Vehicle trunk safety device

• US 7,049,943 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wyatt Barton Pratt
• Original Assignee: Wyatt Barton Pratt
• Inventors: Pratt, Wyatt Barton
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/982,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20050068160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.29, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/430, 340/429, 296/76, 296/336.3
• US Class Current: 340/426.29
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/26 Emergency opening means for persons trapped in the luggage compartment

Abstract

A vehicle trunk safety device indicates the presence of an individual within the trunk.

Claims

1. A vehicle trunk safety device, comprising:

a contact surface for placement within the interior of a vehicle trunk; and

,

an actuator, having a timing unit, communicatively linked to the contact surface and capable of receiving an input from the contact surface, wherein the actuator initiates a safety device in response to repeated timed contact with the contact surface.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle motion sensor communicatively attached to the actuator.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the contact surface comprises a contact mat.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the contact surface comprises one or more contact input receivers.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the one or more contact input receivers input into a singular timing unit.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the timing unit measures repeated contacts of from about 2 seconds to about 10 seconds.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the timing unit measures repeated contacts over a time period interspersed with additional contacts.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is responsive to a force of from about 2 pounds per square inch or more applied to the contact mat.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the safety device is selected from the group consisting of warning lights, signals, horns, headlights, vehicle trunk release and combinations thereof.

10. A vehicle safety mechanism comprising a vehicle motion sensor together with the device of claim 1, wherein repeated contact with the contact surface initiates a safety device while the vehicle remains stationary.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the contact mat comprises a trunk floor mounted device.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the contact mat comprises a trunk lid mounted device.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a charging device for recharge during movement of the vehicle.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle motion sensor comprises a gear register.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising an indicator within the vehicle showing a trunk release status selected from the group consisting of trunk release, malfunction of the safety release mechanism, vehicle location device and combinations thereof.

16. A method for energizing a safety device for the trunk lid of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

providing a safety mechanism for a trunk of a vehicle comprising a contact surface, an actuator, having a timing unit, capable of receiving an input from the contact surface, wherein the actuator initiates a safety device in response to repeated contact with the contact mat over a given time period, and a vehicle motion sensor communicatively attached to the actuator;

locking the trunk lid; and

,

creating movement within the trunk while the vehicle remains stationary, wherein the contact surface detects the created movement within the trunk which is registered by the actuator and compared to the give time period of the timing unit, wherein the actuator initiates the safety device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the created movement comprises inadvertent movement.

18. An energized vehicle safety device product produced by the process comprising the steps of:

providing a safety mechanism for a trunk of a vehicle from within the interior of the trunk comprising a contact surface fixed within the interior of the vehicle trunk, an actuator, having a timing unit, capable of receiving an input from the contact surface, which is communicatively connected to the contact mat and a vehicle motion sensor communicatively linked to the actuator;

locking the trunk lid with one or more persons inside of the vehicle trunk; and

,

creating movement within the vehicle trunk, wherein the contact surface detects the created movement within the trunk and the actuator initiates the safety device while the vehicle is stationary, wherein the presence of one or more persons in the vehicle trunk is recognized.

19. The product of claim 18, wherein the created movement comprises inadvertent movement.

20. The product of claim 18, wherein the released vehicle trunk lid product comprises one or more children released from the vehicle trunk.