US3787804A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for ensuring or encouraging the wearing of safety belts in vehicles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-12-15
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Granted: 1974-01-22
•
Expires: 1991-12-15
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a warning device which is operable by a driver or any of his passengers in a vehicle failing to fasten their safety belts, to limit the throttle opening of the vehicle engine to a predetermined maximum, which may be zero i.e. the idling condition. There is further provided a system in which the warning device is rendered inoperative by means of a switch associated with the driver''s seat and so arranged that when the driver assumes an abnormal seating position on the seat this switch renders the warning device inoperative. There is also provided a system in which a further switch is associated with a safety belt, which further switch is sensitive to whether or not at least part of that safety belt is approximately in a predetermined position, whereby if a user is not wearing the belt in a normal position the switch will operate the warning device.
Inventors
- 👤 K Macdonald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:17
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/48; B60R2022/4808; B60R2022/4816; B60R2022/4858; B60R2022/4883; B60R2022/4891
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A system for encouraging the wearing of safety belts in a vehicle, said vehicle having an engine and throttle control means, including a throttle pedal, for said engine, comprising a driver''s seat, a safety belt associated with said driver''s seat, switch means actuatable by fastening said sefety belt, a warning device, a seat occupancy switch associated with the driver''s seat and so arranged that when the driver assumes a normal seating position on the seat the seat occupancy switch is actuated and when the driver assumes an abnormal seating position on the seat the seat occupancy switch is un-actuated, a circuit in which said switch means, said seat occupancy switch and said warning device are connected, and means for connecting said circuit to an electrical power source, the warning device being deactivated either by un-actuation of said seat occupancy switch or by actuation of said switch means when said safety belt is fastened, whereby the warning device may be deactivated by the driver assuming said abnormal seating position even though the safety belt is unfastened, and the warning device comprising means for positively preventing the throttle opening of the engine from exceeding a predetermined maximum when activated, even when an operator of the vehicle operates the throttle pedal in an attempt tO increase the throttle opening above said predetermined maximum.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
220 words
A system for encouraging the wearing of safety belts in a vehicle, said vehicle having an engine and throttle control means, including a throttle pedal, for said engine, comprising a driver''s seat, a safety belt associated with said driver''s seat, switch means actuatable by fastening said sefety belt, a warning device, a seat occupancy switch associated with the driver''s seat and so arranged that when the driver assumes a normal seating position on the seat the seat occupancy switch is actuated and when the driver assumes an abnormal seating position on the seat the seat occupancy switch is un-actuated, a circuit in which said switch means, said seat occupancy switch and said warning device are connected, and means for connecting said circuit to an electrical power source, the warning device being deactivated either by un-actuation of said seat occupancy switch or by actuation of said switch means when said safety belt is fastened, whereby the warning device may be deactivated by the driver assuming said abnormal seating position even though the safety belt is unfastened, and the warning device comprising means for positively preventing the throttle opening of the engine from exceeding a predetermined maximum when activated, even when an operator of the vehicle operates the throttle pedal in an attempt tO increase the throttle opening above said predetermined maximum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 comprising at least one passenger seat, a respective safety belt associated with said at least one passenger seat, a respective further switch means actuatable by fastening a safety belt associated with a passenger seat, said further switch means being connected in said circuit whereby the warning device is de-activated by actuation of said switch means and said further switch means when the driver''s and passenger''s safety belts are fastened, and the driver''s seat occupancy switch being so arranged in the circuit as to de-activate the warning device, when said occupancy switch is un-actuated, irrespective of the condition of the further switch means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 comprising position-sensitive switch means associated with said safety belt, said position-sensitive switch means being responsive to at least a part of the safety belt not being approximately in a predetermined position to activate said warning device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system as claimed in claim 2 comprising respective position-sensitive switch means associated with each of said safety belts, said position-sensitive switch means being responsive to at least a part of the safety belt not being approximately in a predetermined position to activate said warning device.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
152 words
A system for encouraging the wearing of safety belts in a vehicle, comprising a driver''s seat, a safety belt associated with said driver''s seat, switch means actuatable by fastening said safety belt, a seat occupancy switch associated with the driver''s seat and so arranged that when the driver assumes a normal seating position on the seat the seat occupancy switch is actuated and when the driver assumes an abnormal seating position on the seat the seat occupancy switch is un-actuated, a warning device, a circuit in which said switch means, said seat occupancy switch and said warning device are connected, means for connecting said circuit to an electrical power source, the warning device being de-activatable by either said un-actuation of said seat occupancy switch or actuation of said switch means, whereby the warning device may be de-activated by the driver assuming said abnormal seating position even though the safety belt is unfastened.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
152 words
A system for encouraging the wearing of safety belts in a vehicle, comprising a driver''s seat, a safety belt associated with said driver''s seat, switch means actuatable by fastening said safety belt, a seat occupancy switch associated with the driver''s seat and so arranged that when the driver assumes a normal seating position on the seat the seat occupancy switch is actuated and when the driver assumes an abnormal seating position on the seat the seat occupancy switch is un-actuated, a warning device, a circuit in which said switch means, said seat occupancy switch and said warning device are connected, means for connecting said circuit to an electrical power source, the warning device being de-activatable by either said un-actuation of said seat occupancy switch or actuation of said switch means, whereby the warning device may be de-activated by the driver assuming said abnormal seating position even though the safety belt is unfastened.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
A system as claimed in claim 5 further comprising at least one passenger seat, a respective safety belt associated with said at least one passenger seat, a respective further switch means actuatable by fastening a safety belt associated with a passenger seat, said further switch means being connected in said circuit whereby the warning device is de-activated by actuation of said switch means and said further switch means when the driver''s and passenger''s safety belts are fastened, and the driver''s seat occupancy switch being so arranged in the circuit as to de-activate the warning device, when said occupancy switch is un-actuated, irrespective of the condition of the further switch means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
A system as claimed in claim 6 comprising a respective seat occupancy switch associated with each of said at least one passenger''s seats, said seat occupancy switch being actuatable by occupancy of the seat with which it is associated, and said seat occupancy switch being connected in said circuit whereby to activate said warning device upon occupancy of said seat, and the driver''s seat occupancy switch being so arranged as to de-activate the warning device when the driver''s seat occupancy switch is un-actuated, irrespective of the condition of the further switch means and seat occupancy switches associated with each passenger seat.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the driver''s seat has a back and the driver''s seat occupancy switch is located in a part of the back of the driver''s seat where it will be actuated by pressure of the diver when the driver assumes said normal seating position on the driver''s seat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as claimed in claim 6 whereIn the driver''s seat has a back and the driver''s seat occupancy switch is located in a part of the back of the driver''s seat where it will be actuated by pressure of the driver when the driver assumes said normal seating position on the driver''s seat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the driver''s seat has a back and the driver''s seat occupancy switch is located in a part of the back of the driver''s seat where it will be actuated by pressure of the driver when the driver assumes said normal seating position on the driver''s seat.
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) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |