Air bag-equipped child's vehicle seat and alarm/arming system therefore

• US 5,711,574 A
• Filed: 11/28/1995
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Cooper
• Original Assignee: New Lenox Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Barnes, F. Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer, Laurie K.
• Application Number:
  US08/566,566
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457, 340/457.1, 340/686, 180/286, 297/276, 297/217.4
• US Class Current: 297/216.11
• 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: B60N 2/2839 having a front guard or barrier
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2074 in head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01526 using piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0173 Diagnostic or recording means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2072 in children's seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/14 incorporating enlarged restraint areas, e.g. vests, nets , crash pads, optionally for children crash pads for occupants' safety on vehicles in general B60R21/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A child'"'"'s seat for use in motor vehicles, including an air bag and activation circuitry. Sensors on the seat emit a first signal confirming that the air bag is armed and that the seat belt is properly connected. A second warning signal is produced when the child'"'"'s seat air bag is not properly functioning or if the child'"'"'s seat is not properly held in place by the vehicle'"'"'s seat belt system. Also disclosed is an air bag inflator including a pressure tank, a frangible membrane for sealing gas under pressure within the tank, and a pyrotechnic squib for rupturing the frangible membrane to deploy the air bag.

Claims

1. A child safety and restraint system of a type adapted to be attached in a vehicle to a vehicle seat by fastening of a vehicular seat belt system thereto, said child safety and restraint system comprising:

a seat structure having a harness releasably secured to said seat structure;

a first sensing device mounted to said seat structure, said first sensing device being activated when it senses a presence of a child positioned within said seat structure;

a second sensing device mounted to said seat structure, said second sensing device being activated when it senses that said seat structure is secured to said vehicle seat by locking engagement of said vehicular seat belt system;

a third sensing device mounted to said seat structure, said third sensing device being activated when said harness is secured to said seat structure; and

a device for emitting a first audible indication after said first, second, and third sensing devices have been activated.

2. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 1 wherein said first direct indication is a synthesized voice delivering a first message.

3. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 1 further comprising a device for emitting a second direct indication when said first sensing device has been deactivated after first being activated.

4. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 3, wherein said second direct indication is a synthesized voice delivering a second message.

5. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 3 further comprising a device for emitting a third direct indication when said second sensing device has been deactivated after first being activated.

6. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 5 wherein said third direct indication is a synthesized voice delivering a third message.

7. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 1 further comprising a device for emitting a second direct indication that said second sensing device has been deactivated after first being activated.

8. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 7 wherein said second direct indication is a synthesized voice delivering a second message.

9. A child safety and restraint system of a type adapted to be attached in a vehicle to a vehicle seat by fastening of a vehicular seat belt system thereto, said child safety and restraint system comprising:

a seat structure;

a harness mounted to said seat structure, said harness being selectively movable between an open position and a closed position;

a first sensing device mounted to said seat structure, said first sensing device being activated when it senses a presence of a child positioned within said seat structure;

a second sensing device mounted to said seat structure, said second sensing device being activated when it sensed that said seat structure is secured to said vehicle seat by locking engagement of said vehicular seat belt system;

a third sensing device associated with said harness, said third sensing device being actuated when said harness is in said closed position; and

a device for emitting a first audible indication after said first, second, and third sensing devices have been actuated.

10. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 9 wherein said first direct indication is a synthesized voice delivering a first message.

11. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 9 further comprising a device for emitting a second direct indication when said first sensing device has been deactivated after first being activated.

12. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 11, wherein said second direct indication is a synthesized voice delivering a second message.

13. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 11 further comprising a device for emitting a third direct indication when said second sensing device has been deactivated after first being activated.

14. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 13 wherein said third direct indication is a synthesized voice delivering a third message.

15. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 9 further comprising a device for emitting a second direct indication that said second sensing device has been deactivated after first being activated.

16. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 15 wherein said second direct indication is a synthesized voice delivering a second message.

17. A child safety and restraint system of a type adapted to be attached in a vehicle to a vehicle seat by fastening of a vehicular seat belt system thereto, said child safety and restraint system comprising:

a seat structure;

a harness mounted to said seat structure, said harness being selectively movable between an open position and a closed position;

a first sensing device mounted to said seat structure, said first sensing device being operable to detect a presence of a child positioned within said seat structure;

a second sensing device mounted to said seat structure, said second sensing device being operable to detect when said seat structure is secured to said vehicle seat by locking engagement of said vehicular seat belt system;

a third sensing device associated with said harness, said third sensing device being operable to detect the position of said harness; and

a device for emitting a first audible indication after said first sensing device senses the presence of a child, said second sensing device sensing that said seat structure is secured to said vehicle seat and said third sensing device senses that said harness is in said closed position.

18. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 17 further comprising a device for emitting a second direct indication when said first sensing device detects an absence of said child after first having sensed said presence of said child.

19. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 17 further comprising a device for emitting a second direct indication when said second sensing device detects that said seat structure is not secured to said vehicle after first having sensed that said seat structure was secured to said vehicle.

20. The child safety and restraint system according to claim 17 further comprising a device for emitting a second direct indication when said harness moves from said closed position to said open position.