Harness restraint system
AssigneeEast/West Industries, Inc.
InventorsDominic J. Spinosa, Frank Knoll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved harness restraint system for a vehicle seat occupant which includes a unique single-point release device having laterally spaced connectors for attachment of shoulder harness straps. The system also includes an improved harness belt system employing a cross-chest belt configuration as well as a gross adjustment feature for pre-adjusting the harness assembly straps to substantially approximate the occupant. The new system also provides diverging lower restraint belts which encircle each leg of the occupant for anti-gravity and crash restraint. The single-point release device also includes an automatic release mechanism which is activated in a water environment.
Claims42
Improved harness restraint system for a seat occupant in a vehicle comprising:
- one single-point release device having two releasable connectors laterally separated which can be actuated from a single position to release harness strap plates connected at said laterally-separated connectors, and two additional laterally-spaced connectors said single-point release device for laterally-connected lower body straps for attachment of lower body straps thereto, said single-point release device positioned at the center of occupant's body below the rib cage and adapted to receive all harness straps at said position,
- harness shoulder straps which cross diagonally over the chest of the occupant while in use and terminate in harness strap plates for attachment to said laterally-separated releasable connectors, each said shoulder strap comprising a gross adjustment device for adjustment of said harness to substantially approximate occupant size,
- harness leg straps each of which encircles a leg of the occupant and terminates in a harness strap plate for attachment to said two additional laterally-spaced releasable connectors, and
- water-actuated release mechanism for releasing said harness strap plates in a water environment.
A single-point release device useful for releasable connection of restraint strap plates of a harness restraint system which have latching holes therethrough comprising:
- a housing having a front and a rear wall and a top and a bottom side, said top side provided with at least two apertures laterally spaced apart for receiving said harness strap plates,
- a release handle attached to said housing for actuation,
- connection pins mounted for movement between an extended position and a retracted position in said housing adjacent each said aperture and accessible therethrough, said pins continuously urged toward the extended position for engagement with said latch holes in said strap plates, and
- actuation means linking said connection pins to said release handle for retraction of said pins upon actuation of said handle whereby said harness restraint strap plates are disengaged for release.
Gross adjustment harness strap device adaptable for harness assemblies requiring strap adjustment which provides gross adjustment of said straps to substantially approximate occupant size comprising:
- harness belt adjustment means having an indicator viewing window which is adapted for fixed attachment to a harness assembly, and
- indicator harness strap marked with indicators corresponding to adjustment lengths which accommodate different body sizes for the particular harness assembly, which fits cooperatively with said adjustment means so that said indicators appear in said viewing window when the length of said strap is an appropriate length to accommodate the indicated body size.
Improved harness restraint system for a seat occupant in a vehicle comprising:
- single-point release device having at least two releasable connectors laterally separated which can be actuated form a single position to release harness strap plates connected at said laterally-separated connectors,
- harness shoulder straps which cross diagonally over the chest of the occupant while in use and terminate in harness strap plates for attachment to said laterally-separated releasable connectors, and
- gross adjustment device threaded on each said harness shoulder strap and adapted for adjustment of said harness to substantially approximate occupant size, each said gross adjustment device including harness belt adjustment means having an indicator viewing window which is adapted for fixed attachment to a harness assembly, and
- indicator harness strap marked with indicators corresponding to adjustment lengths which accommodate different body sizes for the particular harness assembly, and which fits cooperately with said adjustment means so that said indicators appear in said viewing window when the length of said strap is the proper length to accommodate the indicated body size.
Improved harness restraint system for a seat occupant in a vehicle comprising:
- single-point release device having at least two releasable connectors laterally separated which can be actuated from a single position to release harness strap plates connected at said laterally-separated connectors, and
- harness shoulder straps which cross diagonally over the chest of the occupant while in use and terminate in harness strap plate for attachment to said laterally-separated releasable connectors, each said shoulder strap comprising a gross adjustment device for adjustment of said harness to substantially approximate occupant size, said gross adjustment device comprising
- harness belt adjustment means having an indicator viewing window adapted for fixed attachment to a harness assembly, and
- indicator harness strap marked with indicators corresponding to adjustment lengths which accommodate different body sizes for the particular harness assembly, and fits cooperatively with said adjustment means so that said indicators appear in said viewing window when the length of said strap is the proper length to accommodate the indicated body size.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.