Systems and Methods for Indicating the Presence of a Child in a Vehicle

• US 20090212955A1
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cars-N-Kids LLC
• Original Assignee: Cars-N-Kids LLC
• Inventors: Schoenberg, Gregory B., Steffen, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,212,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range

Abstract

Systems and methods which provide for an alarm or notification that a child is in a car seat, The systems generally determine if a child is in the seat and that the seat, and therefore the vehicle, is not in motion Upon detecting both situations, the notification or alarm is activated.

Claims

1. A device for providing notice that a child is in a car seat comprising:

a pressure sensor;

an accelerometer;

a notification system; and

a controller;

wherein if said pressure sensor detects pressure and said accelerometer does not detect movement, said controller activates said notification system.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a temporary disarming switch.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said pressure sensor is placed in a child seat.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said child seat is forward facing.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said child seat is rearward facing.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said child seat is a booster seat.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said notification system plays sound when activated.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said sound comprises a children'"'"'s song.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said notification system is also activated when said pressure sensor goes from detecting pressure to not detecting pressure.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein there is a delay after said accelerometer does not detect movement before said notification system is activated.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said delay is about 15 seconds.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein once said notification system is activated, it waits a preselected amount of time and then activates again.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein when said notification system activates again, it provides the same notification.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein when said notification system activates again, it provides a different notification.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said different notification is intended to be more disruptive than the original notification.

17. The device of claim 7 wherein said means for detecting detects acceleration.

18. The device of claim 7 wherein said means for notifying plays a song when it provides notice.

16. A device for providing notice that a child is in a car seat comprising:

means for detecting that a child is in a car seat;

means for detecting that a said car seat is in motion; and

means for notifying which provides notice if said means for detecting said child indicates said child is in said car seat and said means for detecting that said car seat is in motion indicates that it is not.

19. A method for assisting in the detection of a child in a parked motor vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting whether or not a child is in a vehicle;

detecting whether or not said vehicle is not in motion; and

if said child is in said vehicle and said vehicle is not in motion, generating a notification signal to indicate the presence of said child.