Object-proximity monitoring and alarm system
First Claim
1. An object-proximity monitoring and alarm system for use with an object carrier, comprising:
- at least one sensor adapted to determine whether the object carrier is occupied;
a main transmitter in communication with the sensor; and
a portable unit including a receiver and an alarm, wherein the main transmitter is operable to communicate to the portable unit receiver whether the object carrier is occupied based on input from the sensor, and the portable unit is operable to activate the alarm if the object carrier is occupied and the receiver is removed beyond a first predetermined proximity range of the main transmitter.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A weight-sensitive mat or other sensor determines whether a child seat in a vehicle is occupied, a transmitter is proximate to the sensor, and a keychain fob or other portable unit includes a receiver and an alarm. Generally, if the child seat is occupied and the keychain fob is removed from proximity to the transmitter, the transmitter communicates this to the keychain fob receiver and the alarm is activated. Exemplary embodiments include an add-on kit including a base unit with a transceiver for use with existing car seats having a base and a detachable shell, an add-on kit without the base unit for use with existing unitary car seats, and a car seat with the child sensor, transmitter, and/or base unit built into it.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. An object-proximity monitoring and alarm system for use with an object carrier, comprising:
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at least one sensor adapted to determine whether the object carrier is occupied;
a main transmitter in communication with the sensor; and
a portable unit including a receiver and an alarm, wherein the main transmitter is operable to communicate to the portable unit receiver whether the object carrier is occupied based on input from the sensor, and the portable unit is operable to activate the alarm if the object carrier is occupied and the receiver is removed beyond a first predetermined proximity range of the main transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A child-proximity monitoring and alarm system for use with a child seat securable within a vehicle, comprising:
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a detector assembly including a sensor and a second transmitter, wherein the sensor includes a weight-sensitive mat adapted to determine whether the child seat is occupied and the second transmitter is operable to transmit a first indication that the child seat is occupied responsive to input from the sensor;
a base unit including a transceiver operable to receive the first indication that the child seat is occupied and, responsive thereto, to transmit a second proximity-sensitive indication that the child seat is occupied; and
a keychain fob housing an alarm and a receiver operable to receive the second proximity-sensitive indication that the child seat is occupied and to activate the alarm if the fob receiver is removed beyond a first predetermined proximity range of the main transmitter while the child seat is occupied, wherein the base unit is configured to transmit the first proximity-sensitive indication that the child seat is occupied only if the child seat is within a second predetermined proximity range of the base unit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A child-proximity monitoring and alarm system for use with a child seat securable within a vehicle, comprising:
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at least one sensor including a weight-sensitive mat adapted to determine whether the child seat is occupied;
a main transmitter in communication with the sensor and operable to intermittently transmit a first electromagnetic signal responsive to input from the sensor that the child seat is occupied, and to transmit a second electromagnetic signal responsive to input from the sensor that the child seat ceases to be occupied; and
a keychain fob housing an alarm and a receiver operable to receive the first and second electromagnetic signals and to activate the alarm if more than a predetermined length of time passes between successive receptions of the first electromagnetic signal, unless one of the second electromagnetic signals is received in the interim, wherein the main transmitter is operable to transmit the first signal with a strength that is receivable by the keychain fob receiver only within a first predetermined proximity range so that the alarm is activated if the keychain fob is moved beyond the first proximity range of the main transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A portable unit for use in a child-proximity monitoring and alarm system used with a child seat securable within a vehicle, the monitoring and alarm system including at least one sensor adapted to determine whether the child seat is occupied and a main transmitter operable to transmit a proximity-sensitive indication that the child seat is occupied based on input from the sensor, the portable unit comprising:
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a receiver operable to receive from the main transmitter the proximity-sensitive indication that the child seat is occupied; and
an alarm operable to activate responsive to the receipt of the proximity-sensitive indication that the child seat is occupied if the portable unit receiver is removed beyond a first predetermined proximity range of the main transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A base unit for use in a child-proximity monitoring and alarm system used with a child seat securable within a vehicle, the monitoring and alarm system including a sensor, a second transmitter operable to transmit a first indication that the child seat is occupied based on input from the sensor, and a portable unit comprising a receiver and an alarm, the base unit comprising:
a transceiver operable to receive the first indication from the second transmitter that the child seat is occupied based on the input from the sensor and, responsive thereto, to transmit a second proximity-sensitive indication that the child seat is occupied that is receivable by the portable unit receiver only within a first predetermined proximity range, wherein the alarm is activated if the portable unit is removed beyond the first predetermined proximity range of the transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A detector assembly for use in a child-proximity monitoring and alarm system used with a child seat securable within a vehicle, the monitoring and alarm system including a portable unit having a receiver operable to receive a proximity-sensitive indication that the child seat is occupied and an alarm operable to activate responsive thereto, the detector assembly comprising:
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at least one sensor adapted to determine whether the child seat is occupied; and
a transmitter operable to communicate to the portable unit receiver only within a first predetermined proximity range the proximity-sensitive indication that the child seat is occupied based on input from the sensor, wherein the alarm is activated if the portable unit is removed beyond the first predetermined proximity range of the transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. An object-proximity monitoring and alarm system for use with an object carrier, comprising:
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at least one sensor adapted to determine whether the object carrier is occupied;
a main transmitter in communication with the sensor; and
a portable unit including a receiver and an alarm, wherein the main transmitter is operable to communicate at least two different electromagnetic signals to the portable unit receiver based on input from the sensor, the portable unit is operable to determine whether the object carrier is occupied by interpreting the at least two different electromagnetic signals, and the portable unit is further operable to activate the alarm if the object carrier is occupied and the receiver is removed beyond a first predetermined proximity range of the main transmitter by interpreting the at least two different electromagnetic signals.
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Specification