Vehicle passenger safety devices

Abstract

A vehicle passenger safety device for use on vehicles such as airplanes and automobiles. In each embodiment of the invention, the device includes a seat strap assembly and a body strap assembly that are attached to a back-support portion. The seat strap assembly is adapted to secure the device onto the back-support of the existing vehicle seat. The seat strap assembly, which may include one or both of a horizontal strap and a strap web, rests over the vehicle seat. The body strap assembly is adapted to secure a passenger on the device. The body strap assembly includes a body strap or a crotch strap, or both. The body strap may be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. The device further includes at least one loop to receive the existing seat belt to secure the device. The loop may be part of the back-support portion or the body strap assembly.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vehicle passenger safety device for use on a vehicle seat that has a back-support and a seat belt, the device comprising: 
 (a) a back-support portion;    (b) a body strap assembly attached to a front part of the back-support portion, wherein the body strap assembly is adapted to secure a passenger on the device; and    (c) means for attaching the back-support portion to the back-support of the vehicle seat.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising means for receiving the seat belt to secure the device on the vehicle seat.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the receiving means is part of the body strap assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the attaching means comprises one or more of a horizontal strap and a strap web.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the attaching means is located on a back part of the back-support portion at a position at the midpoint of the back-support portion or higher.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving means comprises one or more loops.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the receiving means is attached to a back part of the back-support portion.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the receiving means is permanently attached to the back-support portion at a position substantially near the bottom of or beneath the back-support portion.  
     
     
         9 . A vehicle passenger safety device for use on a vehicle seat that has a vehicle back-support and a seat belt, the device comprising: 
 (a) a back-support portion having a body strap assembly adapted to secure a passenger on the back-support portion;    (b) at least one horizontal strap adapted to secure the back-support portion on the vehicle back-support; and    (c) at least one loop adapted to receive the seat belt to secure the back-support portion on the vehicle seat.    
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the body strap assembly includes a crotch strap.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the body strap assembly includes at least one body strap.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one body strap is a vertical strap.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one body strap is a diagonal strap.  
     
     
         14 . A vehicle passenger safety device for use on a vehicle seat that has a vehicle back-support and a seat belt, the device comprising: 
 (a) a back-support portion adapted to rest between a passenger and the vehicle back-support;    (b) a body strap assembly attached to the back-support portion, wherein the body strap assembly is adapted to secure the passenger on the back-support portion; and    (c) a seat strap assembly adapted to secure the back-support portion on the vehicle back-support, wherein the seat strap assembly include at least one horizontal strap or a strap web.    
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the back-support portion has at least one loop adapted to receive the seat belt.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the body strap assembly includes a body strap.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the body strap is substantially vertical.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the body strap is diagonal.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the body strap assembly includes a crotch strap.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the crotch strap has a loop adapted to receive the seat belt.  
     
     
         21 . A vehicle passenger safety device for securing a passenger on a vehicle seat that has a back-support and a seat belt, the device comprising: 
 (a) a seat strap assembly adapted to be attached to the back-support; and    (b) a body strap assembly attached to the seat strap assembly, wherein the body strap assembly comprises a body strap and a loop, wherein the body strap is adapted to extend from a back side of the back-support and to rest over the back-support and the passenger's shoulders, and wherein the loop is capable of receiving the seat belt to be fastened above the lap of the passenger.    
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the body strap assembly comprises two or more body straps.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the seat strap assembly comprises one or more horizontal straps.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the body strap is length adjustable.