VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEM FOR MANDATORY DRIVER INSPECTION TO ENSURE THAT PASSENGERS HAVE ALL DISEMBARKED

• US 20140159884A1
• Filed: 07/11/2013
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: April Braun, Jerry P. Braun
• Original Assignee: April Braun, Jerry P. Braun
• Inventors: Braun, April, Braun, Jerry P.
• Application Number:
  US13/939,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20140159884A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/433
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/02 responsive to conditions relating to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

An improved vehicle safety system for transport operators designed to require the driver of a passenger vehicle to fully check the entire vehicle before exiting, thereby ensuring that no passenger is left behind. The driver is required to turn a key in the switch located at the back of the vehicle to disable the alarm. This keyed switch absolutely ensures driver compliance, much more so than conventional timers with a disable button. The system is implemented with simple and reliable relays and other components.

Claims

1. An improved vehicle safety system for transport operators to ensure that the driver of a passenger vehicle fully checks for remaining passengers in the vehicle before exiting the vehicle themselves, said vehicle having vehicle power, ground, ignition, and at least one door switch, the vehicle safety system comprising:

an electrical circuit comprising a countdown timer, and a switch connected between said vehicle ignition and said countdown timer, said switch activating said countdown timer upon turning off the ignition of said passenger vehicle;

an alarm module connected in series with the door switches of said passenger vehicle and configured to sound an alarm if said at least one door switch is closed and said electrical circuit countdown timer times out;

a key switch mounted at the back of the passenger vehicle for selectively preventing said alarm module from sounding despite said electrical circuit countdown timer timing out.

2. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 1, wherein said key switch comprises a cylindrical key switch mounted at the back of the passenger vehicle.

3. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit switch comprises a latching relay.

4. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 3, wherein said latching relay comprises a single-pole double throw relay.

10. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 1, wherein said countdown timer comprises a manually settable countdown timer.

11. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 10, wherein said manually settable countdown timer comprises a resistor bank with jumper connector.

12. An improved vehicle safety system to ensure that the driver of a passenger vehicle fully checks for remaining passengers in the vehicle before exiting themself, the vehicle safety system comprising:

an electrical circuit comprising a countdown timer, and a switch activating said countdown timer upon turning off the ignition of said passenger vehicle;

an alarm module connected in series with the door switches of said passenger vehicle and configured to sound an alarm if said electrical circuit countdown timer times out;

a key switch mounted at the back of the passenger vehicle for selectively preventing said alarm module from sounding despite said electrical circuit countdown timer timing out.

5. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 13 wherein said electrical circuit switch comprises a first switch, second switch and third switch.

6. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 5 wherein said first switch comprises a latching relay.

7. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 6, wherein said latching relay comprises a single-pole double throw relay.

8. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 5 wherein said second switch and said third switch both comprises a non-latching relay.

9. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 8, wherein said second switch and said third switch both comprise a non-latching single-pole double throw relay.

13. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 12, wherein said key switch comprises a cylindrical key switch mounted at the back of the passenger vehicle.

14. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 12, wherein said electrical circuit switch comprises a latching relay.

15. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 14, wherein said latching relay comprises a single-pole double throw relay.

16. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 14, wherein said electrical circuit switch comprises a first switch, second switch and third switch.

17. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 16 wherein said first switch comprises a latching relay.

18. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 17, wherein said latching relay comprises a single-pole double throw relay.

19. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 17, wherein said second switch and said third switch both comprises a non-latching relay.

20. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 19, wherein said second switch and said third switch both comprise a non-latching single-pole double throw relay.

21. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 12, wherein said countdown timer comprises a manually settable countdown timer.

22. The improved vehicle safety system according to claim 12, wherein said manually settable countdown timer comprises a resistor bank with jumper connector.