Passenger reminder system

• US 8,408,156 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2010
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Karen Elaine Banda
• Original Assignee: Karen Elaine Banda
• Inventors: Banda, Karen Elaine
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, R. A.
• Application Number:
  US12/891,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20120074757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 116/28.R, 116/200, 116/306, 116/307, 405/91, 405/93, 292/288, 340/457, 340/457.1, 280/727, 280/801.1
• US Class Current: 116/28.R
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/00 Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/08 having the belt retractor mounted on or in a vehicle closure, e.g. the door
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/045 supported by the wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/14 by strings, straps, chains, or wires
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/16 by clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A passenger reminder system for reminding a driver-caregiver, upon exiting a vehicle, that a passenger remains in the vehicle. Embodiments of the passenger reminder system generally comprise one or more straps or other barriers used to connect a driver'"'"'s seat belt to the interior of the driver side front door. When the driver'"'"'s door is open, the strap of the passenger reminder system extends from the seat belt to the interior of the driver'"'"'s door, impeding the driver-caregiver from exiting the car. This hindrance reminds the driver-caregiver that another passenger is onboard and prompts the removal of the passenger.

Claims

1. A child reminder system for an automobile driver, the automobile comprising a driver'"'"'s seat belt and a door adjacent to the driver, the driver'"'"'s door comprising an interior surface, the system comprising:

one or more straps, the one or more straps comprising a length sufficient to extend from the seat belt to the driver'"'"'s door, the one or more straps connectable to the seat belt and the driver'"'"'s door.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more straps have a first end connectable to the seat belt and a second end connectable to the driver'"'"'s door.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first end of the one or more straps comprises means for mounting the one or more straps onto the seat belt.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the means for mounting comprises an adhesive loop.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the means for mounting is selected from a group comprising a buckle system, a grommet, a snap, a clip, a clamp, a hasp, a clasp, a knot, a set of magnets, a temporary adhesive, Velcro®

, a hook and eye system, a nut and bolt system, and combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the first end of the one or more straps comprises:

a housing for containing the one or more straps in a coiled state, wherein the housing comprises;

a reel within the housing for coiling the one or more straps;

means for withdrawing the one or more straps from the housing;

and an opening at one end of the housing, the housing configured to allow a free end of the one or more straps to be withdrawn through the opening.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising means for fastening the housing to the seat belt.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the second end of the one or more straps comprises a means for coupling, the system further comprising one or more connecting means for engaging the means for coupling, the one or more connecting means adapted to be affixed to the interior of the driver'"'"'s door.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the one or more connecting means comprises a detachable connecting means.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for coupling comprises an adhesive loop, the adhesive loop for engaging the one or more connecting means.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the means for coupling and the one or more connecting means are selected from a group comprising a buckle system, a grommet, a snap, a clip, a clamp, a hasp, a clasp, a knot, a set of magnets, a temporary adhesive, Velcro®

, a hook and eye system, a nut and bolt system, and combinations thereof.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the one or more connecting means are attached to the interior of the driver side front door by stitching.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more straps comprise a sufficient length to be connected to the one or more connecting means when the door is in an open position.

14. The system of claim 2, wherein the second end is affixed to the interior of the driver'"'"'s door by a means for securing, the means for securing comprising a width sufficient to insert between the driver'"'"'s door and a window within the driver'"'"'s door.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for securing is detachable.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more straps comprise two detachable sections, a first section and a second section, the first section comprising a first mating member opposite the first end of the one or more straps and the second section comprising a second mating member opposite the second end of the one or more straps.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising applying a visual or audible reminder to the one or more straps, the visual or audible reminder further reminding the automobile driver to remove the passenger.

