Patent ID: 6829952
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: G01L

Abstract:
A seat belt tension sensor adapted to operatively couple to a vehicle frame with an anchor bolt, comprising:a. an anchor plate, wherein said anchor plate is adapted to operatively couple to a webbing of a seat belt; b. a first slot in said anchor plate, wherein said first slot is adapted to provide for operatively coupling said anchor plate to the vehicle frame with the anchor bolt through said first slot, said first slot slideably engages the anchor bolt, and said first slot is adapted to limit the travel of the anchor bolt relative to said first slot responsive to a tension applied to the seat belt when the seat belt is operatively coupled to said anchor plate and said anchor plate is operatively coupled to the vehicle frame with the anchor bolt through said first slot; c. a spring operative between said anchor plate and the anchor bolt when said anchor plate is operatively coupled to the vehicle frame with the anchor bolt, wherein said spring biases said slot relative to the anchor bolt, a tension in the seat belt causes a deflection of said spring and an associated motion of the anchor bolt in said slot, and the magnitude of said deflection is responsive to a magnitude of said tension; and d. at least one proximity sensor operatively coupled to said anchor plate, wherein said at least one proximity sensor is responsive to a proximity thereof to the anchor bolt, and thereby, said proximity sensor is responsive to a position of the anchor bolt within said first slot responsive to deflection of said spring responsive to said tension in the seat belt.