a shoulder pad unit. The shoulder pad unit includes a shoulder pad connected to the seat belt, and a connecting strap interconnecting the shoulder pad and the headrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
    Inventor: Guang-Hui Zhao
  • Patent number: 8517467
    Abstract: A child restraint includes a juvenile seat and a child-restraint harness coupled to the juvenile seat. The juvenile seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back extending upwardly from the seat bottom. The juvenile seat also includes a headrest mounted for up-and-down movement on the seat back relative to the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Ward Fritz, Andrew W. Marsden, Walter S. Bezaniuk, Joe Langley, Eric Hyman
  • Patent number: 8500200
    Abstract: A child safety seat includes an inner member, an outer member, and a support frame. The inner member has a seat part and a backrest part that extends upwardly from a rear end and lateral ends of the seat part. The outer member has a rear portion that is disposed behind the backrest part of the inner member, and a front portion that extends from a periphery of the rear portion and that is coupled to the inner member. The support frame includes a first subframe unit that is disposed behind and adjacent to the inner member and that is connected to the outer member, and a second subframe unit that extends between the inner and outer members from the first subframe unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
    Inventors: Zheng-Wen Guo, Zong-Wang Cui
  • Patent number: 8469400
    Abstract: Various embodiments of seat harness pretensioning devices for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a seat unit for use in a military land vehicle or helicopter includes a stroking device that enables the seat to move downwardly in response to an explosion or hard landing, respectively. The seat unit also includes a seat belt or harness that extends around the occupant in the seat. Downward movement of the seat in response to an explosion or hard landing causes a tensioning system to automatically pretension the seat harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Phoenix Group)
    Inventors: David T. Merrill, Todd Humbert
  • Patent number: 8469401
    Abstract: Various embodiments of seat harness pretensioning devices for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a seat unit for use in a military land vehicle or helicopter includes a stroking device that enables the seat to move downwardly in response to sudden movement. The seat unit also includes a seat belt or harness that extends around the occupant in the seat. Sudden movement of the seat in response to an explosion or hard landing causes a tensioning system to automatically pretension the seat harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: AmSafe, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd J. Humbert, David T. Merrill
  • Patent number: 8468660
    Abstract: A rotary buckle assembly for a harness. The assembly is adapted to selectively secure or eject the tongue plates for the straps of the harness. Although the invention finds particular application for use with a five point harness, it can be adapted for use with other harness arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Conax Florida Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin Holler
  • Patent number: 8465102
    Abstract: The present invention provides a child safety seat installed within a motor vehicle, including both upper portions of a harness web threaded through a pair of sleeves surrounding that portion of the web proximate a child's chest area. It is an object of this invention to eliminate the disadvantages of the harness webs, tangs and buckle, falling into the depression or concavity formed by the contours of the seat, interfering with placing a child within the seat. The upper portions of both webs are required to be connected laterally to offer protection against separation in the event of a sudden deceleration. The sleeves therefore include a latchable connector to selectively couple or uncouple one sleeve to another. A magnet is positioned upon each sleeve, and metallic strips embedded within the seat sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Inventor: Brian James Morrissey
  • Patent number: 8434827
    Abstract: An infant support structure includes a support frame, a seat portion coupled to the support frame and configured for receiving an infant in a seated position, and a restraint assembly. The restraint assembly is coupled to the seat portion and configured to retain the infant in the seat portion. The restraint assembly includes a strap portion having a polymer coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Young, John S. Canna, Juliette Marlene Welch
  • Patent number: 8419127
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a crew seat for use in vehicles and aircraft potentially exposed to high acceleration or sudden impact conditions. The crew seat comprises a seat back with a rigid frame, a belt restraint system including a shoulder belt attached to an anchor point behind the seat back, and a shoulder belt support extending from the seat back. The shoulder belt support comprises an elongated portion disposed between a fixed end attached to the seat back and a free end with a guide slot. The shoulder belt support is moveable between a raised orientation and a lowered orientation by varying tension in the shoulder belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Armorworks Enterprises LLC.
    Inventors: Terry Wilhelm, D. Brent Noel, Douglas Richard Clark, Loren K. Aragon
  • Patent number: 8360521
    Abstract: This invention relates to restraining means for seats which can be conveniently adjusted. Accordingly, the invention consists in one aspect of a seat assembly comprising a seat having one or more straps, the straps having a primary bracing point located on the assembly, one or more apertures, and at least one bracing member, wherein the bracing member is co-operable with at least one of the straps and at least one of the apertures to form a secondary bracing point for the strap. In a second aspect, the invention consists of a five-point harness for a child's safety seat, comprising at least one strap and at least one bracing member, the bracing member having a bracing surface for engagement with at least one strap, the bracing member being moveable along said strap to be co-operable with apertures in a seat to be secured releasably to said seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventor: Kevin Scott Macliver
  • Patent number: 8342604
    Abstract: A child restraint includes a juvenile vehicle seat and a movable headrest mounted on the seat. The seat includes a base, a back, and a child-restraint harness coupled to the base and to the movable headrest. The child-restraint harness includes shoulder belts arranged to pass through openings formed in the seat back and the movable headrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan W. Heisey, Curtis J. Brandl
  • Patent number: 8276988
    Abstract: A child car seat is adapted for use in an automobile, and includes a seat assembly and a backrest unit connected to the seat assembly and including a backrest body, a pair of safety belts, and a guide component. The backrest body has opposite front and rear surfaces, and a plurality of spaced apart pairs of belt slots. Each belt slot has opposite front and rear open ends formed respectively in the front and rear surfaces. Each safety belt has a free end portion. The guide component is coupled to the rear surface of the backrest body and covers the rear open ends of the belt slots. The free end portions of the safety belts are extended respectively through a selected one pair of the belt slots, and along a predetermined route behind the rear surface of the backrest body through guidance of the guide component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Curtis M. Hartenstine, Gregory S. Sellers, Sharon A. Gillett, Robert E. Haut
  • Patent number: 8272689
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an automobile seat for children. The seat includes a safety harness and a system of tightening the safety harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Biaud, Francois Renaudin
  • Patent number: 8210617
    Abstract: A child restraint system (CRS) offers a safe, compact, configuration flexible, and easy to use restraint for a small child in a vehicle or aircraft. The child is secured in a five-point harness attached to a framework. The framework is in turn attached to latches secured to the vehicle or aircraft. The CRS may be configured in forward-facing or rearward-facing orientations depending on the size and age of the child. Further, the CRS harness may be equipped with a swaddle vest for securing especially young or small children that are too small for the standard five-point harness. Finally, the CRS harness may be attached to a headrest anchor that is situated between a seat and a corresponding headrest when no other suitable latches are available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Grandma Knows, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary L. Aaron, Albert G. Aaron
  • Patent number: 8177303
    Abstract: A seatbelt adjusting device includes: a guiding track provided with a plurality of first engaging members; a belt-connecting slider mounted on the guiding track and slidable on the guiding track; an actuator mounted movably on the belt-connecting slider, provided with a second engaging member, and operable to move relative to the belt-connecting slider between an engaging position, in which the second engaging member engages releasably an aligned one of the first engaging members, and a disengaging position, in which the second engaging member is disengaged from the first engaging members; and an urging member urging against the actuator for restoring the actuator from the disengaging position to the engaging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shun-Min Chen, Wen-Qu Hu
  • Patent number: 8132864
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a child safety seat comprising: (a) a supporting base structure adapted to be secured to a vehicle seat; (b) a child seating surface wherein the seating surface comprises a seat bottom and a seat back, and wherein the seat back has disposed therein at least one pair of laterally spaced shoulder belt restraints; (c) a child harness wherein the harness comprises a pair of shoulder belts running from the restraints in the seat back to a seat bottom locking tongue, each shoulder belt having a restraint engaging means affixed to an extreme end of the belt for insertion into the laterally spaced pair of restraints in the seat back, and a buckle affixed to the front center portion of the seat bottom for receiving the seat bottom locking tongue; and (d) an emergency means of disengaging at least one of shoulder belts from at least one of the restraints in the back of the seat, the disengaging means being actuated from the rear face or side of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Inventors: Michael M. Blackmon, Daniel T. Daly, Ryan D. Nelms
  • Patent number: 8113584
    Abstract: A vehicle safety restraint system comprises a portable base having a mounting assembly and a restraint assembly. The portable base may be a booster seat. The mounting assembly mounts the base the base to the seat of a vehicle and the restraint assembly restrains an occupant of the base. The mounting assembly may wrap around at least a portion of the vehicle seat to mount the booster seat to the vehicle. The restraint assembly may comprise a five-point or a four-point restraint and may include a lateral support assembly. The restraint assembly may further include a torso support assembly. A method of mounting a portable base to a vehicle seat is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Boyle, Michael A. Wiseman, Thomas P. Woellert, James T. Anthony
  • Publication number: 20120019043
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: AmSafe, Inc.
    Inventors: David T. Merrill, Michael J. Walton, Zulma Y. Estrada
  • Patent number: 8087725
    Abstract: A car seat includes a vertically adjustable head rest and harness support apparatus that will properly locate the position of the harness relative to the child in response to the positioning of the head rest. The head rest is movable along a curved track to provide horizontal clearance with respect to the vehicle head rest when in a fully raised position. The harness belt is trapped in a length adjustment lock and follows a path that extends around a fixed guide bar at the top of the car seat frame then downwardly through a guide member that directs the belt through an opening in the seat back for engagement with the child. The guide member is supported on a harness control tube that engages a rack device to fix the position of the harness control tube when the position of the head rest is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: James M. F. Hutchinson, Robert E. Haut
  • Patent number: 8038214
    Abstract: A child restraint having a juvenile vehicle seat, a harness for securing a juvenile to the juvenile vehicle seat, and a harness-positioning system for positioning the harness in an open juvenile-receiving position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis J. Brandl, Todd C. Midkiff
  • Patent number: 8020939
    Abstract: A fastening belt system designed for use in child automobile transport solutions, and in particular, in child car seats is provided. The fastening belt system is characterized by its use of at least one belt and five anchor points potentially equipped with openings and buckles, which create a harness system composed of the right breast strap and the left breast strap that crisscross at the child's chest, while the right hip strap and the left hip strap belt in the child's legs at the hips. The right breast strap runs from the upper right anchor point to the lower left point; the left breast strap links the upper left anchor point with the lower right point; the right hip strap links the lower middle anchor point with the lower right point; the left hip strap runs from the lower middle anchor point towards the lower left point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ramatti SP. Z.O.O.
    Inventors: Piotr Stasiak, Waldemar Filutowski
  • Publication number: 20110221258
    Abstract: A seatbelt adjusting device includes: a guiding track provided with a plurality of first engaging members; a belt-connecting slider mounted on the guiding track and slidable on the guiding track; an actuator mounted movably on the belt-connecting slider, provided with a second engaging member, and operable to move relative to the belt-connecting slider between an engaging position, in which the second engaging member engages releasably an aligned one of the first engaging members, and a disengaging position, in which the second engaging member is disengaged from the first engaging members; and an urging member urging against the actuator for restoring the actuator from the disengaging position to the engaging position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: WONDERLAND NURSERYGOODS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun-Min CHEN, Wen-Qu HU
  • Patent number: 8001634
    Abstract: A restraint for holding a person atop a gurney or on a vehicle seat. A harness includes a pair of straps slidably mounted to a main frame. The straps are connected to an adjuster. A slide plate is mounted to the frame with the straps extending therethrough. A spring loaded device normally positions the plate to position the straps apart from the shoulders of a person positioned beneath the straps until the straps are pulled relative to an adjuster moving the plate and the straps adjacent the shoulders of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Ayette, Guy R. Dingman
  • Patent number: 7997658
    Abstract: A restraint system is disclosed for securing a passenger to a seat in a motor vehicle. The restraint system is composed of a four point restraint belt removably attached to a vehicle seat having a plurality of vertical straps and attachment mechanisms for connecting said straps across the passenger's chest and lap. Each of the vertical straps has a first end removably attached to latches located in the front of the seat back and a second end removably attached to a latch located behind the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Louis D DeLellis, John E Schambre, Michael O Forker
  • Publication number: 20110193396
    Abstract: A harness apparatus including a first adjustable harness strap, a second adjustable harness strap, and a retainer apparatus. The retainer apparatus includes a first retainer portion slidably attached to the first harness strap, a second retainer portion slidably attached to the second harness strap, and a braking mechanism configured to prevent the first retainer portion and the second retainer portion from moving along the first harness strap and the second harness strap. The first retainer portion is removably attached to the second retainer portion. The braking mechanism includes a braking device configured to apply resistance to the first harness strap and/or the second harness strap and to hold the retainer apparatus in a stationary position along the first harness strap and the second harness strap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventor: Mark J. Friedman
  • Patent number: 7963614
    Abstract: A buckle assembly configured to mate with a plurality of tongues may include a rotational lever; a latch plate supported by the rotational lever and configured to move in a vertical direction when the lever rotates; a plurality of latch pins, wherein each latch pin is configured to engage the latch plate at one end of the pin and one of the plurality of tongues at the other end of the pin in order to mate the tongue with the buckle assembly; and a rotational solenoid. A core of the rotational solenoid may be connected to the rotational lever, so that rotation of the core causes the lever to rotate and the latch plate to move in a vertical direction. Each of the latch pins is configured to disengage from the corresponding tongue when the lever rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Joe Kranz, Paul Michael Smith, Thomas Mogg
  • Patent number: 7945975
    Abstract: An improved device for assisting a caregiver in lifting and moving a patient. The device comprises a unitary garment member having a front panel section, a rear panel section and an interconnecting central or middle panel section. The device further includes a plurality of integral, reinforced support straps that enhance the structural integrity of the garment member. The rear panel section includes two flap portions extending laterally on opposing sides of the rear panel section. The two flap portions can be pulled forward and attached to the front panel section whereby the device becomes a vest-type garment that completely surrounds the patient's torso. The improved patient assistance device includes a plurality of strategically positioned hand holds, which provide enhanced leverage enabling a caregiver to more easily assist a patient wearing the device to move from one position to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: SDS Medical Supply LLC
    Inventors: John A. Thomas, Phillip A. Clifford
  • Patent number: 7942478
    Abstract: The present invention provides a human form child car seat comprising: (a) a seat body having (i) a generally human body head and arm shape, including a seat wall and a backrest wall; (ii) a front seat side; (iii) a back side; (iv) a top side; (v) bottom side; (vi) a left side; and (vii) a right side; (b) a top side concave-shaped head support, the head support capable of cradling a juvenile head comprising (i) a left side head support and (ii) a right side head support; (c) a left arm rest and a right arm rest, each having a generally human arm shape, the arm rest terminating in a cup holder having a generally human first shape, the cup holder capable of receivably accepting a geometrically shaped object; and a seat base. The present invention further provides a quick release seatbelt system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Inspired Development Group, LLC
    Inventors: Brent Cymbalski, Mitchell Prine
  • Patent number: 7938447
    Abstract: A seat belt apparatus simplifying an operation of mounting tongues to left and right respective buckles is provided. In the seat belt apparatus, a second tongue is held by a second tongue containing portion provided at a first buckle, and a first tongue is held by a first tongue containing portion provided at a second buckle. When mounting a first and second shoulder belt, and a first and second lap belt, when both of the first buckle and the second buckle are pulled to a front side of an occupant and an inserting hole of the first buckle and an inserting piece of the first tongue are opposed to each other, an inserting piece of the second tongue and an inserting hole of the second buckle are opposed to each other. When the inserting piece of the first tongue is inserted to the inserting hole of the first buckle, the inserting piece of the second tongue is inserted to the inserting hole of the second buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Toshihito Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 7922195
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system includes left and right inflating belts which are formed long in the vertical direction of a seat and in a belt shape enabling an occupant to be restrained; a first slider which is supported on an outer end side in the seat width direction by a support portion of one of the inflating belts in a manner to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the one inflating belt, and which retains an engaging member on an inner end side in the seat width direction; and a second slider which is supported on an outer end side in the seat width direction by a support portion of the other inflating belt in a manner to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the other inflating belt, and which retains an engageable member on an inner end side in the seat width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuya Nezaki
  • Patent number: 7892101
    Abstract: A child swing chair provides a seat and a rigid harness operably connected thereto which can move from a loaded to an unloaded configuration for ingress and egress from the seat by a user. When the harness is secured relative to the seat, the swing chair preferably passes a rigid bounded opening test as defined by Standard F1487, Paragraph 6.1.1 and the a partially bounded opening test as defined by Paragraphs 6.1.4 of the ASTM Standard in at least some embodiments. In some embodiments, the rigid harness can be supported in an unloaded configuration whereby the harness is in a position allowing for ingress and egress until a predetermined force is overcome to move the harness towards the loaded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: PlayCore
