Warning system for detecting presence of a child in an infant seat

• US 6,104,293 A
• Filed: 09/07/1999
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marc A. Rossi
• Original Assignee: Marc A. Rossi
• Inventors: Rossi, Marc A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/391,287
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.2, 340/426, 340/438, 340/457, 340/667, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 180/273, 280/730.1, 280/732, 280/735
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• 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 2/267 alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/22 Optical; Photoelectric; Lidar [Light Detection and Ranging]
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 Wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for warning when a child has been left in an infant seat and a vehicle as been turned off. The apparatus includes an occupant detection mechanism for detecting the presence of an occupant within an infant seat located within a vehicle; an ignition detection mechanism for detecting the state of the vehicle'"'"'s ignition system; a control unit for generating an alarm signal when the occupant detection mechanism detects the presence of an occupant within the infant seat and the ignition detection mechanism detects that the vehicle'"'"'s ignition system has been turned from an "on" state to an "off" state; and an alarm units for generating an alarm in response to the alarm signal. The components of the apparatus can be located within the infant seat, within the vehicle or combined within the infant seat and the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

occupant detection means for detecting the presence of an occupant within a child seat located within a vehicle;

vehicle ignition detection means for detecting the state of the vehicle'"'"'s ignition system;

control means for generating an alarm signal when the occupant detection means detects the presence of an occupant within the child seat and the vehicle ignition detection means detects that vehicle'"'"'s ignition system has been turned from an "on" state to an "off" state;

electrical power means for supplying electrical power to the control means; and

an alarm that is responsive to the alarm signal.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical power means includes a reserve power unit.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle ignition detection means includes a wireless ignition state transmitter coupled to the vehicle'"'"'s ignition circuit and a wireless ignition state receiver coupled to the control means.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the occupant detection means comprises an occupant sensor located within the infant seat.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alarm generates a voice signal.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alarm comprises at least one of a buzzer, a light and a speaker.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means controls the operation of at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s car theft alarm, vehicle ignition, heater, air conditioner, power windows, horn and lights after a predetermined time period if the occupant detection means indicates that the occupant has not been removed from the infant seat.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means controls the operation of a transmitter to transmit an emergency signal after a predetermined time period if the occupant detection means indicates that the occupant has not been removed from the infant seat.