Engageable With Both Shoulders Of Occupant Patents (Class 297/484)
  • Patent number: 6955403
    Abstract: A restraint system for use on a vehicle's seat to better restrain by providing belts and belt guiding components to restrain a person in the event of an accident. The system uses a flexible, generally rectangular sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, the rectangular sheet further having an upper edge, a lower edge and a mid-section between the upper edge and the lower edge, the lower edge of the rectangular sheet being adapted for attachment to the upper edge of the rectangular sheet. A set of shoulder-belts extending from the rectangular sheet at a location between the mid-section of the rectangular sheet and the upper edge of the rectangular sheet, the shoulder-belts are adapted for attaching to the lap-belt, so that they will extend from the rectangular sheet to the lap-belt, and so that the person is held against the rectangular sheet by the shoulder-belts and the lap-belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Inventor: Mary A. Weaver
  • Patent number: 6916066
    Abstract: An improved infant car seat includes a seat shell, a first safety belt having a first looped end, a second safety belt having a second looped end, a third safety belt having a third looped end, and a splitter place connecting the first, second and third safety belts behind the seat shell. The ajuster mates with the adjustment teeth to extend or retract the seat back relative to the seat shell when the adjuster is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Baby Trend, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Sedlack
  • Patent number: 6913271
    Abstract: A wheeled vehicle or buggy for transporting aged, infirm, or disabled pets is provided. The buggy can also be used when the pet owner wants to go further than the pet can travel on its own. The buggy has a platform portion on which the pet can lay, substantially surrounded by walls to contain the pet within the buggy. At least one door opening may be provided for pets who are able to enter and leave the buggy by themselves. A rotatable handle is provided which can be rotated from a cart pushing position to a cart pulling position. Stops are provided to prevent the handle from over traveling and falling to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Inventor: Deborah M. Gordon
  • Patent number: 6913314
    Abstract: A safety seat for land, air and sea vehicles is provided. The safety seat has a safety belt harness and can be secured between the floor and ceiling of a vehicle via securement straps provided above and below the seat. The safety belt harness comprises two lap belts and two shoulder belts that extend from the lap belts. Also provided is an activating device that, as an extension of the shoulder belts, is guided below a seat portion to the entry region thereof. A respective tensioning strap is yieldingly disposed between the shoulder belts and the front securement straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Hansen
  • Patent number: 6868591
    Abstract: A buckle for use with a safety belt includes a buckle housing formed to define a cavity, an actuator aperture in communication with the cavity, and an insertion opening in communication with the cavity. An actuator of the buckle is coupled to the buckle housing and formed to include a button accessible through the actuator aperture of the buckle housing as well as a belt-anchor catch coupled to the button to move with the button. The buckle further includes an ejector spring positioned within the cavity of the buckle housing along a substantially central longitudinal axis defined to extend from a back end of the buckle housing to a front end of the buckle housing. First and second belt anchors are formed to be inserted, at least in part, into the insertion opening to engage the ejector spring and move the ejector spring to a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy R. Dingman, Gregory L. Woodard, Donald C. Boyle, Michael A. Wiseman
  • Patent number: 6837547
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection device (30) for helping to protect an occupant (18) of a seat (10) of a vehicle (14) includes first and second lap belt portions (32 and 34) for collectively extending across a lap portion of the occupant (18). The vehicle occupant protection device (30) also includes first and second shoulder belt portions (36 and 38) for extending over first and second shoulders, respectively, of the occupant (18). An end release buckle assembly (64) interconnects the first and second lap belt portions (32 and 34) and the first and second shoulder belt portions (36 and 38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Neal H. Delventhal, Joseph J. Zwolinski, Arnold J. Herberg
  • Publication number: 20040245821
    Abstract: A child vehicle seat includes two anchored members secured on a rear side of a back support portion of a seat body and respectively having positioning units, a belt support member movable uprightly relative to the anchored members and having a belt guiding opening, two locking members movable longitudinally relative to the belt support member to engage or disengage two of the positioning units, an actuator movable transversely relative to the belt support member, and a coupling member for transmitting movement of the actuator to the locking members, thereby moving simultaneously the locking members to an unlocking position, where the belt support member is movable uprightly. A belt passes through the belt guiding opening so that movement of the belt support member can permit change of height position of the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: WONDERLAND NURSURY GOODS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shun-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 6820939
    Abstract: A child vehicle seat includes two anchored members secured on a rear side of a back support portion of a seat body and respectively having positioning units, a belt support member movable uprightly relative to the anchored members and having a belt guiding opening, two locking members movable longitudinally relative to the belt support member to engage or disengage two of the positioning units, an actuator movable transversely relative to the belt support member, and a coupling member for transmitting movement of the actuator to the locking members, thereby moving simultaneously the locking members to an unlocking position, where the belt support member is movable uprightly. A belt passes through the belt guiding opening so that movement of the belt support member can permit change of height position of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 6817629
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system (30) comprises first and second lap belts (32 and 34) and first and second shoulder belts (36 and 38). A buckle assembly (90) is provided for interconnecting the first and second shoulder belts (36 and 38) and the first and second lap belts (32 and 34). At least one lap belt retractor (50) is operatively connected to the first and second lap belts (32 and 34) and is electrically actuatable, in response to receiving a first electrical locking signal, for locking the at least one lap belt retractor (50) to prevent withdrawal of the first and second lap belts (32 and 34). An occupant actuatable mechanism (160) is operatively connected to the at least one lap belt retractor (50) and is responsive to actuation by the vehicle occupant for providing the first electrical locking signal to the at least one lap belt retractor (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold J. Herberg, Joseph J. Zwolinski, Alex G. Meduvsky
  • Patent number: 6811186
    Abstract: A restraint apparatus for a vehicle seat includes a seat back for supporting an occupant. The seat back defines a generally vertical axis and a generally horizontal axis. The apparatus further includes a guide for directing a restraint which is adapted to pass over a shoulder of an occupant of the seat. The guide is movably mounted relative to the seat back such that the guide is movable to alter the distance from the shoulder of the occupant relative to both of the vertical and horizontal axes, thereby adjusting the position of the restraint relative to the shoulder of a seat occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory S. Fraley, Xiaoqin Xie
  • Patent number: 6811222
    Abstract: This invention discloses a chin and head support device or brace enabling the head to move at will while allowing a rest at the chin and while supporting the weight of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Inventor: Cynthia K. Sumner
  • Publication number: 20040207246
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection device (30) for helping to protect an occupant (18) of a seat (10) of a vehicle (14) includes first and second lap belt portions (32 and 34) for collectively extending across a lap portion of the occupant (18). The vehicle occupant protection device (30) also includes first and second shoulder belt portions (36 and 38) for extending over first and second shoulders, respectively, of the occupant (18). An end release buckle assembly (64) interconnects the first and second lap belt portions (32 and 34) and the first and second shoulder belt portions (36 and 38).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Neal H. Delventhal, Joseph J. Zwolinski, Arnold J. Herberg
  • Patent number: 6802537
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for height adjustment of the upper attachment point of a safety belt, arranged in a vehicle with a vehicle seat which is spring-mounted in the vertical direction, where the upper attachment point is arranged displaceably in the vertical direction on the body of the vehicle. Said height adjustment takes place as a function of the springing movement of the vehicle seat, which results in the upper attachment point always remaining correctly positioned in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Ulf Tolfsen, Johan Horsrud
  • Patent number: 6799807
    Abstract: A child safety chair includes a backrest formed with a slot that is defined by a wall having one side. A belt-holding member is mounted movably on the backrest, has one side cooperating with the side of the wall to define a gap, and is formed with alternately disposed retaining grooves and holding ribs. A belt extends into a selected retaining groove to train on an adjacent holding rib. The belt-holding member is movable between a first position, in which the side of the belt-holding member is spaced apart from the side of the wall by a first distance, and a second position, in which the side of the belt-holding member is spaced apart from the side of the wall by a second distance that is larger than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 6779843
    Abstract: A child-restraint seat includes a seat shell, a child-restraint harness coupled to the seat shell, and a harness-control panel including a belt-receiving opening receiving a shoulder belt portion of the child-restraint harness. The harness-control panel is mounted on the seat shell for up and down movement relative to the seat shell to raise and lower the shoulder belt portion of the child-restraint harness with respect to the seat shell. The child-restraint seat further includes a panel-height adjustment mechanism coupled to the harness-control panel and movable between a locked position to prevent the harness-control panel from moving up and down relative to the seat shell and an unlocked position to allow the harness-control panel to move up and down relative to the seat shell. The panel-height adjustment mechanism is accessible to a user from both a front side and a rear side of the child-restraint seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Kain
  • Patent number: 6773075
    Abstract: A four-point seat belt system for restraining a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat. Two shoulder belts mounted on separate spool members are connected to a common retractor mechanism, which synchronizes web payout and retraction and also shares a load limiting function. The shoulder belts are connected to a lap belt, which is buckled centrally on the abdomen of the occupant. A load limiting system controls occupant motion and reduces force levels on the occupant's chest. A single load limiting method can be used to accommodate all occupants of the vehicle with specific force versus belt payout properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen William Rouhana, Paul George Bedewi
  • Patent number: 6758520
    Abstract: An adjustable height automotive seat (10) is provided, including a backrest portion (12) and a seat portion (14), the seat portion (14) capable of being vertically displaced in relation to the backrest portion (12) and thereby accommodating shorter passengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hans Olof Pehrson
  • Publication number: 20040124676
    Abstract: A child-restraint seat includes a seat shell, a child-restraint harness coupled to the seat shell, and a harness-control panel including a belt-receiving opening receiving a shoulder belt portion of the child-restraint harness. The harness-control panel is mounted on the seat shell for up and down movement relative to the seat shell to raise and lower the shoulder belt portion of the child-restraint harness with respect to the seat shell. The child-restraint seat further includes a panel-height adjustment mechanism coupled to the harness-control panel and movable between a locked position to prevent the harness-control panel from moving up and down relative to the seat shell and an unlocked position to allow the harness-control panel to move up and down relative to the seat shell. The panel-height adjustment mechanism is accessible to a user from both a front side and a rear side of the child-restraint seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: James M. Kain
  • Patent number: 6742848
    Abstract: A harness arrangement for a seat, the arrangement including an occupant harness configured to be worn by an occupant of the seat, a separate seat harness securable to the seat, and the seat harness being releasably connected to the occupant harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Martin-Baker Aircraft Company, Limited
    Inventor: Steven Anthony George Ruff
  • Publication number: 20040084953
    Abstract: A safety seat for land, air and sea vehicles is provided. The safety seat has a safety belt harness and can be secured between the floor and ceiling of a vehicle via securement straps provided above and below the seat. The safety belt harness comprises two lap belts and two shoulder belts that extend from the lap belts. Also provided is an activating device that, as an extension of the shoulder belts, is guided below a seat portion to the entry region thereof. A respective tensioning strap is yieldingly disposed between the shoulder belts and the front securement straps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Autoflug GmbH, Industriestrasse
    Inventor: Holger Hansen
  • Patent number: 6729693
    Abstract: The present invention provides a seat belt apparatus having a webbing which traverses an occupant's body. The webbing includes two lap belts which are secured at their ends to a lap belt retractor. The lap retractor is secured below the seat and in a forward position relative to the seat. The lap belt retractor is configured to simultaneously retract the lap belts to thereby retain the position of the buckle assembly over the mid abdomen section of an occupant. The opposing ends of the lap belts are secured in a fixed manner to a lap belt anchor. The lap belt anchor is secured below the seat and in a rearward position relative to the seat. The lap belt anchor may further incorporate a pretensioner which pulls the lap belts rearward and downward. The lap belts slidably engage a buckle assembly along a mid section of the lap belts. The webbing further includes shoulder belts which are secured at their ends to shoulder belt retractors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Pontus Soderstrom, David Funnell
  • Patent number: 6729643
