Passenger safety status indicator

• US 5,555,458 A
• Filed: 11/14/1994
• Issued: 09/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Darrell Large
• Original Assignee: Darrell Large
• Inventors: Large, Darrell
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US08/338,389
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/945, 340/457.1, 340/311.1, 340/332, 340/286.06, 340/286.07, 340/825.08, 348/8, 348/117, 348/836, 348/837, 370/95.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.3
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest

Abstract

A passenger safety status indicator for vehicles comprises monitor display panel at or near the supervisory monitor'"'"'s seat on an airliner. The display panel is capable of displaying the status of a plurality of safety procedures required to be followed by each passenger occupying a seat. Commonly these items are; (1) seat back in the full forward and locked position, (2) seat belt tight and fastened, and (3) serving tray in the upright and locked position. The panel has a 3 bulb display light for each seat position on the airplane. A display globe for each seat position has at least three separate colored lenses for displaying the status of each one of the required safety procedures. Each passenger station or small group of such positions is provided with a smaller display device for signaling the individual passengers as to the status of their individual safety procedures.

Claims

1. A safety status system for displaying the status of multiple safety procedures carried out by the passengers in a passenger aircraft having a flight attendant in which each passenger is seated in an assigned seat having a seat belt, a tray movable between stowed and deployed positions, and a seat back rest movable between full upright and reclining positions, comprising:

a master passenger safety status indicator and intercom display console located for viewing at a flight attendant station, said console comprising discrete light means arranged in an array corresponding to the location of passenger seats in said aircraft, so that said array is mapped in one-to-one correspondence with each of said passenger seats and each light means represents a single individual passenger position;

sensing means for sensing the fastened status of each seat belt, the position of each said tray, and position of said seat back rest for each passenger seat for compliance with safety instructions issued by said flight attendant by each passenger and generating corresponding safety status signals;

each said light means comprising a light display divided into segments, each segment indicating continuously the fastened status of the seat belt, the position of said tray, and the position of said seat back rest for each passenger seat on said aircraft; and

means for duplicating the display for each corresponding seat in said light means on the back of the head rest facing each said passenger seat so that each passenger can be notified of failure to comply with a safety instruction and neighboring passengers can monitor the safety compliance of each passenger.

2. The safety system of claim 1 having loudspeaker means mounted in the head rest for each passenger seat to permit the flight attendant to notify a particular passenger of non-compliance with safety instructions.