Infant alarm system for an automobile

• US 6,998,988 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2004
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul D. Kalce
• Original Assignee: Paul D. Kalce
• Inventors: Kalce, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/828,867
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/426.26, 340/457, 340/457.1, 340/686.1, 340/686.4
• 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 2/272 Buckle lock sensors for child seat safety belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2803 Adaptations for seat belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2866 booster cushions, e.g. to lift a child to allow proper use of the conventional safety belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/40 Force or pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4808 Sensing means arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems
• 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

The infant alarm system for automobiles for alarming when the driver seat is unoccupied has a pressure sensor pad for detecting the presence of a person in a car seat. A belt buckle switch is for determining whether a belt buckle is buckled into an infant car seat. A control box is electrically connected to the pressure sensor pad and the belt buckle switch. The control box is for outputting an alarm signal when the belt buckle switch indicates that the belt buckle is buckled into the infant car seat and the pressure sensor pad does not detect the presence of the person in the car seat.

Claims

1. An infant alarm system for an automobile comprising:

a pressure sensor pad connectable to a conventional car seat, said pressure sensor pad for detecting the presence of a person in said conventional car seat;

a belt buckle switch connectable to a conventional infant car seat, said belt buckle switch for determining whether a conventional belt buckle is buckled into said conventional infant car seat; and

a control box electrically connected to said pressure sensor pad, said control box electrically connected to said belt buckle switch, said control box for outputting an alarm signal when said belt buckle switch indicates that said conventional belt buckle is buckled into said conventional infant car seat and said pressure sensor pad does not detect the presence of said person in said conventional car seat.

2. The infant alarm system for an automobile of claim 1 further comprising:

an audible alarm speaker electrically connected to said control box for emitting an audible alarm tone when said control box outputs said alarm signal.

3. The infant alarm system for an automobile of claim 1 further comprising:

a power switch electrically connected to said control box.

4. The infant alarm system for an automobile of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical connector connected to said belt buckle switch.

5. The infant alarm system for an automobile of claim 1 wherein:

said pressure sensor pad is a capacitive pressure sensor.

6. The infant alarm system for an automobile of claim 1 wherein:

said pressure sensor pad is an elastomer pressure sensor.

7. The infant alarm system for an automobile of claim 1 wherein:

said belt buckle switch is a microswitch.

8. The infant alarm system for an automobile of claim 1 wherein:

said belt buckle switch is an optical switch.

9. The infant alarm system for an automobile of claim 1 wherein:

said belt buckle switch is a proximity switch.

10. A infant alarm system for an automobile comprising:

a pressure sensor pad connectable to a conventional car seat, said pressure sensor pad for detecting the presence of a person in said conventional car seat;

a belt buckle switch connectable to a conventional infant car seat, said belt buckle switch for determining whether a conventional belt buckle is buckled into said conventional infant car seat;

a control box electrically connected to said pressure sensor pad, said control box electrically connected to said belt buckle switch, said control box for outputting an alarm signal when said belt buckle switch indicates that said conventional belt buckle is buckled into said conventional infant car seat and said pressure sensor pad does not detect the presence of said person in said conventional car seat; and

an audible alarm speaker electrically connected to said control box for emitting an audible alarm tone when said control box outputs said alarm signal.

11. The infant alarm system for an automobile of claim 10 further comprising:

a power switch electrically connected to said control box.

12. The infant alarm system for an automobile of claim 11 further comprising:

an electrical connector connected to said belt buckle switch.

13. The infant alarm system for an automobile of claim 12 wherein:

said pressure sensor pad is a capacitive pressure sensor.

14. The infant alarm system for an automobile of claim 12 wherein:

said pressure sensor pad is an elastomer pressure sensor.

15. The infant alarm system for an automobile of claim 14 wherein:

said belt buckle switch is a microswitch.

16. The infant alarm system for an automobile of claim 14 wherein:

said belt buckle switch is an optical switch.

17. The infant alarm system for an automobile of claim 14 wherein:

said belt buckle switch is a proximity switch.

18. A infant alarm system for an automobile comprising:

a pressure sensor pad connectable to a conventional car seat, said pressure sensor pad for detecting the presence of a person in said conventional car seat;

a belt buckle switch connectable to a conventional infant car seat, said belt buckle switch for determining whether a conventional belt buckle is buckled into said conventional infant car seat;

a control box electrically connected to said pressure sensor pad, said control box electrically connected to said belt buckle switch, said control box for outputting an alarm signal when said belt buckle switch indicates that said conventional belt buckle is buckled into said conventional infant car seat and said pressure sensor pad does not detect the presence of said person in said conventional car seat;

an audible alarm speaker electrically connected to said control box for emitting an audible alarm tone when said control box outputs said alarm signal;

a power switch electrically connected to said control box; and

an electrical connector connected to said belt buckle switch.