Vehicle occupant safety net

Abstract

A method of preventing at least one front seat of a vehicle from collapsing into a rear seat area during rear impact collisions with a vehicle occupant safety net thereby mitigating whiplash injuries to front seat occupants and reducing potential injuries to rear seat occupants. The method provides for positioning the vehicle occupant safety net between the at least one front seat and the rear seat area of the vehicle. The safety net is then secured to the vehicle. Moreover, the safety net is sized and configured to prevent the at least one front seat from collapsing rearwardly into the rear seat area during rear impact collisions thereof to mitigate whiplash injuries to the front seat occupants and reduce potential injuries to the rear seat occupants.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of preventing at least one front seat of a vehicle from collapsing into a rear seat area during rear impact collisions with a vehicle occupant safety net thereby mitigating whiplash injuries to front seat occupants and reducing potential injuries to rear seat occupants, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) positioning the vehicle occupant safety net between the at least one front seat and the rear seat area of the vehicle; and    (b) securing the safety net to the vehicle, the safety net being sized and configured to prevent the at least one front seat from collapsing rearwardly into the rear seat area during rear impact collisions thereof to mitigate whiplash injuries to the front seat occupants and reduce potential injuries to the rear seat occupants.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the safety net further comprises a net roller, the safety net being advanceable through the net roller to be retracted therein.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the safety net further comprises a net roller, the safety net being pullable from the net roller to extend therefrom.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the safety net is fabricated from a lightweight, high-strength unitary material.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one front seat has a backside, and step (a) comprises positioning the safety net to extend generally parallel to the backside of the at least one front seat.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one front seat has a backside, and step (a) comprises positioning the safety net to extend in abutting contact the backside of the at least one front seat.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle is an automobile.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the safety net has a first longitudinal edge, and step (b) comprises attaching the first edge to an upper portion of a support structure of the vehicle.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the support structure of the vehicle is a roll bar.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first edge is slidably engaged to a net roller, the net roller being attachable to the upper portion of the support structure.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the safety net further has a second longitudinal edge, and step (b) comprises attaching the second edge to side portions of the support structure.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein a first strap with a ring and a second strap with a snap attaches the second edge to the side portions of the support structure, the first strap and the second strap each being connected around the side portions opposite from each other, wherein the first strap engages across the second edge to interlock the ring with the snap of the second strap.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein step (b) further comprises attaching the second longitudinal edge to a lower structure of the vehicle.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the lower structure of the vehicle is a floor of the vehicle.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the second edge has at least one endpiece therealong, the at least one endpiece being extendable from the second edge for attachment to the lower structure of the vehicle.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the at least one endpiece extends from ends of the second edge for attachment to the lower structure of the vehicle, the at least one endpiece being generally perpendicular to the second edge.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein a releasable hook and a bolt attaches the at least one endpiece to the lower structure, the releasable hook being attached on an exposed end of the at least one endpiece for engagement to the bolt mounted on the lower structure of the vehicle.  
     
     
         18 . A vehicle with a retractable vehicle occupant safety net for preventing front seats therein from collapsing rearwardly into a rear seat area thereof during rear impact collisions thereby mitigating whiplash injuries to front seat occupants and reducing potential injuries to rear seat occupants, the vehicle comprising: 
 (a) a vehicle body having a floor with the front seats and the rear seat area thereupon;    (b) the vehicle body further having a roll bar mounted to the floor, the roll bar being defined by an upper portion and side portions, the roll bar being positioned between the front seats and the rear seat area; and    (c) a net roller with a retractable vehicle occupant safety net extending therefrom, the net roller being attachable to the upper portion of the roll bar, the safety net being attachable to the side portions of the roll bar and the floor of the vehicle body, wherein the safety net prevents the front seats from collapsing rearwardly into the rear seat area thereof during rear impact collisions thereby mitigating whiplash injuries to the front seat occupants and reducing potential injuries to the rear seat occupants thereupon.    
     
     
         19 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the safety net further comprises a releasable hook and a bolt, the releasable hook being attached to the safety net, the releasable hook being engageable to the bolt mounted on the floor.  
     
     
         20 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 19  wherein the safety net further comprises a first strap with a ring and a second strap with a snap each being connected around the side portions opposite from each other, wherein the first strap engages across the safety net to interlock the ring with the snap of the second strap.