ILLUMINATED SEAT BELT RECEPTACLE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A seat belt system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of seat belt assemblies, each seat belt assembly including;
a seat belt receptacle having a light transmitting area and a latch mechanism for releasably latching a seat belt buckle to the receptacle;
a light source positioned and configured to selectively illuminate the light transmitting area; and
a latch mechanism sensor operatively associated with the latch mechanism;
a controller operatively associated with the light source and latch mechanism sensor of each seat belt assembly;
a door position sensor operatively associated with a door of the vehicle and the controller; and
a gear position sensor operatively associated with a transmission of the vehicle and the controller;
the controller operable to process a signal from the door position sensor indicative of the door being opened and direct the light source to illuminate the light transmitting area of each seat belt receptacle, the controller operable to process a signal from the latch mechanism sensor indicative of at least one of the seat belt buckles being releasably latched in at least one respective seat belt receptacle and direct the light source to turn off the illumination of the light transmitting area of the at least one receptacle, and the controller further operable to turn off the illumination of any remaining seat belt receptacles that are not releasably latched to a respective buckle when the controller receives a signal from the gear position sensor indicative of the transmission being in a gear other than park.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A seat belt system for a vehicle may include a plurality of seat belt assemblies each including a seat belt receptacle, a light source for selectively illuminating the receptacle, and a latch mechanism for releasably latching a seat belt buckle to the receptacle. A controller may be operatively associated with the light source, the latch mechanism sensor, a transmission gear position sensor, and at least one of a door position sensor, engine sensor and air bag sensor. The controller may operably process signals received from the sensors and direct the light source to selectively illuminate the seat belt receptacle in various operational conditions of the vehicle.
21 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A seat belt system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a plurality of seat belt assemblies, each seat belt assembly including; a seat belt receptacle having a light transmitting area and a latch mechanism for releasably latching a seat belt buckle to the receptacle; a light source positioned and configured to selectively illuminate the light transmitting area; and a latch mechanism sensor operatively associated with the latch mechanism; a controller operatively associated with the light source and latch mechanism sensor of each seat belt assembly; a door position sensor operatively associated with a door of the vehicle and the controller; and a gear position sensor operatively associated with a transmission of the vehicle and the controller; the controller operable to process a signal from the door position sensor indicative of the door being opened and direct the light source to illuminate the light transmitting area of each seat belt receptacle, the controller operable to process a signal from the latch mechanism sensor indicative of at least one of the seat belt buckles being releasably latched in at least one respective seat belt receptacle and direct the light source to turn off the illumination of the light transmitting area of the at least one receptacle, and the controller further operable to turn off the illumination of any remaining seat belt receptacles that are not releasably latched to a respective buckle when the controller receives a signal from the gear position sensor indicative of the transmission being in a gear other than park. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A seat belt system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a plurality of seat belt assemblies, each seat belt assembly including; a seat belt receptacle having a light transmitting area and a latch mechanism for releasably latching a seat belt buckle to the receptacle; a light source positioned and configured to selectively illuminate the light transmitting area; and a latch mechanism sensor operatively associated with the latch mechanism; a controller operatively associated with the light source and latch mechanism sensor of each seat belt assembly; a gear position sensor operatively associated with a transmission of the vehicle and the controller; an engine sensor operatively associated with the controller and an engine of the vehicle; and an air bag sensor operatively associated with the controller and an air bag of the vehicle; the controller operable to illuminate the light transmitting area of each seat belt receptacle determined to be latched to a respective seat belt buckle via the latch mechanism sensor upon receipt of a signal from the engine sensor indicative of an engine stall event, or receipt of a signal from the air bag sensor indicative of the air bag being deployed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification