Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Antonio Esquivel

Louis R Brown

An apparatus includes a lockable element ( ) and a buckle ( ) that includes a base ( ), a latch ( ), a Hall effect device ( ), and a pair of magnets ( ) and ( ). The base ( ) defines a passage ( ) into which the lockable element ( ) is insertable. The latch ( ) is made of a ferromagnetic material and is movable from a non-locking position to a locking position in which it engages the lockable element ( ). The Hall effect device ( ) is disposed between the magnets ( ) and ( ). The magnetic fields of the magnets ( ) and ( ) oppose each other. In the locking position, the magnets ( ) and ( ) provide a net magnetic field of a first magnitude that acts on the Hall effect device ( ). In the non-locking position, the magnets ( ) and ( ) provide a magnetic field of a second magnitude acting on the Hall effect device ( ) that is different than the net magnetic field of a first magnitude. The Hall effect device ( ) thus has a first output when the latch ( ) is in the non-locking position, and a second, different output when the latch ( ) is in the locking position.

Growing community of inventors

Shelby Township, MI, United States of America

Antonio Esquivel