Safety alarm system for seatbelts

• US 7,265,671 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2005
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lisa Valles
• Original Assignee: Lisa Valles
• Inventors: Stoughton, John, Valles, Lisa
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US11/035,202
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/457, 340/426.22, 340/426.23, 340/309.16
• US Class Current: 340/541
• 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 2/2812 for securing the child to the child seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors

Abstract

An alarm system for use with a motor vehicle to sound an alert whenever child passengers are left unattended and belted in a parked motor vehicle, including a transmitter for generating a radio signal characterized by a predetermined frequency, a receiver for receiving and rectifying the radio signal, a sensor for sending an ignition status signal to the receiver if the vehicle ignition is on, a timer for sending an activation signal in response to the receiver receiving the radio message and the ignition status signal, and an alarm for generating an audible signal in response to receipt of the activation signal.

Claims

1. A safety alarm system for alerting a driver to the presence of seat-belted passengers remaining in a parked vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle status sensor;

a seatbelt having a first seatbelt portion and a second seatbelt portion;

a transmitter subassembly connected to the first seatbelt portion and configured to send a transmitter signal; and

a receiver subassembly connected to the second seatbelt portion and operationally coupled to the transmitter subassembly; and

a sound generator in electric communication with the receiver subassembly;

wherein the vehicle status sensor generates a first ignition sensor signal when the vehicle is on;

wherein the vehicle status sensor generates a second ignition sensor signal when the vehicle is off;

wherein reception by the receiver subassembly of the transmitter signal from the transmitter subassembly and the second signal from the vehicle status sensor actuates the sound generator;

wherein the vehicle status sensor is operationally connected to the vehicle motor and in electric communication with the receiver subassembly.

2. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein termination of the transmitter signal from the transmitter subassembly deactuates the sound generator and wherein reception of the first signal by the receiver subassembly deactuates the sound generator.

3. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein the receiver subassembly further comprises a timer in electric communication with the receiver subassembly and the sound generator;

wherein reception by the receiver subassembly of the transmitter signal and the second sensor signal actuates the timer; and

wherein the timer actuates the sound generator after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

4. The alarm system of claim 3 wherein the timer is reset by cessation of the transmitter signal and wherein the timer is reset by reception of the first sensor signal by the receiver subassembly.

5. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter subassembly further comprises:

a first oscillator; and

a first resonant tank in electric communication with the first oscillator; and

wherein the receiver subassembly further comprises;

a receiver antenna;

a second resonant tank in electric communication with the receiver antenna;

a rectifier in electric communication with the second resonant tank;

a voltage comparator in electric communication with rectifier;

an alarm logic assembly in electric communication with the voltage comparator; and

a second oscillator in electric communication with the alarm logic assembly;

wherein the vehicle status sensor is operationally connected to the vehicle motor and is in electric communication with the alarm logic assembly.

6. A transceiver alarm system for sounding an audible alarm if a child is left unattended and belted in a parked vehicle, comprising in combination:

a signal transmitter subassembly; and

a receiver subassembly;

wherein the signal transmitter subassembly further comprises;

a first node;

a second node;

a first resistor electrically connected to the first node;

a second resistor is electrically connected between the first node and the second node;

a first voltage source;

a third resistor electrically connected between the second node and the first voltage source;

a fourth resistor electrically connected between the second node and ground potential;

a third node;

a fourth node;

a first operational amplifier having a noninverting input electrically connected to the first node, an inverting input electrically connected to the third node and an output electrically connected to the fourth node;

a fifth resistor electrically connected between the third node and the fourth node;

a first capacitor electrically connected between the third node and ground potential;

a first inductor;

a second capacitor electrically connected between the fourth node and the first inductor;

wherein the first inductor is electrically connected between the second capacitor and ground;

wherein the receiver subassembly further comprises;

a fifth node;

a second voltage source;

a sixth resistor electrically connected between the second voltage source and the fifth node;

a seventh resistor electrically connected between the fifth node and ground;

a sixth node;

an eighth resistor electrically connected between the fifth node and the sixth node;

a seventh node;

a ninth resistor electrically connected between the sixth node and the seventh node;

an eighth node;

a second operational amplifier having a second noninverting input electrically connected to the sixth node, an second inverting input electrically connected to the eighth node and a second output electrically connected to the seventh node;

a tenth resistor electrically connected between the seventh node and the eighth node;

a third capacitor electrically connected between the eighth node and ground;

a first transistor having an first emitter electrically connected to ground, a first base, and a first collector;

an eleventh resistor electrically connected between the seventh node and the first base;

a sound generator having a first speaker terminal electrically connected to the first collector and a second speaker terminal;

a third voltage source electrically connected to the second speaker terminal;

a second transistor having a second drain electrically connected to the sixth node, a second source electrically connected to ground, and a second gate;

a ninth node;

a tenth node;

a third operational amplifier having a noninverting input electrically connected to the ninth node, an inverting input electrically connected to the tenth node and a third output electrically connected to the second gate;

a fourth voltage source;

a twelfth resistor electrically connected between the ninth node and the fourth voltage source;

a thirteenth resistor electrically connected between the ninth node and ground;

a vehicle ignition sensor operationally connected to the vehicle ignition;

a third transistor having a third drain electrically connected to the tenth node, a third source electrically connected to ground, and a third gate electrically connected to the vehicle ignition sensor;

an eleventh node;

a fourteenth resistor electrically connected between the tenth node and the eleventh node;

a fifth voltage source is electrically connected to the eleventh node;

a fourth capacitor is electrically connected between the tenth and eleventh nodes;

a fourth transistor having a fourth drain electrically connected to the tenth node, a fourth source electrically connected to ground, and a fourth gate;

a twelfth node;

a thirteenth node;

a fourth operational amplifier having a fourth output electrically connected to the fourth gate, a fourth noninverting input electrically connected to the twelfth node, and a fourth inverting input electrically connected to the thirteenth node;

a fifteenth resistor electrically connected between the thirteenth node and ground;

a sixteenth resistor electrically connected between the twelfth node and ground;

a sixth voltage source;

a seventeenth resistor electrically connected between the twelfth node and the sixth voltage source;

a fifth capacitor electrically connected between the thirteenth node and ground;

a fourteenth node;

a first rectifying diode electrically connected between the thirteenth node and the fourteenth node;

a second inductor electrically connected between the fourteenth node and ground; and

a sixth capacitor electrically connected between the fourteenth node and ground;

wherein the first rectifying diode is oriented for current to flow from the fourteenth node to the thirteenth node.

7. The alarm system of claim 6 further comprising:

a first seatbelt portion; and

a second seatbelt portion configured to interlock with the first seatbelt portion;

wherein the transmitter subassembly is coupled to the first seatbelt portion; and

wherein the receiver subassembly is coupled to the second seatbelt portion.

8. The alarm system of claim 6 wherein the vehicle ignition sensor generates a first ignition sensor signal when the vehicle is on;

wherein the vehicle ignition sensor generates a second ignition sensor signal when the vehicle is off;

wherein reception by the receiver subassembly of a signal from the transmitter subassembly and the second ignition sensor signal from the ignition sensor actuates the sound generator;

wherein the vehicle ignition sensor is operationally connected to a vehicle motor; and

wherein the vehicle ignition sensor is connected in electric communication with the receiver subassembly.

9. A transceiver alarm assembly for signaling that a child has been left unattended and belted in a parked vehicle comprising in combination:

a vehicle ignition;

a transmitter for sending a radio signal characterized by a predetermined frequency;

a receiver for receiving and amplifying the radio signal;

an ignition sensor operationally coupled between the vehicle ignition and the receiver and adapted to send an ignition signal to the receiver when the ignition is off;

a sound generator operationally coupled to the receiver;

a receiver power source operationally coupled to the receiver;

a first seatbelt portion; and

a second seatbelt portion configured to interlock with the first seatbelt portion;

wherein the receiver includes a timer actuated by receipt of the ignition signal and the radio signal to send a timer signal after the passage of a predetermined span of time;

wherein the timer is deactuated by cessation of the ignition signal;

wherein the timer is deactuated by cessation of the radio signal;

wherein the timer signal actuates the sound generator;

wherein the transmitter is coupled to the first seatbelt portion; and

wherein the receiver is coupled to the second seatbelt portion.

10. A vehicle alert system, comprising in combination:

transmitter means for generating a radio signal characterized by a predetermined frequency;

receiver means for receiving and rectifying the radio signal;

sensor means for sending an ignition status signal to the receiver means if the vehicle ignition is off;

timer means for sending an activation signal in response to the receiver means receiving the radio signal and the ignition status signal; and

alarm means for generating an audible signal in response to receipt of the activation signal;

wherein the transmitter means includes a first oscillator and a first resonant tank in electric communication with the first oscillator.

11. The alert system of claim 10 further including a first seatbelt portion and a second seatbelt portion;

wherein the transmitter means is coupled to the first seatbelt portion; and

wherein the receiver means is coupled to the second seatbelt portion.