VEHICLE SEAT BELT WARNING SIGNAL SYSTEM

• US 3,665,385 A
• Filed: 01/15/1971
• Issued: 05/23/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frederick C. Booth
• Original Assignee: Frederick C. Booth
• Inventors: Booth, Frederick C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/106,822
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52,52E,278 307/10 200/61.4,61.44
• US Class Current: 340/457.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4825 for sensing amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4833 for sensing locking of retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A seat belt warning signal, when initiated, indicates that one or more seat belts provided for vehicle occupant'"'"''"'"'s use is not fastened about the occupant. A switch in the warning signal electrical circuit is biased in a first position. It is forced into a second position, initiating the signal, when a locking member, provided in the retractor assembly, is disposed in its non-locking position corresponding to full belt retraction. A timer is provided to initiate the signal if the bell is disposed in its unretracted position for a time longer than a reasonable driving period.

Claims

1. In a vehicle seat belt assembly provided with a reel rotatably mounted on a support, a belt connected to the reel so as to be extended when the reel is rotated in an unwinDing direction and to be retracted as the reel is rotated in the opposite, winding direction, a locking member movably mounted on the support for motion between a locking position to prevent reel rotation in the unwinding direction and a second position to allow reel rotation, the improvement comprising:

an electrical warning signal circuit including a warning signal in electrical communication with a circuit opening means;

an electrical switch connected to said support and for movement thereof in communication with said locking member, said switch biased in a first position in which said warning signal is not activated, and movable by engagement with said locking member, into a second position to activate said warning signal when said locking member is in said second position.

2. An improved assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrical switch is in electrical communication with said warning switch by means of a first and second electrical conduit, said first conduit connected in series with a voltage source means and said circuit opening means.

3. An improved system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said electrical switch is connected to said warning signal by said second electrical conduit, said second conduit provided with parallel first and second branches, said first branch, communicating between said switch and said warning signal, is activated when said locking member is in said second position.

4. An improved system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second branch is activated when said locking member is in said locking position to prevent reel rotation in the unwinding position, said second branch provided with a timing module which interrupts electrical communication between said electrical switch and said warning signal for a fixed period of time whereby said electrical circuit is not completed and said signal is not activated during said fixed period of time.

5. An improved assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said circuit opening means comprises the ignition switch of said vehicle, whereby said electrical signal circuit is inactivated when said ignition switch is open and said vehicle is not operating.

6. An improved assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said circuit opening means comprises engagement of the transmission of said operating vehicle in a moving gear, whereby said electrical signal circuit is inactivated when said vehicle is not moving.

7. In a vehicle, provided with seat belts disposed on retractable reels, a seat belt warning signal assembly comprising:

a warning signal provided with a first and a second electrical conduit;

a voltage source means disposed in series with said first electrical conduit;

an electrical switch, connected to said retracting reel and in electrical communication with said warning signal by said first and second electrical conduits to provide an electrical circuit, said switch provided with first and second switching positions communicating with alternate first and second electrical branches which comprise said second electrical conduit;

a time delay means, disposed in said first electrical branch of said second electrical conduit, which interrupts electrical communication between said warning signal and said electrical switch to prevent activation of said signal, said time delay means comprises a time delay switch activated when said electrical switch moves from said first to said second position, and said time delay switch interrupts electrical communication between said warning signal and said electrical switch when said electrical switch is in said second position whereby said warning signal is not activated for a pre-set period of time, measured from activation of said time delay switch by the movement of said electrical switch from said first to said second position, after which time said time delay switch closes, completing said electrical circuit and activating said warning signal.

8. An assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said warning signal is a light diSposed on the dashboard of said vehicle, which is illuminated upon activation.

9. An assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said warning signal is a buzzer, which is sounded upon activation.

10. A seat belt warning signal assembly comprising:

a seat belt connected to a supported retractable reel provided with a locking member which engages said belt when said belt is unwound and disengages said belt when said belt is retracted;

an electrical switch, connected to said reel support, capable of being disposed in a first and a second switching position, said switch provided with a spring biased arm which urges said arm into a first position corresponding to said first switching position, and movable into said second position, against the urging of said spring bias, when said locking member is disengaged from said seat belt;

a first electrical conduit connected to said electrical switch;

a second electrical conduit comprising first and second parallel electrical paths each connected to said electrical switch, said electrical switch communicates with said first path when said switch is in said first position, and communicates with said second path when said electrical switch is in said second position;

a warning signal connected to said electrical switch by said first and said second electrical conduits providing a complete electrical circuit;

a voltage source connected in series to said first electrical conduit between said switch and said warning light to activate said electrical conduit;

means to interrupt electrical communication between said switch and said warning light, said means disposed in said first parallel path of said second electrical conduit whereby said warning signal is not activated when said switch is in said first position;

said means to interrupt electrical communication between said electrical switch and said warning signal comprises a time delay means which is activated upon switching of said electrical switch to said first position, said time delay means set to complete electrical communication between said switch and said signal to activate said signal after a preset period of time unless said time delay means is reset within said period of time, and said time delay means is reset only when said electrical switch moves from said second position to said first position.

11. An assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said preset period of time is six hours.

12. An assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein the vehicle ignition switch is connected in series to said first electrical conduit, between said warning signal and said electrical switch, whereby said electrical circuit is completed only when said vehicle ignition switch is closed.

13. An assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein the vehicle ignition switch and the transmission of the vehicle is connected in series to said first electrical conduit, between said warning signal and said electrical switch, whereby said electrical circuit is completed only when said vehicle ignition switch is closed and said transmission is engaged in a moving gear.

14. An assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said voltage source connected in series in said first electrical conduit comprises at 12 volt DC storage battery.