Plus-two belt reminder system

• US 10,384,639 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2016
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: McCoy, Robert William, Jaradi, Dean M., Faruque, Mohammed Omar, Farooq, S.M. Iskander
• Primary Examiner(s): Verley, Nicole T
• Application Number:
  US15/274,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20180086303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/026 at least two ends of the belt being retractable after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/027 Four-point seat belt systems, e.g. with the two upper points connected together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/023 Three-point seat belt systems comprising two side lower and one side upper anchoring devices B60R22/022, B60R22/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A plus-two belt system is provided. The plus-two belt system is a supplement to a traditional three-point belt system. The plus-two belt system has a longitudinal webbing anchored at a first end and coiled on a retractor at a second end. When an occupant is sensed and the vehicle engine is on, a reminder chime can sound when a magnetic strip in the webbing of the plus-two belt system is detected. The magnetic strip can be detected with a Hall effect sensor and the Hall effect sensor can be located adjacent the retractor.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a seat;

a three-point seatbelt engageable with the seat;

a two-point seatbelt including a retractor and a sensor each supported by the seat; and

the two-point seatbelt including a webbing payable from the retractor and a magnetic strip embedded in the webbing and positioned within a readable vicinity of the sensor in a retracted position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic strip is outside the readable vicinit:

of the sensor when the webbing is uncoiled from the retractor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is within the magnetic field of the magnetic strip when the webbing is in the retracted position.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the sensor is spaced from the magnetic field of the magnetic strip when the webbing is uncoiled from the retractor.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor, the processor being programmed to set an alarm as a result of the magnetic strip being positioned within a readable vicinity of the sensor in the retracted position.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein the sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

7. A system as in claim 6 wherein the retractor is in a seat back frame.

8. A system as in claim 7 wherein the magnetic strip is 0.3 to 0.6 mm thick.

9. A system as in claim 8 wherein the magnetic strip is a magnetic wire mesh.

10. A system as in claim 8 wherein the magnetic strip is sewn into the webbing.

11. A system as in claim 10 wherein the Hall effect sensor is mounted adjacent a guide.

12. A system as in claim 6 wherein the Hall effect sensor is mounted external to a seat back frame.