초록 ▼

A seatbelt system enables substantially different sized vehicle occupants (for example an elementary school student and a high school student) to occupy the same seat location having a horizontal base on which the different occupants can sit. First and second 3-point restraining systems, respectivel

A seatbelt system enables substantially different sized vehicle occupants (for example an elementary school student and a high school student) to occupy the same seat location having a horizontal base on which the different occupants can sit. First and second 3-point restraining systems, respectively including first and second guides at first and second different fixed heights above the horizontal base, at the seat location enable the different sized occupants to be safely and comfortably restrained at the seat location at different times.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A seatbelt system for enabling vehicle occupants of substantially different sizes to occupy the same single seat location of a motorized vehicle, the seat location having a horizontal seat base on which the different sized vehicle occupants can sit at different times, t

The invention claimed is: 1. A seatbelt system for enabling vehicle occupants of substantially different sizes to occupy the same single seat location of a motorized vehicle, the seat location having a horizontal seat base on which the different sized vehicle occupants can sit at different times, the seatbelt system comprising: a buckle mounted on a first side of the seat location; a first vehicle occupant restraining system for the seat location including: a first belt; a first guide through which the first belt passes; the first belt having first and second ends respectively connected to (a) an anchor arrangement fixedly mounted below the first guide, and (b) a first retractor fixedly mounted below the first guide; the anchor arrangement and first retractor being mounted at or in proximity to the same, second side of the seat location that is opposite to the first side of the seat location; a first tongue slidably connected to the belt between the first guide and the anchor arrangement for connection to the buckle; the first guide being mounted at or in proximity to the second side of the seat location at a first fixed height above the horizontal base of the seat location such that a relatively tall occupant of the seat location is safely and comfortably restrained on the seat base at the seat location while the first tongue is connected to the buckle; the first belt, when in use with the first tongue in the buckle, including (a) a first segment between the first retractor and the first guide, (b) a second segment between the first guide and the first tongue for restraining the shoulder and chest of the tall occupant, and (c) a third segment between the first tongue and the anchor arrangement for restraining the lap of the tall occupant; and a second vehicle occupant restraining system for the seat location including: a second belt; a second guide through which the second belt passes; the second belt having first and second ends respectively connected to (a) the anchor arrangement and (b) a second retractor fixedly mounted below the second guide; the second retractor being mounted at or in proximity to the second side of the seat location; a second tongue slidably connected to the belt between the second guide and the anchor arrangement for connection to the buckle; the second guide being mounted at or in proximity to the second side of the seat location at a second fixed height above the horizontal base of the seat location such that a relatively short occupant of the seat location is safely and comfortably restrained on the seat base at the seat location while the second tongue is connected to the buckle; the second belt, when in use with the second tongue in the buckle, including (a) a first segment between the second retractor and the second guide, (b) a second segment between the second guide and the second tongue for restraining the shoulder and chest of the short occupant, and (c) a third segment between the second tongue and the anchor arrangement for restraining the lap of the short occupant; the second height being less than the first height. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the anchor arrangement includes first and second anchors for the first and second vehicle occupant restraining systems respectively. 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the seat includes plural seat locations, each including one of the seatbelt systems. 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a school bus. 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the seat includes first, second and third seat locations, each including one of the seatbelt systems, the first and third seat locations being at opposite first and second ends of the seat, the second seat location being between the first and third seat locations. 6. The system of claim 5 wherein each seat location, at or in proximity to the second side thereof, includes a passage in the seat through which the first segments of the first and second seatbelts extend in parallel spatial relationship to each other; the second and third segments of the first and second seatbelts extend in parallel spatial relationship to each other at or in proximity to the second side of the seat location while the first and second seatbelts are not in use. 7. The system of claim 6 wherein the anchor arrangement for each seat location includes a first anchor for the first restraining system and a second anchor for the second restraining system; the seat including, at each seat location, a leg extending between the seat and a floor of the vehicle, the leg having (a) a rearwardly facing structure on which are mounted the first and second retractors respectively in substantial alignment with the first segments of the first and second seatbelts and (b) a forwardly facing structure on which are mounted the first and second anchors respectively in substantial alignment with the second and third segments of the first and second seatbelts while the first and second seatbelts are not in use. 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the seat includes plural seat locations, each including one of the seatbelt systems. 9. The seatbelt system of claim 8 wherein the first and second belts at each seat position have differing indicia thereon for respectively indicating that the first vehicle occupant restraining system is for tall occupants and the second vehicle occupant restraining system is for short occupants. 10. The seatbelt system of claim 9 wherein the differing indicia include different colors for the first and second belts. 11. The system of claim 8 wherein each seat location, at or in proximity to the second side thereof, includes a passage in the seat through which the first segments of the first and second seatbelts extend in parallel spatial relationship to each other; the second and third segments of the first and second seatbelts extend in parallel spatial relationship to each other at or in proximity to the second side of the seat location while the first and second seatbelts are not in use. 12. The system of claim 11 wherein the anchor arrangement, at each seat location, includes a first anchor for the first restraining system and a second anchor for the second restraining system; the seat including, at each seat location, a leg extending between the seat and a floor of the vehicle, the leg having (a) a rearwardly facing structure on which are mounted the first and second retractors respectively in substantial alignment with the first segments of the first and second seatbelts and (b) a forwardly facing structure on which are mounted the first and second anchors respectively in substantial alignment with the second and third segments of the first and second seatbelts while the first and second seatbelts are not in use. 13. The system of claim 1 wherein the seat location, at or in proximity to the second side thereof, includes a passage in the seat through which the first segments of the first and second seatbelts extend in parallel spatial relationship to each other; the second and third segments of the first and second seatbelts extend in parallel spatial relationship to each other at or in proximity to the second side of the seat location while the first and second seatbelts are not in use. 14. The system of claim 13 wherein the anchor arrangement includes a first anchor for the first restraining system and a second anchor for the second restraining system; the seat including, at each seat location, a leg extending between the seat and a floor of the vehicle, the leg having (a) a rearwardly facing structure on which are mounted the first and second retractors respectively in substantial alignment with the first segments of the first and second seatbelts and (b) a forwardly facing structure on which are mounted the first and second anchors respectively in substantial alignment with the second and third segments of the first and second seatbelts while the first and second seatbelts are not in use. 15. The seatbelt system of claim 1 wherein the first and second belts have differing indicia thereon for respectively indicating that the first vehicle occupant restraining system is for tall occupants and the second vehicle occupant restraining system is for short occupants. 16. The seatbelt system of claim 15 wherein the differing indicia include different colors for the first and second belts. 17. A seatbelt system for enabling substantially different sized vehicle occupants to occupy the same seat location having a horizontal base on which the different occupants can sit, the seatbelt system comprising: first and second 3-point restraining systems for enabling the different sized occupants to be safely and comfortably restrained at the seat location at different times respectively including first and second belt guides at first and second different fixed heights above the horizontal base.