Sequencing belt and seat warning system with vehicle start inhibit

Claim 2

In a motor vehicle having an engine, transmission, and occupant seating means and a safety belt at each of a predetermined number of occupant positions of said seating means, a sequencing safety belt warning and start inhibit system for inhibiting the start of the vehicle engine unless usage of the safety belt at each occupied position of said predetermined number of occupant positions is indicated to have occurred subsequent to occupancy thereof, said system comprising: safety belt switch means operatively associated with the safety belt at each one of the predetermined occupant positions for generating and maintaining a first electrical signal registering utilization of the safety belt; seat switch means at each one of the predetermined occupant positions for generating and maintaining a second electrical signal registering the presence of an occupant occupying the corresponding position; sequence logic means electrically connected in circuit for receiving said first and second electrical signals at each predetermined occupant position, said sequence logic means including means for detecting the sequence of generation of said first and second electrical signals at each predetermined occupant position and for generating a third electrical signal whenever the second signal alone is generated at any of said predetermined occupant positions and whenever generation of the first signal precedes the generation of the second signal at any of said predetermined occupant positions; ignition key switch means responsive to an attempt to start the vehicle for generating a fourth electrical signal; alarm means responsive to said third signal from said sequence logic means and said fourth signal from said ignition key switch means for alarming a vehicle occupant; and engine start control means responsive to said third electrical signal from said sequence logic means and said fourth electrical signal from ignition key switch means for inhibiting the start of the vehicle engine.

Claim 3

In the sequencing safety belt warning and start inhibit system according to claim 1 wherein each of said safety belt switch means is normally in a non-conducting state and is actuated to a conducting state for generating said first electrical signal whenever the associated safety belt is extended a predetermined distance from its normal position.

Claim 4

In the sequencing safety belt warning and start inhibit system according to claim 2 wherein each of said safety belt switch means is a normally open switch.

Claim 5

In the sequencing safety belt warning and start inhibit system according to claim 1 wherein each of said safety belt switch means is normally in a non-conducting state and is actuated to a conducting state for generating said first electrical signal whenever the free ends of the associated safety belt are buckled relative to one another thereby forming a closed loop.

Claim 6

In the sequencing safety belt warning and start iNhibit system according to claim 1 wherein each of said seat switch means is normally in a non-conducting state and is actuated to a conducting state for generating said second electrical signal in response to a physical parameter manifesting the presence of an occupant in the vehicle occupying the corresponding occupant position.

Claim 7

In the sequencing safety belt warning and start inhibit system according to claim 5 wherein each of said seat switch means is a normally open switch responsive to at least a predetermined weight acting thereon for generating said second electrical signal.

Claim 8

In the sequence safety belt warning and start inhibit system according to claim 1 wherein said ignition key switch means is operable to an off position and additionally including a restart timing system connected to said engine start control means and to said ignition key switch means and operable after the vehicle has been started for overriding said sequence logic means for a predetermined time after said ignition key switch means has been operated to the off position whereby to permit restarting of the vehicle within said predetermined time without requiring the occupants of any of said predetermined occupant positions to unbelt and then rebelt their safety belts.

Claim 9

In the sequencing safety belt warning and start inhibit system according to claim 7 wherein said key ignition switch means is also operable to a run position and said restart timing system additionally includes means operable after the vehicle has been started for overriding said sequence logic means so long as said ignition key switch remains in the run position.

Claim 10

In the sequencing safety belt warning and start inhibit system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes a door and additionally including door switch means responsive to the opening of the vehicle door for generating a fifth electrical signal and a key sensing switch for generating a sixth electrical signal when a key is present in said ignition key switch means and wherein said alarm means comprises a lamp responsive to said third and fourth electrical signals and a buzzer responsive to both said third and fourth electrical signals and said fifth and sixth electrical signals so that the lamp is illuminated and the buzzer is energized in response to said third and fourth electrical signals and said buzzer only is energized in response to said fifth and sixth electrical signals.

Claim 11

In the sequencing safety belt warning and start inhibit system according to claim 1 additionally including a plurality of filter means each of which is electrically connected with a corresponding one of each of said safety belt switch means and said seat switch means, each said filter means comprising a resistor and a capacitor electrically connected in series between a source of voltage and ground and the junction of each said resistor and capacitor pair being connected to the corresponding one of said safety belt switch means and of said seat switch means for electrically suppressing voltage transients due to actuation of the corresponding one of said safety belt switch means and of said seat switch means.

Claim 12

In the sequencing safety belt warning and start inhibit system according to claim 10 wherein the capacity of said filter means electrically connected to each of said seat switch means is greater than the capacity of the filter means electrically connected to the corresponding safety belt switch means.

Claim 13

In the sequencing safety belt warning and start inhibit system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes a battery and additionally including current-saver means electrically responsive to said ignition key switch means for supplying a regulated voltage which is lower than the battery voltage to the system when said ignition key switch means is actuated and for suppressing voltage transients which are greater than the battery voltage when said ignition key switch means is non-actuated.

Claim 14

In the sequencing safety belt warning and starT inhibit system according to claim 1 wherein one of said predetermined occupant positions is for the operator of the vehicle and additionally including means requiring occupancy of said one occupant position for enabling the start of the engine.

Claim 15

In a motor vehicle having an engine, transmission, occupant seating means and safety belt at each of a predetermined number of occupant positions of said seating means, a sequencing safety belt alarm system for alarming the occupants of the vehicle whenever the safety belt conditions at each of the predetermined occupant positions are not satisfied, said system comprising: safety belt switch means operatively associated with the safety belt at each one of the predetermined occupant positions for generating and maintaining a first electrical signal registering utilization of the safety belt; seat switch means at each one of the predetermined occupant positions for generating and maintaining a second electrical signal registering the presence of an occupant occupying the corresponding position; sequence logic means electrically connected in circuit for receiving said first and second electrical signals generated by said safety belt switch means and said seat switch means at each predetermined occupant position, said sequence logic means including means for detecting the sequence of generation of said first and second electrical signals at each predetermined occupant position for generating a third electrical signal whenever the second signal alone is generated at any of said predetermined occupant positions and whenever generation of the first signal precedes the generation of the second signal at any of said predetermined occupant positions; transmission switch means responsive to the engagement of the transmission of the vehicle for generating a fourth electrical signal; ignition key switch means responsive to an attempt to start the vehicle for generating a fifth electrical signal; and an alarm means responsive to said third signal from said sequence logic means and to said fourth signal from said transmission switch means for alarming a vehicle occupant and also responsive to said third signal from said sequence logic means and to said fifth signal from said ignition key switch means for alarming a vehicle occupant.

Claim 16

In a motor vehicle having an engine, transmission, occupant seating means and safety belt at each of a predetermined number of occupant positions of said seating means, a sequencing safety belt alarm system for alarming the occupants of the vehicle whenever the safety belt conditions at each of the predetermined occupant positions are not satisfied, said system comprising: safety belt switch means operatively associated with the safety belt at each one of the predetermined occupant positions for generating and maintaining a first electrical signal registering utilization of the safety belt; seat switch means at each one of the predetermined occupant positions for generating and maintaining a second electrical signal registering the presence of an occupant occupying the corresponding position; sequence logic means electrically connected in circuit for receiving said first and second electrical signals generated by said safety belt switch means and said seat switch means at each predetermined occupant position, said sequence logic means including means for detecting the sequence of generation of said first and second electrical signals at each predetermined occupant position for generating a third electrical signal whenever the second signal alone is generated at any of said predetermined occupant positions and whenever generation of the first signal precedes the generation of the second signal at any of said predetermined occupant positions; transmission switch means responsive to the engagement of the transmission of the vehicle for generating a fourth electrical signal; ignition key switch means responsive to an attempt to start the vehicle for generating a fifth electrical signal; and an alarm means responsive to said third signal from said sequence logic means and to said fourth signal from said transmission switch means for alarming a vehicle occupant and also responsive to said third signal from said sequence logic means and to said fifth signal from said ignition key switch means for alarming a vehicle occupant.

Claim 17

In a motor vehicle having an engine, transmission, occupant seating means and a safety belt at each of a predetermined number of occupant positions of said seating means, a sequencing safety belt alarm system for alarming the occupants of the vehicle whenever the safety belt conditions at each of the predetermined occupant positions are not satisfied, said system comprising: safety belt switch means operatively associated with the safety belt at each one of the predetermined occupant positions for generating and maintaining a first electrical signal registering utilization of the safety belt; seat switch means at each one of the predetermined occupant positions for generating and maintaining a second electrical signal registering the presence of an occupant occupying the corresponding position; sequence logic means electrically connected in circuit for receiving said first and second electrical signals generated by said safety belt switch means and said seat switch means at each predetermined occupant position, said sequence logic means including means for detecting the sequence of generation of said first and second electrical signals at each predetermined occupant position for generating a third electrical signal whenever the second signal alone is generated at any of said predetermined occupant positions and whenever generation of the first signal precedes the generation of the second signal at any of said predetermined occupant positions; door switch means responsive to the opening of a vehicle door for generating a fourth electrical signal; ignition key switch means responsive to an attempt to start the vehicle for generating a fifth elecTrical signal; ignition key sensing switch means responsive to a key in said ignition key switch means for providing a sixth electrical signal, and an alarm means comprising a lamp responsive to said third and fifth electrical signals and a buzzer responsive to both said third and fifth electrical signals and to said fourth and sixth electrical signals, whereby the lamp is illuminated and the buzzer is energized in response to said third and fifth electrical signals and only said buzzer is energized in response to said fourth and sixth electrical signals.

Claim 18

In a motor vehicle having an engine, transmission, occupant seating means and a safety belt at each of a predetermined number of occupant positions of said seating means, a sequencing safety belt alarm system for alarming the occupants of the vehicle whenever the safety belt conditions at each of the predetermined occupant positions are not satisfied, said system comprising: safety belt switch means operatively associated with the safety belt at each one of the predetermined occupant positions for generating and maintaining a first electrical signal registering utilization of the safety belt; seat switch means at each one of the predetermined occupant positions for generating and maintaining a second electrical signal registering the presence of an occupant occupying the corresponding position; sequence logic means electrically connected in circuit for receiving said first and second electrical signals generated by said safety belt switch means and said seat switch means at each predetermined occupant position, said sequence logic means including means for detecting the sequence of generation of said first and second electrical signals at each predetermined occupant position for generating a third electrical signal whenever the second signal alone is generated at any of said predetermined occupant positions and whenever generation of the first signal precedes the generation of the second signal at any of said predetermined occupant positions; door switch means responsive to the opening of a vehicle door for generating a fourth electrical signal; ignition key switch means responsive to an attempt to start the vehicle for generating a fifth elecTrical signal; ignition key sensing switch means responsive to a key in said ignition key switch means for providing a sixth electrical signal, and an alarm means comprising a lamp responsive to said third and fifth electrical signals and a buzzer responsive to both said third and fifth electrical signals and to said fourth and sixth electrical signals, whereby the lamp is illuminated and the buzzer is energized in response to said third and fifth electrical signals and only said buzzer is energized in response to said fourth and sixth electrical signals.

Claim 19

In the sequencing safety belt warning and start inhibit system according to claim 1 wherein said vehicle has a plurality of doors and additionally including: door switch means responsive to the closing of all the doors of said vehicle for generating a fifth electrical signal; a logic gate means having two inputs and an output wherein one of said inputs is electrically connected to receive said fifth electrical signal, the other of said inputs is electrically coupled to receive a sixth electrical signal representing actuation of a selected safety belt switch means subsequent to actuation of the corresponding seat switch means and said gate generating at its output a seventh electrical signal when said fifth and sixth electrical signals are coincident; and clamping means electrically connected between said seat switch means and the output of said logic gate for maintaining said second electrical signal at the logic level of said seventh electrical signal independently of said seat switch means.