Vehicle passenger safety devices

[0002] This application claims benefit of provisional application 60/150,355, filed Aug. 24, 1999.

[0003] The present invention relates generally to vehicular safety devices and more specifically to passenger safety devices for use on vehicles such as airplanes and automobiles.

[0004] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has reported that the use of seat belts on airplanes has reduced injuries and saved lives during air turbulence and air crashes. The utility of airplane seat belts has prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to promulgate rules requiring all airlines to provide seat belts to their passengers. However, despite the FAA regulations, not every airplane passenger receives the full protection of a seat belt. For example, children under 40 pounds do not receive the full benefit from seat belts that are designed for adults. As there is no federal regulation requiring the provision of seat belts specifically designed for children lighter than 40 pounds, airlines do not provide them. This inequity to young passengers is aggravated by the fact that airlines often require children over the age of two to buy a ticket without affording these young travelers the same protection other passengers receive.

[0005] Until the law requires the use of airplane child safety devices, children will continue to suffer from injuries, sometimes fatal injuries, during air turbulence or air crashes. The current practice of adults holding on to children is simply inadequate. The NTSB has reported numerous instances in which children held by an adult during air turbulence or air crashes suffer from severe injuries, including fatal injuries. The NTSB has also reported that child safety belts currently used in a limited number of smaller airplanes have saved the lives of young passengers.

[0006] Taking the initiative to provide adequate protection to their children, some parents have attempted to use car seats in airplanes. Currently, only six car seats manufactured in the United States comply with FAA standards for use in airplanes. Although some of these car seats fit and buckle in more easily than others in an airplane, all such car seats are heavy, cumbersome, and awkward to handle. The FAA and the NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration) have reported that many car seats are not suitable for use in airplanes either because they are too wide to fit into the airplane seats or because the rows of airplane seats are too close together to accommodate them. Parents who use car seats in airplanes must also haul them through airports, which often creates problems at security checks. In the past, some airlines even prohibited parents from using car seats. As crash safety test results began to demonstrate the danger of carrying infants in the arms of adults and using ordinary seat belts for toddlers, the FAA passed a rule prohibiting airlines from banning car seats on airplanes. Nonetheless, some airlines continue to prohibit their flight attendants from assisting parents with the installation of car seats in airplanes.

[0007] Therefore, it is apparent that children lighter than 40 pounds can still benefit from the protection of an airplane child safety device as much as an adult can benefit from the use of a seat belt. However, it appears that airlines will continue to be reluctant to provide airplane child safety devices for at least two reasons. First, existing car seats that comply with FAA standards are not user-friendly and their use could adversely affect flight schedules. Second, the airlines do not have a system to handle the logistics associated with the provision of the car seats in reservation, delivery, storage, maintenance, and redistribution.

[0008] Although each airline uses its own proprietary airline reservation system, all airline reservation systems do essentially the same things. All reservation systems reserve a place on an airplane and record a fair amount of information about the passenger such as the passenger's credit card number, preference for an aisle or window seat, special meal request, frequent flyer number, and so on. Passengers who regularly use a particular travel agent often have a travel “profile” that automatically downloads when a reservation is made. However, while some data in the agent's profile is automatically downloaded, the choice of a special meal or seat preference must be “clicked in” to the ticket reservation system separately by the travel agent with each reservation. Because no airline is providing airplane child safety devices, the current reservation systems do not record whether a vehicle child safety device has been requested.

[0009] The level of demand for child safety devices and a system to provide them to air travel passengers would increase if a regulation were promulgated to require the use of child safety devices on airplanes for children lighter than 40 pounds. In addition, the demand for child safety devices and a system to provide them would increase if airlines voluntarily make the devices available as part of a “passenger bill of rights.” Currently, there is considerable interest in expanding passenger rights to include “appropriate safe devices” for children. “Forward thinking” airlines might view the provision of airplane child safety devices as giving them a competitive edge.

[0010] The present invention is a passenger safety device that can be used in different vehicles including airplanes and automobiles. Three specific embodiments are disclosed. In a first embodiment, the present invention is a “soft” vehicle safety device, i.e., it is a harness made exclusively of straps and fasteners. In this embodiment, the present invention has two vertical straps, a strap-holding belt, and a horizontal strap. When the present invention is installed, the horizontal strap wraps around the back-support of a vehicle seat. Preferably, the horizontal strap is length adjustable having a fastener and an adjustable portion. The vertical straps rest over the back-support of the vehicle seat. Each of the vertical straps is attached to the horizontal strap. Preferably, the vertical straps are sewn to the horizontal strap. The second end of each of the vertical straps has a loop to incorporate the existing vehicle seat belt. In a preferred embodiment, the loop can be “sealed” tightly by the use of hook-and-loop fasteners. The strap-holding belt is located below the horizontal strap, and it is designed to be fastened around a passenger's chest to keep the vertical straps in place.

[0011] A second embodiment of the present invention resembles a folding seat. In this embodiment, the present invention comprises a seat-pan, a back-support, a hinge connecting the seat-pan and back-support, a horizontal strap, two vertical straps attached to the horizontal strap, and a crotch strap attached to the seat-pan. In its folded position, the present invention resembles a small briefcase with a to shoulder strap. Preferably, when deployed, a pair of small “feet” can be snapped out at the bottom of the seat-pan to tilt the seat-pan toward the back-support slightly. The existing vehicle seat belt feeds through a loop located at the bottom of the seat-pan to hold it in place. The horizontal strap wraps around the vehicle seat and is tightened to hold the present invention in place.

[0012] In a third embodiment, the present invention comprises a rigid front-support with an inflatable cushion to fill up the space between the passenger and the rigid front-support. The rigid front-support is made of tough polyurethane or another similar material. An inflatable cushion attached to the rigid front-support has a pump for use to inflate the cushion. To provide additional restraint, a pair of cross-straps is provided. These cross-straps are attached to the rigid front-support and the horizontal strap. The inflatable cushion, when not inflated to surround the passenger, is folded inside the rigid front frame.

[0013] Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to improve passenger safety by providing vehicle passenger safety devices that are lightweight, portable, and easy to install. This and other objects of the present invention are described in greater detail in the detailed description of the invention, the appended drawings, and the attached claims.

[0014] FIG. 1ais a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a vehicle passenger safety device.

[0015] FIG. 1bis a schematic diagram of the vehicle passenger safety device of FIG. 1ashown in use on an existing vehicle seat.

[0016] FIG. 2ais a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a vehicle passenger safety device.

[0017] FIG. 2bis a schematic diagram of the vehicle passenger safety device of FIG. 2ashown in its folded position.

[0018] FIG. 2cis a schematic diagram of the vehicle passenger safety device of FIG. 2ashown in use on an existing vehicle seat.

[0019] FIG. 3ais a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a vehicle passenger safety device.

[0020] FIG. 3bis a schematic diagram of the vehicle passenger safety device of FIG. 3ashown in use on an existing vehicle seat.

[0021] FIG. 1ais a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention showing vehicle passenger safety device 100. As shown in FIG. 1a, this embodiment of the present invention comprises a pair of vertical straps 101 and 102, strap-holding belt 103, and horizontal strap 104. Vertical strap 101 is attached to horizontal strap 104 at locations 101aand 101b. Similarly, vertical strap 102 is attached to horizontal strap 104 at locations 102aand 102b. Preferably, vertical straps 101 and 102 are sewn to horizontal strap 104 at locations 101a, 101b, 102a, and 102b. In addition, vertical straps 101 and 102 have loops 101cand 102c, respectively. Strap-holding belt 103 is attached to vertical strap 101 at location 103b, and to vertical strap 102 at location 103c. Preferably, strap-holding belt 103 has a fastener 103a. The preferred fastener is a buckle. Preferably, strap-holding belt 103 is sewn to vertical straps 101 and 102 at locations 103band 103c, respectively. Horizontal strap 104 has a fastener 104a, such as a buckle, and an adjustable portion 104bthat can be length-adjusted to tighten horizontal strap 104 around the back-support of an existing vehicle seat such as an airplane seat.

[0022] FIG. 1bis a schematic diagram of vehicle passenger safety device 100 in use on existing airplane seat 10 having seat-pan 11, back-support 12, and seat belt 13. To use vehicle passenger safety device 100 on existing airplane seat 10, a passenger is seated on seat-pan 11. Vertical straps 101 and 102 are rested over back-support 12 of existing airplane seat 10 so that locations 101a, 101b, 102a, and 102bare all at about the same elevation. Horizontal strap 104 is then wrapped around back-support 12, above and behind the food tray of airplane seat 10 and above or behind the passenger's head. Fastener 104ais then engaged and adjustable portion 104bis pulled. Vertical straps 101 and 102 are then placed over the passenger's shoulders. Seat belt 13 is then fed through loops 101cand 102cof vertical straps 101 and 102, respectively, and seat belt 13 is buckled and tightened. In a preferred embodiment, loops 101cand 102ccan be “sealed” tightly by the use of hook-and-loop fasteners such as Velcro™. Finally, strap-holding belt 103 is secured by engaging a fastener such as buckle 103a. The first embodiment of the present invention is made exclusively of straps and fasteners.

[0023] To uninstall vehicle passenger safety device 100, existing airplane seat belt 13, horizontal strap 104, and strap-holding belt 103 are detached. Existing airplane seat belt 13 is taken out of loops 101cand 102c, and the passenger safety device is lifted from back-support 12. The device can then be folded and stored in a small bag or box.

