Vehicle safety apparatus and method

• US 7,880,601 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pathfins C. Okezie
• Original Assignee: Pathfins C. Okezie
• Inventors: Okezie, Pathfins C.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US12/125,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20090289443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457.1, 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 340/3.1, 340/5.8, 340/5.6, 340/5.65, 340/5.81, 705/75, 235/380, 235/493
• US Class Current: 340/457.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

An apparatus for a vehicle is provided comprising a first seat occupant detector, a first seat belt buckled sensor, and a seat belt warning device. The seat belt warning device may be configured to communicate with the first seat occupant detector and the first seat belt buckled sensor. The seat belt warning device may be programmed to cause an audible warning when the first seat occupant detector detects the presence of an individual in a first seat of the vehicle and the first seat belt buckled sensor detects that a first seat belt corresponding to the first seat is not buckled. The apparatus may include a first seat belt contacting seat sensor, wherein the first seat belt contacting seat sensor may determine if the first seat belt is in contact with the first seat.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising

a scanner;

a computer processor;

a computer memory;

a visual indicator;

wherein the scanner is configured to communicate with the computer processor; and

wherein the scanner, the computer processor, and the computer memory are configured to scan in valid driver identification information into the computer memory using the computer processor;

wherein the computer processor is programmed to cause the visual indicator to be activated if valid driver identification information is not scanned into the computer memory using the computer processor and a vehicle is driven;

wherein the computer processor is programmed to not cause the visual indicator to be activated if valid driver identification information is scanned into the computer memory using the computer processor and the vehicle is driven.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

the vehicle;

and wherein the visual indicator is fixed to the vehicle so that the visual indicator when activated can be seen outside of the vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

valid driver identification information includes a valid non-suspended driver'"'"'s license number.

4. The apparatus of claim 1

wherein the visual indicator includes a light.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein

red light is emitted from the light when the visual indicator is activated.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

an audible indication device;

and

wherein the computer processor is programmed to cause the audible indication device to emit a first audible alarm if valid driver identification information is not scanned into the computer memory using the computer processor and an engine of the vehicle engine is started;

wherein computer processor is programmed to not cause the audible indication device to emit the first audible alarm if valid driver identification information is scanned into the computer memory using the computer processor and the engine of the vehicle engine.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein

valid driver identification information includes a valid non-suspended driver'"'"'s license number.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

valid driver identification information includes a master driver license for an auto shop owner.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein

valid driver identification information includes a master driver license for an auto shop owner.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

a first seat occupant detector;

a first seat belt buckled sensor;

a seat belt warning device;

wherein the seat belt warning device is configured to communicate with the first seat occupant detector and the first seat belt buckled sensor; and

wherein the seat belt warning device is programmed to cause an audible warning when the first seat occupant detector detects the presence of an individual in a first seat of the vehicle and the first seat belt buckled sensor detects that a first seat belt corresponding to the first seat is not buckled.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

a transmitter configured to transmit the scanned in valid driver identification information in a wireless signal from the vehicle into the airwaves;

a receiver configured to receive the wireless signal at a police vehicle; and

a warning device configured to produce an audio message indicating that a driver twenty-one years old or younger is in the vicinity of the police vehicle if the scanned in valid driver identification information in the wireless signal refers to a driver twenty-one years old or younger.

12. An apparatus for use in a vehicle comprised of

a scanner;

a computer processor;

a computer memory;

an audible indication device;

wherein the scanner is configured to communicate with the computer processor; and

wherein the scanner, the computer processor, and the computer memory are configured to scan in valid driver identification information into the computer memory using the computer processor, and

wherein the computer processor is programmed to cause the audible indication device to emit a first audible alarm if valid driver identification information is not scanned into the computer memory using the computer processor and a vehicle engine is started;

wherein computer processor is programmed to not cause the audible indication device to emit the first audible alarm if valid driver identification information is scanned into the computer memory using the computer processor and the vehicle engine is started.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein

valid driver identification information includes a valid non-suspended driver'"'"'s license number.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein

valid driver identification information includes a master driver license for an auto shop owner.