Patent ID: 12240357

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, which are also referred to herein as “examples,” are described in enough detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. The embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, or structural, and logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Before the present invention of this disclosure is described in such detail, however, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular variations set forth and may, of course, vary. Various changes may be made to the invention described and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, material, composition of matter, process, process act(s) or step(s), to the objective(s), spirit, or scope of the present invention. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure made herein.

Unless otherwise indicated, the words and phrases presented in this document have their ordinary meanings to one of skill in the art. Such ordinary meanings can be obtained by reference to their use in the art and by reference to general and scientific dictionaries.

References in the specification to “one embodiment” indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

The following explanations of certain terms are meant to be illustrative rather than exhaustive. These terms have their ordinary meanings given by usage in the art and in addition include the following explanations.

As used herein, the term “and/or” refers to any one of the items, any combination of the items, or all of the items with which this term is associated.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

As used herein, the terms “include,” “for example,” “such as,” and the like are used illustratively and are not intended to limit the present invention.

As used herein, the terms “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances.

Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the invention.

As used herein, the terms “front,” “back,” “rear,” “upper,” “lower,” “right,” and “left” in this description are merely used to identify the various elements as they are oriented in the FIGS, with “front,” “back,” and “rear” being relative to the apparatus. These terms are not meant to limit the elements that they describe, as the various elements may be oriented differently in various applications.

As used herein, the term “coupled” means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members, or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature. Similarly, coupled can refer to a two member or elements being in communicatively coupled, wherein the two elements may be electronically, through various means, such as a metallic wire, wireless network, optical fiber, or other medium and methods.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element without departing from the teachings of the disclosure.

Following are more detailed descriptions of various concepts related to, and embodiments of, methods and apparatus according to the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that various aspects of the subject matter introduced above and discussed in greater detail below may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as the subject matter is not limited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specific implementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrative purposes.

The device and system of the present disclosure can most generally be described as a cushioned apparatus configured with a pressure sensor to detect occupancy within a vehicle through a coupling with a dongle and associated application on a personal electronic device.

Referring now to the figures,FIG.1toFIG.4show various views of the system and structures of the occupancy alerting device of the present disclosure and generally referred to herein as device10. The device10can generally encompass several structures and systems to accomplish the notification and alarm features, wherein the device10at a minimum includes a cushion portion100, a dongle portion200, and an application portion300in a communicative coupling with each other and wherein each of these portions100,200,300are able to utilize positional or proximity sensors to determine their respective position(s) relative to each other.

The cushion portion100can most generally be described as a planar surface with features enabled to detect a pressure in the form of a weight received on the cushion portion100and generally configured to generate a detected pressure signal upon receipt of a weight. The cushion portion100having a padded region101generally configured to provide cushioning to a user of the device10and having an alternate use of protecting the communicative and sensing apparatus of the cushion portion100. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the padded region101is comprised of a memory foam material having a plurality of apertures to allow for airflow and ensure comfort during use.

The cushion portion100having an interior space including a plurality of pressure sensors103configured in an array to detect a pressure in the form of a weight on a surface of the cushion100to generate a detected pressure signal. In the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the cushion portion100includes an array of six separate pressure sensors103generally positioned near a central position of the cushion portion100and selected and positioned to detect a weight of an object, such as an infant or pet, placed upon the cushion portion100during use of the device10and to generate the appropriate pressure signal.

The pressure sensors103of the cushion portion100are coupled to at least a power source104, a controller105, a receiver106, and transmitter107received within the interior space, wherein the controller105is configured to direct the function and transmission of the pressure sensors103. Accordingly, the controller105is configured in a communicative coupling with the dongle200and the application300portion, wherein the cushion portion100detected pressure signal is utilized for operation of all of the alert/alarm features of the cohesive device10.

The dongle200of the device10is generally configured as an easily accessible structure that is provided in companion with the cushion portion100. Accordingly, it is most likely that the dongle200will be placed onto or carried with a vehicle key the device10is used within. The dongle200having at least one receiver201and a speaker/noise generation device202placed within an interior space and specifically configured to receive the detected pressure signal from the transmitter107of the cushion portion100. The dongle200may include a mechanical vibration motor203, with the motor generally configured to generate a buzz or vibration of the dongle200. This vibration motor203may be of the electronic rotating mass type, the linear resonant action type, or other known mechanism capable of generating a vibration and having a size for placement within the dongle200.

The dongle200and cushion100communicative coupling between the transmitter107and at least one receiver201configured to detect and sense a relative distance between each other, wherein the relative proximity between the dongle200and the cushion100is determined. The relative proximity between the dongle200and the cushion100enables the activation of an alarm, in the form of an audible alert tone202and/or vibration203when the dongle200is a preselected and predetermined distance from the cushion100while a pressure signal is continuously detected by the pressure sensors103.

In addition, or alternate, to the dongle200, the device10application300may also be utilized for proximity detection relative to the cushion100or the dongle200. Accordingly, the application300is generally configured for use on a personal electronic device, such as, but not limited to, a cellular phone or smartphone, wherein the various electronic and hardware components of the personal electronic device are utilized by the application300communicative coupling to the cushion100and dongle200or just the cushion100or dongle200for the detection of the proximal distance between them. This further enables a user of the device10the ability to utilize software integrated with the application300for customizing a variety of settings, notifications, alerts, and features of the overall system of the device10.

The application300including the ability to add multiple users to an account associated with a given cushion portion100, wherein proximity or other warning or alert notifications can be provided to these multiple users to ensure quick and redundant notification and action in the event of an emergency. Still further, this application300may allow for the direct contact of emergency services or emergency contacts within the device or through the hardware of the device the application300is provided on.

Additionally, the application300may include additional communicative features between the cushion portion100and a vehicle the device10is used within. These communicative features may enable a communicative coupling between the device10and the vehicle, wherein an alarm or alert condition may trigger immediate and effective response to a given condition, such as triggering the remote starting of a vehicle to utilize the climate system of the vehicle to provide a safe environment until a direct response can be provided, such as, but not limited to, operation of the vehicle air conditioning, heater, or windows. Still further, these communicative features of the application300may utilize additional vehicle systems such as vehicle internal or external cameras. Alternately, the communicative features between the cushion portion100, the dongle200, and application300can generally be described as portable, wherein the device10can alternately operate independently of the vehicle and be considered a portable safety solution.

The alarm feature of the device10may generally alert a user when the distance between communicating portions100,200,300becomes too great while a detected pressure signal is sensed by the cushion portion100to generally indicate that an object (child, pet, person, temperature sensitive item) remains on the cushion100and may be in a vulnerable state or unattended. The alarm is preferably an audible noise that generates attention and is configured to crescendo in volume to increase this awareness as the proximal distance between the cushion100and the dongle200increases. Additionally, and alternately, the alarm may additionally trigger a vibration or notification on a personal electronic device the application300is used on.

In a preferred embodiment of the device10, the communicative coupling of cushion portion100, dongle200and application300is via the Bluetooth wireless communication protocol, wherein this protocol allows for the use of a proven and universal protocol for proximity detection amongst the portions100,200,300.

While the invention has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Upon reading the teachings of this disclosure many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the invention should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.