Child alert alarm for automobiles

• US 5,966,070 A
• Filed: 08/18/1997
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carolyn M. Thornton
• Original Assignee: Carolyn M. Thornton
• Inventors: Thornton, Carolyn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/912,484
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/438, 340/449, 340/459, 340/573, 340/522, 340/588, 340/589, 340/666, 340/584, 340/667, 374/142, 374/100, 374/133
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

The present invention, in one form, is an alarm system for detecting the presence of a child locked within a parked automobile during extreme temperatures. The alarm system includes a temperature detecting element and a child detecting element electrically coupled to an AND gate. The temperature detecting element transmits an extreme temperature signal to the AND gate if the temperature within the automobile exceeds a pre-selected maximum temperature. The child detecting element transmits a child detection signal to the AND gate when it detects a child within the automobile. The AND gate, upon receiving both the child detection signal and the extreme temperature signal, transmits and alarm signal.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a child in a parked automobile during extreme temperatures using an alarm system, the alarm system including a child detecting element and a temperature detecting element, said temperature detecting element being connected to an electrical OR gate, said method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a child is in the automobile utilizing the child detecting element;

determining whether an actual temperature within the automobile is above an extreme maximum temperature or below an extreme minimum temperature, utilizing the electrical OR gate of the temperature detecting element; and

activating an alarm if a child is detected in the automobile and if the temperature is above an extreme maximum temperature or below an extreme minimum temperature.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the minimum temperature is approximately 0 degrees Celsius.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the maximum temperature is approximately 35 degrees Celsius.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the automobile includes a horn, and wherein activating the alarm comprises the step of transmitting an alarm signal to the horn.

5. An alarm system for an automobile, said alarm system comprising:

a temperature detecting element comprising a first detecting circuit, a second detecting circuit, and an electrical OR gate having a first OR gate input and a second OR gate input, said first detecting circuit coupled to said first OR gate input, said second detecting circuit coupled to said second OR gate input;

a child detecting element; and

an alarm element having a first alarm input and a second alarm input, said temperature detecting element coupled to said first alarm input, said child detecting element coupled to said second alarm input, said alarm element comprising an electrical AND gate, said electrical AND gate being configured to transmit an alarm signal in response to the combined first and second alarm inputs.

6. An alarm system in accordance with claim 5 wherein the automobile includes a battery, and wherein said alarm system is configured to couple to the automobile battery.

7. An alarm system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first detecting circuit comprises a thermistor configured to increase in resistance as an ambient temperature decreases and configured to decrease in resistance as the ambient temperature increases.

8. An alarm system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said second detecting circuit comprises a thermistor configured to decrease in resistance as an ambient temperature decreases and configured to increase in resistance as the ambient temperature increases.

9. An alarm system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said child detecting element comprises a normally open switch.

10. An alarm system in accordance with claim 5 wherein the automobile includes a child safety seat positioned therein, and wherein said child detecting element is configured to couple to the child safety seat.

11. An alarm system configured to couple to an automobile and comprising:

a temperature detecting element comprising a first detecting circuit, a second detecting circuit, and an electrical OR gate having a first input and a second input, said first detecting circuit coupled to said first input, said second detecting circuit coupled to said second input;

a child detecting element; and

an alarm element for receiving signals from said temperature detecting element and said child detecting element, said alarm element configured to activate an alarm in response to the combined received signals.

12. An alarm system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said alarm element comprises an electrical AND gate.

13. An alarm system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said first detecting circuit comprises a thermistor configured to increase in resistance as an ambient temperature decreases and configured to decrease in resistance as the ambient temperature increases.

14. An alarm system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said second detecting circuit comprises a thermistor configured to decrease in resistance as an ambient temperature decreases and configured to increase in resistance as the ambient temperature increases.

15. An alarm system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said child detecting element comprises a normally open switch.