Safety odometer apparatus for seat belt usage

• US 5,119,407 A
• Filed: 10/05/1990
• Issued: 06/02/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cenan A. Ozmeral
• Original Assignee: Cenan A. Ozmeral
• Inventors: Ozmeral, Cenan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Heyman, John S.
• Application Number:
  US07/594,442
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 377/15, 377/24.1, 340/457.1, 340/522, 235/96, 235/97
• US Class Current: 377/15
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/02 by conversion into electric waveforms and subsequent integration, e.g. using tachometer generator G01C22/002, G01C22/004, G01C22/006 take precedence

Abstract

Apparatus wherein a primary automotive odometer includes a drive gear with a secondary odometer including a secondary gear with the secondary gear fixedly mounted to a solenoid ram wherein the solenoid ram is coupled to a solenoid. The solenoid is selectively actuated upon coupling of a seat belt arrangement to actuate the solenoid and effect engagement of the secondary gear relative to the gear of the primary odometer for indication of seat belt usage in relationship to automative usage in terms of miles traveled.

Claims

1. A safety odometer apparatus comprising in combination,

a first seat belt means with the first seat belt means including a seat belt clasp, the seat belt clasp including a first electrical transmission line in electrical communication therewith, and

a second seat belt means with the second seat belt means including a seat belt buckle wherein the seat belt buckle is in electrical communication with a second electrical transmission line to permit electrical communication between the first and second electrical transmission line upon securement of the seat belt clasp within the seat belt buckle, and

a primary odometer wherein the primary odometer including a primary odometer drive gear rotatably mounted relative to the primary odometer, and

a secondary odometer positioned in a spaced relationship relative to the primary odometer with the secondary odometer including a secondary odometer drive gear mounted cooperatively to the secondary odometer, and

drive means for displacing the secondary odometer drive gear relative to the primary odometer drive gear in a first position and operatively coupling and aligning the secondary odometer drive gear relative to the primary odometer drive gear in a second position displaced relative to the first position, and

including a battery member in electrical communication with seat belt clasp and the first electrical transmission line, and the drive means including a solenoid in electrical communication with the seat belt buckle and the second electrical transmission line to effect electrical communication with and actuation of the solenoid when the seat belt clasp is positioned within the seat belt buckle, and a ram member with said secondary odometer drive gear attached mounted to the solenoid being displaced to the second position for operatively engaging said primary odometer drive gear upon securement of the seat belt clasp within the seat belt buckle to thereby record the distance traveled with seat belt usage on said secondary odometer, and

wherein the primary odometer drive gear and the secondary odometer drive gear define a 1 to 1 drive ratio, and

including a spring member mounted within the ram to bias the ram and the secondary odometer drive gear in the first position.