SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROAD VEHICLES

• US 3,777,175 A
• Filed: 04/11/1972
• Issued: 12/04/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keith Lewis, Robert Leonard Gleeson
• Original Assignee: Keith Lewis, Robert Leonard Gleeson
• Inventors: Lewis, Keith, Gleeson, Robert Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Hohauser, Herman J.
• Application Number:
  US05/242,955
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 200/82,85,86.1,61.88 180/101 340/272,52E 307/1R,1SB
• US Class Current: 340/457.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4858 for sensing pressure on seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/003 Switches operated by other part of human body than hands push-button switches H01H13/16; slide switches H01H15/20; cord switches H01H17/10; other switches H01H19/16 and H01H21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/24 Switches operated by change of fluid pressure, by fluid pressure waves, or by change of fluid flow wherein the change of pressure is caused by change of temperature H01H37/36

Abstract

A safety arrangement for a road vehicle includes a means for detecting the presence of a passenger in a road vehicle comprising a flexible container within a passenger seat in the vehicle, and a fluid pressure operated electrical switch actuable by displacement of fluid from the container. There may also be provided a switch responsive to the vehicle gear selector mechanism, together with a warning device and switches associated with the driver'"'"''"'"'s and passenger'"'"''"'"'s safety harness, the arrangement being such that the warning device is actuated if a gear other than neutral is selected and harness for occupants of the vehicle is not secured.

Claims

1. A safety arrangement for a road vehicle comprising a deformable container for inclusion in a passenger seat of the vehicle, a fluid pressure operated electrical switch having a pressure space connected to said deformable container and actuable by displacement of fluid under pressure from said container, a second switch responsive to the position of a gear selector mechanism for the vehicle, said second switch being closed when a drive gear is selected, a third switch associated with a passengers safety harness for the vehicle, said third switch being closed when the parts of said harness are interengaged, and an electrical warning device, said pressure operated switch and said second and third switches being in series with said warning device, whereby said warning device operates when there is an occupant of said passenger seat, said safety harness parts are not interengaged and a drive gear is selected.

2. A safety arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which said pressure space is defined by a flexible bellows.

3. A safety arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which said fluid pressure oeprated switch comprises a plunger axially movable by an increase in pressure in said pressure space, a conductor element on said plunger, a pair of contacts interconnectible by said element in one axial position of said plunger, and biasing means opposing movement of said plunger in response to the pressure in said pressure space.

4. A safety arrangement as claimed in claim 3 in which said elements are interconnected by said plunger when the latter is at an axial end of its movement in response to the pressure in said pressure space.

5. A safety arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which said second electric switch includes a member engageable with each of a plurality of selectively movable rods in said selector mechaniSm, and further biasing means urging said member towards engagement with said rods.

6. A safety arrangment as claimed in claim 5 in which said member is movable against said further biasing means to close said further switch when any one of said rods is moved away from a position corresponding to neutral gear.

7. A safety arrangement as claimed in claim 6 which includes a fourth electrical switch associated with a driver'"'"''"'"'s safety harness for the vehicle, said fourth switch being closed when the parts of the associated harness are interengaged, said fourth switch being connected in parallel with said pressure operated switch and said third switch, and an ignition switch for the vehicle, the parallel arrangement being connected in series with said second switch between said warning device and said ignition switch.