US3637259A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic safety seat belt
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-07-29
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Granted: 1972-01-25
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Expires: 1990-07-29
Abstract
Abstract An automatic safety seat belt for use in a vehicle and including an arcuate tubular body support member which is biased to an operative position obstructing seat occupancy and thus necessitating its use, and a latch assembly which is selectively operated in response to actuation of the vehicle power switch to positively retain the arcuate support member in such operative position about the body of a vehicle passenger.
Inventors
- 👤 Barbara G Rothschild
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:26
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
In a vehicle having a passenger seat and a source of motive power controlled by a power switch movable between an ''''on'''' position and an ''''off'''' position, an automatic safety seat belt for said vehicle comprising: arcuate, semirigid restraining means adapted to encircle the waist of a passenger and pivotally mounted at one end to the vehicle for movement in a plane located within the angle formed by the passenger seat between an operative position and an inoperative position; means biasing said restraining means towards said operative position; latching means fixedly mounted onto the vehicle so located as to be proximate to the other end of said restraining means when said restraining means is in said operative position; operating means actuable to cause the latching means to constrain said other end of the restraining means against movement; and actuating means responsive to the placement of said switch in said ''''on'''' position to actuate said operating means and responsive to the placement of said switch in said ''''off'''' position to deactuate said operating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a vehicle having a passenger seat and a source of motive power controlled by a power switch movable between an ''''on'''' position and an ''''off'''' position, an automatic safety seat belt for said vehicle comprising: arcuate, semirigid restraining means adapted to encircle the waist of a passenger and pivotally mounted at one end to the vehicle for movement in a plane located within the angle formed by the passenger seat between an operative position and an inoperative position; means biasing said restraining means towards said operative position; latching means fixedly mounted onto the vehicle so located as to be proximate to the other end of said restraining means when said restraining means is in said operative position; operating means actuable to cause the latching means to constrain said other end of the restraining means against movement; and actuating means responsive to the placement of said switch in said ''''on'''' position to actuate said operating means and responsive to the placement of said switch in said ''''off'''' position to deactuate said operating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said latching means, operating means and actuating means comprises: an energizable electric latch connected with said switch; and means for energizing said latch in response to the placement of said switch in said ''''on'''' position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention as recited in claim 2 wherein said electric latch comprises an electromagnet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as recited in claim 3 wherein said latching means includes safety switch means connected with said electromagnet to selectively disconnect the same from the vehicle power switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention as recited in claim 4 wherein said latching means includes a warning light connected with said safety switch means and energized from said source of power whenever said electromagnet is disconnected from the vehicle power switch by said safety switch means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a coil spring mounted upon said restraining means adjacent said one end thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said restraining means includes an arcuate, tubular member pivotally mounted at one end to the vehicle and a sleeve member slidably disposed upon the other end of said tubular member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as recited in claim 7 wherein said tubular member comprises a plastic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as recited in claim 7 wherein said tubular member comprises a rubber material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as recited in claim 7 wherein said restraining means includes catch means affixed to said other end of said tubular member and cooperating with said sleeve member to adjustably secure the same with said tubular member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention as recited in claim 10 wherein said sleeve member includes a longitudinally disposed elongated notched plate, and wherein said catch means includes a tiltable switch and a resilient rod attached at one end to said tiltable switch and having an angularly disposed catch at its other end for cooperation with said notched plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention as recited in claim 11 wherein said catch means further includes an additional resilient rod proximally attached to said tiltable switch and having a weighted member at its distal end adapted to be selectively disposed within a notch of said notched plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention as recited in claim 12 wherein said latching means includes an electromagnet, and wherein the distal end of said sleeve member comprises a magnetically attractive material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as recited in claim 13 wherein said notched plate of said sleeve member comprises a magnetically attractive material and is contiguous with said distal end of said sleeve member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention as recited in claim 14 wherein said weighted member of said additional resilient rod comprises a magnetically attractive material whereby said weighted member is rapidly released from said notched plate upon deenergization of said electromagnet so as to pull said angularly disposed catch therefrom to automatically release said tubular member from said sleeve membeR.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention as recited in claim 15 wherein said restraining means further includes spring means mounted in compression between said tubular member and said sleeve member whereby said restraining means reverts to a fully extended size upon release of said catch means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-24 | 1975-07-26 | 1976-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-24 | 1979-07-26 | 1980-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-24 | 1983-07-26 | 1984-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |