Seatbelt usage and safety data accounting system

• US 6,204,757 B1
• Filed: 05/28/1999
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles Akeley, Francis Christopher Evans, William Jude Wilkerson
• Original Assignee: Charles Akeley, Francis Christopher Evans, William Jude Wilkerson
• Inventors: Akeley, Charles, Evans, Francis Christopher, Wilkerson, William Jude
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/321,896
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457, 340/457.1, 340/436, 340/438, 340/439, 340/988
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

An improved system for registering and recording the usage of an active restraint system, commonly referred to as a seat belt, in commercial or private vehicles and other human-operated equipment. The device is equipped with a data storage device which allows an interested person to verify that the seat belt of a vehicle has been used as required during operation of the vehicle. The device measures and records active restraint engagement and vehicle motion, as well as time and position if desired.

Claims

1. A monitoring and accounting system for active restraints in a vehicle comprising:

active restraint usage indicating means for generating a first signal when said active restraint is engaged;

vehicle motion indicating means for generating a second signal when said vehicle is in motion;

vehicle reverse gear indicating means for generating a third signal when a reverse gear of said vehicle is engaged, processor means for receiving said first signal and said second signal and said third signal and constructing a unified data record at a plurality of predetermined time intervals; and

storage means for compiling a plurality of said unified data records for later retrieval;

wherein said unified data record comprises contemporaneous active restraint engagement data, vehicle motion data, and vehicle reverse gear engagement data.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising time indicating means for generating a time data record;

wherein said processor means receives and incorporates said time data record into said unified data record.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising global positioning means for generating a position data record;

wherein said processor means receives and incorporates said position data record into said unified data record.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said active restraint usage indicating means is comprised of an electric switch responsive to engagement of said active restraint.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle motion indicating means is comprised of a hall effect sensor responsive to the rotation of the drive shaft of said vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor means is comprised of an embedded microcomputer.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said processor means further comprises analog-to-digital conversion means for receiving said first signal and said second signal.

8. A monitoring and accounting system for active restraints in a vehicle comprising:

active restraint usage indicating means for generating a first signal when said active restraint is engaged;

vehicle motion indicating means for generating a second signal when said vehicle is in motion;

vehicle reverse gear indicating means for generating a third signal when a reverse gear of said vehicle is engaged processor means for receiving said first signal and said second signal and said third signal and constructing a unified data record at the occurrence of a plurality of discrete events; and

storage means for compiling a plurality of said unified data records for later retrieval;

wherein said unified data record comprises contemporaneous active restraint engagement data vehicle motion data and vehicle reverse gear engagement data.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said discrete events comprise:

the engagement of said active restraint; and

the disengagement of said active restraint.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said discrete events comprise:

the start of motion of said vehicle;

the stopping of motion of said vehicle;

the engagement of said reverse gear of said vehicle; and

the disengagement of said reverse gear of said vehicle.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising time indicating means for generating a time data record;

wherein said processor means receives and incorporates said time data record into said unified data record.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising global positioning means for generating a position data record;

wherein said processor means receives and incorporates said position data record into said unified data record.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said active restraint usage indicating means is comprised of an electric switch responsive to engagement of said active restraint.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said vehicle motion indicating means is comprised of a hall effect sensor responsive to the rotation of the drive shaft of said vehicle.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein said processor means is comprised of an embedded microcomputer.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein said processor means further comprises analog-to-digital conversion means for receiving said first signal and said second signal.

17. A method of monitoring and accounting active restraint usage in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

detecting an engaged state or nonengaged state of said active restraint;

detecting a moving or nonmoving state of said vehicle;

detecting an engaged state or nonengaged state of a reverse gear of said vehicle;

constructing a unified data record at a plurality of intervals, and storing said unified data records for later retrieval;

wherein said unified data record comprises contemporaneous active restraint engagement data, vehicle motion data, and vehicle reverse gear engagement data.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of forming a time data record;

wherein said unified data record further comprises said time data record.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of forming a position data record;

wherein said unified data record further comprises said position data record.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said plurality of intervals comprise:

the engagement of said active restraint; and

the disengagement of said active restraint.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said plurality of intervals comprise:

the start of motion of said vehicle;

the stopping of motion of said vehicle;

the engagement of said reverse gear of said vehicle; and

the disengagement of said reverse gear of said vehicle.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein said plurality of intervals comprise predetermined time intervals.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of forming a time data record;

wherein said unified data record further comprises said time data record.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of forming a position data record;

wherein said unified data record further comprises said position data record.

25. A monitoring and accounting system for active restraints in a vehicle comprising:

active restraint usage indicating means for generating a first signal when said active restraint is engaged comprising an electric switch responsive to engagement of said active restraint;

vehicle motion indicating means for generating a second signal when said vehicle is in motion comprising a hall effect sensor responsive to the motion of the drive shaft of said vehicle;

vehicle reverse gear indicating means for generating a third signal when a reverse gear of said vehicle is engaged;

time indicating means for generating a time data record;

global positioning means for generating a position data record;

processor means for receiving said first signal, said second signal, and said third signal and constructing a unified data record at one or more time intervals selected from the group comprising;

predetermined time intervals, the start of motion of said vehicle, the stopping of motion of said vehicle, the engagement of said reverse gear of said vehicle, and the disengagement of said reverse gear of said vehicle;

and storage means for compiling a plurality of said unified data records for later retrieval;

wherein said unified data record comprises contemporaneous active restraint engagement data, vehicle motion data, vehicle reverse gear engagement data, said time data record, and said position data record.