Front Guard Or Barrier Patents (Class 297/487)
  • Patent number: 5857701
    Abstract: A protection system providing a crash barrier for an occupant of a vehicle having a header when the vehicle is subjected to an impact force. The protection system comprises a pair of expandable bellows, a latch, a crash barrier, a sensor, and an expander responsive to operation of the sensor. The pair of spaced expandable bellows are adapted to be in a normally retracted stored relationship to the header of the vehicle. Each bellows has a first end affixed with respect to the vehicle on one side of the occupant and a second end expandably deployable to an opposite side of the occupant. The latch is adapted to be affixed with respect to the vehicle at the opposite side of the occupant to latchingly receive the second end of each bellows. The crash barrier has one portion adapted to be affixed with respect to the vehicle on the one side of the occupant and another portion attached to the second end of each bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Inventor: Ken K. S. Nanda
  • Patent number: 5853193
    Abstract: Apparatus for restraining the movement of a passenger seated on a vehicle seat includes a restraint member which includes a horizontally extending safety bar supported by side arms extending from opposed ends of the safety bar to distal ends pivotally mounted to associated pivots which permit the restraint member to rotate about a pivot axis between open and closed positions. Pivotal movement is retarded by a fluid resistance. In another aspect, male and female latch portions of a latch such as a conventional seat belt buckle are attached in fixed positions, one to a side arm of a restraint member as described above, the other to an arm rest of a passenger seat. The positions are arranged such that the latch portions will register and latch with one another as the restraint member is pivoted from an open position to a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Inventor: John Marshall
  • Patent number: 5842737
    Abstract: A safety seat provides improved occupant protection, especially in a vehicle equipped with a passenger-side air bag when the seat is positioned with the occupant facing rearward. The safety seat includes a head protector configured to deflect a forward facing portion of the seat downward upon interaction with an inflating air bag. The child safety seat, when occupied, has a center of gravity that causes a belt retaining the seat to be tightened for proper retention of the child seat during a collision and subsequent air bag inflation. The child safety seat can include one or more longitudinal members to strengthen the seat, provide additional head and torso protection, and transfer impact forces away from the head protector. In another embodiment the safety seat includes a cradle suspended in a frame by shock-isolating mounts. In an additional embodiment, a child safety seat includes two opposing frame rails, each frame rail including a side frame element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Inventor: Dan Goor
  • Patent number: 5806933
    Abstract: A head rest and restraint assembly has, as its principal component, a padded, shaped arm which has one end thereof contained in a mounting member. The contained end has a splined portion thereon which is adapted to mate with an interior splined portion of the mounting member, which comprises a hollow cylinder. Adjustment of the angular arm is accomplished by pushing the end of the arm into the cylinder against the force of a coil sprint until the splines dis-engage, allowing rotation of the arm, when the arm is released, the spring forces the splines into re-engagement, thereby fixing the angular orientation of the arm. Pairs of arms mounted in brackets, for example, can be used with existing vehicular headrests, or a replacement or new head rest may be formed with bores to accept and hold the mounting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventors: Leslie Tsui, Christopher A. Tsui
  • Patent number: 5795020
    Abstract: A new child safety seat with a head protector for providing added protection in the event of an automobile accident. The inventive device includes a plurality of steel reinforcement bars extending through opposed side walls of a car seat in a spaced relationship. A single steel reinforcement bar extends through a front safety bar of the car seat. A head protecting frame is coupled with respect to the car seat. The head protecting frame includes an arcuate upper bar coupled with respect to an upper edge of the car seat. The head protecting frame includes an inverted U-shaped lower bar secured to a lower end of the arcuate upper bar. The inverted U-shaped lower bar has branched free ends thereof secured to the safety bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: Frank Sirico
  • Patent number: 5795030
    Abstract: A seat belt pad with a padded area for abdominal support. There are two basic embodiments one for two-point seat belts and the other for three-point seat belts. The two-point belt has an oval shaped pad that has seat belt fittings on both sides of the pad. The vehicle's seat belts can then be clipped to the fittings on the pad. In this way, the pad, which is considerably larger than an ordinary seat belt, protects the user's abdomen. The pad is designed to have equal or greater strength than ordinary seat belts. The three point-pad has two outer bands that fit over an ordinary three-point seat belt. The bands have VELCRO attaches to close the bands around the seat belts. A layer of mesh extends between the belts and is used to support the user's abdomen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: Karl W. Becker
  • Patent number: 5779320
    Abstract: A protective child restraint device for use on an automotive vehicle seat has a spaced pair of opposite vertical side panels adapted to rest directly on the bottom side of the vehicle seat on opposite sides of a child sitting directly on the vehicle seat, and a generally cylindrical spacer member extending between and releasably secured to opposite top front corner portions of the side panels. Front edge portions of the side panels have specially designed, generally L-shaped slots formed therein for securely receiving and retaining one of the vehicle's seat belts, and rear bottom corners of the side panels have rearwardly extending, generally triangularly shaped projections thereon which are receivable between the bottom of the vehicle seat back and the bottom side portion of the seat to thereby stabilize the child restraint device against forward tipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Daniel S. Corrales
  • Patent number: 5749599
    Abstract: An air bag guard for children and infants having support posts and support bars that form a partial cage for placement over a child or infant for protection against air bag deployment. The air bag guard includes a strap for securing the guard in position with a first embodiment accommodating both forward and rearward facing child seats a second embodiment directed to forward facing children. Each embodiment is collapsible for ease of storage and includes straps for securing the guard in position with adjustments available to accommodate diverse floor positions as well as angular placement of seat backs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Inventor: Henry J. Gardner
  • Patent number: 5716095
    Abstract: A child safety seat accessory apparatus for use in conjunction with a conventional child car seat which allows placement of the child car seat within an inner containment cavity from a seat containment casing. The casing includes a protective shield which protects the child occupant from the impact of an air bag and other flying debris in the event of an accident. The device is constructed from a one piece seat containment casing having a pivotally coupled transparent shield rotatably secured to the front portion of the casing. Release latches allow for ease of insertion of a child into the proper position in relation to the car seat wherein the shield is rotated allowing access to an inner cavity formed by the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Inventor: Robelin J. Lopez
  • Patent number: 5697628
    Abstract: An exercise and support bar apparatus mounted in brackets on a wheelchair and method for using same. The bar can be adjusted to be more or less proximate the occupant by removing the upstanding portions of the bar from the brackets, turning the apparatus end-for-end, and re-inserting the upstanding portions in the bracket. Angular and height adjustments are also provided by the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Inventor: Robert W. Spear
  • Patent number: 5690382
    Abstract: A child car seat is provided for restraining a child seated in the car seat. The child car seat includes a seat assembly and a restraint shield. The restraint shield includes a fixed portion coupled to the seat assembly and a movable portion configured to move relative to the fixed portion and seat assembly between a plurality of positions. The movable portion is formed to include an interior region and the fixed portion is positioned to lie wholly in the interior region of the movable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Cosco, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Cone
  • Patent number: 5687433
    Abstract: A bath seat usable in a tub for infants and small children includes a seat portion with a curved back support mounted thereto. The base includes at least one deformable tub gripping element for removably affixing the seat to a bath tub. The seat includes first and second spaced apart, elongated members which are attached to regions of the back support and extend therefrom. A removable tray is adapted to slidably engage the elongated members. A releasable latch, carried in part on the tray and in part on at least one of the elongated members, locks the tray to the one elongated member in one of a plurality of linearly displaced positions. The seat includes a strut extending between the base and the tray to lockingly engage and support the tray. The strut prevents a child from slipping under the tray and maintains the child in the seat during the bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: BRK Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Garner, Craig S. Scherer, Michael C. Thuma
  • Patent number: 5662378
    Abstract: A child's car seat with a shield. A tray, preferably removable, is embedded in the shield. An elongated cover is wrapped around the shield for hiding the tray. The cover has releasable securing mechanisms for mated engagement with securing mechanisms on the shield for retaining the cover in wrapped around condition and for removing it entirely. In a preferred form, the tray is divided into sections with at least one of the sections having a circular cross-section and the cover has an aperture in registry with the section having a circular cross-section when the cover is wrapped around the shield and secured with the mating securing mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventor: Adrain E. Carruth
  • Patent number: 5662379
