Safety belt load sensor
First Claim
1. A vehicle safety belt apparatus including a safety belt and a load sensor for sensing load applied to the safety belt, the sensor comprising means for determining an electrical characteristic of the belt which is affected by a load applied to the belt, said means comprising first and second electrical contacts on the belt, electrically connected to electrical characteristic sensing means, the first contact is arranged at one end of the belt and the second contact is arranged at the other end of the belt, and means for comparing the sensed characteristic with a reference level to determine whether the characteristic falls within a predetermined range.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A load sensor for a vehicle safety belt 10 comprises means for determining an electrical characteristic of the belt 10 and control means for comparing the sensed characteristic with a reference level for the characteristic. In one embodiment, conductive fibers 26, 28 are interwoven into the belt 10 and electrical contacts 30, 32 are provided at each end thereof. Excessive loading of the belt results in a break in the fibers 26, 28 which, in turn, results in electrical discontinuity. The discontinuity is sensed by an electrical sensor and indicator means is provided to indicate to the driver of the vehicle that a belt has been excessively loaded.
33 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A vehicle safety belt apparatus including a safety belt and a load sensor for sensing load applied to the safety belt, the sensor comprising means for determining an electrical characteristic of the belt which is affected by a load applied to the belt, said means comprising first and second electrical contacts on the belt, electrically connected to electrical characteristic sensing means, the first contact is arranged at one end of the belt and the second contact is arranged at the other end of the belt, and means for comparing the sensed characteristic with a reference level to determine whether the characteristic falls within a predetermined range.
- 2. A vehicle safety belt apparatus including a safety belt and a load sensor for sensing load applied to the safety belt, the sensor comprising means for determining an electrical characteristic of the belt which is affected by a load applied to the belt, said means comprising first and second electrical contacts on the belt, electrically connected to electrical characteristic sensing means, and means for comparing the sensed characteristic with a reference level to determine whether the characteristic falls within a predetermined range, one end of the belt is wound on to an inertia reel and passes over a bracket above the passenger'"'"'s shoulder and the other end is secured elsewhere in the vehicle, the first contact comprising a brush contact at the mouth of the inertia reel and the second contact comprising a contact on the said other end.
- 4. A vehicle safety belt including a safety belt and a load sensor for sensing load applied to the safety belt, the sensor comprising means for determining an electrical characteristic means for determining an electrical characteristic of the belt which is affected by load applied to the belt and means for comparing the sensed characteristic with a reference level, calibration means is provided for calibrating the reference level or reference range of the electrical characteristic of the belt, the belt is wound on to an inertia reel and brush contacts are used, the calibration means calibrating the reference level of the belt each time the belt is worn by a passenger.
- 6. A vehicle safety belt including a safety belt and a load sensor for sensing load applied to the safety belt, the sensor comprising means for determining an electrical characteristic means for determining an electrical characteristic of the belt which is affected by load applied to the belt and means for comparing the sensed characteristic with a reference level, the belt including conductive fibres that extend longitudinally of the belt.
- 12. A vehicle safety belt including a safety belt and a load sensor for sensing load applied to the safety belt, the sensor comprising means for determining an electrical characteristic means for determining an electrical characteristic of the belt which is affected by load applied to the belt and means for comparing the sensed characteristic with a reference level, the apparatus including means to indicate that the belt has experienced an excessive load.
Specification