Dual mode passenger restraint system

In a vehicle equipped with a passenger restraint system of the type having a knee bolster in front of a seat for restraining the lower torso of the passenger in the seat during emergency conditions and a chest belt having one end wound on an acceleration-sensitive retractor located at the lower, inward side of the seat and a second end passing across the chest of the passenger and engaging with a first quick-release means attached to an adjacent door or door frame for restraining the upper torso of the passenger during emergency conditions, a conversion kit for retrofitting said system to a dual mode operation capable of operating as an automatically-locking lap belt for restraining children or an infant seat, comprising:

• a replacement retractor adapted for replacing said acceleration-sensitive retractor, said replacement retractor including:
• a safety belt having one end wound thereon for extractive and retractive movement;
• an acceleration-sensitive mode in which said retractor detects acceleration of said vehicle or said belt, or both, of a predetermined level and locks said belt against further extractive movement in response thereto;
• and
• an automatic-locking mode in which said retractor operates to detect consecutive extractive and retractive movements of said belt of a predetermined amount to lock said belt against further extractive movement in response thereto, said automatic-locking mode being switchable between an operative state and an inoperative state;
• and
• second quick-release means mounted at a lower, outward side of said seat for alternatively releasably-attaching said second end of said belt thereat when it is released from said first quick-release means such that said belt passes across the lap of said passenger or said infant seat, said second quick-release means further incuding switch means for switching said automatic-locking mode to said operative state when said second end of said belt is engaged therewith.

A dual mode passenger restraint system for a seat in a vehicle, comprising:

• a knee bolster in front of said seat for restraining said passenger's lower torso during emergency conditions;
• a dual mode safety-belt retractor mounted at the lower, inward side of said seat, said retractor including:
• a safety belt having one end wound thereon for extractive and retractive movement;
• an acceleration-sensitive mode in which said retractor detects accelerative movement of said vehicle or said belt, or both, of a predetermined level and locks said belt against further extractive movement;
• and
• an automatic-locking mode in which said retractor detects consecutive extractive and retractive movements of said belt of a predetermined amount and locks said belt against further extractive movement;
• first quick-release means mounted to a door frame of said vehicle adjacent to said seat for releasably-attaching a second end of said belt to said door or door frame such that said belt passes across the chest of said passenger to restrain said passenger's upper torso during said emergency conditions;
• and
• second quick-release means mounted at a lower, outward side of said seat for alternatively releasably-attaching said second end of said belt thereat when it is released from said first quick-release means such that said belt passes across the lap of said passenger or an infant seat to restrain said passenger or infant seat during said emergency conditions.