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&#39;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.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to vehicle alarm systems associated with child seat devices. More specifically, the present invention teaches a motor vehicle dual alarm system kit for a child seat, and which alarms a vehicle driver of a child&#39;s presence in the child car seat, preventing a child from being left in the child car seat, upon the driver vacating the driver&#39;s seat. The driver may switch the alarm to off automatically, presetting the driver&#39;s seat sensor to activate the alarm when the driver&#39;s seat is occupied, reminding the driver to switch back to the child seat sensor. If the driver fails to do so, a control thermostat will activate the alarm when the temperature in the vehicle reaches a predetermined degree. The control thermostat will only take over the alarm function if the driver positions the button switch to the child seat sensor activating alarm, pushes the button switch  11 A to stop the alarm, walks away for something, and forgets the child in car. The control thermostat will activate the alarm when a temperature in the vehicle reaches a predetermined degree level designated as being too hot or too cold. Therefore, detecting child presence, driver absence and maximum temperature are features associated with the alarm system of the present invention.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     The use of alerting devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, alerting devices heretofore have been utilized for the purpose of notifying operators/occupants of a vehicle of either the presence of or absence of a child or toddler, such as in relation to a child seat assembly.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,819,249, issued to Papp, teaches a child detection system incorporating a plurality of pressure sensors, each removably positioned selectively under one or both of the front and rear seat areas such that pressure on one of the seat areas actuates an associated one of the pressure sensors. A control is electrically coupled to an electrical power supply and is electrically coupled to each of the pressure sensors. The control is selectively coupled to the electrical system of the vehicle such that the processor may detect when the vehicle is turned off. An alarm is operationally coupled to the control and emits an audible sound when any of the pressure sensors sense pressure. The control is turned on when the vehicle is turned off.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,137, issued to Ryan, teaches a child seat alarm including a car seat portion adapted for being positioned within a motor vehicle. The car seat portion includes child engagement straps. The child engagement straps include a male buckle and a corresponding female receptacle. The male buckle is lockingly received within the female receptacle in a locked position. An alarm is disposed within the car seat portion. The alarm includes a pair of speakers for broadcasting an audible alarm. The alarm is in an activated orientation when the male buckle is lockably received within the female receptacle. The alarm is in a deactivated orientation when the male buckle is removed from the female receptacle. The alarm is in communication with an electrical system of the vehicle whereby a shutdown of the motor vehicle&#39;s engine or an opening of the driver&#39;s door will sound the alarm when the alarm is in the activated orientation.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,104,293 and 5,949,340, both issued to Rossi, teach a warning apparatus for when a child is left in an infant seat and a vehicle ignition disengaged. The apparatus includes an occupant detection mechanism for detecting the presence of an occupant (infant) within the infant seat. An ignition detection mechanism detects the state of the vehicle&#39;s ignition system. A control unit generates an alarm signal when the occupant detection mechanism detects the presence of an occupant within the infant seat and the ignition detection system has been turned off. At that point, alarm units generate an alarm in response to the alarm signal. The components of the apparatus can be located within the infant seat and/or within the vehicle.  
         [0008]     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0239183, to Delgado et al., teaches a child safety system for a motor vehicle in which the driver door switch is electrically connected to the vehicle battery in order to activate the vehicle interior lighting system when the door is closed. A child safety seat is provided with an electrical circuit including a pressure sensitive switch with an alarm and a circuit with a connector for connection to the door switch circuit.  
         [0009]     The electrical circuit associated with the child safety seat is activated by the weight of the child applied onto the pressure sensitive switch when the child is placed in the seat. Upon plugging the seat into the driver side door circuit, the alarm is activated upon the driver side door being opened, with the child present in the safety seat. In this manner, when a child is not strapped into the seat, the child safety seat can either remain unplugged on the rear seat of the vehicle or plugged into the door circuit, and the electrical circuit and alarm will be disconnected from the door circuit.  
         [0010]     Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,793,291, issued to Thornton, teaches a child alert system for automobiles and which detects the presence of a person locked in a parked automobile. The alarm system includes a motion detector and a temperature detecting element coupled to a NOR gate. The motion detector transmits a low signal to the NOR gate once it detects motion within the interior of the automobile. The temperature detecting element transmits a low signal to the NOR gate if the temperature in the vehicle exceeds a predetermined extreme temperature. The NOR gate, upon receiving low signals from both the temperature detecting element and the motion detector, transmits an alarm signal.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The present invention discloses a dual alarm system kit incorporated into a vehicle and for alarming a designated driver of a child&#39;s presence within a child car seat in a motor vehicle, and in particular when a driver&#39;s seat is vacated or not occupied. Additionally, the system possesses dual capabilities for being manually switched to sense a driver presence or absence. When the alarm is intentionally switched off, a control thermostat will activate the alarm when a vehicle interior temperature reaches a preset temperature range.  
         [0012]     As is known, the vehicle includes a front seat area, a rear seat area, an interior and an existing electrical system. The alarm dual system kit comprises a plurality of cushion pressure sensors mats, positioned both upon the driver&#39;s front seat area, as well as within at least one child car seat seating (cavity) area, such that pressure exerted upon any of the seating areas actuates the associated pressure sensors.  
         [0013]     A control relay is selectively coupled to the vehicle&#39;s electric system such that the control relay may activate or deactivate the alarm system, depending upon the actuated state of each of the two pressure sensors. A pushbutton switch allows the driver to select alarm priorities between both sensors, and further in which the child seat sensor is also coupled to a control thermostat.  
         [0014]     An alarm buzzer is operationally coupled to the control relay, as well as to the cushion pressure sensor mat. The buzzer emits an audible sound upon the driver vacating the driver&#39;s seat, combined with the cushion pressure sensor mat within the child seat cavity detecting the continued presence of a child. A pushbutton switch allows the driver to deactivate the alarm by reversing the sensor to detect priority from the child seat sensor to the driver seat sensor. Therefore, the alarm will activate when the driver occupies the driver&#39;s seat, reminding the driver to switch priority back to the child seat sensor, otherwise the alarm will activate when driver vacates the driver&#39;s seat.  
         [0015]     A control thermostat is coupled to the child seat sensor and a pushbutton switch will override the driver seat sensor if a temperature reaches a preset range (hot/cold temperature level). The temperature control sensor will open a ground continuity from the child seat sensor to a pushbutton switch to the second alarm buzzer  88 , upon the driver sensor indicating that the seat is not occupied. (This is the only condition the temperature control sensor will take action.) The alarm buzzer and the control relay are both coupled to a plastic box and fastened such as underneath the instrument panel or under the driver&#39;s seat. The pushbutton switch is preassembled to a mounting bracket so as to be installed under or to a plastic box within the reach of the operator. The thermostat can be installed within the plastic box, over the dashboard, or under the seat to compute the desired objective. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0016]     Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the motor vehicle alarm system kit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the alarm system incorporated into the invention of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a further schematic diagram view illustrating a compressed child seat cushion pressure sensor mat activating the alarm system;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a yet further schematic diagram view illustrating a child&#39;s weight compressing and activating the child seat cushion pressure sensor mat, in cooperation with weight on the driver&#39;s seat cushion pressure sensor mat acting to disable the alarm system;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is another schematic diagram view of the present invention, illustrating a condition by which a driver manually deactivates an alarm by button switch action and pre-arming of a second alarm buzzer;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a further rendition of  FIG. 5 , illustrating a deactivated child seat alarm  8  and wherein a control thermostat reaches its set point activating a backup alarm buzzer with a driver sensor indicating a vacant condition; and  
         [0023]     FIGS.  7 ( a )- 7 ( j ) illustrate respective alarm kit components incorporated into the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a motor vehicle cushion pressure sensor mat dual alarm system kit is illustrated at  10  embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention. Specifically, and as will be hereinafter described, the present system discloses a motor vehicle dual cushion pressure sensor mat dual alarm system kit for a child seat, and specifically operatively communicating with a further pressure sensor incorporated into the vehicle operator&#39;s seat and for preventing an assigned driver from exiting a vehicle while leaving a child inside the motor vehicle, and once the driver vacates the driver&#39;s seat. The driver can also press a button switch to shut off the alarm. The alarm reverses function and activates when the driver again occupies the driver&#39;s seat. The driver may further use the button switch to reset the child seat alarm.  
         [0025]     As will be subsequently described, a first seat sensor is installed within a driver&#39;s seat, in combination with a further child car seat cushion pressure sensor mat and all its system components hard wired to the motor vehicle. The kit assembly of the present invention contemplates the provision of at least two separate cushion pressure sensors mats. It is also envisioned that further pluralities of cushion sensor mats can be incorporated, such as including a further child sensor mat in the instance of more than one child being transported within the vehicle, as well as full seat cushions for older children, floor mat mounted sensors, as well as sensors located in rear trunk or cargo spaces in vans and school buses.  
         [0026]     Preferred materials incorporated into the sensor mat sheets include flexible conductive thin sheets of aluminum, conductive fabrics, conductive plastics and, in one preferred embodiment, sheets of aluminum screen material. The preferred non-conductive material used to separate both conductive plates include foam sheets, which are internally hollowed to allow contact between both conductive sheets. The assembly may further include plastic spacers and, in one further preferred variant, the hollowed out interior of the non-conductive sheet can include a rubber coating.  
         [0027]     Preferred materials used to cover and surround the conductive plates include foam sheets, plastic sheets, or, in one preferred variant, a rubber coated flexible material. An encasing outer material for the pressure sensor mats includes such as leather, plastic, vinyl or cloth materials.  
         [0028]     It is further contemplated that the size and shape of the driver&#39;s sensor mat is such that it will comfortably fit within the seating radius of the driver. The size and shape of the child seat sensor mat is likewise contemplated to be sized so that it is shaped to fit comfortably within the cavity of the child&#39;s seat, such as specifically a strapped-in car seat, but also contemplated to include a suitable child pressure sensor mat which could be incorporated directly upon an existing (rear) seat surface of a vehicle.  
         [0029]     As will be referenced in the succeeding discussion of the several drawing illustrations, the present kit assembly further includes a control relay, an alarm buzzer, a plastic box to secure both the control relay and alarm buzzer, a fuse box circuit electrical adapter, and an electrical body harness with a quick release connector to allow removal of the child cushion pressure sensor mat along with the child car seat. It is also contemplated in the present assembly to include a driver seat sensor quick connect (not shown in  FIGS. 1-7 ).  
         [0030]     The present assembly includes a pushbutton double pole switch to deactivate the alarm manually. The purpose for this is to allow the vehicle operator a brief respite, such as to intentionally exit and re-enter the vehicle without having to remove the child from the safety seat and/or disengage the pressure mat harness system. The alarm reactivates when the driver&#39;s weight is sensed the moment the driver&#39;s seat is occupied. The action of the driver shutting off the alarm rearms the child seat sensor alarm, and will set off the alarm upon the driver exiting the vehicle. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other and hard wired to the motor vehicles electrical system so as to attain the desired objective.  
         [0031]     Referring now specifically to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a motor vehicle dual cushion pressure dual alarm system kit  10  for a child car seat  12   a  in a system for detecting and alarming the driver, when vacating a driver&#39;s seat  15 , of the continued presence of a child in a vehicle  13 . The vehicle  13  is conventionally known and includes a front seat area  15  and a rear seat area  12  set within an overall interior  14 .  
         [0032]     The vehicle  13  further includes a battery  1  having a positive  1   b  connection to a vehicle fuse box  2 , as well as a negative ground connection  1   a  to a chassis ground  1   c . The child or infant seat  12   a  is adapted to be fastened into place within the vehicle  13 , such as upon the rear seat  12  in a conventional manner and such as using a seat belt associated with the vehicle  13 .  
         [0033]     In a further variant, the infant/child seat  12   a  may include a base unit that remains within the vehicle  13 , in addition to a seat unit that attaches to the base unit in a conventional manner. Still further, the infant or child seat  12   a  may be of the type that is built/incorporated directly into the vehicle  13 .  
