Back to results
US 2011/0001311 A1Published application
Method of Supplemental Automotive Restraint for Pregnant Women
OwnerJames Edward Hofferberthinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
OwnerJames Edward Hofferberthinventor
Estimating the term…
The “Supplemental Automotive Restraint System for Pregnant Women” consists of a protective shell structure with integral “Pelvic Yoke and Crotch Post”, “Breast Plate”, structural “Abdominal Bridge/Shell” over the abdomen between the “Pelvic Yoke” and the “Breast Plate”, “Shoulder Belt Retainer”, and appropriate padding and fill material, all of which work in conjunction with the standard automotive Type II lap and shoulder belt restraint system as required to be installed in all new passenger cars manufactured for sale in the United States by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 (FMVSS 208). The purpose of the “Supplemental Automotive Restraint System for Pregnant Women” is to reduce the likelihood of injury to a pregnant mother and her unborn child during maneuvering, crash, or other non-impact event of a motor vehicle while the mother is driving or riding in the vehicle.
The “Method/Device” provides a geometric configuration and structure to prevent the “Method/Device” from moving upward on the woman's body, to maintain the lap belt below the abdomen, to direct lap belt forces downward and aft to the mother's pelvic iliac crests and pubic bony structures through the “Pelvic Yoke” and integral “Crotch Post”, to prevent submarining of the pelvis under the lap belt, and to direct the upper and rotational components of these forces to the “Abdominal Bridge/Shell” for transmission over the abdomen to the “Breast Plate”.
The “Method/Device” provides a geometric configuration and structure to help maintain the shoulder belt above the abdomen and below the neck, to direct shoulder belt forces to the mother's sternum and ribs through the contoured padded “Breast Plate” designed to provide a relatively even distribution of shoulder belt forces over the surface of the torso, and to direct the lower and rotational components of these forces to the “Abdominal Bridge/Shell” for transmission over the abdomen to the “Pelvic Yoke”.
The “Method/Device” provides an integrated protective ‘abdominal shell’ and ‘bridging arch’ (“Abdominal Bridge/Shell”) structure over the abdomen to reduce the application of forces to the abdomen by transmitting forces over the abdomen between the “Pelvic Yoke” and the “Breast Plate”;
The “Method/Device” provides multiple layers of energy absorbing material on the inner surfaces of the “Method/Device” including semi rigid material to fill excessive void space inside the “Method/Device” to accommodate the varying shape of the woman's body during the progressive stages of pregnancy and prevent excessive distortion of the abdomen, spine, ribs and uterus;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.