Programmable proximity alert system for child in vehicle

• US 9,536,408 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2015
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sofia Pinder
• Original Assignee: Sofia Pinder
• Inventors: Pinder, Sofia
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US14/599,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20160210833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: B60N 2/26 for children B60N2/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0202 Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0205 Specific application combined with child monitoring using a transmitter-receiver system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0252 System arrangements wherein the child unit emits, i.e. the child unit incorporates the emitter
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A programmable proximity alert system for providing a sensory reminder to a parent when the exit the vicinity of a vehicle possibly containing their child. The programmable proximity alert system comprises a remote receiver adapted to sense the presence of a seat transmitter that it has been paired with and provide plural sensor alerts upon exiting from within a predetermined proximity of the seat transmitter, as well as a coding remote for initiating a bonding request that pairs a remote receiver and a seat transmitter.

Claims

1. A programmable proximity alert system, comprising:

a remote receiver defining a receiver housing that includes an electrically interconnected receiver RF antenna, receiver processor, receiver non-volatile memory, and receiver power source, wherein said remote receiver configured to generate and receive radio frequency transmissions and to produce at least one sensory alert upon the generation of an alert condition;

a seat transmitter defining a transmitter housing that includes an electrically interconnected transmitter RF antenna, transmitter processor, transmitter non-volatile memory, and transmitter power source, wherein said seat transmitter is configured to generate and receive radio frequency transmissions;

said remote receiver and seat transmitter adapted to be bonded such that in the event the remote receiver moves from within a nominal range of the seat transmitter to outside of the nominal range, said remote receiver generates an alert condition; and

a coding remote defining a coding housing with an external keypad and an internal coding RF antenna, coding processor, coding non-volatile memory, and coding battery unit, wherein the coding remote is configured to generate and receive radio frequency transmissions and initiate the process by which said remote receiver and seat transmitter are bonded.

2. The programmable proximity alert system of claim 1, said remote receiver and seat transmitter additionally adapted to be bonded such that in the event said remote receiver generates an alert condition, once the remote receiver moves to within the nominal range of the seat transmitter or when a reset button on the remote receiver is pressed, any alert condition generated is terminated along with any sensory alert produced as a result of the alert condition.

3. The programmable proximity alert system of claim 1, additionally comprising a charm receiver configured to generate and receive radio frequency transmissions and to produce at least one sensory alert upon the generation of an alert condition upon at least one of the remote receiver and the charm receiver moves from within a nominal range of the seat transmitter to outside of the nominal range.

4. The programmable proximity alert system of claim 1, wherein said receiver housing includes a speaker and at least one of a display screen and a light indicator integrated therewith and electrically connected to the receiver processor and receiver power source and is operative to generate a visual alert on the at least one of display screen and light indicator and an audible alert on the speaker the generation of an alert condition.

5. The programmable proximity alert system of claim 4, wherein said receiver housing includes each of the display screen, light indicator, and speaker.

6. The programmable proximity alert system of claim 1, wherein said transmitter housing includes a transmitter display integrated therewith and electrically connected to the transmitter processor and transmitter power source and said transmitter display is operative to generate a visual message while the remote receiver is within the nominal range of the seat transmitter.

7. The programmable proximity alert system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter housing includes at least one of an attachment surface and transmitter loops.