Apple patents a seat belt buckle design, here’s how it may work

Apple has yet to confirm that it is building a car, but it is working on several car-related technologies. Recently, the company has patented a new seat belt buckle design called “Restraint with an indicator area.”

Apple wants to put a light indicator into the buckle to display important information. The patent explains that the button will feature a translucent surface or small holes that allow light to pass through. The light will illuminate when necessary, making it simple to locate the buckle. Once the seat belt is fastened, the light will turn off, indicating that the seat belt is securely locked.

To fasten your seatbelt in a car, you insert the connector into the buckle and press the release button to remove it. However, Apple plans to change the design of the buckle by changing the colour of the release button from red to another colour. When you enter the car, you will see bright red seatbelt buckles. Once you fasten your seat belt, the red light will turn off and the belt restraint may be coloured to match the structure it is attached to.

The change in color is intended to make it easier for people to see and use the seat belt, and to make it more aesthetically pleasing.

How Apple’s seat belt would work
“The description herein relates to a safety restraint that utilises light emitted through an array of very small holes through an otherwise opaque surface to provide information to users regarding the operation of the safety restraint,” says the patent. “As one example, many seat belt buckles include red-coloured release buttons to allow the user to easily discern the location and function of the button.”

“[Small] holes are formed through opaque structures allow transmission of light,” it explains. “In particular, portions of the restraint use light that is emitted through the holes (either empty or filled with a translucent material), which are formed through an otherwise opaque portion of the safety restraint.”

“The size of the holes is sufficiently small such that they are not readily visible to the naked eye of a vehicle occupant on casual inspection,” reads the patent Apple.

The buckle button will also light up to make it easier to locate in situations with multiple seatbelts. Skoda has already implemented a similar design. Apple’s patent suggests using invisible holes in the material to hide the illumination until it is needed.

The seat belt and buckle can have a feature where they light up in red when you need to locate them and then return to their original colour once they are being worn.

Although the patent’s text doesn’t mention it, four of nine illustrations display a “Push” message on the seatbelt. It’s uncertain whether this message illuminates when the seatbelt is drawn near the buckle or whether it appears when the buckle is released.

Although Apple has not confirmed its plans to produce a car, this design could be helpful in improving seatbelt safety.

This is the second patent that Apple has been granted in relation to car lighting, with the first being for lighting systems for vehicle seats in 2019. The latter patent allows for the illumination of seats when they are being adjusted.

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Apple has yet to confirm that it is building a car, but it is working on several car-related technologies. Recently, the company has patented a new seat belt buckle design called “Restraint with an indicator area.”

Apple wants to put a light indicator into the buckle to display important information. The patent explains that the button will feature a translucent surface or small holes that allow light to pass through. The light will illuminate when necessary, making it simple to locate the buckle. Once the seat belt is fastened, the light will turn off, indicating that the seat belt is securely locked.

To fasten your seatbelt in a car, you insert the connector into the buckle and press the release button to remove it. However, Apple plans to change the design of the buckle by changing the colour of the release button from red to another colour. When you enter the car, you will see bright red seatbelt buckles. Once you fasten your seat belt, the red light will turn off and the belt restraint may be coloured to match the structure it is attached to.

The change in color is intended to make it easier for people to see and use the seat belt, and to make it more aesthetically pleasing.

How Apple’s seat belt would work
“The description herein relates to a safety restraint that utilises light emitted through an array of very small holes through an otherwise opaque surface to provide information to users regarding the operation of the safety restraint,” says the patent. “As one example, many seat belt buckles include red-coloured release buttons to allow the user to easily discern the location and function of the button.”

“[Small] holes are formed through opaque structures allow transmission of light,” it explains. “In particular, portions of the restraint use light that is emitted through the holes (either empty or filled with a translucent material), which are formed through an otherwise opaque portion of the safety restraint.”

“The size of the holes is sufficiently small such that they are not readily visible to the naked eye of a vehicle occupant on casual inspection,” reads the patent Apple.

The buckle button will also light up to make it easier to locate in situations with multiple seatbelts. Skoda has already implemented a similar design. Apple’s patent suggests using invisible holes in the material to hide the illumination until it is needed.

The seat belt and buckle can have a feature where they light up in red when you need to locate them and then return to their original colour once they are being worn.

Although the patent’s text doesn’t mention it, four of nine illustrations display a “Push” message on the seatbelt. It’s uncertain whether this message illuminates when the seatbelt is drawn near the buckle or whether it appears when the buckle is released.

Although Apple has not confirmed its plans to produce a car, this design could be helpful in improving seatbelt safety.

This is the second patent that Apple has been granted in relation to car lighting, with the first being for lighting systems for vehicle seats in 2019. The latter patent allows for the illumination of seats when they are being adjusted.

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end of article