The need for a restraint can arise in several circumstances, for example in the transportation of objects, in the secure restraint of infants both in high chairs and car seats and in the maintenance in a comfortable upright position of a person who has difficulty in maintaining such a position unaided such as the elderly, infirm or disabled. The use of a restraint is particularly important in motorised vehicles to counteract the high acceleration forces which may be encountered therein. Existing restraints, such as lap belts, seat belts or baby harnesses all have certain disadvantages. Existing belt restraints, for example, are generally designed for an averagely sized passenger and may only be adjusted in length. Non averagely sized passengers, and particularly those not actively supporting themselves in an upright stance, can slide downwardly with respect to the restraining belt which can t lead to discomfort and danger in the event of an

accident.

There is, therefore, a need for a restraint capable of restraining an object with respect to a support, e. g. a person with respect to a seat, which overcomes or mitigates some or all of the problems of such known restraints.

According to the present invention there is provided a restraint for restraining an object with respect to a support, which restraint comprises: attachment means for attaching the restraint to a support; restraining means for restraining an object with respect to the support; and a restraining member for re-enforcing the restraint of the object provided by the restraining means.

The restraining means is preferably capable of effecting its restraint by extending around the object so that it is encircled by the restraint. The restraining means preferably is or is capable of forming either alone or with another part of the restraint a closed loop which can be placed around the object. The loop may be formed by the restraining means and part of the attachment

means, but preferably the loop is formed by the restraining means on its own. The loop may be permanently closed, in which case the restraining means may take the form of a continuous loop or be permanently attached to itself or another part of the restraint.

Where the loop is permanently closed the restraint would need to be slipped over the object to be restrained.

Preferably the loop is releasably closed to allow the restraint to be easily placed around and removed from the object. In such cases the restraining means may be releasably attached to either itself or another part of the restraint. The restraining means may be formed as a single piece or as two or more parts releasably or permanently fixed together or separated by other parts of the restraint, e. g. the attachment means. In a preferred embodiment the restraining means is a single continuous piece whose ends can be releasably joined together to form a closed loop.

The restraining means may be able to extend around, e. g. be wrapped around, the support as well as the object. The shape and size of the restraining means will in part depend on the nature of the object to be restrained. The restraining means may be adapted in shape with respect to the object, i. e. it may be shaped to fix around the

object. Where the object to be restrained is a person the restraining means may take the form of a jacket or vest to be worn by the person to be restrained.

Alternatively the restraining means may be shaped to restrain the upper abdomen of a person. The restraining means could be shaped to restrain the shoulders of a person but preferably is shaped to fit beneath the arms of a person to be restrained. The restraining means preferably takes the form of a belt, girdle or strap, and is also longer than it is wide and can be wrapped around the upper abdomen of a person. The length of the restraining means should be such that it is able to encompass the object and optionally also the support so as to hold the object close to the support. The restraining means should be sufficiently long to include any overlap necessary to secure the restraining means to itself or to another part of the restraint. The length of the restraining means is preferably adjustable.

Suitable lengths for restraining means for use in the restraint of a person in a chair or seat will depend on whether the person is an adult or child but include lengths in the range 200 to 600mm, e. g. lengths from 300 to 500mm. The width of the restraining means will depend upon the nature of the object to be restrained but should be sufficient to hold the object firmly in the

restraining position. The width is preferably such as to extend over a substantial part of the object to be restrained. Where that object is a person the width preferably extends over a substantial part of the torso, i. e. chest region. Widths in the range 200 to 400mm, more preferably in the range 150 to 300mm will be suitable.

Suitable materials from which the restraining means may be made will be well known to the skilled man and include woven and non-woven fabric materials or flexible synthetic plastic materials such as polyethylene. The material from which the restraining means is made preferably is porous or permeable to allow transmission of air or moisture. For certain materials a stiffener may be used to keep the restraining means in the preferred shape, e. g. to prevent it from collapsing.

Where the restraint is to be used for restraining a person the material should be selected with comfort in mind and a support pad, optionally contorted to suit individual requirements, may be provided for the person's back. For some applications it may be advantageous for the restraining means or the entire restraint to be formed from a washable material.

The restraining means may be held in position, i. e. in a

position in which it restrains an object, by the restraining member. Alternatively and preferably the restraining means is provided with fastening means for holding the restraining means in position. The fastening means may take any suitable form, such as any conventional fastener, e. g. tie straps, buckles, clips, press-stud, ring toggles, buttons and hook and eyes. The fastening means are preferably capable of quick release for safety purposes. A preferred fastening means is one formed from a plurality of hooks or barbs which cooperate with a plurality of loops such as that generically called nyloc and sold under the registered trade mark Velcro.

The use of one or more pairs of cooperating Velcro strips and in particular a series of parallel cooperating strips is preferred. The fastening means may be positioned to allow the length of the restraining means to be adjusted in the restraining position.

The restraining member acts as an auxiliary or additional means of restraint for the object with respect to the support. The restraining member is preferably capable of effecting its restraint by extending around the object so that it is encircled by the restraining member. The restraining member preferably is or is capable of forming either alone or with another part of the restraint a

closed loop which can be placed around the object. The loop is preferably formed by the restraining member on its own. The loop may be permanently closed, but is preferably releasably closed. In such cases the restraining member may be releasably attached to either itself or another part of the restraint. It is preferred that the restraining member be formed as a single piece which can be releasably secured to the restraining position. The restraining member may be able to extend around the support as well as the object. It is preferred that the restraining means extends around the support as well as the object irrespective of whether the restraining means also extends around the support as well as the object. The size and shape of the restraining member will in part depend on the nature of the object to be restrained as well as on the nature of the restraining means. The restraining member, in order to be able to reinforce the restraint provided by the restraining means, is preferably shaped to constrain the restraining means, e. g. to extend therearound. The restraining member preferably takes the form of a belt, girdle or strap. The restraining member is preferably narrower in width then the restraining means. The length of the restraining member should be such that it is able to encompass the object, optionally also the support, and

the restraining means. The restraining member should be sufficiently long to include any overlap necessary to secure the restraining means to itself or to another part of the restraint. The length of the restraining member is preferably adjustable. Suitable lengths and widths will generally fall within the ranges given above for the restraining means.

The restraining member is preferably provided with means for securing it in place, i. e. in a position where it can reinforce the restraint provided by the restraining means. The securing means may take any suitable form such as those described above for the fastening means for the releasing means. Again quick release fastenings are preferred such as standard quick release buckles which are formed with cooperating male and female components which can click or snap-fit together.

The attachment means is for attaching or anchoring the restraint with respect to the support. The attachment means is preferably capable of universal fitting, i. e. of accommodating various shapes and sizes of supports. For this purpose the attachment means may be provided with adjustment means, e. g. draw strings or adjustable fasteners or more preferably be inherently flexible by

nature, e. g. be formed of a resilient and more preferably elastic material. The attachment means may then be stretched, e. g. increased in length, from its relaxed state in order that it can be stretched to accommodate the support and then held in place by its inherent elasticity. Even when formed of an inherently elastic material, the attachment means may be provided with additional fixing means to secure it to the support. The attachment means may take the from of a pocket or pouch for fitting over the support. The attachment means is preferably capable of extending around the support so that it is encircled at least partially by the attachment means. The attachment means preferably is or is capable of forming alone or with another part of the restraint, e. g. with the restraining means, a closed loop which can be placed around the object. The loop is preferably permanently closed to allow for secure attachment to the support. The attachment means preferably takes the form of a expandable, e. g. stretchable, strap.

The various components of the restraint may, where required, be interconnected by any suitable method, e. g. by sewing, welding or the use of irreversible or reversible fasteners.

The restraint of the present invention is particularly suited to use with a support having an upstanding part, e. g. a chair or seat having an upstanding back. The restraint could be used to restrain an object such as a person or delicate object to be transported on a seat portion of the chair and be secured to the back portion thereof.

The restraint of the present invention is advantageous as it provides an improved, i. e. more effective, restraining power. The restraint provides additional support for the object with less strain on the restraining means in comparison with conventional restraints. The restraint is adaptable and can be manufactured to take into consideration the comfort of a person to be restrained.

The restraint is particularly suited for use in seats in motor vehicles such as cars, buses and coaches where it may be used in combination with conventional seat safety belts. The restraint does not interfere with such standard safety belts so that both can be worn simultaneously. The restraint can maintain its restraining hold under the high acceleration forces which may be encountered with motorised vehicles and is able to maintain its restraint even under certain accident conditions. The restraint is additionally of use to

comfortably restrain the elderly, infirm or disabled in an upright position and is therefore useful in hospitals, rest homes and domestic situations.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, for the purposes of illustration only, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a underplan view of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 in use; Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1 in use; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

The embodiment of a restraint according to the present invention shown in Figures 1 to 5 has restraining means in the form of a belt 1 formed from an elongate rectangle of a quilted, padded material of woven fabric. Placed

centrally on one side of the belt 1 is an attachment means in the form of a web 2 of elastic material. The web 2 is sewn securely along its two opposing ends 3a, 3b to the belt 1 to form a closed loop with the central part 4 of the belt 1 on which it is superimposed. The web 2 is formed from a woven elastomeric material, such as a stretchable elastic, e. g. a polyethylene webbing such as Spandex TM. The web 2 is 70 to 120mm in width. The belt 1 extends as two flaps 5a, 5b out from the web 2. One of the flaps 5a is provided on one side (in use the inside) with a series (in this case three) of parallel extending strips of Velcro 6a. In this embodiment the strips extend vertically, but horizontally extending strips to a single deep block could be used. The other flap 5b of the belt 1 is provided with a series of cooperating strips of Velcro 6b on the opposing side of the belt (the outside in use). The Velcro strips 6a, 6b are preferably at least 30mm, and more preferably 40mm wide. An auxiliary restraining member in the form of a restraining strap 7 extends along the longitudinal length of the restraining belt 1 on one side thereof (on the outside in use). Guide loops 8a, 8b may be provided on the restraining belt 1 in order to hold the strap 7 in a central longitudinal position with respect to the belt 1.

The strap 7 is provided with means for securing it in

position, which securing means takes the form of cooperating male 9a and female 9b components of a standard lightweight, e. g. plastic, quick release buckle which is slidably fitted onto the strap 7 to allow adjustment of the length thereof. Although this is the prefered form of attachement a velsro fastening over a length of the belt may alternatively be used in some circumstances.

In use, the elastic web 2 is stretched over a support such as the upright back 10 of a chair or seat (see Figures 4 and 5). It is held in place by its inherent elasticity. The flaps 5a, 5b are wrapped around the object 11 to be restrained and fitted into position by engaging suitably positioned members of the Velcro strips 6a, 6b which allow the length of the belt 1 to be varied to accommodate differently sized objects. Pressing together the required Velcro strips 6a, 6b joins the end of the flaps 5a, 5b together and fastens the belt 1 in a closed loop around the object. The restraining strap 7 is then passed around the restraining belt 1 and the object 11 and the male and female components 9a, 9b of the buckle engaged and the length of the strap adjusted to closely hold the object by pulling the strap 7 slidably through the buckle a. In position the restraint

prevents forward and rear movement as well as side to side movement of the object with respect to the support.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 6 similar components are indicated by the same reference numerals used for the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5. In this embodiment the attachment means 12 takes the form of a closed loop attached securely to the inside of the central part 4 of the retaining belt 1. The closed loop of the attachment means 12 could be secured to the outside of the retaining belt 1. In this embodiment a single pair of cooperating strips of Velcro 13a, 13b are provided.