    Abstract: Disclosed is a new and improved child seat for use with an automobile with airbags. A roll-top safety shield can be fully retracted for open access or can be locked into place to shield a child against injuries related to an inflating airbag. An object of the roll top safety shield is to shield the child against injuries caused by an inflating airbag and against debris that may be loosened and launched during an impact. The roll top shield is designed to allow the child to enjoy the view, yet also provide easy and quick removal for cleaning. The roll top safety shield may also be embodied in a kit form, where a supplemental shield assembly can be removably secured to an existing child seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventor: Eric Mark Zimelman
  • Patent number: 5660434
    Abstract: A baby car seat air bag protector includes a baby car seat for securing an infant in a reclined position upon a conventional car seat. The air bag protector includes a lateral bar that extends laterally above and around the chest of the infant. The opposing side ends of the lateral bar are releasably secured to opposing sides of the baby car seat. An upper bar extends perpendicular to the lateral bar around the infant's head. The lower end of the upper bar is secured to the central region of the lateral bar. The upper end of the upper bar is releasably secured to the upper edge of the back portion of the baby car seat. The side ends of the lateral bar, and the upper end of the upper bar, include clamps for releasably grasping edge portions of the baby car seat. The upper bar may be pivotally connected to the lateral bar to allow the upper bar to be displaced when placing a child into, or removing a child from, the baby car seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Inventor: Edward E. Nicksic
  • Patent number: 5655817
    Abstract: An assembly for releasably restraining and protecting a child in a transport vehicle. The assembly comprises a contoured safety seat, secured to a standard vehicle seat, with a plurality of fasteners secured to each side of the seat. A torso enclosing suit is worn by the child occupying the seat. The suit has two pairs of fasteners attached near the arm openings and leg openings. The suit fasteners attached to corresponding fasteners in the seat sides securely restrain and protect the seat occupant in case of an vehicle accident. Also disclosed is a removable tray for the seat which deploys and inflates an air bag device in the event of an accident to further protect the seat occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventor: Joseph R. Nienow
  • Patent number: 5651557
    Abstract: A safety device that engages automatically when a child is placed in a shopping cart. It does not require the aid of a parent. A torsion spring retains a shopping cart seat at an inclined angle, while retaining the safety device to the rear of the shopping cart, free for the child to enter. As the child is placed in the cart, his/her weight descends the seat to normal. A lever is under the seat rotating downward as the seat descends. The lever is welded at the center of a shaft, and is rotating the shaft as the lever moves. A right arm and a left arm welded to the shaft are traversing forward to a securing position. Connected near the top end of the two arms is a safety bar securing the child when seated. A latch locks the arms in the securing position. The entire safety device is mounted to the shopping cart with a clamp. There are four clamps used. When two clamps are connected together they form one clamp with three horizontal holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Inventor: Charles De Stefano
  • Patent number: 5634687
    Abstract: A child's stool is provided with a vertically adjustable platform and steps for a child to climb onto the platform, and a pair of fabric wall portions extend between the side walls of the stool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Inventor: Carol D. Gamble
  • Patent number: 5613738
    Abstract: A restraining device for a wheelchair and method of making the restraining device. A pummel, or wedge-like element, is rotatably mounted to an elongate axis member. The elongate axis member has engaging elements at each end for engaging the frame or legs of a chair or wheelchair. The elongate axis member is longitudinally adjustable and the engaging elements are rotatably adjustable. The rotatable pummel may be releasably secured to the elongate axis member in a restraining position located proximate an upper, frontal portion of the seat of the chair upon which the restraining device is utilized. In this way, the restraining device is positioned between the legs and at the crotch of an individual seated in the chair. The pummel may be released and rotated about the elongate axis member to a non-restraining position which does not inhibit movement to or from the seat of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventor: James E. Britton
  • Patent number: 5607203
    Abstract: An overhead shield for a child's car seat has a pair of arms pivotally attached to the side walls of the car seat and a central section which is adjustable with respect to the pivotable arm portions. A stationary rack secured to the arm has a plurality of rack notches which engage a pawl latch pivotally mounted to the side extensions of a central cushion member. An exposed operating button enables the pawl latch to be disengaged from the rack notches, and a bias spring normally urges the latch pawl into engagement with one of the rack notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Century Products Company
    Inventor: Mark A. Sedlack
  • Patent number: 5582464
    Abstract: A chair primarily for use by persons with spinal chord injury, comprises a universally positioned chair back and a universally positioned front support. Users sit upright and are held between the chair back and front support. Both the chair back and front support have sides to prevent users from falling to their sides. A tray also may be attached to the front support. The seating surface also adjusts vertically to the base and floor. Articulating arms attach the chair back and front support to other chair parts. The arms allow easy vertical, horizontal and angular movement of the chair back and front support, and the arms can be locked to secure the back and support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventor: Herzel Maymon
