Assembly of seat belt buckle and seat belt tension sensor
AssigneeBreed Automotive Technology, Inc.
InventorHarald Snorre Husby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seat belt tension sensing device has a seat belt tension sensor and a seat belt buckle. The seat belt tension sensor has a means for detecting and transmitting information about magnetic field strength, a magnet, and a means for positioning the magnet spaced from the sensor. The magnet is biased away from the sensor. The seat belt tension sensor maintained fixed relative to a structural member of a vehicle. The a seat belt buckle is attached directly or indirectly to the seat belt tension sensor so that tension on the seat belt buckle moves the magnet and sensor closer together or further apart.
Claims29
A seat belt tension sensing device comprising:
- (a) a seat belt tension sensor comprising
- (i) a bracket adapted to be anchored directly or indirectly to a structural member of a vehicle, the bracket having portions defining an opening through which a component of a seat belt buckle is looped, wherein the bracket has a seat belt buckle restraining side;
- (ii) a carriage positioned within the bracket opening and movable toward the seat belt buckle restraining side;
- (iii) a magnetic field sensor mounted on the seat belt buckle restraining side of the bracket;
- (iv) a magnet mounted on the carriage for motion toward the sensor mounted on the seat belt buckle restraining side;
- and
- (V) at least one spring positioned between the carriage and the restraining side, biasing the carriage away from the restraining side, wherein the carriage moves toward the restraining side when tension is applied to the seat belt buckle;
- and
- (b) a seat belt buckle having a loop member that extends through said opening in said bracket of said seat belt tension sensor.
A seat belt tension sensing device comprising:
- (a) a seat belt tension sensor comprising
- (i) a bracket adapted to be held fixed relative to a structural member of a vehicle;
- (ii) a magnetic field sensor mounted on the bracket;
- (iii) a carriage mounted on the bracket for movement toward and away from the sensor;
- (iv) a means for biasing the carriage away from the bracket;
- and
- (v) a magnet mounted on the carriage so that motion of the carriage against the means for biasing moves the magnet toward the sensor;
- and
- (b) a seat belt buckle attached directly or indirectly to said carriage such that tension on the seat belt buckle causes the carriage to move toward and away from the sensor.
A seat belt tension sensing device comprising:
- (a) a seat belt tension sensor comprising
- (i) a means for detecting and transmitting information about magnetic field strength;
- (ii) a magnet;
- (iii) a means for positioning the magnet spaced from the sensor;
- (iv) a means for biasing the magnet away from the sensor;
- and
- (v) a means for maintaining the seat belt tension sensor fixed relative to a structural member of a vehicle;
- and
- (b) a seat belt buckle attached directly or indirectly to said seat belt tension sensor so that tension on the seat belt buckle moves the means for detecting and transmitting information about magnetic field strength and the magnet closer together or further apart.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.