         [0034]     As further has been previously described, the motor vehicle dual cushion mat pressure sensor dual alarm system kit  10  includes two separate cushion mat pressure sensors. A first mat sensor  5  (see  FIG. 7   c ) is placed over the seating surface of the front/driver&#39;s seat  15 , in cooperation with a second cushion mat sensor  6  (see also  FIG. 7   d ) placed within the cavity of child seat  12   a  (again set upon the rear seat  12  of the vehicle).  
         [0035]     As is also illustrated throughout the schematic illustrations of  FIGS. 2-6 , a two wire harness  9  includes positive wire  9   b  coupled to fuse box adapter  3  (see also  FIG. 7   a ), and which is inserted into the electrical positive circuit slot of the vehicle fuse box  2 . Alternatively, the harness can also be coupled to any live positive wire extending within vehicle  13 .  
         [0036]     A ground wire  9   a , also associated with the harness  9 , is coupled to a chassis ground  1   c . Alternatively, the ground wire  9   a  can also be coupled to any ground location within the vehicle  13 . The positive wire  9   b  is respectively coupled to a terminal  85  of the control relay  4  (see again  FIGS. 2-6 ). The ground wire  9 BB couples from terminal  85  to terminal  8 B of alarm  8 . Terminal  8 B of the alarm  8  couples to positive wire  9 AA, which couples to terminal  88 B of backup alarm buzzer  88 . It is further noted that references such as “hard wired” will be made to address this point as each step is described in  FIGS. 2-6 .  
         [0037]     Positive wire  9 BB is respectively coupled from terminal  85  to an alarm buzzer terminal  8   b . Positive wire  9 AA couples from terminal  8 B to terminal  88  of the buzzer  8 . The control relay  4  (also  FIG. 7   b ) and alarm buzzer  8  can be fastened to a plastic box  17  (see  FIG. 7   j ) with known fasteners (not shown) or, alternatively, may be fastened under the driver&#39;s seat  15 , under the I.P. dashboard  13   a , or anywhere in or on the motor vehicle  13 . The pushbutton switch may be prefastened onto a bracket to be fastened under the I.P. dashboard  13 A or to the plastic box  16  with known fasteners.  
         [0038]     The cushion sensor mat  5  includes a component  5   b , connected to a negative wire  9   a   1 , this respectively coupled to terminal  87   a  of control relay  4 . The cushion sensor mat  5 , with component  5   a  thereof, is connected to a wire harness  9   a   2 , this further connected to a terminal  86  of the control relay  4 . The cushion sensor mat  6  includes conductive sheet  6   b  connected to a negative wire  9   b   1 , this respectively coupled to a quick connect female end  7   a  which interlocks with a further quick connect male end  7   b  associated with a quick change connector  7 . The same quick change process can also be adapted to the driver sensor  5 .)  
         [0039]     A wire harness  9   c   1  is respectively coupled to a control relay terminal  30  of the control relay  4 . The cushion sensor mat  6  includes a conductive sheet  6   a  connected to a negative wire  9   b   2 , respectively coupled to the quick connect female end  7   a  and which interlocks with the quick change male end  7   b  of the quick change connector  7  (see harness quick connect shown in  FIG. 7   g ). A wire harness  9   c   2  is respectively coupled to the negative terminal  11 B of double pole button switch  11  which can be switched by button  11 A to feed continuity from  11 B to  11 C through negative wire  9   d   2  connected to terminal  8 A of the alarm buzzer  8 .  
         [0040]     Referring now again to  FIG. 2 , a schematic diagrammatic view is shown of the present invention  10 , and which is illustrative of an electrical condition corresponding to an empty parked motor vehicle  13  (see again  FIG. 1 ). In this condition, and electrically hard wired up to the control relay  4 , as discussed in  FIG. 1 , the positive terminal  85  is in a normally open position, allowing a ground condition between terminal  87   a  and the terminal  30 . The terminal  87   a  opens ground to the conductive sheet  5   b , associated with sensor mat  5 , and the terminal  30  opens ground to the conductive sheet  6   b  of the sensor mat  6 .  
