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A divider for a rear seat of a motor vehicle is formed as a single, free-standing element having a block that is compressible and has shape memory, wherein the block has a pliable covering and has a base and a back surface. A lap restraint belt interface has a first slot that extends through the blo

A divider for a rear seat of a motor vehicle is formed as a single, free-standing element having a block that is compressible and has shape memory, wherein the block has a pliable covering and has a base and a back surface. A lap restraint belt interface has a first slot that extends through the block for accepting an inserted lap restraint belt and the first slot is oriented for compressively urging at least a portion of the base against a bottom surface of the rear seat and a portion of the back surface toward a backrest when the inserted lap restraint belt is engaged. A second interface accepts a second restraint device and is oriented for adding a compressively urging force at least toward the backrest of the rear seat when the second restraint device is engaged.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vertical divider for separating adjacent passengers in a rear seat of a motor vehicle, the divider formed as a single, free-standing element comprising: a foam block that is compressible and has shape memory, wherein the block comprises a pliable covering and has a base, a front surface, a top

1. A vertical divider for separating adjacent passengers in a rear seat of a motor vehicle, the divider formed as a single, free-standing element comprising: a foam block that is compressible and has shape memory, wherein the block comprises a pliable covering and has a base, a front surface, a top surface, and a back surface and further has first and second side surfaces spaced apart from each other by the base, front surface, top surface, and back surfaces;a lap restraint belt interface comprising a first slit that extends into the block from the front surface, wherein the first slit extends from the first side surface to the second side surface, for accepting an inserted lap restraint belt and wherein the first slit is further inclined upward toward the top surface for directing a first compressive force urging at least a portion of the base against a bottom surface of the rear seat and a portion of the back surface toward a backrest when the inserted lap restraint belt is engaged; anda second slit that extends into the block from the top surface, wherein the second slit extends from the first side surface to the second side surface for accepting a second restraint device and wherein the second slit is further inclined toward the front surface for directing a second compressive force at least toward the backrest of the rear seat when the second restraint device is engaged. 2. The divider of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of a surface within the first slit is disposed to provide a frictional grip against the inserted lap restraint belt. 3. The divider of claim 1 wherein the second restraint device is a shoulder restraint belt. 4. The divider of claim 1 wherein at least one of the base and back surfaces comprise a material disposed to provide a frictional grip against the rear seat. 5. The divider of claim 1 wherein the second interface is a shoulder restraint belt interface within the first slit. 6. The divider of claim 1 wherein the pliable covering forms an inflatable bladder. 7. The divider of claim 2 wherein the portion of the surface within the first slit comprises a material taken from the group consisting of a polyurethane foam material, fleece, felt, flannel, cotton, rubber, silicone, polymer, suede, microsuede, and leather. 8. The divider of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second slits has an arcuate shape. 9. The divider of claim 1 wherein the block comprises a molded, self-skinning foam. 10. The divider of claim 1 wherein the pliable covering comprises at least one flap for covering the first or the second slit. 11. The divider of claim 1 wherein either the base or the back surface or both are concave in cross-sectional shape. 12. The divider of claim 1 further comprising one or more clips for securing the lap restraint belt or a shoulder restraint belt. 13. The divider of claim 1 wherein the second slit further adds a component of compressively urging force toward the bottom surface of the rear seat. 14. A vertical divider for separating adjacent passengers in a rear seat of a motor vehicle, the divider formed as a single, free-standing element comprising: a block of a core material that is compressible and has shape memory, wherein the block comprises a pliable covering and has a base, a front surface, a top surface, and a back surface and further has first and second side surfaces spaced apart from each other by the base, front surface, top surface, and back surfaces;a lap restraint belt interface comprising a first slit that extends into the block of the core material from the front surface, wherein the first slit extends from the first side surface to the second side surface for accepting an inserted lap restraint belt and wherein the first slit is further inclined upward toward the top surface for directing a first compressive force urging at least a portion of the base against a bottom surface of the rear seat and a portion of the back surface against a backrest when the inserted lap restraint belt is engaged;anda second slit that extends through the block of the core material from the top surface, wherein the second slit extends from the first side surface to the second side surface for accepting a second restraint device and wherein the second slit is further inclined toward the front surface for directing a second compressive force at least toward the backrest of the rear seat when the second restraint device is engaged,wherein at least one of the first and second slits has an arcuate shape. 15. The divider of claim 14 wherein the core material is a foam material taken from the group consisting of a closed cell foam and an open cell foam. 16. The divider of claim 1 wherein a first distance between the first and second side surfaces is less than a second distance from the base to the top surface.