Patent ID: 6203059
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An occupant safety protection system (10) comprising:a safety belt system (8) including a shoulder belt portion (13) and lap belt portion (15) and a tongue associated with the belt system that is lockable within a buckle, wherein when used properly to restrain the occupant the tongue is locked within the buckle and the shoulder belt portion and the lap belt portion are respectively disposed across the upper torso and the lower torso of the occupant respectively;sensing means for generating a signal indicating the tongue latched within the buckle, andfirst means for determining if either the shoulder belt and lap portions is in a position indicative of seat belt misuse as distinguished from a condition in which the tongue is not in the buckle;control means, responsive to the first means, for modifying the operation of a safety component upon determining a condition of misuse;wherein the safety component includes at least one of an air bag inflator (107), retractor pretensioner (20a) and buckle pretensioner (26a).