U.S. patent application number 11/121336 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-08 for child restraint system for a vehicle seat.
Invention is credited to Boyle, Donald C., Foye, Christopher W., Gray, Larry E., Scelsi, John David, Vits, Charles G..
Application Number | 20050269846 11/121336 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46301433 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050269846 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vits, Charles G. ; et
al. |
December 8, 2005 |
Child restraint system for a vehicle seat
Abstract
A passenger vehicle seat and restraint system comprising a frame
mountable to a vehicle and a restraint member and a seat member
coupled to the frame to form a seat for supporting an occupant. The
vehicle seat may further comprise a seat back frame movably
attached to the frame and a restraint harness affixed to the frame
and the seat back frame for securing the occupant thereto.
Inventors: |
Vits, Charles G.; (Carmel,
IN) ; Foye, Christopher W.; (Indianapolis, IN)
; Gray, Larry E.; (Brownsburg, IN) ; Boyle, Donald
C.; (Indianapolis, IN) ; Scelsi, John David;
(Westfield, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARNES & THORNBURG
11 SOUTH MERIDIAN
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46204
|
Family ID: |
46301433 |
Appl. No.: |
11/121336 |
Filed: |
May 3, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11121336 |
May 3, 2005 |
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10245983 |
Sep 17, 2002 |
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6886889 |
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10245983 |
Sep 17, 2002 |
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09734361 |
Dec 11, 2000 |
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6485098 |
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09734361 |
Dec 11, 2000 |
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09479197 |
Jan 7, 2000 |
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09479197 |
Jan 7, 2000 |
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09183088 |
Oct 30, 1998 |
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6123388 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/216.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/242 20130101;
B60N 2/688 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/216.1 |
International
Class: |
B60N 002/42; B60R
021/00; A47C 015/00 |
Claims
1-118. (canceled)
119. A child restraint system for a vehicle seat comprising: a
frame rigidly mounted to a vehicle, the frame supporting a seat
bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a first seat back
member having one end movably mounted to the frame and an opposite
end and a second seat back member fixedly mounted to the frame, the
second seat back member having a front surface extending upwardly
away from the seat bottom and configured to receive the first seat
back member; and an anchorage mounted to said first seat back
member near said opposite end thereof, wherein said anchorage is
configured to mount an add-on child restraint system thereto.
120. The child restraint system of claim 119 wherein said anchorage
comprises a D-ring.
121. The child restraint system of claim 119 wherein said anchorage
comprises a loop.
122-128. (canceled)
129. A child restraint system for a vehicle seat comprising: a
frame rigidly mounted to a vehicle, the frame supporting a seat
bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a first seat back
member having one end movably mounted to the frame and an opposite
end and a second seat back member fixedly mounted to the frame, the
second seat back member having a front surface extending upwardly
away from the seat bottom and configured to receive the first seat
back member; one or more lower anchorages mounted to said frame;
and an upper anchorage mounted to said first seat back member near
said opposite end thereof and configured to cooperate with said one
or more lower anchorages to mount an add-on child restraint system
to said first seat back member.
130. The child restraint system of claim 129 wherein said upper
anchorage comprises a loop.
131-140. (canceled)
141. A child restraint system for a vehicle seat comprising: a
frame rigidly mounted to a vehicle, the frame supporting a seat
bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a first seat back
member having one end movably mounted to the frame and an opposite
end and a second seat back member fixedly mounted to the frame, the
second seat back member having a front surface extending upwardly
away from the seat bottom and configured to receive the first seat
back member; and one or more lower anchorages mounted to said
frame, wherein the one or more lower anchorages are configured to
mount to an add-on child restraint system.
142. The child restraint system of claim 141 wherein the add-on
child restraint system comprises a portable child seat.
143. The child restraint system of claim 142 wherein said portable
child seat is a rear-facing portable child seat.
144-152. (canceled)
153. The child restraint system of claim 119 wherein said anchorage
comprises a buckle and tongue combination.
154. The child restraint system of claim 119 wherein said add-on
child restraint system includes a portable child seat having a rear
tether configured to engage said anchorage.
155. The child restraint system of claim 154 wherein said portable
child seat is a front-facing portable child seat.
156. The child restraint system of claim 154 wherein said portable
child seat is a rear-facing portable child seat.
157. The child restraint system of claim 129 wherein said upper
anchorage comprises a D-ring.
158. The child restraint system of claim 129 wherein said anchorage
comprises a buckle and tongue combination.
159. The child restraint system of claim 129 wherein said seat
bottom and said seat back define a bight therebetween, and wherein
said one or more lower anchorages extend from said bight.
160. The child restraint system of claim 129 wherein said one or
more lower anchorages each comprise a D-ring.
161. The child restraint system of claim 129 wherein said add-on
child restraint system includes a portable child seat having a rear
tether configured to engage said upper anchorage and at least one
of said one or more lower anchorages, and further having a lower
anchor strap configured to engage said one or more lower
anchorages.
162. The child restraint system of claim 161 wherein said portable
child seat is a front-facing portable child seat.
163. The child restraint system of claim 161 wherein said portable
child seat is a rear-facing portable child seat.
164. The child restraint system of claim 142 wherein said portable
child seat is a front-facing portable child seat.
165. The child restraint system of claim 141 wherein said seat
bottom and said seat back define a bight therebetween, and wherein
said one or more lower anchorages extend from said bight.
166. The child restraint system of claim 141 wherein said one or
more lower anchorages each comprise a D-ring.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/734,361, filed Dec. 11, 2000,
and titled Restraint System for a School Bus Seat, now U.S. Pat.
No. ______, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 09/479,197, filed Jan. 7, 2000, which in turn is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/183,088 filed Oct. 30,
1998, and titled Restraint System for a School Bus Seat, now U.S.
Pat. No. 6,123,388, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference. This application claims the benefit of and priority to
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/362,203, filed
Mar. 5, 2002, and titled Child Restraint System, the disclosure of
which is also hereby incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is in the field of passenger restraint
systems used to provide a protective passenger environment
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0003] Conventional seat belt systems combining a lap belt and an
upper torso belt are well known. These three-point restraint
systems are usually used with seats offering rigid support for the
belts. As typically used in a vehicle, the three-point restraint
system consists of single belt having its opposite ends mounted to
a pair of retractors with a seat belt tongue connected to the belt
intermediate to the belt ends. The tongue may be swung across the
person and engaged with a buckle affixed to the seat thereby
positioning one portion of the belt across the lap and another
portion of the belt across the upper torso. In some systems, only
one end of the belt is mounted to a retractor while the other end
is anchored to the seat or vehicle. Seat belts are active restraint
devices, requiring a passenger to actively engage the restraints
for them to be effective.
[0004] School bus passenger seats usually do not employ active
restraint safety devices, but instead rely on a passive restraint
seat design. School bus passenger seats are built to specifications
conforming to the safety standards set by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, DOT. These are codified as 49 C.F.R.
Ch.V, .sctn. 571.222, Standard No. 222, and require that the seat
back bend or deflect forward when a force is applied to the rear of
the seat back. The code further specifies that 4000 W inch-pounds
of energy must be absorbed within a maximum forward deflection of
the seat back of 14 inches and 2800 W inch-pounds be absorbed
within a maximum rearward deflection of the seat back of 10 inches
where W represents the number of seating positions for which the
seat is designed. 49 C.F.R., Ch.V, .sctn. 571.222, S5.1.3-5.1.4.
The code specifies a passive restraint system, and does not require
any sort of active restraints, such as a two-point passenger
restraining lap belt or a three-point passenger restraining lap
belt and torso harness combination. Children riding the school bus
are protected in head-on collisions by the seat back in front of
them deflecting forward and absorbing some of their forward
momentum.
[0005] Vehicles with deforming or deflecting seats provide special
problems regarding the integration of active restraint seat belt
systems. Passive restraint systems are designed to protect a
passenger who has been thrown forward by having the impacted seat
back deflect upon impact of the thrown passenger and absorb some of
their momentum. In a school bus seat combining active and passive
restraint systems, both of the restraint systems have to be able to
perform their functions and the seat must still conform to the
regulations set forth in 49 C.F.R.
[0006] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,476, there is disclosed an automotive
seat having a tower frame associated with the harness to transmit
impact loads to the floor. Despite the prior devices, there is
still a need for increased protection for children riding the
school bus in an emergency or crash situation. The addition of an
active restraint system, such as a three-point lap belt and torso
harness combination, would provide enhanced passenger protection in
a head-on crash as well as providing passenger protection in a
broadside collision and/or roll situation. Disclosed herein is a
three-point lap belt and torso harness passenger restraint system
that is compatible with the pivoting and deflecting seats required
by 49 C.F.R.
[0007] Conventional seat belt systems combining a lap belt and an
upper torso belt are well known. These three-point restraint
systems are usually used with seats offering rigid support for the
belts. As typically used in a vehicle, the three-point restraint
system consists of single belt having its opposite ends mounted to
a pair of retractors with a seat belt tongue connected to the belt
intermediate to the belt ends. The tongue may be swung across the
person and engaged with a buckle affixed to the seat thereby
positioning one portion of the belt across the lap and another
portion of the belt across the upper torso.
[0008] Three-point seat belt systems installed in vehicles by the
original manufacturer may be ineffective or unsafe when used by,
for example, infants, children, or those with physical handicaps.
Various types of add-on child restraint systems and harness
positioning restraint systems have been fashioned for use by these
users. For example, portable child seats for infants and children
up to about 50 pounds and booster seats for children between 30 and
60 pounds, mount to a vehicle for restraint of a child. Examples of
booster seats are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,654 to Stroud,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,834 to Silverman, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,604
to Kain, which are incorporated by reference herein The federal
government has mandated that child restraint anchorage systems be
installed in most vehicles, including cars, trucks, and certain
school buses. These regulations, codified at 49 C.F.R. .sctn.
571.225 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 225 or FMVSS 225),
incorporated herein by reference, require two lower anchorages and
an upper tether anchorage of specified configuration, location and
strength parameters. Similarly, 49 C.F.R. .sctn. 571.213 (FMVSS
213), incorporated herein by reference, specifies the dimensions of
tether hooks used to attach a tether strap to a tether anchorage.
Disclosed herein are supplemental restraint systems configured to
mount to vehicles in accordance with 49 C.F.R. .sctn..sctn. 571.225
and 571.213. These supplemental restraint systems may also be
compatible with the aforementioned 49 C.F.R. Ch.V, .sctn. 571.222,
Standard No. 222 (FMVSS 222), which is incorporated herein by
reference, and which is applicable to school bus seats.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In one embodiment of this invention a modular vehicle seat
comprises a frame defining a seat support surface, the frame
configured for mounting to a frame support structure of a vehicle.
The modular vehicle seat further comprises first and second posts
extending away from the seat support surface of the frame and
adjacent opposite ends of the frame. A seat member is mounted to
the seat support surface. A panel defining first and second
channels adjacent opposite edges of the panel defines a seat back
with the first and second posts received within the first and
second channels respectively.
[0010] In another embodiment, a modular vehicle seat comprises a
frame defining a seat support surface, the frame configured for
mounting to a frame support structure of a vehicle. The modular
vehicle seat further comprises first and second posts extending
away from the seat support surface of the frame and adjacent
opposite ends of the frame. A seat member is mounted to the seat
support surface. A panel is mounted to the first and second posts
and defines a seat back. The panel has a front surface adjacent the
seat member. The modular vehicle seat further comprises a seat back
frame member movably attached to the frame adjacent opposite ends
of the frame. The front surface of the panel is configured to
receive the seat back frame member therein. The seat back frame
member is movable away from the panel toward the seat member upon a
vehicle impact with sufficient severity.
[0011] In another embodiment a modular vehicle seat comprises a
frame defining a seat support surface, the frame configured for
mounting to a frame support structure of a vehicle. The modular
vehicle seat further comprises first and second posts extending
away from the seat support surface of the frame and adjacent
opposite ends of the frame. A seat member is mounted to the seat
support surface. A panel is mounted to the first and second posts
and defines a seat back. The panel has a front surface adjacent the
seat member. The modular vehicle seat further comprises a seat back
frame member movably attached to the frame adjacent opposite ends
of the frame. A seat base is movably mounted to the seat back frame
adjacent the seat member and is movable downwardly toward the seat
member to form a child seat. The front surface of the panel is
configured to receive the seat back frame member and the seat base
therein. The seat back frame member and the seat base are movable
away from the front surface of the panel toward the seat member
upon a vehicle impact with sufficient severity.
[0012] Additional features will become apparent to those skilled in
the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of
illustrative embodiments and features exemplifying the best mode of
carrying out the invention as presently perceived and various
combinations thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a bench seat frame
incorporating a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 1b is the same view as FIG. 1a with the addition of an
attached seat belt assembly.
[0015] FIG. 2a is a partial side elevation view of the embodiment
of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 2b is a front elevation view of the tower member of the
embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 2c is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1
coupled to a bench seat frame.
[0018] FIG. 2d is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1
mounted below a bench seat frame.
[0019] FIG. 3a is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation view of
the slot in the tower member of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 3b is an enlarged side fragmentary elevation view of
the slot in the tower member of FIG. 3a.
[0021] FIG. 3c is an enlarged side fragmentary elevation view of
the intersection of the tower member and the connecting member,
showing the rotation of the tower member.
[0022] FIG. 4a is a perspective view of a bench seat frame
incorporating a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 4b is the same view as FIG. 4a with the addition of an
attached seat belt assembly.
[0024] FIG. 5a is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG.
4a.
[0025] FIG. 5b is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG.
4b.
[0026] FIG. 5c is a partial front elevation view of the embodiment
of FIG. 4b.
[0027] FIG. 6a is a side elevation view of the connecting member of
the embodiment of FIG. 4a.
[0028] FIG. 6b is a front elevation view of one vertical piece of
the tower member of FIG. 4a.
[0029] FIG. 6c is a side elevation view of one vertical piece of
the tower member of FIG. 4a.
[0030] FIG. 7 an enlarged perspective view of the crossbar member
of the second embodiment of FIG. 4a.
[0031] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 4b.
[0032] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the illustrative embodiment
of the bench seat frame with a belt slack take-up device.
[0033] FIG. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the
left side of the bench seat frame of FIG. 9.
[0034] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the seat
portion and back portion of the frame in a pre-crash condition
taken generally along the line 11-11 of FIG. 9 and viewed in the
direction of the arrows.
[0035] FIG. 12 is the same view as FIG. 11 only showing the back
portion tilted forward in a crash condition with belt slack taken
up.
[0036] FIG. 13 is a fragmentary top view of the bench seat of FIG.
10.
[0037] FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the
line 14-14 of FIG. 10 and viewed in the direction of the
arrows.
[0038] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment
of the seat including the seat cushion.
[0039] FIG. 16 is a side perspective view of the seats depicted in
FIGS. 9 and 15.
[0040] FIG. 17 is a side schematic view of an illustrative
embodiment of a system of seats.
[0041] FIG. 18 is an exploded view of an illustrative embodiment of
a passive restraint seat.
[0042] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a frame assembly of the
illustrative embodiment of FIG. 18.
[0043] FIG. 20 is a bottom perspective view of an illustrative seat
member.
[0044] FIG. 21 is a rear perspective view of another illustrative
embodiment of a seat providing active and passive restraint of a
passenger and showing a partial cutaway of the passive restraint
back panel.
[0045] FIG. 22 is a front perspective view of the illustrative
embodiment of FIG. 21.
[0046] FIG. 23 is a side schematic view of an illustrative pivot
mechanism of the illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 21 and 22.
[0047] FIG. 24 is perspective view of another illustrative
embodiment including a partial exploded view of the pivot mechanism
of FIG. 23 and of a restraint mounting portion.
[0048] FIG. 25 is another perspective view of the illustrative
embodiment of FIG. 24 including a mounting back panel and passive
restraint back panel, both of which are partially cutaway.
[0049] FIG. 26 is a back perspective view of the illustrative
embodiment of FIG. 24.
[0050] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the illustrative embodiment
of FIG. 24 including cushion members and active restraint web
belts.
[0051] FIG. 28 is an exploded view of the cushion members of the
embodiments of FIGS. 18, 21, 27 and 29
[0052] FIG. 29 is a perspective view of another illustrative
embodiment of a seat restraint system.
[0053] FIG. 30 is a perspective view of an illustrative web
path-altering device.
[0054] FIG. 31 is a perspective view of another illustrative web
path-altering device.
[0055] FIG. 32 is a perspective view of another illustrative web
path-altering device.
[0056] FIG. 33 is a perspective view of another illustrative web
path-altering device.
[0057] FIG. 34 is a partial front view of an alternative connector
for use with any of the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 29-31 and
36-44.
[0058] FIG. 35 is a partial front view of another alternative
connector for use with any of the embodiments depicted in FIGS.
29,31, 33 and 36-44.
[0059] FIG. 36 is a front view of a seat having one illustrative
embodiment of a supplemental restraint incorporating the present
invention mounted thereto.
[0060] FIG. 37 is a front view of a seat having one illustrative
embodiment of a supplemental restraint incorporating the present
invention mounted thereto.
[0061] FIG. 38 is a front view of a seat having one illustrative
embodiment of a supplemental restraint incorporating the present
invention mounted thereto.
[0062] FIG. 39 is a front view of a child seat mounted to a vehicle
seat incorporating one illustrative embodiment incorporating the
present invention.
[0063] FIG. 40 is a front view of a child seat mounted to a vehicle
seat incorporating one illustrative embodiment incorporating the
present invention.
[0064] FIG. 41 is a front view of a seat having one illustrative
embodiment of a restraint harness incorporating the present
invention mounted thereto.
[0065] FIG. 42 is a front view of a seat having one illustrative
embodiment of a restraint harness incorporating the present
invention mounted thereto.
[0066] FIG. 43 is a front view of a seat having one illustrative
embodiment of a restraint harness incorporating the present
invention mounted thereto.
[0067] FIG. 44 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat
incorporating one illustrative embodiment of a positioning harness
system according to the present invention.
[0068] FIG. 45 is a front view of a vehicle seat having a child
restraint seat mounted rearwardly thereon according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0069] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the
principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the
embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will
be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood
that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby
intended, such alterations and further modifications in the
illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles
of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would
normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention
relates.
[0070] Referring now more particularly to the drawings, FIGS. 1
through 3 show a three-point restraint system 120 incorporating a
first and illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The
restraint system 120 is designed to restrain two passengers sitting
side by side: The restraint system 120 includes a tower member 121
movably coupled to a connecting member 122, and is adapted to be
mounted to a conventional school bus passenger seat frame 123.
Tower member 121 is adapted to move independently relative to seat
frame 123. Preferably, tower member 121 is adapted to pivot
relative to seat frame 123. The members comprising restraint system
120 are formed from steel or any convenient structural material.
Seat frame 123 includes a seat support portion 124 connected to a
seat back portion 125 and also connected to a leg portion 126
adapted to be affixed to a surface, such as the floor of a school
bus. Seat support portion 124 is typically formed from one or more
bent metal tubes 127 and includes a front portion 128 and a rear
portion 129. Seat support portion 124 may be wrapped or embedded in
a cushion upon which a passenger may sit. Seat back 125 portion,
also formed from bent metal tubes 127, may likewise be
cushioned.
[0071] Connecting member 122 is formed having a rectangular
cross-sectional shape 130, although in other embodiments connecting
member 122 may have any convenient cross-sectional shape. Tower
member 121 has a top end 131 and a bottom end 132. Bottom end 132
includes a slot 133 shaped to accept connecting member 122 and a
pair of parallel apertures 134 perpendicular to slot 133 through
which rear portion 129 of seat support portion 124 may pass to
couple tower member 121 to seat frame 123. Tower member 121 lies in
the plane defined by seat back portion 125 with the top end of
tower member 121 extending substantially into seat back portion
125.
[0072] Connecting member 122 has a front end 137 and a rear end
138, and includes a rear aperture 140 through which rear portion
129 may extend to mount connecting member 122 to seat 123.
Connecting member 122 is inserted into slot 133 in tower member
121. In operation, tower member apertures 134 may be aligned
coincident with connecting member rear aperture 140 enabling rear
metal tube 129 to be passed therethrough, coupling tower member 121
and connecting member 122 to seat support portion 123 and to each
other. Connecting member 122 further includes front aperture 141
through which front portion 128 extends, mounting connecting member
122 to seat 123. (See FIG. 2c) Alternatively, connecting member 122
may be affixed to seat support portion 124 by any convenient
fastening means (See FIG. 2d)
[0073] In operation, connecting member 122 lies in the plane
defined by seat support portion 124. Both tower member 121 and
connecting member 122 may be embedded in cushions that
simultaneously provide passenger comfort and prevent restraint
system 120 from moving or jiggling. In the illustrative embodiment,
tower member 121 is pivotally coupled to seat support portion 124.
A stop means operable to limit the movement of tower member 121 is
provided by the presence of connecting member 122 in slot 133,
which limits the pivot angle 139 (see FIG. 3c) through which tower
member 121 may be rotated. While the illustrative stop means is
connecting member 122 filling slot 133, any convenient stop means
may be used. It is preferable that the pivot angle 139 through
which tower member 121 may pivot is acute. It is more preferable
that the pivot angle 139 be about 17 degrees, corresponding to the
maximum allowed deflection of seat back portion 125 caused by two
unbelted passengers striking seat back 125 from behind and two
belted passengers pulling on tower member 121 from the front. Slot
133 preferably extends through tower member 121 at a slight angle
to the normal, such that when connecting member 122 engages tower
member 121 connecting member 122 may rest in the horizontal plane
of seat support portion 124 while tower member 121 remains tilted
backwards a few degrees to the vertical. (See FIG. 3c) In this
embodiment, the dimensions of connecting member 122 and slot 133
are sized relative to each other such that tower member 121 may
rotate forward through a maximum of 17 degrees. (See FIG. 3c)
[0074] Restraint system 120 also includes anchor wing 143 connected
to connecting member 122. A seat belt anchor 144 is fixedly
attached to anchor wing 143, becoming one point of a three-point
restraint. (See FIG. 1b) Seat belt anchor 144 connects lap belt 145
terminating in a tongue 146 to seat frame 123. Alternatively, two
seat belt retractors could be attached to both anchor wings 143,
retractably connecting lap belts 145 thereto. Restraint system 120
further includes a buckle 147 fixedly attached to seat support
portion 124 and adapted to lockingly engage tongue 146. Restraint
system 120 further includes a pair of guides 148, such as, a
conventional D-loop, attached near the top of tower member 121. A
pair of torso belt retractors 149 are connected to tower member
121, each housing a torso belt 150 and becoming the second point of
the three-point restraint. The torso belt 150 is extended upwardly
through guide 148 and downwardly across the torso of a seated
passenger. The extending end of torso belt 150 also connects to
tongue 146. When tongue 146 is locked in buckle 147, buckle 147
becomes the third point of the three-point restraint.
Alternatively, a single belt (not shown) may extend between
retractor 149 and anchor 144 with a tongue (not shown) slideably
mounted intermediate thereto. In operation, the invention adds
active passenger restraint protection to the passive restraint
already provided by the deflecting school bus seats. Tower member
121 does not interfere with the passive restraint function of the
seat back 125, since tower member 121 is adapted to pivot forward
along with the seat back 125 in response to a rear impact. Seat
back portion 125 deflects forward in response to a forward force
applied thereto consisting of a passenger located rearward of the
seat back portion 125 impacting seat back portion 125 and/or a
forward force applied to support tower 121 via torso belt 150 by a
seated passenger pulling against the torso belt 150.
[0075] Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in
FIGS. 4 through 8. In this embodiment, the restraint system 220
includes a tower member 221, a connecting member 222, and a
crossbar member 252 and is adapted to be mounted to a seat frame
223. Seat frame 223 includes a seat support portion 224 connected
to a seat back portion 225. Seat frame 223 is also connected to a
seat leg portion 226 adapted to be affixed to a surface, such as a
school bus floor. Seat support portion 224 is made of bent metal
tubing and includes a front portion 228. Rod member 229 extends
transversely across seat back portion 225 substantially within the
plane defined by seat support portion 224. Seat frame 223 may be
wrapped or embedded in cushioning material to provide passenger
comfort.
[0076] Harness support assembly is made up of tower member 221,
connecting member 222, and crossbar member 252, and is mountable to
seat frame 223. When so mounted, tower member 221 lies
substantially in the plane defined by seat back portion 225, and
extends through the plane defined by the seat support portion 224.
Rear end 238 of connecting member 222 connects to tower member 221
below the plane defined by seat support portion 224. Front end 237
of connecting member 222 connects to front portion 228 of seat
support portion 224. In this embodiment, front end 237 of
connecting member 222 features front aperture 241 (FIG. 6a) through
which front portion 228 of seat support portion 224 extends. Tower
member 221 is pivotally mounted to seat support portion 224 at
pivot point 253. In order to accommodate two passengers, a pair of
harness assemblies is provided, each with a tower member 221,
connecting member 222 and crossbar members 252 and 254.
[0077] Rod member 229 extends through tower member 221 and crossbar
members 252 and 254. In the illustrative embodiment, crossbar
member 252 includes two parallel plates lying substantially within
the plane of the seat support portion 224 and extending from the
front portion 228 to the rod member 229. Proximal end 255 (FIG. 7)
of crossbar member 252 includes substantially circular apertures
265 through which front portion 228 of seat frame 223 extends.
Distal end 256 of crossbar member 252 includes circular apertures
266 through which rod member 229 extends at pivot point 253. In
this embodiment a crossbar coupling member 257 (FIG. 8) connects
the plates of member 252. Likewise, a second connecting member 254
is provided consisting of two plates being connected to the second
tower member in the same manner as described for member 252.
[0078] Tower member 221 comprises a pair of substantially
vertically disposed members 258 (FIG. 5c), connected by tower
coupling member 260. In other embodiments, tower member 221 may
comprise a different number of vertical members. Likewise, in this
embodiment connecting member 222 comprises two interconnected
portions 259 (see FIG. 5c).
[0079] Each connecting member 222 includes a slot 270 (see FIG. 4a)
at rear end 238. A pin 272 extends through slots 270 with the
opposite pin ends fixed to vertical members 258. The pin slideably
connects members 222 to the tower 221. In normal operation, tower
member 221 rests within the plane of the seat back 225, tilted
slightly rearwards with the pin 272 positioned at the forward end
273 (see FIG. 6a) of the slot 270. As tower member pivots about
pivot point 253, pin 272 moves towards the rear of slot 270.
Pivoting of tower member 221 is halted when pin 272 reaches rear
end 274 of slot 270. The length of slot 270 determines the maximum
angle through which tower member 221 may pivot. In this embodiment,
the length of the slot 270 is such that the maximum angle through
which the tower member 221 may pivot is 17 degrees.
[0080] As in the previous embodiment, restraint system 220 also
includes guides 248 connected near the top end 231 of tower member
221. Seat belt retractors 249 (FIG. 5b) are fixedly attached to the
two vertical members of tower 221. Each seat belt retractor 249
house a torso belt 250, which connect to a tongue 246 in turn
connected to lap belt 245. Restraint system 220 also includes a
buckle 247 fixedly attached to seat support portion 224 and adapted
to lockingly engage tongue 246. Torso belt 250 is extended upwardly
from torso belt retractor 249 through guide 248 and downwardly
across the torso of a seated passenger while lap belt 245 extends
horizontally across the passenger's lap. Alternately, a single belt
(not shown) may extend between retractor 249 to anchor 244 with a
belt tongue slideably mounted intermediate thereto.
[0081] Many variations are contemplated and included in the present
invention. In addition to those described in relation to the above
embodiments, the present system contemplates including means for
preventing premature forward deployment of the tower member 221
relative to the seat back. For example, the top end of tower 221
may be connected to seat back portion 225 limiting relative motion
therebetween until sufficient force breaks the top end of the tower
apart from the seat back portion.
[0082] The preferred embodiment of the restraint system is shown in
FIGS. 9-15. School bus seat 300 includes a main frame 304 with a
pair if front legs 301 and 302 and a pair of rear legs 303. The
legs extend upwardly being joined to main frame 304 having a front
member 305 integrally joined to a pair if rearwardly extending
horizontal members 306, 307, and 309. A tubular member 308 has
opposite ends integrally joined to side members 306 and 307 with
center member 309 extending between and integrally joined to front
member 305 and cylindrical member 308. A pair of flanges 310 and
311 are integrally joined tot he cylindrical member 38 and the
opposite sides of member 309.
[0083] Frame 304 forms the frame for the seat portion of the seat
whereas a second frame 312 forms the frame for the back portion of
the seat. Frame 312 includes a horizontally extending tubular
portion 313 integrally joined to a pair of downwardly extending
tubular portions 314 and 315 forming a single frame, in turn,
having bottom ends integrally joined to frame 304. Frames 304 and
312 are located within the cushion respectively of the seat portion
and back portion of the seat tubular portions 314 and 315 are
rigid; however, will bend forward as forward impact pressure is
applied to the back portion of the seat forcing the back portion of
the seat about its bottom end toward the seat portion of the
seat.
[0084] Upwardly extending towers 316 and 317 are located
immediately inward of frame portions 314 and 315; Tower 316 is
mounted to and between plates 355 and 356 (FIG. 10) which have
holes 380 (FIG. 9) through which tube 308 freely extends allowing
the tower to pivot on tube 308 in the direction of arrow 322 to and
from the seat portion of frame 304. Tower 317 is mounted in a
similar manner. The top ends of towers 316 and 317 are joined
together by horizontally extending member 323: Flanges 324 and 325
are integrally attached to the top ends of towers 316 and 317 and
provide guides through which the webs extend. Wall 339 is fixedly
mounted to frame 312 and member 323 preventing member 323 from
moving behind frame 312. Wall 339 breaks when forward force is
applied to either frame 312 or towers 316/317 allowing independent
movement of towers 316/317 relative to frame 312.
[0085] Box constructions 381 and 382 extend between and are fixedly
attached to rear member 308 and front member 305. Each box
construction supports a plurality of stationary bearings and a web
retractor. Box construction 381 and 382 include respectively inner
plates 328 and 329 having rear ends integrally secured to member
308 and front ends fixedly secured to member 305. Likewise, box
constructions 381 and 382 have outwardly located members,
respectively 330 and 331 integrally secured and extending between
members 308 and 305. Retractor plates 326 and 327 are secured
respectively to members 328 and 330 and members 329 and 331. Two
conventional inertia locking retractors are respectively mounted to
and beneath plates 326 and 327 with the web of each retractor
extending rearwardly toward tubular member 308.
[0086] Each box construction 381 and 382 have three stationary
bearings with their opposite ends fixedly attached to the inner
member and outer member of each box construction. For example,
bearings 332, 333 and 334 (FIG. 10) have first ends fixedly
attached to inner member 328 and second ends fixedly attached to
outer member 330. Retractor 335 (FIG. 11) is fixedly attached to
and beneath plate 326 and has web 336 extending rearwardly over
stationary bearings 332-334 but beneath movable bearings 337 and
338. Web 336 continues around tubular member 308 extending upwardly
behind tower 316 to the top of the tower. The web then extends over
a bearing surface at the top of the tower and freely through a
loop, such as flange 324 (FIG. 9) with the distal end 340 of web
336 being fixedly attached to the rear corner 341 of frame 304.
[0087] A conventional seat belt buckle tongue 342 is slidably
mounted to web 336 and is lockingly engagable with a conventional
seat belt buckle 343, in turn, attached by web 344 to flange 310.
Thus, with web 344 extending upward through the seat cushion,
tongue 342 may lockingly engage buckle 343 forcing the web across
the shoulder and chest of the occupant residing on the seat and
then across the lap of the occupant. Web 336 therefore includes a
chest portion 395 and a lap portion 345 when the tongue is secured
to the buckle. Web 336 extends outward of the cushion forming the
back portion of the seat. An identical retractor web combination is
provided on the right side of the seat as viewed in FIG. 9 relative
to tower 317 and box construction 382.
[0088] When force is applied in a forward direction to the rear of
the seat by a passenger located behind seat 300, frame portions 314
and 315 are pushed forward bending and pivoting about their bottom
ends. Frame portions 314 and 315 are sufficiently rigid to hold the
seat back portion in an upright position but sufficiently weak to
bend when rearward force is applied thereto thereby being in
compliance with the safety standards set by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration as discussed in the Description of
the Prior Art herein. If a seat 300 is occupied then the forward
motion of the passenger on seat 300 will apply forward force via
web 336 to tower 316 rupturing breakable wall 339 allowing the
tower to pivot independent of frame 312. Towers 316 and 317 are
pivotally mounted to tube 308 thereby allowing the towers to pivot
forward towards the seat portion or frame 304 of the seat. A pair
of stop flanges 350 and 351 are fixedly attached respectively to
towers 316 and 317 and project forwardly of the towers. The stop
Flanges are designed to allow only a limited amount of forward
pivotal motion of the towers. Once the stop flanges contact members
330 and 331, additional forward pivotal motion of the towers and
frame 312 is prevented.
[0089] Stop flange 350 will now be described it being understood
that a similar description applies to stop flange 351. Stop flange
350 includes a pair of spaced apart walls 355 and 356 (FIG. 10)
fixedly secured to the opposite sides of the bottom of tower 316. A
wall 357 has opposite ends fixedly attached to walls 355 and 356
and extends therebetween. Wall 357 is elevated and spaced apart
from the top surface of member 330 when the tower is in the erect
or normal position. Wall 357 is spaced apart from the top surface
of member 330 to only allow a predetermined amount of forward
pivotal motion of the tower unit the wall contacts the top surface
of member 330 thereby preventing further pivotal motion of the
tower and frame 312. The amount of forward pivotal motion of the
tower is designed to be in accordance with the deflection
requirements of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
specifications as previously discussed.
[0090] A web slack take-up device is mounted within each box
construction 381 and 382. The web slack take-up device 360 (FIG.
13) positioned within box construction 381 will now be described it
being understood that a similar description applies to the web
slack take-up device positioned within box construction 382. device
360 includes a bottom wall 361 secured to a pair of upwardly
extending side walls 362 and 363 between which are fixedly mounted
a pair of bearings 337 and 338. Web 336 extends between bearings
337 and 338 and the three stationary bearings 332-334 (FIG. 11).
The proximal ends of walls 362 and 363 are fixedly attached to
sleeve 318 and are designed to pivot around tube 308. Tube 308
extends freely through sleeve 318 (FIG. 9) and sleeve 319 of the
slack take up device mounted within box construction 382. Walls 362
and 363 have cut out portions 386 and 387 (FIG. 11) preventing
interference of walls 362 and 363 with stationary bearings 333 and
332 when the tower is in the erect position.