  • Patent number: 5575535
    Abstract: An improved couch is provided of the type having a base, a first and second opposing arm rest, a back portion, a seating surface and a front couch surface. The improvement to the couch comprises: a front guard detachably connectable to the front couch surface for enclosing a portion of the seating surface on three sides, the front guard may be retractable for storage beneath the couch, and a tray may be extendable from the front guard for placing objects such as food, drinks, books, remote controls and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Inventors: Mark R. Burchett, Samuel W. Bibles
  • Patent number: 5558405
    Abstract: A protective frame for a stroller including a seat portion, a pair of armrest poles disposed on opposite sides of the seat portion, a pair of retaining bodies releasably attached to the armrest poles, respectively, a pair of rigid pole bodies coupled to the retaining bodies, respectively, and a joint mechanism for joining ends of the pole bodies together, and for being detachable into two separate joint portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Combi Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Ishikura, Hayato Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5551373
    Abstract: A portable pet booster seat apparatus includes a base portion which includes a top surface and a support portion. A first wall portion is connected to the base portion at a first peripheral portion of the base portion. The first wall portion projects upward above the top surface of the base portion. A second wall portion is connected to the base portion at a second peripheral portion of the base portion. The second wall portion projects upward above the top surface of the base portion. A pair of gaps are provided between the first wall portion and the second wall portion. The base portion may include four sides. The first wall portion of the portable pet booster seat apparatus extends along a first side of the base portion. The second wall portion includes a first wall segment, a second wall segment, and a third wall segment. The first wall segment extends along a second side of the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Inventor: Norman J. O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 5536042
    Abstract: A vehicle bunk and occupant restraint system. A bunk frame is pivotally or fixedly mounted to the back wall of the sleeping compartment of a trailer-cab. A fabric net has a proximal end fixedly mounted to the back wall and a distal end having buckles mounted thereto and positioned at the distal end of the bunk frame. A web support has a proximal end fixedly mounted to the back wall. The distal end of the web support includes a plurality of tongues positioned at the distal end of the bunk frame lockingly engagable with the buckles limiting occupant movement and application of occupant inertial force to the bunk frame during an emergency stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Indiana Mills and Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffry L. Williams, Keith H. Freeman, Giuliano Cacucci
  • Patent number: 5533786
    Abstract: A child seat having a child restraint apparatus is provided. The child seat includes a shell formed to include a seat bottom having a front edge and a back edge. The child seat also includes a T-shaped bar including a post having a base mounted to the shell and a tip. The T-shaped bar also includes an elongated transverse cross member appended to the tip and arranged to lie in perpendicular relation to the post. The cross member swings between a child-restraining position above the seat bottom and a down-out-of-the-way position below the seat bottom. The base is mounted to pivot about a pivot axis and the cross member is spaced-apart from the pivot axis to overlie legs of a child seated on the seat bottom when the cross member is in the child-restraining position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Cosco, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Cone, II
  • Patent number: 5529382
    Abstract: An over-the-shoulder passenger restraint system that operates in three modes and permits fine adjustments of two pairs of pivoting elements, one pair located behind and above the passenger's shoulders, the second pair located in front of the passenger is described. Fine adjustments permit the securing of guests of varying sizes, from small children to tall or overweight adults. The restraint fits each person snugly, thus minimizing potential of injuries while also not blocking the view of a show or scenery around which a ride is themed. The restraint system is also very safe; when passengers are boarding the ride, the restraint cannot be moved, making it useful for balance. After passengers are seated, the restraint can only be pulled downward toward the passenger. During the ride, the restraint is locked and cannot move up or down. When passengers are exiting the ride, the restraint can only be moved upward and away from the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: The Walt Disney Company
    Inventor: Alexander Burkat
  • Patent number: 5529341
    Abstract: A restraining net includes a rectangular mesh of strands interconnected to form a screen-like mesh, and affixed within a support frame of upper, lower, and transverse straps. A pair of upper belts extend from the upper strap and are releasably connected to the shoulder belts of a passenger vehicle positioned above the seat back of the vehicle adjacent the transverse ends of the seat. A pair of lower belts extend from the lower strap and are releasably connected to the frame of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Inventor: Gail J. Hartigan
  • Patent number: 5499844
    Abstract: A safety restraint apparatus that includes an upper and lower frame which each have lock mechanisms conveniently located out of the reach of the prisoners and readily accessible to the law enforcement personnel from the entrance way. The upper restraint frame is pivotally connected to the ceiling and is suspended above the prisoners in a released position to prevent interference upon ingress and egress. The upper frame pivots downward into a restraint position to prevent the prisoners from standing or moving about within the vehicle. The lower restraint frame pivots horizontally into a restraint position to secure the prisoner's ankles and legs. Each restraint frame includes a padded cross bar which overlies the prisoners' upper and lower bodies not only to brace the prisoners against impact but also to prevent the prisoner from voluntarily moving about with in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Inventor: Ronald L. Dirck
  • Patent number: 5476309
    Abstract: A safety harness consisting of a plurality of beveled rigid blocks connected in a string by loose couplings, having a fixed end fastened to one side of a vehicle seat by an adjustable mounting device and a free end fastened to an opposite side of the vehicle seat by a latch and latch release, wherein when the safety harness is fastened up, the rigid blocks are respectively side matched and connected into an arched rigid guard around the vehicle seat to protect the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Inventor: K. C. Chen
  • Patent number: 5468047
    Abstract: A child/infant safety seat provides improved occupant protection, especially in a vehicle equipped with a passenger-side air bag when the seat is positioned with the occupant facing rearward. The safety seat includes a head protector configured to deflect a forward facing portion of the seat downward upon interaction with an inflating air bag. The child safety seat, when occupied, has a center of gravity that causes a belt retaining the seat to be tightened for proper retention of the child seat during a collision and subsequent air bag inflation. The child safety seat can include one or more longitudinal members to strengthen the seat, provide additional head and torso protection, and transfer impact forces away from the head protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: GA International, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Goor, Robert P. Harnisch, Robert L. Browne, Stephen T. Long
  • Patent number: 5454596
    Abstract: A body safety restraint apparatus used in a prisoner transportation vehicle for restraining and bracing prisoners against impact and movement within the transportation vehicle. The restraint apparatus includes a pivotal restraint frame and a locking mechanism. The restraint frame pivots between an entry position for allowing prisoners to enter the vehicle and a restraint position overlying the prisoners while in a seated position. The restraint frame includes a horizontal bar extending across the prisoners' upper bodies and a horizontal restraint extending across the prisoners' laps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Inventor: Ronald L. Dirck
  • Patent number: 5447356
    Abstract: A chair for disabled persons has a supporting frame, a seat adjustably connected to the supporting frame by a hinge, and a back adjustably connected by a hinge to the rear of the seat. The seat has a front section which lies beneath and supports the upper legs of an occupant, and a rear section which lies beneath and supports the pelvis of an occupant. The front and rear sections can be fixed and adjusted independently of each other due to a hinge which is parallel to the hinge at the rear of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: B.V. Linido
    Inventor: Christiaan J. Snijders
  • Patent number: 5395154
    Abstract: A foldable baby chair comprising a chair back, a chair seat pivotally connected to the chair back via a pivot assembly. The pivot assembly consists of a salient part, a recess part suitable for interfittingly engaging with the salient part, and a positioning assembly, allowing the chair back to be pivot relative to the chair seat and then positioned at a desired inclination by means of the positioning assembly. Substantially inverted U-shaped guard rails are separately connected to the chair back and the chair seat by means of pivot assemblies, so that the inverted U-shaped guard rails are allowed to pivot relative to the chair back or chair seat and can be positioned to different inclinations. Extensible and foldable handle, visor, and footrest can be pivotly connected to the chair back and chair seat, thereby allowing the baby chair to be otherwise used as a baby cart, carry-cot, carryall, suitcase, dining chair, rocking chair, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Inventor: Sheng-Feng Wang
  • Patent number: 5382074
    Abstract: A tray which spans between the armrests of a baby stroller is secured in a manner allowing attachment and detachment by use of side straps. The straps are connected to the stroller tray, two straps on each end, through a small slit in the side of the stroller tray. Thus allowing attachment to be achieved by wrapping the straps downward around the side frame rods of the baby stroller. The straps are releasable by pulling the two portions of the straps, which attach to each other, apart manually and thus detaching the stroller from the baby stroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Inventor: Barbara M. Pietra
  • Patent number: 5375879
    Abstract: A collapsible occupant restraint system for a vehicle sleeper. A net is fixedly mounted to a web framework. The framework is slidably mounted to a plurality of webs extendable and retractable by retracting devices. The net and webbing is extendable from a stored collapsed position to an in use position over a bed having buckles to lockingly engage a plurality of tongues mounted to the framework securing the occupant restraint system in the in use position. A pair of side belts pull the net upwardly increasing the passenger reclining space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffry L. Williams, Keith H. Freeman
  • Patent number: 5335964
    Abstract: A convertible child restrain seat is provided having a seat portion pivotally mounted to a base, the base including a spring biased slide bar having a post, the seat portion having an elongated member having a plurality of catches configured to mate with the post. Each catch corresponds with a different angle of inclination of the seat portion relative to the base. The post is thereby biased towards the catch to secure the seat portion at a selected angle of inclination. The angle can be adjusted by sliding the slide bar away from the catch and pivoting the seat portion between an upright position, a semi reclined position and an inclined position. An adjustable shield is also provided incorporating a cam actuated height adjustor to allow for shield position adjustment relative to the seat portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Century Products Company
    Inventors: Mark Sedlack, Frances Bernart
  • Patent number: 5310244
    Abstract: A lapboard is adapted to be fitted to a chair with two arms, where the lapboard is a generally flat surface with a cleat positioned to generally parallel to and close one arm of the chair and a second cleat positioned generally parallel to and close to the other arm of the chair, plus securing means for securing the lapboard to the chair. The lapboard is secured by one or two straps connected to the rear right and left of the lap board and looped around behind the occupant of the chair, preferably fastened by a quick release clip. A second strap connected to the front right and left of the lapboard can be looped around the arms to secure the front of the lapboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventor: Alvin G. Borgardt
  • Patent number: 5303979
    Abstract: In an infant-restraining protective seat, a cover seat (98) is tiltably supported on a turning shaft (20) which tiltably supports a seat back (3) on a seat portion (2). When the cover seat (98) is at a position at which it closes a second recess of a seat-portion body (7), the cover seat (98) forms a seat surface on the upper side of the seat-portion body (7). When the cover seat (98) is at a position at which it opens the second recess (14), the operation for fastening and unfastening a tongue (123) and buckle (124) of a seat belt device installed in a vehicle seat, which operation is performed in the second recess (14), can be performed with ease from above the front of the protective seat (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiro Koyanagi, Yayoi Hashimoto, Haruyuki Takagi
  • Patent number: 5286091
    Abstract: An arm assembly is movable from a stowed position adjacent one side of a vehicle seat toward the occupant to restrain the occupant in the seat and movable away from the occupant to the stowed position. The arm assembly has a first length when in the stowed position and a second length when restraining the occupant. The first length when the arm assembly is in the stowed position is less than the second length of the arm assembly when restraining the occupant. A motor-driven linear actuator moves the arm assembly from and to the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Craig A. Busch
  • Patent number: 5277043
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for vehicles has a member which is mountable above the upper surface of the seat portion of the driver's seat so that an unauthorized person cannot sit in the driver's seat when the device is mounted in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Inventor: Alexander Inashvili
  • Patent number: 5203612
    Abstract: A system for preventing a child from voluntarily or accidentally leaving the chair in which he or she is seated. The system provides a partial enclosure of the child's upper legs and lower torso, the enclosure being contoured to the general shape of these parts of a seated child. Also provided are a tenon sliding in a mortise and a pawl which engages ratchet teeth to permit adjusting the system for the size of the child and for locking the components of the system together during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Inventor: Annette L. Pokrzywinski
  • Patent number: 5129478
    Abstract: A restraining device for limiting forward movement of an operator of a wheeled mechanical vehicle in case of a collision includes two restraining bars pivotally mounted at opposite sides of a seat and extending toward one another. The restraining bars are mounted so as to pivot in a vertical plane about axes which are parallel to each other and lie on opposite sides of the seat. The restraining bars are synchronized or interlocked so that when one bar is raised or lowered by the occupant of the seat the other bar is also moved. A lock or retention device on one side of the seat holds the restraining bars in the lowered or raised position after they have been positioned by the occupant. The vehicle may be a forklift or front end loader and the run controls and load controls of the vehicle are interlocked with the synchronizing mechanism so that the run and load controls cannot be operated when the restraining bars are not in the occupant restraining position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Toyo Umpanki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Suenaga, Osamu Uno, Koji Hirose
