Vehicle seatbelt usage external indicator system
First Claim
1. A vehicle seatbelt usage indicator system comprising:
- (a) a seat occupancy sensor circuit for sensing occupancy of a vehicle seat;
(b) a seatbelt reel sensor circuit electrically coupled to said seat occupancy sensor circuit for determining extension of a seatbelt to an operating position; and
,(c) a light control circuit electrically coupled to said seat occupancy sensor circuit and said seatbelt reel sensor circuit for illuminating a vehicle externally mounted light when said seat occupancy sensor circuit senses an occupancy of said vehicle seat and said seatbelt reel sensor circuit senses said seat belt in a non-operating position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A seat belt usage indicator having a seat occupied sensor and a seat belt reel sensor with an externally mounted indicator light. The seat belt usage indicator system has a sensor positioned in each seat and a seat belt reel sensor corresponding to each seat such that the external indicator light can only be deactivated when the seat belt corresponding to an occupied seat is engaged. To ensure reliability, a plurality of surge absorbing devices which protect the circuitry from any voltage spikes that may occur due to static electricity or other disturbances in the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system, are provided. Also provided are a plurality of resistors which prevent damage to the device by limiting current. In this manner, a reliable and tamper-resistant seat belt usage indicator system is provided.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle seatbelt usage indicator system comprising:
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(a) a seat occupancy sensor circuit for sensing occupancy of a vehicle seat; (b) a seatbelt reel sensor circuit electrically coupled to said seat occupancy sensor circuit for determining extension of a seatbelt to an operating position; and
,(c) a light control circuit electrically coupled to said seat occupancy sensor circuit and said seatbelt reel sensor circuit for illuminating a vehicle externally mounted light when said seat occupancy sensor circuit senses an occupancy of said vehicle seat and said seatbelt reel sensor circuit senses said seat belt in a non-operating position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A vehicle seatbelt usage indicator system comprising:
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(a) a plurality of seat occupancy sensor circuits, each for sensing occupancy of a corresponding vehicle seat; (b) a plurality of seatbelt reel sensor circuits, each electrically coupled to a respective one of said plurality of seat occupancy sensor circuits for determining extension of a seatbelt to an operating position; and
,(c) a light control circuit electrically coupled to said seat occupancy sensor circuits and said seatbelt reel sensor circuits for illuminating a vehicle externally mounted light when any one of said seat occupancy sensor circuit senses an occupancy of said vehicle seat and a corresponding one of said seatbelt reel sensor circuits senses a corresponding seat belt in a non-operating position.
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Specification