Seat belt system with starter engine lock and alarm

• US 3,883,843 A
• Filed: 01/28/1974
• Issued: 05/13/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Juhan Telmet, Richard C. Stouffer
• Original Assignee: Juhan Telmet, Richard C. Stouffer
• Inventors: Telmet, Juhan, Stouffer, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/437,580
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52E,278 307/1.5B 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 safety belt system for vehicle passengers is provided with sequence responsive engine lock and alarm apparatus for energizing an alarm means and preventing application of power to the starter coil of the vehicle'"'"''"'"'s starter motor until the occurrence of signals from seat and belt switches indicating that the safety belt is in proper position for operation of the vehicle. The belt switch is connected to the tap of a split coil relay having a plurality of coils connected to a power source through the collector-emitter circuit of a PNP transistor. The base of the transistor is connected to ground through a resistor and the seat switch. Circuit means connected to the seat and belt switches so as to be grounded when the belt switch is closed, disables the starter motor and energizes the alarm means while the seat is occupied until the belt is moved from a retracted to a protracted position.

Claims

1. A safety system adapted to be disposed in a vehicle having a starter motor and including a belt having a protracted and a retracted position comprising:

a. a power source for supplying electrical power;

b. a seat switch connected to said power source and associated with the driver'"'"''"'"'s seat of the vehicle;

c. said seat switch having an open position when said seat is unoccupied and a closed position when said seat is occupied;

d. a belt switch associated with said belt and having an open position when said belt is in protracted position and a closed position when said belt is in retracted position, said belt switch being connected to the tap of a split coil relay having a plurality of coils connected to said power source through the emitter-collector circuit of a PNP transistor, the base of said transistor being connected to ground through a resistor and said seat switch;

e. circuit means associated with said starter motor and connected to said seat and belt switches through the arm of said split coil relay so as to be grounded when said belt switch is in the closed position for disabling said starter motor while the seat is occupied until the belt is moved from a retracted to a protracted position.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said split coil relay includes a plurality of coils and said arm of said split coil relay comprises a single pole double throw arm adapted for movement between a first terminal connected to said seat switch and a second terminal connected to said tap.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said belt switch is in series with a first coil of said relay and in parallel with a second coil thereof.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said circuit means includes an alarm means in series with said ignition switch and the arm of said split coil relay.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said power source is returned to ground through at least one of three parallel paths.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the first path includes in series the combination of a starter switch, a safety start relay adapted to be moved from a position in which the relay is grounded through a biasing resistor to a position in which the relay is grounded through a starter coil for the engine'"'"''"'"'s starter motor and a gear selector switch which has an open position when one of the forward gears is engaged and a closed position when the engine'"'"''"'"'s transmission is in neutral or park.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the second path includes in series the combination of a first coil of said safety start relay and a diode adapted to be grounded through said seat switch.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the third path includes an ignition switch in series with a three branch network, the first branch including said alarm means, the collector-emitter circuit of a first NPN transistor, the arm of said split coil relay and either of the parallel combination of said belt switch with said second coil of said split coil relay or said seat switch, the second branch of said network including the series combination of a biasing resistor with a base resistor the base-emitter circuit of said first NPN transistor, the arm of said split coil relay and either of the parallel combination of said belt switch with said second coil of said split coil relay or said seat switch, and the third branch including the combination of a second coil of said safety start relay and the collector-emitter circuit of a second NPN transistor in parallel with a biasing resistor, a diode and the parallel combination of a capacitor with a base resistor and the base-collector circuit of said second NPN transistor.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said alarm means includes the parallel combination of a lamp and an audible alarm.