SEAT BELT SYSTEM

• US 3,784,972 A
• Filed: 01/24/1972
• Issued: 01/08/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur E. Hults
• Original Assignee: Arthur E. Hults
• Inventors: Hults, Arthur E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/220,254
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52E,278 307/1SB 180/82C
• US Class Current: 180/270
• 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 2022/4891 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 vehicle seat belt system for use in automobiles, buses, airplanes, boats and the like. A seat system responsive to the occupancy of a seat by a passenger and use of the seat belt for that seat. A switch system actuated by said seat system. A signal system controlled by the switch system for signaling non-use of a seat belt of an occupied seat. A vehicle power system controlled by the switch system. The vehicle power system being inoperative when the seat belt of an occupied seat is not in use. A delay cut-off switch in said switch system which delays for a predetermined time interval the rendering of the vehicle power system inoperative when a seat belt is disengaged during operation of the vehicle.

Claims

1. In a seat belt system for a vehicle having a driver'"'"''"'"'s seat with a fastenable driver'"'"''"'"'s seat belt and having an electrical ignition system including an ignition switch, the combination of:

a. first energizing means responsive to fastening of the driver'"'"''"'"'s seat belt and to closure of the ignition switch for energizing the ignition system;

b. first de-energizing means independent of the ignition switch and responsive to subsequent unfastening of the driver'"'"''"'"'s seat belt, after energization of the ignition system, for deenergizing the ignition system; and

c. time delay means for activating said first de-energizing means only after a predetermined time delay following unfastening of the driver'"'"''"'"'s seat belt.

2. A seat belt system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first energizing and de-energizing means include a driver'"'"''"'"'s seat belt switch in series with the ignition switch and closable upon fastening of the driver'"'"''"'"'s seat belt.

3. A seat belt system according to claim 1 for a vehicle also having a passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat with a fastenable passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat belt, including:

a. second energizing means responsive to the presence of a passenger in the passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat and to fastening of the passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat belt for activating said first energizing means if the driver'"'"''"'"'s seat belt is fastened and the ignition switch is closed;

b. second de-energizing means independent of the ignition switch and responsive to subsequent unfastening of the passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat belt with a passenger in the passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat, after energization of the ignition system, for activating said first de-energizing means to de-energize the ignition system; and

c. said time delay means activating said first de-energizing means only after a predetermined time delay following unfastening of the passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat belt.

4. A seat belt system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second energizing and de-energizing means include a passenger seat switch responsive to the presence of a passenger in the passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat and a pasSenger'"'"''"'"'s seat belt switch closable upon fastening of the passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat belt, said passenger seat switch including means for placing said passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat belt switch in series with the ignition switch when a passenger is in the passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat.

5. A seat belt system according to claim 1 including signal means for signalling that the driver'"'"''"'"'s seat belt is unfastened.

6. A seat belt system as defined in claim 3 including signal means for indicating that the passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat belt is unfastened if a passenger is in the passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat.