Child seat alarm

• US 6,535,137 B1
• Filed: 09/24/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Janet Lee Ryan
• Original Assignee: Janet Lee Ryan
• Inventors: Ryan, Janet Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US09/961,963
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/457, 340/667, 340/687
• US Class Current: 340/687
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/26 for children B60N2/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems

Abstract

A child seat alarm including a car seat portion adapted for being positioned within a motor vehicle. The car seat portion includes child engagement straps. The child engagement straps include a male buckle and a corresponding female receptacle. The male buckle is lockably received within the female receptacle in a locked orientation. An alarm is disposed within the car seat portion. The alarm includes a pair of speakers for broadcasting an audible alarm. The alarm is in an activated orientation when the male buckle is lockably received within the female receptacle. The alarm is in a deactivated orientation when the male buckle is removed from the female receptacle. The alarm is in communication with an electrical system of the vehicle whereby a shut down of the motor vehicle'"'"'s engine or an opening of a driver'"'"'s door will sound the alarm when the alarm is in the activated orientation.

Claims

1. A child seat alarm for preventing a child from being left inside a motor vehicle once a door of the vehicle has been opened or its engine has been shut off comprising, in combination:

a car seat portion adapted for being positioned within a motor vehicle, the car seat portion including child engagement straps, the child engagement straps including a male buckle and a corresponding female receptacle, the male buckle being lockably received within the female receptacle in a locked orientation;

an alarm disposed within the car seat portion, the alarm including a pair of speakers for broadcasting an audible alarm, the alarm being in an activated orientation when the male buckle is lockably received within the female receptacle, the alarm being in a deactivated orientation when the male buckle is removed from the female receptacle, the alarm being in communication with an electrical system of the vehicle whereby shut down of the motor vehicle'"'"'s engine or an opening of a driver'"'"'s door will sound the alarm when the alarm is in the activated orientation; and

a display being adapted for mounting on a dashboard of the motor vehicle, the display being in communication with the alarm, the display including a plurality of suction cups disposed on a lower surface thereof to facilitate mounting to the dashboard.

2. A child seat alarm for preventing a child from being left inside a motor vehicle once a door of the vehicle has been opened or its engine has been shut off, the motor vehicle having a dashboard, comprising, in combination:

a car seat portion adapted for being positioned within a motor vehicle, the car seat portion including child engagement straps, the child engagement straps including a male buckle and a corresponding female receptacle, the male buckle being lockably received within the female receptacle in a locked orientation;

an alarm disposed within the car seat portion, the alarm including a pair of speakers for broadcasting an audible alarm, the alarm being in an activated orientation when the male buckle is lockably received within the female receptacle, the alarm being in a deactivated orientation when the male buckle is removed from the female receptacle, the alarm being in communication with an electrical system of the vehicle whereby shut down of the motor vehicle'"'"'s engine or an opening of a driver'"'"'s door will sound the alarm when the alarm is in the activated orientation; and

a display adapted for mounting on the motor vehicle dashboard, the display being in communication with the alarm.

3. The child seat alarm as set forth in claim 2, wherein the display includes a plurality of suction cups disposed on a lower surface thereof to facilitate mounting to the dashboard.