Electrical systems for vehicle safety harness

• US 3,883,751 A
• Filed: 01/11/1974
• Issued: 05/13/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Peter Hugh Salway
• Original Assignee: Peter Hugh Salway
• Inventors: Salway, Peter Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): Hohauser, Herman
• Application Number:
  US05/432,614
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52R,52E,278 180/82C 307/1SB
• 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 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A road vehicle electrical system has a safety arrangement for ensuring that the vehicle cannot be started unless the driver seat is occupied and the driver'"'"''"'"'s seat belt is fastened. The engine cannot be started if the driver fastens his belt before sitting in his seat, or if the passenger'"'"''"'"'s belt is fastened prior to the passenger seat being occupied.

Claims

1. An electrical system in a road vehicle, comprising in combination:

a starter motor, a manually operable switch for energizing said starter motor, a solenoid which when energized operates said starter motor, a normally closed relay contact between said starter switch and said solenoid, a relay winding for opening said contact, a battery, first and second supply lines coupled to said battery, a first control network connecting said relay winding between said supply lines when the driver'"'"''"'"'s seat of said vehicle is occupied and the driver'"'"''"'"'s seat belt is not fastened, and a second control network connecting said relay winding between said supply lines when the passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat is occupied and the passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat belt is not fastened, each of said first and second control networks comprising a seat switch which is closed when the associated one of said seats is occupied, a seat belt switch which is opened when the associated one of said seat belts is fastened, a first transistor having its collector/emitter path in series with said seat switch and said relay winding between said supply lines, a first resistor connected between said seat belt switch and the base of said first transistor, said seat belt switch when closed rendering said first transistor conductive so that said relay winding is energized when said seat switch is also closed, and latch circuit means connected to the base of said first transistor, rendering said first transistor conductive if said seat belt switch is opened before said seat switch is closed and comprising second and third transistors having their collector/emitter paths in parallel circuits between the base of said first transistor and one of said supply lines, and their bases connected in said parallel circuits so that said second and third transistors are both conductive or non-conductive simultaneously, each maintaining the other in its conductive or non-conductive state, a capacitor connected between said seat switch and the base of said third transistor, and a diode connecting said capacitor via said seat belt switch to said one of said supply lines.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the first control network also includes means connecting said relay winding between the supply lines if the driver'"'"''"'"'s seat belt is fastened prior to the driver'"'"''"'"'s seat being occupied.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the second control network also includes means connecting said relay winding between the supply lines if the passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat belt is fastened prior to the passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat being occupied.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the second control network also includes means connecting the relay winding between the supply lines if the Passenger'"'"''"'"'s seat is occupied but the driver'"'"''"'"'s seat is not occupied.