Illuminated seat belt buckle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus comprising:
- a seat belt buckle having a light-transmitting portion which is visible to a vehicle occupant;
said buckle including a housing containing a latch mechanism which releasably locks a seat belt tongue in said housing;
said housing further containing optical fibers and an illuminating panel structure, said illuminating panel structure comprising a panel with a reflective surface oriented to reflect light from said optical fibers to said light-transmitting portion of said buckle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A seat belt buckle (12) has a light-transmitting portion (26) which is visible to a vehicle occupant. The buckle (12) includes a housing (60) containing a latch mechanism (20) which releasably locks a seat belt tongue (16) in the housing (60). The housing (60) further contains a light source (70) and optical fibers (72) for conducting light from the source (70) to the light-transmitting portion (26) of the buckle (12).
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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a seat belt buckle having a light-transmitting portion which is visible to a vehicle occupant; said buckle including a housing containing a latch mechanism which releasably locks a seat belt tongue in said housing; said housing further containing optical fibers and an illuminating panel structure, said illuminating panel structure comprising a panel with a reflective surface oriented to reflect light from said optical fibers to said light-transmitting portion of said buckle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus comprising:
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a seat belt buckle having a light-transmitting portion which is visible to a vehicle occupant; said buckle including a housing containing a latch mechanism which releasably locks a seat belt tongue in said housing; said housing further containing a light source and optical fibers which conduct light from said source to said light-transmitting portion of said buckle; said buckle further including a pushbutton which actuates said latch mechanism, said light-transmitting portion of said buckle having frame portions extending alongside corresponding sides of said pushbutton, said optical fibers being arranged side-by-side in an array extending along said frame portions; said housing further containing an illuminating panel structure, said illuminating panel structure comprising a panel with a reflective surface oriented to reflect light from said optical fibers to said light-transmitting portion of said buckle. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. Apparatus comprising:
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a seat belt buckle containing a latch mechanism which releasably locks a seat belt tongue in said buckle, said buckle having a light-transmitting portion which is visible to a vehicle occupant; an illuminating assembly including a source of light which illuminates said light-transmitting portion of said buckle from within said buckle; first electrical circuit means for causing said source of light to flash in response to a predetermined vehicle condition; and second electrical circuit means for causing said source of light to stop flashing in response to locking of said tongue in said buckle; said buckle including a housing containing said latch mechanism, said housing further containing said source of light, optical fibers, and an illuminating panel structure, said illuminating panel structure comprising a panel with a reflective surface oriented to reflect said light from said optical fibers to said light-transmitting portion of said buckle.
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Specification