Apparatus for alerting a driver preparing to exit a motor vehicle and method thereof
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for providing an alert to a driver preparing to exit a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a housing;
(b) a control means mounted within said housing and electrically coupled to at least one of a seat belt sensor, a door open sensor, a vehicle ignition system and a vehicle computer, said control means connected to a source of electrical power, said control means capable of at least generating said alert in response to an exiting condition being at least one of an opened door, an unbuckled seat belt and a terminated ignition; and
(c) means coupled to said control means for delivering said alert to such driver.
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Abstract
An apparatus for providing an alert to a driver preparing to exit a motor vehicle includes a housing and a controller which is mounted within the housing and which is electrically coupled to at least one of a seat belt sensor, a door open sensor, a vehicle ignition system and a vehicle computer. The controller is connected to a source of electrical power and is capable of at least generating the alert in response to an exiting condition being at least one of an opened door, an unbuckled seat belt and a terminated ignition. The alert is delivered through at least one of a speaker, a buzzer, a light and a display.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing an alert to a driver preparing to exit a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a housing;
(b) a control means mounted within said housing and electrically coupled to at least one of a seat belt sensor, a door open sensor, a vehicle ignition system and a vehicle computer, said control means connected to a source of electrical power, said control means capable of at least generating said alert in response to an exiting condition being at least one of an opened door, an unbuckled seat belt and a terminated ignition; and
(c) means coupled to said control means for delivering said alert to such driver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of alerting a driver that is preparing to exit a motor vehicle to at least one of a presence of at least one of a child and an object and an action to be performed by said driver, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an alert means capable of at least delivering an alert to said driver;
(b) electrically coupling said alert means to at least one of a seat belt sensor, a door open sensor, a vehicle ignition system and a vehicle computer;
(c) sensing, by a control means coupled to said alert means, an exiting condition being at least one of an opened 4 door, an unbuckled seat belt, and a terminated ignition; and
(d) delivering said alert in response to sensing said exiting condition in step (c). - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of alerting a driver that is preparing to exit said motor vehicle to at least one of a presence of at least one of a child and an object and an action to be performed by said driver, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) sensing, by way of a vehicle computer, an exiting condition being at least one of an opened door, an unbuckled seat belt and a terminated ignition; and
(b) delivering an alert to said driver upon sensing said exiting condition in step (a). - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification