GB2521841A

GB2521841A - Safety mechanism for vehicle occupants

Info

Publication number: GB2521841A
Application number: GB1400071.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Liran Mizrahi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-01-01
Filing date: 2014-01-01
Publication date: 2015-07-08
Also published as: GB201400071D0

Abstract

An alarm, an ignition key locker, a buckle sensor and an engine sensor are connected to a computer; where the computer locks the ignition key and activates an alarm when the buckles are engaged and the engine has stopped. An external alarm, ignition key locker, a buckle sensor, an engine sensor, a timer and a door sensor are connected to a computer; the computer locks the ignition key when the buckles are engaged and the engine has stopped and activates the alarm when the door has been open for a given time. The computers can be part of the vehicles native computer system and the safety belts ideally have interlock add-ons to assist their release.

Description

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR VEHICLE OCCUPANTS

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from US. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/859,312. flIed July 29, 2013 entitled Security Measures for Vehicle Occupants".

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of personal security of passive vehicle occupants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses situations in which young children or otherwise weak or disabled people may find themselves in a frustrating situation is while secured to a vehicle seat. Such passengers when essentially harnessed or tied by belts without the capability of mDving, may reach perilous situations from which they are unable to deliver themselves. If a release from the seat becomes essential but an attendant is not available, technological measures must compensate for such a condition. Child safety continues to pose a major concern, child death can also occur as a result of the car driver simply forgetting the child in the car and then inadvertently locking the child within the car.

The present invention provides a safety mechanism for vehicle occupants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an assembly of components in s accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 21s a flowchart illustrating the block diagram presented in FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another assembly of components in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 isa flow chart illustrating the block diagram presented in FIG. 3.

FIG.5 is a block diagram of an aternative assembly of components in accordance with one embodiment of the invention FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the structure of passenger safety belt

buckle in prior art.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating of passenger safety belt buckle for the present invention in one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating of the auxiliary interlock add-on.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention a buckle of a personal harness or security belt in a vehicle is associated with an electrical on/off switch that shifts to an opposite state whenever the buckle is locked or unlocked, respectively. Thus if the buckle switch is in an "off' state when the buckle is locked (the belt engaged), it would turn "on' when the buckle is unlocked (belt disengaged) to release the strap of the belt. The opposite order is also feasible, the switch is in "On" state when the buckle is locked (belt engaged -locking the straps), and turns "off' when the buckle is unlocked ( belt disengaged -unlocking the straps). The current state of the switch is updated at the control unit being part of the on-board computer of the vehicle or of another digital processing system, either dedicated or not.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an assembly of components in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The buckle engagement indicator 10 indicates engagement of the buckle. The engine sensor 12 monitors io the state of the motor (idle/running). Both have respective outputs to the control unit 14. The control unit typically includes a logic program to handle the various inputs and issue commands. If any buckle of a car seat is engaged when the engine sensor detects the engine is turned off, the control unit 14 activates ignition key locker 16, preventing the extraction of the keys therefrom. In addition, alarm buzzer or a lighting element 18 may be turned on to indicate to the driver that he/she cannot extract the key and leave the car without disengaging the buckle/s.

For vehicles such as cars or busses that employ a plurality of security seat belts, it may be required that the buckle engagement indicator is to show a positive indication (buckle engaged) even if only a single buckle out of the plurality of buckles is engaged.

The embodiments of the invention employ an ignition key lock, similar to the one described in EP 1794039 Bi entitled "Ignition Key Switch Mechanism" page 1, column 1, lines 26-35, lines 45-51; page 4, column 6, lines 24-31, lines 44-51. In accordince with the present invention, the state of the buckle is used in addition to the gear shifter, as an input to prevent turning of the barrel to the off position FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the sequence of events through which the invention is implemented. At start state 100, the engine sensor indicates that the engine is turned off (idle). At start state 102, the buckle is engaged. Then at step 104, an enquiry is made to verify the state of the buckle; similarly, in step 106, an inquiry is made to verify the state of the engine. The two queries are posed in parallei. If the engine is not running (i.e. it is idle) and if any buckle is engaged, an interior alarm state 108 is realized, in which an audio alarm is turned on and the ignition key is locked. If however the return of any one of these two queries is negative, neither the alarm nor the key lock will be enforced at step 110.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram describing another optional assembly of components in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The safety is mechanism system comprises a buckle engagement indicator 10, an engine sensor 12 and a driver door sensor 20 which have respective matching outputs to the control unit 14, the alarm 18 and to ignition key locker 16. Various alarms can be made available, such as lights 22, horns or sirens (audible alarm) 24 which may or may not be components of a vehicle's antitheft alarm system. In addition to the previous sequence, if the door sensor 20 detects that the door of the car driver is opened for a period of time. (for the purpose of releasing the seat belts), an external alarm is triggered.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating alternative sequence of events through which the invention is implemented. At start state 100, the engine sensor indicates that the engine is turned off (i.e. it is idle). At start state 102, the

S

buckle is engaged. Then at step 104, the state of the buckle is verified, the data derived from the buckle engagement indicator; similarly, at step 106, the state of the engine is verified, the data derived from the engine sensor. The two queries are posed in parallel and the returns are provided to the control unit 14. Thus if s the engine is not running and if any buckle is engaged, an interior alarm 18 is triggered and keys get locked. However if the returns of any of these two queries is negative, neither the alarm nor the key lock will be enforced, as in step 110.

Then, at step 122, an enquiry is posed to update the state of the door of the driver. The information is received from door sensor 20 in step 120. Thus if the door of the driver is open when keys are locked, after a time delay 128, an external alarm is triggered; otherwise if the all the buckles are disengaged, then at step 126, keys are unlocked and all the alarm functions are stopped.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram describing an alternative optional assembly of components in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The safety mechanism system comprises a buckle engagement indicator 10, an engine sensor 12, a driver door sensor 20, a car lock sensor 30 which have respective outputs to the control unit 14, the alarm 18 and ignition key locker 16. Various alarms are illustrated such as lights 22, horns or sirens or an audible alarm 24 which may or may not be components of a vehicle's antitheft alarm system. In addition to the previous sequence, if the car lock sensor detects that the driver is trying to lock the car (using a car remote control or by other means), the time delay will be reset and the external alarm will be immediately triggered.

In existing installations in passenger cars, a male segment of the passenger belt buckle is releasably connectable with a female segment. As can be seen in FIG. 6, buckle hook 40 is lockable when inserted in recess 42, and releasable from recess 42 of female segment 44. Release button 48 when pressed causes hook 40 to release or at least render it releasable. In the context of the present invention, such a buckle arrangement as just shown, indicates by an electrical switch associated with the buckle, that the buckle is either engaged or disengaged.

In another aspect of the invention, a buckle of a passenger in a vehicle (car, lorry, truck, bus), have passenger buckle for the rear or hard to reach places that have an auxiliary part for promoting easy disengagement of the buckle. Thus, in FIG. 7, male buckle segment 56 that is originally connectable with complementary buckle (female) component 58, is according to the present invention lockable with interlock, add -on 62. Interlock add -on (lAO) 62 may include a releasing appendage such as a lever.

The lAO 62 is further explained with respect to FIG. 8. Lever 72 can be pulled by human fingers or by the pulling action of cable 74 in the direction of is arrow 78. lAO such as lAO 62 or similar apparatuses can be used for releasing the security belts without aátually reaching them, but rather by pulling cable 74.

In some embodiments lAO 62 also includes an on/off switch the output signal from (by wire or wirelessly) can be incorporated in the schemes described in FIGs 1-5. lAO can be incorporated in a native seat belt of a vehicle, in which case its switch may not be utilized. In such cases as the native buckle of the vehicle does not include a switch or the switch is faulty, the lAO switch may be utilized instead. For that to take place a wired connection or wireless connection (communication) must be established between the lAO switch and the controller to participate in the key releasing mechanism described above.

lAO as described above is exemplary, with many variations of the mechanical aspects and structural features. Also the switch and connectivity issues have not been discussed to any great detail. It should be also mentioned that the lAO may become useful when special seats such as cribs of baby are used with special buckles, not native by the vehicle. In such a case the lAO may be used for the sake of providing a source of on/off indicator signal to enable the key releasing mechanism described above.

Claims

BWhat is claimed is; 1. A safety mechanism for the occupants of a vehicle comprising: (a) at least one buckle indicator for indicating the engagement state of at least one belt buckle; (b) an engine sensor; (c) a control unit having inputs from at least said at least one buckle indicator as well as said the engine sensor, (d) a logic program within the control unit that when the buckle is engaged and the engine sensor detects that the engine is turned off, issues a command to lock the ignition key and a command to activate an alarm and (e) an ignition key locker connected to said controller.
2. The safety mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is part of the native computer of the vehicle.
3. The safety mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the safety belt includes an interlock add-on to release the security belts.
4. The safety mechanism for the occupants of a vehicle comprising: (a) a buckle indicator; (b) an engine sensor; (c) a door open sensor; and (d) a control unit having a time delay and inputs from the buckle indicator, the engine sensor and the open door sensor, such that when the buckle is engaged, engine is turned off then keys are locked and when the driver opens his door for a specified time, the control unit outputs an external alarm;
5. The safety mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is part of the on-board computer of the vehicle.
6. The safety mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the safety belt includes an interlock add-on to release the security belts.