Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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CHILD CARSEAT ALERT SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an alert system, and more specifically, to a
child
car seat that incorporates sensors, which are in communication with a vehicle
electrical system. When an engine is stopped, the sensors signal a remote,
which in turn engages an indicator, such as a tone. The indicator alerts any
passengers in a vehicle or people located within a predetermined distance of
the
vehicle that the engine is off and that a child remains in the child car seat.
Thus,
the indicator reduces the likelihood of inadvertently leaving a child in a
vehicle
unattended.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous other seatbelt alert systems exist in the prior art. Typical of these
are
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,226,674; 3,624,601; 4,107,645; 5,483,221; 5,406,252;
5,627,512; 5,770,997; 6,002,325; 6,362,734; 6,501,374; 6,714,132; 2003/62996;
and International Patent Applications UK GB1406864; DE 3432088. While these
seatbelt alert systems may be suitable for the purposes for which they were
designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present
invention,
as hereinafter described.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,226,674
Inventor: Leif Joel Vemer Eriksson
Issued: Dec. 28, 1965
Safety belts are presently a rather common piece of equipment in automobiles,
but experience has shown that many drivers and passengers forget or just
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neglect to use the belts. The present invention has for its object to provide
an
arrangement which is dependent on whether or not the safety belt or belts in
an
automobile are in use, in such a way, that, when the belt is not put on, the
driver's attention is directed to that fact upon the automobile reaching a
certain
velocity, either by means of an alarm or by means of mechanisms that cause the
engine to stop or, in any case, prevent further increase in velocity of the
vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,624,601
Inventor: William S. Routzahn et al.
Issued: Nov. 30, 1971
A safety seatbeit that is constructed so that a vehicle cannot be operated
until the
seatbelt is properly fastened about a person, and wherein the seatbelt is
electrically connected to the ignition switch of a vehicle, so that the
circuit cannot
be completed and the engine operated until the seatbelt is properly connected
in
place. In one form of the device, a seatbeit is provided for aircraft, buses,
and
trains, and a lighting system of waming indicates when one or more passengers
does not have his or her seatbelt engaged.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,645
Inventor: Donald J. Lewis et al.
Issued: May 22, 1972
An automobile equipped with seat belts for the front passengers includes
retractors for withdrawing the belts when not in use. Each seat equipped with
a
belt includes a pressure sensor to provide a signal when the seat is occupied.
The retractors include switches indicating whether the belts are extended or
retracted. A logic circuit receives the outputs of the sensor and the switches
and
inhibits the output of power to the starter until the pressure sensors first
provide
signals indicating the seats are occupied and then the switches associated
with
each such retractor provide signals indicating the belts have been extended.
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When an attempt is made to start the car in a normal manner and this sequence
of conditions has not occurred, an alarm is sounded as well as the starter
being
inhibited. Means are provided for allowing the application of power to the
starter
motor and extinguishing the alarm in the absence of the proper sequence of
signals under the control of the driver, in an emergency or when the car
stalls.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,221
Inventor: Douglas R. Mutter et al.
Issued: Jan. 9, 1996
Seat belts in a vehicle are monitored, and a reminder is initiated in response
to a
restraint sensor indicating the engaged or nonengaged state of a seat
restraint, a
vehicle sensor indicating when the vehicle is in use, an annunciator
controllably
producing a reminder, and an electronic control controlling the annunciator.
The
reminder is produced when the seat restraint is in a nonengaged state after
having been an engaged state while the vehicle is in use. Thus, monitoring of
the
continued buckling of a seat belt, especially a rear seat belt, is provided
without
need for seat occupancy sensors.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,252
Inventor: Timothy W. Dear
Issued: Apr. 11, 1995
A device primarily for indicating when a seat belt is disconnected comprises
an
electronic unit housed in or on the buckle of the seat belt, and including a
switch,
the condition of which is altered on insertion and removal of the seat belt
key into
and from the buckle. On insertion of the key into the buckle a first signal
indicative of connection of the seat belt is transmitted from the device and,
on
removal of the key from the buckle, a second signal indicative of
disconnection of
the seat belt is transmitted from the device.
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U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,512
Inventor: Marcia M. Bogar
Issued: May 6, 1997
A seat belt safety alarm comprised of a housing having a slotted opening in a
side thereof. The housing has a heel secured therein adjacent to the slotted
opening. The slotted opening is adapted to receive a seat belt tongue therein
with the tongue fitting over the heel. The housing has a wall therein inwardly
of
the heel. A battery is secured within the housing. A circuit board is secured
within
the housing disposed above the battery. The circuit board has a wire
electrically
coupled with the battery. A speaker is secured within the top of the housing
disposed above the circuit board. The speaker has a wire coupled to the
circuit
board. A tongue is secured to a side of the housing. The tongue is adapted for
coupling with a seat belt buckle. A sensor switch is secured within the
housing.
The sensor switch has a wire coupled with the circuit board. The sensor switch
has a switch portion extending outwardly of the housing disposed above the
first
end of the tongue.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,997
Inventor: Raymond Kleinberg et al.
Issued: Jun. 23, 1998
A system for sensing the presence of an object within a vehicle's passenger
compartment including an occupant in a motor vehicle comprising one or more
safety restraint devices and a first occupant sensor, fixedly positioned in
the
vehicle, for generating a reflected electric field within the passenger
compartment
for generating an output signal indicative of the presence of an object, the
sensor
mounted on one of a vehicle's steering wheel assembly for driver position
detection or instrument panel near the passenger air bag module for passenger
position detection.
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U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,325
Inventor: Brian J. Conaway
Issued: Dec. 14, 1999
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.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,734
Inventor: Thomas M. McQuade
Issued: Mar. 26, 2002
A system for monitoring the secured/unsecured status of seat belts in rear
seating rows of a vehicle notes the number and/or location of seat belts
secured
at a base time when all doors are closed and the vehicle starts in motion. The
vehicle operator is alerted to any later change in the number of secured belts
by
a visual display provided by a vehicle message center and/or an audible
signal.
When the vehicle slows to a stop and a door opens, the number of secured belts
is reset to allow continued monitoring of rear seat occupants after occupants
are
dropped off and/or picked up. The secured/unsecured condition may be
determined by monitoring a retractor reel of the seat belt, the secured
condition
being defined by the seat belt being paid out beyond a threshold length and
the
unsecured condition being defined by the seat belt being retracted shorter
than
the threshold length. Seat occupancy sensors are not required, and rear seat
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occupants may temporarily unfasten their seat belt as necessary to move from
one seating position to another without continuous alerting of the vehicle
operator.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,501,374
Inventor: Daniel M. King et al.
Issued: Dec. 31, 2002
A secondary seat belt waming system for a motor vehicle includes at least one
control module for activating at least one secondary warning signal. The
secondary seat belt warning system also includes a driver seat belt sensor for
producing an input signal indicative of a state of a driver seat belt between
a
buckled and unbuckled condition. The secondary seat belt warning system
includes at least one passenger seat belt sensor for producing an input signal
indicative of a state of at least one passenger seat belt between a buckled
and
unbuckled condition. The at least one control module communicates with the
driver seat belt sensor and the at least one passenger seat belt sensor for
activating the at least one secondary warning signal to alert a corresponding
occupant of the motor vehicle if the state of at least one of the driver seat
belt
and the at least one passenger seat belt is the unbuckled condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,714,132
Inventor: William Christopher Edwards et al.
Issued: Mar. 30, 2004
A system and method uses a wireless tether comprising a transmitter and a
receiver to alert a caregiver that an object or person has been left
unattended. A
detector senses the presence of the object, usually a child, located in a
position
such as a safety seat. The detector couples to the transmitter, which is
located
near the object. The transmitter transmits at least one wireless signal when
the
object is in the position. The receiver, which is remotely located from the
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transmitter, senses the at least one signal as long as the receiver is within
a
prescribed range of transmission. By performing a timing function, the
receiver
monitors the proximity of the caregiver, who maintains possession of the
receiver, to the transmitter. The system communicates an alarm to the
caregiver
when the caregiver ventures outside the range of transmission without having
removed the object/child from the position.
