Bruce Hilliard Carraway

US Patent:

54529182, Sep 26, 1995

Filed:

Apr 1, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/222104

Inventors:

Bruce H. Carraway - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

B60R 2206

US Classification:

280804

Abstract:

Motorized bi-level safety belts having a lap belt and a shoulder belt with a base end of each anchored to a separate retractor at an inside portion of a vehicle seat. Moveable ends of the lap belt and shoulder belt are attachable to a moveable base that is separable into a shoulder level and a seat level. The moveable base travels in a rail from a body-release mode in a position at a front of a vehicle door to a body-restraint mode in which the moveable base is separable into a shoulder level and a seat level at the back of the door. The rail is attached to a frame of the door. Curved accurately shaped, rigid areas of the belts are provided to prevent contact of a lap belt and a shoulder belt with a body of an individual on a vehicle seat and to prevent contact of the safety belts with a steering wheel of a car in transit between body-release and body-restraint modes. Wide, flexibly rigid, soft-edged and selectively arcuate sections of the belts are optionally attached to or attachable to portions of the safety belts. The curved arcuately shaped, rigid areas of the belts which are immediately near the rail and anchor end are curved and pointed toward the front of the vehicle while in the rest position.

US Patent:

57094080, Jan 20, 1998

Filed:

Jun 12, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/662791

Inventors:

Bruce H. Carraway - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

B60R 2206

US Classification:

280804

Abstract:

Motorized shoulder and lap belts are moved to restraining positions by a drive belt along a track around a doorway of a vehicle. A catch in a slot in the drive belt engages the shoulder belt to move with the lap belt which is attached to the drive belt. An adjustable height stop in the track stops and disengages the shoulder belt in the shoulder belt restraining position from the catch while the lap belt continues to move and stops in the lap belt restraining position. A persons weight in a seat of the vehicle and closing the vehicle door, if the vehicle ignition is turned on, activates a switch which moves the shoulder and lap belts into their restraining positions. With the person seated, the shoulder and lap belts are retracted by turning the vehicle ignition off, or by activating a switch located in the vehicle door handle, door post, or elsewhere in the vehicle. Sleeves located near where the shoulder and lap belts enter retractors are disposed around ends of the shoulder and lap belts. These sleeves are attached to inserts whose reversible motion and positioning, upon activation of an antenna-type motor, comfortably facilitate either holding the ends of the shoulder and lap belts out in front of, and away from, the seated person, or positioning the ends of the these belts around the body of the seated person.

US Patent:

20020074789, Jun 20, 2002

Filed:

May 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/870333

Inventors:

Bruce Carraway - Atlanta GA, US

International Classification:

B60R022/06

US Classification:

280/804000, 280/801100

Abstract:

An automatically closing safety belt system for providing increased automobile safety. Safety belts are inside curved semi-rigid plastic sleeves, which hold safety belts out in front of the occupant. First configuration has lanyards attached to the middle of the safety belts. The other end goes into reels in dashboard. They pull the safety belts well out in front of the occupants until the belts' ends go operative. When the safety belts start going inoperative, the lanyards pull the safety belts and hold them near the dashboard for occupant easy egress and ingress. Second configuration is a gradual curve inward of the track. Third configuration is to put a hinge in the curved sleeve with a strong folding spring attachment, to be released by a switch. The reel between the seats can easily pull the lap belt into place. Fourth configuration, a motor and track under the vehicle seat moves a curved piece of metal or plastic that becomes attached to safety belts and automatically moves them into a restraining position. Fifth configuration includes a door track and a track located in a doorframe. The actuator configured to automatically close the restraining belt by moving the movable connector from the door track to the door post, when the door is closed and occupant seated. To leave, push a switch or turn off the ignition and the safety belts will move in the track to inoperative position.