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Device to detect seat belt buckle status

  • US 6,079,744 A
  • Filed: 04/24/1998
  • Issued: 06/27/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A seat belt buckle and latch indicator sensor comprising:

  • a seat belt buckle;

    a flexible seat belt;

    a seat belt hasp connected to the seat belt, the hasp fitting within the seat belt buckle to releasably connect the seat belt to the buckle;

    a latch formed of ferromagnetic material mounted within the seat belt buckle, the latch being movable between an unlatched position a latched position in which the seat belt hasp is mechanically retained within the seat belt buckle, and a latched-without-a-hasp-present position;

    a magnetic field sensor fixedly mounted to the seat belt buckle; and

    a magnet having a magnetic field, the magnet being spaced from the magnetic field sensor and fixedly mounted to the seat belt buckle, the magnet and the sensor defining a gap therebetween, wherein the movement of the latch between the unlatched position, the latched position, and the latched-without-a-hasp position is such that the magnetic field sensed by the sensor changes.

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