18. A method for installing a child reminder system for an automobile driver, the automobile comprising a driver'"'"'s seat belt and a door adjacent to the driver, the driver'"'"'s door comprising an interior surface and a window, the method comprising:

assembling the elements of a child reminder system referred to in claim 1;

installing a means for securing the one or more straps to the interior of the driver'"'"'s door; and

mounting a first of end of the one or more straps onto the driver'"'"'s seat belt.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein installing the means for securing the one or more straps comprises installing a connecting means, the connecting means engaging a second end of the one or more straps when in use.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein installing the means for securing the one or more straps comprises installing a wedge positioned at the second end of the one or more straps, the wedge comprising a width sufficient to wedge between the driver'"'"'s door and a window within the driver'"'"'s door.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein installing the means for securing the one or more straps comprises installing a card positioned at the second end of the one or more straps, the card configured to be insertable between the driver'"'"'s door and the window of the driver'"'"'s door.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising mounting a housing for the one or more straps to the first end of the one or more straps.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising adding a visual or audible reminder to the one or more straps, the visual or audible reminder further reminding the automobile driver to remove the passenger.

24. A child reminder system for an automobile driver, the automobile comprising a driver'"'"'s seat belt and a door adjacent to the driver, the driver'"'"'s door comprising an interior surface, the system comprising:

a strap connectable to the seat belt and the driver'"'"'s door, the strap comprising a length sufficient to extend from the seat belt to the driver'"'"'s door,

the strap having a first end connectable to the seat belt and a second end connectable to the driver'"'"'s door,

the strap comprising two detachable sections, a first section and a second section, the first section comprising a first mating member opposite the first end of the strap and the second section comprising a second mating member opposite the second end of the strap; and

one or more connecting means for engaging the second end of the strap,

the one or more connecting means adapted to be affixed to the interior of the driver'"'"'s door.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the first end of the strap comprises means for mounting the strap onto the seat belt.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for mounting is selected from a group comprising a buckle system, a grommet, a snap, a clip, a clamp, a hasp, a clasp, a knot, a set of magnets, a temporary adhesive, Velcro®

, a hook and eye system, a nut and bolt system, and combinations thereof.

27. A child reminder system for an automobile driver, the automobile comprising a driver'"'"'s seat belt and a door adjacent to the driver, the driver'"'"'s door comprising an interior surface, the system comprising:

one or more straps, the one or more straps comprising a length sufficient to extend from the seat belt to the driver'"'"'s door, the one or more straps connectable to the seat belt and the driver'"'"'s door;

the one or more straps comprising;

a first end connectable to the seat belt and a second end connectable to the driver'"'"'s door, the first end of the one or more straps comprising a means for mounting the one or more straps onto the seat belt and the second end affixed to the driver'"'"'s door by a means for securing, the means for securing comprising a width sufficient to insert between the driver'"'"'s door and a window within the driver'"'"'s door.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the means for securing the one or more straps comprises a connecting means, the connecting means engaging a second end of the one or more straps when in use.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the means for securing the one or more straps comprises a wedge positioned at the second end of the one or more straps, the wedge comprising a width sufficient to wedge between the driver'"'"'s door and a window within the driver'"'"'s door.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the wedge comprises a first side and a second side, the first side comprising a flange for hooking onto the driver'"'"'s door.

31. The system of claim 27 wherein the means for securing the one or more straps comprises a flat configuration comprising a width sufficient to fit between the driver'"'"'s door and a window within the driver'"'"'s door.

32. A child reminder system for an automobile driver, the automobile comprising a driver'"'"'s seat and a door adjacent to the driver, the driver'"'"'s door comprising an interior surface, the system comprising:

one or more straps, the one or more straps comprising a length sufficient to extend from the seat to the driver'"'"'s door, the one or more straps connectable to the seat and the driver'"'"'s door; and

means for securing the one or more straps comprises installing a wedge positioned at an end of the one or more straps, the wedge comprising a width sufficient to wedge between the driver'"'"'s door and a window within the driver'"'"'s door.

33. A child reminder system for an automobile driver, the automobile comprising a driver'"'"'s seat and a door adjacent to the driver, the driver'"'"'s door comprising an interior surface, the system comprising:

one or more straps, the one or more straps comprising a length sufficient to extend from the seat to the driver'"'"'s door, the one or more straps connectable to the seat and the driver'"'"'s door; and

means for securing the one or more straps comprises installing a card positioned at an end of the one or more straps, the card configured to be insertable between the driver'"'"'s door and the window of the driver'"'"'s door.