Vehicle passenger seat for handicapped persons

Claim 1

A vehicle passenger safety seat for handicapped persons; said seat being of the type which can be detachably but securely mounted over an existing conventional van, bus, or other such vehicle seat, and comprising: (a) a supporting frame having a vertical back member and a rigidly attached seat member, said back member further including a first retaining means associated with said back member for engagement over, across, and a prescribed distance downwardly behind the top of the vehicle seat to prevent said safety seat from tilting forwardly; (b) said first retaining means comprising: (i) a first pair of retractable straps extending, one on either side, from the upper area of said back member; each of said straps including a clasp on the free end thereof; (ii) latch means secured to the floor of the vehicle at a position substantially in alignment with the rear of the mid portion of the vehicle seat, for receiving and locking said clasps therein; (c) a second retaining means for further securing said safety seat in position on the frame of the vehicle seat; said first and second retaining means cooperating to prevent forward or backward tilting or lateral movement of said safety seat; (d) a cushion member overlying said back and seat members; (e) a pair of arms rests movably attached one on either side of said vertical back member for supporting the arms of the passenger; (f) vertically adjustable foot support means mounted in the front of said seat member for supporting the feet of the passenger; (g) said second retaining means comprising: (i) a second retractable strap extending from the rear face of said foot support means and including a clasp on the free end of said strap for engagement in said latch means; (h) harness means for securing the passenger in said safety seat; whereby said safety seat can be selectively positioned on the the seat of a van or bus, with said first retaining means over the top of the vehicle seat and said second retaining means securely fastened beneath the vehicle seat, for the safe transport of the handicapped passenger.