[0091] Towers 316 and 317 cause the slack take-up device to pivot
downwardly as the towers pivot toward the seat portion of the seat;
however, pivotal movement of the towers in an opposite direction
away from the seat portion does not cause the slack take-up-devices
to pivot to their original positions. Each tower includes a
projection contactable with a projection extending outwardly from
sleeves 318 and 319. For example, tower 316 includes projection 370
(FIG. 14) extending inwardly whereas sleeve 318 includes projection
371 extending outwardly toward tower 316: Thus, when tower 316
pivots in a counter clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 14,
projection 370 contacts projection 371 causing sleeve 318 and
bearings 337 and 338 to pivot therewith in a counter clockwise
direction removing slack from the web. Movement of tower 316 in a
clockwise direction simply moves projection 370 apart from
projection 371 without moving sleeve 318.
[0092] In operation, upon the occurrence of a crash, forward force
may or may not be applied to the rear of the seat by the passenger
located behind the seat. Forward force is applied however to web
336 by the occupant resting upon seat 300. With retractor 335
locked as the result of sensed deacceleration, forward force is
applied via the web to towers 316 and 317 causing the towers to
pivot forwardly toward the seat portion of the seat. Stops 350 and
351 of towers 316 and 317 limit the forward pivotal motion of the
towers. Simultaneously, the web slack take-up devices within each
box construction 381 and 382 pivot downward resulting in bearings
337 and 338 of each web slack take-up device contacting the
respective web of each retractor forcing the webs into a serpentine
path as depicted in FIG. 12 thereby removing any slack from the
webs. Even if an occupant is not resting upon seat 300, impact of a
passenger behind seat 300 upon the back portion of seat 300 will
cause frame 312 to bend and pivot toward the seat portion of the
seat to the maximum angle permitted by stops 350 and 351.
[0093] FIG. 15 illustrates seat 300 which has a seat cushion or
other enclosure 386 enclosing frame 304, a passenger restraint
cushion or other enclosure 383 enclosing frame 312 and a center
cushion or other enclosure 384 enclosing towers 316 and 317 along
with member 323. Slots 385 are provided in cushion 384 for the webs
to extend through. Cushion 383 is indented to receive cushion 384
to allow the center cushion 384 to pivot forward independent of
outer cushion 383 when force is applied to towers 316 and 317 by
occupant force being applied to the webs.
[0094] Many advantages flow from use of the preferred embodiment of
the invention. For example, webbing from a restrained occupant on
seat 300 simultaneously applies load to towers 316 and 317 causing
the towers to pivot forward while applying tension load to the
entire webbing length. That is, slack is removed from the webbing
surrounding the occupant by the downwardly pivoting slack take up
devices. Tension of the restraint is therefore increased around the
occupant. A large mechanical advantage is provided by the lengths
of the towers which exceed the length of the slack take up devices.
As the towers pivot downwardly along with bearings 337 and 338, the
tension increases proportionately thereby decreasing the occupant
forward acceleration rate proportionally. The increasing tension in
the lap portion of the web centers the occupant in proper seating
position during forward impact movement. Likewise, additional
tension in the web controls kinematic motion of the restrained
occupant so that the motion is straight during forward motion and
straight during rebound motion. The added tension in the web will
further cause the occupant to be in proper seating position after
the occupant motion is complete.
[0095] The system of FIG. 9 will not cause additional stiffness to
the seat back when the occupant is unrestrained or the seat is
unoccupied and thus, maintains the energy management capability for
any unrestrained occupant located behind seat 300. The system
preserves the under seat clearance for other vehicle features.
Likewise, the system will not require additional structure to the
seat back when the restrained or unrestrained occupant is forced
rearward into the seat back during impact.
[0096] FIG. 16 illustrates seat 300, as depicted in FIGS. 9 and 15,
with the center cushion 384 pivoted forward of the outer cushion
383. As previously described, the center cushion 384 encloses
upwardly extending towers 316 and 317, each tower having a top
portion and a bottom portion, and horizontally extending member 323
therebetween, which together form a pivotable third frame or seat
back frame 390 for supporting the center cushion 384 and for
supporting and guiding the web belt 336 as depicted in FIGS. 9, 15
and 16. The frame 390 together with center cushion 384 form a seat
back for supporting a passenger in seat 300, which seat back moves
together substantially as a unit as shown in FIG. 16. As described
above and depicted in FIGS. 9, 15 and 16, seat cushion 386 encloses
frame 304 to form the seat portion or seat bottom for supporting a
passenger.
[0097] Referring to FIG. 17, a system 398 of seats 300, as
previously described and depicted in FIGS. 9, 15 and 16, is
illustrated with the seats in a longitudinally oriented row. The
cushion 383 together with enclosed frame 312, as described and
depicted in FIGS. 9 and 15-17, form a passenger restrainer for an
unbelted passenger 396 or a belted passenger 397 sitting in any
seat 300 situated behind any other seat 300 as depicted in FIG. 17.
As illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, the cushion 383 has a rearwardly
facing surface 388. As illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, the cushion
383 also has a forwardly facing surface 389 of the cushion 383
facing forward.
[0098] Referring to FIG. 17, the operation of system 398 will be
expanded upon. As already noted, when a passenger 396, 397 sitting
behind a seat 300 applies a force forwardly toward rearwardly
facing surface 388 of seat 300, as in the event of a crash, then
the frame portions 314 and 315 of frame 312 deform, thereby
absorbing the energy of the forwardly moving passenger 396, 397. As
previously explained, if a forwardly moving passenger 397 is
wearing a seat belt 336, then the force of a crash will move the
passenger 397 against web belt 336 with force sufficient to rupture
breakable wall 339, or other frangible retaining means known to one
skilled in the art, allowing frame 390 and associated enclosing
cushion 384 to pivot forward independent of frame 312 until a stop
mechanism, such as previously described stop flanges 350 and 351 in
cooperation with contact members 330 and 331, stops the forward
movement of frame 390 and cushion 384. As previously noted,
although the belt 336 and associated take-up device 360 absorb some
of the passenger's 397 forward momentum, it will be appreciated
that, depending on the size of belted passenger 397 and the force
that passenger 397 applies on the web 336, the passenger 397 may or
may not impact surface 388 in a crash. It will also be appreciated
that the frangible retaining means 339 may be designed to rupture
at varying amounts of force. Also, because the forward movement of
frame 390 and cushion 384 is independent of frame 312, frame 312
and associated cushion 383 remain in place to absorb the energy of
a passenger 396 or 397, whether belted or not, sitting in the seat
behind the seat of a belted passenger 397. The phantom rendition of
cushion 383 in FIG. 17 depicts the cushion 383 prior to contact by
the forwardly moving passenger 396.
[0099] If a passenger 396 is not wearing a belt 336, then a crash
will not move the passenger 396 against the web 336 and the
retaining means 339 will therefore not break. In such a case,
cushion 384 will remain within cushion 383 thereby pivoting forward
with frame portions 314 and 315 and cushion 383 in the event that a
passenger sitting behind impacts the rearwardly facing surface 388.
Similarly, if a passenger sitting behind an empty seat applies
forward pressure against the rearwardly facing surface 388 of such
an empty seat, then frame 390 and cushion 384 will remain within
frame 312 and cushion 383 and will not impede the movement of, but
rather, will move forward with, frame portions 314 and 315.
[0100] Referring to FIGS. 18-20 another illustrative seat restraint
is depicted. Vehicle seat restraint system 400 is an illustrative
modular seat comprising a frame assembly 410, a floor mount
assembly 430, a passenger restraint member or panel 440, and a seat
member 470. Illustratively, frame 410 comprises a pair of spaced
apart and generally vertically extending members or upright posts
411 and 412, sideform members 413 and 414, longitudinally extending
front member or rail 415, longitudinally extending rear member 416,
a pair of transversely extending side cross-member rails or struts
417 and 418, and a transversely extending central cross-member tube
or strut 419. Sideforms 413, 414 are of a generally elbow-shaped
and concave construction having an open sided L-shaped lodgment
area 490 including a vertical portion extending upwardly from the
bend in the elbow and having an open top end distal from the bend,
and a horizontal portion extending transversely away from the bend
and having an open reduced-neck end 426 distal therefrom. Each
sideform includes a plurality of mounting apertures 423 and
mounting slots 439. Posts 411 and 412, front member 415, and side
cross-members 417, 418 each have a generally elongated and concave
or C-shaped construction having open opposing ends and including a
base wall with opposing lips protruding away therefrom and
generally perpendicular thereto. Front member 415 thus has an
open-sided and open-ended channel 491 extending the length of the
member, and cross members 417, 418 each have an open-sided and
open-ended channel 492 extending their respective lengths.
Illustratively, the longitudinally extending rear member 416 and
the center cross-strut 419 are of tubular construction
characterized by a generally rectangular cross-section having a
hollow core.
[0101] The L-shaped lodgment area is configured to receive into the
open-ended vertical portion of the lodgment area 490 the posts 411,
412, and into the horizontal portion of the lodgment area 490 the
rear member 416 and the side cross-struts 417, 418. Illustratively,
the posts 411, 412 fit snugly into the vertical portion of the
L-shaped lodgment area 490 of their respective sideforms 413, 414.
In addition, the posts 411, 412 and their respective sideform 413,
414 are affixed or coupled together, as by, for example, welding at
the point of intersection 420. It will be appreciated that the
posts 411, 412 and sideforms 413, 414 alternatively could be of
monolithic construction. It further will be appreciated that posts
411, 412 may but need not be parallel one to the other. It will be
apparent to one skilled in the art that the posts 411, 412 need not
be affixed to the opposite ends of the frame 410 as just described,
but rather that they may be affixed to the frame 410 adjacent to
its opposite ends.
[0102] The opposing ends of rear member 416 fit one each into the
elbow portion of each sideform 413, 414 such that each opposing end
is generally aligned below and distal from said open top end and is
generally distal from said open transverse end as best seen in FIG.
19. Each side cross-strut 417, 418 fits into the horizontal portion
of the L-shaped lodgment area 490 of its respective sideform 413,
414 with their respective open sides 490, 492 adjacent to and
facing toward each other thereby forming a unified member
characterized by a generally rectangular cross section having a
hollow core. Each cross-member 417, 418 is affixed or coupled to
its respective sideform 413, 414 and to the rear member 416, which,
in turn, is also coupled to the sideforms 413, 414. Central
cross-member 419 is coupled to rear member 416 such that it is
spaced apart from and disposed between side cross-members 417, 418.
Front member 415 is configured to receive within its channel 491,
and couple therewith, the neck-down ends of each of the sideforms
413, 414, and each of the cross-member 417, 418, 419 ends distal
from the rear member 416. The reduced neck or notch portion 426 of
each sideform 413, 414 is sized to provide a snug and generally
flush fit with the front rail member 415 in both the horizontal and
vertical planes. When so interconnected or assembled, the elongate
members 413, 414, 415, 416, 419 define a seat support surface.
Illustratively, the frame 410 couplings just described are
accomplished by welding, however, other methods of coupling such as
the use of bolts, rivets, or other fasteners may be used.
[0103] The frame assembly 410 may be attached to a frame support
structure of a vehicle by one or more vehicle frame mounting
members such as for example floor mount assembly 430 for mounting
to the floor of the vehicle, or wall mount assembly or bracket 437
(FIGS. 26-28) for mounting to a sidewall of the vehicle, or a
combination thereof. As best seen in FIG. 18, floor mount assembly
430 comprises a pedestal 431, and a pair of pedestal reinforcement
brackets 432. Each pedestal 431 includes a plurality of frame-mount
apertures 433 and a plurality of floor-mount apertures 434.
Illustratively, there are four each of the frame-mount 433 and the
floor-mount apertures 434, although a greater or fewer number could
be used. Each of the pair of reinforcement brackets 432 likewise
have a plurality of frame-mount 435 and floor mount 436 apertures
corresponding to the respective pedestal apertures 433, 434. The
reinforcement brackets 432 are sized to fit inside the pedestals
431 such that apertures 433 align with apertures 435 and apertures
434 align with apertures 436. The brackets and pedestals are
coupled to the floor by a fastener, such as a bolt, rivet, screw,
or nail, inserted through the aligned apertures 434, 436 into the
vehicle floor. The seat frame 410 and floor mount assembly 430 are
similarly attached together using fasteners, which are inserted
through the aligned apertures 433, 435 and through frame-mount
apertures 424 formed in each sideform 413, 414. In the illustrative
embodiment of FIG. 18, there are only three frame-mount apertures
424. It will be appreciated, though, that there may be more or less
than three. Illustratively, these apertures 424 are extruded for
use with a bolt but without the need for a nut. Also, the pedestals
430 are non-handed in that they are interchangeable, and, may
include three or more floor mount assemblies 430 to mount the frame
410. In the alternative, the wall mount assembly or bracket 437,
may be used with another wall mount or with one or more floor mount
assemblies 430. Similar to the floor mount assemblies 430, the wall
mount bracket 437 is non-handed and includes frame-mount apertures
(not shown) adapted to couple the bracket 437 to whichever sideform
413, 414 will be attached to the side wall of the vehicle. The wall
mount bracket 437 includes apertures 438 for coupling the bracket
437 to the wall of the vehicle using fasteners, such as bolts,
rivets, screws or nails. The floor mount assembly 430 is
configurable for use with vehicles using conventional track
flooring. Similarly, the wall mount bracket 437 is configurable for
use with vehicles equipped with side wall mounted tracks. It will
be appreciated that other frame mounting members, such as for
example the legs 126, 226, 301, 302 of FIGS. 1a-5c, 9, 15 and 16,
or the pedestal assembly shown in FIG. 17, may be used to support
and mount the frame assembly 410 in a vehicle. It will further be
appreciated that any such frame mounting members and/or assemblies
126, 226, 301, 302, 430, 437, or combinations thereof may be
mounted adjacent opposite ends of frame 410. All such support means
preserve the under seat clearance for cleaning, maintenance and
preserves other vehicle features.
[0104] Each of the components 411-419 of the frame assembly 410,
illustratively, are either stamped, in the case of the posts 411
and 412, the sideforms 413 and 414, and the rails 415, 417 and 418,
or rolled and seam welded, in the case of the tubes 416 and 419,
from high-strength, low-alloy steel. Those skilled in the art,
however, will realize that any portion of the frame assembly 410,
the floor mount assembly 430, or the wall mount assembly 437 may be
made from any other suitable metallic, non-metallic, or composite
material, or combination thereof, using any manufacturing method
appropriate to the material being used. For example, aluminum,
titanium, KEVLAR, plastic, wood, bamboo, or resin may be used.
[0105] FIGS. 18, 21, 25, and 28 depict various aspects of restraint
member or panel 440. Illustratively, restraint member 440 has a
generally rectangular to square shape and is vacuum formed from
twin sheets of plastic, such as, for example, high density
polyethylene or other suitable plastic, including lightweight
plastics, resulting in a hollow-shelled, structural restraint
member or panel 440 having energy absorbing properties as will be
explained. The restraint panel 440 includes a forwardly facing
front surface 441 (FIGS. 18 and 28) and opposite thereto a
rearwardly facing rear surface 442 (FIG. 21) with a generally
hollow core 460 therebetween (FIG. 25) and a number of recesses and
grooves defined therein and configured to import rigidity to
selected regions of the panel 440. The top and side portions of
forwardly facing surface 441 are generally coplanar with portions
of the surface 441 being formed to include a number of recesses and
protrusions. The panel's formation to define therein a number of
recesses configured to selectively impart rigidity to the panel 440
will be further explained below.
[0106] Referring to FIG. 18, the forwardly facing surface 441 is
formed to include recessed vertical side channels 451 and 452 and
recessed lateral top channel 453, which surround one or more
generally rectangular protrusions 464 formed in the central portion
of the forwardly facing surface 441, and which are configured
optionally to receive a seat back frame member or assembly 510,
and/or a built-in child restraint system or integrated child seat
or restraint assembly 605 as will be explained. The top channel 453
extends horizontally and is bounded horizontally along its top by
inner top wall 455 and intermittently on its bottom by one of the
protrusions 464. Outer top wall 456, which illustratively is the
topmost portion of restraint member 440, is spaced apart from and
is generally parallel to inner top wall 455. Top walls 455, 456,
which generally extend horizontally across the substantial length
of the top of the restraint panel 440, are generally perpendicular
to the forwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces 441, 442. As
described, top walls 455, 456 and forwardly and rearwardly facing
surfaces 441, 442 define a portion of a head zone 461 (FIG. 21)
having a hollow core 460 (FIG. 25) with a substantially rectangular
cross section. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that the extent of the head zone 461 is determined by the size of
the vehicle occupants as will be explained and as depicted in FIG.
17.
[0107] Inner side walls (FIGS. 18 and 25) vertically bound the ends
of lateral channel 453 and the sides of vertical side or seat back
frame channels 451, 452; The upper ends of vertical side channels
451, 452 are in overlapping relation with the lateral ends of
channel 453 and vice versa. The vertical side channels 451, 452
extend vertically and are bounded along their outer sides by inner
side walls 445 (FIGS. 18 and 25), which are generally perpendicular
and intersect with, inner top wall 455. Channels 451, 452 are
intermittently bounded along their inner sides by protrusions 464.
Inner side walls are spaced apart from, and are generally parallel
to outer side walls 446. Side walls 445, 446 generally extend along
the substantial vertical length of the sides of the restraint panel
440, and are generally perpendicular to the forwardly and
rearwardly facing surfaces 441, 442. As described, respective top
walls 445, 446 and forwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces 441,
442 define vertically extending and open-ended upright-post
channels 447 and 448 (FIGS. 18, 21, 25), which are open at their
respective bottom ends and are configured to slidingly receive
respective posts 411 and 412. Channels 447, 448 illustratively have
a substantially rectangular cross section and generally define the
vertical periphery of the restraint panel 440, and, as noted,
define the outer vertical boundaries of the seat back frame
channels 451, 452. It will be appreciated, however, that the
channels 447, 448 need not be defined at opposite edges of panel
440, but rather may be defined adjacent to the opposite panel
edges. The channels could also be formed with alternative
cross-sections, such as circular or triangular, so long as they are
configured to receive the posts 411, 412. Moreover, the channels
447, 448 may but need not be parallel one to the other.
[0108] The forward facing surface 441 further includes
substantially circular recesses or dimples 449 spaced apart along
the length of vertical channels 447, 448. These recesses 449
cooperate with outer side wall recesses or indentations 443, inner
side wall recesses or indentations 465 and rearward facing surface
recesses or indentations 450 (FIG. 21) to guide into their
respective channels 447, 448, to nestle and retain within their
respective channels 447, 448, and to cushion or protect from
impact, as will be explained, posts 411, 412. Those skilled in the
art will appreciate that the recesses 443, 449, 450 alternatively
may be of different shapes including, for example, circular,
triangular, quadrilateral, polygonal, paraboloidal, conoidal, etc.,
and sizes so long as they are configured to guide and nestle the
posts 411, 412. In addition to the snug fit of the posts 411, 412
within the channels 447, 448, the restraint member 440 optionally
may be coupled to the frame assembly 410 by a connector (not shown)
passed through an aperture (not shown) in the restraint member 440
and an aperture 468 in the side form. Such a connector may be a
rivet, a screw, a bolt, a nail or other suitable connector.
[0109] The forwardly facing surface 441 further includes a
plurality of recesses 444, which, illustratively, are generally
oblong in shape and spaced apart along the bottom portion of the
restraint member 440 (FIG. 18). It is within the teaching of the
scope of this disclosure for the forward facing surface 441 to
comprise additional recesses, indentations, protrusions, grooves
and the like, such as those that are unspecified but illustrated in
FIG. 18. Those skilled in the art will recognize that any grooves,
recesses, and indentations, for example the enumerated and
described recesses 443, 444, 449, 451-453, form supporting walls,
such as for example walls 445 (FIG. 18), and knitting surfaces or
walls 459 as best seen in FIGS. 21 and 25, which import upon the
restraint member 440 selective rigidity and energy absorbing
characteristics in cooperation with complimentary recesses and
indentations which comprise the rearward facing portion 442 of the
restraint member 440.
[0110] Referring to FIG. 21, rearward facing portion 442 includes
recesses or indentations 457 and 458, as well as the just discussed
indentations 450. Recesses 458 are formed in various shapes, to
include rectangular and oblong shapes, and sizes as best seen in
FIG. 21. Indentations 457 have a substantially cone shape, but may,
like indentations 458, be of varying shapes to include triangular
and rectangular, and sizes. As noted above, these recesses 450,
457-459 cooperate to import upon the restraint member 440 selective
rigidity and energy absorbing characteristics which may be varied
for selected areas or energy absorbing crush zones of the restraint
member 440 as dictated by private, industry, or government (local,
state, or federal e.g. FMVSS 222) motor vehicle safety standards.
More specifically, in addition to the previously described head
zone 462, the restraint member 440 further comprises a chest or
torso zone 462, and a knee zone 463 (FIG. 21).
[0111] Referring to FIGS. 18-21 and 28, seat member or seat pan 470
is depicted. Seat member 470 illustratively has a generally
rectangular shape and is formed from a sheet of plastic, such as,
for example, high density polyethylene or other suitable plastic,
including lightweight plastics, into a concave support seat member
470. As will be explained below, the seat member 470 is formed to
define therein a number of recesses configured to selectively
impart rigidity to the seat member 470. As best seen in FIGS. 18
and 20, the seat member 470 comprises a rear portion 471 adjacent
to the restraint member 470 when the vehicle seat restraint system
is assembled, a front portion 472 parallel to and spaced apart from
the rear portion 471, an upwardly facing top surface 476, and a
downwardly facing bottom surface 477 (FIG. 20) on the concave side
opposite the upwardly facing top surface 476. The upwardly top
facing surface 476 is formed to include a downwardly extruded
buckle aperture or channel 473, and a member of front indentations
or recesses 474, side indentations or recesses 475, and channels or
grooves 478. The indentations 474, 475 illustratively have a conoid
cross section, although any convenient cross-section to include
triangular, circular, rectangular and the like may be used. The
indentations 474, 475 import selective rigidity and support
characteristics to the seat member 470. It will be appreciated that
a fewer or greater number of indentations 474, 475 may be provided.
Similarly, grooves 478 also provide rigidity to the seat member
470. Rear portion 471 slopes upwardly away from the horizontal
plane of the seat member 470 as seen in FIGS. 18 and 20.
[0112] Referring to FIG. 20, indentations 474, 475 define in the
downwardly facing bottom surface a number of respective front
protrusions 484 and side protrusions 485 which extend into the
concave portion of the seat member 470. The protrusions 484, 485
include, respectively, grooves or notches 481, 480. Front rail
retaining clips 482 are configured to couple or mount the seat
member 470 to the seat frame 410 and illustratively are attached by
rivets 486 to two of the front protrusions 484. In addition, two of
the side protrusions 485, one on each side of the seat member 470,
are provided with steel spring retaining clips 483 which also are
adapted to couple or mount the seat member 470 to the seat frame
410. Together, the rail retaining clips 482 and the steel spring
retaining clips 483 releasably mount the seat member 470 to the
frame 410. As best seen in FIG. 21, the buckle mounting bracket 429
passes through channel 473. Upwardly sloping rear portion 471
includes cutouts 487 and a downwardly projecting appendage 488. The
downwardly extruded portion of buckle channel 473, which includes a
pair of spaced-apart notches 479, also extends into the concave
portion of set member 470, and is configured to receive, guide and
support optional belt buckles 343 (FIGS. 21 and 28), which are
mounted to center cross-strut 419 by bolt 428 threaded through
mounting bracket 429 and aperture 422. Alternative couplings, such
as rivets, screws, or nails could also be used to mount the buckles
343. The notches 479 are configured to receive and straddle the
center cross-strut 419 when the seat member 470 and seat frame
assembly 410 are coupled together as will now be explained.
[0113] As best seen in FIG. 21, the seat member 470 is
illustratively mounted to the seat frame 410 such that the
protrusions 484 generally abut or contact front rail 415, with a
portion of the front notches 481 positioned adjacent to or over a
portion of the top lip 493 of the front rail member 415 and with
the rail retaining clips 482 passing under a portion of the top lip
493 of the front member 415 in order to trap the top lip 493
between the retaining clips 482 and their respective protrusion
484. Similarly, the protrusions 485 abut sideforms 413, 414, with a
portion of side notches 480 positioned adjacent to or over a
portion of the sideforms 413, 414 and with spring retaining clips
483 releasably engaged with slots 439. Thus, the indentations 474,
475 and their respective protrusion portions not only provide
rigidity to the seat member 470, but also support it on the frame
assembly 410. When so mounted, the front surface 441 of the panel
440 is adjacent the seat member 470.
[0114] Referring to FIGS. 15 and 27-29, illustrative cushion and
upholstery components which are configured for use with the vehicle
seat restraint system 400 are depicted. It will be appreciated that
these components are configured for use with any of the prior
described embodiments 120, 220, 300 and or any of the embodiments
500, 600, 700 disclosed herein below. Similar to seat 300
previously described in conjunction with FIG. 15, illustratively,
seat cushion or other enclosure 386 is affixed to and covers or
encloses at least a portion of seat member 470 and seat frame 410,
passenger restraint cushion or other enclosure 383 is affixed to
and covers or encloses at least a portion of to rear surface
restraint member 440 and seat frame 410, and center cushion or
other enclosure 384 is affixed to and covers or encloses at least a
portion of the front surface restraint member 440 and seat frame
410 (FIGS. 27-29). Slots or apertures 385 are provided in cushion
384 for optional web webs to extend through (FIG. 28). Slots or
apertures 377 are provided in cushion 384 for optional anchorage
members, such as a rigid D-ring or round bar 34, to extend through
(FIG. 28). Cushion 383 is indented to receive cushion 384 and
restraint member 440 (FIG. 28). However, it will be appreciated
that cushion 383 could be configured for use with vehicle seat
restraint system 400 to envelope restraint member 440 including its
forwardly facing surface 441 thereby eliminating the need for
cushion 384 in this embodiment 400.
[0115] Each of the cushions 383, 384, 386 may include upholstery of
any suitable natural or synthetic material, such as various weights
of vinyl, cloth or other fabric, leather or plastic for example.
Any such upholstery covering cushion 386 may be attached to inner
walls 445, 446, 455 of back panel 440; to the sides, the front
portion 472 and the appendage 488 of seat member 470, and to
upholstery mounts 530 in the various illustrative embodiments
incorporating a seat back frame 510 which will be discussed below,
as by, for example, pine tree fasteners, snaps, hooks and loops,
rivets, glue or other adhesive, or any other suitable fastener. In
addition, the cushions 384, 386 alternatively may be generally flat
(FIGS. 17, 27, 28), or may have additional padding or bolsters 668
selectively positioned on and relative to the horizontal seat
cushion 386 (FIGS. 15, 16, 29), and/or the vertical seat back
cushion 383, 384 (FIG. 29). It will be appreciated that such
bolsters 668 generally partition a particular seat, for example
seat 700, into a number of individual occupant sections and
generally add additional comfort and support to the seat while
encouraging positioning. The cushions 383, 384, 386 may be
fashioned from any suitable material having cushioning
characteristics, such as for example foam. The restraint member 440
and the seat pan 470 may be made of other suitable plastics as well
as other suitable metallic, non-metallic, or composite materials
using any manufacturing process suitable to the material used.
[0116] Thus, the vehicle seat restraint system 400 is a modular
system comprising the previously described frame assembly 410, one
or more floor mount assembly 430 and/or wall mount bracket 437,
restraint panel assembly 440, seat pan 470, and cushions 383, 384,
386. Due to the modular nature of the system 400, individual
components may be replaced one at a time in the field. For example,
the seat pan member 470 may be disengaged from the frame 410 and a
new member 470 coupled to the frame 410. Similarly, a new restraint
panel assembly 440 could be slid on to the posts 411, 412 after
sliding off an old restraint panel 440. So too, a replacement frame
assembly 410 could be installed on vehicle and used with the
restraint panel 440, seat member 470 and cushions 383, 384, 386
from the assembly 410 being replaced. Such is the nature with the
componentry of below systems 500, 600 and 700.
[0117] In operation the vehicle seat restraint system 400 supports
and restrains an occupant 397 sitting on the seat and restrains an
occupant 396 (FIG. 17) located behind the seat restraint system 400
as follows. The seat member 470, typically in conjunction with
cushion 386, defines a generally horizontal plane and supports any
occupant 396, 397 sitting directly on the upwardly facing top
surface 476 or on the cushion 386, which provides additional
cushion and support (FIGS. 27-29). Due to the concave nature of the
seat member 470, as a force or pressure is applied to the seat
member 470, as from the weight or pressure of one or more occupants
sitting on the upwardly facing surface 476, the upwardly facing
surface 476 flexes or yields and the protrusions 484, 485 rotate
outwardly toward and about respective sideforms 413, 414 and front
rail member 415. Because the seat member 470 yields and rotates as
described, the seat member 470 provides a certain amount of comfort
and allows the thickness of cushion 386 either to be reduced
relative to a seat member made from, for example, a flat piece of
metal, wood, or particle board, or to be eliminated altogether if
desired.
[0118] Restraint member 440 similarly supports an occupant, while
allowing for reduced foam cushioning. Panel 440 with posts 411, 412
received within respective channels 447, 448 defines a seat back
substantially in a generally vertical plane and typically in
conjunction with cushion 384 provides support for the back of an
occupant 396, 397 sitting on the seat member 470 and leaning back
against restraint panel 440 or cushion 384. Forward facing surface
441 in general and the protrusions 464 in specific support the
occupant directly or support the cushion 384 and the occupant. The
rearwardly facing surface 442 of restraint member 440 typically in
conjunction with rearwardly facing surface 388 of cushion 383
provides cushioning and restraint for an occupant 396, 397 sitting
in any seat behind the rearwardly facing surfaces 388, 442. As with
the seat member 470, the construction of the restraint member 440,
with its yieldable plastic and hollow inner core, allows the
thickness of cushions 384, 389 to be reduced, or perhaps even
eliminated. Similarly, the construction of the restraint member 440
allows for the vertical portion of the frame assembly to comprise
the upright posts 411, 412 without any type of upper cross-member
or sheet metal which otherwise typically is encased in thick foam.
Rather, the restraint member 440 provides sufficient support for
the cushion 384, the upright posts 411, 412 and an occupant of the
seat while providing sufficient restraint characteristics for an
occupant behind the seat. The previously described channels 451-453
and associated walls 445, 446 along with the various protrusions
464, recesses, indentations and notches 443, 444, 449, 450, 457-459
provide rigidity to the restraint member and define respective
head, chest and knee crush zones 461, 462, 463. The restraint
member 440 is compliant with the passive restraint requirements of
FMVSS 222 as will now be explained.
[0119] The longitudinally oriented row or system of seats 398
depicted in FIG. 17 is illustrative of seat system 400 similarly
oriented. The cushion 383 together with enclosed frame 410 and
restraint member 440 form a passenger restrainer for an unbelted
passenger 396 or a belted passenger 397 sitting in any seat 300,
400 situated behind any other seat 400. Therefore, as explained
above, when a passenger 396, 397 sitting behind a seat 400 applies
a force forwardly toward rearwardly facing surface 388 of seat 400,
as in the event of a forward-impact crash, then the restraint
member 440 and perhaps the upright posts 411, 412 deform, thereby
absorbing at least a portion of the energy of the forwardly moving
passenger 396, 397. The phantom rendition of cushion 383 in FIG. 17
depicts the cushion 383 prior to contact by the forwardly moving
passenger 396.
[0120] Thus, in operation, when a forwardly directed force is
applied to the rearward facing portion of cushion 388, the
restraint system 400 will deform to absorb and dissipate at least a
portion of the force. For example, when a passenger or occupant 396
in a seat disposed behind (FIG. 17) a seat 400 equipped with
restraint member 440 is forced forwardly, as by the occupant's
vehicle crashing into a vehicle in front of the occupant's vehicle,
into the rearward facing portion 388 of cushion 383 and continuing
into the rearward facing portion of restraint member 440, the
restraint member 440 deforms or yields at the point of impact to
absorb at least a portion of the energy generated by the forward
movement of the occupant 396. Depending on the amount of energy
generated, the restraint member may continue to deform beyond the
point of impact and eventually transfers the load to the upright
posts 411, 412. Upright posts 411, 412 are sufficiently rigid to
hold the restraint member 440 in a generally vertical position, but
sufficiently weak to deform when sufficient force is applied
thereto in compliance with the passive restraint deformability
standards of FMVSS 222. Therefore, upright posts 411, 412 will
deform, for example by bending or twisting, and further absorb and
transfer at least a portion of any remaining energy to the floor
mount assembly 430, which in turn will absorb and dissipate at
least a portion of any remaining energy. Finally, any remaining
energy would be transferred to and dissipated by the floor of the
vehicle, and/or, if a wall mount 437 is used, the side wall of the
vehicle.
[0121] In addition to restraining any rearward occupant 396 by
generally absorbing and dissipating the energy of a forward moving
occupant 396, the restraint member 440 protects the occupant 396 in
the specified energy absorbing crush zones 461, 462, 463 through
the use of recesses. Illustratively, the protrusions and recesses
adjacent to the bottom of panel 440, which is opposite to top wall
456 of the panel 440 and which is movably adjacent seat member 470,
define in the rear surface 442 a knee crush zone 465 with a
particular energy absorbing characteristic. For example, recesses
450 not only guide and retain the posts 411, 412 in channels 447,
448, but also cushion the area so that an occupant's knees do not
impact the posts 411, 412. Similarly, recesses 457 are located and
constructed so as to provide impact protection between an
occupant's knees and a seat back frame 510 which will be described
below. Also, recesses 444 are positioned and constructed to provide
impact protection between an occupant's knees and the lower
portions of frame 410 as well as the lower portions of the
to-be-discussed seat back frame 510. The top walls 455, 456 and
forward and rearward facing surfaces 441, 442 adjacent the top of
the panel 440 cooperate with each other and with the recesses 458
generally to define the head crush zone, which not only restrains
an occupant's head, but also provides protection between the
occupant 396 and atop cross-bar member 514 of the to-be-discussed
seat back frame 510. The head crush zone may have energy absorbing
characteristic different from that of the knee crush zone. In the
event of a rear impact, an occupant 397 sitting on seat member 470
would be forced rearwardly into the restraint member 440, which
similarly would deform to absorb some of the energy of the rearward
moving occupant 397, and, depending on the amount of energy
generated, would transfer any excess energy or load to the posts
411, 412, which in turn would deform and transfer any further
excess energy to the floor mount assembly 430. In addition, because
the restraint member 440 envelopes the upright posts 411, 412,
restraint and frame 410 impact protection is provided for impacts
with the side of the restraint member 440, for example, from a
person standing or walking down the vehicle's aisle, or from a
person sitting in a seat lateral or oblique to the restraint member
440. The chest crush zone 462 would be located between the head 461
and knee 463 crush zones and may have energy absorbing
characteristics that may differ from either of the head 461 or knee
463 zone characteristics, all as established by the applicable
standard, such as for example a private standard or a governmental
standard such as FMVSS 222.
[0122] It will be appreciated that although the crush zones 461-463
have specific names, such as head zone 461, chest zone 462 and knee
zone 463, the occupant's body part that is actually restrained or
protected can vary depending on the size and orientation of the
occupant 396 as partially illustrated in FIG. 17. Those skilled in
the art will also appreciate that the restraint member 440 and the
seat member 470 could be configured for use with the previously
described systems 120, 220, 300 or with existing conventional
vehicle seats.
[0123] In the below embodiments 500, 600, 700, similar passive
energy management and dissipation will take place when a rearwardly
directed force is applied to cushion 384, as when an occupant 396,
397 is forced against cushion 384 as in a rear impact. In such a
case, the cushion 384 and restraint member 440 again will absorb at
least a portion of the energy generated by the rearward movement of
the occupant 396, 397. Depending on the amount of energy generated,
the restraint member may continue to yield beyond the point of
impact and eventually transfers the load to the upright posts 411,
412, which will yield as described above and further transfer at
least a portion of any remaining energy to the floor mount assembly
430, which in turn will dissipate at least a portion of any
remaining energy.
[0124] As best seen in FIGS. 22 and 28, another embodiment of a
vehicle restraint system 500, illustratively configured for use
with passengers or occupants 396, 397 ranging in size from infants
to children to adults or any combinations thereof, is depicted.
Vehicle restraint seat system 500 comprises the previously
described frame assembly 410, floor mount assembly 430, restraint
member 440, seat member 470, passenger restraint cushion 383,
center cushion 384, and seat cushion 386, all of which are
constructed and operate substantially as explained above with
respect to system 400. Accordingly, only those aspects of seat
system 500 which differ from seat system 400 will now be
described.
[0125] Vehicle restraint system 500 further comprises a seat back
frame 510, one or more restraint web belts or harnesses 336 and an
optional height-adjuster guide belt 376 and associated height
adjuster 58. Seat back frame 510 illustratively comprises a pair of
spaced-apart and parallel vertical upright members or tubes 511,
512, a top cross-bar member 514, a bottom cross-bar member 515
which is spaced apart from and generally parallel to top cross-bar
514, and a pair of open-faced box construction assemblies 524. One
box construction 524 is coupled to the upper end of upright member
511 and one end of top cross-member 514. The other box construction
524 is coupled to the upper end of upright member 512 and another
end of top cross-member 514. Opposing ends of bottom cross-bar
member 515 are coupled one each to the respective lower ends of the
upright members 511, 512. As assembled, cross-bars 514, 515 are
generally perpendicular to and sandwiched between upright members
511, 512 thereby giving seat back frame 510 a generally square to
rectangular shape. Each of the components 511, 512, 514, 515, 524
of the seat back frame 510 illustratively are coupled together
using spot welds, although other couplings may be used such as seam
welding, rivets, bolts, screws and the like.
[0126] Illustratively, each of the upright members 511, 512 have a
generally rectangular to ovate cross-section and are formed by
rolling a high-strength, low-alloy steel, which is then seam welded
to form the tubes 511, 512. The upright members 511, 512 each may
include a plate or mounting member 530 configured to mount any
upholstery covering cushion 384 and further includes apertures 518,
519 configured to mount the frame 510 to a pivot mechanism 540
(FIG. 24). Bottom cross-bar member 515 also has a generally
rectangular to ovate cross-section and is formed by rolling and
seam welding. It is illustratively fashioned out of low-carbon
steel and includes anchorage mounting areas 534 configured to mount
anchorages 34, such as for example a round bar or D-ring which may
be compliant with FMVSS 225, and apertures 590 configured to mount
a retractor 692 as will be explained. Anchorages 34,
illustratively, are configured to transfer to the vehicle structure
any loads generated by a child restraint system or other restraint
system coupled to the anchorages, and are welded to the mounting
areas 534, although alternative coupling methods may be used. Top
cross-bar member 514 is illustratively stamped from stainless steal
to form a generally rotated V-shaped member. The box construction
524 is stamped from a high-strength, low-alloy steel. It will be
appreciated that the upright members 511, 512, the cross-members
514, 515, and the box construction may be made of any other
suitable metallic, non-metallic, or composite material by any
method of manufacture suitable for the material being used.
[0127] Each box construction assembly 524 is configured to mount
restraint harness webs 336, 376 and formed to include an open face,
an open bottom, upper and lower side apertures 525, 526, and front
apertures 528 (FIG. 24). Upper aperture 525 is configured to
receive bearing member 393. A movable member or roller member 399
is configured to fit over bearing member 393 to facilitate movement
of belt 336 over bearing member 393. Lower aperture 526 is adapted
to receive mounting member 394. Illustratively, bearing member 393
and mounting member 394 have a circular cross-section and may be,
for example, a pin, peg, dowel, or spindle, although other mounting
pieces of suitable shape and size may be utilized.
[0128] Referring to FIG. 22, restraint harness 336 optionally is
affixed or mounted on either or both sides of frame 410 and seat
back frame 510 as follows. A web retractor 374 is attached via
apertures 421 to rear tubular member 416 using any suitable
coupling, such as a bolt, rivet or screw, etc. (FIG. 22). A
suitable retractor 374, for example, is an RLS-80 Retractor
available from Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc. under part
number A35021. The retractor houses web belt 336, which extends
upwardly away therefrom and through an optional web guide 531 (FIG.
21). The optional web guide 531 is mounted to seat back frame 510,
vertically extending between box construction 524 and bottom
crossbar member 515, and is configured to encase and guide web 336
to and from the retractor 374. In the alternative, seat frame
channels 451, 452 are also configured to guide web 336 to and from
the web retractor 374. In either event, web 336 continues upwardly
and around movable member 399 which encases bearing member 393
(FIG. 24) and outwardly through slot 63 in bezel plate 354 (FIG.
22). Web 336 continues downwardly from the bezel plate 354 until
its distal end attaches to frame assembly 410 using web mounting
plate 427 and bolt 428, or other suitable coupling such as a screw,
rivet or nail. Tongue 342 is slidably mounted to web 336 and is
lockingly engagable with buckle 343, in turn attached by buckle
mounting member 429 and bolt 428, or other suitable coupling, to
cross-strut member 419. Mounting member 429 illustratively is a
metal plate, although other suitable non-metallic or composite
members, such as a length of web, could be used to couple the
buckle 343 to cross-strut 419. An optional guide web 376 is also
mounted by web mounting plate 427 and bolt 428 or other suitable
coupling to frame assembly 410 at either of the sideforms 413, 414.
Web 376 extends from mounting plate 427 upwardly through slot 66,
around mounting member 394 and back on itself in order to mount to
mounting member 394 by, for example, stitching, melting, glue, hook
and loop, snaps, or other suitable coupling means. Restraints 336
and 376 may be affixed or mounted to the seat frame 410 and seat
back frame member 510 in other suitable ways as well. For example,
the web 336 may proceed downwardly from bearing member 393 and
through an aperture in mounting plate 427 and then upwardly away
therefrom and back on itself for stitching to itself, with the end
of web 376 distal from mounting member 394 sandwiched and stitched
between the two portions of web 336.
[0129] Height adjuster 58 is slidably mounted to and associates
together restraint harness webs 336 and 376. Height adjuster 58 is
configured to associate belts 336 and 376 and slides up and down
their length to adjust the position of the belts 336 and 376 about
the occupant's shoulder. As depicted on the right side of seat back
frame 510 illustrated in FIG. 22, when tongue 342 and buckle 343
are releasably and lockingly engaged, they form a three-point
restraint system. Referring to the left side of FIG. 27 and the
right side of FIG. 29, then, engaging the tongue 342 and the buckle
343 forces the web 336 across the torso and the lap of an occupant
397 (FIG. 17) in order to restrain the occupant and maintain the
occupant in a secured relation with the frame 410 and the seat back
frame 510 upon impact of the vehicle. Restraint 336 therefore
comprises a lap portion 345 and a torso or chest portion 395. Other
conventional web restraint systems fall within the scope of this
disclosure.
[0130] Referring to FIGS. 23 and 24, pivot mechanism 540 comprises
strut 542 and a pair of spaced-apart plates 548, 549. Strut 542,
illustratively is formed from any suitable metallic material into a
generally elongated but elbow-like shape and formed to include a
notch 543, a stop portion or shoulder 547, and apertures 544-546.
Each plate 548, 549 is formed from any suitable metallic material
into a generally L-shaped piece including a plurality of apertures
550-552 and an arcuate slot or channel 553. The strut 542 is
movably coupled to and sandwiched between the plates 548, 549 as
follows. A rivet 556 passes through aperture 552 of each plate 548,
549 and through aperture 545 of strut 542 to movably mount the
strut 542 to the plates 548, 549. Each strut 542 moves on rivet 556
about its axis 560. Movement of strut 542 relative to plates 548,
549 is restricted, as will be explained, by the restraint member
440 and by a frangible retaining member or shear pin 558, which
passes through the channel 553 of each plate 548, 549 and through
aperture 546 of strut 542. Shear pin 558, which illustratively will
yield or shear under a force of about 700 pounds, is held in
position by cotter or bridge pin 559. Hollow mounting rivets 557
pass through apertures 550, 551 in each of the plates to further
couple the plates 548, 549 together. It will be appreciated that
other frangible stop means may be used such as described above.
[0131] As noted above, the pivot mechanism includes axis 560 (FIG.
22) generally defined through solid rivet 556 (FIGS. 22 and 23). As
best seen in FIG. 23, in the normal configuration the shear pin 558
is disposed in the lower end of arcuate channel 553 thereby
restricting forward movement 561 (FIG. 22) of the strut 542
relative to the plates 548, 549. When sufficient forwardly force is
applied to the strut 542, the shear pin ruptures and allows the
strut to move in a forwardly direction 561 (FIG. 22) about axis 560
until the stop portion 547 contacts the rivet 557 disposed in stop
aperture 551 as shown in phantom in FIG. 23. Thus, the maximum
angle 562 of forward travel between the normal position 563 of the
strut's longitudinal axis and its forwardmost position 564
substantially is determined by the configuration and disposition of
the stop portion 547 and the stop aperture 551. It is desirable for
this angle of movement, typically a pivot angle 562, to be an acute
angle. For example, an angle of between about 10 to 22 degrees is
desirable. It may be more desirable to have a pivot angle of about
15 degrees. When a reawardly directed force is applied to the strut
542, the strut 542 moves rearwardly about axis 560 as the shear pin
558 moves to the upper end of the arcuate channel until the shear
pin contacts the end of the channel 553. Depending on the magnitude
of the rearwardly directed force, the shear pin 558 will either
halt the rearward movement of the strut 542 upon making contact
with the end of the channel, or will rupture, allowing the strut to
continue to move rearwardly about the axis 560 until the strut 542
contacts (not shown) the opposite side of rivet 557. As will be
explained, this rearward movement is modified somewhat when the
pivot mechanism 540 is integrated into the restraint system
500.
[0132] The integration of the pivot mechanism 540 will now be
described. As best seen in FIG. 24, the seat back frame member or
assembly 510 is coupled to the pivot mechanism 540 by slipping the
upright members 511, 512 over the struts 542 until a spring pin
520, which is lodged in apertures 518 in each upright 511, 512,
makes contact with notch 543. The spring pin 520 defines the degree
to which the struts 542 may be inserted within the uprights 511,
512, and thereby aligns aperture 519 in each upright member 511,
512 with aperture 544 in each respective strut 542. Self-tapping
bolt 521 is inserted through aligned aperture 519 in respective
upright member 511, 512 and aperture 544 in each strut to couple
together the seat back frame 510 and the pivot mechanism 540. The
strut 542 and the plates 548, 549 are non-handed, in that plate 548
is interchangeable with plate 549, and the pivot mechanism 540 may
be mounted either to right upright member 511 or to left upright
member 512. It will be appreciated that the plates 548, 549 and the
strut 542 may be made from any suitable metallic, non-metallic, or
composite material using any manufacturing method suitable to the
chosen material. Similarly, the above described couplings could be
accomplished with any suitable coupler, such as for example, a
bolt, screw, nail, rivet and the like.
[0133] Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, the attaching together of
frame assembly 410, via pivot mechanism 540, and seat back frame
510 is depicted. Illustratively, a mounting coupling, such as for
example a bolt 567, is inserted through each of the hollow mounting
rivets 557 (FIG. 24) and into apertures 423 (FIG. 19) of
cross-struts 417, 418. Apertures 423 may be extruded such that no
nut is needed. Alternative couplers, such as a rivet, screw, or nut
and bolt may be used. When so attached, the seat back frame 510
normally lies substantially in the plane defined by upright members
411, 412 (FIG. 26) and extends through the horizontal plane defined
the sideforms 413, 414, it being appreciated the seat back frame
510 could be configured for use with other embodiments described
herein. Because frame 510 and pivot mechanism 540 are coupled
together, frame 510 is movably attached to frame 410 and will move
or pivot in a forwardly direction 561 about axis 560 away from
front surface 441 and toward seat member 470 in an amount
substantially depicted by angle 562 and relative to frame 410 upon
a vehicle impact of sufficient severity. The front surface 441 of
restraint panel 440 is configured to receive therein the seat back
frame 510.
[0134] Referring to FIGS. 21, 25 and 28, when seat back frame 510
is in its normal position, it is disposed adjacent to and forward
of restraint member 440 with upright members 511, 512 generally
disposed within respective channels 447, 448 and top crossbar
member 514 generally disposed within channel 453. It will be
appreciated therefore, that the previously described rearward
movement of the struts 542, and hence the seat back frame 510,
initially is restricted by the restraint member 440 as supported by
upright posts 411, 412. As previously described, the restraint
member 440 is formed with indentations and recesses, for example
cone indentations 457, that cushion the frame 510 from impact.
Substantially as previously described with seat system 400,
cushions 383, 384, 386 also cushion and support passengers and
cushion the frame 510 and the other components of seat system 500
as illustrated, for example in FIGS. 27 and 29. Cushion 384 covers
the front surface 441 and seat back frame 510. However, as best
seen in FIG. 28, in seat system 500 cushion 384 is further
configured to enclose frame 510 and move substantially as a unit
therewith in substantially the same manner as depicted and
described in FIGS. 16 and 17, and as will now be explained
further.
[0135] The longitudinally oriented row or system of seats 398
depicted in FIG. 17 is illustrative of seat systems 500 similarly
oriented. As described with seat restraint system 400, which is
included within seat system 500 and operates substantially in the
same manner therein, the cushion 383 together with enclosed frame
410 and restraint member 440 form a passenger restrainer for an
unbelted passenger 396 or a belted passenger 397 sitting in any
seat 300, 400, 500 situated behind any other seat 500. Therefore,
as explained above, when a passenger 396, 397 sitting behind a seat
500 applies a force forwardly toward rearwardly facing surface 388
of seat 500, as for example in the event of a forward-impact crash,
then the restraint member 440 and perhaps the upright posts 411,
412 deform, thereby absorbing at least a portion of the energy of
the forwardly moving passenger 396, 397.
[0136] As previously explained, and as represented by FIGS. 16 and
17, if a forwardly moving passenger 397 is wearing a seat belt
restraint 336, then the force of a crash will lock the
deceleration-sensing retractors 374 and move the passenger 397
against web belt 336 with force sufficient to rupture shear pin
558, or other frangible retaining means known to one skilled in the
art, allowing seat back frame 510 and associated enclosing cushion
384 to pivot forwardly independent of frame 410 and restraint
member 440 until a stop mechanism, such as the stop portion 547 of
each strut 542 contacting the rivet 557, stops the forward movement
of seat back frame 510 and cushion 384. As previously noted,
although the belt 336 absorbs some of the passenger's 397 forward
momentum, it will be appreciated that, depending on the size of
belted passenger 397 and the force that passenger 397 applies on
the web 336, the passenger 397 may or may not impact surface 388 in
a crash. It will also be appreciated that the frangible retaining
means 558 may be designed to rupture at varying amounts of force
other than the illustrative 700 pounds noted above. The
illustrative 700 pounds typically may be generated by a six-year
old of average weight being moved by a frontal impact forwardly
against a web 336 of an engaged 3-point restraint system. Also,
because the forward movement of frame 510 and cushion 384 is
independent of frame 410 and restraint member 440, frame 410,
restraint member 440 and associated cushion 383 remain in place to
absorb at least a portion of the energy of a passenger 396 or 397,
whether belted or not, sitting in the seat behind the seat of a
belted passenger 397. The phantom rendition of cushion 383 in FIG.
17 depicts the cushion 383 prior to contact by the forwardly moving
passenger 396.
[0137] Seat restraint system 500 will not cause substantial
additional stiffness to the seat back when the occupant of seat 500
is unbelted or the seat 500 is unoccupied and thus, maintains the
passive energy management capability embodied in seat 400 for any
occupant 396, 397 located behind seat 500. Thus, if a passenger 396
is not wearing a belt 336, then a crash will not force the
passenger 396 against the web 336 and the retaining means 558 will
therefore not break. In such a case, seat back frame 5110 and
cushion 384 will remain substantially within restraint member 440
and cushion 383 thereby pivoting forwardly with restraint member
440 and upright posts 411, 412 and cushion 383 in the event that a
passenger sitting behind impacts the rearwardly facing surface 388.
