Gearshift interlock device

• US 20020078726A1
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lynthia A. Muller
• Original Assignee: Lynthia A. Muller
• Inventors: Muller, Lynthia A.
• Application Number:
  US09/963,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078726A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/247
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4858 for sensing pressure on seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4891 preventing use of the vehicle when the seatbelt is not fastened
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5934 Selective-type shift rod, fork or block

Abstract

A vehicle safety device for insuring that occupants of a vehicle are wearing a seat belt that includes a gear shift interlock mechanism including a locking mechanism for engaging the gear shift lever of a vehicle which is controlled by a controlling having a sensor provided on each of the seats of a vehicle. When the sensor generates a signal indicating that a person is seated on the seat, the controller waits to receive a buckling signal from the seat belt before allowing the user to move the gear shift. If the buckling sensor does not detect a buckling after the weight sensor is triggered then the locking mechanism does not unlock until the seat belt unbuckled and then rebuckled.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety device comprising:

a gearshift/transmission solenoid lock mechanism for the gearshift;

weight sensors;

seatbelt sensors;

an electronic circuit board

an outer case containing solenoid

a transmission case

said gearshift transmission solenoid locking mechanism has a sensor on each seat and has a control device connecting to a locking mechanism;

said gearshift locking device has a shifter lock shaft, part of the locking solenoid This shaft is extended by the solenoid and retracted by a return spring;

said gearshift/transmission locking mechanism is contained in an outer case.

said outer case contains engaging coil, power cable, return spring, spring retainer, and lock shaft;

the return spring in the outer case is contained in the spring retainer. The lock shaft extends from engaging coil to spring container;

said solenoid will drive locking pin into cavity in shifter level and said solenoid will be mounted on solenoid mount;

in said transmission shifter lock shaft will be connected to shifter lever, and shifter cable will connect to shifter cable mount;

said solenoid in transmission case will contain shifter lock shaft which connects to shifter lever;

said shifter lever will have shifter lever pivot connected;

solenoid mount will contain solenoid;

said solenoid will connect to solenoid drives, power cable from solenoid driver will connect to solenoid;

said transmission pan will contain solenoid and solenoid mount;

said microprocessor will contain program to poll weight sensors and seatbelt sensors, check conditions, operate output devices, and poll emergency override 10 button;

said weight sensors will connect to the sensor isolator, and then connect to microprocessor;

the buzzer relay will receive input from the microprocessor to relay information to the buzzer driver.