Seat belt system for adults and children

1. A seat belt system comprising:

(a) a seat belt retractor attached to a component of a vehicle, the seat belt retractor having a rotatable spool to which a first end of a seat belt webbing is anchored, a second end of the seat belt webbing being anchored to a component of the vehicle, the seat belt webbing extending from the rotatable spool such that the seat belt webbing can be wound onto or protracted from the rotatable spool and the length of the seat belt webbing between the rotatable spool and the second end of the seat belt webbing can be varied;

(b) a stationary seat belt webbing guide attached to a component of the vehicle and having a stationary seat belt webbing passageway through which the seat belt webbing passes;

(c) a strap that extends substantially vertically; and

(d) a movable seat belt webbing guide that is movable along the strap, an upper end portion of the strap being attached to the stationary seat belt webbing guide at a first anchor and a lower end portion of the strap attached to a component of the vehicle at a second anchor such that a central portion of the strap is taut and the length of the central portion of the strap cannot be adjusted; and the movable seat belt webbing guide having a backing plate a movable clamping member, and a guide element at the top of the movable seat belt webbing guide, the guide element having a seat belt webbing passageway through which the seat belt webbing passes, the seat belt webbing extending from the rotatable spool and passing over the strap above the highest vertical extent of the strap then through the seat belt webbing passageway of the guide element, the strap extending through the movable seat belt webbing guide and interposed between the backing plate and the movable clamping member, the movable seat belt webbing guide being movable along the strap, the movable clamping member being movable between a first position where the strap is not clamped between the movable clamping member and the backing plate and a second position where the strap is clamped between the movable clamping member and the backing plate, the movable seat belt webbing guide being movable along the strap when the movable clamping member is in the first position to such an extent that the seat belt webbing passageway of the movable seat belt webbing guide can be vertically aligned with the stationary seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide and the seat belt webbing passageway of the movable seat belt webbing guide can be vertically spaced from the seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide.

2. The seat belt system of claim 1 wherein the movable seat belt webbing guide is secured to the stationary seat belt webbing guide in a detachable manner when the seat belt webbing passageway of the movable seat belt webbing guide is vertically aligned with the stationary seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide.

3. The seat belt system of claim 1 wherein the first anchor that attaches the upper end portion of the strap to the stationary seat belt webbing guide is located vertically lower than the seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide.

4. The seat belt system of claim 1 wherein both the stationary seat belt webbing guide and the second anchor, to which the lower end portion of the strap is attached, are both attached to a pillar located at a longitudinally extending side of the vehicle.

5. The seat belt system of claim 1 wherein the stationary seat belt webbing guide is attached to a backrest of a vehicle seat and the central portion of the strap extends along a surface of the backrest.

6. The seat belt system of claim 1 wherein the second anchor, to which the lower end portion of the strap is attached, is attached to a floor of the vehicle.

7. A seat belt system according to claim 5 wherein the second anchor, to which the lower end portion of the strap is attached, is attached to a structural member of the seat.

8. The seat belt system of claim 1 wherein the seat belt system further comprises a seat belt buckle tongue attached to the seat belt webbing such that the seat belt buckle tongue can slide along the seat belt webbing, and a seat belt buckle that is anchored to a component of the vehicle such that the seat belt buckle tongue can mate with the seat belt buckle to provide a three-point seat belt system for restraining a seat occupant in a comfortable manner regardless of the height of a shoulder of the seat occupant by adjusting the location of the movable seat belt webbing guide along the strap.

9. The seat belt system of claim 1 wherein the strap is provided with visible markings that indicates the location on the strap to which the movable seat belt webbing guide may be attached when the seat belt system is restraining a child.

10. The seat belt system of claim 1 wherein the seat belt system includes a means for reducing slack from the seat belt webbing when a significant deceleration of a vehicle is detected by an acceleration sensor.

11. The seat belt system of claim 1 wherein the seat belt system includes a means for reducing the load placed on a seat occupant by the seat belt webbing during a crash when the rotatable spool has been locked against rotation.

12. A seat belt system comprising:

(a) a seat belt retractor attached to a component of a vehicle, the seat belt retractor having a rotatable spool to which a first end of a seat belt webbing is anchored, a second end of the seat belt webbing being anchored to a component of the vehicle, the seat belt webbing extending from the rotatable spool such that the seat belt webbing can be wound onto or protracted from the rotatable spool and the length of the seat belt webbing between the rotatable spool and the second end of the seat belt webbing can be varied;

(b) a stationary seat belt webbing guide attached to a component of the vehicle and having a stationary seat belt webbing passageway through which the seat belt webbing passes;

(c) a strap that extends substantially vertically, an upper end portion of the strap being attached to the stationary seat belt webbing guide at a first anchor and a lower end portion of the strap attached to a component of the vehicle at a second anchor such that a central portion of the strap is taut and the length of the central portion of the strap cannot be adjusted; and

(d) a movable seat belt webbing guide that is movable along the strap, the movable seat belt webbing guide having a backing plate a movable clamping member, and a guide element at the top of the movable seat belt webbing guide, the guide element having a seat belt webbing passageway through which the seat belt webbing passes, the seat belt webbing extending from the rotatable spool and passing over the strap above the highest vertical extent of the strap then through the seat belt webbing passageway of the guide element, the strap extending through the movable seat belt webbing guide and interposed between the backing plate and the movable clamping member, the movable seat belt webbing guide being movable along the strap, the movable clamping member being movable between a first position where the strap is not clamped between the movable clamping member and the backing plate and a second position where the strap is clamped between the movable clamping member and the backing plate, the movable seat belt webbing guide being movable along the strap when the movable clamping member is in the first position to such an extent that the seat belt webbing passageway of the movable seat belt webbing guide can be vertically aligned with the stationary seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide and the seat belt webbing passageway of the movable seat belt webbing guide can be vertically spaced from the seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide, wherein the movable seat belt webbing guide is secured to the stationary seat belt webbing guide in a detachable manner when the seat belt webbing passageway of the movable seat belt webbing guide is vertically aligned with the stationary seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide.

13. The seat belt system of claim 12 wherein the first anchor that attaches the upper end portion of the strap to the stationary seat belt webbing guide is located vertically lower than the seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide.

14. The seat belt system of claim 12 wherein both the stationary seat belt webbing guide and the second anchor are both attached to a pillar located at a longitudinally extending side of the vehicle.

15. The seat belt system of claim 12 wherein the stationary seat belt webbing guide is attached to a backrest of a vehicle seat and the central portion of the strap extends along a surface of the backrest.

16. The seat belt system of claim 15 wherein the second anchor is attached to a floor of the vehicle.

17. The seat belt system of claim 15 wherein the second anchor is attached to a structural member of the vehicle seat.

18. The seat belt system of claim 15 wherein the first anchor to which the upper end portion of the strap is attached is a strap retractor mechanism and the lower end portion of the strap is attached to a fastening member that is fixed to the second anchor in a removable manner, the second anchor being attached to a structural member of the vehicle seat or a structural member of the vehicle, and the strap is retracted towards the strap retractor mechanism when the fastening member is detached from the second anchor.

19. The seat belt system of claim 12 wherein the strap is provided with visible markings that indicates the location on the strap to which the movable seat belt webbing guide may be attached when the seat belt system is restraining a child.

20. The seat belt system of claim 12 wherein the seat belt system further comprises a seat belt buckle tongue attached to the seat belt webbing such that the seat belt buckle tongue can slide along the seat belt webbing, and a seat belt buckle that is anchored to a component of the vehicle such that the seat belt buckle tongue can mate with the seat belt buckle to provide a three-point seat belt system for restraining a seat occupant.

21. The seat belt system of claim 12 wherein the seat belt system includes a means for reducing slack from the seat belt webbing when a significant deceleration of a vehicle is detected by an acceleration sensor.

22. The seat belt system of claim 12 wherein the seat belt system includes a means for reducing the load placed on a seat occupant by the seat belt webbing during a crash when the rotatable spool has been locked against rotation.

23. A seat belt system comprising:

(a) a seat belt retractor attached to a component of a vehicle, the seat belt retractor having a rotatable spool to which a first end of a seat belt webbing is anchored, a second end of the seat belt webbing being anchored to a component of the vehicle, the seat belt webbing extending from the rotatable spool such that the seat belt webbing can be wound onto or protracted from the rotatable spool and the length of the seat belt webbing between the rotatable spool and the second end of the seat belt webbing can be varied;

(b) a seat belt buckle tongue attached to the seat belt webbing such that the seat belt buckle tongue can slide along the seat belt webbing, and a seat belt buckle that is anchored to a component of the vehicle such that the seat belt buckle tongue can mate with the seat belt buckle to provide a three-point seat belt system for restraining a seat occupant

(c) a stationary seat belt webbing guide attached to a backrest of a vehicle seat and having a stationary seat belt webbing passageway through which the seat belt webbing passes;

(d) a strap that extends substantially vertically, an upper end portion of the strap being attached to the stationary seat belt webbing guide at a first anchor, the first anchor being located vertically lower than the seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide, and a lower end portion of the strap attached to a component of the vehicle at a second anchor such that a central portion of the strap is taut and the length of the central portion of the strap cannot be adjusted, the central portion of the strap extending along a surface of the backrest of the vehicle seat; and

(e) a movable seat belt webbing guide that is movable along the strap, the movable seat belt webbing guide having a backing plate a movable clamping member, and a guide element at the top of the movable seat belt webbing guide, the guide element having a seat belt webbing passageway through which the seat belt webbing passes, the seat belt webbing extending from the rotatable spool and passing over the strap above the highest vertical extent of the strap then through the seat belt webbing passageway of the guide element, the strap extending through the movable seat belt webbing guide and interposed between the backing plate and the movable clamping member, the movable seat belt webbing guide being movable along the strap, the movable clamping member being movable between a first position where the strap is not clamped between the movable clamping member and the backing plate and a second position where the strap is clamped between the movable clamping member and the backing plate, the movable seat belt webbing guide being movable along the strap when the movable clamping member is in the first position to such an extent that the seat belt webbing passageway of the movable seat belt webbing guide can be vertically aligned with the stationary seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide and the seat belt webbing passageway of the movable seat belt webbing guide can be vertically spaced from the seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide, wherein the movable seat belt webbing guide is secured to the stationary seat belt webbing guide in a detachable manner when the seat belt webbing passageway of the movable seat belt webbing guide is vertically aligned with the stationary seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide.

