Abstract:
The video system for viewing a vehicle back seat is a video surveillance system used for viewing a vehicle back seat. A remote camera is encased within a transmitting unit, which is preferably padded on its exterior, and further includes a multimedia display and at least one universal serial bus port for receiving multimedia data. The transmitting unit is mounted about the interior of a vehicle, such as a seat, and transmits video to a portable receiving display screen mounted about the view of the vehicle driver.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/006,269, filed Jan. 3, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to video surveillance devices, and particularly to a video system for viewing a vehicle back seat. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Under the various laws and rules in differing geographic regions, or depending on immediate circumstances, it is often necessary to monitor the environment behind a driver. In situations where mirrors are not available or convenient (or due to blind spots or the like, when mirrors are useless to the driver), the driver may be compelled to adjust his or her body to view the rear environment, thus diverting concentration and attention from oncoming traffic and other road hazards, which increases the chances of causing accidental harm and injury not only to themselves, but to others as well. 
         [0006]    As a result, some drivers have added mirrors to communicate with existing mirrors in order to expand their general field of vision, thus alleviating the need to adjust his or her body and divert their attention. For example, it is not uncommon for a parent to have multiple mirrors mounted in the interior of a vehicle, which, when positioned just right, allow them to look into a first mirror to view their child, with the image reflecting from another mirror into the first mirror. In this situation, the parent or driver is generally required to look up towards the mirror, away from the road, and for a longer period than usual, as he or she must now concentrate and focus on another reflection. In some cases, it may be necessary to adjust the center, rear view mirror to the extent that the rear traffic is no longer viewable, requiring a driver to continuously adjust the mirror. Nevertheless, the mirrors are not capable of zooming in or out, focusing with particularity on a child or offering more than one simultaneous view. 
         [0007]    Thus, a system for viewing vehicle back seat solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The video system for viewing a vehicle back seat has at least one swivel or rotatable camera encased in the soft frame of a transmitting unit that is mounted about the interior of a car. The transmitting unit may include a USB and a video display screen, and a reflecting mirror or other stimulus within its frame that consists of speakers and volume control, accordingly. 
         [0009]    The camera(s) video is transmitted to a receiver and viewable by a display screen located about the driver&#39;s view. The screen is easy to see while operating a vehicle, as it is positioned so that the driver does not have to be distracted from oncoming traffic, pedestrians or other obstacles in the road. 
         [0010]    The system is portable and capable of being removed from a vehicle and brought into a home, office, classroom or any other place for video monitoring (and or recording), and does not have to be reprogrammed or modified when it is moved. 
         [0011]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a video system for viewing a vehicle back seat according to the present invention, shown with a child&#39;s car seat facing forward. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a video system for viewing a vehicle back seat according to the present invention, shown with a child&#39;s car seat facing rearward. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the receiver component of a video system for viewing a vehicle back seat according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the transmitting unit of a video system for viewing a vehicle back seat according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    The video system for viewing a vehicle back seat is a combination video transmitting and video receiving device, which is particularly designed to improve the safety and quality of monitoring inside a vehicle while the vehicle is in operation. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  show the system  10  in an arrangement where a restrained child C is seated behind a driver D. As shown in the drawings, the video system  10  may be configured for use either with a child&#39;s car seat facing forward or with a child&#39;s car seat facing rearward. As shown, transmitting unit  25  is positioned about the interior back seat and focused on a restrained child C. It should be understood that the vehicle V and the seats within the vehicle are shown for exemplary purposes only. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of a transmitting unit  25  suitable for use in the system  10 . As shown, transmitting unit  25  includes a swiveling and rotatable camera  40  encased within a soft, non-toxic and non-abrasive frame  17 . Camera  40  may be any suitable adjustable camera. Frame  17  may be formed from any suitable, relatively soft, non-toxic and non-abrasive material. The transmitting unit  25  may optionally include additional cameras  41  sheathed within the frame  17 . The frame  17  encases a display component  45 , which may include a video screen adapted for playing entertainment, such as cartoons or the like, or may be in the form of a reflecting mirror, which not only provides entertainment and amusement for the child, but also ensures the child&#39;s face is positioned to be in focus for camera  40 . If display  45  is adapted for playing video entertainment, display  45  may be any suitable type of video display, such as a liquid crystal display or the like. 
         [0020]    In addition to the visual display provided by display  45 , audio entertainment may further be provided for the child. Audio signals are generated and emitted by speakers  50 , which can be controlled by volume-regulating button  22 . A universal serial bus (USB) port  70  fitted in slot  55  is shown located at the upper side portion of the transmitting unit  25  and is used to receive desired multimedia. In use, the driver or parent may connect a source of multimedia content, such as video and/or audio files stored on an external computer, to the transmitting unit  25  via a USB cable connected to USB port  70 , and the video and/or audio files may be stored therein, saved in computer readable memory housed within the unit. 
         [0021]    The transmitting unit  25  can be attached to a car seat or headrest, for example, by securing opposed ends  39  and  48  of adjustable, connecting straps  38 , either laterally or longitudinally, as shown. Straps  38  may be formed of any suitable material and are adjustable, through use of a length-adjusting buckle, as shown, or the like. It should be understood that any suitable type of releasable connectors, such as a hook and loop system, adhesives, magnets or the like, may be alternatively utilized. Furthermore, the transmitting unit  25  may be affixed to a multitude of regions within a vehicle depending on what is to be monitored and likewise could be directed to outer regions, including outside the vehicle, rather than only the exemplary car seat illustrated. 
         [0022]    The transmitting unit  25  may be cordless and powered by batteries housed therein, or the unit  25  can receive power by a power cord attached to a constant power source in the vehicle, such as the lighter port (powered by the vehicle&#39;s battery). The transmitting unit  25  may be removed from the vehicle and used elsewhere, such as in a home or in a classroom, where it can be run on batteries or powered by conventional power outlets. 
         [0023]    When camera  40  is activated, it transmits a video signal via laser, radio frequency or wire to a receiver  37 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the receiver  37  converts the transmitted signal to a readable format that is translated into video on a display screen  15 , which may be a liquid crystal display or the like. The receiver  37  is capable of communicating with more than one transmitter and likewise capable of distinguishing between more than one signal. The receiver  37  preferably has three camera view options, which are selected by pressing one of the buttons labeled “CAM 1 ,” “CAM 2 ” or “CAM 3 ” to select the corresponding camera view. As shown, the display  15  is mounted within a housing  92 , and an input panel  90  is further mounted on housing  92 . Input panel  90  includes a plurality of entry buttons, including the “CAM 1 ,” “CAM 2 ” and “CAM 3 ” buttons. 
         [0024]    View options may be from three different transmitting units or from a single transmitting unit, as shown in  FIG. 3 , with two additional cameras  41  shown in phantom. The “S” button, below “CAM 3 ,” may be used to scroll through the different camera views, if available, as well as different camera view combinations, such as split screen “CAM 1 ” with “CAM 2 ,” or split screen with all three cameras at once. The “P” button, located above “CAM 1 ,” is used to program the system. 
         [0025]    The receiver  37  can be powered by batteries or by a constant source attached via wire  25  to the vehicle lighter port or other power outlet. The receiver  37  has universal attachment capabilities and may be positioned so that the driver can simultaneously view the road and the display screen  15  at the same time. For example,  FIG. 2  shows the receiver  37  attached directly to the windshield by an adjustable support  60  and suction cup  55  combination. The receiver  37  may be affixed to other interior regions such as the dashboard by suction, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, adhesives or any other suitable means for releasable attachment. Alternatively, it may be independent of a display screen  15  and the display could be projected onto the windshield or about it via a conventional heads-up type display. It should be understood that in the above embodiments, the transmitters and receivers may either be permanently mounted, or may be releasably mounted, allowing them to be moved from vehicle to vehicle. 
         [0026]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.