Abstract:
The present invention provides a system for monitoring the usage of individual vehicular seat belts. Each belt is equipped with a local indicator which is adapted to indicate when a seatbelt is not properly fastened. A second display, preferable near the vehicle&#39;s dashboard and readily visible to the driver shows the status of each of the vehicle&#39;s seatbelts. Finally, a third display located near the rear the rear window of the vehicle displays the status of all vehicle seatbelts in a fashion readily observable by a following motorist such as a law enforcement official. An optional seat occupancy sensor may also be used to render the system more intelligent and minimize indications of unbuckled seatbelts for unoccupied seats.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a device to encourage the wearing of automobile seatbelts. More particularly, the invention comprises a system of indicators specifically displaying which occupant of a vehicle does not have his or her seat fastened, the indicators being visible outside the vehicle to aid law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of seat belt statutes. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Each year, lives are lost in motor vehicle accidents because one or more occupants were not wearing a seat belt. The advent of air bags and other passive restraint devices has helped this situation but still, air bags in and of themselves do not provide complete protection of the vehicle driver or passenger(s) in the event of a collision. Because of the overwhelming evidence that seatbelts do save lives, many states have passed mandatory seat belt laws with fines for non-compliance. For whatever the reasons, many people still do not “buckle up” before departing in a motor vehicle. Because law enforcement officials have no easy way to insure that all vehicle occupants are wearing seatbelts, there is far too often disregard of the seat belt laws. 
     Many ideas have been proposed to solve this problem. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,474 for METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING THE UTILIZATION OF A VEHICLE SAFETY BELT; issued Apr. 1, 1975 to Norman G. Quantz, teaches a system for detecting the occupancy of a seat and the state of the seat belt (i.e., buckled or unbuckled). An unspecified signal is presented to a “utilization device”. Quantz, however, provides no indication of how many or which seat belts remain unfastened and, in addition, provides no signal visible outside the vehicle indicating that one or more seat belts associated with occupied seats remain unfastened. 
     In contradistinction, the instant invention provides indicators at each seatbelt buckle showing the status of that particular seatbelt. In addition, signals specifically indicating which seatbelts remain unfastened are provided to both the vehicle driver and, externally, to following motorists, such as law enforcement personnel. 
     Another seat occupancy sensing system is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,898,473 for SENSING SYSTEM FOR SENSING STATE OF WEAR OF SEATBELT; issued Aug. 5, 1975 to Atushi Ueda, et al. The Ueda, et al. system provides for switch contacts within the seat structure for sensing occupancy but still provides no seat-specific information regarding the fastened/unfastened status of individual seat belts. 
     The inventive system, on the other hand, provides seat-specific information regarding the status of each seatbelt in the vehicle. This information is displayed in a manner observable by a trailing motorist such as a law enforcement officer. 
     Another approach to the problem of encouraging the wearing of seat belts is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,645 for SEAT BELT SYSTEM WITH STARTER ENGINE LOCK AND ALARM; issued Aug. 15, 1978 to Donald J. Lewis, et al. Lewis et al. teach a system wherein if a vehicle&#39;s front seat is occupied but the occupant has not fastened his or her seatbelt, the engine can not be started and, in addition, an alarm is sounded. Lewis et al., however, provide no visual indication of a seatbelt buckle&#39;s status either at the buckle, at the driver&#39;s region of the dashboard, or at a location viewable from outside the vehicle. 
     Finally, Japanese Patent No. JP361009360(a) for SETTING CHECKER FOR SEAT BELT, issued January, 1998 to Isuke Hzuka, et al. teaches an indicator lamp outside the vehicle body which is illuminated if a vehicle occupant has not fastened his or her seatbelt. Hzuka et al. do not teach a system indicating which vehicle occupant or occupants do not have their seatbelts fastened, but rather provide a single visual indication outside the vehicle. Neither do they teach the use of individual indicators at each seatbelt buckle. 
     In each one of these prior art inventions, some form of seatbelt monitoring is disclosed. Some included general indicators which show that at least one seatbelt is not fastened. No combination of this or any other prior art known to the Applicant provides any visual indication of the status of individual seatbelts, either inside or outside the vehicle. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to either describe or render obvious the instant invention as claimed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a system for monitoring the status of individual vehicular seat belts. Each belt is equipped with a local indicator which is adapted to indicate when a seatbelt is not properly fastened. A second display, preferably near the vehicle&#39;s dashboard and readily visible to the driver shows the status of each of the vehicle&#39;s seatbelts. Finally, a third display located in or near the rear window of the vehicle displays the status of all vehicle seatbelts in a fashion readily observable by a following motorist, particularly a law enforcement official. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a seatbelt usage indicating system wherein each seatbelt buckle is equipped with a local indicator displaying whether or not the buckle is fastened. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a seatbelt usage indicating system where the status of each individual seatbelt is displayed within view of the vehicle driver. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a seatbelt usage indicating system wherein the status of each individual seatbelt is displayed in a manner readily viewable from outside the vehicle, specifically by a following motorist or other observer behind the vehicle. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of the seatbelt usage display system of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an electrical schematic circuit diagram of a portion of the seatbelt usage display system of the invention; and 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic pictorial diagram of a vehicle showing the relative location of the indicators of the seatbelt usage monitoring system of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational detail view of a seatbelt buckle shown at the center of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Generally speaking, the present invention relates to the monitoring of seatbelt usage in a motor vehicle and, more particularly, to a system for monitoring each individual seatbelt and displaying the status of each belt within view of the driver and, in addition, external to the vehicle. 
     Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a system block diagram, generally at reference number  100 . A series of seatbelt buckles  102   a ,  102   b ,  102   c  . . .  102   n  each contain two functional components: a buckle switch  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c  . . .  104   n  and a buckle indicator  106   a ,  106   b ,  106   c  . . .  106   n . Note that the terminology  102   x , etc. is used herein to refer to any single one of a previously described series of references (i.e.,  102   a ,  102   b ,  102   c  . . .  102   n ). In the inventive system, any number of seatbelt buckles  102   x  may be monitored although four or five are usually all that are necessary in a passenger automobile. Different numbers will, obviously, be required in different vehicle configurations. 
     Each buckle switch  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c  . . .  104   n  is connected to controller  108  by switch cable  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  . . .  110   n , respectively. The switches may be of any type known and used in the automotive industry. The switch may be a single-part switch having all electrical connections in one half of the seatbelt buckle or, in alternate embodiments, may have electrical connections to both halves of the buckle. Buckles  102   x  are representative of a separable connector  10  (see FIG. 4) including one connector section  12  separably connectable to another connector section  14 . Each section  12  or  14  is associated with one end or section  16  or  18  of the seatbelt. Each buckle  102   a ,  102   b ,  102   c  . . .  102   n  is also equipped with an indicator  106   a ,  106   b ,  106   c  . . .  106   n . Cables  110   x  are general high-reliability flat cables, generally integrally formed into or onto the fabric forming the seatbelt (not shown) itself. 
     Indicators  106   x  are designed to indicate the latched status of the buckle  102   x  to which they are connected. In the embodiment chosen for disclosure, indicators  106  are LEDs, chosen for their low power consumption, long life and low heat production. Many other types of indicators well known to those skilled in the art could readily be adapted for use with the inventive system. The inventive system, therefore, is not considered limited to the LED indicators  106   x . Each indicator  106   x  is also connected to controller  108  by indicator cables  112   a ,  112   b ,  112   c  . . .  112   n . Like cables  110   x  described hereinabove, cables  112   x  are also high-reliability flat cables, generally integrally formed into or onto the fabric forming the seatbelt (not shown) itself. 
     Each vehicle seat is also equipped with an occupancy sensor  114   a ,  114   b ,  114   c  . . .  114   n . Occupancy sensors  114   x  may also be any of several type of sensor well know to those skilled in the arts. Typically, sensors  114   x  will be a pressure-sensitive arrangement integrally formed into the vehicle seat  202 ,  204  (FIG.  3 ). The sensitivities of sensors  114   x  are carefully chosen so that they will respond to an occupant in the seat but be unresponsive to a bag of groceries, a small pet, or other such cargo which may be placed from time to time in the seat. Occupancy sensors  114   a ,  114   b ,  114   c  . . .  114   n  are also connected to controller  108  by sensor cables  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c  . . .  116   n , respectively. Cables  116   x  need not be flat cable such as cables  110   x  or  112   x  but may be of any type cable suitable for use in an interior vehicular wiring harness. 
     An interior display console  117  has a series of indicators  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c  . . .  118   n  corresponding to buckles  102   a ,  102   b ,  102   c  . . .  102   n , respectively. Interior display console  117  is placed where it is readily viewed by the vehicle driver but does not impair the driver&#39;s view of the road. Indicators  118   x  may also be LEDS although a wide variety of other display devices well know to those skilled in the art may also be used. In alternative embodiments, a dimming control  134  (FIG. 2) may be implemented to vary the intensity of indicators  118   x  as a function of the interior light level in the vehicle (i.e., brighter during daylight hours, dimmer at night, etc.). Dimming control  134  could be implemented either within controller  108  or within interior display console  116 . Interior display console  117  is connected to controller  108  by wiring harness  120 . Wiring harness  120  may consist of multiple conductors of any type cable suitable for vehicular interior use and may be either multiple single-conductor wires or a multi-conductor cable as best suits the individual circumstance. 
     Exterior display console  122  is similar to interior display console  117 . Exterior console  122  may be mounted either inside the vehicle but in a position where it is readily observed from outside the vehicle or, in alternate embodiments, console  122  may be mounted outside the vehicle in a location such as the trunk deck or the like. Exterior console  122  also has a series of indicators  124   a ,  124   b ,  124   c  . . .  124   n  corresponding to buckles  102   a ,  102   b ,  102   c  . . .  102   n , respectively. Indicators  124   x  are chosen for their visibility in high ambient light environments such as on a sunny day. Light generating displays may be used or, in alternate embodiments, electromechanically actuated reflective display mechanisms may be used. Exterior console  122  is connected to controller  108  by cable harness  126 . Requirements for cable harness  126  are similar to those of cable harness  120  described hereinabove. If exterior display console  122  is physically mounted on the exterior of the vehicle, cable harness  126  must be waterproof and of a type suitable for exterior use. 
     Controller  108  and subsequently all display devices  106   x ,  118   x ,  124   x  all receive power from the vehicle&#39;s electrical system via power connection  126 . The operating voltage of controller  108  will generally be 12 volts DC but other voltages such as 24 volts DC may be chosen to fit a particular operating environment or circumstance. 
     Controller  108  is implemented using either electromechanical relays (not shown), solid-state devices (not shown), or other suitable switching devices (not shown) for performing similar functions. Suitable plug and socket arrangements (not shown) may also be used to connect any combination of cables  110   x ,  112   x ,  116   x ,  120 ,  126 ,  128  to controller  108 . Alternatively, cables  110   x ,  112   x ,  116   x ,  120 ,  126 ,  128  may all be directly connected to appropriate terminals (not shown) within controller  108 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an electrical schematic diagram of a portion of the circuitry of the inventive seatbelt usage monitoring system. Because the circuitry associated with each monitored seat location in the vehicle is identical, only circuitry for a single seat is shown. A DC voltage from the vehicle&#39;s power system is provided at input terminal  130 . Input terminal  130  is connected to a first side of buckle switch  104   a  and to an input side of occupancy sensor  114   a . The output side of buckle switch  104   a  and the output side of occupancy sensor  114   a  are connected to controller  108  by cables  110   a  and  116   a , respectively. Cables  110   a  and  116   a  are ultimately connected to a logic device  132 . Logic device  132  is a simple “nand” function implemented in any variety of ways well know to those skilled in the circuit design art. The output of logic device  132  is connected to indicators  106   a ,  118   a  and  124   a . In alternate embodiments, optional dimming circuit  134  may be interposed between the output of logic device  132  and indicators  106   a ,  118   a  because indicators  106   a  and  118   a  are both disposed within the vehicle interior and may benefit from the inclusion of optional dimming circuit  134 . Indicator  124   a  disposed for viewing outside the vehicle will generally not require dimming. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a sectional side view of a typical passenger automobile, generally at reference number  200 . Buckles  102   a  and  102   c  are shown proximate the driver&#39;s front seat  202  and the rear passenger seat  204  behind the driver&#39;s seat respectively. Likewise, occupancy sensors  114   a  and  114   c  are shown embedded in seats  202  and  204 , respectively. Internal display console  116  is shown positioned on or near the dashboard near the driver. Exterior display console  122  is shown on the interior rear ledge immediately behind seat  204  where indicators  124   a  . . .  124   n  are clearly visible through vehicle  200  rear window area  206 . 
     In operation, seatbelt buckle switches  204   x  are closed when their respective seatbelt buckles  202   x  are properly fastened. If an associated occupancy sensor  114   x  indicates that a person is seated in the seat and the respective seatbelt switch  104 X indicates that the belt is properly fastened, logic device  132  produces no active output. If however, occupancy sensor  114   x  indicates that a person is seated in the seat but buckle switch  104   x  indicates that the seatbelt is not properly fastened, the logic device  132  produces an active output. The active output from logic device  132  illuminates the three indicators  106   x ,  118   x    124   x  associated with that particular seat position. 
     It is possible to implement the inventive tri-sensor seat belt usage display system without the occupancy sensors  114 . This system suffers in that an unoccupied seat will produce a bogus indication of an unfastened seatbelt. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.