Reminder device for eliciting behavioral response in a vehicle

• US 8,395,511 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Les Innovations Cd Invenio Inc.
• Original Assignee: Les Innovations Cd Invenio Inc.
• Inventors: Desjardins, Carole
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US12/677,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20100225487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/438, 340/457, 340/473, 340/815.4, 701/36, 180271-273
• 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: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/049 giving information to passengers inside the vehicles

Abstract

A reminder device for alerting or triggering the memory of a vehicular occupant includes one or more visual, auditory and tactile indicators which the occupant associates with the presence of a person, pet, plant or inanimate object located in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A device for reminding or warning a user of a vehicle'"'"'s occupancy status, wherein:

said device is integral with said vehicle and remote from said user,

said device is non-distracting during operation of said vehicle, and

one or more characteristics associated with said device are capable of triggering a memory in said user of said occupancy status only upon the occurrence of a condition;

wherein said condition is selected from the group consisting of a door of said vehicle opening and the ignition of said vehicle turning off.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said occupancy status is indicative of the presence of a person, animal, plant or inanimate object in said vehicle.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is located in close proximity to said user.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is in integral or permanent attachment to or proximate to an interior door handle assembly of said vehicle.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is not noticeable by said user during operation of said vehicle.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is noticeable by said user upon exiting said vehicle.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said one or more characteristics are selected from the group consisting of visual appearance, tactile surface and audible sound.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said visual appearance characteristic is selected from the group consisting of shape, size, color, pattern, incandescence, luminescence and a photo fixed to or associated with the device.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said tactile surface characteristid is selected from the group consisting of texture, shape, temperature, vibration and other movement of said device.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein said audible sound characteristic is selected from the group consisting of an alarm, chime, standard ring notification and pre-recorded voice.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein said visual appearance characteristic is on an instrumentation area of said vehicle.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein said audible sound characteristic is from audio speakers.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a switch wherein said switch is activated by said user to indicate said occupancy status prior to operation of said vehicle.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said device prompts said user to activate said switch.

15. A method of remembering a vehicle'"'"'s occupancy status, comprising:

a) activating a remote device that is integrally attached to a vehicle;

b) operating said vehicle without being distracted by said device; and

c) noticing said device upon the occurrence of at least one condition selected from the group consisting of a door of said vehicle opening and the ignition of said vehicle turning off,

wherein said device is indicative of said vehicle'"'"'s occupancy status.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of prompting a user with one or more visual or audible signals for confirmation about said occupancy status prior to step a).

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the device is located in close proximity to said user.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the device is in integral or permanent attachment to or proximate to an interior door handle assembly of said vehicle.

19. A method of remembering a vehicle'"'"'s occupancy status, comprising:

a) activating a remote switch that is integrally attached to a vehicle, wherein said switch is indicative of said occupancy status;

b) generating an alarm on the occurrence of a condition; and

c) deactivating said switch to silence said alarm,

wherein said switch is connected to said alarm, and said condition is selected from the group consisting of a door of said vehicle opening and the ignition of said vehicle turning off.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of prompting a user with one or more visual or audible signals for confirmation about said occupancy status prior to step a).

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the device is located in close proximity to said user.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the device is in integral or permanent attachment to or proximate to an interior door handle assembly of said vehicle.