Similarly, if a passenger is sitting behind an empty seat 500 and
applies forward pressure against the rearwardly facing surface 388
of that empty seat, then frame 510 and cushion 384 will remain
substantially within restraint member 440 and cushion 383 and will
not substantially impede the movement of, but rather, will move
forward with, restraint member 440 and upright posts 411, 412.
Neither will the frame 510 and cushion 383 substantially impede
rearward movement of the restraint panel 440 when the restrained or
unrestrained occupant is forced rearward into the seat back during
impact. Rather, the seat back frame 510 and cushion 384 will remain
substantially within restraint member 440 and cushion 383 and will
not substantially impede any rearwardly movement of, but rather
will move rearwardly with, restraint member or panel 440 and
upright posts 411, 412 in the event of a passenger being forced
against cushion 384 by a rear impact crash of sufficient force.
Moreover, once a rearwardly directed force is applied to the seat
back frame 510, the frame 510 will move rearwardly without adding
appreciable resistance to the coincident rearward movement because
of the fact that the arcuate shaped channel 553 allows the shear
pin 558 to move freely therein until reaching the end of the
channel 553. If the rearward force is sufficient to move the seat
back frame 510 and restraint member 440 rearwardly such that
illustrative shear pin 558 moves to the upper portion of channel
553, then the shear pin will break with any force in excess of said
sufficient force and continue rearwardly until stopped as described
above, or by upright posts 411, 412.
[0138] As just described, seat restraint system 500 maintains the
passive restraint characteristics of seat restraint system 400 and
combines it with the active restraint characteristics offered by
the harness 336 and movable seat back frame 510. As with seat
restraint system 400, the seat restraint system 500 also preserves
the under seat clearance for cleaning, maintenance and other
vehicle features. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
seat back frame 510 and harness 336 could be configured for use
with the previously described systems 120, 220, 300 or with
existing vehicle seats.
[0139] FIGS. 24-27 and 29, depict another embodiment of the
invention. Vehicle seat restraint system 600 comprises the
previously described frame assembly 410, vehicle mounts 430, 437,
restraint member 440, seat member 470, passenger restraint cushion
383, center cushion 384, seat cushion 386, seat back frame 510, one
or more restraint web belts 336, and the optional height-adjuster
guide belt 376 and associated height adjuster 58, all of which are
constructed and operate in conjunction with vehicle seat restraint
system 600 substantially as explained above with respect to vehicle
seat restraint system 500. Accordingly, only those aspects of seat
system 600 which differ from seat system 500 will now be
described.
[0140] Seat restraint system 600 further comprises an integrated
child seat or built-in child restraint system 605, which
illustratively is configured to restrain a child ranging in size
from about 17 to 55 pounds. Referring to FIG. 24, a seat back frame
510 is illustrated showing portions of two child restraint systems
605. As best seen in FIGS. 24-26, integrated child restraint system
605 comprises a child restraint harness 636, a child-restraint
harness support crossbar 610, a child restraint harness mounting
back member 612, a seat base or portion 613, a retractor 692, a
release mechanism or cable 696, upper cushion cut-out portion 616,
and lower cushion cut-out portion 617 (FIGS. 27 and 29). Support
crossbar or transverse bar 610 and back member 612 are provided on
seat back frame 510 and are configured, in cooperation with seat
base 613, to mount and support a portion of the child restraint
harness 636 between the seat back frame 510 and the seat base 613
(FIGS. 24-26). Transverse bar 610 is affixed to opposite ends of
this seat back frame member 510 and may be disposed in another
horizontal channel 454 formed in restraint member 440. It will be
appreciated that the front surface 441 of panel 440 is configured
to receive therein seat base 613 and back member 612, but may have
to be modified as would be apparent to and within the capacity of
one skilled in the art in order to accommodate the back member
612.
[0141] As best seen in FIG. 24, seat base 613 illustratively is
formed from plastic into a generally square shape having crotch-web
guide aperture 646 and crotch-belt mounting apertures 647.
Additional apertures may be formed around the periphery of the seat
base 613 and configured to attach upholstery. It will be
appreciated that seat base 613 may be of other sizes and shapes and
fashioned out of any other suitable metallic, non-metallic, or
composite material. A mounting plate 656 is mounted to each side of
the seat base 613 distal from the crotch aperture 646. Each
mounting plate 656 is coupled by pivot pin 661 to respective pivot
brackets 660 mounted to bottom crossbar member 515 of seat back
frame 510, and includes an ear 658 having a belt guide aperture
659. Brackets 660 may be mounted to the bottom crossbar member 515
by any suitable coupling including, for example, rivets, nuts and
bolts, welding, screws, nails, snaps, and pine-tree fasteners.
Thus, seat member 613 is movably mounted to seat back frame 510
adjacent its seat member 470, illustratively pivoting about pivot
pins 661 relative to seat back frame 510. For example, FIGS. 24 and
25 show the seat base in an up or retracted position, with its
upwardly facing surface adjacent and generally parallel to back
member 612 (FIG. 25). FIG. 24 further shows an additional seat base
613, only in the down or extended position, wherein its upwardly
facing surface is generally perpendicular to back member 612. FIG.
27 illustratively depicts the seat base 613 in transition between
the retracted and extended positions moving for example downwardly
toward the adjacent seat member 470 to form a child seat.
[0142] Referring to FIGS. 24-27, restraint harness 636 is affixed
to seat base 613 and to seat back frame 510 and comprises coupling
assembly 630 and one or more restraint webs conceptually divided
into two shoulder portions 637, 638, two back portions 639, 640, a
transition portion 641, retractor portion 642, two lap portions
643, 644, transition portion 648, and a crotch portion 645.
Retractor 692 operatively houses web portion 642, which proceeds
upwardly away therefrom and is coupled to transition portion 641.
Back portions 639, 640 are coupled to opposite ends of transition
portion 641 and proceed upwardly away therefrom and up and over
transverse cross-bar 610 and through inverted T-shaped mounting
apertures or slots 650 in mounting back member 612 (FIG. 26).
Shoulder or torso portions 637, 638 proceed downwardly away from
mounting back member 612 and through respective tongues 631, 632
(FIG. 27), which are slidingly disposed on the web. Lap portions
643, 644 proceed downwardly away from the tongues 631, 632 and
through respective guide apertures 659 formed in ears 658 included
in flange 657 of mounting plate 656 on the bottom of seat portion
613 (FIGS. 24-25). Once under seat portion 613, the lap portions
643, 644 are coupled by transition portion 648 (FIG. 25). It will
be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the web portions
could be one or more webs coupled together, or, excluding retractor
portion 642, could be a single web in an endless loop. A crotch
belt or web 645 is mounted at one end to seat base 613 by looping
through apertures 647 back on itself for coupling by, for example,
stitching, or other suitable means such as hook and loop, glue,
cement, rivets, or melting. Alternatively, the web 645 may loop
back and be coupled (not shown) to the transition portion 648 as
by, for example stitching. The other end of crotch web 645 is
connected to a buckle 632 (FIG. 27).
[0143] When the seat base is in the retracted position, the crotch
belt generally hangs loosely from the apertures 647 (FIG. 25). When
the seat base 613 is in the extended position, the crotch web 645
extends from the apertures 647 up through the generally T-shaped
guide aperture 646. The coupling assembly 630 comprises the tongues
631, 632 and the buckle 632, which are lockingly and releasably
engageable with one another. A suitable coupling assembly is, for
example, an CBRX-HS system available from Indiana Mills &
Manufacturing, Inc. under part number A30950B. As just described,
the restraint harness 636 comprises a five-point restraint harness
system which maintains an occupant of the child seat secured to
seat base 613 and to seat back frame member 510 upon impact of the
vehicle. It will be appreciated that a four-point restraint system
or other multiple-point harness restraining system falls within the
teaching of the embodiment. Such systems 605 are typically
configured for child occupants weighing in a range of about 17 to
55 pounds for use with the restraint harness 636. Because the
restraint harness 636 is mounted to the seat back frame 510, if an
occupant of the child restraint system 605 were thrown against the
harness 636 with sufficient force, as would occur for example in a
crash, then the seat back frame 510 and cushion 384 would move
forwardly about the axis 560 as described for seat system 500
above, while leaving in place the restraint member 440, and the
upright posts 411, 412. Otherwise, the operation and functioning of
the seat back frame 510 and the restraint member 440, etc. are as
described above in conjunction with seat system 500.
[0144] Referring to FIG. 27, the embodiment of FIG. 24 is shown
with the cushions 383, 384, 386 operationally attached as
previously described for restraint systems 400 and 500. Shown in
phantom on the left side of FIG. 27 are the cushion cut-out
portions 616, 617 of cushion 384 affixed to the retracted seat base
613 shown on the left side of the seat in FIG. 24. More
specifically, upper cushion 616, having an inwardly facing surface
619, and lower cushion 617 are substantially square to rectangular
in shape and are adjacent one to the other, coupled by, for example
a fabric hinge 618, which may be created by upholstering the
cut-outs 616, 617 with a single piece of upholstery as known to
those skilled in the art. In operation, upper cushion 616 folds or
pivots about hinge 618 down over lower cushion 617, with its
normally outwardly facing surface adjacent to the normally
outwardly facing surface of cushion 617. Next, the substantially
coextensive cushions 616, 617 continue to pivot downwardly about
pivot pin 561 until the normally inwardly facing surface 619 of
upper cushion 616 is resting upon cushion 386. In this extended
configuration, the restraint harness 630 is deployed for
operational use on an occupant, and the depth of the deployed
cushion portions 616, 617, extending from the seat bight outwardly
away therefrom, is illustratively about 12 to 13 inches, it being
appreciated that the depth of the cushion portions could be lesser
or greater. In the restraint system's 605 retracted position, the
seat base 613 is received within the cushion 384 and the seat back
frame 510, the cushion cut-out portions are stowed in a generally
flush relationship with the rest of cushion 384 and the restraint
harness 630 is stowed beneath the cushion portions 616, 617 as seen
in the left side of the seat in FIG. 27 and the left side of the
seat depicted in FIG. 29. It will be appreciated that portions of
the restraint system 605 may also be received within the back panel
440, or that the thickness of the back panel may be modified as
necessary and as within the ken of one skilled in the art. Those
skilled in the art will realize that the cushion cut-out portions
could be fashioned, stowed, and/or deployed in other suitable
ways.
[0145] It will be appreciated that the seat base 613 may also be
deployed and configured in a booster-seat mode to support an
occupant for use with the vehicle's restraint system. In such a
booster-seat configuration, the occupant, which may weigh in excess
of about 40 pounds, would use the vehicle's restraint system, for
example three-point restraint web 336, while harness 636 remains
stowed behind the occupant. In addition, with the seat base 613 in
the stowed position, an occupant may be supported on cushion 386 in
a number of alternative ways. For example, an occupant may sit
directly on cushion 386 and/or seat member 470 and use restraint
web 336 (FIG. 17). In another configuration, an add-on child
restraint system such as a booster seat or a portable child
restraint seat may be supported on the seat portions 386, 470
(FIGS. 39, 40, 45), as is also the case with seat 500, with seat
base 613 in the stowed position. The portable child restraint seat,
which may have its own restraint system 460 (FIGS. 39-40),
illustratively would be releasably coupled using one or more
anchorages 32, 34, 136, 236, 670, 770, 870, 970, alone or in
combination as described herein below, and would typically be for
use with an occupant weighing less than about 55 pounds. It may be
desirable to mount the portable child restraint seat 10e, as for
example in the case where the child occupant weighs less than about
20 pounds, in a rear facing orientation such that the occupant
faces in the direction opposite to the normal direction of travel
of the vehicle (FIG. 45). Similarly, the add-on child restraint
booster seat (not shown) would be for use with an occupant weighing
less than about 55 pounds. In addition, an unrestricted booster
seat (not shown) configured for use with an occupant weighing in
excess of about 40 pounds may be supported on the seat portions
386, 470. In all events, whether the booster seat is configured as
seat base 613, is configured as said add-on child restraint booster
seat, or is configured as said unrestricted booster seat, the
booster seat will be configured for use with the vehicle's
restraint web 336. It will be appreciated that any combination of
the above fall within the scope of the invention. For example, on a
single seat 600, 700, a first occupant, for example a child, may be
supported on seat base 613, a second occupant, for example an
adult, may be supported directly on seat portions 386, 470, and a
third occupant, for example an infant or another child, may be
supported in an add-on child restraint system which in turn is
supported on seat portions 386, 470. Illustratively, the add-on
child restraint system may be a portable child seat for use with an
infant or child, or it may be a booster seat for use with a child.
As noted, a positioning harness could also be used in conjunction
with the restraint harness 336.
[0146] A suitable retractor 692 illustratively is an ALR 1.5
Cable-Actuated Retractor available from Indiana Mills &
Manufacturing, Inc. under part number A30952 and disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,380,066. Such a retractor 692 is a positive locking
retractor that must be released by a release mechanism. FIGS. 25
and 27 illustratively depict a release tab 696, which is attached
to cable 693 which proceeds through back member 612 at aperture or
housing 695 formed in the back member 612 and proceeds through
bracket 694 downwardly to retractor 692 (FIG. 26). Pulling on tab
696 releases the retractor 692, allowing it to pay out web 642. A
suitable release mechanism as just described, for example, includes
a cable web-pull assembly available from Indiana Mills &
Manufacturing, Inc. under part number A30954.
[0147] As just described, and as with system 500, seat restraint
system 600 maintains the passive restraint characteristics of seat
restraint system 400 and combines it with the active restraint
characteristics offered by the harness 336, movable seat back frame
510 and integrated child restraint system 605. Those skilled in the
art will appreciate that the integrated child restraint system 605
could be configured for use with the previously described systems
120, 220, 300. It further will be appreciated that the integrated
child restraint system 605 is adaptable for use with a conventional
seat or with vehicle seat restraint system 400. However, in such a
system the restraint system 605 would have to be mounted on frame
410 or restraint member 440 and the passive energy management and
restraint aspects required by FMVSS might be compromised. As with
seat restraint systems 400, 500, the seat restraint system 600
preserves the under seat clearance for cleaning, maintenance and
other vehicle features.
[0148] Referring to FIG. 29 another illustrative vehicle seat
restraint system 700 is depicted. Seat 700 incorporates all of the
structure and function of seat system 600. FIG. 29 also shows
cushion bolsters 668, which may also be used with any of the seats
120, 220, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 depicted and described herein.
More specifically, vehicle seat restraint system 700 comprises the
previously described frame assembly 410, mounting assemblies 430,
437, restraint member 440, seat member 470, passenger restraint
cushion 383, center cushion 384, seat cushion 386, seat back frame
510, a pair of restraint web belts 336, a pair of height-adjuster
guide belts 376 and associated height adjusters 58, and integrated
child restraint system 605, all of which are constructed and
operate in conjunction with vehicle seat 700 substantially as
explained above with respect to vehicle seat restraint system 600.
Accordingly, only those aspects of seat system 700 which differ
from seat system 600 will now be described.
[0149] Seat 700 further comprises one or more upper anchorages or
mount systems 32, 136, 236 and/or tether anchorages or mount
systems 670, 770, 870, 970, alone or in combination.
Illustratively, the upper anchorages 32, 136, 236 and tether mount
systems or anchorages 670, 770, 870, 970 are mounted to the seat
back frame 510 in order to maintain both the passive restraint
characteristics of seat 400 and the active restraint
characteristics offered by the harness 336, movable seat back frame
510 and the optional integrated child restraint system 605. The
anchorages and mounts are also configurable for use with seats 120,
220, 300. It will be appreciated, that the upper anchorages and
mounts further may be configured for use with seat 400 or for use
with a conventional vehicle seat if retention of passive restraint
characteristics is not desired.
[0150] The upper tether anchorage systems 670, 770, 870, 970 alter
or redirect the direction of a web in substantially the same manner
using either a loop of web 672 or a D-ring 680, or other suitable
device. For example, the upper tether systems 670, 770, 870, 970
may receive a tether strap or web 27 (FIGS. 32 and 40) proceeding
upwardly from a portable child restraint system or seat 10d and
redirect the upward path of said strap 27 downwardly toward a lower
anchorage 34 for coupling therewith in substantially the same
manner as with web 171 shown in FIG. 29. In such a case, the lower
anchorage 34 will transfer loads from the tether strap to the
vehicle structure. It will be appreciated that the tether 27 could
also be routed through an upper anchorage 32 and downwardly to the
lower anchorage 34 for anchoring. In either case, the illustrative
route is depicted in FIG. 29 in conjunction with a positioning
harness 171 which will be discussed below.
[0151] The illustrative tether anchorage systems 670, 770, 870, 970
will now be described. Illustratively, upper tether system 670
comprises a length of web 671 formed into a routing loop 672 at one
end by doubling one end of the web 671 back on, and coupling it to,
itself as by, for example, stitching 673 (FIG. 30). The other end
of the length of web 671 is mounted or attached by any suitable
method to the seat back frame 510 thereby retaining the passive
restraint characteristics of restraint system 400, 500, 600, 700.
One illustrative method of mounting the tether system 670 is by
stitching. For example, the other end of web 671 could have a loop
formed by stitching (FIG. 30) and configured to receive a retaining
member 778. The web 671 could be threaded through aperture 776 in
top crossbar member 514 and then coupled thereto by inserting the
retaining member 778 through the loop as depicted in FIG. 30. It
will be appreciated that system 670 and each of the other
illustrative tether mount systems 770, 870, 970, which will now be
explained, may use other suitable mounting methods. It also will be
appreciated that web 171 could be threaded through loop 671 in the
same manner as tether 27 in FIG. 30, and in such a case, could be
mounted to seat 700 as depicted in FIG. 29, or to other seats 500,
600 having upper anchorages.
[0152] In another illustrative embodiment, upper loop tether system
770 comprises a length of web 671 coupled at one end to a metal
latch plate or tongue 674 (FIG. 31). The upper tether mount system
770 further comprises a buckle 675 and a web loop 672 coupled to
said buckle 675 as by, for example, stitching 673. The tongue 674
and the buckle 675 are configured for releasable engagement with
each other. The other end of the length of web 671 is attached to
the seat back frame 510 by any suitable method, such as for example
the already explained retaining member 778, thereby retaining the
passive restraint characteristics of restraint system 400, 500,
600, 700. The tether 27 is routed through upper tether mount system
770 in the same manner as with tether system 670.
[0153] Referring to FIG. 32, another illustrative upper tether
anchorage system 870 comprises a length of web 671 coupled at one
end to a metal D-ring 680. D-ring 680 is formed to include an
open-ended web routing aperture 682 and a web mounting aperture
681, through which the web 671 is threaded and looped back on
itself to couple the web 671 and D-ring 680 together by, for
example, stitching 673. The web 171 or tether 27 is routed through
the aperture 682 to direct its path downwardly for coupling with
the lower anchorage 32. The other end of web 671 is mounted to seat
back frame 510 by any suitable method, such as for example the
already explained retaining member 778, thereby retaining the
passive restraint characteristics of restraint system 400, 500,
600, 700.
[0154] Another illustrative embodiment is depicted in FIG. 33.
Upper tether anchorage system 970 illustratively comprises a length
of web 671 coupled at one end to a metal latch plate or tongue 674.
The upper loop tether system 970 further comprises a metal D-ring
680 coupled to said buckle 675 as by, for example, rivets, it being
appreciated that an intervening web (not shown) could couple the
buckle 675 and the D-ring 680 together, as by, for example,
stitching. D-ring 680 is formed to include an open-ended web
routing aperture 682 through which a web, such as web 171 or tether
27 (FIG. 40), is routed in order to change the direction of any
such web 27. The tongue 674 and the buckle 675 are configured for
releasable engagement with each other. The other end of the length
of web 671 is attached to the seat back frame 510 by any suitable
method, such as for example stitching, thereby retaining the
passive restraint characteristics of restraint system 400, 500,
600, 700.
[0155] It will be appreciated that the D-ring 682 may be made of
any suitable metallic material, such as die-cast from zinc or
stamped from steel, and that it may be overmolded with another
material, such as plastic, to protect any web, such as tether 27 or
the below explained web 171, from sharp edges. Alternatively, the
D-ring 682 may be fashioned out of any suitable metallic,
non-metallic or composite material or combination thereof. Each of
the couplings and attachments mentioned above in conjunction with
systems 670, 770, 870, 970 could be accomplished using not only the
illustrative retaining member 778 already described, but also any
suitable method including, for example, rivet, screw, nail, glue,
stitching or melting.
[0156] Referring now to FIGS. 39, 40, and 45, illustrative
embodiments of add-on child restraint systems, illustratively
portable child seats 10c, 10d and 10e, are depicted mounted to a
vehicle seat 10a as described herein and as adaptable for use with
any of systems 300, 400, 500, 600, 700. The portable child
restraint seats 10c-10e illustratively include a child restraint
anchorage system comprising the above mentioned upper tether strap
27 (FIG. 40) and two lower anchor straps 29. As just described, the
upper tether mounts 670, 770, 870, 970 and anchorages 32 are
configured for use with tether strap 27. Alternatively, the strap
may be equipped with a connector assembly 38 as described herein to
provide releasable engagement with an upper anchorage 32. In any
event, tether strap 27 may be equipped with a mid-belt or
integrated adjuster (not shown) to provide proper fit to the strap
27 in operational engagement. It will be appreciated that although
rear facing seat 10e may have a tether strap 27, it typically is
not used when the seat 10e is mounted in the rear facing
orientation. Moreover, the tether strap need not be used in
mounting any of the portable child seats 10c-10e, and likely will
not be used when mounting to seat 400 in order to retain the
passive restraint characteristics of seat 400. The mounting of the
add-on child seats 10c-10e is completed by coupling the lower
anchor straps with lower anchorages 34 as follows. The lower anchor
straps 29 are attached, either fixedly or removably, to the seats
10c, 10d. The distal end of each strap 29 is configured with a
connector assembly 38, which lockingly engages anchorages 34 to
mount the portable seat 10c-10e to seat 10a or to any of systems
300, 400, 500, 600, 700. Web adjusters 40, which may be in-line
mid-belt adjusters or adjusters integrated into connectors 38, are
used to provide proper fit of straps 29 in operational engagement
by, for example, decreasing the length of connecting straps 29 when
adjustment portions 42 are pulled away from the adjusters 40
thereby firmly securing the seat 10c-10e to the seat 10a, 10b, 300,
400, 500, 600, 700.
[0157] Thus, portable child seat 10c-10e may be mounted to any
vehicle seat 10a, including the bus seat 10b depicted in FIG. 44
and any of seat systems 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 as just described.
The restraint of the occupant of the portable child seat 10c-10e is
provided by the restraint system 60d, 60e integral to the
particular seat 10c, 10d and 10e (not shown). Also, either of the
portable child seats 10c and 10d may be mounted in a rear-facing
orientation as depicted with portable child seat 10e in FIG. 45.
The rear facing mounting is typically for use with children
weighing less than 20 pounds, and may be similarly mounted to the
vehicle seat, but, as noted without using the upper tether 27.
[0158] Seat 700 may further comprise a harness positioning system
170 configured for mounting to seat 700 using any one of upper
tether system mounts 670, 770, 870, 970 or anchorages 32, 136, 236.
Positioning harness 170 comprises a length of web 171 having a
chest or torso portion 172, a back portion 178, and opposite ends
each coupled to a connector 38. The positioning harness 170 is
releasably engaged or mounted on the seat as follows. The connector
38 coupled to one end of the web 171 is releasably engaged with the
anchorage 34 distal from buckle 343. The web 171 then proceeds from
said distal anchorage 34 upwardly and diagonally toward upper
tether mount 870 (FIGS. 29, 32) or other illustrative upper tether
system mount 670, 770, 970 (FIGS. 29-33) continuing therethrough
and downwardly away therefrom continuing downwardly along the
cushion 384 to the anchorage 34 proximal to buckle 343 where the
connector 38 on the other end of web 171 is releasably engaged with
said proximal anchorage 34. A height adjuster (not shown) similar
to height adjuster 58 may be slidingly mounted to torso portion 172
and back portion 179. It will be appreciated that the connector 38
at either end of the web 171 may be engaged with its respective
round bar or other anchorage 34 first, or that they may be
connected at the same time.
[0159] Harness 170 is operationally engaged about a passenger (not
shown) as follows. One end of web 171 is releasably engaged with
the distal anchorage 34. The web 171 then proceeds upwardly over
the torso of an occupant or passenger and through the upper tether
system mount 670, 770, 870, 970 and downwardly away therefrom
continuing downwardly behind the passenger to releasably engage the
other connector 38 with the proximal anchorage 34. Then, the
previously described three-point restraint web 336, or other
conventional restraint web, is releasably engaged about the
passenger, crossing over the positioning harness 170 generally at
point 53. It will be appreciated, that the order of engagement
and/or the crossing of the webs 171 and 336 may be reversed. For
example, the illustrative positioning harness depicted in FIG. 37
and explained below shows a positioning harness 70b passing beneath
the vehicle harness 61. When so engaged about a passenger, the
positioning harness 170 will position a passenger for beneficial
use of harness 336, and accordingly, the positioning harness 170
will not alter the previous descriptions of the use of the harness
336 in conjunction with the passive restraint of seat restraint
system 400 or the combination passive and active restraint of seat
restraint systems 500, 600. Those skilled in the art will further
appreciate that a crotch belt could be added to web 336 as, for
example, is shown and described in FIG. 38 below.
[0160] Web 171 and portable child restraint seats 10c, 10d may also
be mounted to the vehicle seat using other suitable anchorage
systems such as for example systems 136, 236. For example,
referring to FIG. 34, connector 136, which comprises a snap hook or
other connector configured to mount to a length of web 171, 27
either directly or through another length of web coupled with a web
adjuster 31, may be used to couple web 171, 27 to an upper
anchorage 32. Web portion 172 illustratively could be mounted
through an adjuster 31 and extends therefrom downwardly behind a
passenger or occupant (not shown) for coupling with anchorage 34 as
described above. It will be appreciated that the connector 36
disclosed above could be configured for use as depicted with web
171 in FIG. 34 and used in substantially the same way with tether
27. Similarly, coupling assembly or connector 236 comprises a
conventional tongue attached to the vehicle seat back frame 510, or
other suitable frame or portion of a vehicle seat, and configured
to releasably couple with a buckle attached to a length of web such
as web 171, 27 either directly or through another length of web
coupled with a web adjuster 31. Web portion 172 is threaded through
adjuster 31 and extends therefrom downwardly behind an occupant
(not shown) for coupling with anchorage 34 as described above.
Coupling assembly 236 is also configurable for use with tether 27
described above. These connectors 136, 236 are configurable for use
with vehicle restraint system seat 120, 220, 300, 400, 500, 600,
700, as well as the restraint systems 20a-c and alternative
positioning harnesses 70a-c described below. Moreover, these
connectors 136, 236 may be used in conjunction with upper tether
mounts 670, 770, 870, 970. For example, the tongue of connector 236
could be attached, as by sewing, to web 671 of one of the upper
tether mounts 670, 770, 870, 970. In such a case, a positioning
harness, such as positioning harnesses 70a-70c described below,
could be configured with a buckle to engage the tongue as described
above, and a tether 27 could be configured for use with the tether
mount.
[0161] As just described, and as with seat restraint systems 500,
600, seat restraint system 700, even with portable child restraint
seats 10c-10e, harness positioning system 171, the below described
harness positioning systems 70a-70c, or the below described
harnesses 20a-20c attached, maintains the passive restraint
characteristics of seat restraint system 400. Those skilled in the
art will appreciate that the restraint system 700 could also be
configured for use with the previously described systems 120, 220,
300. It further will be appreciated that the restraint system 170
is adaptable for use with a conventional seat. As with seat
restraint systems 400, 500, 600 the seat restraint system 700
preserves the under seat clearance for cleaning, maintenance and
other vehicle features.
[0162] It further will be appreciated that alternative harness
positioning systems fall within the scope of this disclosure and
may be configured either for use with upper loop tether systems
670, 770, 870, 970, or with alternative means of operative
engagement with vehicle seats 120, 220, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700
such as the above mentioned alternative anchorages 32, 136, 236.
For example, referring to FIGS. 36-38, and 44, additional
illustrative embodiments of harness positioning systems 70a-70c for
use with vehicle seats 10a, 10b, 120, 220, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700,
and with any other conventional original equipment manufactured
restraint systems are depicted. Vehicle seat 10a herein below
represents a conventional vehicle seat, or one-half or one-third
respectively of a two-passenger or three-passenger seat, such as
for example seats 120, 220, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, and having a
generally vertically extending back portion 12 and a generally
horizontally extending seat portion 16. The illustrative embodiment
depicted in FIG. 36 shows conventional restraint system 60a having
a belt or web 61 including a chest portion 62 and a lap portion 64.
Web 62 is fixedly secured at its proximal end (not shown) to seat
10a, which may be any conventional seat or any of the seats 300,
400, 500, 600, 700 described herein, and extends outwardly away
from aperture 63 and downwardly away therefrom across the torso of
the occupant (not shown). A conventional belt buckle tongue 65 is
slidably coupled to web 62 and is lockingly engageable with seat
belt buckle 69. Buckle 69, in turn, is attached by web 67 to seat
10a. Lap portion 64 of web 62 extends laterally away from tongue 65
and is fixedly secured at its distal end (not shown) to seat 10a.
Thus, tongue 65 may lockingly engage buckle 69 thereby forcing the
torso portion 62 across the shoulder and chest of the occupant
residing on the seat and the lap portion 64 across the lap of the
occupant. Restraint system 60a may be equipped with a belt
retractor assembly (not shown) or with one or more web adjusters
(not shown) configured to adjust the fit of the belt 61 on the
occupant. Positioning system 70a comprises belt or web 72 extending
from attachment point or anchor 73, which may be coupled, for
example, to seat back frame 510, downwardly away and transversely
across toward connector assembly 79. Connector 79 illustratively
has an integrated web adjuster configured to adjust the length of
web 72 by pulling on adjustment end or portion 42 to shorten the
length. As shown, fixed attachment point 73 comprises a bracket
bolted to the seat frame (not shown) and connector assembly 79 is a
conventional tongue and buckle configuration; however, it will be
recognized that any suitable configuration, such as shown in FIGS.
34-35, may be used. For example, attachment 73 and connection 79
may be configured to take advantage of an upper anchorage 32
cooperating with a connector 36, 136, 236. Restraint system 60a and
positioning system 70a cross the occupant as generally indicated by
point 53 in order to provide cooperating positioning and restraint
to the occupant. It is equally acceptable for web 72 to cross over
the top of web 61, or for web 61 to cross over the top of web
72.
[0163] The illustrative embodiments depicted in FIGS. 37 and 44 are
substantially similar to each other in operation and construction.
The embodiment depicted in FIG. 37 shows the positioning system 70b
configured on a seat 10a generic to any vehicle in general or on a
seat 10a representing a half or a third of a two- or
three-passenger seat, such as vehicle seats 300, 400, 500, 600,
700. The embodiment depicted in FIG. 44 shows more specifically the
positioning harness system 70b specifically adapted to a
two-passenger seat 10b, as for example, any vehicle seat 300, 400,
500, 600, 700 disclosed in this application Referring to FIGS. 37
and 44 reveals a conventional restraint system 60b having a belt or
web 61 including a chest portion 62 and a lap portion 64. Web 62 is
fixedly secured at its proximal end (not shown) to seat 10a and
extends outwardly away from aperture 63 and downwardly away
therefrom across the torso of the wearer. A conventional belt
buckle tongue 65 is slidably coupled to web 62 and is lockingly
engageable with seat belt buckle 69. Buckle 69, in turn, is
attached by web 67 to seat 10a. Lap portion 64 of web 62 extends
laterally away from tongue 65 and is fixedly secured at its distal
end (not shown) to seat 10a. Thus, tongue 65 may lockingly engage
buckle 69 thereby forcing the torso portion 62 across the shoulder
and chest of the occupant residing on the seat and the lap portion
64 across the lap of the occupant. Restraint system 60b may be
equipped with a belt retractor assembly (not shown) or with one or
more web adjusters (not shown) configured to adjust the fit of the
belt 61 on the occupant. Restraint harness 60b further includes a
height guide web or belt 68 extending from aperture 66 downwardly
toward the bight of the seat, where belt 68 is fixedly attached to,
for example, the frame of seat 10a. Slidably mounted to belts 61
and 58 is height adjuster 58. Height adjuster 58 is configured to
associate belts 61 and 68 and slides up and down their length to
adjust the position of the belts 61 and 68 on the wearer's
shoulder. When properly configured on a wearer, web portion 62
falls over the wearer's chest and web 68 falls over the wearer's
back.
[0164] Seat 10a is depicted with a pair of spaced apart anchorages
34 which illustratively are rigid members or D-ring anchorages 34
mounted in the bight of the seat 10a between the back 12 and seat
16 portions. As noted, anchorages 34 may conform to FMVSS 225. Also
depicted are upper anchorages 32, which may also serve as an upper
tether anchorage or redirection member that receives and redirects
toward a lower anchorage 34 a tether strap or web 27. Positioning
system 70a comprises belt or web 72 having opposing ends. Upper
opposing end is attached to three-bar slide 59 and lower opposing
end is attached to connector assembly 38. Web 72 extends downwardly
away from slide 59 transversely across back portion 12 to anchorage
34, which is releasably engaged by connector 38. Slide 59 is
slidably coupled to height guide web or belt 78, and slidably
associates webs 72 and 78. Web 78 has opposing ends having
connector assemblies 36 and 38 attached respectively thereto.
Connector assembly 38 releasably engages anchor point 32, and
connector assembly 38 releasably engages anchorage 34. Web 78
extends downwardly from anchor point 32 longitudinally downward
toward anchorage 34. The illustrative embodiment of FIG. 37 depicts
each connector 38 in the unengaged position, and the illustrative
embodiment of FIG. 44 depicts the connector 38 of web 78 in the
unengaged position. Connectors 36 and 38 may have an integrated web
adjuster (not shown) or may have an in-line adjuster 40 configured
to adjust the lengths of web 72 and 78 by pulling on adjustment
portion 42 to shorten the length of web 72 and 78. When properly
configured on a wearer, web portion 72 falls over the wearer's
chest and web 78 falls down the wearer's back. Restraint system 60a
and positioning system 70a cross the occupant as generally
indicated by location 53 in order to provide cooperating support
and restraint to the occupant. When properly configured on the
wearer, belts 62 and 72 will fall over the wearer's chest, and
belts 68 and 78 will fall down the wearer's back, with height
adjuster 58 and slide 59 being positioned near to the wearer's
shoulders, thereby forming a four-point restraint. It will be
appreciated that restraint system 70b, in whole or in part, may
either underlie or overlie restraint system 60b and vice versa.
[0165] Referring to FIG. 38, another illustrative embodiment is
depicted. Harness positioning system 70c is substantially similar
in operation to positioning system 70b described and depicted in
FIGS. 37 and 44. Restraint system 70c, further comprises a crotch
assembly 80 having a crotch belt 82 slidably disposed on lap belt
or portion 64 and extending longitudinally downwardly therefrom to
tongue 85, which is fixedly connected to the distal end of belt 82.
Tongue 85 is lockingly engageable with belt buckle 89, which, in
turn, is attached (not shown) by web 84 to seat 10a. Web 84 may
also be attached to the vehicle's floor, the child's seat, or other
suitable anchor point. Web 82 lies between the wearer's legs, and
has its length, or fit on the wearer, adjusted by pulling on web
portion 86. Crotch assembly 80 cooperates with the previously
described restraint assemblies 60c and 70c to form a five-point
restraint system suitable for use with wearers weighing less than
about fifty pounds. This positioning harness system 70c could also
be adapted for use on any vehicle, including the school bus seat
10b depicted in FIG. 44, or vehicle seats 300, 400, 500, 600, 700.
Also, any of the other herein described four-point restraint
systems 70a, 70b, 170 may be configured as a five-point system by
adding the crotch assembly 80 thereto.
[0166] Illustratively, web 72 of the harness positioning systems
70b, 70c (FIGS. 37, 38, 44) has a fully extended length measured
from the slide 59 to the lower adjuster 40 of between about 35 to
45 inches, and typically about 40 inches. The length of web 78 from
the connector 36 down to the web adjuster 40 is between about 20 to
25 inches, and typically about 23 inches fully extended. The length
between the web adjusters 40 and the connectors 38 on both webs 78,
72 is in a range from about two to five inches, and typically about
three inches. It will be appreciated that other suitable lengths
may be used. As noted each of the harness positioning systems 171,
70a-c, may be operably mounted over or under the vehicle's
restraint harness as best seen with positioning harness 70b
depicted mounted under the vehicle harness 61 in FIG. 37 and over
the vehicle harness 61 in FIG. 44.
[0167] Referring to FIG. 41, an illustrative embodiment of another
harness positioning system 20a in accordance with the present
invention is depicted. The illustrative system 20a is configured
for use with a vehicle seat 10a having a generally vertically
extending back portion 12 and a generally horizontally extending
seat portion 16 and is adaptable for use with any of systems 300,
400, 500, 600, 700. Positioning harness 20a comprises a pair of
spaced apart body straps or web belts 22 and 24, which extend
around the body of a wearer of the harness 20a. Upper body strap 22
and lower body strap 24 are generally parallel one to the other and
with the seat portion 16. Generally vertically extending and spaced
apart connecting straps 26 connect upper strap 22 with lower strap
24. The connecting straps 26 are generally parallel to each other
and are generally perpendicular to body straps 22 and 24 and to
seat 16. While three connecting straps 26 are shown, alternative
embodiments, for example FIG. 42, may use a fewer or a greater
number of connecting straps. Similarly, a harness 20a equipped with
more than two body straps falls within the scope of the invention.
Connecting straps 26 are attached to body strap 24 at attachment
points 45 and extend longitudinally upwardly away therefrom to
attachment points 46 on body strap 22. Each body strap 22 and 24 is
equipped with a connector assembly 23a and 25a, which is located at
the front of the restraint harness 20a, and which is used to secure
the opposing ends of respective straps 22 and 24 together in order
to mount the harness 20a to the wearer. The connector assembly 23a
and 25a may also be located at the back (23b and 25b in FIG. 42) or
on the side of the body strap 22 and 24. Body straps 22 and 24 each
further includes a web adjuster 31 slidably mounted to straps 22
and 24 and configured to adjust the fit of the harness 20a on the
wearer. Web adjusters 31 and 33 may be included as a part of the
respective connector assembly 23a and 25a, or may be mid-belt web
adjusters separate from the respective connector assembly 23a and
25a. Although not shown, it will be appreciated that connecting
straps 26 may also be equipped with web adjusters adapted to adjust
the vertical spacing between body straps 22 and 24 in order to
further adjust the harness 20a to fit the wearer as known to those
skilled in the art.
[0168] A pair of spaced apart upper anchor straps 28 are attached
to upper body strap 22 at connection points 46 and extend upwardly
away therefrom. A pair of spaced apart lower anchor straps 29 are
attached to lower body strap 24 at connection points 45 and extend
generally downwardly away therefrom. Each anchor strap 28 and 29
has at its end distal from the respective body strap 22 and 24 a
coupling mechanism 36 and 38 for releasably mounting the harness
20a to the seat 10a.
[0169] Connectors 36 and 38 releasably and lockingly engage
anchorages 32 and 34 to mount the restraint system 20a to the seat
10. Each anchor strap 28 and 29 also includes a web adjuster 40
either slidably mounted to the strap 28 and 29 as a mid-belt
adjuster, as shown, or integrated into the connector 36 and 38. In
operation, each adjustment end or portion 42 of each connector
strap 28 and 29 is pulled away from the adjuster 40 in order to
reduce the operable length of the connector strap 28 and 29. The
upper portions of straps 28 may be configured to fall over the
shoulders of the wearer, or under the arms.
[0170] Referring now to FIG. 42, another illustrative embodiment of
a harness positioning system is depicted. Positioning harness 20b
is operably substantially similar to harness 20a. The illustrative
positioning system 20b is configured for use with a vehicle seat
10a as described above having a generally vertically extending back
portion 12 and a generally horizontally extending seat portion 16
and is adaptable for use with any of systems 300, 400, 500, 600,
700. Restraint harness 20b comprises a pair of spaced apart body
straps or web belts 22 and 24, which extend around the body of a
wearer of the harness 20b. Upper body strap 22 and lower body strap
24 are generally parallel one to the other and with the seat
portion 16. Generally vertically extending and spaced apart
connecting straps 26 connect upper strap 22 with lower strap 24.
The connecting straps 26 are generally parallel to each other and
are generally perpendicular to body straps 22 and 24 and to seat
16. While two connecting straps 26 are shown, alternative
embodiments may use a greater number of connecting straps. If
additional straps 26 are used in this restraint harness, however,
they may or may not extend past the body straps 22 and 24. A
harness 20b equipped with more than two body straps similarly falls
within the scope of the invention. Connecting straps 26 are
attached to body strap 24 at attachment points 45 and extend
longitudinally upwardly away therefrom to attachment points 46 on
body strap 22. Connecting straps 26 continue upwardly from
attachment points 46 and downwardly from attachment points 45.
Mounted to each opposing end of each connecting strap 26 is a
connector 36, 38 configured to lockingly engage corresponding
anchorage 32, 34. Each body strap 22 and 24 is also equipped with a
connector assembly 23b and 25b, which is located at the back of the
restraint harness 20b proximate to back portion 12, and which is
used to secure the opposing ends of respective straps 22 and 24
together in order to mount the harness 20b to the wearer. Each
connector assembly 23b and 25b may also be located at the front
(FIG. 41) or on the side of the body strap 22 and 24. Body straps
22 and 24 each further includes a web adjuster 31 slidably mounted
to straps 22 and 24 and configured to adjust the fit of the harness
20b on the wearer. Web adjusters 131 and 133 may be included as a
part of the respective connector assembly 23b and 25b, or may be
mid-belt web adjusters separate from the respective connector
assembly 23b and 25b. Although not shown, it will be appreciated
that connecting straps 26 may also be equipped with web adjusters
adapted to adjust the vertical spacing between body straps 22 and
24 in order to further adjust the harness 20b to fit the wearer. In
such cases, body straps 22 and 24 would be slidably mounted to
straps 26 as opposed to fixedly mounted as by stitching. Harness
20b further includes a generally horizontal strap 33 extending
laterally between and attached to connecting straps 26. The upper
portions of straps 26 may be configured to fall over the shoulders
of the wearer, or under the arms.
[0171] Referring to FIG. 43, another illustrative embodiment of a
harness positioning system 20c is depicted. The illustrative
positioning system 20c is configured for use with a vehicle seat
10a as described above having a generally vertically extending back
portion 12 and a generally horizontally extending seat portion 16
and is adaptable for use with any of systems 300, 400, 500, 600,
700. Restraint harness 20c comprises a pair of continuous body
straps or web belts 35 and 37, which extend around the body of a
wearer of the harness 20c. Each opposing end of each Strap 35 and
37 is equipped with coupling mechanisms or connectors 36 and 38
which are lockingly engageable with anchorage 32 and 34. Strap 35
crosses and is connected to strap 37 at upper location 51 and lower
location 52. In addition, straps 35 and 37 are connected at points
45 and 46 by generally longitudinally extending connecting straps
26. Each body strap 35 and 37 is also equipped with a connector
assembly 23c, which is used to secure the straps 35 and 37 together
in order to mount the harness 20b to the wearer. Body straps 35 and
37 each include web adjusters 40 slidably mounted to straps 35 and
37 or integrated with connector assemblies 36 and 38 and configured
to adjust the fit of the harness 20b on the wearer. Although not
shown, it will be appreciated that connecting straps 26 may also be
equipped with web adjusters adapted to adjust the vertical spacing
between body straps 35 and 37 in order to further adjust the
harness 20b to fit the wearer. In such cases, body straps 35 and 37
would be slidably coupled to straps 26 as opposed to fixedly
mounted as by the depicted stitching 45 and 46. The upper portions
of straps 30 and 31 may be configured to fall over the shoulders of
the wearer, or under the arms.
[0172] Referring to FIGS. 41-43, the straps 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 35
and 37 are connected at the respective connection points 45, 46, 51
and 52 using stitching. One skilled in the art will appreciate,
however, that alternate connections may be used. For example, hook
and loop, rivets, zippers, glue, staples, melting or other suitable
connecting structures may be used. Similarly, although the
connector assembly (23a, 25a) depicted in the illustrative
embodiment of FIG. 41 is a standard quick disconnect connector,
other connectors, such as, for example, hook and loop (FIGS. 42,
43), snaps, tongue and buckle, zippers, clamp, or other suitable
coupling structures may be used. So too, alternative connectors may
be used, such as for example, the mini-connector 36, 38 depicted in
FIGS. 41-43 and described herein above, snap hooks (FIG. 34),
tongue and buckle (FIG. 35), upper tether mounts 770, 970 (FIGS.
31, 33), or even some type of fixed attachment such as rivets,
bolts, brackets and the like (FIG. 36). Moreover, a combination of
different types of connectors may be used. For example, the
mini-connector depicted in FIG. 41 may be used for the lower
attachments and a snap hook or permanent attachment may be used for
the upper attachments. The harnesses 20a, 20b, 20c, 70a, 70b, 70c,
170 may be mounted to a car seat, a boat seat, an airplane seat, a
van seat, a bus seat, or the seat 10a of any other vehicle.
Finally, although not shown, harnesses 20a, 20b, 20c may be
equipped with separate conventional shoulder webs or straps such as
restraint 60a-60c.
[0173] As noted, FIGS. 34 and 35 depict alternative connector
assemblies 136 and 236 for use with either anchor point 32 or 38 of
the illustrative embodiments described and shown in FIGS. 41-43.
Similarly, connector assemblies 36, 38, 136, and 236 are adaptable
for use with the above described harness positioning systems 70a
(FIG. 36), 70b (FIGS. 37 and 44), and 70c (FIG. 38), and with the
restraint systems described above and depicted in FIGS. 42, 43, 45.
In addition, each of the harnesses positioning systems 171,
70a-70c, 20a-20c upper tether systems 670, 770, 870, 970, and
portable child restraint seats 10c-10d described herein are
configurable for use with any of the seat systems 120, 220, 300,
400, 500, 600, 700 described herein. It further will be appreciated
that any of the seats 300, 500, 600, 700 are compatible for use
with an add-on child restraint system booster seat (not shown)
including any backless child restraint system or belt-positioning
seat as those terms are defined by FMVSS 213, typically for use
with children weighing less than about 50 pounds and an
unrestricted booster seat typically for use with children ranging
in size from about 40 to 80 pounds or more.
[0174] An example of a suitable web adjuster 31, 33, 40 described
herein for use with any of the above systems illustratively may be
of the kind disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/206,660 filed by Woodard et al. on Jul. 26, 2002, the
disclosure of which is no expressly incorporated herein by
reference. An example of a suitable connector 36, 38 described
herein for use with any of the above systems illustratively may be
of the kind disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/206,603 filed by Wiseman et al. on Jul. 26, 2002, which
is now expressly incorporated herein by reference. Any other
suitable conventional connector may be used as well.
[0175] The interchangeability of the components of the illustrative
embodiments described herein will be appreciated by those skilled
in the art. It will also be appreciated that the anchorages 32 and
34 may be removable or integral to the vehicle seat, and that the
restraint systems mounted thereto and described and depicted herein
may also be either removable or integral to the vehicle seat.
[0176] The above described systems are configurable for use in any
number of vehicles including mini-vans, mini-buses, and school
buses, and in various seat sizes. For example, the seats 300, 400,
500, 600, 700 illustratively may be about 40 to 50 inches high, and
typically will be about 44 inches high from the floor to the top of
the cushion 383. The width of the seats 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 may
range from about 20 to about 45 inches with typical embodiments
being about 30 inches, 34 inches, 36 inches, and 45 inches wide.
The depth of the seats from the top of the cushion 383 to the front
of the seat cushion 386 ranges from about 23 to 30 inches. A
typical embodiment will be about 27 inches deep. Illustratively,
the floor mount module 430 is about 8 to 14 inches high, and is
typically about 11 inches high. The height of the seat cushion 386
from the floor may be about 15 to 25 inches and it typically about
20 inches.
[0177] Thus, it is seen that the modular nature of the above
described restraint systems 20a-c, 70a-c, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700,
allows for fashioning a number of optional combinations and
permutations in both dimensions and restraint systems. The
following examples illustrate some, but not all of the possible
combinations and permutations that fall within the scope of the
disclosure, such examples are not intended to be limiting. For
example, each vehicle restraint system 300, 400, 500, 600, 700
could come in a 30 inch, a 33 inch and a 36 inch wide version.
Vehicle seat restraint system 400 could then add one or more pairs
of anchorages 34 to frame 410 so that add-on child restraint
systems such as portable child seats 10c, 10d (FIGS. 39, 40, 45)
could be added, even while retaining the passive restraint
characteristics of seat 400. So too, a restraint harness 336,
60a-60c, could be added to seat restraint system 400, and then
upper tether mounts 670, 770, 870, 970 configured to accommodate
any of the positioning harnesses 170, 70a-70c, 20a-20c, albeit
perhaps at the diminished functioning of the passive restraint
characteristics of seat 400.
[0178] Similarly, vehicle seat restraint system 500 may be
configured: (1) with one restraint harness; (2) with two restraint
harnesses; (3) with a three-passenger seat having two restraint
harnesses 336, 60a-60c and/or two pairs of anchorages 34; (4) with
two restraint harnesses and two anchorages 34 for mounting an
add-on child restraint system such as a portable child seat 10c,
10d (FIGS. 39, 40, 45) or a booster seat; (5) two restraint
harnesses, two pairs of anchorages 34, and two upper tether mounts
670, 770, 870, 970 alone or in combination with two anchorages 32,
136, 236 configured to mount up to two positioning harnesses 170,
70a-70c, 20a-20c, and/or up to two add-on child restraint systems
such as portable child seats 10c, 10d (FIGS. 39, 40, 45) or two
booster seats; and (6) two restraint harnesses, two pairs of
anchorages 34, and one or more integrated child restraint systems
605, which would be substantially equivalent to vehicle seat
restraint system 600 depicted in FIG. 27. Vehicle restraint system
600, in turn, illustratively could be equipped with upper tether
mounts configured to mount up to two positioning harnesses 170,
70a-70c, 20a-20c, and/or up to two add-on child restraint systems
such as child restraint seats 10c, 10d (FIGS. 39, 40, 45) or
booster seats, which would be substantially equivalent to vehicle
seat restraint system 700 depicted in FIG. 29, which comprises
movable frame 510, two passenger restraint harnesses 336, 60a-60c,
one or two integrated child restraint systems 605, one or two
booster seats (not shown), one or two pairs of lower anchors 34
configured to mount one or two add-on child restraint systems such
as portable child seats 10c, 10d (FIGS. 39, 40, 45), one or two
upper tether mounts 670, 770, 870, 970 configured to mount, in
conjunction with the lower anchorages 34, one or two positioning
harnesses 170, 70a-70c, 20a-20c, and/or up to two portable child
restraint seats 10c, 10d. In addition, each of the just mentioned
examples may further vary by cushion and upholstery type,
connectors, construction material, vehicle mounting means, and the
like as has been described herein above and as would be apparent to
one skilled in the art. Finally, any of the above examples may
further be configured for use with a child booster seat using the
anchorages 34 and the restraint harness 336. These examples are
meant to be illustrative rather than limiting in nature. It will be
appreciated that the modular nature of the illustrative embodiments
also allows for the above combinations and permutations to be
configured and deconfigured by changing components in and out as
needed without the need to replace an entire seat.
[0179] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be
considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it
being understood that all changes and modifications that come
within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
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