Seat belt usage indicating system

An occupant safety protection system (10) comprising:

• a safety belt system (8) including a shoulder belt portion (13) and lap belt portion (15) which when used properly to restrain the occupant are disposed across the upper torso and the lower torso of the occupant respectively wherein the shoulder belt portion and the lap belt portion include ferrous material;
• sensing means for generating a signal indicating the tongue latched within the buckle, and
• first means for sensing the presence of the ferrous material and for determining if either the shoulder belt portion is positioned behind the occupant and the lap belt portion is positioned below the occupant;
• further including second means for preventing the inflation of an associated air bag upon sensing either the shoulder belt portion is positioned behind the occupant or the lap belt portion is positioned below the occupant.

An occupant safety protection system (10) comprising:

• a safety belt system (8) including a shoulder belt portion (13) and lap belt portion (15) which when used properly to restrain the occupant are disposed across the upper torso and the lower torso of the occupant respectively wherein the shoulder belt portion and the lap belt portion include material capable of being sensed;
• sensing means for generating a signal indicating the tongue latched within the buckle, and
• first means for sensing the presence of the material and for determining if either the shoulder belt portion is positioned behind the occupant and the lap belt portion is positioned below the occupant;
• further including second means for preventing the inflation of an associated air bag upon sensing either the shoulder belt portion is positioned behind the occupant or the lap belt portion is positioned below the occupant.