Vehicular safety system

• US 9,560,575 B1
• Filed: 09/04/2015
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ross Muller
• Original Assignee: Ross Muller
• Inventors: Muller, Ross
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Cong
• Application Number:
  US14/845,881
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/572, 455/575.1, 455/573, 455/575.9, 455/95, 455/99, 455/100, 439/131, 439/504
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

A vehicular safety system includes a vehicle that has a power outlet. An electronic device is provided and the electronic device may be in communication with an extrinsic communication network. A locking unit is removably positioned within the power outlet such that the locking unit determines when the vehicle is turned on. The locking unit is in communication with the electronic device such that the locking unit disables the electronic device when the vehicle is turned on while the electronic device is within the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicular safety system comprising:

a vehicle having a power outlet;

an electronic device configured to be in communication with an extrinsic communication network; and

a locking unit being removably positioned within said power outlet such that said locking unit determines when said vehicle is turned on, said locking unit being in communication with said electronic device such that said locking unit disables said electronic device when said vehicle is turned on while said electronic device is within said vehicle, wherein said locking unit comprises a housing having a front end, a back end and a peripheral surface extending between said front end and said back end, said peripheral surface being curved such that said housing has a cylindrical shape, said housing being removably positioned within said power outlet, said back end having a pair of wells extending inwardly therein, said wells being spaced apart from each other; and

a removal tool having a pair of arms each extending away from a handle, said arms being spaced apart from each other, each of said arms having a distal end with respect to said handle, said removal tool being configured to be manipulated having said distal end of each of said arms frictionally engaging an associated one of said wells thereby facilitating said housing to be removed from said power outlet.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of biasing members, each of said biasing members being movably coupled to said peripheral surface, each of said biasing members being biased outwardly from said peripheral surface, each of said biasing members frictionally engaging said power outlet when said housing is positioned within said power outlet such that said housing is removably retained within said power outlet.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a contact being movably coupled to said housing, said contact being positioned on said front end, said contact being biased to extend outwardly form said front end, said contact being electrically coupled to said power outlet when said housing is positioned within said power outlet.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing;

a contact; and

a processor being positioned within said housing, said processor being electrically coupled to said contact.

5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a transmitter being positioned within said housing, said transmitter being electrically coupled to said processor, said transmitter being in electrical communication with said electronic device when said housing is positioned within said power outlet, said transmitter transmitting a disable signal when said vehicle is turned on, said electronic device receiving said disable signal such that said electronic device is disabled while said vehicle is turned on and said electronic device is within said vehicle, said transmitter selectively transmitting an alarm signal, said transmitter being configured to be in electrical communication with an extrinsic alert thereby facilitating said extrinsic alert to receive said alarm signal.

6. The system according to claim 4, further comprising:

said housing having a back end; and

a port being positioned on said back end wherein said port is configured to be electrically coupled to a conductor, said port being electrically coupled to said processor.

7. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a power supply being positioned within said housing, said power supply being electrically coupled to said processor, said power supply comprising at least one battery.

8. A vehicular safety system comprising:

a vehicle having a power outlet;

an electronic device configured to be in communication with an extrinsic communication network; and

a locking unit being removably positioned within said power outlet such that said locking unit determines when said vehicle is turned on, said locking unit being in communication with said electronic device such that said locking unit disables said electronic device when said vehicle is turned on while said electronic device is within said vehicle;

a housing, said housing having a peripheral surface;

a contact;

a processor being positioned within said housing, said processor being electrically coupled to said contact;

a transmitter being positioned within said housing, said transmitter being electrically coupled to said processor, said transmitter being in electrical communication with said electronic device when said housing is positioned within said power outlet, said transmitter transmitting a disable signal when said vehicle is turned on, said electronic device receiving said disable signal such that said electronic device is disabled while said vehicle is turned on and said electronic device is within said vehicle, said transmitter selectively transmitting an alarm signal, said transmitter being configured to be in electrical communication with an extrinsic alert thereby facilitating said extrinsic alert to receive said alarm signal; and

a switch being movably coupled to said peripheral surface, said switch being electrically coupled to said processor, said switch engaging said power outlet when said housing is positioned within said power port such that said switch is positioned in an on position, said switch being biased into an off position when said housing is removed from said power outlet, said switch actuating said transmitter to transmit said alarm signal when said switch is biased into said off position wherein said transmitter is configured to notify the extrinsic alert that said housing has been removed from said power outlet.

9. A vehicular safety system comprising:

a vehicle having a power outlet;

an electronic device configured to be in communication with an extrinsic communication network; and

a locking unit being removably positioned within said power outlet such that said locking unit determines when said vehicle is turned on, said locking unit being in communication with said electronic device such that said locking unit disables said electronic device when said vehicle is turned on while said electronic device is within said vehicle, said locking unit comprising;

a housing having a front end, a back end and a peripheral surface extending between said front end and said back end, said peripheral surface being curved such that said housing has a cylindrical shape, said housing being removably positioned within said power outlet, said back end having a pair of wells extending inwardly therein, said wells being spaced apart from each other,

a pair of biasing members, each of said biasing members being movably coupled to said peripheral surface, each of said biasing members being biased outwardly from said peripheral surface, each of said biasing members frictionally engaging said power outlet when said housing is positioned within said power outlet such that said housing is removably retained within said power outlet,

a contact being movably coupled to said housing, said contact being positioned on said front end, said contact being biased to extend outwardly form said front end, said contact being electrically coupled to said power outlet when said housing is positioned within said power outlet,

a processor being positioned within said housing, said processor being electrically coupled to said contact,

a transmitter being positioned within said housing, said transmitter being electrically coupled to said processor, said transmitter being in electrical communication with said electronic device when said housing is positioned within said power outlet, said transmitter transmitting a disable signal when said vehicle is turned on, said electronic device receiving said disable signal such that said electronic device is disabled while said vehicle is turned on and said electronic device is within said vehicle, said transmitter selectively transmitting an alarm signal, said transmitter being configured to be in electrical communication with an extrinsic alert thereby facilitating said extrinsic alert to receive said alarm signal,

a port being positioned on said back end wherein said port is configured to be electrically coupled to a conductor, said port being electrically coupled to said processor,

a switch being movably coupled to said peripheral surface, said switch being electrically coupled to said processor, said switch engaging said power outlet when said housing is positioned within said power port such that said switch is positioned in an on position, said switch being biased into an off position when said housing is removed from said power outlet, said switch actuating said transmitter to transmit said alarm signal when said switch is biased into said off position wherein said transmitter is configured to notify the extrinsic alert that said housing has been removed from said power outlet, and

a power supply being positioned within said housing, said power supply being electrically coupled to said processor, said power supply comprising at least one battery; and

a removal tool having a pair of arms each extending away from a handle, said arms being spaced apart from each other, each of said arms having a distal end with respect to said handle, said removal tool being configured to be manipulated having said distal end of each of said arms frictionally engaging an associated one of said wells thereby facilitating said housing to be removed from said power outlet.