US 8,427,294 B2Granted

Seat buckle configured for security and safety and associated methods

AssigneeThe Boeing Company

InventorKwu-Wing W. Cheung

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Abstract

A system is described for determining if two seat buckles are attached. The system includes seat belt portions and corresponding seat buckle members. The system also includes a sensing element located within a first seat buckle member and configured to output signals corresponding to one or both of attachment and non-attachment between the seat buckle members. A transmitter located within the first seat buckle member is configured to receive the signals from the sensing element. The transmitter transmits unique identification information, corresponding with a location of the seat belt, and data corresponding to the signals received from the sensing element. A display unit is configured to receive the unique identification information and data from the transmitter and provide a display indicative of an attachment status between the seat buckle members.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A system for determining if a first portion of a seat belt is attached to a second portion of a seat belt, said system comprising:

a first seat belt portion comprising a first seat buckle member comprising a magnet slidably mounted therein;
a second seat belt portion comprising a second seat buckle member, said second seat buckle member configured to engage said first seat buckle member in a releasable attachment, said magnet configured to slide within said first seat buckle member when said second seat buckle member contacts said magnet;
a sensing element located within said first seat buckle member, sliding of said magnet further configured to cause said sensing element to change state as said second seat buckle member becomes properly engaged with said first seat buckle member and cause said sensing element to change state as said second seat buckle member properly disengages from said first seat buckle member, said sensing element configured to output signals upon changing state, the change in state corresponding to one or both of attachment and non-attachment between said first seat buckle member and said second seat buckle member;
a transmitter located within said first seat buckle member and configured to receive the signals from said sensing element, said transmitter further configured to transmit unique identification information and data corresponding to the signals received from said sensing element, the unique identification information corresponding with a location of the seat belt;
and
a display unit configured to receive the unique identification information and data from said transmitter, said display unit further configured to provide a display indicative of an attachment status between said first seat buckle member and said second seat buckle member.

3 more elements

A seat belt buckle comprising:

a first seat buckle member comprising a magnet slidably mounted therein;
a second seat buckle member, said second seat buckle member configured to engage said first seat buckle member in a releasable attachment, said magnet configured to slide within said first seat buckle member when said second seat buckle member contacts said magnet;
a sensing element located within said first seat buckle member, sliding of said magnet further configured to cause said sensing element to change state as said second seat buckle member becomes properly engaged with said first seat buckle member and cause said sensing element to change state as said second seat buckle member properly disengages from said first seat buckle member, said sensing element configured to output signals upon changing state, the change in state corresponding to one or both of attachment and non-attachment between said first seat buckle member and said second seat buckle member;
and
a transmitter located within said first seat buckle member and configured to receive the signals from said sensing element, said transmitter further configured to transmit unique identification information and data corresponding to the signals received from said sensing element, the unique identification information corresponding with a location of the seat belt buckle.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.