[0024] FIG. 2ais a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a vehicle passenger safety device 200 having seat-pan portion 210, back-support portion 220, and hinge 230 connecting seat-pan portion 210 and back-support portion 220. Seat-pan portion 210 and back-support portion 220 preferably have rigid exterior frames and padded interiors. In addition, back-support portion 220 has vertical straps 201 and 202, attached to back-support portion 220 at locations 201aand 202a, respectively. Horizontal strap 203 is attached, preferably by sewing, to vertical strap 201 at location 201band to vertical strap 202 at location 202b. Portions 205a, 205b, and 205care three components of three-way fastener 205. Horizontal strap 203 has fastener 203a, adjustable portion 203b, and portions of three-way fastener 205band 205c. Fasteners 203aand 205 are preferably buckles. The first end of crotch strap 204 is secured to seat-pan portion 210 at location 204a. The second end of crotch strap 204 has portion 205aof three-way fastener 205. Shoulder strap 221 is installed on back-support portion 220. Alternatively, shoulder strap 221 can be installed on seat-pan portion 210. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2b, there is loop 211 and a pair of legs 212 and 213 under seat-pan portion 210.

[0025] FIG. 2cis a schematic diagram of vehicle passenger safety device 200 shown in use on an existing vehicle seat such as an airplane seat. To install vehicle passenger safety device 200, it is first unfolded as shown in FIG. 2a. Seat-pan portion 210 is then placed on existing airplane seat-pan 11. Back-support portion 220 is rested against existing back-support 12 with shoulder strap 221 hidden in between back-support portion 220 and existing back-support 12. Existing airplane seat belt 13 is then fed through loop 211 under seat-pan portion 210 and fastened. Legs 212 and 213 are then snapped out of seat-pan portion 210 to provide an angle as shown in FIG. 2c. A passenger is then seated on seat-pan portion 210 with the crotch strap 204 in between the passenger's legs. Vertical straps 201 and 202 are rested over the passenger's shoulders, and horizontal strap 203 is wrapped around him. Fastener 205 is then engaged. Finally, horizontal strap 203 is fastened by engaging fastener 203aand pulling adjustable portion 203b.

[0026] To uninstall, fastener 203aand fastener 205 are disengaged. The passenger is then lifted from seat-pan portion 210. Existing airplane seat belt 13 is then unbuckled and taken out of loop 211. Legs 212 and 213 are snapped back under seat-pan portion 210. Finally, horizontal strap 203, vertical straps 201 and 202, and crotch strap 204 is placed on seat-pan portion 210. Back-support portion 220 is then folded toward seat-pan portion 210. A hook 240afitting into latch 240bis used to maintain the vehicle passenger safety device in its folded position.

[0027] FIG. 3ais a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a vehicle tis passenger safety device 300. In this embodiment, vehicle passenger safety device 300 comprises rigid front-support 301, inflatable cushion 301a, pump 301b, crotch strap 302 having loop 302a, horizontal strap 303, and a pair of cross-straps 304 and 305. Rigid front-support 301 is preferably made of tough polyurethane or another similar material. Belt 306, fastener 306a, and adjustable portion 306bare extensions of rigid front-support 301. Rigid front-support 301 either wraps around the back-support of the vehicle seat or snaps over the arms of the seat. Crotch strap 302 is attached to rigid front-support 301. Cross-straps 304 and 305 are attached to horizontal strap 303 at locations 304aand 305a, and they are attached to rigid front-support at locations 304band 305b. In addition, cross-straps 304 and 305 are attached to each other at location 305c. Attachments of cross-straps 304 and 305 to each other and to horizontal strap 303 may be accomplished by sewing.

[0028] FIG. 3bis a schematic diagram of vehicle passenger safety device 300 shown in use on an existing vehicle seat such as airplane seat 10 having an existing airplane seat belt 13. To install the passenger safety device 300, horizontal strap 303 is wrapped and tightened around existing back-support 12 of existing airplane seat 10. In a preferred embodiment, horizontal strap 303 is fastened by engaging fastener 303aand pulling adjustable portion 303b. Existing seat belt 13 is then fed through loop 302aand fastened. A passenger is then seated as shown in FIG. 3bbetween existing back-support 12 and rigid front-support 301 with crotch strap 302 between his legs. Cross-straps 304 and 305 are rested over the passenger's shoulders. Rigid front-support 301 is then fastened using belt 306 around back-support 12. After fastener 306ais engaged and adjustable portion 306bis pulled, inflatable cushion 301ais inflated to fill up the space between the passenger and rigid front-support 301 by using pump 301b. Other pumping systems, such as compressed gas or carbon dioxide cylinders can also be used.

[0029] To uninstall, inflatable cushion 301ais deflated through vent 301c. Horizontal strap 303 and belt 306 are detached, and the passenger is lifted out of seat-pan 11. Existing seat belt 13 is then unbuckled and removed from loop 302a. Inflatable cushion 301ais then folded and stored behind rigid front-support 301.

[0030] The foregoing disclosure of embodiments illustrating the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents.