# US 10,501,049 B1 · Seatbelt assembly with color coded lighting feature > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,049 B1 - Document ID: US10501049B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/050,335 - Filed: 2018-07-31 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-31 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Estefania Rojas Silva; Carmen Frida Vargas Garcia - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501049B1 ## CPC - B60R 22/48: Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness - A44B 11/2565: {Illuminated buckles} - B60Q 3/242: Safety belts; Body harnesses - B60R 22/343: with electrically actuated locking means {(B60R22/3405 takes precedence)} - B60R 2022/4866: {Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A44B: BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE (fastenings specially adapted for footwear A43C) - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract A seatbelt assembly includes a buckle assembly, having (a) a housing carrying a latching mechanism, a first light source and a first electrical contact, (b) a seatbelt and (c) a latch plate assembly, carried on the seatbelt. The latch plate assembly includes a latch plate and an electrical circuit including a battery, a second light source and a second electrical contact. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A seat belt assembly, comprising: a buckle assembly including a housing carrying a latching mechanism, a first light source and a first electrical contact; a seat belt; and a latch plate assembly carried on said seat belt, said latch plate assembly including a latch plate and an electrical circuit including a battery, a second light source and a second electrical contact. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The seat belt assembly of claim 1 wherein said first light source and said second light source are identical in color. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The seat belt assembly of claim 2, wherein said first electrical contact engages said second electrical contact when said latch plate is locked in said latching mechanism in order to allow charging of said battery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The seat belt assembly of claim 3, wherein said latch plate assembly includes a switch between said battery and said second light source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The seat belt assembly of claim 4, wherein said switch is a normally open reed switch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The seat belt assembly of claim 5, wherein said buckle assembly includes a magnet carried on said housing wherein a magnetic field of said magnet closes said normally open reed switch when said latch plate assembly is moved near said buckle assembly thereby illuminating said second light source. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The seat belt assembly of claim 6, further including a controller configured to illuminate said first light source in response to a motor vehicle occupant occupying a seat associated with said seat belt assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The seat belt assembly of claim 7, further including a presence monitoring device adapted to send an occupancy signal to said controller when said motor vehicle occupant is occupying said seat. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The seat belt assembly of claim 8, wherein said controller is configured to turn off said first light source when said latch plate assembly is properly secured to said buckle assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The seat belt assembly of claim 9, wherein said first light source is a first light emitting diode and said second light source is a second light emitting diode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The seat belt assembly of claim 3, further including a controller configured to illuminate said first light source in response to a motor vehicle occupant occupying a seat associated with said seat belt assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The seat belt assembly of claim 11, further including a presence monitoring device adapted to send an occupancy signal to said controller when said motor vehicle occupant is occupying said seat. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The seat belt assembly of claim 12, wherein said latch plate assembly further includes a touch sensor adapted to (a) detect when said motor vehicle occupant touches said latch plate assembly and (b) illuminate said second light source in response to a touch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The seat belt assembly of claim 13, wherein said controller is configured to turn off said first light source and said second light source when said latch plate assembly is properly secured to said buckle assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The seat belt assembly of claim 14, wherein said first light source is a first light emitting diode and said second light source is a second light emitting diode. ### Claim 16 A seat belt assembly, comprising; a buckle assembly including a housing carrying a latching mechanism and a first light source; a seat belt retractor; a latch plate assembly including a latch plate and a second light source; and a seat belt connecting said seat belt retractor and said latch plate assembly, said seat belt including an electrical conductor delivering electrical power from said seat belt retractor to said second light source. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The seat belt assembly of claim 16, further including a controller configured to (a) illuminate said first light source in response to a motor vehicle occupant occupying a seat associated with said seat belt assembly and (b) illuminate said second light source in response to said motor vehicle occupant paying out said seat belt from said seat belt retractor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The seat belt assembly of claim 17, wherein said electrical conductor is illuminated with said second light source. ### Claim 19 A seat belt assembly, comprising: a buckle assembly including a housing carrying a latching mechanism and a first light source; a seat belt retractor; a latch plate assembly; a seat belt connecting said seat belt retractor to said latch plate assembly, said seat belt including a second light source; and a controller configured to (a) illuminate said first light source in response to a motor vehicle occupant occupying a seat associated with said seat belt assembly and (b) illuminate said second light source in response to said motor vehicle occupant paying out said seat belt from said seat belt retractor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The seat belt assembly of claim 19, wherein said second light source is selected from a group consisting of an electrotextile material, a conductive ink or combinations thereof.