  • Patent number: 5125718
    Abstract: A child safety harness has a pair of lap straps and a pair of shoulder straps interconnected by an impact pad which comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. Coupling means connects the upper portion to the lower portion in a plurality of alternative mutually overlapping positions so as to vary the distance between the upper edge of the upper portion and the lower edge of the lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignees: Britax Romer Kindersicherheit GmbH, Britax-Excelsior Limited
    Inventors: Waldemar Czernakowski, Hermann Wetter, Richard E. C. Marton
  • Patent number: 5100173
    Abstract: A restraining device for a U-shaped lap bar on a bumper car, the ends of which are pivotally mounted to the bumper car, is adapted to rest on the laps of the passengers and is movable to an over-center elevated position. A pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly is pivoted at one of its ends to the U-shaped lap bar and pivoted at its other end to a support bracket at a point thereon spaced with respect to a center line of the lap bar to which it is attached so that movement of the lap bar moves the piston to compress gas in the cylinder whereby pressure in the pneumatic cylinder holds the lap bar in restraint in lower position and in elevated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Kudler
  • Patent number: 5080439
    Abstract: An infant restraining chair for installation in a corner or other compact area of a bathroom, for restraining an infant while the infant's guardian makes use of bathroom facilities. A chair supporting and surrounding a substantial portion of an infant's body is mounted on top of a column having a cross-section of a generally triangular shape. Arcuate seat belt portions of substantially rigid construction are maintained in a body of the chair normally in a position retracted into the chair, but are selectably extendable out of the chair body to encircle and restrain an infant seated in the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Combi Corporation
    Inventors: Takehiko Takahashi, Yuji Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5061012
    Abstract: A child car seat having an improved restraint system in which the restraint system may be easily connected and disconnected, automatically placed about the child in the proper position, and automatically adjusted to properly secure the child within the seat. The restraint system includes a pivotal barrier assembly, a harness assembly, and an adjusting assembly, each of which is interconnected. As a portion of the barrier assembly is pivoted into a position in front of the child, the harness assembly is automatically placed upon the child in the proper position. Moreover, the harness assembly is automatically adjusted about the child by the adjusting assembly. When the restraint system is in the locked position by locking of the barrier assembly, further loosening of the harness assembly is substantially prohibited by the adjusting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Gerry Baby Products Company
    Inventors: Robert M. Parker, Douglas Golenz, Roy E. Knoedler, Gregg Harvey
  • Patent number: 5007674
    Abstract: An apparatus adapted for use in conjunction with an infant car seat or similar device to provide a sun shade for an infant, the novel apparatus being of soft and flexible construction and being self-supporting and free of rigid structural components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Inventor: John Franc
  • Patent number: 4989891
    Abstract: A removable safety bar for a baby stroller is at both ends securable within each of both arms of a baby stroller. A hollow plastic arm of a baby stroller is provided with a hole formed with an inner flange. The removable safety bar includes a shaft covered with a foam rubber sleeve. To each end of the shaft is fitted and engaging means which secures within each of both arms of the baby stroller by means of an engaging piece which securely hooks over the inner flange formed in each arm and which is easily unhookable by a slight pressure applied to the engaging means with the fingers. During removal, the engaging means is slid back along the shaft until the notch is disengaged from the arm. A spring provided at the butt end of the shaft within the engaging piece provides a restorative force which causes the engaging means, upon removal, to slide back to its original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Inventor: Ming-Tai Huang
  • Patent number: 4984845
    Abstract: A child's car seat is provided that includes a seat belt assembly and a shield assembly. The seat belt assembly includes a seat belt that engages the lap of the child. A vehicle seat belt retains the car seat at the back of the vehicle seat. The seat belt of the child's car seat remains fixed in position once the child is secured in position. As a result, the child cannot extend the length of the seat belt and defeat its restraining purpose. The shield assembly can be positioned on either of two different sides to facilitate seating/unseating of the child in/from the car seat. The shield assembly can be removed whereby remaining portions of the car seat can be used with a vehicle lap belt to support and restrain the child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Gerry Baby Products Company
    Inventors: Roy E. Knoedler, William G. Au, Robert M. Parker