Safety system for automobiles

• US 6,642,838 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles A. Barnas, Linda Barnas
• Original Assignee: Charles A. Barnas, Linda Barnas
• Inventors: Barnas, Charles A., Barnas, Linda
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/283,786
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/573.1, 340/426.18, 340/426.22, 340/426.28, 340/426.29, 340/438, 340/464, 340/539.1, 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 621/78
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00735 Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g. signal treatment, dynamic models
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00771 the input being a vehicle position or surrounding, e.g. GPS-based position or tunnel

Abstract

A system detects the presence of an occupant in a land vehicle after the engine of the land vehicle has been turned off. The system activates an alarm and a cooling system as well as unlocks the doors of the vehicle. Thus, help can be notified and the temperature of the vehicle near the occupant can be maintained cool until help arrives. A GPS system can be included in some forms of the invention as well as a plurality of different alarms.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety system comprising:

a) a control unit which includes a signal receiver;

b) a power source;

c) said control unit being operationally connected to an engine control system of a land vehicle to be activated when the engine is turned off, said control unit being connected to said power source;

d) a sensor system in the vehicle which includes

(1) a plurality of sensors mounted inside the vehicle proximate to occupant locations in the vehicle, the locations being selected from the group consisting of a front seat, a rear seat, floors, and storage areas,

(2) electrical leads electrically connecting each sensor of said plurality of sensors to said power source via said control unit,

(3) the plurality of sensors being selected from the group consisting of motion sensors, force sensors, heat sensors, voice sensors, sound sensors and carbon dioxide sensors,

(4) the sensors of said plurality of sensors each including a signal generator which generates a signal upon detecting a designated condition associated with the sensor, and

(5) a signal generated by any sensor of said plurality of sensors being received by the signal receiver in said control unit;

e) a cooling system in the vehicle and including

(1) a fluid cooling unit connected to said power source via circuitry in said control unit and to the sensors of said plurality of sensors via said control unit to be activated when a signal from a sensor of said plurality of sensors is received by said control unit,

(2) fluid conduits fluidically connected to the fluid cooling unit to receive cooled fluid from the fluid cooling unit and conduct cooled fluid into the vehicle and to return fluid to the fluid cooling unit, the fluid conduits being located inside the vehicle in the front seat, in the rear seat, in the floors and in the storage areas of the vehicle, and

(3) a fluid mover electrically connected to said power source and to the circuitry in said control unit and fluidically connecting the fluid cooling unit to the fluid conduits and moving fluid through the fluid conduits to and from the fluid cooling unit when the fluid cooling unit is activated;

f) an alarm system electrically connected to circuitry in said control unit and via said control unit to each of the sensors of the plurality of sensors to be activated when a signal from a sensor is received by said control unit;

g) the vehicle having an automatic door and storage area locking system; and

h) an electrical connection between the automatic door and storage area locking system of the vehicle and said control unit, said control unit including a control circuit which causes the automatic door and storage area locking system of the vehicle to unlock the doors and storage area of the vehicle when a signal is received by said control unit from a sensor of the plurality of sensors.

2. The vehicle safety system as described in claim 1 further including a signaling system electrically connected to said control unit to be activated when a signal from a sensor is received by said control unit, said signaling system including a signal generator in the vehicle and a signal receiver adapted to receive signals generated by the signal generator of said signaling system, with the signal receiver of said signaling system being located remotely of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle safety system as described in claim 2 wherein said signaling system further includes a global positioning system.

4. The vehicle safety system as described in claim 3 wherein the signal receiver of said signaling system is located on a person.

5. A vehicle monitoring system comprising:

a) a control unit which includes a signal receiver;

b) a power source;

c) said control unit being operationally connected to an engine control system of a land vehicle to be activated when the engine is turned off, said control unit being connected to said power source;

d) a plurality of sensors located inside the vehicle;

e) the sensors of said plurality of sensors being connected to said power supply via said control unit when the engine of the vehicle is turned off;

f) a cooling system in the vehicle including

(1) a fluid cooling unit electrically connected to said power source and to each of the sensors of said plurality of sensors via said control unit to be activated when any sensor of said plurality of sensors detects a condition associated therewith,

(2) a fluid mover fluidically and electrically connected to said cooling unit to be activated when the fluid cooling unit is activated,

(3) a plurality of fluid conduits fluidically connected to the fluid mover and being located in the vehicle;

g) an alarm system electrically connected to said control unit and via said control unit to each of the sensors of the plurality of sensors to be activated when a signal from a sensor is received by said control unit; and

h) the vehicle having an automatic door and storage area locking system; and

i) an electrical connection between the automatic door and storage area locking system of the vehicle and said control unit, said control unit including a control circuit which causes the automatic door and storage area locking system of the vehicle to unlock the doors and storage area of the vehicle when a signal is received by said control unit from a sensor of the plurality of sensors.