Ignition safety device and method therefor

• US 7,132,934 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert D. Allison III
• Original Assignee: Robert D. Allison III
• Inventors: Allison, Robert D III
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US10/810,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20050212668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/425.5, 340/457, 340/457.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.3, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4883 Interlock systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/228 Warning displays
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 11/00 Safety means for electric spark ignition, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

An ignition safety system and method. A control circuit is coupled to a warning circuit indicating a safety condition. The control circuit is further coupled to a fuse circuit to control an operation of a motor ignition circuit in response to the safety condition.

Claims

1. An ignition safety system, comprising, in combination:

a fuse circuit;

an ignition circuit coupled to said fuse circuit for starting a motor;

a warning circuit for indicating a safety condition; and

a control circuit coupled to both said warning circuit and said fuse circuit for controlling an operation of said ignition circuit.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a seatbelt, said safety condition comprising a condition of said seatbelt.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a vehicle, said motor providing power for said vehicle.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a seatbelt latch for fastening said seatbelt; and

a seatbelt switch, said seatbelt switch coupled to said seatbelt latch and to said warning circuit, said seatbelt switch actuated by a fastening and unfastening of said seatbelt, said safety condition comprising said seatbelt being unfastened.

5. The system of claim 4, said control circuit further comprising an insulation-interrupting connector for coupling to said warning circuit.

6. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a seatbelt latch for fastening said seatbelt; and

a proximity detector for detecting said seatbelt proximate said seatbelt latch, said proximity detector coupled to said warning circuit, said safety condition comprising said seatbelt being unfastened.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising a detector for detecting at least one of an orientation of said seatbelt and a position of said seatbelt, said detector being coupled to said warning circuit, said safety condition comprising-said seatbelt not in a protective position.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising a transmitter coupled to said warning circuit and a receiver coupled to said control circuit for wirelessly coupling said warning circuit to said control circuit.

9. The system of claim 2, further comprising an override mechanism for selectively disabling an effect of said control circuit on an operation of said ignition circuit.

10. The system of claim 1, said fuse circuit further comprising an ignition fuse housing for receiving an ignition fuse, said control circuit further comprising an electrical connector dimensioned to couple to said ignition fuse housing for controlling an impedance in said fuse circuit.

11. The system of claim 10, said control circuit further comprising at least one fuse housing connected in parallel, at least one of said at least one fuse housing being dimensioned to couple to said ignition fuse.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sound generator for providing an audible signal, said control circuit activates said sound generator in response to a change of said safety condition after said motor has started.

13. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a temperature detector, said control circuit disabling an effect of said control circuit on an operation of said ignition circuit in conformity with a detection of a temperature below a threshold value.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a removable anti-theft connector, said ignition circuit is disabled when said anti-theft connector is removed.

15. An ignition safety system, comprising, in combination:

a fuse circuit comprising a fuse housing;

an ignition circuit for starting a motor of a vehicle, said ignition circuit being coupled to said fuse circuit;

a warning circuit for indicating a seatbelt condition; and

a control circuit comprising an electrical connector, said electrical connector being dimensioned to engage said fuse housing for coupling said control circuit to said fuse circuit, said control circuit being further coupled to said warning circuit, for controlling an operation of said ignition circuit in conformity with said seatbelt condition.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a sound generator for providing an audible signal, said control circuit activates said sound generator in response to a change of said safety condition after said motor has started.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a temperature detector, said control circuit disabling an effect of said control circuit on an operation of said ignition circuit in conformity with a detection of a temperature below a threshold value.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a removable anti-theft connector, said ignition circuit is disabled when said anti-theft connector is removed.

19. An ignition safety system, comprising, in combination:

seatbelt indication means for indicating a seatbelt condition;

an electrical connector dimensioned to couple to a fuse housing of an ignition circuit; and

a switch coupled to said electrical connector and to said seatbelt indication means for enabling and disabling said ignition circuit in conformity with said seatbelt condition.

20. A safety method comprising the steps of:

providing a fuse circuit for disabling an ignition circuit of a motor at a predetermined electrical current;

providing a warning circuit for indicating a safety condition;

providing a control circuit;

coupling said control circuit to said warning circuit;

coupling said control circuit to said fuse circuit;

detecting said safety condition; and

controlling an operation of said ignition circuit.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicle, said motor powers said vehicle; and

providing a seatbelt, said safety condition comprises said seatbelt being fastened.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of providing a seatbelt switch, said seatbelt switch being actuated by at least one of a fastening and an unfastening of said seatbelt, said warning circuit being coupled to said seatbelt switch.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of providing an insulation-interrupting connector coupled to said control circuit, said coupling said control circuit to said warning circuit is performed using said insulation-interrupting connector.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of providing a detector for detecting at least one of a position and an orientation of said seatbelt, said detector being coupled to said warning circuit.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

providing a transmitter coupled to said warning circuit; and

providing a receiver coupled to said control circuit for wirelessly coupling said warning circuit to said control circuit.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

providing an ignition fuse housing coupled to said fuse circuit;

providing an ignition fuse coupled to said ignition fuse housing; and

providing an electrical connector coupled to said control circuit, said electrical connector being dimensioned to couple to said ignition fuse housing, said coupling said control circuit to said fuse circuit comprises the steps of removing said ignition fuse from said ignition fuse housing and coupling said electrical connector to said ignition fuse housing.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of providing at least one fuse housing coupled to said electrical connector, said coupling said control circuit to said fuse circuit further comprises the step of coupling said ignition fuse to at least one of said at least one fuse housing.