Child lock indicator

• US 20050216133A1
• Filed: 03/25/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edward H. Arnold Jr, Lonny Macdougall
• Original Assignee: Edward H. Arnold Jr, Lonny Macdougall
• Inventors: MacDougall, Lonny, Arnold, Edward H. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/810,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20050216133A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0083 Sound emitting devices, e.g. loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 41/00 Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked indicator lights E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/26 specially adapted for child safety

Abstract

The invention is a system that displays the status of a motor vehicle child lock.

Claims

1. A system that displays the status of a motor vehicle child lock, comprising:

a motor vehicle child lock located in a motor vehicle door;

a sensor that is adapted to detect whether the child lock is engaged or disengaged; and

an indicator coupled to the sensor, the indicator providing the status of the child lock as being either engaged or disengaged when the door is in an open position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicator includes a light.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicator light is a red LED.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicator is a speaker.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicator is a mechanical indicator.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a computer system that is adapted to record a sound, and play the sound on a speaker.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising logic adapted to control the indicator, the logic coupled between the indicator and the child lock.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a door lock coupled to the indicator, the indicator being a light that is embedded in the door lock.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicator is located approximate to the lock that is controlled by the child lock.

10. A method of displaying the status of a motor vehicle child lock, comprising:

detecting the status of a motor vehicle child lock system when a vehicle door opens;

displaying an indication of the child lock system status on an indicator that provides the status of the child lock as being either engaged or disengaged when the door is in an open position.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein displaying occurs in an area approximate to a lock that is disengage able by the child lock system.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein displaying produces a light.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the light is red.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein displaying sounds an audible warning.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein displaying provides a mechanical indication.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the mechanical indication is a word.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the audible warning is a verbal warning.