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

• US 6,870,472 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ann M. Gift, Larry E. Gift
• Original Assignee: Ann M. Gift, Larry E. Gift
• Inventors: Gift, Ann M., Gift, Larry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US10/421,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20040212488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/457, 340/522, 340/667, 340/425.5, 340/428, 340/426.28, 340/666, 200/85.A, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 180/271, 180/273, 180/290
• US Class Current: 340/457
• 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 2/26 for children B60N2/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/267 alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/46 Electric switches
• 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 car seat within a vehicle and the vehicle'"'"'s door is opened to accommodate exiting driver. The apparatus includes an occupant detection mechanism for detecting the presence of an occupant within an infant seat located within a vehicle; a light detection component for detecting the state of the vehicle'"'"'s dome light; a battery which provides power to the apparatus; an alarm which activates when the occupant detection mechanism detects the presence of an occupant within the infant seat and the light detection component detects the vehicles dome light has gone from an “off” state to an “on” state because the driver opened the door to exit vehicle. Components of the apparatus are located within the infant seat and can move from vehicle to vehicle along with the infant seat or from infant seat to infant seat.

Claims

1. A warning system for detecting presence of a child in an infant seat for reminding the driver to remove the child from the infant car seat when exiting the vehicle, comprising:

means for providing a base for components to be connected;

means for providing voltage to circuit, removably connected to said means for providing a base for components to be connected;

means for detecting the presence of an occupant within the infant seat, electrically connected to said means for providing voltage to circuit;

means for detecting the “

on”

or “

off”

state of the vehicles dome light, electrically connected to said means for detecting the presence of an occupant within the infant seat;

means for generating an audible alarm in response to the alarm signal, electrically connected to said means for detecting the “

on”

or “

off”

state of the vehicles dome light, and rigidly connected to said means for providing a base for components to be connected;

means for providing a 7 second on and a 3 second off duration for the audible alarm cycle, rigidly connected to said means for generating an audible alarm in response to the alarm signal, and rigidly connected to said means for providing a base for components to be connected;

means for determining the on off duration length during alarm generation, rigidly connected to said means for providing a 7 second on and a 3 second off duration for the audible alarm cycle, rigidly connected to said means for providing voltage to circuit, and rigidly connected to said means for providing a base for components to be connected; and

means for smoothing out any voltage spikes within the circuit, rigidly connected to said means for providing a base for components to be connected.

2. The warning system for detecting presence of a child in an infant seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for providing a base for components to be connected comprises a circuit board.

3. The warning system for detecting presence of a child in an infant seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for providing voltage to circuit comprises a 9 volt battery.

4. The warning system for detecting presence of a child in an infant seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for detecting the presence of an occupant within the infant seat comprises a pressure switch.

5. The warning system for detecting presence of a child in an infant seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for detecting the “

on”

or “

off”

state of the vehicles dome light comprises a photo cell light detector.

6. The warning system for detecting presence of a child in an infant seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for generating an audible alarm in response to the alarm signal comprises a buzzer.

7. The warning system for detecting presence of a child in an infant seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for providing a 7 second on and a 3 second off duration for the audible alarm cycle comprises a 555 timer.

8. The warning system for detecting presence of a child in an infant seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for determining the on off duration length during alarm generation comprises a 47 k ohm resistor.

9. The warning system for detecting presence of a child in an infant seat in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for smoothing out any voltage spikes within the circuit comprises a 100 uf capacitor.

10. A warning system for detecting presence of a child in an infant seat for reminding the driver to remove the child from the infant car seat when exiting the vehicle, comprising:

a circuit board, for providing a base for components to be connected;

a 9 volt battery, for providing voltage to circuit, removably connected to said circuit board;

a pressure switch, for detecting the presence of an occupant within the infant seat, electrically connected to said 9 volt battery;

a photo cell light detector, for detecting the “

on”

or “

off”

state of the vehicles dome light, electrically connected to said pressure switch;

a buzzer, for generating an audible alarm in response to the alarm signal, electrically connected to said photo cell light detector, and rigidly connected to said circuit board;

a 555 timer, for providing a 7 second on and a 3 second off duration for the audible alarm cycle, rigidly connected to said Buzzer, and rigidly connected to said circuit board;

a 47 k ohm resistor, for determining the on off duration length during alarm generation, rigidly connected to said 555 timer, rigidly connected to said 9 volt battery, and rigidly connected to said circuit board; and

a 100 uf capacitor, for smoothing out any voltage spikes within the circuit, rigidly connected to said circuit board.