Four point seat restraint system
View Patent ↗A restraint system is disclosed for securing a passenger to a seat in a motor vehicle. The restraint system is composed of a four point restraint belt removably attached to a vehicle seat having a plurality of vertical straps and attachment mechanisms for connecting said straps across the passenger's chest and lap. Each of the vertical straps has a first end removably attached to latches located in the front of the seat back and a second end removably attached to a latch located behind the vehicle seat.
1. A four-point restraint system in a motor vehicle having a vehicle seat with a seat back, the restraint system comprising:
a plurality of shoulder straps removably attachable at a first end to a plurality of vehicle-supplied iso-fix restraints at a junction of the vehicle seat and seat back, vertically extendible over the passenger's shoulders and around the seat back, and joined at a second end behind the seat back;
a length-adjustable connector strap connected to the joined shoulder straps and connectable to a single vehicle anchor located either on a bottom portion of the vehicle seat behind the seat back or a floor of the vehicle and centered relative to the vehicle seat; and
chest and lap belts affixed to and interconnecting the shoulder straps, the chest and lap belts each including a seat belt buckle,
wherein each one of the plurality of shoulder straps extend into the junction of the seat and the seat back where each shoulder strap is attachable to a corresponding one of the iso-fix, restraints and wherein the lap belt interconnects the shoulder straps above the junction and a distance above the seat.
2. The four-point restraint system of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of shoulder straps has a fixed length.
3. The four-point restraint system of claim 2 , wherein each one of the plurality of shoulder straps has a portion that extends downwardly along part of a backside of the seat back adjacent where the shoulder straps are joined behind the seat back.
4. The four-point restraint system of claim 3 , wherein part of the connector strap extends downwardly behind a backside of the seat.
5. A restraint system for securing a passenger seated in a vehicle, the restraint system comprising:
a pair of shoulder straps, each shoulder strap having a first end adapted to be removably attached to a respective one of lower anchors disposed between a seat cushion and seat back of a vehicle seat, a second end, and a fixed length intermediate the first and second ends adapted to overlie a chest and respective shoulder of the passenger, the fixed length being further adapted to overlie a top of the seat back;
a connector strap having a first end attached to the second end of each shoulder strap, and a second end adapted to be removably attached to a tether anchor affixed to either a bottom portion of the vehicle seat or a floor of the vehicle, the connector strap having an adjustable length;
a first bridging strap affixed to the first and second shoulder straps including a first seat belt buckle for detachably connecting the first shoulder strap to the second shoulder strap, the first bridging strap being adapted to overlie only the chest of the passenger, the first bridging strap being attached to a first of the pair of milder straps at a first attachment point disposed a first fixed distance from the respective lower anchors when the first end of the first shoulder strap is removably attached to the respective one of the lower anchors; and
a second bridging strap affixed to the first and second shoulder straps including a second seat belt buckle for detachably connecting the first shoulder strap to the second shoulder strap, the second bridging strap being adapted to overlie only a lap of the passenger.
6. The restraint system of claim 5 , wherein the second bridging strap is attached to the first shoulder strap at a second attachment point disposed a second fixed distance from the respective one of the lower anchors when the first end of the first shoulder strap is removably attached to the respective one of the lower anchors.
7. The restraint system of claim 5 , wherein each one of the plurality of shoulder straps extend into the junction of the seat and the seat back where each shoulder strap is attachable to a corresponding one of the lower anchors and wherein the lap belt interconnects the shoulder straps above the junction and a distance above the seat.
8. The restraint system of claim 5 , wherein the length of each one of the plurality of shoulder straps is fixed.
9. The restraint system of claim 5 , wherein the second end and at least part of the fixed length of the pair of shoulder straps each extend downwardly along a backside of the seat back and below a top portion of the seat back.
10. The restraint system of claim 5 , wherein part of the connector strap extends downwardly behind a backside of the seat.