Apparatus to ensure use of vehicle seat belt

#The present invention relates, in general, to seat belts used in motor vehicles and, more particularly, this invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for preventing a driver of a motor vehicle from operating such motor vehicle unless such seat belts for each occupant in such motor vehicle are properly fastened.

#The use of seat belts in automobiles and other motor vehicles has increased throughout the years. As governmental, insurance and safety agencies have continually informed the public of the number of lives that the use of seat belts have saved, the message seems to be getting through to a significantly large portion of the public.

#However, there still appears to be a significant segment of the driving population that ignores this one rather simple means of saving lives and reducing the severity of injuries that can occur from automobile accidents. Even legislation that requires the use of seat belts by all occupants of a motor vehicle continues to be ignored by an alarming number of people operating and riding in motor vehicles. However, as with many laws such as these, this type of law is very difficult to enforce because it is not something that is readily apparent to the various law enforcement agencies who must enforce these laws.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention for ensuring seat belt usage in a motor vehicle.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the block diagram of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the female portion of a seat belt according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.

#Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2. Illustrated therein is a block diagram and a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the invention for a method and apparatus which would ensure seat belt usage in a motor vehicle.

#Such apparatus, generally designated 80, used to ensure use of seat belts in a motor vehicle, comprises a first means, generally designated 10, disposed in a first predetermined location in such motor vehicle (not shown) for generating and transmitting a first signal when an occupant is detected in a seat. Such first means 10 would include a detection device 52 in each seat of the motor vehicle. Such detection device 54 could also be disposed on each seat back. Such first means 10 would transmit a signal when an occupant is detected. Occupant or passenger as used in this disclosure is intended to include the driver and is meant to include anyone in the motor vehicle.

#There is a second means, generally designated 20, disposed in a second predetermined location for generating and transmitting a second signal representative of such seat belt being one of unlatched and latched. Such second means 20 transmits such second signal indicating that the seat belt for a seat in which an occupant is positioned is latched or unlatched. A third means, generally designated 30, is disposed in a third predetermined location for receiving the second signal and for generating and transmitting a third signal when such seat belt, that was detected as being latched by the second means, does not extend a sufficient distance so to encircle such occupant of that seat of such motor vehicle. The third means 30 is used to prevent an occupant from engaging the seat belt but not putting it around himself or herself. This was a common practice from some people with the earlier seat belts who did not like seat belts. Such practice is not as prevalent with today's seat belts with the shoulder strap as this becomes more inconvenient and uncomfortable. However, such third means 30 prevents anyone from using this practice.