Apparatus to ensure use of vehicle seat belt

• US 6,684,972 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael F. Oyaski
• Original Assignee: Michael F. Oyaski
• Inventors: Oyaski, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/728,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20020063009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 180/286, 738/620.1
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01544 detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01548 sensing the amount of belt winded on retractor

Abstract

An apparatus to ensure use of seat belts in motor vehicles comprises a first transmitter transmits a signal when a seat is occupied. A second transmitter transmits a signal that such seat belt is unlatched or latched. A third transmitter receives such signal and transmits a signal when such seat belt is latched but does not encircle such occupant. A fourth transmitter receives the signal indicating a seat is occupied enabling it to transmit a signal when it is activated by also receiving the signal indicating that such seat belt corresponding to an occupied seat is unlatched and the signal that such seat belt is latched but does not encircle such occupant. A disabling unit is connected to receive the signal, for preventing gear engagement when it receives the signal indicating a seat belt corresponding to an occupied seat is unlatched and latched but does not encircle such passenger.

Claims

1. An apparatus to ensure use of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a first means disposed in a seat portion of such motor vehicle for generating and transmitting a first signal indicative of an occupant seated in a seat;

(b) a second means disposed at least one of in and on a predetermined portion of such seat belt for generating and transmitting a second signal representative of such seat belt being one of unlatched and latched;

(c) a third means disposed at least one of adjacent and on such seat belt in a predetermined location and connected to receive said second signal for generating and transmitting a third signal when such seat belt detected as being latched by said second means, extends insufficiently to encircle such occupant of such motor vehicle;

(c) a fourth means disposed in a predetermined location on such motor vehicle connected to receive said first signal indicating such presence of such occupant in such seat of such motor vehicle thereby enabling said fourth means to generate and transmit a fourth signal when said fourth means is activated by also receiving one of said second signal indicating that such seat belt corresponding to such presence of such occupant in such seat of such motor vehicle is unlatched and said third signal indicating that such seat belt is latched but extends insufficiently to encircle such occupant; and

(d) a disabling unit disposed in a predetermined location on such motor vehicle connected to receive said fourth signal for preventing gear engagement in such motor vehicle when said disabling unit receives said fourth signal indicating that such seat belt corresponding to an occupied seat in such motor vehicle is one of unlatched and latched but extending insufficiently to encircle such passenger.

2. An apparatus to ensure use of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein said portion of such seat belt is one of a male and a female portion of such seat belt.

3. An apparatus to ensure use of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, according to claim 2, wherein said portion of such seat belt is a female portion of such seat belt.

4. An apparatus to ensure use of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein said second means includes one of a photocell, microswitch, infrared detector, ultrasonic detector and a magnetic reed switch.

5. An apparatus to ensure use of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, according to claim 4, wherein said second means is a photocell.

6. An apparatus to ensure use of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined location would include all seats and seat backs in such motor vehicle.

7. An apparatus to ensure use of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein said first means is a pressure sensor.

8. An apparatus to ensure use of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes a fifth means for detecting that such seat belt has been unlatched after such gear shift lever had been moved to a position which would enable such motor vehicle to move in any direction.

9. An apparatus to ensure use of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, according to claim 8, wherein said fifth means further includes a recorder that would warn such occupants of such motor vehicle that if such unlatched seat belt was not relatched within a predetermined period of time that said recorder would broadcast a recorded message louder and louder until such seat belt was relatched.

10. An apparatus to ensure use of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein said third means further includes a cam disposed on a threaded portion of a seat belt shaft for lateral movement for a predetermined distance so as to energize one of a microswitch, a photocell and an infrared detector when such movable portion of such seat belt is extended for a predetermined distance.

11. An apparatus to ensure use of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, according to claim 10, wherein said lateral movement of said cam is detected by a photocell.

12. In combination with a seat belt system for use in a motor vehicle, the improvement for such seat belt system comprising:

(a) a first means disposed in a first predetermined location in such motor vehicle for generating and transmitting a first signal when an occupant is detected in a seat;

(b) a second means disposed on one of a female and a male portion of a seat belt in such motor vehicle for generating and transmitting a second signal representative of such seat belt being one of unlatched and latched;

(c) a third means disposed on a male portion of such seat belt closely adjacent the end of such seat belt that engages said female portion of such seat belt for receiving said second signal and for generating and transmitting a third signal when such seat belt, detected as being latched by said second means, extends insufficiently to encircle such occupant of such motor vehicle;

(d) a fourth means disposed in a second predetermined location on such motor vehicle for receiving said first signal indicating such presence of such occupant in such seat of such motor vehicle thereby enabling said fourth means to generate and transmit a fourth signal when said fourth means is activated by also receiving one of said second signal indicating that such seat belt corresponding to such presence of such occupant in such seat of such motor vehicle is unlatched and said third signal indicating that such seat belt is latched but extends insufficiently to encircle such occupant; and

(e) a disabling unit disposed in a third predetermined location on such motor vehicle connected to receive said fourth signal for preventing gear engagement in such motor vehicle when said disabling unit receives said fourth signal indicating that such seat belt corresponding to an occupied seat in such motor vehicle is one of unlatched and latched but extending insufficiently to encircle such passenger.

13. The combination, according to claim 12, wherein said improvement further includes a fifth means for detecting that such seat belt has been unlatched after such gear shift lever had been moved to a position which would enable such motor vehicle to move in any direction.

14. The combination, according to claim 13, wherein said fifth means further includes a recorder that would warn such occupants of such motor vehicle that if such unlatched seat belt was not relatched within a predetermined period of time that said recorder would broadcast a recorded message louder and louder until such seat belt was relatched.

15. The combination, according to claim 12, wherein said seat portion would include all seats and seat backs in such motor vehicle.

16. The combination, according to claim 12, wherein said second means is disposed on a female portion of such seat belt.

17. The combination, according to claim 12, wherein said second means includes one of a photocell, microswitch, infrared detector, ultrasonic detector and a magnetic reed switch.

18. The combination, according to claim 12, wherein said second means is a photocell.

19. The combination, according to claim 12, wherein said first means is a pressure sensor.

20. The combination, according to claim 12, wherein said third means further includes a cam disposed on a threaded portion of such seat belt shaft for lateral movement for a predetermined distance so as to energize one of a microswitch, a photocell and an infrared detector when such movable portion of such seat belt is extended for a predetermined distance.

21. The combination, according to claim 20, wherein said lateral movement of said cam is detected by a photocell.