Seat belt warning device

Details Seat belt warning device Seat belt warning device

2000-03-06

2001-05-29

Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)

Communications: electrical

Land vehicle alarms or indicators

Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...

C340S626000, C340S666000, C340S667000, C280S735000, C280S732000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06239695

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to seat belts. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a seat belt warning device for detecting whether the seat belt is fastened or unfastened.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A seat belt warning device for providing an indication of the fastened and unfastened states of a vehicle seat belt is described in Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication No. Hei. 4-41443. This device issues a warning when the ignition is in the on-state and the seat belt is in an unfastened state. Additionally, the detection of the fastening of the seat belt is inhibited when the opening and closing of the door is not detected.
However, in this type of seat belt warning device, because the detection of the fastening of the seat belt is based on the opening and closing of the door, as long as the door is not opened and closed, the device does not issue a warning, irrespective of the fastened or unfastened state of the seat belt. Thus, it is difficult to detect with certainty the fastened and unfastened state of the seat belt according to the existence of a person sitting in the vehicle seat. Particularly, in the case of detecting the fastened and unfastened state of a seat belt at the passenger seat, if the door is opened and closed, there is a fear that a warning is issued because of the unfastened state of the seat belt, although a person is not actually seated on the seat.
In light of the foregoing, a need exists for a seat belt warning device that is able to reliably detect the fastened and unfastened state of the seat belt based on whether an individual is seated on the vehicle seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, a seat belt warning device includes a sitting detection switch adapted to be in an on-state when a person sits and in an off-state when a person is not sitting, a fastening detection switch connected to the sitting detection switch in series and adapted to be in an on-state when a seat belt is not fastened and in an off-state when the seat belt is fastened, and a warning member connected to the sitting detection switch and the fastening detection switch in series and supplied with electric current in the on-state of the sitting detection switch and the on-state of the fastening detection switch to issue a warning.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a seat belt warning device includes a sitting detection switch provided on a vehicle passenger seat and adapted to detect a sitting state and a non-sitting state of the passenger seat, a fastening detection switch provided on a seat belt mechanism installed at the passenger seat and adapted to detect a use state and a non-use state of the seat belt mechanism, and a warning member provided at an instrument panel of the vehicle and operable based on signals from the sitting detection switch and the fastening detection switch.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a seat belt warning device includes a sitting detection switch operatively associated with a vehicle seat and adapted to be in an on-state when a person is seated on the vehicle seat and in an off-state when a person is not seated on the vehicle seat a fastening detection switch connected to the sitting detection switch and adapted to be in an on-state when a seat belt is not fastened and in an off-state when the seat belt is fastened, and a warning member connected to the sitting detection switch and the fastening detection switch and adapted to issue a warning signal indicating that the seat belt is not fastened only when the sitting detection switch is in the on-state and the fastening detection switch is in the on-state.
According to the present invention, the operation of the warning member based on the fastening and unfastening detection of the fastening detection switch can be inhibited by the non-sitting detection of the sitting detection switch. Thus, the fastening and unfastening detection of the seat belt can be certainly carried out according to the existence of a person sitting on the vehicle seat.


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