David Bruce Purdie

US Patent:

20010042981, Nov 22, 2001

Filed:

Feb 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/796237

Inventors:

George Kohut - Troy MI, US
Joseph Yoon - Rochester Hills MI, US
Morgan Murphy - Kokomo IN, US
David Hartley - Shelby Township MI, US
David Purdie - Itasca IL, US

International Classification:

B60R022/00
B60R022/48

US Classification:

280/801100

Abstract:

A seat belt tension sensing assembly fixedly secured to a vehicle. The seat belt tension sensing assembly has a housing and a slider slidably received within the housing, the slider being capable of movement between a first position and a second position within the housing, the second position corresponding to a tension in the seat belt consummate with a child safety seat being secured by the seat belt, the slider having a first opening for a portion of the seat belt to pass therethrough. A first magnet and a second magnet are secured in a second opening in the slider, the first and second magnet being in a facing spaced relationship. A Hall effect device is fixedly secured to the housing and protrudes into the second opening of the slider. The Hall effect device is closer to the first magnet when the slider is in the first position and the Hall effect device is closer to the second magnet when the slider is in the second position. The Hall effect device provides a signal to an air bag controller, and a biasing member provides an urging force to the slider, the urging force urging the slider into the first position.