Occupant restraint system and method of operating

An occupant restraint system includes a plurality of occupant residences each including a restraint assembly having a latch mechanism manually movable between a latched state and an unlatched state and an electric lock mechanism movable from an unlocked state to a locked state when the latch mechanism is in the latched state. The control console includes an electronic display of the plurality of occupant residences and a user interface for actuating the electric lock mechanism between the locked state and the unlocked state. An occupancy tabulation system is constructed and arranged to send a signal to the control console indicative of occupied residences of the plurality of occupant residences for displaying an occupied condition associated with the occupied residences on the electronic display.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an occupant restraint system and, more particularly, to an occupant restraint lock status and control system for passenger seats and method of operation.

Traditional seat restraint mechanisms may include pivotally connected bars, chains, belts and other structures that typically include a manual latch for securing an occupant in a seat. Mass transit vehicles may use such seat restraint mechanisms and others to secure a plurality of occupants into a plurality of seats in the vehicle. Non-limiting examples of such vehicles may include buses, amusement rides and aircrafts. For the sake of safety and/or in accordance with government regulations, attendants in such vehicles must visually confirm that each seat restraint mechanism associated with an occupied seat is properly latched, thereby securing the occupant. Such an arrangement may conceivably be compromised since it remains the occupant's prerogative to unlatch the seat restraint mechanism at any given moment without notifying the attendant. A less burdensome means to secure occupants for travel and/or assure occupants are properly restrained during any given moment of travel is desirable.

SUMMARY

An occupant restraint system according to one, non-limiting, embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of occupant residences each including a restraint assembly having a latch mechanism manually movable between a latched state and an unlatched state and an electric lock mechanism movable from an unlocked state to a locked state when the latch mechanism is in the latched state; a control console including an electronic display of the plurality of occupant residences and a user interface for actuating the electric lock mechanism between the locked state and the unlocked state; and an occupancy tabulation system constructed and arranged to send a signal to the control console indicative of occupied residences of the plurality of occupant residences for displaying an occupied condition associated with the occupied residences on the electronic display.

Additionally to the foregoing embodiment, the electric lock mechanism is integrated into the latch mechanism.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the electric lock mechanism is constructed and arranged not to lock when the latch mechanism is in the unlatched state.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the occupancy tabulation system includes a plurality of occupancy sensors with each occupancy sensor associated with a respective one of the plurality of occupant residences, and each occupancy sensor constructed to initiate an occupied signal to the control console.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the occupancy tabulation system includes a bar code reader constructed and arranged to identify each occupant.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the occupancy tabulation system includes a data store that receives input from the bar code reader and a wireless connection for downloading the data store to the control console.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the electric lock mechanism includes an electromagnet.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the restraint assembly includes a flexible belt and a latchable buckle that includes the latch mechanism and the electric lock mechanism.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the plurality of occupant residences is a plurality of airplane seats.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the user interface includes an all-unlock selector for placing all of the electric lock mechanisms in the unlocked state.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the occupant restraint system is generally in a vehicle and the user interface includes a clear selector for clearing all data after travel completion.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the user interface includes a load data selector for loading data from the data store to the control console.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the occupant restraint system includes a processor for receiving and sending control signals from and to the control console and from and to the electric lock mechanism of each one of the plurality of occupant residences.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the processor includes a router having a plurality of ports with each port associated with the electric lock mechanism of a respective one of the plurality of occupant residences.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the occupant restraint system includes a processor for receiving and sending control signals from and to the control console, and wherein the processor includes a router having a plurality of ports with each port associated with the electric lock mechanism of a respective one of the plurality of seats and a respective one of the plurality of occupancy sensors.

A method of operating an occupant restraint system according to another, non-limiting, embodiment includes the steps of identifying occupied seats of the vehicle via an electrical occupancy tabulation system; receiving seat occupancy data from the electrical occupancy tabulation system into a control console via a computer processor; displaying the occupied seats on an electronic display of the control console; notifying occupants to manually place a latch mechanism of a restraint assembly into a latched state; remotely placing a lock mechanism of the restraint assemblies in the latched state into a locked state via a user interface of the control console; and displaying occupied seats that are not in the locked state on the electronic display of the control console.

Additionally to the foregoing embodiment, the method includes the step of notifying the occupant in one of the occupied seats and with a lock mechanism not in the locked state to place the latch mechanism in a latched state.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the method includes the steps of operating a selector on the user interface to place all lock mechanisms in an unlocked state; manually placing the latch mechanism into an unlatched state by the occupant; and disembarking from the occupied seat by the occupant.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the electrical occupancy tabulation system includes a bar scanner that inputs data into a data store.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the electrical occupancy tabulation system includes an occupancy sensor placed in each one of a plurality of seats.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of an occupant restraint control system20may facilitate a safe and/or efficient means to secure a plurality of occupants in and/or on a plurality of respective occupant residences22of a transfer vehicle24. Although illustrated as an airplane as one example of an aircraft inFIG. 4, the vehicle24may also be a bus, an amusement ride or any variety of other vehicles utilized to transport a plurality of occupants, and that may require the use of an attendant. Although illustrated as a seat inFIG. 3, the occupant residence22may be any other structure used to position an occupant in any variety of positions and/or confinements.

The occupant restraint system20may include a power supply26, a control console28, a processor30, an occupancy tabulation system32, and a restraint assembly34. The occupancy tabulation system32and the restraint assembly34are electronically connected to the console28through the processor30. The console28is generally powered by the power supply26through at least one line36. It is further contemplated and understood that redundant control consoles may be present in the vehicle24and electronically connected to the common processor30. For the non-limiting example of an airplane24, the control consoles28may be located at attendant stations and/or in the pilot cockpit.

The control console28may send control signals to the processor30through line38and receives data and/or control signals from the processor through line40. The processor30is programmed to output control signals and/or power to the electric lock mechanisms42of the plurality of restraint assemblies34through a plurality of respective lines44and receives data (i.e., locked state or unlocked state) therefrom through a plurality of respective lines46. The processor30is further adapted to receive occupancy data through a plurality of lines48(i.e., occupied state and non-occupied state) from a plurality of occupancy sensors50of the tabulation system32. The processor30may include a router52having a plurality of ports with each port associated with a respective residence22, and the associated lock mechanism42and occupancy sensor50. It is further contemplated and understood that at least a portion of the lines may be hardwired, may be multiplexed and/or may be wireless.

The occupancy tabulation system32may include the plurality of occupancy sensors50with each occupancy sensor50being approximate to a respective one of the plurality of residences22, a reader54and an electronic data store56that receives output from the reader over line58. The data store56may generally be a tabulation of all occupants entering the vehicle24, and may be downloaded to the processor30when, for example, requested by the control console28over line60that may be wireless. It is further contemplated and understood that the occupancy sensor50may be any variety of sensors capable of detecting when, for example, the occupant is seated. Such sensors may include traditional temperature, pressure and/or light sensors. It is further contemplated and understood that the sensor50may, for example, be a combination of light and pressure sensors, where both must sense occupancy. Such a combination may alleviate any potential of false signals incorrectly indicating an occupant is seated. For example, a package may be on a seat that may trick a light sensor, however, unless the package is exceedingly heavy (e.g., over fifty pounds) the pressure sensor (that may have a programmable weight set-point) will not sense occupancy.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, and as one, non-limiting, example, the vehicle24may be an airplane and the reader54may be a scanner or bar code reader located remotely from the airplane24at a boarding gate62of an airport. In operation, the reader56may scan a boarding ticket carried by each occupant64just prior to boarding the airplane24. The computer readable data may be a simple count of occupants64boarding the airplane24or may include additional descriptive data of each occupant. The data store56may be generally located in the airport and delivered to the processor30wired, or wirelessly, upon command from the control console28. In the example of an airplane24application, the wired or wireless connection between the data store56and the processor30may be a secured private wired or wireless connection that opens for a brief period necessary to transfer data and closes once a receipt notification from the on-board system is received by the data store56.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 3-4, each restraint assembly34may include a restraint member66, latch mechanism68manually movable between an unlatched state70and a latched state72, and the electric lock mechanism42movable between an unlocked state74and a locked state76. Generally, the latch mechanism68is manually operated by the occupant64and may not be directly monitored by the control console28. The electric lock mechanism42is operatively integrated with the latch mechanism68such that the lock mechanism is physically unable to move from the unlocked state74to the locked state76if the latch mechanism68is not in the latched state72.

As one, non-limiting, example, the restraint member66may be a flexible seat belt and the latch mechanism68may generally be a seat belt buckle having a female portion78and a detachable male portion80via a spring loaded button or actuator82mounted to the female portion78. The electric lock mechanism42, may as one non-limiting example, be an electromagnetic lock mechanism having an electromagnet84mounted generally inside the female portion78, an armature plate86generally integrated into the male portion80, and a magnetic proximity sensor or reed switch88that may be mounted to the male portion80.

In operation, the restraint member66is manually buckled (i.e., moved from the unlatched state70to the latched state72) by the occupant64once self-located in the seat22. After buckling, the electromagnet84may receive power over line44and thus firmly engages to the adjacent armature plate86. The adjacent switch88may sense the magnetic field thus closing a circuit that sends a locked signal over line46to the control processor30. If the latch mechanism68is not in the latched state70, the armature plate86and switch88are not adjacent to the electromagnet84, thus the lock mechanism42will not move to the locked state76.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 5, the control console28may include a display and input screen or user interface90that may be a touch screen. The screen may generally include an interactive display of a seating layout92, an unlock-all selector94, a clear selector96, a load data selector98and a lock-all selector100that may illuminate a pre-specified color (e.g. green) when all occupants are properly latched and locked in designated seats. Each seat22displayed in the seating layout92may illuminate a pre-specified color indicative of the following conditions: red if occupied and not locked102; white if occupied and locked104; yellow if unoccupied and locked106; blue if unoccupied and unlocked108; and, purple if in an overridden condition110. It is contemplated and understood that any color coding combinations may be utilized to signify the conditions102,104,106,108,110, or other means of alerting an attendant such as specific lettering being displayed, etc.

In operation of the occupant restraint system20, all occupants64may enter the airplane24through an airport gate62where the ticket of each occupant is scanned by reader54with the data stored in data store56. With all occupants64boarded and located in what may be designated seats22, the occupants may be notified to manually place their latch mechanisms68(i.e., buckle) in the latched state72. During this period, the attendant may initiate the load data selector98on the display and input screen90that instructs the processor30to download the occupancy data from the data store56via wireless line or link60. Also, the occupancy sensors50located in the occupied seats will send a signal to the processor30via respective routers52and send this data to the control console28via line40.

The control console28may compare the data store data to the data received from the occupancy sensors50to determine if all occupants are seated in their correct seats and to determine if some occupants are not yet seated (i.e. in bathroom, etc.). Although of some benefit, the occupant restraint system20will also function without input from the data store56.

From the seating layout92, the attendant may efficiently determine what seats are occupied and not locked102. When the attendant is satisfied that all occupants are seated and manually latched, the attendant may select the lock-all selector100to move the lock mechanisms42from the unlocked state74the locked state76. If an occupant has not yet latched, the lock mechanism will remain in the unlocked state74and the display layout92will alert the attendant of an occupied but not locked condition102of a particular seat22. The attendant may then notify the unlatched occupant to latch the mechanism68and via the display layout92, may re-initiate the lock sequence for the particular occupant. When a lock mechanism42is in the locked state76at a particular seat22, the locked occupant may be notified of the locked state76using a status indicator (e.g., audible and/or visual) on an in-flight entertainment system (not shown) if available, and/or an illuminated indicator (not shown) located to be viewed by the occupant.

The overridden condition110of the control console may allow for special circumstances of any pre-selected seat22. Such circumstances may include the seating location of an air marshall, a malfunctioning restraint assembly34, and other conditions.

After travel is completed, the attendant may select the unlock-all selector94thereby moving the lock mechanism42from the locked state76to the unlocked state74. After unlocking, the attendant may notify the occupants that they are free to unlatch the latch mechanisms68. After travel completion, the attendant may also select the clear selector96to clear the control console for preparation of the next flight. Alternatively, the system20may be programmed to include an auto cleaning and/or overriding the previous data when new valid data is entered.

While the present disclosure is described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In addition, various modifications may be applied to adapt the teachings of the present disclosure to particular situations, applications, and/or materials, without departing from the essential scope thereof. The present disclosure is thus not limited to the particular examples disclosed herein, but includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.