VEHICLE SEAT BELTSTARTER MOTOR INTERLOCK AND SEQUENTIAL WARNING SYSTEM

• US 3,863,209 A
• Filed: 11/03/1972
• Issued: 01/28/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jesse R. Hollins
• Original Assignee: Jesse R. Hollins
• Inventors: Hollins, Jesse R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/303,495
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52D,52E,52F,278 307/1SB 180/82C,101 200/61.58B
• US Class Current: 180/270
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4825 for sensing amount of belt winded on retractor
• 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 starter motor interlock and sequential warning system including a source of electrical power. An ignition switch is provided and includes an ignition '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' terminal, a switch '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' terminal and an engine cranking motor terminal. Means electrically connects the source of power to either of said ignition '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and switch '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' terminals or simultaneously to said ignition '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and engine cranking motor terminal. A seat belt assembly includes a retractable belt. A warning means is provided as is an engine starting motor solenoid. The warning means is activated when the source of power is electrically connected to the switch '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' contact terminal and the belt is unretracted and is deactivated when the seat belt is retracted. The engine cranking motor terminal is connected to the engine motor solenoid only when the seat belt is unretracted.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat belt warning system comprising a source of electrical power, an ignition switch including an ignition on contact terminal and a switch off contact terminal, means operated by an ignition key for electrically connecting said source of power selectively to said ignition on contact terminal and to said ignition off contact terminal, a first seat belt assembly including a first retractable belt, a warning device, and means for activating said warning device when said source of power is electrically connected to the switch off contact terminal and said first retractable belt is unretracted and for deactivating said warning device when said first retractable belt is retracted when said source of electrical power is connected to said switch off contact terminal and for activating said warning device when said source of electrical power is connected to said switch on contact terminal and said first retractable belt is retracted and for deactivating said warning device when said source of electrical power is connected to the switch on contact terminal and the first retractable belt is unretracted.

2. A warning system according to claim 1 wherein said activating and deactivating means further includes means for sensing when said first retractable belt is retracted, and switch means for electrically connecting the switch off contact terminal of said ignition switch to said warning device when said sensing means detects that said first retractable belt is unretracted, and for electrically disconnecting the switch off contact terminal of said ignition switch from said warning device when said sensing means detects the retraction of said first retractable belt.

3. A warning system according to claim 2 wherein said switch means includes a fixed contact terminal electrically connected to the switch off contact terminal of said ignition switch, and a movable contact arm electrically connected to said warning device, the movable arm of said switch means being spring biased so as to be electrically connected to the fixed contact terminal of said switch means when said first retractable belt is unretracted.

4. A warning system according to claim 3 wherein said sensing means further includes a spiral formed by the retraction of said first retractable belt, and a switch control element placed adjacent said spiral and the movable arm of said switch means being operable by said switch control element, whereby upon retraction of said first retractable belt said spiral increases in size so as to force said switch control element to move the movable arm of said switch means away from the fixed contact terminal and upon moving of said first retractable belt, so as to be unretracted, said spiral decreases in size which allows the movable arm of said switch means to electrically contact the fixed contact terminal and activate said warning device with the electrical source coupled to saId switch off terminal.

5. A warning system according to claim 3 wherein said switch means further includes another fixed contact terminal so positioned as to be electrically connected to the movable arm of said switch means when said first retractable belt is retracted and to be electrically disconnected from the movable arm of said switch means when said first retractable belt is unretracted, a load sensitive switch placed within a seat of the vehicle, said load sensitive switch being closed when an occupant is sitting on the seat and said load sensitive switch being open when the seat is unoccupied, one terminal of said load sensitive switch being connected with the ignition on contact terminal of said ignition switch, and the other terminal of said load sensitive switch being electrically coupled to the another fixed contact terminal of said switch means, whereby when said load sensitve switch is closed and said source of power is electrically connected to the ignition on contact terminal, said warning device becomes activated if said first retractable belt is retracted and said warning device becomes deactivated upon moving said first retractable belt so as to be unretracted.

6. A warning system according to claim 5 further including a shift member sensing switch in series with said ignition on contact terminal of said ignition switch and said load sensitive switch.

7. A vehicle seat belt warning system according to claim 1 further including a second seat belt assembly, said second seat belt assembly including a second retractable belt for use by a passenger sitting on the front seat of a motor vehicle, said first seat belt assembly for use by the driver of a motor vehicle, said activating means including means for activating said warning means when said source of power is electrically connected to the switch off contact terminal and said second retractable belt is extended and for activating said warning device when said second retractable belt is retracted and said source of electrical power is connected to said switch on contact terminal.

8. A vehicle seat belt warning system according to claim 7 wherein said activating means includes first sensing means for sensing when said first retractable belt is retracted and unretracted, first switch means for electrically connecting the switch off contact terminal of said ignition switch to said warning means when said first sensing means detects said first retractable belt being retracted and for electrically disconnecting the switch off contact terminal of said ignition switch from said warning means when said first sensing means detects the retraction of said first retractable belt, second sensing means for sensing when said second retractable belt is retracted, second switch means for electrically connecting the switch off contact terminal of said ignition switch to said warning means when said second sensing means detects that said second retractable belt is unretracted and electrically disconnecting the switch off contact terminal of said ignition switch from said warning means when said second sensing means detects the retraction of said second retractable belt.

9. A vehicle seat belt warning system according to claim 1 further including an engine cranking motor contact terminal, an engine cranking motor solenoid, means for connecting said engine cranking motor terminal to said engine cranking motor solenoid when said first retractable belt is unretracted and for disconnecting said engine cranking motor terminal from said engine cranking motor solenoid when said first retractable belt is retracted.