System and Method for a Child Safety Seat Having Sensing and Notification Abilities

• US 20100078978A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chelsea Owens
• Original Assignee: Chelsea Owens
• Inventors: Owens, Chelsea
• Granted Patent: US 8,038,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/250.100
• 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: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A child safety seat system having sensing and notification abilities includes a child safety seat, a proximity sensor, a presence sensor, and a transmitter. The proximity sensor is configured to detect when a wireless receiver is located outside a predefined distance of the child safety seat. The presence sensor is configured to detect presence of a person in the child safety seat. The transmitter is configured to transmit a wireless signal to the wireless receiver when the presence sensor detects the presence of a person in the child safety seat and the wireless receiver is located outside the predefined distance. Furthermore, the wireless signal configured to cause the wireless receiver to generate an alert.

Claims

1. A child safety seat system, comprising a child safety seat, a proximity sensor, a presence sensor, and a transmitter wherein:

the proximity sensor is configured to detect when a wireless receiver is located outside a predefined distance of the child safety seat;

the presence sensor is configured to detect presence of a person in the child safety seat; and

the transmitter is configured to transmit a wireless signal to the wireless receiver when the presence sensor detects the presence of a person in the child safety seat and the wireless receiver is located outside the predefined distance, the wireless signal configured to cause the wireless receiver to generate an alert.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the child safety seat comprises a restraint; and

the presence sensor is incorporated into the restraint, the presence sensor configured to determine that the person is in the child safety seat when the restraint is closed.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the restraint comprises a latch and a buckle and the presence sensor is configured to determine that the person is in the child safety seat when the latch is fastened into the buckle.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a bracelet and a flexible cord wherein:

the bracelet is configured to be worn by the person;

the flexible cord comprises a first end attached to the child safety seat and a second end configured to removeably attach to the bracelet; and

the presence sensor comprises a connector incorporated into the second end, the presence sensor configured to detect the presence of the person when the second end of the flexible cord is attached to the bracelet.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the presence sensor is a weight sensor incorporated in the child safety seat, the weight sensor configured to detect the presence of the person when the weight sensor detects a weight in excess of a predefined threshold weight.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal comprises a cellular communication signal and the wireless receiver comprises a cellular device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the wireless signal comprises a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) text message.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the child safety seat further comprises:

a temperature sensor configured to monitor an ambient temperature surrounding the child safety seat; and

a temperature control unit configured to adjust a temperature of the child safety seat when;

the temperature sensor detects a temperature that occurs outside a predetermined temperature range; and

the presence sensor detects the presence of a person in the child safety seat.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the temperature control unit is configured to adjust temperature of the child safety seat when:

the temperature sensor detects a temperature that occurs outside a predetermined temperature range;

the presence sensor detects the presence of a person in the child safety seat; and

the wireless receiver is located outside the predefined distance

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the temperature control unit comprises a thermoelectric module incorporated into the child safety seat.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the temperature control unit comprises a cooling fan coupled to the child safety seat.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising the wireless receiver, the wireless receiver comprising a keychain fob.

13. A method of using a child safety seat system comprising the steps of:

detecting when a wireless receiver is located outside a predefined distance of the child safety seat using a proximity sensor;

detecting a presence of a person in the child safety seat using a presence sensor; and

transmitting a wireless signal to the wireless receiver using a transmitter when the presence sensor detects the presence of a person in the child safety seat and the wireless receiver is located outside the predefined distance, the wireless signal configured to cause the wireless receiver to generate an alert.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

monitoring an ambient temperature surrounding the child safety seat using a temperature sensor; and

adjusting a temperature of the child safety seat using a temperature control unit incorporated in to the child safety seat when;

the temperature sensor detects a temperature that occurs outside a predetermined temperature range; and

the presence sensor detects the presence of a person in the child safety seat.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the temperature control unit comprises a thermoelectric module.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the child safety seat comprises a restraint and the presence sensor is incorporated into the restraint, and further comprising determining that the person is in the child safety seat when the restraint is closed.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the restraint comprises a latch and a buckle, and further comprising and determining that the person is present in the child safety seat when the latch is fastened into the buckle.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the presence sensor is a weight sensor incorporated in the child safety seat, and further comprising determining that the person is present in the child safety seat when the weight sensor detects a weight in excess of a predefined threshold weight.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless signal comprises a cellular communication signal and the wireless receiver comprises a cellular device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the wireless signal comprises a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) text message.