Seat belt tension sensing device
AssigneeFinecard International Limited
InventorsF. Michael Barnes, Benjamin Gregory Shepherd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A seat belt tension sensing device adapted for sensing tension in a belt securing a child's car seat in a vehicle, and comprising a housing (52) having a upper housing member (50) hingedly attached (at 54) to a lower housing member 52, and a closure catch (58) to permit the passage of a length of seat belt (36) through the housing to pass over a depressible switch (66). Within the housing is a power source (40) and alarm/indicator (41) responsive to a signal emitted by the switch (66) when actuated by the scar belt (36) passing over the switch. Sufficient belt tension may be shown by a visible indicator, while insufficient tension may be indicated by an audible alarm.
Claims9
A seat belt tension sensing device adapted for sensing tension in a belt securing a child's car seat in a vehicle, said sensing device comprising a housing having a lower member over which a seat securing belt may pass, an upper member connected to the lower member at one side of the housing and extending across the lower member such that a width of belt may be introduced from an opposite side to lie across the lower member beneath the upper member;
- an upper region within the housing in which an untensioned belt will reside;
- a lower region within the housing in which a belt will reside only when tensioned;
- a sensor within the lower region of the housing over which the belt is to pass and against which a tensioned belt will reside and adapted to activate a responder including an indicator when the belt resides in the upper region of the housing to provide an indication as to inadequate tension in the belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.