Infant vehicle seat alarm system

• US 5,581,234 A
• Filed: 07/31/1995
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anna L. Emery, David Phillip Emery
• Original Assignee: Anna L. Emery, David Phillip Emery
• Inventors: Emery, Anna L., Emery, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/509,539
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457, 340/457.1, 340/573, 340/667, 340/687, 297/217.3, 297/217.4, 297/250.1, 297/251.13, 297/251.14, 297/251.15, 297/251.16, 297/467
• US Class Current: 340/457.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2821 having a seat and a base part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2845 having handles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/105 for children adaptation of children's seats for seat belts B60N2/265, B60N2/2803
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

An infant seat/carrier alarm system designed to produce an audible or visual warning when the seat/carrier component is initially aligned on the base component, not locked onto the base component, or when the harness is in an unused state. The alarm system has a main circuit which includes a power source, an audible or visual alarm, a main switch, and two double pole switches all connected together in a series. The double pole switches are used to close the main circuit or connect it with a branching circuit thereto. The main circuit is designed to detecting the presence of the seat/carrier component aligned on the base component. Two double pole switches are disposed between the seat/carrier component and the base component which are moved between the two contact positions by the carrying handle when rotated between unlocked and locked positions. The branching circuit includes a normally closed, single pole switch located in the buckle of the harness. When the seat/carrier component is properly aligned and locked on the base component, the alarm is activated when the clip is disconnected from the buckle.

Claims

1. An alarm system for an infant seat/carrier including a seat/carrier component and a base component, said seat/carrier component including a carrying handle which may be selectively pivoted between an upward extended position and a rearward extended position when said seat/carrier component is properly aligned on said base component, when said carrying handle is pivoted into a rearward extended position, said seat/carrier component is locked onto said base component, said seat/carrier component also including a harness capable of being selectively connected to securely attach an infant to said seat/carrier component, said alarm system comprising:

a. main circuit including a power source, a main switch and an alarm means all connected together in a series;

b. a branching circuit connected to said main circuit, said branching circuit including a second switch means capable of selectively opening and closing said branching circuit, said second switch means attached to said harness so that when said harness is in an used state, said second switch means is opened thereby opening said branching circuit, said second switch means also attached to said harness so that when said harness is in an unused state, said second switching means is closed thereby closing said branching circuit and activating said alarm means; and

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c. at least one double pole switch connected between said main circuit and said branching circuit, said double pole switch capable of being disposed in a first contact position to simultaneously close said main circuit and open said branching circuit, said double pole switch also capable of being disposed in a second contact position to simultaneously open said main circuit and close said branching circuit, said double pole switch being disposed between said base component and said carrying handle on said seat/carrier component so that when said seat/carrier component is initially aligned on said base component, said double pole switch is disposed in a first contact position, said double pole also being disposed between said base component and said carrying handle so that when said carrying handle is pivoted to a rearward extending position to lock said seat/carrier component on said base component, said double pole switch is disposed in a second contact position.

2. An alarm system according to claim 1, wherein said double pole switch is a double pole push-button switch, said push-button switch including a first set of contacts connected to said main circuit and including in a second set of contacts connected to said branching circuit.