Electrical switch for use on a seat belt reel with diameter sensing and switch actuator means

Claim 2

An electrical switch intended for use with a retraction seat belt assembly, said assembly having a frame plate, a frame slot in said frame plate, and a pin extending through said frame slot, said pin being movable from a first position at one end of said frame slot to a second position at the other end thereof after withdrawal of belting from said assembly, said switch comprising: AN INSULATING HOUSING COMPRISING A BASE, A COVER, AND SIDEWALLS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID BASE AND COVER, A HOUSING SLOT IN SAID BASE, SAID HOUSING SLOT HAVING DIMENSIONS WHICH ARE AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE DIMENSIONS OF SAID FRAME SLOT, FIRST AND SECOND CONTACT ARMS IN SAID HOUSING, SAID FIRST ARM EXTENDING TOWARDS AND AROUND THE ONE END OF SAID HOUSING SLOT WHICH CORRESPONDS TO SAID ONE END OF SAID FRAME SLOT AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY AWAY FROM SAID HOUSING SLOT, SAID SECOND ARM NORMALLY EXTENDING IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID FIRST ARM AND TRANSVERSELY ACROSS SAID HOUSING SLOT, SAID SECOND ARM BEING RESILIENTLY MOVABLE TOWARDS, AND INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH, SAID FIRST ARM WHEREBY UPON MOUNTING SAID SWITCH AGAINST SAID FRAME PLATE OF SAID SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WITH SAID FRAME SLOT IN REGISTRY WITH SAID HOUSING SLOT, SAID PIN WILL EXTEND THROUGH SAID HOUSING SLOT AND SAID SECOND ARM WILL BE HELD AGAINST SAID FIRST ARM WHEN SAID PIN IS IN SAID FIRST POSITION, AND SAID SECOND ARM WILL BE SPACED FROM SAID FIRST ARM WHEN SAID PIN IS IN SAID SECOND POSITION.

Claim 3

An electrical switch intended for use with a retraction seat belt assembly, said assembly having a frame plate, a frame slot in said frame plate, and a pin extending through said frame slot, said pin being movable from a first position at one end of said frame slot to a second position at the other end thereof after withdrawal of belting from said assembly, said switch comprising: a generally triangular housing of insulating material, said housing comprising a base, a cover, and sidewalls extending between said base and cover, a housing slot in said base, said housing slot having one end which is adjacent to one apex of said housing, said housing slot having a second end which is centrally disposed on said base, said housing slot conforming in shape to said frame slot, first and second contact arms in said housing, said first arm extending along one side of said housing towards said one apex, around said one end of said housing slot, and generally along the side of said housing which is adjacent to said one side and which extends from said one apex, said second arm normally extending in spaced relationship to said adjacent side and towards said one side and transversely across said housing slot, said second arm being resiliently movable towards said adjacent side and into engagement with said first arm whereby, upon mounting said switch against said frame plate of said seat belt assembly with said frame slot in registry with said housing slot, said switch arms will be against each other and said switch will be closed when said pin is in said first position, and said second arm will be in its normal position and said switch will be open when said pin is in said second position.

Claim 4

An electrical switch intended for use with a retraction seat belt assembly, said assembly having a frame plate, a frame slot in said frame plate, and a pin extending through said frame slot, said pin being movable from a first position at one end of said frame slot to a second position at the other end thereof after withdrawal of belting from said assembly, said switch comprising: a generally triangular housing of insulating material, said housing comprising a base, a cover, and sidewalls extending between said base and cover, a housing slot in said base, said housing slot having one end which is adjacent to one apex of said housing, said housing slot having a second end which is centrally disposed on said base, said housing slot conforming in shape to said frame slot, first and second contact arms in said housing, said first arm extending along one side of said housing towards said one apex, around said one end of said housing slot, and generally along the side of said housing which is adjacent to said one side and which extends from said one apex, said second arm normally extending in spaced relationship to said adjacent side and towards said one side and transversely across said housing slot, said second arm being resiliently movable towards said adjacent side and into engagement with said first arm whereby, upon mounting said switch against said frame plate of said seat belt assembly with said frame slot in registry with said housing slot, said switch arms will be against each other and said switch will be closed when said pin is in said first position, and said second arm will be in its normal position and said switch will be open when said pin is in said second position.

Claim 5

A switch as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said contact arms has an integral mounting portion, said mounting portion being adapted to receive a metallic fastener to mechanically connect said switch to said frame plate and to selectively electrically connect said one arm to said frame plate.

Claim 6

A switch as set forth in claim 3 wherein said one contact arm comprises said second arm.

Claim 7

An electrical switch intended for use with a retraction seat belt assembly, said assembly having a frame plate, a frame slot in said frame plate, and a pin extending through said frame slot, said pin being movable from a first position at one end of said frame slot to a second position at the other end thereof after withdrawl of belting from said assembly, said switch comprising: a generally triangular housing of insulating material, said housing comprising a base, a cover, and sidewalls extending between said base and cover, a housing slot in said base, said housing slot having one end which is adjacent to one apex of said housing, said housing slot having a second end which is centrally disposed on said base, said housing slot conforming in shape to said frame slot, first and second contact arms in said housing, said first arm extending along one side of said housing towards said one apex, around said one end of said housing slot, and generally along the side of said housing which is adjacent to said one side and which extends from said one apex, said second arm normally extending in spaced relationship to said adjacent side and towards said one side and transversely across said housing slot, said second arm being resiliently movable towards said adjacent side and into engagement with said first arm, said second arm having an integral mounting portion, an opening in said mounting portion and an opening in said base, said openings being in alignment with each other, and a mounting projection integral with, and extending from, said base, said mounting projection being adapted to enter an opening in said frame plate whereby, upon mountIng said switch against said frame plate by means of said mounting projection and a metallic fastener which is adapted to extend through said frame plate and said aligned openings and with said housing slot in alignment with said frame slot, said pin will extend into said housing, and said second contact arm will be held against said first contact arm when said pin is at said one end of said housing slot so that said switch will be closed, and said second arm will be permitted to move away from said first arm when said pin is at said other end of said housing slot to open said switch.

Claim 8

An electrical switch intended for use with a retraction seat belt assembly, said assembly having a frame plate, a frame slot in said frame plate, and a pin extending through said frame slot, said pin being movable from a first position at one end of said frame slot to a second position at the other end thereof after withdrawl of belting from said assembly, said switch comprising: a generally triangular housing of insulating material, said housing comprising a base, a cover, and sidewalls extending between said base and cover, a housing slot in said base, said housing slot having one end which is adjacent to one apex of said housing, said housing slot having a second end which is centrally disposed on said base, said housing slot conforming in shape to said frame slot, first and second contact arms in said housing, said first arm extending along one side of said housing towards said one apex, around said one end of said housing slot, and generally along the side of said housing which is adjacent to said one side and which extends from said one apex, said second arm normally extending in spaced relationship to said adjacent side and towards said one side and transversely across said housing slot, said second arm being resiliently movable towards said adjacent side and into engagement with said first arm, said second arm having an integral mounting portion, an opening in said mounting portion and an opening in said base, said openings being in alignment with each other, and a mounting projection integral with, and extending from, said base, said mounting projection being adapted to enter an opening in said frame plate whereby, upon mountIng said switch against said frame plate by means of said mounting projection and a metallic fastener which is adapted to extend through said frame plate and said aligned openings and with said housing slot in alignment with said frame slot, said pin will extend into said housing, and said second contact arm will be held against said first contact arm when said pin is at said one end of said housing slot so that said switch will be closed, and said second arm will be permitted to move away from said first arm when said pin is at said other end of said housing slot to open said switch.