External seat belt indicator light

An external seatbelt indicator provides a red indicator light that appears on the front and rear of the vehicle when the driver's seat is occupied, the vehicle's ignition switch is in the on position, the vehicle is in any forward or reverse gear, and the driver's seatbelt is unfastened. The red indicator light may include, but is not limited to a written message, such as, “No Seat Belt,” or it may be in another form, such as a silhouette of a seated person wearing a seatbelt and shoulder harness.

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PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to vehicle safety systems and in particular to an external seatbelt status indicator. The laws of all 50 states require vehicle drivers to fasten their seatbelts when the vehicle is in motion, and with the use of retracting seatbelts and shoulder harnesses. However, the position of the seatbelt is not easily discernible from a substantial distance by law enforcement officers. An external seatbelt indicator light, displaying an indication that the seatbelt is unfastened, that is clearly visible by day or night would assist in enforcement, both by advertising to law enforcement officers that the seatbelt is not fastened and by advertising to the general public, thereby subjecting an un-seatbelted driver to social enforcement mechanisms. The result would be saved lives and reduced injuries in accidents from increased seatbelt usage. It would also increase revenue for government units, by enabling law enforcement officers to write more tickets for seatbelt violations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to an external seatbelt indicator light. A red indicator light appears on the front and rear of the vehicle when the driver's seat is occupied, the vehicle's ignition switch is in the on position, and the driver's seatbelt is unfastened. The red indicator light may include, but is not limited to a written message, such as, “No Seat Belt,” or it may be in another form, such as a silhouette of a seated person wearing a seatbelt and shoulder harness.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to an external seatbelt indicator light10. A red indicator light10appears on the front and rear of the vehicle11when the driver's seat is occupied, the ignition switch of the vehicle11is in the “on” position, and the driver's seatbelt is unfastened. The red indicator light10may include, but is not limited to a written message, such as, “No Seat Belt,” or it may be in another form, such as a silhouette of a seated person wearing a seatbelt and shoulder harness.

The device consists of two red indicator lights10, mounted on the front and rear of the vehicle11, and a control unit, preferably mounted under the dashboard, under the center console, or other location within the vehicle cabin. The control unit is connected via wires or alternative signal transfer devices (e.g. wireless) to the red indicator lights10and to a set of four switches. The first switch, a vehicle ignition switch, activates when the ignition switch of the vehicle11in the on position. The second switch, a vehicle transmission switch, activates when the transmission is in any forward or reverse gear. The third switch, a driver's seat occupancy switch, is a pressure switch located within the driver's seat, and activates when a person is occupying the driver's seat. The fourth switch, a driver's seatbelt switch, activates when the driver's seatbelt is unfastened. When all four switches are activated, the control unit activates the red indicator lights10.

In the first exemplary embodiment, each red indicator light10would display the phrase, “No Seat Belt.” In a sedan or coupe, the red indicator light10on the front of the vehicle11would preferably be mounted on the top center of the front windshield, in front of the rearview mirror; and the red indicator light10on the rear of the vehicle11would preferably be mounted on the center of the rear window, over or next to the rear window brake light, facing out through the rear window above the trunk lid. For other vehicle models, the red indicator lights10would preferably be mounted in comparable positions.

The above-described four-switch logic may be achieved via the arrangement of the switches in electrical series. Alternatively, the same logic may achieved through the use of a software program running on a computer comprising a microprocessor, digital memory, data storage medium, and appropriate interface devices to operate the four switches and the indicator lights.

In the second exemplary embodiment, each red indicator light10would display a silhouette of a seated person wearing a seatbelt and shoulder harness. The indicator light10is preferably one and one-fourth inches wide by three and one-fourth inches tall. Other embodiments, displaying other written messages or symbols indicating that the driver's seatbelt is unfastened, are also contemplated.

Further embodiments are contemplated wherein the red indicator light10is made machine-detectable. This may be achieved by replacing the visible light emitter with an emitter in a more readily machine-detectable band of the electromagnetic spectrum, for example the microwave and radiofrequency bands. Alternatively, the visible light emitter may emit in an identifiable visible band or may be configured to blink an identifiable pattern or carry a signal. In these embodiments, the emitted signals or patterns are received directly by law enforcement through ground or vehicle-based equipment linked to law enforcement data systems.

To use the device, the user simply sits in the driver's seat of the vehicle11, and turns the ignition switch to the “on” position. The device operates automatically. The power source for the device is preferably the electrical system of the vehicle11. Other embodiments that are powered by replaceable or rechargeable batteries are contemplated. The device is intended for installation as original equipment by the vehicle manufacturer. Other embodiments that can be installed as an after-market modification, by the owner of the vehicle11or by a repair shop or customizing shop, are also contemplated.

The control unit, and the housings of the red indicator lights10, would preferably be manufactured from durable, rigid materials, such as aluminum, steel, brass, and high-impact plastic. The outer lenses of the red indicator lights10would preferably be manufactured from a durable, rigid, translucent material, such as plastic, glass, or transparent thermoplastic. The wires connecting the components would preferably be manufactured from copper sheathed in plastic. Components, component sizes and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.