AU718158B3 - Harness safety alarm - Google Patents

Description

-1- P/00/0011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

FOR A PETTY PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for service in Australia: Invention Title: PHOENIX VENTURES PTY LTD CARTER SMITH BEADLE Level 10, 189 Kent St Sydney, NSW, 2000 Australia HARNESS SAFETY ALARM The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us HARNESS SAFETY ALARM The present invention relates to a harness safety alarm. In particular, the present invention relates to a harness safety alarm that can provide a warning when a safety harness, such as a seatbelt, is undone or uncoupled.

Background of the Invention It is a legislative requirement of many countries that the occupants of motor vehicles be restrained by seatbelts. For example, in Australia, it is compulsory that all persons travelling in a motor vehicle must wear a seatbelt. The only exception to this law relates to a small number of people suffering from certain medical conditions. Similarly, most States in the United States of America now require that seatbelts be worn. Although adults and older children readily accept the necessity of being restrained, a difficulty can arise with younger children who are physically capable of undoing seatbelts but lack the understanding of the importance of always wearing the seatbelts when travelling in a motor vehicle (in this context; "seatbelts" includes safety harnesses on children's car seats as well as normal seatbelts).

Consequently, there is a risk that young children may undo their seatbelt whilst the motor vehicle is in motion without the driver or parents being aware of this occurrence. The presence of an unrestrained child in the motor vehicle during travel is obviously not safe.

Brief Description of Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a harness alarm that will give a warning in the event that a safety harness, such as a seatbelt, is undone or uncoupled.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a harness safety alarm for use with a harness that includes a first connecting means comprising a clasping means for clasping a second connection means to thereby close the harness, the clasping means being operable to allow the harness to be buckled up and unbuckled, the safety alarm comprising a first body housing a proximity sensing means and first GWN:DMA:#31978.PP 10 February 2000 mounting means for mounting the first body to one of the first connecting means or second connecting means, a detectable means detectable by the proximity sensing means and second mounting means for mounting the detectable means to the other of the first connecting means for the second connecting means and warning means for providing a warning when the proximity sensing means detects that the detectable sensing means is not within close proximity of the proximity sensing means to thereby warn that the harness has been unbuckled.

Preferably, the buckle means includes a clasping means that clasps onto a tongue means, as is commonly used in car seatbelts and child restraints. For convenience, the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to this embodiment.

The sensing means is preferably positioned on or adjacent to the clasping means. The sensing means maybe constructed as a separate unit and affixed to the clasping means by any suitable means, such as the use of an adhesive, the provision of straps having hook and loop type fasteners (eg velcro straps) or by providing thesensing means with any other suitable mounting means for mounting the sensing means to the clasping means. In this embodiment the alarm may be an after-market fitment to existing safety harnesses and motor vehicles.

The proximity sensing preferably means comprises a proximity sensor that senses the presence of the tongue means when the tongue means is inserted into the clasping means. When the tongue means is removed from the clasping means, the proximity sensing means senses that the tongue means is no longer close to the sensing means and activates the warning means.

The proximity sensor may comprise a magnetic proximity sensor. Such devices are known and include a magnetic field generation means that produces a magnetic field. Passing a metallic object into or through the magnetic field disrupts the magnetic field and electronics in the proximity sensor can detect that change.

The warning means may then be activated.

The alarm may further comprise a detectable means that is detectable by the proximity sensor. The detectable means may comprise a metallic object positioned 4"'\on or adjacent to the tongue means, or a magnet positioned on or adjacent to the GWN:DMA:#31978.PP I0 February 2000 tongue means. The detectable means ensures that the proximity detector detects when the tongue means is removed from the clasp by improving the sensitivity of the sensing means.

The alarm means also includes a warning means. In its simplest form, the warning means comprises an audible warning means for providing an audible warning should the harness be undone or uncoupled.

In a more preferred embodiment, the warning means includes an audible warning and a visual warning. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the warning means comprises a warning unit positioned remotely from the sensing means. In this embodiment the warning unit may be suitably positioned on the dashboard of the motor vehicle or otherwise in the driver's line of sight or visual field. The warning unit may provide a visual warning and/or an audible warning to the driver.

By positioning the warning unit close to the driver or in the driver's line of sight, the chances of the warning going unheeded are slight.