    Abstract: For use in a high performance racing vehicle or the like in which the torso of a driver is restrained in a seat by a harness that includes shoulder straps extending over the driver's shoulder, and a helmet is worn by the driver, a neck support and head restraint device comprises an inflatable collar configured and dimensioned to surround the driver's neck at a location between the driver's helmet and shoulders. The collar is anchored to the shoulder straps of the restraining harness. At least one and preferably two tethers are strategically connected at opposite ends to the collar and the helmet. The collar is normally in a pliable collapsed state, with the tethers loosely extending between the helmet and collar to thereby accommodate relatively unimpeded head movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: David Clark Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Bassick, Edward A. DuBois, Daniel M. Barry
  • Patent number: 6705641
    Abstract: An inflatable seat belt system providing protection to its inflatable members is disclosed. The system may include inflatable shoulder belts and lap belts, which may or may not be inflatable. Each inflatable belt includes seat belt webbing having an interior cavity in which an inflatable member is placed. The seat belt webbing also includes a frangible seam that bursts upon inflation of the inflatable member. The inflatable seat belt system may also include one or more anti-submarining (crotch) belts that prevent an occupant from slipping underneath the protection of the lap and shoulder belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Schneider, Michael K. Hishon
  • Patent number: 6698841
    Abstract: A child-restraint apparatus comprises a seat adapted to receive a seated child. An adjuster is used to permit adjustment of a strap that lies across the seated child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Glover, Michael Scot Rosko
  • Publication number: 20040036345
    Abstract: A vehicle restraint system (30) for helping to restrain a vehicle occupant (18) in a vehicle seat (10) comprises first and second shoulder belts (36 and 38) and first and second lap belts (32 and 34). The first and second shoulder belts (36 and 38) extend over first and second shoulders, respectively, of the vehicle occupant (18). The first lap belt (32) is for extending across a first lap portion of the vehicle occupant (18) and the second lap belt (34) is for extending across a second lap portion of the vehicle occupant (18). A buckle assembly (90) interconnects the first and second shoulder belts (36 and 38) and the first and second lap belts (32 and 34). The vehicle restraint system (30) also includes at least one electric motor driven retractor (50) operatively connected to the first and second lap belts (32 and 34) for, when operated, retracting portions of the first and second lap belts (32 and 34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. & TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Arnold J. Herberg, Uwe M. Class, Joseph J. Zwolinski
  • Patent number: 6695412
    Abstract: A car seat having adjustable shoulder harnesses including a body having a seat pan and a seat back, the seat back having a front side and a back side. The car seat includes a pair of shoulder harnesses shaped and located to fit over the shoulder of an occupant located on the body. Each shoulder harness is movable relative to the seat pan to raise or lower the height of the shoulder harnesses. The car seat further includes a locking mechanism for locking each shoulder harness in place to set the height of each shoulder harness relative to the seat pan, wherein the locking mechanism can be accessed from the front side of the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Evenflo Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery A. Barger, Peter S. Macdonald
  • Publication number: 20040032157
    Abstract: The invention relates to a restraint bar for securing a person in vehicles, especially for amusement rides. Said restraint bar is hinged at the top end of a seat and the end of the restraint bar opposite the hinge can be folded up to allow a person to board and get off. The bar can be lowered onto the shoulder and breast side of the person for the purpose of securing the person. The inventive restraint bar is associated with auxiliary bars (2) that are fastened to the restraint bar and that can be introduced with their free ends in a plane below the zone of the restraint bar facing the shoulders, thereby allowing the restraint bar to be used also for smaller persons, especially for children. In a second embodiment, the hinge of the restraint bar can be vertically displaced relative to the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventor: Michael Trimborn
  • Patent number: 6688701
    Abstract: A restraint system for use on a vehicle's seat to better restrain by providing belts and belt guiding components to restrain a person in the event of an accident. The system uses a flexible, generally rectangular sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, the rectangular sheet further having an upper edge, a lower edge and a mid-section between the upper edge and the lower edge, the lower edge of the rectangular sheet being adapted for attachment to the upper edge of the rectangular sheet. A set of shoulder-belts extending from the rectangular sheet at a location between the mid-section of the rectangular sheet and the upper edge of the rectangular sheet, the shoulder-belts are adapted for attaching to the lap-belt, so that they will extend from the rectangular sheet to the lap-belt, and so that the person is held against the rectangular sheet by the shoulder-belts and the lap-belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: Mary A. Weaver
  • Patent number: 6688685
    Abstract: A juvenile vehicle seat comprises a set shell and a juvenile restraint harness with shoulder strap portions. A harness control panel is provided on the front surface of the back of the seat shell to be adjustably movable to raise and lower the shoulder strap portions. A panel height adjustment mechanism is provided on the back of the seat shell to adjust the position of the panel. A shoulder strap tensioner is provided coupled to the height adjustment mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Kain
  • Publication number: 20040012242
    Abstract: A four point seat belt system includes a first seat belt and a second seat belt, each anchored at two points. A first retractor is coupled to the first seat belt proximate one of the anchor points and a second retractor is coupled to the second seat belt proximate one of the anchor points. A buckle releasably couples the first and second seat belts and the first and second retractors automatically retract the first and second seat belts to position the buckle at a point centered on a seat occupant's torso. The four point seat belt system can be operated using only one hand similar to a three point seat belt system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Brennon L. White
  • Patent number: 6662413
    Abstract: A two-piece harness retainer is adapted to hold a pair of harness straps in side-by-side relation. A tether is provided to limit pivoting movement of a pivotable latch arm included in one of the pieces included in the harness retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Glover
  • Patent number: 6659564
    Abstract: A safety car seat for a child has a headrest vertical moving device, a shoulder belt position control device, a sleeping support position control device, a crotch belt position control device, a footrest step position control device and a moving device for changing the size or capacity of a support space for protecting the child. The shoulder belt position control device includes two holding plates that slide along two inclined elongated holes and are connected by two pivotable control arms to a control pin that slides along a vertical guide slot in the seat backrest. Upper portions of the shoulder belts pass through slit holes in the holding plates. The upper ends of the belts can be adjusted higher, wider apart and less inclined, or lower, closer together and more inclined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Aprica Kassai Kabushikikaisha
    Inventors: Kenzou Kassai, Ichiro Onishi, Fumiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6655744
    Abstract: A seat belt system for a vehicle seat having seat belt segments that are retained on first and second retractors. The retractors each have a spool on which seat belt segments are wound. The spools of the first and second retractors are linked together by a spring that biases the spools to retract the belt segments. Right and left seat belt presenters are provided to move the latches of seat belt segments between a retracted position and a presentation position where the latches are held at a convenient location to be grasped by a person seated in the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick A. Petri, Ernesto E. Blanco, Greg Fraley, Nicole Poponea, H. Winston Maue
  • Patent number: 6637826
    Abstract: A car seat for an infant or child including a seat body having a seat back and a seat pan for receiving an occupant thereon and at least one shoulder harness coupled to the seat body and being shaped and located to fit over the occupant and retain the occupant on the seat body. The car seat further includes a bracket coupled to the at least one shoulder harness. The at least one shoulder harness includes a sliding portion extending from a lower portion of the seat body to an upper portion of the seat body and being slidingly received through the bracket, and a bracket portion extending from the upper portion of the seat body to the bracket and being coupled to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Evenflo Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven R. Takayama
  • Publication number: 20030193225
    Abstract: A juvenile vehicle seat comprises a set shell and a juvenile restraint harness with shoulder strap portions. A harness control panel is provided on the front surface of the back of the seat shell to be adjustably movable to raise and lower the shoulder strap portions. A panel height adjustment mechanism is provided on the back of the seat shell to adjust the position of the panel. A shoulder strap tensioner is provided coupled to the height adjustment mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: James M. Kain
  • Patent number: 6626492
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided for easy modification from a normal seat to a child's seat and restored from the child's seat to the normal seat and has excellent cushioning and restraining effects and a high degree of safety. The vehicle seat includes a sitting portion, an abdominal protecting pad housed in and upwardly pivotal from the sitting portion, side supporting members housed in and forwardly projectable from a seat back portion, and seat belts which can be attached to or detached from the abdominal protecting pad after being removed from the seat back portion or the side supporting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Taku Furniture
    Inventor: Mikio Uno
  • Patent number: 6626493
    Abstract: A juvenile vehicle seat comprises a set shell and a juvenile restraint harness with shoulder strap portions. A harness control panel is provided on the front surface of the back of the seat shell to be adjustably movable to raise and lower the shoulder strap portions. A panel height adjustment mechanism is provided on the back of the seat shell to adjust the position of the panel. A shoulder strap tensioner is provided coupled to the height adjustment mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Kain
