Patent Publication Number: US-2018053390-A1

Title: Infant anti-abandonment system and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/375,602 filed Aug. 16, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of motor vehicles and more specifically relates to vehicle safety devices. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     There have been several hundred documented cases of child fatality due to exposure in an unattended vehicle in the United States. The fact is, even the most attentive and careful caregivers are not immune to accidentally forgetting a small child in a vehicle. In areas with even mild temperatures, this can lead to deadly circumstances. At seventy degrees Fahrenheit, on a sunny day, the internal temperature in a vehicle can rise to well over one hundred degrees in under one hour. In areas with more extreme temperatures, around eighty hundred degrees, in direct sunlight, a vehicle&#39;s internal temperature can easily break one hundred and fifty degrees in less than one hour. 
     Many modern motor vehicles are equipped with an alarm system to prevent theft. A car alarm is an electronic device installed in a vehicle which emits a high-volume sound (usually a siren, klaxon, prerecorded voice message, the vehicle&#39;s own horn or some combination thereof) when the conditions necessary for an alarm are met, as well as flashing some of the vehicles lights. A means for alerting individuals as to an unattended child left in a vehicle is desired. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,170,401 to Cole relates to a system to detect the presence of an unattended child in a vehicle. The described system to detect the presence of an unattended child in a vehicle detects the presence of an unattended child in a vehicle and when the child is so detected, disables the vehicle&#39;s door locks by preventing doors from being locked or remaining locked and sounds an alarm. The presence of a child is detected by measuring pressure on the back seat and measurements above a threshold limit signify if a child is present. Furthermore, if any of the rear seat belts are buckled a child is detected. The system can be shut off by the driver, although the system has an override in the shutoff mode so that if the temperature rises above or falls below a certain level and the presence of a child is detected, an alarm is sounded. In this mode, the presence of a child can also be detected by a motion sensor. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known vehicle safety devices art, the present disclosure provides a novel infant anti-abandonment system and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an infant anti-abandonment system and method. 
     An infant anti-abandonment system is disclosed herein. The system and method for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle (infant anti-abandonment system) disclosed comprising: an electrical communication network installed OEM into the vehicle, a transmitter wirelessly linked to the electrical communication network, the electrical communication network including a plurality of weight detection sensors (or other suitable sensing means), links to the plurality of weight detection sensors, an alarm, and a timer. The system includes the electrical communication network, the transmitter, the alarm, and the timer in functional combination. 
     The transmitter is installed in communication with the plurality of weight detection sensors; the plurality of weight detection sensors able to detect a mass (weight of a child) present within the vehicle. The transmitter, when the vehicle is stationary, not in a running condition, and an operator is not present in a driver&#39;s seat, is configured to send a signal to the electrical communication network, then the signal is relayed to the alarm when the mass is detected within the vehicle and a pre-set time has expired on the timer. The system is structured and arranged to sound the alarm, as needed, to promote safety of child-occupants such that individuals are notified that a dangerous condition is present for the child-occupant(s) contained within the vehicle. 
     According to another embodiment, a method for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle is also disclosed herein, the method comprising the steps of: installing a car-seat in an equipped vehicle, detecting a mass via weight detection sensors as to occupancy of a car-seat; the weight detection sensors detecting the occupancy of remaining the seats in the vehicle and if no other occupancy is detected in the remaining the seats of the vehicle, a transmitter sends a signal to an on-board computer, initiating a timer via the on-board computer at a pre-set interval of six minutes (in preferred embodiments). If the pre-set interval of six minutes expires before the weight detection sensors detect the occupancy of another seat being used in the vehicle, an alarm is triggered. The method further comprising the step of the alarm activating a horn and lights on the vehicle (or other indication means—sending a text, call or other) until occupancy of another the seat is detected by the weight detection sensors. 
     For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, an infant anti-abandonment system and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the infant anti-abandonment system and method during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an interior perspective view of the infant anti-abandonment system and method of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the infant anti-abandonment system and method of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a cutaway perspective view of the infant anti-abandonment system and method of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for the system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a vehicle safety devices and more particularly to an infant anti-abandonment system and method as used to improve means for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle in a potentially dangerous situation. 
     Generally, the infant anti-abandonment system may be comprised of two main components, the first of which may be a permanently installed electrical communication network installed in new vehicles by the manufacturer at the time of manufacturing (OEM). The second of which may be a wireless transmitter installed into a child seat by the manufacturer at the time of manufacturing. When these two components are installed into a vehicle, they allow safe operation without concern of a child being left in an unattended vehicle. 
     The electrical communication network which may be installed in the vehicle may be linked to a number of components. These components may include a plurality of weight detection sensors installed in the seats of the vehicle, a timer and an alarm which may be the existing alarm system installed in the vehicle by the manufacturer. The weight detection sensors may be distributed throughout the seats of the vehicle to allow the electrical communication network to detect whether a seat is presently occupied or not. The timer component may be set at a pre-set interval of six minutes. The alarm component of the present invention may be a pre-existing alarm installed in the vehicle by the manufacturer. All of these components, when implemented in concert will allow for greater safety of child-occupants of vehicles by allowing sufficient means for alerting to the child-occupancy in a vehicle. 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , various views of a system and method for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100 .  FIG. 1  shows a system and method for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100  during an ‘in-use’ condition  150 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the system and method for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100  may be beneficial for use by a user  140  to alert as to the child-occupancy in a vehicle  30 . As illustrated, the system and method for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100  may include an electrical communication network  110  installed OEM into a vehicle  30  including, a plurality of weight detection sensors  130  installed in the seats of a vehicle  30  and a wireless transmitter  120  installed into a child seat at the time of manufacture coupled to the electrical communication network  110 . The system and method for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100  may further include a timer  170  and an alarm  160 . 
