2489 results about "Seat belt" patented technology

Safety systems for vehicles, primarily passenger vehicles, comprising automated systems and methods for preventing entrapment of children, disabled, aged or infirm persons, or pets from being trapped in closed vehicles left in the sun, so that they will not suffocate from the heat. The invention is characterized by use of one or more systems to sense the occupancy state and temperature inside the vehicle passenger or load space, and provide one or more outputs which can selectively be employed to provide interior and exterior warning of a trapped passenger in a dangerously hot car to permit rescue, and / or to activate vehicle electro-mechanical systems to relieve the heat, such as rolling down windows, unlatching seat belts, unlocking doors, starting the car and / or fans or air conditioning systems and the like. The exterior warnings may be any suitable warning, such as sounding the car horn or alarm siren, flashing head, tail or special lights, placing an emergency call via a vehicle dedicated cell phone, CB radio, GPS system, or the like.

Safety systems for vehicles, primarily passenger vehicles, comprising automated systems and methods for preventing entrapment of children, disabled, aged or infirm persons, or pets from being trapped in closed vehicles left in the sun, so that they will not suffocate from the heat. The invention is characterized by use of one or more systems to sense the occupancy state and temperature inside the vehicle passenger or load space, and provide one or more outputs which can selectively be employed to provide interior and exterior warning of a trapped passenger in a dangerously hot car to permit rescue, and / or to activate vehicle electro-mechanical systems to relieve the heat, such as rolling down windows, unlatching seat belts, unlocking doors, starting the car and / or fans or air conditioning systems and the like. The exterior warnings may be any suitable warning, such as sounding the car horn or alarm siren, flashing head, tail or special lights, placing an emergency call via a vehicle dedicated cell phone, CB radio, GPS system, or the like.

The child safety seat includes a seat body that is attached to a base that is held in place by the vehicle seat belt. The base provides for movement of the seat body around at least one axis. A turntable allows the seat body to be rotated from a safe-riding position to face the car door to facilitate positioning the child in the seat or to make it easier to grasp and maneuver a separable child carrier with the child in it. Inadvertent rotation of the turntable is prevented by a locking mechanism that remains engaged until released by the parent or caregiver. In one embodiment, a second axis of movement allows the seat body to be reclined so that the child's head is supported when he or she falls asleep. The reclining adjustment is a motorized motion which can be remotely controlled by the parent or caregiver sitting in the front of the vehicle via wires connected to a remote control.

A system detects the presence of an unattended child within a vehicle and when the child is so detected, disables the vehicle's door locks by preventing doors from being locked or remaining locked and sounds an alarm. The presence of a child is detected by measuring pressure on the back seat and measurements above a threshold limit signify a child is present or if any of the rear seat belts are buckled a child is detected. The system can be shut off by the driver, although the system has an override in the shutoff mode so that if the temperature rises above or falls below a certain level and the presence of a child is detected, the alarm is sounded. In this mode, the presence of the child can also be detected by a motion sensor.

An apparatus for preventing occupant injury during accident has various features to ensure safety. A sensor 70, detecting seat belt engagement is provided. In addition, there is a means for varying the tension of a seatbelt 17, depending upon the weight of the occupant 110 and the speed of the vehicle carrying the occupant 110. When the occupant 110 seats on any of the seats 17, the load cell switch 18 will close, allowing the load cell output energy to energize the control module 25. The control module 25 will then enables the counter 50 to count the number of closed load cell switches 18. The control module 25 further enables an optoisolator switch configured with the sensor 70 to then energize a latching relay 80 operatively configured to check the seat belt latching of all occupied seats 10 with closed load cell switches 18, to assure occupants safety. The load cells are configured with strain gauges and temperature sensors to ensure human occupants. Such that, when the switch 18 for the occupied seat 10 is closed, the latching relay 80 circuit is energized so that the seat belt 17 for the occupied seat location is checked for buckling. The latching relay 80 circuit and the counter 50 circuit are operatively configured and closed only when an occupant 110 takes any of the seats 10. The latching relay switch 85 is only energized when the counter circuit 50 is closed.

A seat belt alarm system activates an alarm when a child is buckled in a car seat and when the car key is removed from the ignition. The seat belt alarm system includes a belt buckle having a belt-buckled sensor and a transmitter that transmits a belt-buckled signal when the belt is buckled. A remote key module includes a key-removed sensor that senses when the key is not in a keyhole. The key module further includes a receiver and an alarm device that is activated when the key is not in the keyhole and the belt-buckled signal is received from the transmitter. In another variation, a controller is provided. The controller may be coupled to various components including the belt-buckled sensor, a key-removed sensor, a transmitter and additional devices such as a horn, air conditioning, etc. The controller instructs the transmitter to send an activate-alarm signal to a receiver in the key module when a belt-buckled signal and a key-removed signal are input to the controller. The alarm device may provide a sound, vibration, light, or another indicator. Another variation includes a removable baby seat with a seat belt alarm system. Still another variation includes an automobile having a seat belt alarm system.

A portable, variable speed cabin air purifier (10) operates independently of a vehicle HVAC system and is constructed as an armrest or console (114) that can be placed on any passenger seat and held in place by the seat belt. The air purifier (10) may also be strapped to the floor of a van or SUV, or be positioned in the trunk (100) of a sedan with ducting (104, 108) installed into the vehicle cabin. A 12 volt DC blower (48) can be connected to the cigarette lighter outlet (62) or permanently wired in. Three to five replaceable packed bed filter media packets (70-76), a HEPA filter (78) and a carbon impregnated filter (80) may be installed. The filter media packets (70-76) comprise filter media envelopes (86) of a non-woven, gross particulate filter material packed with other filter media (88), including desiccants, sorbents, chemisorbents, pelletized and granular carbon particles, and catalysts, and are placed between grates (82, 84) and installed in a selected sequence.

This disclosure introduces a system which generates a visual, audio, and / or tactile warning to a driver of a lead vehicle when a possible rear-end collision is detected, based on the approach of a second vehicle from a rear direction. The system may also generate a warning signal (such as quick blinking red brake light, or an array of multi-color lights) directed to the approaching vehicle when it is determined to be approaching at an unsafe speed. The system may include one or more of: approaching-vehicle-sensors mounted on the back end of the lead vehicle, a computer processing system, a set of warning lights, a set of speakers within the lead vehicle, and an antenna and transmitter / receiver for communicating with systems of other vehicles. This system may include a connection to the existing taillight system and other existing systems in the lead vehicle. Extended systems may include connections to and control of head support system, seat-belt systems and airbags system to provide additional safety to the occupants of the lead vehicle. The system may also record and store a few seconds of sensor data of the pre-crash and crash related scene when an impact occurs, and provide blind spot warnings.

A secondary seat belt warning system for alerting a vehicle occupant when a seat belt is unbuckled. The secondary seat belt warning system includes an ignition switch for generating a signal indicating an ignition in an on position, a seat belt sensor for generating a signal indicating that the seat belt is unbuckled, and a seat belt indicator for producing an audible and visible indicator to the vehicle occupant. The secondary seat belt warning system also includes a control module to activate the seat belt indicator in response to the input from the ignition switch and seat belt sensor. The secondary seat belt warning system further includes a vehicle speed sensor to activate the secondary seat belt warning system when the control module receives a signal above a predetermined threshold from the speed sensor indicative of the vehicle speed.

