Illuminated tongue

• US 20070245530A1
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Smith, Paul, Gray, Mark, Jodts, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/730,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20070245530A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/633
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2546 Details
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2565 Illuminated buckles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• 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 24/45623 and operator therefor

Abstract

An occupant restraint system includes a belt, a tongue, and a buckle. The belt extends and retracts across a vehicle occupant to protect the occupant. The tongue is coupled to the belt. The tongue includes a striker portion and a tongue housing. The buckle includes a buckle housing and a latch nested therein. The latch is configured to attach the striker portion of the tongue inside the buckle housing. The tongue includes an illuminable portion configured to selectively exude light therefrom and/or a thermal source.

Claims

1. An occupant restraint system, comprising:

a belt configured to extend and retract across a vehicle occupant;

a tongue coupled to the belt, the tongue includes a striker portion and a tongue housing; and

a buckle to receive the tongue, the buckle including a buckle housing and a latch nested therein, wherein the latch is configured to attach the striker portion of the tongue inside the buckle housing, and

wherein the tongue includes an illuminable portion configured to selectively exude light therefrom.

2. The occupant restraint system of claim 1, further comprising a switch to selectively operate a light source of the illuminable portion.

3. The occupant restraint system of claim 2, wherein the switch comprises a deformable membrane switch.

4. The occupant restraint system of claim 3, wherein the membrane switch comprises a touch plate configured to interact with an electrical connector mounted in the tongue housing.

5. The occupant restraint system of claim 1, further comprising a power source to provide power to operate the illuminable portion.

6. The occupant restraint system of claim 5, wherein the power source is positioned within the tongue.

7. The occupant restraint system of claim 5, wherein the power source is remotely located with respect to the tongue.

8. The occupant restraint system of claim 1, wherein the illuminable portion includes a light source and a translucent cover encasing the light source.

9. The occupant restraint system of claim 1, wherein the illuminable portion comprises a LED light.

10. The occupant restraint system of claim 1, wherein the illuminable portion is positioned in the tongue housing.

11. An occupant restraint system, comprising:

a belt configured to extend and retract across a vehicle occupant;

a tongue coupled to the belt, the tongue includes a striker portion and a tongue housing; and

a buckle to receive the tongue, the buckle including a buckle housing and a latch nested therein, wherein the latch is configured to attach the striker portion of the tongue inside the buckle housing, and

wherein the tongue includes a thermal source configured to alter the temperature of the tongue.

12. The occupant restraint system of claim 11, wherein the thermal source is positioned within the tongue housing.

13. The occupant restraint system of claim 11, further comprising a switch to selectively operate the thermal source.

14. The occupant restraint system of claim 13, wherein the switch comprises a deformable membrane switch.

15. The occupant restraint system of claim 14, wherein the membrane switch comprises a touch plate configured to interact with an electrical connector mounted in the tongue housing.

16. The occupant restraint system of claim 11, further comprising a power source to provide power to operate the thermal source.

17. The occupant restraint system of claim 16, wherein the power source is positioned within the tongue.

18. The occupant restraint system of claim 17, wherein the power source is remotely located with respect to the tongue.

19. The occupant restraint system of claim 11, further comprising a thermocouple to measure a temperature of the tongue and/or ambient temperature.