GB2421052A

GB2421052A - Seat belt buckle and reel locking system

Info

Publication number: GB2421052A
Application number: GB0515198A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Cowie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-11
Filing date: 2005-07-25
Publication date: 2006-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-25
Also published as: GB0515198D0; GB2421052B

Abstract

A system for a vehicle comprising at least one seat belt reel and seat belt buckle being controllable by the driver. The buckle and reel may be lockable by a solenoid 1, 2, which may control a pin 10, 9. In the seat belt reel, actuation of the pin 10 may cause a ball bearing 3 to cause an arm 5 to pivot, and prevent a seat belt reel 7 from turning. In the buckle, actuation of the pin 9 may prevent the seat belt button 3 from being depressed. The driver may control the locking of these elements via switches located on the dashboard. The system is designed to prevent children from releasing themselves whilst the vehicle is in motion.

Description

BACKROIJND OF THE INVENTION

(0001) 1. FieLd of the invention

(0002) The invention is related to providing a seat belt buckle and seatbelt reel mounted in a modern day vehicle, and particularly a safety device to prevent the buckLe from accidental opening by a small child releasing the seatbelt during journeys. Also particularly a safety device fitted to the seatbelt reel to prevent the belt webbing being extracted any further, keeping the occupant(s) of the vehicle safely secure in their seats.

(0003) 2. Prior art

(0004) The release button for the vehicle seatbelts is often opened accidentally at the seathett buckle push button. AccidentaL contact of the release button opens the seatbelt buckle and renders the seatbeLt useless in the event of an accident or a sudden stop. Children are prone to pLaying with things and also intentionally not doing as they are told to do. They can easily release the seatbelt during play endangering their own Lives or the life's of others i.e. siblings, toddlers or infants in child safety seats to which the belts are securing. The seatbelt webbing itself can also be pulled out of its reeL and aLLowing children to fool around by leaning from one side of the vehicle to the other yet again endangering life's of themselves and that of other in the invent of an accident or a sudden stop.

(0005) With the seatbelt released and in the event of an accident or a sudden stop a person can been thrown round in the vehicle resulting injury or even death, which would not otherwise occur if the seatbelt had remained securely fastened and or if children could not move freely around the vehicle.

(0006) Seatbelt or safety restraints have been standard equipment on passenger vehicLes for more than a generation. Under some Law, chiLdren up to the age of two must now be restrained in an acceptable safety seat during any vehicle travel. Some states have extended mandatory seatbelt wearing for children up to four, five or even the age of nine years oLd, yet still other countries safety belts must now be worn by every passenger and driver regardless of age. The rationale for such Laws has been repeatedly proven by statistics, namely the safety belts save lives. Safety belts are only effective at preventing injury and even death as long as they sty fastened, however, chiLdren can also be put at danger if they can puLl the seatbelt out the reel and move around from side to side, yet again putting themselves and others at risk of how travelling in the vehicle, however (00007) When travelling by car, most young children cannot avoid being drawn to colourful seatheLt buckles and the belt engaged around their waste and torsos area, or around the safety seats in which they traveL. For some safety seats designs, the belt buckle mechanism is with in easy reach of the chiLd/occupant so often, a child's hands naturalLy rest on or about the safety belt buckle assembly, such hands will quickly learn how to disengage most belt buckLes without ever once witnessing another person that same task.

(0008) ALthough children as old as one or two have sufficient strength and dexterity to operate and release the mechanism of most vehicLe safety belts, and most children are not old enough to appreciate the importance of remaining fastened at all times and there is no slack on the belt around the waste and torsos area.

(0009) Most vehicLe accidents are the Leading cause of deaths and gripping injuries for young children in this country as a motor vehicle passenger. Adults cannot always maintain constant supervision over their young passengers to assure that they remain fastened in appropriate safety restraints, to do so would be greater distractions to the driver causing more accidents increasing the chances of injury or even death. Hence, there exists a clear need for preventing babies, toddLers or other young children from unfastening the buckle or pulling the seatbelt webbing and freeing them from such safety restraints.

(0010) A conventional vehicle buckle and seatbeLt reel with webbing is provided in all modern day vehicles. With which is mounted to a proper place in a vehicle as being worn by an occupant. The seatbelt buckle passes through and hangs on predetermined position, for example a three point seatbelt terminates into the buckle with a tongue connected to its end to be supported by the belt webbing. The buckle is locked in place and the belt webbing is free to move in and out of the reel but will Lock the reel stopping the webbing extracting any further in the event of an accident or sudden stop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

(0011) The safety seatbelt buckle further can improve magnetic solenoid which is controLled by the driver by means of a micro switch (mechanical) located on the dash by turning on and off in response when the tongue is inserted there and into the buckLe locking the occupant in their seat, also the safety seatbelt reel can further include a magnetic soLenoid which is aLso in turn controlled by the driver by a separate micro switch (mechanical) located on the dash locking the waste and torsos belt in position. This is best to be fitted to new vehicles and not as an aftermarket safety device due to the fact that both soLenoids need to be fitted to crash sensors located round the vehicle so in the event of an accident the passengers are free to reLease themselves from the safety belt.

