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Apparatus for use with child a child seat in a vehicle having a seat belt webbing pretensioner

  • US 6,357,790 B1
  • Filed: 01/20/2000
  • Issued: 03/19/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for use with a removable child seat in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

  • a vehicle seat on which a removable child seat may or may not be present;

    a seat belt webbing pretensioner for retracting seat belt webbing associated with said vehicle seat;

    a first sensor for providing a first output signal in response to a vehicle collision of a magnitude above a predetermined threshold;

    a second sensor for providing a second output signal in response to the presence of a child seat on said vehicle seat;

    a controller for receiving said first and second signals and, in response to said first output signal, for actuating said seat belt webbing pretensioner when a child seat is not present on said vehicle seat and inhibiting actuation of said seat belt webbing pretensioner when a child seat is present on said vehicle seat; and

    a visual indicator operatively coupled with said controller to receive a signal from said controller indicating the presence of a child seat on said vehicle seat and to provide a visual indication that actuation of said seat belt webbing pretensioner is inhibited.

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