Automotive seat belt assembly for encouraging passenger use
First Claim
1. In a vehicle seat belt having a pair of selectively detachable belt portions for securing a passenger when said portions are coupled together, and selectively detachable belt coupling means for coupling said belt portions together, the improvement which comprises an electrical switch connected to an electrical power source and having selective energizing and de-energizing positions, a passenger-accessible electrical outlet connected to said switch so as to be selectively energized when said switch is in said energizing position and de-energized when said switch is in said de-energizing position, and means interconnecting said switch with said belt coupling means for placing said switch in said energizing position automatically in response to the coupling of said belt portions by said belt coupling means, and automatically placing said switch in said de-energizing position in response to the decoupling of said belt portions by said belt coupling means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automotive passenger seat belt contains a selectively energizable and de-energizable DC electrical outlet into which the passenger may plug various electrical entertainment devices, such as radios, stereos, electronic games and the like to receive operating power. Energization of the electrical outlet is controlled by a switch which is placed in its energizing position only in response to coupling of the two seat belt portions together, indicating that the seat belt is being used. The electrical outlet is automatically de-energized in response to decoupling of the seat belt portions. The electrical outlet has an adjustment to provide different DC voltages for different types of electrical devices which may be connected thereto. An optional remote indicator can also be connected to the switch to indicate whether or not the seat belt portions are coupled.
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Citations
6 Claims
- 1. In a vehicle seat belt having a pair of selectively detachable belt portions for securing a passenger when said portions are coupled together, and selectively detachable belt coupling means for coupling said belt portions together, the improvement which comprises an electrical switch connected to an electrical power source and having selective energizing and de-energizing positions, a passenger-accessible electrical outlet connected to said switch so as to be selectively energized when said switch is in said energizing position and de-energized when said switch is in said de-energizing position, and means interconnecting said switch with said belt coupling means for placing said switch in said energizing position automatically in response to the coupling of said belt portions by said belt coupling means, and automatically placing said switch in said de-energizing position in response to the decoupling of said belt portions by said belt coupling means.
Specification