    Inventors: William Weisz, Brian Henry
  • Patent number: 7891741
    Abstract: A Criss-Cross harness system with a single strap mechanism that can be threaded through guides formed along a seat to allow restraint of an infant in a seat. The strap can be held behind the seat by a quick release mechanism that can also be disengaged by pressing a single button or squeezing two handles/paddles together. When a passenger attempts to pull on the strap to remove the area of the body held down, the entire strap mechanism gets re-tightened, thereby holding the securely in the seat. The Criss-Cross harness system can be used with a high chair, a stroller, a swing, a race car, airplane cockpit, amusement park ride, wheel chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: Peter Albert Helmut Lienr, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7861341
    Abstract: A restraint for holding a person atop a gurney or on a vehicle seat. A harness includes a pair of straps slidably mounted to a main frame. The straps are connected to an adjuster. A slide plate is mounted to the frame with the straps extending therethrough. A spring loaded device normally positions the plate to position the straps apart from the shoulders of a person positioned beneath the straps until the straps are pulled relative to an adjuster moving the plate and the straps adjacent the shoulders of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Ayette, Guy R. Dingman
  • Patent number: 7819485
    Abstract: An attachment system is formed into the seating structure of a juvenile product to allow the installation and removal of a harness belt having an occluding structure, such as a buckle or an orthogonal flap sewn at the end of the belt, without requiring access to the back side of the seating structure to manipulate the end portion of the belt. The attachment system includes a retainer slot having a height sufficient to permit the passage of the webbing material, and an access opening having a height that allows the passage of the occluding structure without forcing the occluding structure against the webbing material. The access opening is connected to the retainer slot by a narrow passageway that is located intermediate the ends of the retainer slot, but adjacent one end, to enable the manipulation an edge of the webbing material from the retainer slot into the narrow passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Curtis M. Hartenstine, Peter R. Tuckey
  • Patent number: 7815256
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (1) having a squab (2) and the backrest (3) may be provided with a child squab or booster cushion (4). Various elements are provided on the seat which may move in response to the child squab (4) being provided. A first element that may move is a guide (10) which guides part of a seat belt (7). The guide (10) moves inwardly towards the central axis (8) of the seat. Other moveable restraints may be lateral restraints (62,63) which move forwardly from the backrest of the seat to be located to either side of the torso of a child occupying the child squab (4) and head restraints (64,65) which may move forwardly from the head rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development,AB
    Inventors: Christer Erlingstam, Christian Svensson
  • Publication number: 20100244543
    Abstract: A child seat harness system has first and second lap belt straps extendable generally toward one another. A buckle assembly of the system has first and second buckle connectors each coupled to the respective first and second lap belt straps. The buckle assembly is positioned and configured to releasably latch the first and second lap belt straps at the buckle assembly. The system has a release mechanism that is configured, when actuated, to detach the first and second buckle sections at the buckle assembly. The system also has first and second shoulder straps extending collaterally up and away from the buckle assembly. A chest clip has two clip sections, one each coupled to a respective one of the first and second shoulder straps. The two clip sections are configured to releasably engage one another and are positioned above the buckle assembly. The release mechanism also disengages the two clip sections from one another when actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Rachel Fine, Patrick W. Laffan
  • Patent number: 7794024
    Abstract: A buckle assembly configured to mate with a plurality of tongues may include a rotational lever; a latch plate supported by the rotational lever and configured to move in a vertical direction when the lever rotates; a plurality of latch pins, wherein each latch pin is configured to engage the latch plate at one end of the pin and one of the plurality of tongues at the other end of the pin in order to mate the tongue with the buckle assembly; and a rotational solenoid. A core of the rotational solenoid may be connected to the rotational lever, so that rotation of the core causes the lever to rotate and the latch plate to move in a vertical direction. Each of the latch pins is configured to disengage from the corresponding tongue when the lever rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Joe Kranz, Paul Michael Smith, Thomas Mogg