  • Patent number: 6623074
    Abstract: An adjustable vehicle seat may include an adjustable head support, body support, harness, or any combination thereof. A latching mechanism couples an upper portion of the vehicle seat to a seatback. The latching mechanism provides a mechanical coupling between the upper portion and a seat body. The mechanical coupling permits vertical adjustment of the upper portion, which may be configured to provide an adjustable headrest for the vehicle seat. The upper portion may further include side bolsters and harness guides associated with a attached seat harness and/or an auxiliary seat harness. In this embodiment, the latching mechanism permits simultaneous adjustment of the harness, headrest and side bolsters for accommodating a seat occupant. In the preferred embodiment, the vehicle seat is configured as a child's car seat which may be used as either a forward facing car seat with attached harness or a belt positioning booster seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald M. Asbach, David M. Bapst, John F. Rhein
  • Publication number: 20030173817
    Abstract: A harness for restraining a passenger in the seat of a vehicle, such as, for example, a car, a van, or a bus, is provided. The harness may be configured to releasably couple with at least one rigid member mounted in the bight of the vehicle's seat between the seat's seat and back portions. The restraining harness may be a harness, a belt system, a child seat, or a booster seat, any of which may be configured to utilize any suitable coupling and to cooperate with the vehicle's own restraint system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Charles G. Vits, Christopher W. Foye, John David Scelsi, Donald C. Boyle, Guy R. Dingman
  • Patent number: 6619753
    Abstract: A car seat including a seat body having a seat back and a seat pan for receiving an occupant thereon, and at least one shoulder harness coupled to the seat body and being located to fit over the torso of an occupant to retain the occupant on the seat body. The car seat further includes a buckle for releasably coupling the shoulder harness to the seat body, the buckle including a bracket coupled to the shoulder harness and a base coupled to the seat body. The bracket includes a gripping portion and a tongue and is releasably couplable to the base. The buckle is in a latched condition when the bracket is coupled to the base and is in an unlatched condition when the bracket is not coupled to the base. One of the gripping portion or the base includes a notification portion that has a visual property different from any adjacent areas of the one of the gripping portion or the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Evenflo Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven R. Takayama
  • Patent number: 6616242
    Abstract: A vehicles 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Louise F. Stoll
  • Patent number: 6601923
    Abstract: A seat includes a frame, an assembly for supporting a self-contained breathing apparatus, and a headrest frame. The self-contained breathing apparatus and headrest frame are mounted to the frame. The seat also includes a seat belt assembly. The seat belt assembly includes a bracket, first and second guide members, a seat belt, a seat belt reel, and first and second portions of a buckle. The bracket is mounted to the headrest frame and the first guide member is mounted to the bracket. The second guide member, seat belt reel, and second portion of the buckle are mounted to the frame. The seat belt has a first end spooled into the seat belt reel. The seat belt extends up from the seat belt reel and is then threaded through the first and second guide members and the first buckle member. A second end of the belt is mounted to the frame. The first portion of the buckle is slidably mounted to the seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Seats Incorporated
    Inventors: George Pond, Doug Hahn
  • Publication number: 20030137180
    Abstract: A four-point seat belt system for restraining a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat. Two shoulder belts mounted on separate spool members are connected to a common retractor mechanism, which synchronizes web payout and retraction and also shares a load limiting function. The shoulder belts are connected to a lap belt, which is buckled centrally on the abdomen of the occupant. A load limiting system controls occupant motion and reduces force levels on the occupant's chest. A single load limiting method can be used to accommodate all occupants of the vehicle with specific force versus belt payout properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen William Rouhana, Paul George Bedewi
  • Publication number: 20030085608
    Abstract: A vehicle safety restraint system, for use by a child, that can be installed and removed from any vehicle seat. The single end of a first Y-shaped belt is passed over the back of the seat and the double end, which hangs over the front of the seat, is provided with a pair of closed loops. A lap belt passes through the loops and the free ends thereof are releasably secured to respective ones of the double end of a second Y-shaped belt, placed on the seat. The single end of the second belt passes between the seat and the seat back and is releasably secured to the single end of the first Y-shaped belt. Optionally, a crotch strap is also releasably secured to the second Y-shaped belt, passed upwardly between the legs of the child and the other end releasably secured to the first Y-shaped belt adjacent the closed loops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Girardin
  • Publication number: 20030071511
    Abstract: A car seat including a seat body having a seat back and a seat pan for supporting an occupant thereon, and at least one belt coupled to the seat body for retaining an occupant on the seat body. The car seat further includes a belt tensioning mechanism, the belt tensioning mechanism including a pawl coupled to the seat body and a rotatable spool coupled to the belt. The spool can be rotated to wind the belt upon the spool, and the spool includes a gear that can interact with the pawl such that the pawl can selectively block rotation of the spool and thereby block unwinding of the belt off of the spool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Daniel G. Stafford, Herman J. Shie, Jeffery A. Barger
  • Patent number: 6547334
    Abstract: A vehicle safety restraint system, for use by a child, that can be installed and removed from any vehicle seat. The single end of a first Y-shaped belt is passed over the back of the seat and the double end, which hangs over the front of the seat, is provided with a pair of closed loops. A lap belt passes through the loops and the free ends thereof are releasably secured to respective ones of the double end of a second Y-shaped belt, placed on the seat. The single end of the second belt passes between the seat and the seat back and is releasably secured to the single end of the first Y-shaped belt. Optionally, a crotch strap is also releasably secured to the second Y-shaped belt, passed upwardly between the legs of the child and the other end releasably secured to the first Y-shaped belt adjacent the closed loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Girardin
  • Publication number: 20030034686
    Abstract: The present invention provides a seat belt apparatus having a webbing which traverses an occupant's body. The webbing includes two lap belts which are secured at their ends to a lap belt retractor. The lap retractor is secured below the seat and in a forward position relative to the seat. The lap belt retractor is configured to simultaneously retract the lap belts to thereby retain the position of the buckle assembly over the mid abdomen section of an occupant. The opposing ends of the lap belts are secured in a fixed manner to a lap belt anchor. The lap belt anchor is secured below the seat and in a rearward position relative to the seat. The lap belt anchor may further incorporate a pretensioner which pulls the lap belts rearward and downward. The lap belts slidably engage a buckle assembly along a mid section of the lap belts. The webbing further includes shoulder belts which are secured at their ends to shoulder belt retractors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Pontus Soderstrom, David Funnell
  • Patent number: 6513829
    Abstract: A restraint assembly intended for use primarily, but not exclusively, within motor vehicles to protect occupants from injury resulting from a collision, crash or other impact type of accident in which the vehicle is involved. A plurality of inflatable members are mounted at a plurality of strategic locations relative to the various positions assumed by occupants within the vehicle, such that upon the vehicle being impacted, a central processing unit or like processor structured to sense the impact will automatically inflate the inflatable members so that they assume a protective position which will interact with the occupant to actively absorb and resist the force of the impact resulting from the occupant coming into contact, at an accelerated rate, with the inflatable member(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Z/C Holding Company
    Inventor: Bernard J. Zumpano
  • Publication number: 20020195850
    Abstract: A safety car seat for a child is provided with a headrest vertical moving device, a shoulder belt position control device, a sleeping support position control device, a crotch belt position control device, a footrest step position control device and a moving device for changing the capacity of a support space for protecting the brain, the back and respiration of a child in the seat. By employing this mechanism, it is possible to provide a juvenile safety car seat enabling implementation of comfortability and safeness as well as protection of the brain, the neck and respiration of a baby based on medical criteria for the baby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: Aprica Kassai Kabushikikaisha
    Inventors: Kenzou Kassai, Ichiro Onishi, Fumiko Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20020195867
    Abstract: A car seat having adjustable shoulder harnesses including a body having a seat pan and a seat back, the seat back having a front side and a back side. The car seat includes a pair of shoulder harnesses shaped and located to fit over the shoulder of an occupant located on the body. Each shoulder harness is movable relative to the seat pan to raise or lower the height of the shoulder harnesses. The car seat further includes a locking mechanism for locking each shoulder harness in place to set the height of each shoulder harness relative to the seat pan, wherein the locking mechanism can be accessed from the front side of the seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffery A. Barger, Peter S. Macdonald