Buckle assembly with light emitting diode and optical guide
First Claim
1. A buckle assembly configured to releasably interlock with a seat belt tongue, the assembly comprising:
- a housing;
a light-emitting diode (LED) positioned at least partially within the housing, the LED being configured to emit a light when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the assembly;
an optical guide positioned at least partially within the housing and composed of a substantially light transmitting material, the LED being positioned such that the light emitted by the LED passes through the optical guide;
wherein the optical guide is a lens at least partially positioned within the housing;
wherein the lens includes a first segment and a second segment;
a pushbutton positioned at least partially within the housing, wherein the pushbutton defines a first and a second wall having a first and a second window, respectively;
wherein the first segment of the lens is configured to guide a first portion of the light emitted by the LED to travel through the first segment of the lens, the first portion of the light being transmitted through the first window in the first wall of the pushbutton; and
wherein the second segment of the lens is configured to guide a second portion of the light emitted by the LED to travel through the second segment of the lens, the second portion of the light being transmitted through the second window in the second wall of the pushbutton.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A buckle assembly is configured to releasably interlock with a seat belt tongue. The assembly includes a light emitting diode (LED) positioned at least partially within a housing. The LED is configured to emit a light when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the assembly. An optical guide is positioned at least partially within the housing and composed of a substantially light transmitting material. The LED is positioned such that the light emitted by the LED passes through the optical guide. In a first embodiment, the optical guide is an ejector member at least partially positioned within the housing. In a second embodiment, the optical guide is a lens at least partially positioned within the housing.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A buckle assembly configured to releasably interlock with a seat belt tongue, the assembly comprising:
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a housing; a light-emitting diode (LED) positioned at least partially within the housing, the LED being configured to emit a light when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the assembly; an optical guide positioned at least partially within the housing and composed of a substantially light transmitting material, the LED being positioned such that the light emitted by the LED passes through the optical guide; wherein the optical guide is a lens at least partially positioned within the housing; wherein the lens includes a first segment and a second segment; a pushbutton positioned at least partially within the housing, wherein the pushbutton defines a first and a second wall having a first and a second window, respectively; wherein the first segment of the lens is configured to guide a first portion of the light emitted by the LED to travel through the first segment of the lens, the first portion of the light being transmitted through the first window in the first wall of the pushbutton; and wherein the second segment of the lens is configured to guide a second portion of the light emitted by the LED to travel through the second segment of the lens, the second portion of the light being transmitted through the second window in the second wall of the pushbutton. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle comprising:
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a seat belt tongue; a buckle assembly configured to releasably interlock with the seat belt tongue, wherein the assembly includes; a housing having a cavity configured to receive the seat belt tongue; a light-emitting diode (LED) positioned at least partially within the housing, the LED being configured to emit a light when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the assembly; a pushbutton positioned at least partially within the housing, wherein the pushbutton defines a first and a second wall having a first and a second window, respectively; and an optical guide positioned at least partially within the housing and composed of a substantially light transmitting material, the LED being positioned such that the light emitted by the LED passes through the optical guide; wherein the optical guide is a lens at least partially positioned within the housing, the lens including a first segment and a second segment; wherein the first segment of the lens is configured to guide a first portion of the light emitted by the LED to travel through the first segment of the lens, the first portion of the light being transmitted through the first window in the first wall of the pushbutton; and wherein the second segment of the lens is configured to guide a second portion of the light emitted by the LED to travel through the second segment of the lens, the second portion of the light being transmitted through the second window in the second wall of the pushbutton; a latch sensor operatively connected to the assembly and configured to detect whether the seat belt tongue is interlocked with the assembly; a controller operatively connected to the latch sensor and the LED; wherein the latch sensor is configured to transmit a first signal to the controller when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the buckle assembly and a second signal to the controller when the seat belt tongue is interlocked with the buckle assembly; and wherein the controller is configured to activate the LED to emit a first color upon receiving the first signal from the latch sensor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification