Abstract: A seat belt improvement providing seat belt buckling assistance and automatic release of the seat belt. The seat belt assembly includes an electromagnet located in the seat belt buckle that aligns and draws the seat belt tongue into the seat belt buckle when the seat belt tongue is in close proximity to the seat belt buckle. The buckle may be formed with a funnel region adjacent its open end to assist in aligning the seat belt tongue with the opening of the housing and thereafter engaging the seat belt tongue with the latch mechanism. The buckle may additionally include a manual release element. The buckle may further include one or more illuminated areas to assist the passenger in visually locating the seat belt buckle and/or the manual release element.

Abstract: A seat belt improvement providing seat belt buckling assistance and automatic release of the seat belt. The seat belt assembly includes an electromagnet located in the seat belt buckle that aligns and draws the seat belt tongue into the seat belt buckle when the seat belt tongue is in close proximity to the seat belt buckle. A solenoid located in the seat belt buckle is used to release the seat belt tongue from the buckle. When the vehicle transmission is in the “park” position, the ignition is turned off, and the key is removed, the solenoid is energized to release the seat belt tongue. Further, a switch may be conveniently located in the vehicle such as on the seat belt buckle, near the window, on the door, or the like to activate the solenoid and release the seat belt assembly without having to turn off the vehicle ignition.