     According to one embodiment, the system and method for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100  may be arranged as a kit  105 . In particular, the system and method for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100  may further include a set of instructions  155 . The instructions  155  may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the system and method for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100  (such that the system and method for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100  can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner). 
     In a preferred embodiment, the system  100  comprises an electrical communication network installed OEM into the vehicle  100 , as previously mentioned. The electrical communications network  110  comprises an on-board computer  180 , which is capable of detecting occupancy in each seat in the vehicle  30  and includes a plurality of weight detection sensors  130 , an alarm  160 , and a timer  170 ; wherein the timer  170  is activated when all of the seats are vacant except the seat located under the child-occupant. The system includes the electrical communication network  110 , the transmitter  120 , the alarm  160 , and the timer  170  in functional combination; wherein the transmitter  120  is installed in communication with the plurality of weight detection sensors  130 , the plurality of weight detection sensors  130  are able to detect a mass present on the seat within the vehicle  30  and the plurality of weight detection sensors  130  are installed in the seats of the vehicle  30 . 
     The plurality of weight detection sensors  130  are capable of detecting the occupancy of the seats and the transmitter  120  is capable of communicating with the electrical communication network  110  preferably using short-wave length ultra high frequency radio waves in an ISM band from 2.4 to 2.485 GHz, such as those used in BLUETOOTH® devices. The transmitter  120 , when the vehicle  30  is stationary, not in a running condition, and an operator or passenger is not present in a seat, is configured to send a signal to the electrical communication network  110  which is then relayed to the alarm  160  when the mass is detected within the vehicle  30  located in a car-seat and a pre-set time has expired on the timer  170 . The timer  170  is set at a pre-set interval of six minutes in preferred embodiments. The timer  170  is set to run at the pre-set interval of six minutes upon the operator vacating the driver&#39;s seat; wherein the transmitter  120  receives the signal from the weight detection sensors  130 , the on-board computer  180  receives the signal from the transmitter  120 , the timer  170  receives the signal from the on-board computer  180 , and the alarm  160  receives the signal from the timer  170 , respectively. The alarm  160  is coupled with a horn  10  and lights  20  on the vehicle  30 , so that the alarm  160  activates the horn  10  and the lights  20  on the vehicle  30  when the timer  170  expires. The system is structured and arranged to sound the alarm  160 , as needed, to promote safety of child-occupants such that individuals are notified that a dangerous condition is present for the child-occupants present within the vehicle  30 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the system and method for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     A plurality of weight detection sensors  130  are installed in seats of the vehicle  30 . At least one weight detection sensor  130  is installed in a car-seat able to be placed in the vehicle  30 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , the plurality of weight detection sensors  130  being capable of detecting the occupancy of the seats. The plurality of weight detection sensors  130  are capable of detecting the occupancy of a car-seat. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the system and method for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring now again to the transmitter  120 ; the transmitter  120  is capable of communicating with the electrical communication network  110  using short-wave length ultra-high frequency radio waves in an ISM band from 2.4 to 2.485 GHz. The transmitter  120  receives the signal from the weight detection sensors  130 , the on-board computer  180  receives the signal from the transmitter  120 , the timer  170  receives the signal from the on-board computer  180 , and the alarm  160  receives the signal from the timer  170 , respectively. Each of the signals are broadcast using the short-wavelength ultra high frequency radio waves in the ISM band from 2.4 to 2.475 GHz in so-equipped embodiments. Other means may be used. 
       FIG. 4  is a cutaway perspective view of the system and method for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The timer  170  is preferably set at a pre-set interval of six minutes. The timer  170  is set to initiate at the pre-set interval of six minutes upon the operator vacating the driver&#39;s seat and is also activated when all of the seats are vacant except the seat located under the child-occupant. The alarm  160  is coupled with the horn  10  and lights  20  on the vehicle  30  and activates the horn  10  and lights  20  on the vehicle  30  when the timer  170  expires. The electrical communications network  110  comprises an on-board computer  180  which is capable of detecting the occupancy in each seat in the vehicle  30 . The timer  170  is also able to be set at a pre-set interval of less than six minutes or more if desired. 
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use  500  for system for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method  500  for the system for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100  may include one or more components or features of the system and method for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100  as described above. 
     As illustrated, the method of use  500  for system for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100  may include the steps of: step one  501 , installing a car-seat in an equipped vehicle  30 ; step two  502 , detecting a mass via weight detection sensors  130  as to occupancy of a car-seat; step three  503 , the weight detection sensors  130  detecting the occupancy of remaining seats in the vehicle  30  and if no the occupancy is detected in the remaining seats of the vehicle  30 , a transmitter  120  sends a signal to an on-board computer  180 ; step four  504 , initiating a timer  170  (automatically) via the on-board computer  180  at a pre-set interval of six minutes; step five  505 , if the pre-set interval of six minutes expires before the weight detection sensors  130  detect the occupancy of another seat in the vehicle  30 , an alarm  160  is triggered. The method  500  may further comprise the step  506  of the alarm  160  activating a horn  10  and lights  20  on the vehicle  30  until occupancy of another the seat is detected by the weight detection sensors  130 . 
     It should be noted that step  506  is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use  500  are illustrated using dotted lines in  FIG. 5  so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use  500 . It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for alerting as to child-occupancy in a vehicle  100  (e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.