SAFETY BELT ALARM SYSTEM

• US 3,748,639 A
• Filed: 11/26/1971
• Issued: 07/24/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frederick J. Brookes, Ronald F. Robins, Thomas J. L. Dobedoe
• Original Assignee: Frederick J. Brookes, Ronald F. Robins, Thomas J. L. Dobedoe
• Inventors: Dobedoe, Thomas J. L., Robins, Ronald F., Brookes, Frederick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/202,464
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52D,52E,278,279 307/1SB
• US Class Current: 340/457.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4858 for sensing pressure on seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4891 preventing use of the vehicle when the seatbelt is not fastened
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A motor vehicle seat belt alarm system includes a body structure and a seat belt assembly. Transmitter and receiver devices are attached to the body structure and to a portion of the seat belt assembly to determine if the latter passes in front of a passenger in the vehicle. Electrical circuitry energizes an alarm when the seat belt assembly is not fastened or properly positioned. The transmitter device may produce an ultrasonic signal.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle seat belt alarm system for the protection of a passenger in said motor vehicle, which comprises:

a motor vehicle body structure;

a forward-facing passenger seat mounted within said body structure;

a seat belt assembly connected to said body structure;

transmitter means and receiver means, said receiver means being responsive to said transmitter means, for determining if a portion of said seat belt assembly passes in front of said passenger when said passenger is in said seat;

an alarm; and

electrical circuit means for energizing said alarm when said transmitter means and said receiver means determines that said portion of said seat belt assembly does not pass in front of said passenger.

2. A seat belt alarm system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transmitter means is fixed to said seat belt assembly portion and wherein said receiver means is fixed to said body structure.

3. A seat belt alarm system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receiver means is fixed to said seat belt assembly portion and wherein said transmitter means is fixed to said body structure.

4. A seat belt alarm system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit means includes seat load sensing switch means for indicating the presence of said passenger in said seat.

5. An alarm system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said electrical circuit means further includes timer and switch means for cutting-out said transmitter means and said receiver means a predetermined time interval after said receiver means has responded to said transmitter means.

6. A seat belt alarm system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said alarm comprises a first alarm and a second alarm and wherein said electrical circuit means further includes circuit means for energizing said first alarm when said transmitter means and said receiver means determines that said seat bealt assembly portion does not pass in front of said passenger, and circuit means for energizing said second alarm when said transmitter means and said receiver means determines that said seat belt assembly portion does not pass in front of said passenger and said vehicle is in a pedetermined normal driving condition.

7. A seat belt alarm system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said electrical circuit means includes means for preventing, once said vehicle has been placed in said normal driving condition, energization of said second alarm for a predetermined time interval after said transmitter means aNd said receiver means determines that said seat belt assembly portion does not pass in front of said passenger.

8. A seat belt alarm system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said alarm comprises a first alarm and a second alarm and wherein said electrical circuit means further includes circuit means for energizing said first alarm when said transmitter means and said receiver means determines that said seat belt assembly portion does not pass in front of said passenger, and wherein said electrical circuit means further includes circuit means for energizing said second alarm when said transmitter means and said receiver means determines that said seat belt assembly portion does not pass in front of said passenger and said vehicle is in a predetermined normal driving condition.

9. A seat belt alarm system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said electrical circuit means includes means for preventing, once said vehicle has been placed in said normal driving condition, energization of said second alarm for a predetermined time interval after said transmitter means and said receiver means determines that said seat belt assembly portion does not pass in front of said passenger.