System and method for a child safety seat having sensing and notification abilities

• US 8,038,213 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chelsea Owens
• Original Assignee: Chelsea Owens
• Inventors: Owens, Chelsea
• Primary Examiner(s): McPartlin; Sarah B
• Application Number:
  US12/238,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20100078978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 297/217.3, 297/250.1, 297/217.4
• US Class Current: 297/250.1
• 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: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A child safety seat system having sensing and notification abilities includes a child safety seat, a proximity sensor, a presence sensor, and a transmitter. The proximity sensor is configured to detect when a wireless receiver is located outside a predefined distance of the child safety seat. The presence sensor is configured to detect presence of a person in the child safety seat. The transmitter is configured to transmit a wireless signal to the wireless receiver when the presence sensor detects the presence of a person in the child safety seat and the wireless receiver is located outside the predefined distance. Furthermore, the wireless signal configured to cause the wireless receiver to generate an alert.

Claims

1. A child safety seat system, comprising a child safety seat, a proximity sensor, a presence sensor, a transmitter, a temperature sensor, and a temperature control unit wherein:

the proximity sensor is configured to detect when a wireless receiver is located outside a predefined distance of the child safety seat;

the presence sensor comprises;

a bracelet configured to be worn by a person; and

a flexible cord comprising;

a first end configured to removeably attach to the bracelet and detect the presence of the person based on whether the first end of the flexible cord is attached to the bracelet; and

a second end attached to the child safety seat, the second end configured to signal the presence of the person to the transmitter;

the transmitter is configured to transmit a wireless signal to the wireless receiver when the presence sensor detects the presence of a person in the child safety seat and the wireless receiver is located outside the predefined distance, the wireless signal configured to cause the wireless receiver to generate an alert;

the temperature sensor is configured to monitor an ambient temperature surrounding the child safety seat; and

the temperature control unit is configured to adjust a temperature of the child safety seat when the temperature sensor detects a temperature that occurs outside a predetermined temperature range, the presence sensor detects the presence of a person in the child safety seat, and the wireless receiver is located outside the predefined distance.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal comprises a cellular communication signal and the wireless receiver comprises a cellular device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the wireless signal comprises a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) text message.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature control unit comprises a thermoelectric module incorporated into the child safety seat.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature control unit comprises a cooling fan coupled to the child safety seat.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising the wireless receiver, the wireless receiver comprising a keychain fob.

7. A method of using a child safety seat system comprising the steps of:

detecting when a wireless receiver is located outside a predefined distance of the child safety seat using a proximity sensor;

detecting a presence of a person in the child safety seat using a presence sensor based on whether a first end of a flexible cord is attached to a bracelet worn by the person;

signaling the presence of the person to a transmitter of the child safety seat system from a second end of the flexible cord attached to the child safety seat has been inserted between the word;

transmitting a wireless signal to the wireless receiver using the transmitter when the presence sensor detects the presence of a person in the child safety seat and the wireless receiver is located outside the predefined distance, the wireless signal configured to cause the wireless receiver to generate an alert;

monitoring an ambient temperature surrounding the child safety seat using a temperature sensor; and

adjusting a temperature of the child safety seat using a temperature control unit incorporated in to the child safety seat when the temperature sensor detects a temperature that occurs outside a predetermined temperature range, the presence sensor detects the presence of a person in the child safety seat, and the wireless receiver is located outside the predefined distance.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the temperature control unit comprises a thermoelectric module.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the wireless signal comprises a cellular communication signal and the wireless receiver comprises a cellular device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the wireless signal comprises a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) text message.