Vehicle tethering system for both energizing and restraining portable electrical devices used by passengers

• US 4,758,020 A
• Filed: 09/21/1987
• Issued: 07/19/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James B. Boyd
• Original Assignee: James B. Boyd
• Inventors: Boyd, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US07/098,790
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801, 280/808, 280/727, 280/270, 280/273, 297/482, 297/483, 297/468
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A tethering system for restraining the movement of portable electrical devices such as games, toys, radios and tape players used by vehicle passengers, while supplying electrical current for operating such electrical devices, is employed in combination with a power switch which permits electrical current to be supplied to an electrical device only when the passenger seat belt assembly is coupled. The system includes a tethering member which is connected to the vehicle independently of the seat belt buckle assembly for detachably connecting to the electrical device. The tethering member also has electrical conductors for receiving electrical current from the power switch and conducting it to an electrical outlet on the tethering member.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having a passenger seat belt assembly with a selectively detachable buckle assembly, an electrical outlet for supplying current to an electrical device, and electrical switch means responsive to the coupling and decoupling of said buckle assembly for selectively energizing said electrical outlet in response to the coupling of said buckle assembly and de-energizing said electrical outlet in response to the decoupling of said buckle assembly, the improvement which comprises means for tethering said electrical device to said vehicle, to restrain its movement with respect to said vehicle, comprising:

(a) a flexible tethering member connected to said vehicle independently of said buckle assembly and having selectively detachable connector means thereon for connecting said electrical device to said flexible tethering member;

(b) means for mounting said electrical outlet on said flexible tethering member; and

(c) electrical conductor means extending along said flexible tethering member interconnecting said switch means with said electrical outlet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical outlet is integral with said selectively detachable connector means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical outlet and said selectively detachable connector means include means for connecting them to said electrical device independently of each other.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible tethering member includes selectively adjustable voltage regulating means connected to said electrical outlet for variably regulating the voltage at which current is supplied to said electrical device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further including selectively adjustable voltage regulating means detachably connectable to said electrical outlet for variably regulating the voltage at which current is supplied to said electrical device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vehicle has a passenger seat having a front face, and wherein said flexible tethering member extends from beneath said seat forwardly of the front face thereof to said detachable connector means.