         [0041]     As now shown in  FIG. 3 , a schematic diagram view is illustrated of the present invention  10  with the alarm system buzzer  8  activated while motor vehicle  13  is parked. Electrically hard wired to the control relay  4 , as discussed in  FIG. 1 , the positive terminal  85  is in a normally open position, thus allowing a ground connection between the terminal  87   a  and the terminal  30 , sending ground to the conductive sheet  6   b  of the sensor mat  6 .  
         [0042]     In operation, the button switch  11 A of switch  11  must be in the  11 C to  11 B position to arm sensor  6 . The child seat cushion sensor mat  6  is weighed down (by virtue of the downward applied weight of the child) closing the gap between the conductive sheets  6   a  and  6   b , and which, on contact, allows ground continuity through DP switch  11 , preposition terminal  11 B, to terminal  11 C to the alarm buzzer terminal  8   a , thereby activating the alarm buzzer  8 . Furthermore, terminal  11 B pre-arms terminal  16 B of control thermostat  16 , as backup for alarm  88 .  
         [0043]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , illustrated is a schematic diagram view of a further electrical condition associated with the present invention  10 , and by which being electrically hard wired to the control relay  4 , as discussed in  FIG. 1 , the conductive sheet  5   a  is weighed down to contact the conductive sheet  5   b  of the sensor mat  5 . The control relay  4  terminal  86  in this illustration is grounded to a closed position, switching off the ground between terminal  87   a  and the terminal  30  of the control relay  4 , thereby disrupting ground to the sensor mat  6  to disable alarm system buzzer  8  and backup buzzer  88 . Terminal  86  of the control relay  4  grounds to terminal  1   d  of DP button switch  11 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  now illustrates a schematic diagram view of the present invention  10 , electronically hard wired to the control relay  4 , as discussed in  FIG. 1 , and wherein the double pole pushbutton switch  11  has a pushbutton  11 A positioned in  11   d  terminal to  11   c  terminal position, disabling alarm activation. Terminal  11 B couples to terminal  16 B, pre-arming terminal  16 B of control thermostatic  16 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  further illustrates  FIG. 5  pushbutton  11 A disabling terminal  11 B to alarm buzzer  8  and pre-arming control thermostat  16 . Once an interior cabin temperature reaches preset temperature, control thermostat  16  opens ground terminal  16 C through  9 EZ to terminal  88 A and activates the alarm buzzer  88 .  
         [0046]     In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides an improved motor vehicle dual alarm system kit for a child car seat not shown or described by the prior art. Additional advantages achieved by the present invention include the ability of the kit assembly to not depend upon ignition on/off positions, doors opening, shift lever positions, strap engagements, or scanning sensors.  
         [0047]     Additional advantages include the ability of the present assembly to utilize the existing electrical system associated with the vehicle. The wiring harness so provided allows electrical connections between all required and sequenced components, including a quick connector allowing the child car seat sensor to be removed along with the seat. The harness is further coupled to the plurality of cushion pressure sensor mats, a control thermostat and to the control relay, and a double pole button switch which provides for activation or deactivation of the child car seat alarm system and/or driver&#39;s seat alarm system.  
         [0048]     The present invention further provides a kit assembly for either retrofit or initial manufactured installation of an alarm system and which is adaptable to any motor vehicle having front and rear seating areas requiring one positive and one negative electrical connection. This system can be integrated to the ECM and also the ECM of future vehicles. Plus, this system can also be integrated for use with global positioning systems.  
         [0049]     It is also envisioned that the use of a substitute timer for the control thermostat previously described can be accomplished according to the dual alarm function. The present alarm system can also be incorporated into a vehicle&#39;s electrical control module or body control module.  
         [0050]     It is also envisioned that, aside from the seat-mounted sensors described, other applications include floor mats, rear SUV cargo area sensor mats, as well as again front and rear seat cushion mats for other occupants. Other applications include the usage of laser presence detectors, movement detectors, and weight sensors integrated within the front and rear seats of the vehicle.  
         [0051]     Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims: