Apparatus for the automatic release of a motor-vehicle safety belt after a collision

• US 5,123,498 A
• Filed: 11/26/1990
• Issued: 06/23/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gino Grassi, Luciano Alcidi
• Original Assignee: Gino Grassi, Luciano Alcidi
• Inventors: Alcidi, Luciano, Grassi, Gino
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US07/618,177
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 280/801, 280/806, 24/603, 24/656
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01317 monitoring seat belt tensiont
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/321 using electric means

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the automatic release of a safety belt. A measuring device is used to measure the tensile force of the safety belt. Once the tensile force exceeds a limit a delay timer is started. After a predetermined time has expired the apparatus automatically releases the seat belt from a support. In one embodiment of the invention if the tensile force of the safety belt is exceeded again during the predetermined delay time the delay timer is started again from the beginning and the safety belt is only released after the predetermined delay time has expired after the last time the tensile force exceeded the limit. The apparatus also has devices for manually locking and releasing the safety belt from the support.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the automatic release of a safety belt, the apparatus comprising:

a strain-gauge transducer of one of a resistive bridge type and an interial type, said strain-gauge transducer detecting intensity of belt tensile force and emitting a start signal when a preset limit has been exceeded;

a timer means for measuring a predetermined time interval after receiving said start signal from said strain-gauge transducer;

locking/releasing means for locking and releasing the safety belt relative to and from a holding case, said holding case connected to a support;

retaining means for retaining said locking/releasing means in a locked-buckle condition;

activating means for activating said locking/releasing means and achieving a release-buckle condition with an interlock with said timer means; and

automatic release means for automatically releasing the safety belt form said holding case.

2. An apparatus for the automatic release of a safety belt, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting intensity of belt tensile force and emitting a start signal when a present limit has been exceeded;

locking-releasing means for locking and releasing the safety belt relative to and from a holding case, said holding case connected to a support;

retaining means for retaining said locking/releasing means in a locked-buckle condition;

activating means for activating said locking/releasing means and achieving a released-buckle condition with an interlock with said timer means;

an electronic circuit receiving said start signal from said means for detecting said belt tensile force, said electronic circuit having a first monostable oscillator for producing a delay time signal and a second monostable oscillator for producing a release command, said first and second monostable oscillators being included in an integrated circuit of LS123 type, and a transistor of 2N1613 type; and

automatic release means for automatically releasing the safety belt from said holding case.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said electronic circuit is retriggerable through a fixed resistance and a fixed capacitor whose values determine a length of said delay signal.