Abstract:
A mobile personal alarm and warning system for monitoring temperature around the designated user integrated with a vehicle access and warning controls. The system utilizes controls and actuation mobile self-contained modules that monitor the ambient temperature around the designated user and transmits a warning activation signal to the mobile control unit carried by the primary user as an alert condition. Proximity sensor provisions are provided to assure response range between the modules as well as enabling two-way radio communication protocols.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/626,160, filed Sep. 22, 2011. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to temperature sensing and warning systems for vehicles in which children or pets have been left and unattended. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Prior art devices of this type have been developed to provide a variety of sensing and alarm activation systems to monitor the internal temperature of a vehicle&#39;s passenger compartment, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,793,284, 6,263,272, 6,922,622, 7,081,811, 7,742,554, 7,701,358 and U.S. Publication 2007/00775575. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,793,284, an alarm system for a vehicle is disclosed having a temperature sensor in the vehicle and a remote user paging unit that is activated by an onboard transmitter once the predetermined temperature range has been reached. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,272 claims a vehicle having thermal protection arrangement for children and pets in which a temperature sensor may activate power windows and sun roof once a preset temperature is reached. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,622 discloses a hot vehicle safety system for vehicles to prevent passengers from being trapped therein when left in the sun. Multiple vehicle control systems are activated for opening automatic door locks, windows and sun roofs while sounding an alarm once the predetermined temperature is reached within the vehicle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,081,811 illustrates a multiple sensor heat alarm for vehicles. Heat sensors are positioned in different locations in the vehicle and a processor determines acceptable heat index range commanding vehicle&#39;s horn, lights, windows, doors and engine. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,472,554 is directed to vehicle passenger protection system wherein multiple sensors monitor temperature, motor and CO2 levels. Once activated by preset sensor levels have been achieved, multiple alarms and reactive actions are taken including window door locks, horn and two-way communication devices. 
     U.S. Publication 2007/0075575 is drawn to an unattended child car seat alarm system in which an alarm is keyed to the latch of a child&#39;s car seat indicating temperature pressure sensor and a microphone for remote key fob usage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A mobile alert security system for monitoring the status of individuals and pets in an unattended vehicle by multiple activation alarm elements dependent on prescribed protocols. Self-contained independent sensor monitoring modules are deployed on the designated individuals and pets to be monitored with a master control communication and command module unit carried by the designated user to monitor and maintain the safety of the monitored entities. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a graphic illustration of the system&#39;s slave and master control unit monitoring modules. 
         FIG. 2  is a block flow diagram of the slave unit&#39;s features. 
         FIG. 3  is a block flow diagram of the master control unit features. 
         FIG. 4  is a functional block flow diagram of the thermal link system of the invention illustrating use pattern configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is a graphic drawing of operation parameters of the system for proximity location and utilization. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4  of the drawings, a thermal link alert system  10  of the invention can be seen. The alert system  10  comprises a master control unit  11  and one or more slave monitoring units  12 . The system is designed to provide alert warnings and inter unit communication when designated safety parameters have been exceeded including environmental constraints (temperature) and safety distant protocols proximity between units. 
     The mobile slave unit  12  is to be worn attached and/or remotely secured to the entity to be monitored such as children and pets and is directed towards monitoring same when they are within a vehicle  13 . 
     Referring specifically to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, the slave unit  12  is self-contained with an onboard source of power  14  and is configured in a convenient adaptable form such as to be positioned on a flexible attachment band, not shown, or other easily secured configuration appropriate to the user&#39;s applications. The slave unit  12  has a primary integrated temperature sensor  15  with a control activation alert range, in this example, of 60° Fahrenheit-90° Fahrenheit as well as a proximity sensor  16  defining an operational alert range between the slave unit  12  and the master control unit  11  as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     An alarm activation circuit  17  and audio output  17 A is provided for response to the primary temperature sensor  15  and proximity sensor  16  with an interconnected transmitter receiver circuit configuration  18  for both data transmission and two-way audio communication between the respective units. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 3  of the drawings, the mobile master control unit  11  configuration can be seen having a source of power  20  with a corresponding proximity sensor  21  interconnected thereto. The proximity sensors  16  and  21  which may be of any of the well know sensor configurations including, but not limited to a group to include magnetic, in this example. 
     A corresponding alarm circuit  22  and audio output  22 A is provided and a transmitter receiver  23  for both activation control data and two-way voice communication with the slave unit  12  by corresponding microphones M and audio output speakers  22 A and  17 A interconnected thereto on respective master and slave units  11  and  12 . 
     An automatic vehicle unlock transmitter circuit  26  is provided to assure safe exit from the vehicle  13  if so equipped and activated as will be described in detail. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, a graphic representation of the operational zones for the slave unit and master control unit  12  and  11  respectively can be seen. In this example, a ten foot radius non-alert zone  27  from the slave unit  12  is illustrated allowing a primary control user (not shown), a non-alarm activation area relative to the master control unit and therefore the vehicle  13  in this example. Conversely the alert zone  28  indicated by the shaded area defined by the proximity sensors  16  and  21  of the respective units outside and beyond the non-alert zone  27  defined. This zone feature assures that the master control unit  11  and thus the primary user will not exceed the non-alert zone  27  without activating the unit providing a deliberate response enablement and warning configuration which must be addressed. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, a functional control activation block flow chart for the system can be seen. The temperature sensor  15  and the slave unit  12 , in this example, defines a temperature non-activation range at  30 . If the vehicle&#39;s temperature is outside the defined range (no) the slave unit  12  is activated and transmits a digital control activation signal to the master control unit  11  alarm engagement occurs indicated at  31 . 
     When the slave unit  12  is returned to temperature parameters at  32  the master control unit  11  alarm  22  is disengaged at  33 . The master control unit and slave units  11  and  12  proximity sensors  21  and  16  respectively determine and equal or less than designated radius non-alarm zone  27  at  34  if no the master control unit proximity  21  breach alert at two second warning beeps indicated at  35 . If warning beeps activate at  35  duration is greater than thirty seconds at  35 A, the master control unit  11  alarm  22  is engaged at  36 . 
     If the warning beeps are less than thirty seconds at  35 B indicating non-alarm zone  27  has been re-established. 
     If less than thirty seconds at  35 A, a two minute snooze button activation or master control unit  11  at  38  may be activated. If the time elapsed is greater than two minutes indicated at  38 A (by not re-entering the non-alarm zone  27 ) the master control unit alarm  22  is engaged with an annoying audio output unit broadcast at  36 . If less than two minutes elapses the primary operator can press the “snooze button” A at  38 B “snooze time”, master control unit  11  alarm  22  is disengaged for two minutes at  40  and the two-way radio communication is engaged and established as noted at  39 . 
     Correspondingly, if the primary operator returns to the master control unit  11  to within the non-alert zone  27  and presses a reset button B on the slave unit  12  at the control point  41 . Upon “reset” the master control alarm  22  is disengaged at  42  and a two-way radio communication via the respective transmitter receiver circuits is disengaged as indicated at  43 . 
     The system is then reset for restart at  44  based on the above defined auto and use and activation control elements. The hereinbefore referred to integrated vehicle unlocking  26  feature will allow the primary user with the master control unit  11  to program a control button thereon to activate the automatic locking system of the vehicle  13  if so equipped. Accordingly a safety operational protocol sequence is required wherein programmable activation button is held down (not shown) until the initial LED blinks then the vehicle key remote fob (not shown) is pressed repeatedly until the indicator LED on the master control unit  11  is continuously on. This setting sequence is atypical of most learning control circuitry of remote telemetric equipment and in this instance will provide and avoid accidental locking of the vehicle when not indicated. 
     It will thus be seen that a new and novel vehicle safety system for unattended vehicles based on temperature parameters and proximity orientation has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.