Seatbelt usage indicator system

• US 7,626,495 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dwayne A. Montague
• Original Assignee: Dwayne A. Montague
• Inventors: Montague, Dwayne A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SIGMUND N
• Application Number:
  US11/625,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20080177446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457.1, 340/522, 235/96, 235/97, 700/214, 700/215
• US Class Current: 340/457.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A seatbelt usage indicator system for indicating the frequency of usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle includes a plurality of buckles being secured to a vehicle. A latch plate of each of a plurality of seatbelts is inserted into one of the buckles to secure each of the seatbelts to one of the buckles. Each of the buckles has one of a plurality of counter assemblies coupled thereto. Each of the counter assemblies is actuated when the latch plate is inserted into the associated one of the buckles to count the number of times the latch plate has been inserted. Each of the counter assemblies displays the number of times the latch plate has been inserted into the associated one of the buckles.

Claims

1. A seatbelt usage indicator system for indicating the use of seatbelts of a vehicle, said system comprising:

a plurality of buckles being secured to the vehicle, a latch plate of each of the seatbelts being inserted into one of said buckles to secure each of the seatbelts to one of said buckles; and

a plurality of counter assemblies, each of said buckles having one of said counter assemblies coupled thereto, each of said counter assemblies being actuated when the latch plate is inserted into the associated one of said buckles to count the number of times the latch plate has been inserted, each of said counter assemblies displaying the number of times the latch plate has been inserted into the associated one of said buckles, each of said counter assemblies including;

a display being coupled to the associated one of said buckles to be viewed;

a processing unit being positioned in the associated one of said buckles and electrically coupled to said display, said processing unit being electrically coupled to an electrical system of the vehicle, said processing unit actuating said display to display the number of times the latch plate has been inserted into the associated one to said buckles, said processing unit being programmable to reset said display when the vehicle is started and increment the number on said display when said latch plate is inserted into the associated one of said buckles.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said buckles has a slot extending into a first end of the associated one of said buckles to receive the latch plate.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said buckles includes a button mechanism extending through an aperture in the latch plate to secure the latch plate to the associated one of said buckles, said button mechanism being actuated to release the latch plate and permit the latch plate to be removed from the associated one of said buckles.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said display is positioned adjacent a second end of the associated one of said buckles.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said counter assemblies includes a sensor being positioned in the associated one of said buckles and being electrically coupled to said processing unit, said sensor sensing insertion of the latch plate into the associated one of said buckles and actuating said processing unit to increment the number displayed on said display.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprises an indicator being mounted to a dashboard of the vehicle to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle, said indicator being electrically coupled to said processing unit of each of said counter assemblies and being illuminated to remind passengers of the vehicle to fasten the seatbelts.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein each of said counter assemblies includes a gear box being positioned in the associated one of said buckles and being operationally coupled to said display, said gear box incrementing a number displayed on said display when said gear box is actuated.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein each of said counter assemblies includes a push button being operationally coupled to said gear box and positioned in the associated one of said buckles, said push button being depressed by the latch plate to actuate said gear box when the latch plate is inserted into the associated one of said buckles.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of anchoring straps, each of said buckles having one of said anchoring straps being coupled to a second end thereof, each of said anchoring straps being coupled to the vehicle to secure the associated one of said buckles to the vehicle.

10. A seatbelt usage indicator system for indicating the use of seatbelts of a vehicle, said system comprising:

a plurality of buckles being secured to the vehicle, a latch plate of each of the seatbelts being inserted into one of said buckles to secure each of the seatbelts to one of said buckles, each of said buckles having a slot extending into a first end of the associated one of said buckles to receive the latch plate, each of said buckles including a button mechanism extending through an aperture in the latch plate to secure the latch plate to the associated one of said buckles, said button mechanism being actuated to release the latch plate and permit the latch plate to be removed from the associated one of said buckles;

a plurality of counter assemblies, each of said buckles having one of said counter assemblies coupled thereto, each of said counter assemblies being actuated when the latch plate is inserted into the associated one of said buckles to count the number of times the latch plate has been inserted, each of said counter assemblies displaying the number of times the latch plate has been inserted into the associated one of said buckles, each of said counter assemblies comprising;

a display being coupled to the associated one of said buckles to be viewed, said display being positioned adjacent a second end of the associated one of said buckles;

a processing unit being positioned in the associated one of said buckles and electrically coupled to said display, said processing unit being electrically coupled to an electrical system of the vehicle, said processing unit actuating said display to display the number of times the latch plate has been inserted into the associated one to said buckles;

a sensor being positioned in the associated one of said buckles and being electrically coupled to said processing unit, said sensor sensing insertion of the latch plate into the associated one of said buckles and actuating said processing unit to increment the number displayed on said display;

said processing unit being programmable to reset said display when the vehicle is started and increment the number on said display when said latch plate is inserted into the associated one of said buckles;

an indicator being mounted to a dashboard of the vehicle to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle, said indicator being electrically coupled to said processing unit of each of said counter assemblies and being illuminated to remind passengers of the vehicle to fasten the seatbelts; and

a plurality of anchoring straps, each of said buckles having one of said anchoring straps being coupled to said second end thereof, each of said anchoring straps being coupled to the vehicle to secure the associated one of said buckles to the vehicle.