The present invention relates to a combination heater and occupant sensor device that may be used in an automobile seat. The device will heat a seat and sense the mass of an occupant in the seat. The device provides the ability to combine occupant sensors with a seat heater without damaging the sensors or obtaining incorrect sensor readings. The sensor results may be processed and used to control air bag deployment, for example, or to indicate if the seat belt of an occupied seat is not being employed. To provide flexibility of the device during use, the device may be formed on a polymer substrate and configured to include apertures throughout. In addition, in the heating portion of the device, conductive material may be blended in a polymer and the device may be configured to limit conductor cracking after repeated flexing of the device thus extending the life of the device.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention a passive, wireless, RFID-based wireless buckle-closure sensor determines whether the buckle of a child safety seat is secured. Sensors also are provided to determine if the child is in the seat, the temperature and if the vehicle is in operation, and alarms are sounded if an unsafe condition is detected by the system. Child safety seats utilize a 3-point or 5-point locking-mechanism for seat belt and harness restraints. The locking-mechanism requires that metal belt / harness components latch together and are released by depression of a lock-mounted release button. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention a passive RF transponder is affixed to the buckle. Essentially the RF transponder comprises an RFID device without a data component. The RF transponder is interrogated by a frequency-scanning reader, which determines the resonant frequency of the transponder. The resonant frequency of the transponder is affected by the presence of the metal fittings local to the RF transponder. Thus, since the major components of the buckle and latch are metal, the detection of the change in the resonant frequency of the transponder, also referred to as “detuning,” permits the determination of the state of the belt / harness buckle—latched or unlatched. This sensing is wireless, unobtrusive, and requires only a passive component be attached to the buckle. Further disclosed is a method of determining the status of a child in a child safety seat, including: whether or not a child is in the seat, whether or not the belt / harness buckle is latched, whether the vehicle's engine is in operation, and whether or not the surrounding temperature exceeds the temperature range. If an unsafe condition is detected, an alarm is activated.

An adjustable child seat includes a backrest and a seat base and may be used with or without the backrest. The child seat includes adjustable arm rests. The height of the backrest and the depth of the seat base are also adjustable. The connection between the backrest and the seat base is configured to prevent unintentional separation but allows simple and intuitive separation when desired. A belt guide operating in either a seat belt locking mode or a seat belt free mode is also provided.

A secondary seat belt warning system for a motor vehicle includes at least one control module for activating at least one secondary warning signal. The secondary seat belt warning system also includes a driver seat belt sensor for producing an input signal indicative of a state of a driver seat belt between a buckled and unbuckled condition. The secondary seat belt warning system includes at least one passenger seat belt sensor for producing an input signal indicative of a state of at least one passenger seat belt between a buckled and unbuckled condition. The at least one control module communicates with the driver seat belt sensor and the at least one passenger seat belt sensor for activating the at least one secondary warning signal to alert a corresponding occupant of the motor vehicle if the state of at least one of the driver seat belt and the at least one passenger seat belt is the unbuckled condition.

A portable air purifier for reducing pollutants in the passenger cabin of a vehicle to concentrations at least as low as the US-EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards for: carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and particulate matter; plus benzene to a European ambient air standard. The purifier includes an air inlet and air outlet in communication with the vehicle cabin, with air circulation provided by a DC electric motor / blower attachable to a vehicle power plug. The filter assembly includes a specified series of filter media packets and a HEPA filter. The machine's preferred location is in the center of a rear seat where it can serve as an armrest / console and be secured by a seat belt.

An occupant monitoring and restraint status system is provided. The system includes an occupant boarding and de-boarding system. The occupant boarding and de-boarding system detects boarding and de-boarding of occupants. The system also includes a bench type seat that has a plurality of seat locations. Each of these seat locations includes a seat belt system which has a status sensor to detect a state of the seat belt system. Each seat location also includes an occupant sensing system. The occupant sensing system detects the presence and identity of an occupant at the seat location. The system further includes a display which includes a seat status indicator for each of the plurality of seat locations. The seat status indicators include information regarding a presence of an occupant, an occupant identity, and a state of a seat belt system.

A seat restraint system whose torso belt includes an inflatable structure that inflates upon impact to protect the occupants of a vehicle such as an automobile. The inflatable structure is linked to a gas generator and crash sensor. When an impact above a predetermined level of severity is detected, the gas generator is ignited, inflating the inflatable structure which contracts in length as it inflates. In a preferred embodiment, the inflatable structure is a braided tube. As the braided tube inflates, the diameter of the tube increases significantly and its length decreases significantly, due to the orientation of the fibers comprising the braided tube. The contraction in length pretensions the seat belt system by pulling any slack out of the seat belt systems. In a frontal impact, the inflated structure restricts the forward motion of an occupant and distributes crash loads over a larger occupant surface area to reduce both primary and secondary injuries. In a side impact, the inflated structure passes over the occupant's shoulder, restricts occupant motion, distributes crash loads and provides head and neck protection.

A seat belt tightener has an electrical tightening drive that can be operated in dependence on sensor signals of sensors assessed in an evaluating device. The sensors detect specific vehicle dynamic conditions and transmit electrical indicating signals that are proportional to the detected condition to the evaluating device. The evaluation device compares the signals with allocated threshold values to determine whether or not a potential crash situation is present. Should a potential crash situation be present, the electrical tightening drive is controlled accordingly.

[PROBLEMS] To cushion impact acting on an occupant who is not in a regular position. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] When an abnormality occurs, an airbag device (1) inflates and expands in front of an occupant and absorbs an impact from the front of a vehicle. An airbag (2) to which gas from an inflator is supplied in an abnormality is provided with a vertical recess (2c) facing the head (Ph) of the occupant (P). The recess (2c) is located at the center, in the right and left direction of the vehicle, of an occupant restriction surface (2b) formed at a position facing the occupant (P) sitting on the seat during inflation and expansion. At least one fixed vent (2ea, 2eb) and at least one variable vent (2fan, 2fb) are provided at each of opposite sidewalls (2da, 2db). The fixed vent (2ea, 2eb) has an invariant opening area, and the variable vents (2fan 2fb) has an opening area variable depending on the sitting position of the occupant (P) during expansion. The recess (2c) and the opposite sidewalls (2da, 2db) are coupled in the airbag (2) by shape control members (3a,3b). [EFFECT] Even an occupant of out of position or an occupant not wearing a seat belt can be received relatively flexibly, and trouble caused on the occupant by the airbag is reduced.

The invention is directed to a system for detecting the presence of a child in a car, when the driver exits the vehicle. A sensor is connected to the seat belt of the baby's car seat or to the rear seat belts. Once the seat belt is inserted into the belt buckle, an alarm circuit is activated. When the driver enters the vehicle and sits down, the system detects the presence of the driver and de-activates the alarm circuit. When the driver exits, the alarm circuit is then re-activated. The system includes a delay timer that gives the driver time to enter and exit the vehicle without setting off the alarm circuit. When the alarm circuit is activated, a timer for the time delay begins. At the end of the time delay (e.g., relay is transferred), if the driver has not disabled the alarm circuit by re-entering the vehicle or taking the child out of the vehicle, the alarm circuit will be set off warning signals and will remain energized until disabled.

A slide rail device for a vehicle seat including a lower rail member fixed on a floor of the vehicle and an upper rail member slidably fitted in the lower rail member. Basically, a stopper and a notch are provided respectively at the forward and rearward ends of the upper rail member, while a striker is provided at the floor of the vehicle, erecting therefrom. When the upper rail member is located at a home position upon the lower rail member, the stopper is abutted against the forward end of the upper rail member and side of the floor, with the notch being engaged over the striker, whereby the upper rail member is prevented against separation from the lower rail member. Another striker and hook-like lock member may be provided in the case where the vehicle seat is of a jump-seat type having a seat belt anchor, so that not only the seat is locked to the upper rail member against forward jumping, but also an upwardly slant pulling force applied through the seat belt anchor is dispersed and escaped to the floor through the stopper, two strikers, the lock member and the notch. Further, a guide roller arrangement is provided at the upper rail member for supportive sliding in the lower member, which includes a guide piece at one of the guide rollers that will be exposed from the lower rail member when the upper rail member is slid away from the lower rail member, such that the exposed portion of the upper rail member can be withdrawn into the lower rail member, with guiding aid of the guide piece.

Apparatus for positioning an occupant of a vehicle in an area of a closeable roof hatch includes a carrier frame suspended within a vehicle below the roof hatch and including a vertical support portion and a horizontal standing area connected to the vertical support portion. A seat assembly for the occupant has a backrest which is guided by the vertical support portion for movement in a vertical direction between upper and lower end positions and is spring-biased to seek the upper end position. The seat assembly has a seating area, which is swingably mounted to a lower end of the backrest, and a coupling brace, which has one end swingably mounted to the seating area and another end swingably mounted to the standing area. Connected to the seat assembly is a seat belt for fastening the occupant.

A method comprising the step of using a plurality of doppler radars disposed on the seat belt or integrated into the seat belt for monitoring vital body signs of a person seated in a seat of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The disclosed method unobtrusively monitors vital body signs like heart rate and respiration of the person seated in the motor vehicle. A number of safety applications as well as wellness applications can be enabled. Examples are detection of momentary sleep of the driver, vital sign monitoring in case of an accident as well as relaxation exercise using biofeedback to reduce stress for drivers.

This disclosure introduces a system which generates a visual, audio, and / or tactile warning to a driver of a lead vehicle when a possible rear-end collision is detected, based on the approach of a second vehicle from a rear direction. The system may also generate a warning signal (such as quick blinking red brake light, or an array of multi-color lights) directed to the approaching vehicle when it is determined to be approaching at an unsafe speed. The system may include one or more of: approaching-vehicle-sensors mounted on the back end of the lead vehicle, a computer processing system, a set of warning lights, a set of speakers within the lead vehicle, and an antenna and transmitter / receiver for communicating with systems of other vehicles. This system may include a connection to the existing taillight system and other existing systems in the lead vehicle. Extended systems may include connections to and control of head support system, seat-belt systems and airbags system to provide additional safety to the occupants of the lead vehicle. The system may also record and store a few seconds of sensor data of the pre-crash and crash related scene when an impact occurs, and provide blind spot warnings.

The present invention enables observers to rapidly determine whether a seat belt is properly fastened. When the seat belt buckle is latched a circuit is completed which activates an array of lights incorporated with the seat belt fabric. When illuminated, the lights provide to an observer positive visual confirmation the belt is latched. The disclosed invention promotes safety by permitting law enforcement officers, aircraft cabin attendants, amusement park ride operators and the like to verify at a glance, regardless of ambient lighting conditions, whether seat belts are being used as required.

An apparatus (10) for providing fluid under pressure for actuating a vehicle occupant protection device comprises an electrically actuatable initiator (80) having terminal pins (100). A hermetically sealed metal propellant container (130) contains a propellant (82) ignitable by the initiator (80) to produce fluid under pressure. The propellant container (130) is secured to the initiator (80) by crimping. The apparatus (10) also comprises a member (86) electrically insulating between the metal propellant container (130) and the terminal pins (100) of the initiator (80) to isolate the initiator electrically from the propellant container.

A four-point seat belt system for restraining a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat is disclosed. Two shoulder belts are provided which are buckled together with a pair of lap belts. The convergence of the shoulder belts created at the buckles defines a V-shaped configuration which aids in occupant safety and comfort. Movably-adjustable retractors are provided to anchor the upper end of each shoulder belt to the vehicle seat. A movable headrest having a pair of laterally-adjustable belt loops is provided to further enhance occupant security and comfort.

A method and apparatus is provided that classifies a seat occupant into one of several different weight classes based on an estimated value of the seat occupant weight. An occupant's measured weight varies when the occupant's seating position changes or when the vehicle travels over adverse road conditions. A plurality of weight sensors are used to measure the weight exerted by a seat occupant against a seat bottom and are used to determine center of gravity for the seat occupant. A seat belt force sensor is also used to assist in classifying the seat occupant. Compensation factors using the seat belt force and center of gravity information are used to generate an estimated weight value. The estimated value of the occupant weight is compared to a series of upper and lower weight thresholds assigned to each of the weight classes to generate an occupant weight sample class. Over a period of time, several estimated weight values are compared to the weight class thresholds. Once a predetermined number of consistent and consecutive occupant weight sample classes is achieved, the occupant is locked into a specific occupant weight class. When the weight class is locked, the separation value between the upper and lower thresholds is increased to account for minor weight variations due to adverse road conditions and changes in occupant position.

An apparatus (40) pretensions seat belt webbing (16) which is extensible about an occupant of a vehicle seat (14). The apparatus (40) includes a movable first member (140), a connector (42) for connecting the first member (140) with the seat belt webbing (16), a movable second member (200), a pyrotechnic device (120) for applying a force to the second member (200) to move the second member, and force limiting coupling device (240). The force limiting coupling device (240) couples the first member (140) and the second member (200). The coupling device (240) moves the first member (140) with the second member (200) until a predetermined force is applied by the connector (42) to the first member (140) resisting movement of the first member with the second member. Thereafter, the coupling device (240) enables the second member to move relative to the first member.