Adult passive restraint apparatus and method of passive restraint

A passive restraint apparatus for supporting a user thereof in a substantially upright seated position in a chair so as to allow free upper torso movement of the user, the restraint apparatus comprising:

• an elongate body panel including a back section adapted to extend along a back portion of a chair, a seat section connected to the lower end portion of said back section and adapted to extend along a seat portion of a chair, a lower leg section connected to the lower end portion of said seat section for extending downwardly from a seat portion of a chair and along a lower leg portion thereof, and a foot section connected to the lower end portion of said lower leg section and adapted to extend along foot supports connected to and extending outwardly from a chair;
• means connected to said elongate panel for securing said elongate body panel to a chair, said securing means comprising an upper pocket connected to the upper end portion of said back section of said elongate panel and being adapted to envelopingly receive a portion of a back of a chair, a lower pocket connected to said foot section and said lower leg section of said elongate body panel and adapted to receive foot supports and a lower leg portion of a chair to secure the restraint apparatus thereto and inhibit a user's feet from interfering with foot supports of a chair, and a plurality of elongate straps extending across the width of said elongate body panel and secured thereto to thereby provide structural support to the elongate body panel when lifting a user positioned on said elongate body panel, at least one of said plurality of elongate straps being secured to said back section of said elongate body panel and at least one of said plurality of elongate straps being secured to said leg section of said elongate body panel for more stably lifting a user positioned thereon;
• and
• a lower torso panel secured to and extending outwardly from said elongate body panel for positioning between the legs of and around the lower torso of a user, said lower torso panel including a first relatively narrow end connected to a medial portion of said lower torso panel, a second relatively wider end tapering and extending outwardly therefrom, and torso panel securing means for securing said lower torso panel around the lower torso of the user and around a back of a chair, said torso panel securing means including an elongate strap secured to the relatively wider second end and adapted to extend around a user positioned therein and around a back of a chair.