Ingnition control for automatic safety belts

• US 20030098194A1
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethyl Roddy
• Original Assignee: Ethyl Roddy
• Inventors: Roddy, Ethyl
• Application Number:
  US09/994,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20030098194A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/270
• 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

Abstract

A seatbelt safety system for an automobile including at least one seat having a seatbelt associated therewith. The seatbelt safety system includes at least one seat sensor identifying when a passenger is seated within the vehicle seat, at least one seatbelt sensor identifying whether a passenger identified by the seat sensor has fastened the seatbelt of the seat and an automobile state sensor identifying when the automobile is operating in a predetermined manner. The safety system further includes a control system lined to the seat sensor, the seatbelt sensor and the automobile state sensor. The control system includes circuitry for preventing one from starting a vehicle engine when the seat sensor and seatbelt sensor indicate that a passenger is seated within the seat without a fastened seatbelt. The control system further includes a mechanism for locking the seatbelt when the automobile state sensor indicates to the control system that the automobile is operating in a predetermined manner.

Claims

1. A seatbelt safety system for an automobile including at least one seat having a seatbelt associated therewith, the seatbelt safety system comprising:

at least one seat sensor identifying when a passenger is seated within the vehicle seat;

at least one seatbelt sensor identifying whether a passenger identified by the seat sensor has fastened the seatbelt of the seat;

an automobile state sensor identifying when the automobile is operating in a predetermined manner,

a control system linked to the seat sensor, the seatbelt sensor and the automobile state sensor, the control system including means for preventing one from starting a vehicle engine when the seat sensor and seatbelt sensor indicate that a passenger is seated within the seat without a fastened seatbelt and the control system further including means for locking the seatbelt when the automobile state sensor indicates to the control system that the automobile is operating in a predetermined manner.

2. The seatbelt safety system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of seats are provided and a seat sensor and a seatbelt sensor are respectively provided with each of the plurality of seats.

3. The seatbelt safety system according to claim 1, wherein the control system includes a control processor.

4. The seatbelt safety system according to claim 1, wherein the means for locking include a security lock associated with a seatbelt latching mechanism for locking the seatbelt latch mechanism in a locked status upon receipt of an indication the automobile is operating in a predetermined manner.

5. The seatbelt safety system according to claim 4, wherein the means for locking prevents unlatching of the seatbelt latch mechanism when the automobile has been shifted out of Park.

6. The seatbelt safety system according to claim 1, wherein a bypass is associated with the control system for overriding the control system when the seat sensor and seatbelt sensor indicate that a passenger is seated within the seat without a fastened seatbelt and the control system would otherwise prevent ignition of the automobile.

7. The seatbelt safety system according to claim 6, wherein a warning is issued when the bypass overrides the control system and a seatbelt is unfastened.

8. The seatbelt safety system according to claim 1, wherein a bypass is associated with the control system for overriding the control system when the automobile state sensor indicates to the controller that the automobile is operating in a predetermined manner and the means for locking would otherwise lock the seatbelt latch mechanism.

9. The seatbelt safety system according to claim 8, wherein a warning is issued when the bypass overrides the control system and a seatbelt is unfastened.

10. The seatbelt safety system according to claim 1, wherein the control system includes a seat switch which is opened upon sensing an individual sitting within the seat to thereby prevent the flow of electrical charge to the automobile ignition.

11. The seatbelt safety system according to claim 1, wherein the control system includes a seatbelt switch which is closed only upon sensing that an individual sitting within the seat of an automobile has fastened the seatbelt.

12. A automobile including a seatbelt safety system, comprising:

an automobile body having an engine with an ignition system and at least one seat having a seatbelt associated therewith;

the seat belt including a restraining strap and a locking mechanism for securing the restraining strap across the body of a passenger seated within the seat, wherein the locking mechanism includes means for preventing unlocking of the locking mechanism under predetermined conditions;

a seatbelt safety including

at least one seat sensor associated with the seat, the seat sensor identifying when a passenger is seated within the seat;

at least one seatbelt sensor associated with the seatbelt, the seatbelt sensor identifying whether a passenger identified by the seat sensor has fastened the seatbelt of the seat;

an automobile state sensor associated with the engine, the automobile state sensor identifying when the automobile is operating in a predetermine manner,

a control system linked to the seat sensor, the seatbelt sensor and the automobile state sensor, the control system including means for preventing one from starting the engine when the seat sensor and seatbelt sensor indicate that a passenger is seated within the seat without a fastened seatbelt and the controller further including means for locking the seatbelt when the automobile state sensor indicates to the control system that the automobile is operating in a predetermined manner.

13. The automobile according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of seats are provided and a seat sensor and a seatbelt sensor are respectively provided with each of the plurality of seats.

14. The automobile according to claim 12, wherein the control system includes a control processor.

15. The automobile according to claim 12, wherein the means for locking includes a security lock associated with a seatbelt latching mechanism for locking the seatbelt latch mechanism in a locked status upon receipt of an indication the automobile is operating in a predetermined manner.

16. The automobile according to claim 15, wherein the means for locking prevents unlatching of the seatbelt latch mechanism when the automobile has been shifted out of Park.

17. The automobile according to claim 12, wherein a bypass is associated with the control system for overriding the control system when the seat sensor and seatbelt sensor indicate that a passenger is seated within the seat without a fastened seatbelt and the control system would otherwise prevent ignition of the automobile.

18. The automobile according to claim 12, wherein a bypass is associated with the control system for overriding the control system when the automobile state sensor indicates to the controller that the automobile is operating in a predetermined manner and the means for locking would otherwise lock the seatbelt latch mechanism.

19. The automobile according to claim 12, wherein the control system includes a seat switch which is opened upon sensing an individual sitting within the seat to thereby prevent the flow of electrical charge to the automobile ignition.

20. The automobile according to claim 12, wherein the control system includes a seatbelt switch which is closed only upon sensing that an individual sitting within the seat of an automobile has fastened the seatbelt.