SEATBELT SAFETY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IGNITION OF AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES

• US 20110203866A1
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mesa Digital LLC (Ortiz & Lopez PLLC)
• Original Assignee: Mesa Digital LLC (Ortiz & Lopez PLLC)
• Inventors: Hinojosa, Jesus JR., Coronado, Amado Crisolfo
• Application Number:
  US13/017,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20110203866A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/270
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/04 responsive to presence or absence of the driver, e.g. to weight or lack thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• 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 apparatus and method for controlling ignition with respect to an automotive vehicle. The apparatus generally includes a seatbelt associated with a seatbelt sensor and an ignition interlock clip circuit. The seatbelt sensor that senses heat can be located on a front portion of the seatbelt to ensure that the seatbelt is strapped in an operative position with respect to an occupant in the vehicle and is worn properly. The ignition interlock clip circuit associated with a seatbelt clip controls the ignition with respect to the vehicle. An electrical connection can be made when a fastening member associated with the seatbelt is connected with the clip circuit in order to ignite the vehicle. The ignition will not start unless the seatbelt is fastened with the seatbelt clips by the occupant in the automobile.

Claims

1. A seatbelt apparatus, comprising:

a seatbelt sensor located on a front portion of a seatbelt in order to ensure that said seatbelt is strapped in an operative position with respect to an occupant in a vehicle and is worn properly by said occupant; and

an ignition interlock clip circuit associated with a seatbelt clip and a fastening member associated with said seatbelt, wherein said seatbelt clip and said fastening member detachably attach with each other and provide an electrical connection via said ignition interlock clip circuit, if said fastening member is connected with said clip circuit in order to permit an ignition of said vehicle or deny said ignition of said vehicle if said electrical connection is not made.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ignition interlock clip circuit further comprises:

an ignition switch connected to an engine starter motor associated with said vehicle; and

a power source associated with said ignition switch that makes said electrical connection with said engine starter motor in order to start said vehicle when said fastening member is engaged with said seatbelt clip.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a body temperature sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ignition interlock clip circuit further comprises an ignition switch connected to an engine starter motor associated with said vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said ignition interlock clip circuit further comprises a power source associated with said ignition switch that makes said electrical connection with said engine starter motor in order to start said vehicle when said fastening member is engaged with said seatbelt clip.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ignition interlock clip circuit further comprises:

an ignition switch connected to an engine starter motor associated with said vehicle; and

a power source associated with said ignition switch that makes said electrical connection with said engine starter motor in order to start said vehicle when said fastening member is engaged with said seatbelt clip; and

wherein said sensor comprises a body temperature sensor.

7. A seatbelt apparatus, comprising:

a seatbelt sensor located on a front portion of a seatbelt in order to ensure that said seatbelt is strapped in an operative position with respect to an occupant in a vehicle and is worn properly by said occupant; and

an ignition interlock clip circuit associated with a seatbelt clip and a fastening member associated with said seatbelt, wherein said fastening member and said seatbelt clip are capable of detachably attaching with each other and provide an electrical connection via said ignition interlock clip circuit, if said fastening member is connected with said clip circuit, in order to ignite said vehicle, wherein said sensor comprises a body temperature sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said ignition interlock clip circuit further comprises:

an ignition switch connected to an engine starter motor associated with said vehicle; and

a power source associated with said ignition switch that makes said electrical connection with said engine starter motor in order to start said vehicle when said fastening member is engaged with said seatbelt clip.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said ignition interlock clip circuit further comprises an ignition switch connected to an engine starter motor electrically and mechanically integrated with said vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said ignition interlock clip circuit further comprises a power source associated with said ignition switch that completes said electrical connection with said engine starter motor in order to start said vehicle when said fastening member is engaged with said seatbelt clip.

11. A method of configuring a seatbelt apparatus, said method comprising:

locating a seatbelt sensor at a front portion of a seatbelt in order to ensure that said seatbelt is strapped in an operative position with respect to an occupant in a vehicle and is worn properly by said occupant; and

associating an ignition interlock clip circuit with a seatbelt clip;

associating a fastening member with said seatbelt to assist in providing an electrical connection if said fastening member is connected with said clip circuit and permit an ignition of said vehicle or deny said ignition of said vehicle if said electrical connection is not made.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising configuring said ignition interlock clip circuit to comprise at least:

an ignition switch connected to an engine starter motor associated with said vehicle; and

a power source associated with said ignition switch that makes said electrical connection with said engine starter motor in order to start said vehicle when said fastening member is engaged with said seatbelt clip.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising configuring said sensor to comprise a body temperature sensor.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said ignition interlock clip circuit further comprises an ignition switch connected to an engine starter motor associated with said vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said ignition interlock clip circuit further comprises a power source associated with said ignition switch that makes said electrical connection with said engine starter motor in order to start said vehicle when said fastening member is engaged with said seatbelt clip.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising configuring said sensor to comprise a body temperature sensor.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising configuring said ignition interlock clip circuit to include:

an ignition switch connected to an engine starter motor associated with said vehicle; and

a power source associated with said ignition switch that makes said electrical connection with said engine starter motor in order to start said vehicle when said fastening member is engaged with said seatbelt clip, wherein said ignition interlock clip circuit further comprises an ignition switch connected to an engine starter motor electrically and mechanically integrated with said vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising configuring said sensor to comprise a body temperature sensor.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising configuring said ignition interlock clip circuit to include:

an ignition switch connected to an engine starter motor associated with said vehicle; and

a power source associated with said ignition switch that makes said electrical connection with said engine starter motor in order to start said vehicle when said fastening member is engaged with said seatbelt clip, wherein said ignition interlock clip circuit further comprises a power source associated with said ignition switch that completes said electrical connection with said engine starter motor in order to start said vehicle when said fastening member is engaged with said seatbelt clip.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising configuring said sensor to comprise a body temperature sensor.