Restraint System

Abstract

A configurable restraint system ( 10 - 10 vi ) for a vehicle seat ( 12, 12 ′) may comprise a first restraint harness ( 30 - 30″ ) coupled to a first engagement member ( 32 ), a second restraint harness ( 34 - 34″ ) coupled to a second engagement member ( 36 ), and a third engagement member ( 50 - 50 ″″) configured to be movable between first and second positions relative to the vehicle seat. The first position may be located relative to the vehicle seat so that the first engagement member ( 32 ) may releasably engage the third engagement member ( 50 - 50″″ ) to restrain a first occupant of the vehicle seat via the first restraint harness ( 30 - 30 ″). The second position may be located relative to the vehicle seat so that the second engagement member ( 36 ) may alternatively releasably engage the third engagement member ( 50 - 50 ″″) to alternatively restrain the first occupant of the vehicle seat via the second restraint harness ( 34 - 34″ ).

1 - 53 . (canceled) 
   
   
       54 . A restraint system for a vehicle seat, comprising:
 a first restraint harness extending from one end of the vehicle seat and coupled to a first engagement member,   a second restraint harness extending from an opposite end of the vehicle seat and coupled to a second engagement member,   a third restraint harness mounted to the vehicle seat between the first and second restraint harnesses and coupled to a third engagement member,   fourth and fifth engagement members each mounted to the vehicle seat near a center of the vehicle seat,   a sixth engagement member mounted to the vehicle seat between the one end of the vehicle seat and the center of the vehicle seat, and   
     seventh and eighth engagement members mounted to the vehicle seat between the opposite end of the vehicle seat and the center of the vehicle seat, the fourth and fifth engagement members each positioned relative to the vehicle seat to releasably engage the first and second engagement members respectively to restrain first and second occupants of the vehicle seat respectively, and the sixth, seventh and eighth engagement members each positioned relative to the vehicle seat to alternatively releasably engage the first, second and third engagement members respectively to alternatively restrain first, second and third occupants respectively of the vehicle seat. 
   
   
       55 . The restraint system of  claim 54  wherein the vehicle seat comprises:
 a frame configured to be mounted to a support surface,   a seat bottom mounted to the frame, and   a seat back mounted to the frame.   
   
   
       56 . The restraint system of  claim 55  wherein the first restraint harness is mounted to the frame at the one end of the vehicle seat and the second restraint harness is mounted to the frame at the opposite end of the vehicle seat. 
   
   
       57 . The restraint system of  claim 55  further comprising a first retractor mounted to the frame,
 wherein the first restraint harness is a three-point restraint harness comprising a first web having one end mounted to the frame and an opposite end extending into the seat back and into engagement with the first retractor,   and wherein the first engagement member is coupled to the first web between the one end of the first web and the opposite end of the first web.   
   
   
       58 . The restraint system of  claim 57  further comprising a second retractor mounted to the frame,
 wherein the second restraint harness is a three-point restraint harness comprising a second web having one end mounted to the frame and an opposite end extending into the seat back and into engagement with the second retractor,   and wherein the second engagement member is coupled to the second web between the one end of the second web and the opposite end of the second web.   
   
   
       59 . The restraint system of  claim 58  further comprising a third retractor mounted to the frame,
 wherein the third restraint harness is a three-point restraint harness comprising a third web having one end mounted to the frame and an opposite end extending into the seat back and into engagement with the third retractor,   and wherein the third engagement member is coupled to the third web between the one end of the third web and the opposite end of the third web.   
   
   
       60 . The restraint system of  claim 54  wherein the fourth engagement member is mounted to the vehicle seat between the one end of the vehicle seat and the center of the vehicle seat, and the fifth engagement member is mounted to the vehicle seat adjacent to the fourth engagement member between the opposite end of the vehicle seat and the center of the vehicle seat such that the center of the vehicle seat bisects the fourth and fifth engagement members. 
   
   
       61 . The restraint system of  claim 54  wherein the seventh engagement member is mounted to the vehicle seat between the opposite end of the vehicle seat and the fourth and fifth engagement members, and the eighth engagement member is mounted to the vehicle seat between the seventh engagement member and the fourth and fifth engagement members. 
   
   
       62 . The restraint system of  claim 61  wherein the third engagement member and the eighth engagement member are each configured to releasably engage only each other such that the third engagement member cannot releasably engage any of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh engagement members and the eighth engagement member cannot releasably engage either of the first and second engagement members. 
   
   
       63 . The restraint system of  claim 54  wherein the first, second and third engagement members each comprise tongue members, and wherein the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth engagement members each comprise buckle members. 
   
   
       64 . The restraint system of  claim 55  wherein the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth engagement members are each mounted to the frame of the vehicle seat. 
   
   
       65 . The restraint system of  claim 64  wherein the seat bottom and the seat back define a bight between the seat bottom and the seat back,
 and wherein the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth engagement members each extend from and along the bight.   
   
   
       66 . The restraint system of  claim 54  wherein the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth engagement members are each movable between stowed position and operative positions relative to the vehicle seat. 
   
   
       67 . The restraint system of  claim 54  wherein the third restraint harness and the sixth engagement member are both unused when the vehicle seat is occupied by only the first and second occupants. 
   
   
       68 . The restraint system of  claim 54  wherein the vehicle seat is a school bus seat. 
   
   
       69 . A restraint system for a vehicle seat, comprising:
 a first restraint harness mounted to the vehicle seat and coupled to a first engagement member,   a second restraint harness mounted to the vehicle seat and coupled to a second engagement member,   a third restraint harness mounted to the vehicle seat between the first and second restraint harnesses and coupled to a third engagement member,   fourth and fifth engagement members each mounted to the vehicle seat near a center of the vehicle seat,   a sixth engagement member mounted to the vehicle seat between one end of the vehicle seat and the fourth and fifth engagement members, and   seventh and eighth engagement members mounted to the vehicle seat between an opposite end of the vehicle seat and the fourth and fifth engagement members, the fourth and fifth engagement members each positioned relative to the vehicle seat to releasably engage the first and second engagement members respectively to restrain first and second occupants of the vehicle seat respectively, and the sixth, seventh and eighth engagement members each positioned relative to the vehicle seat to alternatively releasably engage the first, second and third engagement members respectively to alternatively restrain first, second and third occupants respectively of the vehicle seat.   
   
   
       70 . The restraint system of  claim 69  wherein the seventh engagement member is mounted to the vehicle seat between the opposite end of the vehicle seat and the fourth and fifth engagement members, and the eighth engagement member is mounted to the vehicle seat between the seventh engagement member and the fourth and fifth engagement members. 
   
   
       71 . The restraint system of  claim 70  wherein the third engagement member and the eighth engagement member are each configured to releasably engage only each other such that the third engagement member cannot releasably engage any of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh engagement members and the eighth engagement member cannot releasably engage either of the first and second engagement members. 
   
   
       72 . The restraint system of  claim 69  wherein the first, second and third engagement members each comprise tongue members,
 and wherein the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth engagement members each comprise buckle members.   
   
   
       73 . The restraint system of  claim 69  wherein the vehicle seat is a school bus seat.