TACTICAL-GEAR-ACCOMMODATING SEATBELT SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system and method adapted to provide enhanced safety and easier, more reliable means of engaging and disengaging the seatbelt for persons wearing tactical gear on the waist and chest, by providing an extender unit having an extender strap coupled with and extending from the standard seat-level receptacle or anchored in lieu of the standard seat-level receptacle, and a sure-release double receptacle attached to the free end of the extender strap such that the double receptacle sits generally in front of the lower torso in use, and having receptacle fittings to accommodate separate lap and shoulder straps anchored at lower and upper anchor points, respectively, with free ends terminated in plug fittings, thereby allowing easier and safer engagement and disengagement of the seatbelt system for a person wearing tactical gear.

Claims

1. A tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system apparatus for use in a vehicle by a person wearing tactical gear upon waist and front torso, said tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system comprising: (i) an extender strap ultimately anchored at a first end to a floor of the vehicle through or in place of a standard seat-level receptacle; (ii) a sure-release double receptacle attached to a second end of said extender strap having two receptacle fittings; (iii) a shoulder strap having at a first end an anchor point approximately at shoulder level and behind the person, and at a second end a plug fitting; (iv) a lap strap having at a first end an anchor point approximately at floor level of the vehicle and behind the person, and at a second end a plug fitting; where said sure-release double receptacle is adapted to couple and uncouple with the plug fittings of said shoulder strap and said lap strap such that the coupling will hold securely under strain and will freely uncouple after such strain; where said sure-release double receptacle, in use, is located toward the front of the person's lower torso, and is easy to find by sight or feel, and easy to manipulate for coupling or uncoupling; and where the uncoupling of the plug fittings of said shoulder strap and said lap strap from said sure-release double receptacle allows said shoulder strap and said lap strap to be retracted separately and independently each of the other, thereby avoiding catching on the tactical gear.

2. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system apparatus of claim 1, further adapted to be implemented as an original seatbelt installed in a new vehicle.

3. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system apparatus of claim 1, further adapted to be implemented as a retrofit replacement for an existing standard three-point seatbelt.

4. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system apparatus of claim 1, where said extender strap ultimately anchored at a first end to the floor of the vehicle further comprises being anchored directly to the floor of the vehicle.

5. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system apparatus of claim 1, where said extender strap ultimately anchored at a first end to the floor of the vehicle further comprises being attached to a standard seat-level receptacle that is in turn anchored to the floor of the vehicle.

6. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system apparatus of claim 1, where said sure-release double receptacle further comprises a rotary partial-turn release control.

7. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system apparatus of claim 1, where said sure-release double receptacle further comprises an internal coupling and uncoupling mechanism having at least one cam.

8. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system apparatus of claim 1, where said sure-release double receptacle further comprises an internal coupling and uncoupling mechanism having at least one pawl.

9. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system apparatus of claim 1, further comprising providing a locking retractor, pretensioner, or web clamp on said shoulder strap.

10. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system apparatus of claim 1, further comprising providing a locking retractor, pretensioner, or web clamp on said lap strap.

11. A tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system method for use in a vehicle by a person wearing tactical gear upon waist and front torso, said tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system method comprising: (i) providing a tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system comprising: (a) an extender strap ultimately anchored at a first end to the floor of the vehicle through or in place of a standard seat-level receptacle; (b) a sure-release double receptacle attached to a second end of said extender strap having two receptacle fittings; (c) a shoulder strap having at a first end an anchor point approximately at shoulder level and behind the person, and at a second end a plug fitting; (d) a lap strap having at a first end an anchor point approximately at floor level of the vehicle and behind the person, and at a second end a plug fitting; where said sure-release double receptacle is adapted to couple and uncouple with the plug fittings of said shoulder strap and said lap strap such that the coupling will hold securely under strain and will freely uncouple after such strain; where said sure-release double receptacle, in use, is located toward the front of the person's lower torso, and is easy to find by sight or feel, and easy to manipulate for coupling or uncoupling; where the uncoupling of the plug fittings of said shoulder strap and said lap strap from said sure-release double receptacle allows said shoulder strap and said lap strap to be retracted separately and independently each of the other, thereby avoiding catching on the tactical gear; (ii) installing said tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system apparatus in a vehicle; and (iii) utilizing said tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system.

12. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system method of claim 11, further adapted to be implemented as an original seatbelt installed in a new vehicle.

13. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system method of claim 11, further adapted to be implemented as a retrofit replacement for an existing standard three-point seatbelt.

14. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system method of claim 11, where said extender strap ultimately anchored at a first end to the floor of the vehicle further comprises being anchored directly to the floor of the vehicle.

15. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system method of claim 11, where said extender strap ultimately anchored at a first end to the floor of the vehicle further comprises being attached to a standard seat-level receptacle that is in turn anchored to the floor of the vehicle.

16. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system method of claim 11, where said sure-release double receptacle further comprises a rotary partial-turn release control.

17. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system method of claim 11, where said sure-release double receptacle further comprises an internal coupling and uncoupling mechanism having at least one cam.

18. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system method of claim 11, where said sure-release double receptacle further comprises an internal coupling and uncoupling mechanism having at least one pawl.

19. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system method of claim 11, further comprising providing a locking retractor, pretensioner, or web clamp on said shoulder strap.

20. The tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system method of claim 11, further comprising providing a locking retractor, pretensioner, or web clamp on said lap strap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective conceptual view of the tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system and method of the invention in relation to an empty seat;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the standard three-point seatbelt of the prior art, in use by a person wearing tactical gear;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system and method of the invention, in use by a person wearing tactical gear;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system and method of the invention, in use by a person wearing tactical gear; and

[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system and method of the invention, in use by a person wearing tactical gear, suitable for retrofitting of the invention as a replacement for the standard three-point seatbelt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Referring to all figures generally, embodiments of the tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system and method 10 of the invention are illustrated.

[0021] Referring briefly to prior art FIG. 2, the standard three-point seatbelt, when used by a person wearing tactical gear on the waist and chest, has a disadvantage of the standard seat-level receptacle being difficult to locate, reach, and manipulate with tactical gear, which may most likely be a pistol holster for right-handed persons or an electroshock weapon or radio transceiver for a left handed person, in the way. This problem can lead to delays in getting a vehicle underway and delays in persons being able to exit a vehicle quickly when responding to a situation. The difficulty in locating, reaching, and manipulating this standard seatbelt could also possibly trap a person in a vehicle when unable to release the three-point seatbelt. A related problem is the tendency of the one-piece, three-point seatbelt to become caught or snagged upon one or more protruding pieces of tactical gear.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 3, & FIG. 4, the tactical-gear-accommodating seatbelt system and method 10 provides an extender unit made up of a sure-release double receptacle 1 attached to one end of an extender strap 2. The extender strap 2 is anchored to the vehicle frame or chassis by either directly attaching, replacing the standard seat-level receptacle, for some embodiments, or by attaching to the existing standard seat-level receptacle for other embodiments, including retrofit embodiments.

[0023] Taking the place of the lap and shoulder portions of the one-strap standard three-point seatbelt are a separate shoulder strap, anchored at a point generally equivalent to the point where a three-point seatbelt would change directions at an anchored point, which is generally at shoulder level, and a separate lap strap, anchored at a point generally equivalent to the anchor point of a standard seatbelt, which is generally at floor level. The shoulder strap anchor unit 4 and the lap strap anchor unit 6 can be provided with a locking retractor, pretensioner, or web clamp, as known in the art.

[0024] The ends of the shoulder strap 3 and lap strap 5 opposite their respective anchor points are provided with plug fittings which securely and removably attach to the sure-release double receptacle 1. In use, the sure-release double receptacle 1 sits at a point along the line of the lap belt that is essentially in front of the person's lower torso. This frontal location of the sure-release double receptacle, as well as the flexibility of the extender strap 2, make the extender unit easy to find by sight or by feel, allowing for easier and quicker engagement and disengagement of the seatbelt. The sure-release double receptacle 1 is adapted to provide a secure attachment which will not jam or seize up, even after application of force such as from a wreck. In a preferred embodiment, the sure-release double receptacle 1 has a rotary, partial-turn release control of a size large enough to be manipulated both by the hand of the person wearing the seatbelt, or by a different person either inside or outside the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the sure-release double receptacle 1 is provided internally with one or more cams or pawls to provide a securing of the plug fittings of the shoulder strap 3 and the lap strap 5 that will withstand the force of a wreck, but will not jam, and can be released, under all circumstances.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 5, the shoulder strap anchor unit 4 can be located at a place other than the actual effective anchor point, and can be passed through a fitting that allows a change of direction of the strap. Such an arrangement is especially useful when the is implemented as a retrofit, because the existing anchor and retractor for the standard three-point seatbelt can be utilized, with only a cutting of the shoulder strap at the proper place and secure attachment of a plug fitting. A simple retrofit can be made by providing an extender unit with an extender strap 2 that fits into a standard seat-level receptacle, by cutting the single strap of the three-point seatbelt at the proper location, by attaching a plug fitting to each cut end of the strap, by leaving the lap strap anchor unit 6 as a simple anchor point, and by re-using the existing locking retractor, pretensioner, or web clamp for operation upon the shoulder strap 3. In such a retrofit, with no retractor at the lap strap anchor point 6, means should be provided for adjusting the length of the lap strap 5.

[0026] Many changes and modifications can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.