An improved occupant restraint system is provided which includes a torso support unit that provides external support to an upper torso of an individual, who may be the occupant of a vehicle exposed to upward acceleration events. The torso support system provides support to the occupant's upper torso including rib cage, arm pit, upper arm and/or shoulder region. This support can be accomplished by one or more straps, one or more bars, one or more hooks or any other support device(s) that are connected to structure of the vehicle, such as a seat or standing platform, and in turn connected to the upper torso of the occupant to transfer upward vehicle forces to various parts of the upper torso independently of the forces transferred to the lower body such as the feet, legs and seat through other vehicle structure. With such a torso support system, when an upward acceleration event occurs, the compressive forces impinging on the occupant's spinal column are reduced wherein the likelihood of occupant paralysis or death due to spinal and other acceleration-induced injuries are significantly reduced.

A buckle apparatus includes a buckle, a moving member, a sliding member and a guide member. A tongue of a seatbelt apparatus can be engaged with the buckle. By being moved, the moving member moves the buckle. The sliding member is provided at the moving member and moves together with the moving member. The guide member allows the sliding member to slide in accordance with movement of the moving member and guides the sliding member. Friction between the guide member and the sliding member is less than friction between the guide member and the moving member.

A buckle apparatus includes a buckle, a moving member, a sliding member and a guide member. A tongue of a seatbelt apparatus can be engaged with the buckle. By being moved, the moving member moves the buckle. The sliding member is provided at the moving member and moves together with the moving member. The guide member allows the sliding member to slide in accordance with movement of the moving member and guides the sliding member. Friction between the guide member and the sliding member is less than friction between the guide member and the moving member.

In a buckle device, displacement of a buckle cover in a width direction with respect to a buckle guide is restricted by restricting grooves of the buckle cover and restricting ribs of the buckle guide that enter the restricting grooves. This enables a space to be secured between a wall portion on one side in a width direction of the buckle cover and a wall portion on one side in a width direction of the buckle guide.

In a buckle device, displacement of a buckle cover in a width direction with respect to a buckle guide is restricted by restricting grooves of the buckle cover and restricting ribs of the buckle guide that enter the restricting grooves. This enables a space to be secured between a wall portion on one side in a width direction of the buckle cover and a wall portion on one side in a width direction of the buckle guide.

Provided is a belt assist device having a compact configuration and being configured to move a seatbelt to an easily reachable position. A vehicle seat includes a belt assist device attached to a lateral portion of a seat back and configured to move a portion of a seatbelt placed on the lateral portion to the easily reachable position. The belt assist device includes a rotary member attached to a recessed housing portion of the lateral portion via a rotary shaft and configured to rotate up and down between a housing position at which the rotary member is housed in the seat back and a protruding position at which the rotary member rotates to protrude forward of the seat back to push out a portion of the seatbelt. The rotary member is disposed forward of a belt guide provided at the periphery of an upper end of the seat back.

Provided is a belt assist device having a compact configuration and being configured to move a seatbelt to an easily reachable position. A vehicle seat includes a belt assist device attached to a lateral portion of a seat back and configured to move a portion of a seatbelt placed on the lateral portion to the easily reachable position. The belt assist device includes a rotary member attached to a recessed housing portion of the lateral portion via a rotary shaft and configured to rotate up and down between a housing position at which the rotary member is housed in the seat back and a protruding position at which the rotary member rotates to protrude forward of the seat back to push out a portion of the seatbelt. The rotary member is disposed forward of a belt guide provided at the periphery of an upper end of the seat back.

Portable seatbelt systems, kits, and related methods of manufacture and use. A portable seatbelt system may be carried onto and temporarily or permanently installed to an automobile seat, and includes a back strap, a bottom strap, and a securement strap. The back strap may be secured to a backrest of the seat and the bottom strap may be secured to a bottom of the seat. A passenger may be seated in the seat and secured to the seat with the securement strap which attaches to the bottom strap. The securement strap secures the passenger in the seat and prevents the passenger from being ejected from the seat during a collision, a rollover, or another automobile incident.

Portable seatbelt systems, kits, and related methods of manufacture and use. A portable seatbelt system may be carried onto and temporarily or permanently installed to an automobile seat, and includes a back strap, a bottom strap, and a securement strap. The back strap may be secured to a backrest of the seat and the bottom strap may be secured to a bottom of the seat. A passenger may be seated in the seat and secured to the seat with the securement strap which attaches to the bottom strap. The securement strap secures the passenger in the seat and prevents the passenger from being ejected from the seat during a collision, a rollover, or another automobile incident.

A buckle for a seat belt device has a latch member that is configured to be engaged with a tongue when the tongue is inserted into the buckle; a buckle base having a bottom wall and a first side wall and a second side wall that stand up from the opposite side edges of the bottom wall, each of the first and second side walls having latch holding portions that hold the latch member, the latch holding portions each being formed of a cutout extending from an upper end of each of the first and second side walls of the buckle base; and a bridging member configured to be assemblable to the first and second side walls so as to span the latch holding portions in a front-rear direction.