BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH LIGHT EMITTING DIODE AND OPTICAL GUIDE
First Claim
1. A buckle assembly configured to releasably interlock with a seat belt tongue, the assembly comprising:
- a housing;
a light-emitting diode (LED) positioned at least partially within the housing, the LED being configured to emit a light when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the assembly; and
an optical guide positioned at least partially within the housing and composed of a substantially light transmitting material, the LED being positioned such that the light emitted by the LED passes through the optical guide.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A buckle assembly is configured to releasably interlock with a seat belt tongue. The assembly includes a light emitting diode (LED) positioned at least partially within a housing. The LED is configured to emit a light when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the assembly. An optical guide is positioned at least partially within the housing and composed of a substantially light transmitting material. The LED is positioned such that the light emitted by the LED passes through the optical guide. In a first embodiment, the optical guide is an ejector member at least partially positioned within the housing. In a second embodiment, the optical guide is a lens at least partially positioned within the housing.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A buckle assembly configured to releasably interlock with a seat belt tongue, the assembly comprising:
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a housing; a light-emitting diode (LED) positioned at least partially within the housing, the LED being configured to emit a light when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the assembly; and an optical guide positioned at least partially within the housing and composed of a substantially light transmitting material, the LED being positioned such that the light emitted by the LED passes through the optical guide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle comprising:
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a seat belt tongue; a buckle assembly configured to releasably interlock with the seat belt tongue, wherein the assembly includes; a housing having a cavity configured to receive the seat belt tongue; a light-emitting diode (LED) positioned at least partially within the housing, the LED being configured to emit a light when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the assembly; and an optical guide positioned at least partially within the housing and composed of a substantially light transmitting material, the LED being positioned such that the light emitted by the LED passes through the optical guide; a latch sensor operatively connected to the assembly and configured to detect whether the seat belt tongue is interlocked with the assembly; a controller operatively connected to the latch sensor and the LED; wherein the latch sensor is configured to transmit a first signal to the controller when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the buckle assembly and a second signal to the controller when the seat belt tongue is interlocked with the buckle assembly; and wherein the controller is configured to activate the LED to emit a first color upon receiving the first signal from the latch sensor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A vehicle comprising:
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a seat belt tongue; a buckle assembly configured to releasably interlock with the seat belt tongue, wherein the assembly includes; a housing; a light-emitting diode (LED) positioned at least partially within the housing, the LED being configured to emit a light when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the assembly; and an optical guide positioned at least partially within the housing and composed of a substantially light transmitting material, the LED being positioned such that the light emitted by the LED passes through the optical guide; wherein the optical guide is a lens at least partially positioned within the housing; a latch sensor operatively connected to the buckle assembly and configured to detect whether the seat belt tongue is interlocked with the buckle assembly; a controller operatively connected to the latch sensor and the LED; wherein the latch sensor is configured to transmit a first signal to the controller when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the assembly and a second signal to the controller when the seat belt tongue is interlocked with the assembly; and wherein the controller is configured to activate the LED to emit a first color upon receiving the first signal from the latch sensor.
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Specification