Seat belt system

• US 4,569,536 A
• Filed: 07/03/1984
• Issued: 02/11/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Soken, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nippon Soken, Inc.
• Inventors: Taguchi, Masahiro, Onimaru, Sadahisa, Tsuge, Noboru, Kuwakado, Satosi
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weaver, Ross
• Application Number:
  US06/627,618
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 280/802, 280/807, 280/801, 180/268, 128/693
• US Class Current: 280/807
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4473 using an electric retraction device combined with a spring B60R2022/444, B60R2022/4466
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4666 characterised by electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/44 with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions not included in the retractor B60R22/19; B60R22/3405 takes precedence

Abstract

A seat belt system including: a seat belt device including at least one seat belt and at least one seat belt drive device thereof; two electrodes; a heart beat calculating circuit for receiving signals detected at the electrodes and calculating a heart beat in response to signals from the electrodes; and a control circuit for outputting a control signal to the seat belt drive device to wind or unwind the seat belt in response to the heart beat signal from the heart beat calculating circuit.

Claims

1. A seat belt system comprising:

seat belt means including at least one seat belt and at least one seat belt drive device thereof;

two electrodes;

heart beat calculating means for receiving signals detected at the electrodes and calculating a heart beat in response to the signals from the electrodes; and

a control circuit means for outputting a control signal to the seat belt drive device to wind or unwind the seat belt in response to the heart beat signal from the heart beat calculating means.

2. A seat belt system according to claim 1, wherein said two electrodes are mounted on a steering wheel of an automobile and are electrically isolated.

3. A seat belt system according to claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a buckle sensor for detecting insertion of a tongue plate connected to the seat belt into a buckle and a slack sensor detecting slack of the seat belt, the control circuit means outputting the control signal when a signal from the buckle sensor indicates insertion of the tongue plate into the buckle and a signal from the slack sensor indicates slack of the seat belt.

4. A seat belt system according to claim 1, wherein said seat belt means is an automatic reversible windup seat belt device including a reversible electric motor.

5. A seat belt system according to claim 1, wherein said seat belt means is an electric tension-reducing seat belt device including a strong spring and a weak spring as the seat belt drive device.

6. A seat belt system according to claim 1, wherein said system further includes a device having at least one of a visual display and/or at least one audio alarm, and the heart beat calculating means outputs an alarm signal to the device.

7. A seat belt system according to claim 1, wherein said system further includes a heart beat signal display receiving a heart beat signal from the heart beat calculating means.

8. A seat belt system according to claim 6, wherein said system further includes a heart beat signal display receiving a heart beat signal from the heart beat calculating means.