Pressure-responsive vehicle alarm pad

• US 7,994,906 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2008
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kelly Salazar
• Original Assignee: Kelly Salazar
• Inventors: Salazar, Kelly
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob; Sisay
• Application Number:
  US12/038,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20090212933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457, 340/438, 340/459, 340/460, 340/464, 340/425.5, 340/500, 340/901, 340/286.01, 116/28, 297/253, 738/620.46, 200/85.A, 701/36, 701/45, 701/46, 701/33, 180271-274
• 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: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

Disclosed is a pressure-responsive vehicle alarm pad for a vehicle seat to remind a presence of an object inside a vehicle to an occupant of the vehicle seat. The pressure-responsive vehicle alarm pad comprises a pressure sensor pad, a control circuitry, and alarm speakers. The pressure sensor pad disposed on the vehicle seat to detect a pressure of the occupant. The control circuitry electrically coupled to the pressure sensor pad to receive the detected pressure from the pressure sensor pad. The control circuitry generate a first electrical signal when the detected pressure is greater than a threshold pressure, and generates a second electrical signal when the detected pressure is less than the threshold pressure. The alarm speakers electrically coupled to the control circuitry to generate a first audible sound in response to the first electrical signal, and generate a second audible sound in response to the second electrical signal.

Claims

1. A pressure-responsive vehicle alarm pad to remind a presence of an object inside a vehicle to an occupant of a vehicle seat, the pressure-responsive vehicle alarm pad comprising:

a pressure sensor pad disposed on the vehicle seat for detecting a pressure generated by the object;

a control circuitry electrically coupled to the pressure sensor pad, the control circuitry configured to generate a first electrical signal when the detected pressure is greater than a threshold pressure, and

generate a second electrical signal when the detected pressure is less than the threshold pressure;

an alarm speaker electrically coupled to the control circuitry, the alarm speaker configured to generate a first audible sound in response to the first electrical signal, and generate a second audible sound in response to the second electrical signal to remind the presence of the object inside the vehicle to the occupant; and

one or more hook straps with a hook disposed on a distal end of each hook strap and one or more roll straps with a pair of apertures disposed on the roll strap, the hook straps and the roll straps are attached on opposite sides of the pressure sensor pad, the hook straps are wrapped around the entire vehicle seat and the hooks are removably inserted into the pair of apertures, securing the vehicle alarm pad to the vehicle seat.

2. The pressure-responsive vehicle alarm pad of claim 1, further comprising a reset switch electrically coupled to the control circuitry, the reset switch configured to reset the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal.

3. The pressure-responsive vehicle alarm pad of claim 1, further comprising a sound record switch electrically coupled to the control circuitry for recording the first audible sound and the second audible sound.

4. The pressure-responsive vehicle alarm pad of claim 1, further comprising a battery for supplying power to at least one of the control circuitry and the alarm speaker.

5. The pressure-responsive vehicle alarm pad of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor pad is a capacitive pressure sensor.

6. The pressure-responsive vehicle alarm pad of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor pad is an elastomer pressure sensor.

7. The pressure-responsive vehicle alarm pad of claim 1, further comprising a water resistant sheet disposed on the pressure sensor pad.

8. The pressure-responsive vehicle alarm pad of claim 1, wherein the object is a child in a car seat.

9. The pressure-responsive vehicle alarm pad of claim 1, wherein the object is a pet.