Motor vehicle dual alarm system kit for child seats

• US 20070052529A1
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Signifredo Perez
• Original Assignee: Signifredo Perez
• Inventors: Perez, Signifredo
• Application Number:
  US11/209,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20070052529A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/457
• 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: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

An alarm system incorporated into a motor vehicle for warning of an unattended condition associated with an occupant left within the vehicle. The vehicle includes a first seating location and a second seating location. The alarm system includes a first, mat shaped and pressure activated sensor associated with the first seating location and a second corresponding sensor associated with the second seating location. A wire harness communicates with each of the first and second sensors. A processor driven and control relay operatively communicates with the sensors, via the wire harness, the relay, upon determining a first sensor condition associated with a first unoccupied seating location concurrent with determining a second occupied seating location, activates an audible alarm associated with the vehicle. A presetting driver'"'"'s seat sensor may also be employed to activate the alarm, in the instance of the driver switching off the alarm and, failing to do so, causing a control thermostat to activate the alarm upon an internal vehicle temperature reaching a determined upper or lower threshold.

Claims

1. An alarm system incorporated into a motor vehicle for warning of an unattended condition associated with an occupant left within the vehicle, the vehicle including a first seating location and a second seating location, said alarm system comprising:

a first sensor associated with the first seating location;

a second sensor associated with the second seating location;

a wire harness communicating with each of said first and second sensors;

a processor driven and control relay operatively communicating with said sensors, via said wire harness, said relay, upon determining a first sensor condition associated with a first unoccupied seating location concurrent with determining a second occupied seating location, activating an audible alarm associated with the vehicle.

2. The system as described in claim 1, each of said sensors further comprising a pressure sensor mat, a first of said sensor mats disposed upon a seating surface associated with a child car seat, a second of said sensor mats disposed on the seating surface of a driver'"'"'s seat.

3. The system as described in claim 1, said control relay further comprising a first terminal including a first set of contacts, said first set of contacts in a normally open position being coupled to a fuse adapter positive terminal, said relay further including a first terminal of a second set of contacts, said second set of contacts in a normally open position connected to an electrical ground of the vehicle.

4. The system as described in claim 3, said wire harness further comprising:

a first terminal coupled to a positive terminal of a fuse adapter associated with a positive terminal of said audible alarm, said fuse adapter being respectively coupled to the vehicle'"'"'s fuse box, a second electrical terminal being coupled to a ground of the vehicle, said electrical harness further being operationally coupled to said alarm buzzer, said control relay, a DP switch, said child seat sensor mat, and said driver'"'"'s seat sensor mat responsive to said alarm signal.

5. The system as described in claim 4, the vehicle additionally including an electrical system, an engine, a front seat area, a rear seat area, an interior, a battery having a positive and a negative terminal, the negative terminal being coupled to ground and the positive terminal coupled to the fuse box of the vehicle.

6. The system as described in claim 5, said wire harness having a first terminal coupled to a positive terminal of a fuse adapter, said fuse adapter being respectively coupled to the vehicle'"'"'s fuse box and coupled to said positive terminal of alarm buzzer, said second electrical terminal being coupled to an electrical ground of the vehicle.

7. The system as described in claim 6, said first and second sensors further comprising pressure sensor mats for detecting the presence or absence of an occupant at each of the first and second seating locations, each of said cushion pressure sensor mats being coupled to said relay contacts in a normally open position, as well as connected to said ground, activation/deactivation of said alarm being dependant upon presence or absence of an occupant on the surface of each said cushion pressure sensor mats.

8. The system as described in claim 7, further comprising a plurality of pressure sensor mats, a first of said mats being configured in design to fit over a driver'"'"'s seat, said second mat being configured in design to fit within a child seat cavity.

9. The system as described in claim 8, wherein said first sensor mat can be configured to fit in a concealed position within a cushion of the driver'"'"'s seat, wherein said second sensor mat can be configured to fit within a child seat cavity.

10. The system as described in claim 8, each of said pressure sensor mats further comprising:

a pair of conductive sheets, separated by a hollowed, compressible and non-conductive cushion material, electrical contact between said conductive sheets occurring upon the application of downward pressure; and

said plurality of conductive sheets each further having a bottom surface and a top surface covered with a solid non-conductive sheet of cushion material and encased in a covering fabric.

12. The motor vehicle dual pressure sensor mat alarm system kit, as described in claim 10, wherein an entire alarm system assembly and components is preassembled, requiring only two electrical connections, wherein said electrical harness couples to a chassis ground and said fuse adapter inserts into said fuse box;

wherein further said control relay and said alarm buzzer are prefastened to said plastic box with known fasteners.

13. The motor vehicle dual pressure sensor mat alarm system kit as described in claim 12, wherein said mounting plastic box and said DP switch are disposed and fastened, with a known fastener, at a given location including at least one of under the instrument panel and under the driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle.

11. A motor vehicle dual pressure sensor mat alarm system kit, for sensing and generating an alarm signal alerting a designated driver of a child'"'"'s presence in a child seat when vacating the driver'"'"'s seat according comprising, in combination:

a plurality of pressure sensor mats, a first sensor mat disposed on a seating surface of a child car seat and a second sensor mat disposing on the seating surface of a driver'"'"'s seat;

a control relay having a first terminal of a set of contacts, said first set of contacts in a normally open position coupled to a fuse adapter associated with a vehicle, and a first terminal of a second set of contacts, said second set of contacts being in a normally open position connected to an electrical ground of the vehicle;

an electrical harness having a first terminal coupled to a positive terminal of said fuse adapter, said fuse adapter being respectively coupled to the vehicle'"'"'s fuse box and the second electrical terminal being coupled to the ground of the vehicle; and

an alarm buzzer operationally coupled to said control relay, DP switch and, upon determining a first sensor condition associated with a first unoccupied seating location concurrent with determining a second occupied seating location, activating an audible alarm associated with the vehicle.

14. The motor vehicle dual pressure sensor mat dual alarm system kit in accordance with claim 11, wherein said electrical harness is of sufficient length to reach from a vehicle instrument panel, beneath an under front carpet and driver'"'"'s seat to connect to said alarm buzzer and said control relay, said harness extending further to first said sensor mat, under a rear carpet and rear seat and extending upwardly back between upper and lower seat portions, whereby a quick connect assembly connects said second sensor mat disposed within the child seat cavity.

15. The motor vehicle dual pressure sensor mat alarm system kit in accordance with claim 11, wherein said alarm audible may be that of a recording of a child crying.

16. The motor vehicle dual pressure sensor mat alarm system kit in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a pushbutton double pole switch associated with said control relay for issuing said alarm.

17. The alarm system kit in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a disengagement switch activated by a driver for deactivating said child sensor seat.

18. The alarm system kit in accordance with claim 17, further comprising a control thermostat operably connected to said alarm buzzer, said thermostat responsive to a temperature sensor achieving a predetermined upper or lower threshold.

19. The alarm system kit in accordance with claim 17, further comprising a timer relay operably connected to said alarm buzzer.