24. The seat belt system of claim 23 wherein the second anchor is attached to a floor of the vehicle.

25. The seat belt system of claim 23 wherein the second anchor is attached to a structural member of the vehicle seat.

26. The seat belt system of claim 23 wherein the first anchor to which the upper end portion of the strap is attached is a strap retractor mechanism and the lower end portion of the strap is attached to a fastening member that is fixed to the second anchor in a removable manner, the second anchor being attached to a structural member of the vehicle seat or a structural member of the vehicle, and the strap is retracted towards the strap retractor mechanism when the fastening member is detached from the second anchor.

27. The seat belt system of claim 23 wherein the strap is provided with visible markings that indicates the location on the strap to which the movable seat belt webbing guide may be attached when the seat belt system is restraining a child.

28. The seat belt system of claim 23 wherein the seat belt system includes a means for reducing slack from the seat belt webbing when a significant deceleration of a vehicle is detected by an acceleration sensor.

29. The seat belt system of claim 23 wherein the seat belt system includes a means for reducing the load placed on a seat occupant by the seat belt webbing during a crash when the rotatable spool has been locked against rotation.

30. A vehicle seat assembled with a seat belt system, the seat belt system comprising:

(a) a seat belt retractor attached to a component of a vehicle, the seat belt retractor having a rotatable spool to which a first end of a seat belt webbing is anchored, a second end of the seat belt webbing being anchored to a component of the vehicle, the seat belt webbing extending from the rotatable spool such that the seat belt webbing can be wound onto or protracted from the rotatable spool and the length of the seat belt webbing between the rotatable spool and the second end of the seat belt webbing can be varied;

(b) a seat belt buckle tongue attached to the seat belt webbing such that the seat belt buckle tongue can slide along the seat belt webbing, and a seat belt buckle that is anchored to a component of the vehicle such that the seat belt buckle tongue can mate with the seat belt buckle to provide a three-point seat belt system for restraining a seat occupant

(c) a stationary seat belt webbing guide attached to a backrest of the vehicle seat and having a stationary seat belt webbing passageway through which the seat belt webbing passes;

(d) a strap that extends substantially vertically, an upper end portion of the strap being attached to the stationary seat belt webbing guide at a first anchor, the first anchor being located vertically lower than the seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide, and a lower end portion of the strap attached to a component of the vehicle at a second anchor such that a central portion of the strap is taut and the length of the central portion of the strap cannot be adjusted, the central portion of the strap extending along a surface of the backrest of the vehicle seat; and

(e) a movable seat belt webbing guide that is movable along the strap, the movable seat belt webbing guide having a backing plate a movable clamping member, and a guide element at the top of the movable seat belt webbing guide, the guide element having a seat belt webbing passageway through which the seat belt webbing passes, the seat belt webbing extending from the rotatable spool and passing over the strap above the highest vertical extent of the strap then through the seat belt webbing passageway of the guide element, the strap extending through the movable seat belt webbing guide and interposed between the backing plate and the movable clamping member, the movable seat belt webbing guide being movable along the strap, the movable clamping member being movable between a first position where the strap is not clamped between the movable clamping member and the backing plate and a second position where the strap is clamped between the movable clamping member and the backing plate, the movable seat belt webbing guide being movable along the strap when the movable clamping member is in the first position to such an extent that the seat belt webbing passageway of the movable seat belt webbing guide can be vertically aligned with the stationary seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide and the seat belt webbing passageway of the movable seat belt webbing guide can be vertically spaced from the seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide, wherein the movable seat belt webbing guide is secured to the stationary seat belt webbing guide in a detachable manner when the seat belt webbing passageway of the movable seat belt webbing guide is vertically aligned with the stationary seat belt webbing passageway of the stationary seat belt webbing guide.

31. The vehicle seat assembled with a seat belt system of claim 30 wherein the first anchor to which the upper end portion of the strap is attached is a strap retractor mechanism attached to a structural member of the seat and the lower end portion of the strap is attached to a fastening member that is fixed to the second anchor in a removable manner, the second anchor being attached to a structural member of the vehicle seat, and the strap is retracted towards the strap retractor mechanism when the fastening member is detached from the second anchor.

32. The vehicle seat assembled with a seat belt system of claim 30 wherein the strap is provided with visible markings that indicates the location on the strap to which the movable seat belt webbing guide may be attached when the seat belt system is restraining a child.

33. The vehicle seat assembled with a seat belt system of claim 30 wherein the seat belt system includes a means for reducing slack from the seat belt webbing when a significant deceleration of a vehicle is detected by an acceleration sensor.

34. The vehicle seat assembled with a seat belt system of claim 30 wherein the seat belt system includes a means for reducing the load placed on a seat occupant by the seat belt webbing during a crash when the rotatable spool has been locked against rotation.