(0012) The object of the present invention is to provide an easy way to prevent the seatbelt tongue being removed from the buckle by accidental or wiLful release of the safety belt whiLst the vehicle is in motion.

(0013) Another object of the present invention is to prevent the belt webbing being pulled out of the reeL and small chiLdren moving about or even freeing themselves and freely moving about the vehicLe by keeping them safely in the seated position safely through means by keeping them from having excessive movement in a moving motor vehicle when needed.

(0014) A further object of the present invention is to provide a device that will lower the cost of vehicle insurance campaigns, and in turn vehicle owners wiLl benefit too.

(0015) An advantage of the present invention is that it protects against the release of the buckle and movement of occupants giving you piece at mind knowing your child/children are safely seated.

BRIEF DESCRITIONS OF DRAWINGS

(0016) The invention now will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which (0017) figure 1 shows an illustration of a seatbelt reel including a solenoid mounted on the reel housing and when operated locks the reel in place according to the invention.

(0018) Figure 2 shows an illustration of a seatbelt buckle including solenoid mounted to the main frame and when operated stops the push button being pressed according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TILE INVENTION

(0019) The present invention will be describe within the context of a factory installed three-point continuous loop seatbelt system and associated devices to help restrain the release and movement of passengers of an automobile, and in this case the invention holds the passengers safely in their seat and also stopping accidental release of the buckle from small children which can be built into the seatbelt at time of manufacture to any automotive seated vehicle.

(0020) Figure 1 shows a seat belt reel with the surround removed from a typical factory three point continuous loop seat belt system and has associated devices to help prevent the movement of an occupant and the lap and torsos area of a moving vehicle or a child seat of which it is secured, however it would be appropriate that this is fitted by those skilled in the art of the subject invention to be designed and built into the seat belt at the time of manufacture.

(0021) Accompanying the reel is a solenoid 1 which is fixed to the housing 2 of the reel by a small tack weld holding it securely to the housing 2 so when the solenoid I is powered up by its power supply 8 it activates and pushes the solenoid I pin 10 through a small hole on the base 4 of the original safety locking mechanism fitted to a standard seat belt reel housing 2. This in turn pushes the safety devices bearing 3 upwards and lifts the pivot arm 5 which anchors at the pivot point 11 so that the pivot arm 5 locks and holds the reels original mechanism 7 webbing 6 holding the passengers safely not alLowing excessive movement around the vehicle when applied.

(0022) Figure 2 shows a buckle reel with the surround removed from a typical factory three point continuous loop seatbeLt system and has associated devices to help prevent the push button being pushed accidentally by occupants and small children of a moving vehicle or a child seat of which it is secured, however it would be appropriate that this is fitted by those skilled in the art of the subject invention to be designed and built into the seat belt at the time of manufacture.

(0023) Accompanying the buckle is a solenoid fixed to the buckle base 8 by welding a piece of steel with an eyehole 6 so that solenoid 2 can fit into position and boLted in pLace by fixing nut 7 when not activated the solenoids 2 pin has enough room for the push button 3 to be pressed and reLeased the occupants from their safety belt by sitting on its resting point 1 but when power supply 4 activated the solenoid 2 pushing the pin 9 upwards and preventing the push button being pressed keeping the occupants safely seated and secure position.

Claims

1. A locking device for a seathelt buckle and reel locking which prevents the seatbelt being reLeased and also prevents the seatbelt webbing being puLled any further from the reel in turn holding the passengers safely and comfortably whiLst vehicle is in motion.

2. A locking device as stated in claims I conspires of two magnetic solenoids to be fitted to a buckle and reel in a typical three-point continuous loop seatbelt.

3. A locking device as stated in claims I 2 has an advantage for use in a vehicle whilst moving hoLding passengers safely, giving the driver piece of mind knowing that passengers are safely seated and secure.

4. A Locking device as stated in claims 1, 2 a 3 can be fitted to every seatbelt buckle and reeL throughout a vehicle and can be controlled by the driver.

5. A locking device as stated in claims 1, 2, 3 & 4 can also be used for holding seatbeLts secure when carrying smaLL boxes, briefcases etc secure and also stopping young chiLdren or even pets being accidentally unfastened from their seatbelts.

6. A Locking device as stated in 1, 2, 3, 4, a 5 are iLLustrated and described in the

accompanying descriptions and drawings provided.