Abstract:
An automatic seatbelt release system includes an electrically-released buckle which engages a shoulder belt and a lap belt. When engaged, the system provides the protection and functionality of a common three-point seatbelt. When a user opens a vehicle door, an electric switch within the door handle provides a signal to disengage the buckle causing both the shoulder and lap belts to retract, enabling the user to exit the vehicle in an expedient manner. The system is particularly useful for law enforcement officers or military personnel who need to frequently and quickly exit a vehicle. A power switch is provided to deactivate the system.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/567,905 filed on Dec. 7, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a vehicle restraint belt and, more particularly, to a restraint belt system which can be selectively operated manually or automatically. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Seatbelts are a ubiquitous feature in vehicles of all types, and in particular are installed in all modern automobiles. Seatbelts are such an important safety feature that in many locations their use is mandated by law. 
     Due to educational awareness programs and state laws, most people today automatically buckle up their seatbelt upon entering a motor vehicle. Such use has undoubtedly saved countless lives and will continue to do so into the future. However, a portion of the population sometimes seen not wearing seatbelts are those of law enforcement officers and military personnel who frequently need to exit a motor vehicle in an emergency situation. The extra seconds taken to release a seatbelt system are often seen as a detriment to their safety. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which seatbelt systems can be automatically and quickly released in a simultaneous manner as the vehicle door being opened to address the situation described above. 
     Having recognized the abovementioned problems, the inventor observed there remains a need for a means by which seatbelt systems can be quickly released in an automatic manner to address the situation described above. 
     Several attempts have been made in the past to provide such an automatic belt restraint release device. U.S. Pat. No. 3,840,249, in the name of Strom, discloses an assembly for positioning safety belts in restraining and non-restraining positions with pivoting arm mounted along the floor of the vehicle in response to opening and closing of the door. The Strom invention utilizes mechanical coupling between the door and the release mechanism whereas the present invention relies upon electrical signals. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,090, issued in the name of Hollins, describes an automatic seat belt buckle unlatching mechanism for when the engine of the vehicle is stalled. Unfortunately, this does not fall under the overall scope of the present invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,625, issued in the name of Tsuge et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,119 issued in the name of Schwark et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,275,613, issued in the name of Park, each disclose similar automatic seat belt unbuckling mechanisms. 
     None of the prior art particularly describes a device that provides such a release mechanism for a shoulder belt assembly and lap belt assembly restraint in a vehicle. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which one can quickly remove such belt restraint assemblies during an emergency or need for quick exit of a vehicle, such as emergency or law enforcement personnel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, it has been observed that there is need of a means provide a selectively manual or automatic release of a belt assembly in a motor vehicle. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic restraint belt release system comprising a buckle assembly, a shoulder belt assembly comprising a shoulder belt and a shoulder recoil unit, a lap belt assembly comprising a lap belt and a lap recoil unit, a latch switch mounted within a door of the vehicle, and a power switch mounted within the door. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide such a belt buckle assembly comprising a control module configured to be affixed to a floor of a vehicle, a bracket hingedly attached to the control module, a belt buckle affixed to the bracket, and a release mechanism integral with the belt buckle and in electrical communication with the control module. The power switch activates the control module. The latch switch, which is connected to the existing door opening switch, automatically activates the control module to actuate the release mechanism. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide such a control module having an enclosure rigidly mounted to the floor housing a control means for operating the releasing mechanism. The control means is in electrical communication with both the latch switch and the power switch. 
     Yet another object of the present invention provides for the shoulder recoil unit to be mounted to the door frame and the lap recoil unit to be mounted to the floor of the vehicle. 
     Yet another object of the present invention provides for the shoulder belt assembly to further comprise a length of shoulder belting affixed to the shoulder recoil unit, a shoulder clasp affixed to the shoulder belting, a shoulder belt bracket with a shoulder roller unit integral thereto, a shoulder mounting bracket attached to the vehicle and attached to the shoulder belt bracket via a shoulder spring hinge, and a shoulder stop bar slidably attached to the shoulder belting. 
     Yet another object of the present invention provides for the lap belt assembly to further comprise a length of lap belting affixed to the lap recoil unit, a lap clasp affixed to the lap belting, a lap belt bracket with a lap roller unit integral thereto, a lap mounting bracket attached to the vehicle and attached to the lap belt bracket via a lap spring hinge, and a lap stop bar slidably attached to the lap belting. 
     Yet another object of the present invention provides for the belt brackets of the shoulder belt assembly and said lap belt assembly to be each attached to the door frame of the vehicle. 
     Yet another object of the present invention provides the release mechanism to further comprise a release button supported by a first spring within the belt buckle and extending outward therefrom, a release solenoid in electrical communication with the control means, a belt latch operably coupled to the release solenoid via connecting linkage and supported by a second spring, and a linkage support mounted within the belt buckle such that the connecting linkage is pivotally connected thereto. The release button manually releases the belt latch from the shoulder clasp and lap clasp 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an alignment tab on the shoulder clasp to removably connect to an alignment slot of the lap clasp to enable simultaneous insertion of the shoulder clasp and lap clasp within the belt buckle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of an automatic restraint belt release system  10  depicting an in-use state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a close-up view of a shoulder belt assembly portion  50  of the automatic restraint belt release system  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of a linear buckle portion  22  of the automatic restraint belt release system  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 4  is an electrical block diagram of the automatic restraint belt release system  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  automatic restraint belt release system 
               20  belt release mechanism 
               22  linear buckle 
               24   a  release solenoid 
               24   b  solenoid shaft 
               25  release plate 
               26  belt release bracket 
               27  spring hinge 
               28  control module housing 
               30  door latch switch 
               32  power switch 
               36  wiring 
               40  belt latch 
               41  linkage support 
               42  solenoid linkage 
               43  first spring 
               44  second spring 
               50  shoulder belt assembly 
               52  shoulder belting 
               53   a  alignment slot 
               53   b  alignment tab 
               54   a  shoulder belt clasp 
               54   b  lap belt clasp 
               55   a  shoulder clasp aperture 
               55   b  lap clasp aperture 
               56  stop bar 
               58   a  shoulder belt bracket 
               58   b  lap belt bracket 
               59  roller unit 
               60  first recoil unit 
               62  roller 
               66  mounting bracket 
               80  lap belt assembly 
               82  lap belting 
               86  second recoil unit 
               100  vehicle seat 
               105  vehicle 
               107  door frame 
               108  floor 
               110  door latch 
               115  fastener 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIG. 1 through 4 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an environmental view of the automatic restraint belt release system (herein described as the “system”)  10 , which provides automatic release of restraining belt portions and enables quick exiting from a vehicle  105 , being particularly useful for use by law enforcement and military personnel. The system  10  comprises an electrically released linear buckle  22  which provides a three-point restraint mechanism, coincidentally anchoring both a shoulder belt assembly  50  and a lap belt assembly  80  via respective clasp portions  54   a ,  54   b . The linear buckle  22  is in mechanical communication with a chassis portion of the vehicle  105  via an anchoring structure comprising an arcuate belt release bracket  26  and a control module housing  28  being affixed to a center floor area  108  of the vehicle  105 . The belt release bracket  26  and the control module housing  28  are joined to form a structure being capable of withstanding tensile forces associated with conventional seat belt systems. The control module housing  28  comprises a heavy-duty metal enclosure being rigidly mounted to said floor portion  108  using a plurality of anchoring fasteners  115 . The control module housing  28  provides mounted containment and protection of electrical and electronic controlling portions of the system  10  (see  FIG. 4 ). The control module housing  28  provides a pivoting attachment means to the belt release bracket  26  via a spring hinge  27 . The belt release bracket  26  in turn is integrally joined to the linear buckle  22 . The outwardly biased spring hinge  27  causes the linear buckle  22  to pivot away from the user automatically upon detachment of the shoulder  50  and lap  80  belt assemblies, thereby providing unimpeded exit of the user from the vehicle  105 . 
     The system  10  provides automatic detachment of the shoulder  50  and lap  80  belt assemblies via a door latch switch  30 , a power switch  32 , and interconnecting wiring  36 . The door latch switch  30  is to be mounted and positioned within a door portion of the vehicle  105  and being in mechanical communication with a door latch mechanism portion  110  of said door so as to cause electrical actuation of the door latch switch  30  upon opening the door. The power switch  32  is envisioned to be conveniently located along an inner door panel portion, thereby allowing selective activation or de-activation of the system  10  by the user. Upon opening a door portion of the vehicle  105  while the system  10  is activated, the electrical door latch switch  30  conducts an electrical signal via the wiring  36  to the control module housing  28 . The control module housing  28  in turn provides power to an integral release solenoid  24  within the linear buckle  22  to disengage the linear buckle  22 , thereby automatically releasing the belt assemblies  50 ,  80  and allowing the user to freely and quickly exit the vehicle  105 . When the system  10  is deactivated using the power switch  32 , the first buckle  22  and belt assemblies  50 ,  80  are envisioned to operate manually, similar to a conventional seat belt system by pressing a release button portion  25  located along a top surface of the linear buckle  22 . 
     The system  10  is preferably incorporated into the construction of new vehicles  105 ; however, it is understood that various models of the system  10  may be packaged as an aftermarket kit for installation within various vehicles  105  without deviating from the teaching of the system  10 , and as such, should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the system  10 . It is further understood that the system  10  may be configured in a “mirror-image” manner for implementation on a right-side seat portion  100  within the vehicle  105  without being interpreted as a limiting factor of the system  10  as well. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a close-up view of shoulder and lap belt assembly portions  50 ,  80  of the system  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The shoulder  50  and lap  80  belt assemblies each comprise a length of shoulder belting  52  and lap belting  82 , respectively, being made using strong textile strapping material commonly associated with seat belt construction, being introduced in various vehicle interior-matching colors. Said belt assemblies  50 ,  80  further comprise respective clasps  54   a ,  54   b  at proximal ends being sewn or otherwise ruggedly joined to end portions of the belting  52 ,  82 . A distal end portion of said shoulder belt  50  is attached to a door frame portion  107  of the vehicle  105  via a shoulder belt bracket  58   a , spring hinge  27 , and mounting bracket  66 . Similarly, the lap belt  80  is attached to a door frame portion  107  of the vehicle  105  via a lap belt bracket  58   b , thereby providing similar pivoting function as the aforementioned belt release bracket  26 . Additionally, said shoulder  50  and lap  80  belt assemblies comprise respective first recoil  60  and second recoil  86  units being mounted to door frame  107  and floor  108  portions, respectively, in a conventional manner. Said recoil units  60 ,  86  are envisioned to be similar to conventional inertial-operating units found within many popular vehicles. Said recoil mechanisms  60 ,  86  are envisioned to work in conjunction with respective roller units  59  being integrated into upper edge portions of the aforementioned shoulder belt and lap belt brackets  58   a ,  58   b . Each roller unit  59  comprises a cylindrical-shaped metal enclosure which axially supports an internal metal roller  62  to smoothly redirect the shoulder  52  and lap  82  belting portions downwardly into the recoil units  60 ,  86  during release and retraction of said belt assemblies  50 ,  80 . Said belt assemblies  50 ,  80  are also envisioned to utilize common adjustable friction stop bars  56  which limit retraction of said belt assemblies  50 ,  80  when released. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a section view of the linear buckle portion  22  of the system  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The first clasp  54   a  comprises a recessed alignment slot  53   a  and the second clasp  54   b  comprises a matching and inserting alignment tab  53   b . Said alignment slot  53   a  and alignment tab  53   b  act to interlock and align the clasps  54   a ,  54   b  prior to, and during insertion into the linear buckle  22 . The linear buckle  22  comprises a manual release button portion  25  being supported by a first spring  43 , which enables manual operation in a conventional manner. Additionally, the linear buckle  22  provides a means of electrical release via an internal release solenoid  24   a  which when electrically actuated by the control module  28 , causes disengagement of an internal belt latch portion  40  to release the belt assemblies  50 ,  80 . The solenoid  24   a  preferably comprises a linear electromagnetic unit having a reciprocating solenoid shaft portion  24   b . The solenoid shaft  24   b  is in mechanical communication with the belt latch  40  via connecting linkage  42  which acts to motion said belt latch  40 . The connecting linkage  42  is supported within the linear buckle  22  via a linkage support  41 . The belt latch  40  is supported by a second spring  44 , thereby being normally engaged within respective clasp aperture portions  55   a ,  55   b  of each clasp  54   a ,  54   b  to secure the belt assemblies  50 ,  80  within the linear buckle  22 . Actuation of the solenoid  24   a  pivotingly motions the belt latch  40  via the connecting linkage  42  to release the belt assemblies  50 ,  80 , allowing the user to freely and quickly exit the vehicle  105 . When the system  10  is electrically deactivated using the power switch  32 , the linear buckle  22  and belt assemblies  50 ,  80  are envisioned to operate in a conventional manual manner by pressing the release button  25 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an electrical block diagram of the system  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. Electrical power to the system  10  is provided via connection of wiring  36  between the control module housing  28  to an un-switched circuit portion of the vehicle&#39;s  105  12-volt electrical system. The control module housing  28  contains electrical and electronic equipment such as, but not limited to: printed circuit boards, microprocessors, relays, embedded software, and the like, being necessary to the automatic operation of the system  10 . Said control module housing  28  receives input signals from the door latch switch  30  and the power switch  32 , and in turn provides power to the releasing solenoid  24   a  based upon software instructions, thereby releasing the belt assemblies  50 ,  80 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the system  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of installing the system  10  (when procured in a retrofit kit form), may be achieved by performing the following steps: removing original personal restraining equipment including the shoulder belt, seat belt, recoiling devices, and anchoring means from the vehicle  105 ; anchoring the control module housing  28  to a middle floor portion  108  of the vehicle  105  using the fasteners  115 ; anchoring the first  60  and second  86  recoil units to the existing original equipment mounting features at door frame  107  and floor  108  areas of the vehicle  105  using fasteners  115 ; mounting the door latch switch  30  so as to be in mechanical communication with the door latch mechanism  110 ; mounting the power switch  32  upon the inner door panel portion of the vehicle  105 ; routing and connecting wiring  36  discreetly between the door latch switch  30  and power switch  32  portions, and the control module housing  28 ; and, routing and connecting additional wiring  36  from the control module housing  28  to an existing un-switched 12-volt circuit within the vehicle  105 . The system  10  is ready for operation. 
     The method of utilizing the system  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: occupying a vehicle seat  100  within the vehicle  105 ; engaging alignment slot  53   a  and alignment tab  53   b  portions of the respective first  54   a  and second  54   b  clasps; inserting clasp portions  54   a ,  54   b  of the shoulder  50  and lap  80  belt assemblies into to the linear buckle  22 ; activating the system  10  by selecting the “ON” position upon the power switch  32 ; driving the vehicle  105  to a destination in a normal manner; utilizing the automatic release feature of the system  10  by grasping and motioning the door latch  110 , activating a signal from the door latch switch  30  to the control module housing  28  causing actuation of the linear solenoid  22  and release of the belt assemblies  50 ,  80 ; exiting the vehicle  105  in an expeditious manner without having to attend to the manual releasing of the belt assemblies  50 ,  80 ; and, benefiting from timely exiting from a vehicle  105  afforded a user of the present invention  10 . 
     The preferred embodiment of the system  10  may also be utilized in a deactivated or manual mode, thereby functioning in a similar manner as a conventional mechanical seat belt system by performing the following steps: selecting an “OFF” position upon the power switch  30 ; releasing the shoulder  50  and lap  80  belt assemblies by lifting the release plate portion  25  of the linear buckle  22 . The automatic features of the system  10  are especially useful to law enforcement officers and/or military personnel who need to frequently and quickly exit a vehicle  105 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.