The apparatus may further comprise signalling means for sending a signal between the sensing means and the warning means. The signalling means at least sends a signal to the warning means when the proximity sensor detects that the tongue means is not in close proximity to the clasping means, for example, when the seatbelt has been undone. More preferably, the signalling means continuously sends a signal to the warning unit to provide an indication of the status of the seatbelt at all times that the alarm is activated. In particular, the warning unit is preferably provided with a status indicator that indicates the status of the seatbelt.

The status indicator may comprise a green light that is lit when the seatbelt is done up and a red light that is lit when the seatbelt is undone. Preferably, an audible alarm also sounds when the seatbelt is undone. The warning unit may also include an on/off switch for selectively activating and deactivating the warning unit.

The signalling means preferably sends a radio frequency signal to the warning unit. For example, the sensing means may include a radio transmitter that sends a radio signal to a radio receiving means in the warning unit. Alternatively, the signalling means may pass along one or more wires between the sensing means and the warning means.

GWN:DMA:#31978.PP 29 July 1999 It will be appreciated, of course, that in all embodiments of the invention where a particular feature of the apparatus is described as being positioned on one of the clasping means or tongue means and that feature interacts with another feature positioned on the other of the tongue means or clasping means, the invention will work equally as well if those particular features are positioned on the other of the clasping means or the tongue means.

The alarm may also be provided with a power source, which is most preferably a battery. The alarm may also be wired into the car's electrical system, if desired.

The alarm may also include an on/off switch to selectively operate the alarm.

This allows the alarm to be turned off if no-one is travelling in that seat of the car.

More advanced embodiments may include weight sensors in the seat for detecting if that seat is occupied and switching means for switching on the alarm if the seat is occupied. The switching means may be an automatic switching means.

The alarm may also include programmed means for detecting when a seat belt has been done up, said programmed means sending an activation signal to the warning unit to turn on the warning unit. The programmed means may also include timer means for automatically turning off the warning unit a predetermined time (eg minutes) after the alarm has detected that the seatbelt has been undone. In such a case, the alarm interprets that removal of the seatbelt without it being done up again within the predetermined period as meaning that the trip has been completed and the motor vehicle is now empty.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be appreciated that the accompanying drawings are provided for the purpose of illustrating the invention and that the invention should not be considered as limited to the embodiments as shown in the drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings GWN:DMA:#31978.PP 29 July 1999 Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a seatbelt buckle arrangement having an alarm in accordance with the present invention attached thereto. In Figure 1, the seatbelt is uncoupled; Figure 2 is a front view of the seatbelt buckle arrangement shown in Figure 1, but with the seatbelt closed; and Figure 3 is a front view of a dash mounted warning unit for use with the seatbelt alarm system shown in Figures 1 and 2; and Detailed Description of Drawings Turning to Figures 1 and 2, the seatbelt buckle arrangement includes a clasping means 10 attached to seatbelt webbing 11. The clasping means 10 has a slot 12 formed in a body portion 13 thereof. A depressible member 14 allows the seatbelt to be undone.

The seatbelt buckle mechanism further includes a tongue means 15 that is insertable into slot 12. The tongue means 15 is connected to a body portion 16 that allows the tongue portion to be easily manipulated by a user of the seatbelt. The body portion 16 includes a slot 17 through which seatbelt webbing 18 passes. The seatbelt is preferably of the inertia reel type as is commonly found in most motor vehicles.

The alarm in accordance with the present invention includes a first body portion 19 that is connected by velcro straps 20, 21 to the body portion 13 of the clasping means 10. The first body portion 19 includes a holder for a battery (not shown) a proximity sensor of the magnetic type and associated electronic componentry to enable the proximity sensor to sense the proximity of a detectable means 22 that is attached to the body portion 16 of tongue means 15. Detectable means 22 is attached via velcro strap 23 to the body portion tongue means 16.

The main body portion 19 of the alarm includes the proximity sensor. This proximity sensor is associated with an electronic circuit that can determine whether or not the detectable means 22 is within a defined or predetermined proximity to the proximity sensor. It is preferred that the proximity sensor is positioned at the upper end of first body portion 19.

GWN:DMA:#31978PP 29 July 1999 As can be seen from figure 2, which shows the apparatus of Figure 1 in use with the seatbelt buckle being closed, when the tongue means 15 is inserted into the slot 12 to thereby buckle up the seatbelt, the detectable means 22 is positioned closely to the proximity sensor that is located in the upper end of first body portion 19. However, when the tongue means 15 is removed from the slot 12, as is shown in Figure 1, the detectable means 22 is no longer positioned closely to the proximity sensor at the upper end of first body portion 19.

The electronic circuitry included within the first body portion 19 is operative such that removal of the tongue means 15 from the slot 12, as occurs when the seatbelt is unbuckled, causes the proximity sensor to detect that detectable means 22 is no longer in close proximity to the proximity sensor. The alarm then sends a signal to a warning means to activate a warning to alert the driver or other adult in the vehicle that the seatbelt that had been placed around a young child has been unbuckled.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the warning means comprises a dash mounted unit, one embodiment of which is shown in figure 3.

The dash mounted unit 30 includes a green indicator light 31 that is operative to show that the seatbelt is buckled. The warning unit 30 also includes a red warning light 32 that is illuminated when the proximity sensor senses that the seatbelt has been unbuckled. A speaker 33 also emits an audible warning alarm if the seatbelt becomes unbuckled. The dash mounted unit 30 also includes a slide switch 34 that enables the warning unit 30 to be selectively turned on or off.

Warning unit 30 may include a battery pack for carrying a battery within the warning unit. Alternatively, warning unit 30 may be directly wired into the car's electrical system and obtain power therefrom. Warning unit 30 also preferably includes a radio receiver (not shown). In this embodiment, the first body portion 19 of the alarm also includes a radio transmitter that transmits a signal to the warning unit 30 in the event that the seatbelt becomes unbuckled. The transmission of the warning signal from the radio transmitter to the radio receiver in warning unit causes the red warning light 32 to flash and an audible alarm to sound from speaker 33.

GWN:DMA:#31978.PP 29 July 1999 It is also preferred that the electronic circuit in the first body portion 19 continuously sends a signal to the warning unit to advise the warning unit when the seatbelt remains in the buckled position. This signal causes green light 31 to be illuminated, which light indicates that the alarm system is turned on and that the seatbelt is buckled.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is susceptible to variation and modifications other than those specifically described.

In particular, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 and 2, the first body portion 19 and the detectable means 22 may be positioned on the tongue means and clasping means, respectively, which is the reverse of the situation shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In either case, the operation of the alarm will remain essentially the same.

Moreover, the embodiments shown in figures 1 to 3 show an alarm that can be fitted to existing seatbelts. It will also be possible to have the alarm built into seatbelts for new vehicles and new child restraints. With regard to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, the first body portion communicates with the warning unit via radio signals. Other communication means may be used, such a via wires or cable, or even infra-red communication (although the necessity to provide a line of sight for some infra-red communication systems may mitigate against using such a communication method).

It will be appreciated that the present invention encompasses all such variations and modifications that fall within its spirit and scope.

GWN:DMA:#31978.PP 29 July 1999

Claims (3)

1. A harness safety alarm for use with a harness that includes a first connecting means comprising a clasping means for clasping a second connection means to thereby close the harness, the clasping means being operable to allow the harness to be buckled up and unbuckled, the safety alarm comprising a first body housing a proximity sensing means and first mounting means for mounting the first body to one of the first connecting means or second connecting means, a detectable means detectable by the proximity sensing means and second mounting means for mounting the detectable means to the other of the first connecting means for the second connecting means and warning means for providing a warning when the proximity sensing means detects that the detectable sensing means is not within close proximity of the proximity sensing means to thereby warn that the harness has been unbuckled.

2. A harness safety alarm as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first connecting means and second connecting means comprise a seat belt buckle arrangement, the second connecting means including a tongue element for insertion into the clasping means, wherein the proximity sensing means comprises a magnetic proximity sensor for mounting by the first connecting means to the clasping means and the detectable means comprises a magnet for mouting to the second connecting means by the second mounting means, the harness safety alarm further comprising a warning unit for positioning remotely from the proximity sensing means and signalling means for sending a signal from the magnetic proximity sensor to the warning unit when the proximity sensor detects. that the detectable means is not in close proximity to the magnetic proximity sensor to thereby enable th warning unt to warn that the seatbelt has been unbuckeld.

3. A harness safety alarm as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Figures. GW-oN:DMA:#3978.PP 10 February 2000 GWN: DM A:#31978.PP I 0 February 2000