SAFETY BELT COMPLIANCE INDICATOR

• US 20120112900A1
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dina Marie Tompkins, Edward Joseph Pavone, James Garofalo, Marlo Rae Trainhan, Troy Jeffrey Tompkins
• Original Assignee: Dina Marie Tompkins, Edward Joseph Pavone, James Garofalo, Marlo Rae Trainhan, Troy Jeffrey Tompkins
• Inventors: Garofalo, James, Trainhan, Marlo Rae, Pavone, Edward Joseph, Tompkins, Troy Jeffrey, Tompkins, Dina Marie
• Application Number:
  US12/941,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20120112900A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/509 specific to unauthorised use, e.g. for indicating stolen vehicles or infringements of traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4875 on vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for operating a wireless signal indicating safety belt compliance. The wireless signal may in turn cause a visual indicator that is ascertainable from a position external to the vehicle to indicate safety belt compliance.

Claims

1. Automatic safety belt system apparatus for vehicular use, the apparatus comprising

a connector interceptor for attaching to a connector included in a vehicle, wherein the connector provides an electrical signal indicative of use of a safety belt during vehicle operation;

and

a wireless transmitter for providing a wireless transmission of data indicative of safety belt compliance based upon the electrical signal indicative of use of a safety belt.

2. The safety belt system apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a visual indicator receiving the wireless transmission and providing an indication of safety belt compliance ascertainable from a position external to the vehicle.

3. The automatic safety belt system of claim 2 wherein the visual indicator emanates light radiation within the range of 380 nm to 750 nm.

4. The automatic safety belt system of claim 3 wherein said visual indicator comprises a light bulb located external to said vehicle.

5. The automatic safety belt system of claim 3 wherein said visual indicator comprises a light bulb located internal to said vehicle in a position wherein light emanating from said visual indicator is ascertainable from a position external to said vehicle.

6. The automatic safety belt system of claim 3 wherein said visual indicator comprises one or more light emitting diodes located external to said vehicle.

7. The automatic safety belt system of claim 3 wherein said visual indicator comprises one or more light emitting diodes located internal to said vehicle in a position wherein light emanating from said visual indicator is ascertainable from a position external to said vehicle.

8. The automatic safety belt system of claim 3 wherein said visual indicator comprises an array of light emitting diodes.

9. The automatic safety belt system of claim 1 additionally comprising a digital storage storing data indicative of safety belt compliance.

10. The automatic safety belt system of claim 1 additionally comprising a wireless identifier associated with a driver.

11. The automatic safety belt system apparatus of claim 2 wherein the visual indicator provides an indication of which seat is in compliance with safety belt use.

12. The automatic safety belt system apparatus of claim 11 additionally comprising a sensor generating a signal indicating whether the vehicle is in gear or not in gear and the visual indicator turns to a state ascertainable from a position external to the vehicle based upon the signal indicating whether a vehicle seat is in gear or not in gear.

13. The automatic safety belt system apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a transmitter capable of transmitting a cellular phone signal to a predetermined destination.

14. The automatic safety belt system apparatus of claim 13 additionally comprising a wireless receiver receiving said transmitted signal and generating a human readable display indicating safety belt compliance.

15. The automatic safety belt system apparatus of claim 1 wherein the state ascertainable from a position external to the vehicle comprises a position at a distance equal to one or more vehicle lengths.

16. The automatic safety belt system apparatus of claim 1 wherein the state ascertainable from a position external to the vehicle comprises a position at a distance equal to three or more vehicle lengths.

17. The automatic safety belt system apparatus of claim 1 wherein the state ascertainable from a position external to the vehicle comprises a position at a distance equal to five or more vehicle lengths.

19. The automatic safety belt system apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmission comprises a signal capable of reception by a visual indicator located proximate to the vehicle.

20. The automatic safety belt system apparatus of claim 19 wherein the visual indicator is located within the vehicle and visible external to the vehicle.

18. The automatic safety belt system apparatus wherein the wireless transmission comprises a signal compliant with one or more of:

2GT, 3GT and 4GT standards.