British Patent Application GB1406864
Inventor: Center AB
Filed: Sep. 17, 1995
Safety belt buckles CENTER AB 12 Oct. 1972 [14 Oct. 1971] 47143/72 Heading
E2A A safety belt buckle comprises a housing 10, a tongue 13 co-operable with
the housing by mutually engaging abutment surfaces and a latch member 18
which is spring biased into its locking position in which it retains the
housing 10
and tongue 13 in abutting relationship. The latch member 18 is actuated
through
an intermediate member 24 by a push button 27 and comprises a slide which is
displaceably guided in the housing 10. In the construction shown both the push
button 27 and intermediate member 24 are pivotally mounted on respective
shafts 20, 21 these shafts also serving to hold a cover 19 of the housing 10
to a
bottom plate of the housing 10. The abutment surfaces in the housing and
tongue and formed by shoulders 16 on the bottom plate 11 and openings 17
respectively. Only one shoulder and one spring may be provided. In a further
embodiment (FIGS. 3, 4, not shown) the push button is rectilinearly movable
against spring loading the intermediate member comprising a lever pivoted at
its
ends to the housing and the push button respectively and at its mid portion to
a
slider working in an opening in the latch member. This embodiment incorporates
two similar buckles side by side in a plastics metered block. In a
modification of
the double buckle (FIGS. 5, 6, 7, not shown) the intermediate member, which
comprises a rod rigidly connected to the push button, acts on the latch member
by means of a pin attached thereto. A spring loaded slide is also provided
which,
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in the latched condition of the buckle, engages the tongue such that on
retraction
of the latch member against its spring loading the tongue is ejected from the
housing. One lamp is provided in the push button and one lamp is provided in a
passage. The passage opens into the mouth of the housing into which the
tongue passes. The passage lamp illuminates the mouth prior to the insertion
of
the tongue and the push button lamp indicates that the buckle is properly
fastened. The circuit of the lamps may be incorporated in the ignition system
of
the vehicle and weight actuated switches are incorporated in the seats for
which
the safety belt buckles are provided.
German Patent Application DE 3432088
Inventor: Otto Baumgart
Filed: Feb. 21, 1985
This signal transmitter is intended to prevent driving without the safety belt
being
fitted. The essential feature of this signal transmitter is a reed contact and
a
permanent magnet which are integrated (at a separation distance of 2 cm) into
a
plastic part which also contains the acoustic signal transmitter. This plastic
part is
mounted on the lock of the safety bolt and the cables (positive and negative)
are
connected. The reed contact is kept closed by the magnet so that switching on
causes a signal to be triggered. If the belt is now passed between the magnet
and the reed contact into the belt lock, the magnetic field loses its effect
on the
reed contact, resulting in the latter being opened and the signal being
obliterated.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention relates to an alert system, and more specifically, to a
child
car seat that incorporates sensors, which are in communication with a vehicle
electrical system. When an engine is stopped, the sensors signal a remote,
which in turn engages an indicator, such as a tone. The indicator alerts any
passengers in a vehicle or people located within a predetermined distance of
the
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vehicle that the engine is off and that a child remains in the child car seat.
Thus,
the indicator reduces the likelihood of inadvertently leaving a child in a
vehicle
unattended.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a child car seat alert
mechanism that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.
A secondary object of the present invention is to provide a child car seat
alert
mechanism that reminds the driver of the vehicle that the vehicle has stopped
and the child remains in the child car seat.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a child car seat alert
mechanism whereby the child car seat includes sensors for determining the
presence of a child in the car seat
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a child car seat
alert
mechanism that includes a mechanism for determining that the vehicle's engine
is running.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a child car seat alert
mechanism including a mechanism for communicating with the vehicle's
electrical system the information regarding the on/off status of the engine.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a child car seat
alert
mechanism wherein the vehicle electrical system transmits a signal
corresponding to the engine's on/off status for receipt by a remote unit.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a child car seat alert
mechanism whereby the remote unit activates an indicator for informing a user
that the child remains in the child car seat.
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Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a child car seat
alert
mechanism wherein the indicator is positioned on an external surface of the
vehicle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a child car seat alert
mechanism whereby the passenger is alerted to a child exiting the child car
seat
after the engine has started.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a child car seat aiert
mechanism wherein the indicator is located on an internal surface of the
vehicle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a child car seat alert
mechanism including a plurality of indicators, positioned on at least one of
an
internal surface and an external surface of the vehicle.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a child car seat
alert
mechanism whereby the indicator is at least one of a tone, vibration, flashing
or
stable light, verbal communication and a combination thereof.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a child car seat
alert
mechanism that is simple and easy to use.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a child car
seat alert
mechanism that is inexpensive to manufacture and operate.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the
description
to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing,
which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration
specific
embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will
be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to
practice the
invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized
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that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the
invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate
the
same or similar parts throughout the several views.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a
limiting
sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be
described,
by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a flowchart detailing the operation of the child car seat alert
mechanism
of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the chiid car seat alert mechanism of the
present
invention retaining a child therein;
FIG. 3 is an illustrative view of a vehicle including the child car seat alert
mechanism of the present invention having the indicator positioned on an
external surface of the vehicle;
FIG. 4 is an illustrative view of a vehicle including the child car seat alert
mechanism of the present invention having the indicator positioned on an
internal
surface of the vehicle;
FIG. 5 is an illustrative view of a vehicle including the child car seat alert
mechanism of the present invention having a plurality of indicators positioned
therein;
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FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the child car seat alert mechanism of the present
invention; and
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the child car seat
alert
mechanism of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference
characters
denote similar elements throughout the several views, the Figures illustrate
the
car seat alert mechanism of the present invention. With regard to the
reference
numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing
Figures.
10 child car seat alert mechanism of the present invention
12 sensor
14 connection link
16 vehicle electrical system
18 signal
20 remote
22 indicator
24 driver
26 child
28 child car seat
30 seatbelt
32 vehicle
36 first switch
38 weight sensor
40 child car seat processor
42 child car seat receiver
44 child car seat transmitter
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46 indicator signal
50 engine
52 second switch
54 engine sensor
56 vehicle electrical system processer
58 vehicle electrical system transmitter
60 "off' signal
62 "on" signal
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention
(and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be
construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments;
practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as
well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is
directed
to appended claims.
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference
characters
denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 through 7
illustrate a car seat alert mechanism of the present invention which is
indicated
generally by the reference numeral 10.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the child car seat alert mechanism 10 of the present
invention. The car seat alert mechanism 10 of the present invention,
hereinafter
"mechanism", is an alert mechanism to prevent inadvertently leaving a child
locked in the child car seat when a vehicle engine is not running. Initially a
child
is placed in a car seat as shown in step S100. In S101, the child car seat
locking
device is engaged. The locking mechanism is preferably a seatbelt tab which is
received by a buckle thereby locking the tab in place. Thereafter, a weight
sensor
is activated in step S102. In S104 the engine stops and the vehicle electrical
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system sends a signal to a remote in S106. The remote, in turn, engages an
indicator and senses a weight of a child positioned in the car seat as shown
in
step S108. The sensor determines if the sensed weight is above a predetermined
weight and upon sensing that the weight is greater than or equal to the
predetermined weight, the indicator indicates that the child is still present
in the
child car seat and the indicator alerts the passengers in S110.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the child car seat alert mechanism 10 of the
present invention. The mechanism 10 of the present invention is positioned and
used in conjunction with a conventional car seat 28 having a restraining
mechanism 30 such as a seatbeit for retaining at least one of an infant and
child
26 therein. The child 26 sits in the car seat 28 and the seatbelt 30 is
fastened
around the child 26 to prevent him from leaving his child car seat 28. The
mechanism 10 of the present invention is able to sense and subsequently notify
a user that the child 26 remains in the car seat 28 when a vehicle engine is
not
running.
The car seat 28 includes a sensor 12 shown herein in shadow. The sensor 12 is
preferably a seat sensor that is positioned immediately under the surface of a
seat portion of the car seat 28. The sensor 12 is able to selectively sense an
amount of weight positioned thereon. Thus, the sensor 12 is able to sense a
weight of the child 26 thereby determining if the child 26 is present in the
car seat
28.
The sensor 12 is also connected to a vehicle electrical system 16 via
communication link 14. The vehicle electrical system 16 is connected to all
mechanical and electrical components of the vehicle, including but not limited
to
the engine, and the system 16 controls all operation thereof. The vehicle
electrical system 16 is further connected to a remote unit 20 having an
indicating
mechanism 22.
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When the user deactivates the vehicle, the vehicle electrical system 16
detects
that the engine has been deactivated. The sensor 12 senses whether a weight
positioned in the car seat 28 is greater than a predetermined value. If the
sensed
weight is greater than or equal to the predetermined weight then the sensor 12
communicates via communication link 14 that the sensed weight is greater than
the predetermined weight. The vehicle electrical system 16 interprets this to
mean that the child 26 is still present in the car seat 28. The system 16 then
emits a notification signal 18 for receipt by the remote unit 20. Upon receipt
of the
notification signal 18, the remote unit 20 activates the indicator 22 for
indicating
to a user that the child 26 is still present in the car seat. Alternatively,
the system
16 may include a time delay mechanism whereby upon receiving the
communication from the sensor 12 that the sensed weight is greater than the
predetermined weight, the system 16 intentionally pauses for a predetermined
amount of time prior to emitting the notification signal 18. This allows the
user to
have time to actually remove the child prior to sounding an alarm which in
that
situation would be a false alarm.
FIG. 3 is an illustrative view of a vehicle 32 including the child car seat
alert
mechanism 10 of the present invention. A user 24 is positioned outside of a
vehicle 32. The child 26 is positioned in the child car seat 28 which located
in the
vehicle 32. The vehicle 32 includes the indicator 22 positioned on an external
surface thereof. The sensor 12 shown in FIG. 1 is embedded in the child car
seat
28 and is engaged and able to selectively determine if the weight positioned
thereon is greater than or equal to the predetermined weight thereby
indicating
that the child 26 is positioned therein.
The engine is in the "off' position, and the child car seat sensor 12 senses
that
the child 26 remains in the child car seat 28. The indicator 22, herein
positioned
on an external surface of the vehicle 32, is activated to alert the driver 24
that the
child 26 remains in the child car seat 28. The indicator 22 is at least one of
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tone, vibration, flashing or stable light, verbal communication and a
combination
thereof.
FIG. 4 is an illustrative view of a vehicle 32 including the child car seat
alert
mechanism 10 of the present invention. Herein, the child 26 sits in the child
car
seat 28 located in the vehicle 32. The child 26 is secured to the child car
seat 28
by the seatbelt 30. The child car seat sensor 12 is embedded in the child car
seat
28. The driver 24 is located inside the vehicle 32. The driver 24 has tumed
off the
engine 50 and removed the key. The engine 50 is in the "off' position, and the
child car seat sensor 12 senses that the child 26 remains in the child car
seat 28.
The indicator 22, herein positioned on an internal surface of the vehicle 32,
is
activated to alert the driver 24 that the child 26 remains in the child car
seat 28.
The indicator 22 is at least one of a tone, vibration, flashing or stable
light, verbal
communication and a combination thereof.
Altematively, the mechanism 10 may be linked with the restraining mechanism
30 indicating if the restraining mechanism 30 has been released while the
vehicle
engine is operating. This alternative operation of the mechanism 10 of the
present invention is operable by having the sensor 12 further connected to a
switch for detecting that a restraining mechanism 30 is in first secured
position
and a second unsecured position. While the vehicle engine is engaged, the
sensor 12 senses the weight positioned thereon while simultaneously checking
if
the restraining mechanism is in the first secured position. Upon detecting
that the
restraining mechanism 30 is in the second unsecured position, the sensor 12
senses if the weight positioned thereon is greater than the predetermined
weight.
If the sensed weight is greater than the predetermined weight, then the sensor
12
communicates with the vehicle electrical system 16 as shown in FIG. 1 and the
system 16 interprets this signal to mean that the restraining mechanism 30 is
unsecured. The system 16 then sends the notification signal 18 to the remote
unit 20 which activates the indicator 22.
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FIG. 5 is an illustrative view of a vehicle 32 including the child car seat
alert
mechanism 10. Herein, the child 26 sits in the child car seat 28 located in
the
vehicle 32. The child 26 is secured to the child car seat 28 by the seatbeit
30.
The child car seat sensor 12 is embedded in the child car seat 28. The driver
24
is located inside the vehicle 32. The driver 24 has turned off the engine 50
and
removed the key. The engine 50 is in the "off' position, and the child car
seat
sensor 12 senses that the child remains in the child car seat 28. The
plurality of
indicators 22, herein positioned on the external and intemal surfaces of the
vehicle 32, are activated to alert the driver 24 that the child 26 remains in
the
child car seat 28. The indicators 22 are at least one of a tone, vibration,
flashing
or stable light, verbal communication and a combination thereof.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the child car seat alert mechanism 10 of the
present
invention. The child car seat 28 includes the sensor 12 positioned therein.
The
sensor 12 contains a weight sensor 38, a child car seat receiver 42, a child
car
seat processor 40, a child car seat transmitter 44. The car seat transmitter
44 is
connected to an extemal indicator 22 via a first switch 36 which controls
activation of the indicator 22. The vehicle electrical system 16 is connected
to the
engine 50 of the vehicle via a second switch 52. The vehicle electrical system
includes an engine sensor 54, a vehicle electrical system processor 56 and a
vehicle electrical system transmitter 58.
Initially, upon a child being positioned within the car seat 28, the weight
sensor
38 senses the weight of the child. The car seat processor 40 includes a
comparator function which, upon activation of the weight sensor 38, compares
the sensed weight amount to a predetermined weight amount.
As shown herein, the engine 50 is in a first "on" mode and the second switch
52
is first "closed" position. The engine sensor 54 detects that the second
switch 52
is in the first "closed" position and the vehicle electrical system processor
56
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causes the vehicle electrical system transmitter 58 to transmit "on" signal 62
for
receipt by the child car seat receiver 42, indicating that the engine is "on".
Upon the car seat processor 40 detecting that the car seat receiver 42 has
received the "on" signal 62 from the vehicle electrical system 16, the car
seat
processor 40 causes the car seat transmitter 44 to move the first switch from
a
first "closed" position to a second "open" position.
When the first switch 36 is open as shown herein, an indication signal is not
transmitted to the indicator 22 via indicator iink 46. In the operation shown
herein,
the users would not hear/see the indicator 22 while the engine is on and the
child
is secured in the child car seat 28, shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the child car seat alert mechanism 10 of the
present
invention. The child car seat 28 includes the sensor 12 positioned therein.
The
sensor 12 contains a weight sensor 38, a child car seat receiver 42, a child
car
seat processor 40, a child car seat transmitter 44. The car seat transmitter
44 is
connected to an external indicator 22 via a first switch 36 which controls
activation of the indicator 22. The vehicle electrical system 16 is connected
to the
engine 50 of the vehicle via a second switch 52. The vehicle electrical system
includes an engine sensor 54, a vehicle electrical system processor 56 and a
vehicle electrical system transmitter 58.
Initially, upon a child being positioned within the car seat 28, the weight
sensor
38 senses the weight of the child. The car seat processor 40 includes a
comparator function which, upon activation of the weight sensor 38, compares
the sensed weight amount to a predetermined weight amount.
As shown herein, the engine 50 is in a second "off' mode and the second switch
52 is second "open" position. The engine sensor 54 detects that the second
switch 52 is in the second "open" position and the vehicle electrical system
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processor 56 causes the vehicle electrical system transmitter 58 to transmit
"off'
signal 60 for receipt by the child car seat receiver 42, indicating that the
engine is
11o ff,.
Upon the car seat processor 40 detecting that the car seat receiver 42 has
received the "off' signal 60 from the vehicle electrical system 16, the car
seat
processor 40, via a the comparator selectively determines if the weight sensor
38
senses a weight greater than the predetermined weight. If the sensed weight is
greater than the predetermined weight and upon receipt of the "off' signal 60,
the
car seat processor 40 causes the car seat transmitter 44 to move the first
switch
36 from second "open" to the first "closed" position.
When the first switch 36 is closed as shown herein, an indicator signal is
transmitted via the indicator link 46 to the indicator 22. The indicator 22 at
least
one of visually and audibly alerts the user that a child remains in the car
seat 28
after the engine 50 has been turned off.
In an alternative embodiment, the indicator 22 would also be activated when
the
child 26 exits the child car seat 28 while the engine 50 is on. This would
alert the
driver that the child 26 was able to get out of the child car seat 28 while
the
vehicle is on.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described
and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to
the
details above, since it will be understood that various omissions,
modifications,
substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated
and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any
way
from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the
present
invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for
19
CA 02601960 2007-09-14
various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of
prior
art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific
aspects of
this invention.
