Seat belt buckle with field effect locking indicator and method of use
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus comprising:
- a latch mechanism which releasably interlocks with a seat belt tongue;
a photosensitive device which responds to said latch mechanism by providing a first output if a seat belt tongue is not interlocked with said latch mechanism and a second, different output if a seat belt tongue is interlocked with said latch mechanism; and
a source of light which energizes said photosensitive device;
said latch mechanism including a movable part having a first position reflecting said light form said source to said photosensitive device and a second position not reflecting said light from said source to said photosensitive device, said latch mechanism moving said movable part from one of said positions to the other of said positions in response to interlocking of a seat belt tongue with said latch mechanism.
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Abstract
A seat belt buckle (12) includes a latch mechanism (20) and a field effect device (26). The latch mechanism (20) includes a latch (42) which is movable into and out of a locking position in which it engages a seat belt tongue (16) to interlock the tongue (16) with the latch mechanism (20). The field effect device (26) provides a first output if the seat belt tongue (16) is not interlocked with the latch mechanism (20) and provides a second, different output if the seat belt tongue (16) is interlocked with the latch mechanism (20).
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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a latch mechanism which releasably interlocks with a seat belt tongue; a photosensitive device which responds to said latch mechanism by providing a first output if a seat belt tongue is not interlocked with said latch mechanism and a second, different output if a seat belt tongue is interlocked with said latch mechanism; and a source of light which energizes said photosensitive device; said latch mechanism including a movable part having a first position reflecting said light form said source to said photosensitive device and a second position not reflecting said light from said source to said photosensitive device, said latch mechanism moving said movable part from one of said positions to the other of said positions in response to interlocking of a seat belt tongue with said latch mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Apparatus comprising:
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a latch mechanism which releasably interlocks with a seat belt tongue; and a photosensitive device which responds to said latch mechanism by providing a first output if a seat belt tongue is not interlocked with said latch mechanism and a second, different output if a seat belt tongue is interlocked with said latch mechanism; and a source of light which energizes said photosensitive device; said latch mechanism including an ejector having a first position blocking transmission of said light from said source to said photosensitive device and a second position not blocking transmission of said light form said source to said photosensitive device, said latch mechanism moving said ejector from one of said positions to the other of said positions in response to interlocking of a seat belt tongue with said latch mechanism.
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6. Apparatus comprising:
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a seat belt buckle including a housing containing a latch mechanism which is releasably interlockable with a seat belt tongue in said buckle; a photosensitive device in said housing; a source of light; and a switching apparatus which varies transmission of light from said source to said photosensitive device so as to switch said photosensitive device between first and second predetermined conditions upon interlocking of said latch mechanism with a seat belt tongue in said buckle; said switching apparatus comprising a reflective surface with a first position reflecting said light from said source to said photosensitive device and a second position not reflecting said light from said source to said photosensitive device, said reflective surface being supported for movement from one to the other of said positions upon interlocking of said latch mechanism with said seat belt tongue in said buckle. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. Apparatus comprising:
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a seat belt buckle including a housing containing a latch mechanism which is releasably interlockable with a seat belt tongue in said buckle; a photosensitive device in said housing; a source of light; and switch means for responding to said latch mechanism by varying transmission of light from said source to said photosensitive device so as to switch said photosensitive device between first and second predetermined conditions in response to interlocking of said latch mechanism with a seat belt tongue in said buckle; said source of light and said photosensitive device being integral parts of a unitary photo reflector system located in said housing.
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10. Apparatus comprising:
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a latch mechanism which releasably interlocks with a seat belt tongue, said latch mechanism including an ejector that moves from a first position to a second position in response to interlocking of the seat belt tongue with said latch mechanism; and a field effect apparatus which responds to movement of said ejector between said first and second positions by providing a first output if said ejector is in said first position and a second, different output if said ejector is in said second position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification