ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 5 -- United States Patent no. 12,697,934, issued on Aug. 4, was assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA K.K. (Toyota, Japan).
"Vehicle occupant restraint device" was invented by Mitsuyoshi Ohno (Miyoshi Aichi-ken, Japan), Katsuya Shimazu (Toyota Aichi-ken, Japan) and Tatsuya Hashido (Nishikasugai-gun Aichi-ken, Japan).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A vehicle occupant restraint device includes a seat belt, a belt support airbag, and a belt covering member. The seat belt restrains the occupant seated on a seat cushion of a vehicle seat to the vehicle seat. The belt support airbag is provided in a folded state in a lap belt or a shoulder belt of the seat belt and is inflated and deployed...