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A status alerting unit for a seat belt having a connectable buckle and tongue, particularly for use in the supervision of children riding in a vehicle. The unit has a housing mountable to the seat belt buckle. A proximity sensor, such as a pivoting flipper element, is deflected when the seat belt to

A status alerting unit for a seat belt having a connectable buckle and tongue, particularly for use in the supervision of children riding in a vehicle. The unit has a housing mountable to the seat belt buckle. A proximity sensor, such as a pivoting flipper element, is deflected when the seat belt tongue is inserted into the buckle, and generates BUCKLED and UNBUCKLED signals. An audible alert device generates appropriate alert signals in response. A low battery voltage warning is also provided. The unit is self-contained and functions properly with a wide variety of existing seat belt assemblies, without interfering in any way with a user's accustomed seat belt operation, or requiring special care or attention while the tongue is inserted and latched into the buckle.

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[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A status alerting unit for a seat belt having a connectable buckle and tongue, the buckle having an end with a slot for receiving the tongue and an exterior surface intersecting the buckle end and generally parallel to the tongue when the tongue is inserted into the slot,

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A status alerting unit for a seat belt having a connectable buckle and tongue, the buckle having an end with a slot for receiving the tongue and an exterior surface intersecting the buckle end and generally parallel to the tongue when the tongue is inserted into the slot, said unit comprising:a housing having at least a main portion with a mounting surface mountable to the buckle exterior surface;a flipper element pivotally mounted to said housing, said flipper element including a tongue sensing portion which pivots away from and towards the slot respectively between an extended position generally perpendicular to said mounting surface and a fully deflected position, said flipper element being positioned such that said tongue sensing portion is in the extended position when the tongue is not inserted into the buckle slot and said tongue sensing portion pivots at least part way towards the fully deflected position when the tongue is inserted into the buckle slot;at least one electrical switching element connected to said flipper element for generating BUCKLED and UNBUCKLED signals as the tongue is inserted into and removed from the slot; andan alert device connected to said electrical switching element for generating respective buckled and unbuckled alert signals in response to the BUCKLED and UNBUCKLED signals.