Seat Belt Usage Indication
First Claim
1. Apparatus for indicating whether seatbelts included as part of a vehicle are not being used or are being used improperly during vehicle operations, comprising:
- sensing means for sensing whether the seatbelts are not being used or are being used improperly during vehicle operations;
indication means for indicating externally of the vehicle whenever the seatbelts are not being used or are being used improperly during vehicle operations; and
activation means for activating the indication means whenever the seatbelts are not being used or are being used improperly during vehicle operations.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides notification externally of a vehicle that the vehicle'"'"'s seatbelts are not being used or are being used improperly. In a first embodiment, an external lamp is connected to a seat belt interlock. If a seat belt is being used properly during vehicle operations, the external lamp will not be illuminated, but if the seat belt is not being used or is being used improperly during vehicle operations, the external lamp will be illuminated. In a second embodiment, a transmitter generates a signal if a seat belt is not being used or is being used improperly during vehicle operations. The signal is transmitted to a receiver that is in electrical communication with a camera in the immediate vicinity. Upon receipt of such a signal, the camera and a video recorder will be activated and a visual image or a sequence of visual images of the vehicle will be taken and recorded. In a third embodiment, a transmitter generates a signal if a seat belt is not being used or is being used improperly during vehicle operations. A law enforcement vehicle such as a police car includes a receiver adapted to receive the signal and an annunciator. When the receiver receives a signal, the annunicator will be activated and a law enforcement officer in the police car will be notified that a vehicle is being operated nearby in violation of the seatbelt-usage laws. Consequently, the law enforcement officer will be able to locate the vehicle and take appropriate enforcement action.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for indicating whether seatbelts included as part of a vehicle are not being used or are being used improperly during vehicle operations, comprising:
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sensing means for sensing whether the seatbelts are not being used or are being used improperly during vehicle operations; indication means for indicating externally of the vehicle whenever the seatbelts are not being used or are being used improperly during vehicle operations; and activation means for activating the indication means whenever the seatbelts are not being used or are being used improperly during vehicle operations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for indicating whether seatbelts included as part of a vehicle are not being used or are being used improperly during vehicle operations, comprising the steps of:
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sensing whether the seatbelts are not being used or are being used improperly during vehicle operations; providing indication means for indicating externally of the vehicle whenever the seatbelts are not being used or are being used improperly during vehicle operations; and activating the indication means whenever the seatbelts are not being used or are being used improperly during vehicle operations. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification