US4136328A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tamper-proof seatbelt system
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
•
Filing: 1972-02-14
•
Granted: 1979-01-23
•
Expires: 1992-02-14
Abstract
Abstract A tamper-proof electrical circuit for a motor vehicle seatbelt system may be used with a seatbelt system requiring the driver and passenger of the motor vehicle to fasten their respective seatbelts if the vehicle engine is to be started. The tamper-proof circuit provides a warning and/or disables a portion of the vehicle electrical circuitry, such as the ignition start circuit or the vehicle's fuel gauge, if the ignition interlock device or a warning device or one of the seatbelt sensing devices has been removed from the electrical circuit. Also, a warning device or a device for disabling a vehicle circuit may be actuated if a seatbelt has been held in an extended position in the absence of an occupant in the seating position corresponding to that seatbelt location. This inconveniences the vehicle driver who fastens or who allows another to fasten a seatbelt in an extended position other than around his body.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce P. Cambern
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:46
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/48; B60R2022/4808; B60R2022/4816; B60R2022/4858; B60R2022/4883
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit for a motor vehicle having at least one seating position equipped with a retractable seatbelt for the protection of an occupant of said seating position, said electrical circuit comprising: first switching means for sensing whether said seatbelt is in a retracted or in an extended position; second switching means for sensing whether or not said seating position is occupied;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit for a motor vehicle having at least one seating position equipped with a retractable seatbelt for the protection of an occupant of said seating position, said electrical circuit comprising: first switching means for sensing whether said seatbelt is in a retracted or in an extended position; second switching means for sensing whether or not said seating position is occupied;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
first circuit means for sensing a condition in which said first switching means indicates that said seatbelt is in an extended position while said second switching means indicates that said seating position is unoccupied; and second circuit means for disabling at least a portion of the electrical circuitry in said motor vehicle subsequent to the sensing by said first circuit means of said condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
first circuit means for sensing a condition in which said first switching means indicates that said seatbelt is in an extended position while said second switching means indicates that said seating position is unoccupied; and second circuit means for disabling at least a portion of the electrical circuitry in said motor vehicle subsequent to the sensing by said first circuit means of said condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said motor vehicle includes a fuel gauge connected in electrical circuit with said second circuit means, said second circuit means disabling said fuel gauge upon the sensing by said first, circuit means of said condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said motor vehicle includes a circuit to permit its engine to be started and wherein said second circuit means is electrically connected to said motor vehicle starting circuit, said starting circuit being disabled by said second circuit means when said first circuit means senses the occurrence of said condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit for a motor vehicle having at least one seating position equipped with a retractable seatbelt for the protection of an occupant of said seating position, said electrical circuit comprising: a first switching device for sensing whether said seatbelt is in a retracted or extended position; a second switching device for sensing whether or not said seating position is occupied; circuit means connected with said first and second switching devices for sensing their operable presence in said electrical circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit for a motor vehicle having at least one seating position equipped with a retractable seatbelt for the protection of an occupant of said seating position, said electrical circuit comprising: a first switching device for sensing whether said seatbelt is in a retracted or extended position; a second switching device for sensing whether or not said seating position is occupied; circuit means connected with said first and second switching devices for sensing their operable presence in said electrical circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit in accordance with claim 4, wherein said electrical circuit includes a warning device and wherein said circuit means for sensing the operable presence of said first and second switching devices includes circuit means for actuating said warning device when either of said switching devices is inoperable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit in accordance with claim 4, wherein said circuit means for sensing the operable presence of said first and second switching devices includes circuit means for disabling at least a portion of the electrical circuitry of said motor vehicle when either of said switching devices is inoperable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
121 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit for a motor vehicle having at least one seating position equipped with a retractable seatbelt for the protection of an occupant of said seating position, said electrical circuit comprising: a first switching device for sensing whether said seatbelt is in a retracted or an extended position; a second switching device for sensing whether or not said seating position is occupied; and circuit means connected with said first and second switching devices for disabling at least a portion of the circuitry of said motor vehicle, said circuit means for disabling said motor vehicle circuitry being actuated if said first switching device senses that said seatbelt is extended while said second switching device senses that said seat is unoccupied.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
121 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit for a motor vehicle having at least one seating position equipped with a retractable seatbelt for the protection of an occupant of said seating position, said electrical circuit comprising: a first switching device for sensing whether said seatbelt is in a retracted or an extended position; a second switching device for sensing whether or not said seating position is occupied; and circuit means connected with said first and second switching devices for disabling at least a portion of the circuitry of said motor vehicle, said circuit means for disabling said motor vehicle circuitry being actuated if said first switching device senses that said seatbelt is extended while said second switching device senses that said seat is unoccupied.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit in accordance with claim 7, wherein said motor vehicle includes a fuel gauge connected with said circuit means and wherein said fuel gauge is disabled upon the actuation of said circuit means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit in accordance with claim 7, wherein said motor vehicle has an electrical circuit for starting its engine, said starting circuit being connected with said circuit means and said starting circuit being disabled when said circuit means is actuated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
149 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit for a motor vehicle having an ignition circuit and at least one seating position equipped with a retractable seatbelt for the protection of an occupant of said seating position, said electrical circuit comprising: first switching means for sensing whether said seatbelt is in a retracted or in an extended position; second switching means for sensing whether or not said seating position is occupied; a solid state switching device connected with said ignition circuit of said motor vehicle, said solid state switching device being changeable from one conductive state to an other conductive state; and circuit means connected with said solid state switching device for changing it from said one conductive state to said other conductive state when said first switching means senses that said seatbelt is in an extended position at a time when said second switching means senses that said seating position is unoccupied.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
149 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit for a motor vehicle having an ignition circuit and at least one seating position equipped with a retractable seatbelt for the protection of an occupant of said seating position, said electrical circuit comprising: first switching means for sensing whether said seatbelt is in a retracted or in an extended position; second switching means for sensing whether or not said seating position is occupied; a solid state switching device connected with said ignition circuit of said motor vehicle, said solid state switching device being changeable from one conductive state to an other conductive state; and circuit means connected with said solid state switching device for changing it from said one conductive state to said other conductive state when said first switching means senses that said seatbelt is in an extended position at a time when said second switching means senses that said seating position is unoccupied.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit in accordance with claim 10, wherein said electrical circuit further includes circuit means connected with said solid state switching device for sensing the removal from said electrical circuit of said first switching means and for changing said solid state switching device from said one conductive state to said other conductive state.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit in accordance with claim 10, wherein said electrical circuit further includes circuit means connected with said solid state switching device for changing said solid state switching device from said one conductive state to said other conductive state when said second switching means has been electrically removed from said electrical circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
A tamper-proof electrical circuit in accordance with claim 10, wherein said electrical circuit further includes a warning device, a second solid state switching device connected with said warning device, and circuit means interconnecting said first solid state switching device and said second solid state switching device and said warning device for changing said first solid state switching device from said one conductive state to said other conductive state upon the removal from said electrical circuit of said warning device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
74 words
A vehicle safety seat belt system including, a vehicle seat, a safety belt means for restraining an occupant in said seat, alarm means, a safety circuit including seat switch means operable by an occupant at a seat position, switch means operable by predetermined positioning of said safety belt means, and means operable by said seat switch means and said safety belt means to energize said alarm means for indicating the non-sequential respective operation thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
74 words
A vehicle safety seat belt system including, a vehicle seat, a safety belt means for restraining an occupant in said seat, alarm means, a safety circuit including seat switch means operable by an occupant at a seat position, switch means operable by predetermined positioning of said safety belt means, and means operable by said seat switch means and said safety belt means to energize said alarm means for indicating the non-sequential respective operation thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
81 words
A vehicle safety seat belt system including, a vehicle seat, a safety belt means for restraining an occupant in said seat, vehicle control means, a safety circuit including seat switch means operable by an occupant at a seat position, switch means operable by predetermined positioning of said safety belt means, and means operable by said seat switch means and said safety belt means to prevent normal vehicle operation unless said seat switch means is actuated prior to said safety belt means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
81 words
A vehicle safety seat belt system including, a vehicle seat, a safety belt means for restraining an occupant in said seat, vehicle control means, a safety circuit including seat switch means operable by an occupant at a seat position, switch means operable by predetermined positioning of said safety belt means, and means operable by said seat switch means and said safety belt means to prevent normal vehicle operation unless said seat switch means is actuated prior to said safety belt 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) | 1982-01-22 | 1982-07-24 | 1983-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-01-22 | 1986-07-24 | 1987-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-01-22 | 1990-07-24 | 1991-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |