A retainer apparatus including a first retainer portion, a second retainer portion, a transceiver, and a sensor comprising a motion detector. The retainer apparatus includes the first retainer portion configured to be slidably attached to a first harness strap and a second retainer portion configured to be slidably attached to a second harness strap. The first retainer portion is removably attached to the second retainer portion. The motion detector is configured to detect movement of the retainer apparatus and transmit a warning signal, via the transceiver, to a controller within a vehicle comprising the retainer apparatus to alert a user in the vehicle if the movement is detected.

A pressure-sensitive pad is installed either between a child car seat and the vehicle seat OR between the child and the child car seat that communicates with an alerting system. This pad includes a pressure sensor, a battery, a stored program computing system having a processor executing instructions from a, and communications system compatible with the alerting system. The alerting system is a wireless system that both measures a proximity of the responsible party to the pressure pad and issues an indication (e.g., one or more of an audio, visual, haptic, vibratory, and the like signal(s)) that a proximity (e.g., local geo-fence around the pad) distance has been exceeded AND that the child remains in the child seat. The alerting system may be installed in an alert system that is part of a portable electronic device (e.g., smartphone) or a special module (e.g., key fob).

A car seat occupant detection system for a car seat installed in a vehicle is provided. The system includes at least one harness sensor for detecting whether connectors of a car seat harness are connected and a weight sensor for detecting the weight of an occupant in the car seat. The system includes a controller in communication with the at least one harness sensor and the weight sensor. The system includes a transceiver configured to selectively communicate with a driver device via a local wireless link and with a third party device via a wide area wireless link. The controller determines whether or not an occupant in the car seat has been abandoned by a driver based on detections of the at least one harness sensor, the weight sensor, and communication range status between the transceiver and the driver communication device via the local wireless link.

A method for detecting the presence of an unattended child left in a vehicle includes receiving acoustic data obtained from inside a vehicle, determining if the vehicle is running or not in response to the acoustic data, determining if all windows in the vehicle are closed when the vehicle is not running, determining if sound volume inside the vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold when all of the windows are closed, determining if a predetermined high-frequency word is spoken inside the vehicle when all of the windows are closed, and outputting an alert indicating that an unattended child is left in the vehicle when the sound volume inside the vehicle exceeds the predetermined threshold and when the predetermined high-frequency word is spoken inside the vehicle.

A retainer apparatus including a first retainer portion, a second retainer portion, a transceiver, and a sensor comprising a motion detector. The retainer apparatus includes the first retainer portion configured to be slidably attached to a first harness strap and a second retainer portion configured to be slidably attached to a second harness strap. The first retainer portion is removably attached to the second retainer portion. The motion detector is configured to detect movement of the retainer apparatus and transmit a warning signal, via the transceiver, to a controller within a vehicle comprising the retainer apparatus to alert a user in the vehicle if the movement is detected.

According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure a car seat release mechanism is provided. The car seat release mechanism comprises a shell; a first base connection mechanism coupled to the shell and configured to secure the shell to a car seat base, the first base connection mechanism having an open position and a closed position; a first stroller connection mechanism coupled to the shell and configured to secure the shell to a stroller, the first stroller connection mechanism having an open position and a closed position, the first stroller connection mechanism including a hook, a latch configured to receive a hook, a stroller securing portion, and a spring configured to bias the stroller securing portion in the closed position; and a handle coupled to an underside of the shell and configured to operate both the first base connection mechanism and the first stroller connection mechanism.

Systems for soothing and prolonging sleep maintain an experience of riding in a vehicle in a car seat, even as a pattern of driving changes, when vehicle motion ceases or when the car seat is removed from the vehicle. Sensors detect one or more of motion, light and sound in an environment of the car seat. As motion, light and/or associated with the ride decrease, change or stop, a controller automatically controls actuators to apply compensatory motion, light and/or sound in the environment of the car seat, in order to provide continuity of the riding experience and decrease likelihood of an infant awakening or fussing. This allows the driver of the vehicle to concentrate on driving safely, rather than breaking concentration on the road in order to soothe the infant.

Provided is a child restraint system (CRS) with automated installation that provides automated feedback and control of seat installation angle, belt latching and tightening, and confirmation of correct install. The CRS utilizes sensors to monitor CRS base angle relative to level, confirm correct latching of the CRS to its base and then to the vehicle seat, and confirm tightening of the belts to the required tension to be crashworthy. The stepwise operation and confirmation of the installation procedure may be operated via button(s) or other tactical input, and relayed to the user via electronic visual display and/or audible means. All operations will be overseen and processed by an integrated control system, affording minimal user decision or interface. An intelligent latching device which can be adapted for use with an existing CRS is also provided.

A device which detects a child presence in a car seat and communicates an audible and mobile-device reminder to the driver that a child occupant is in the seat is disclosed. The system utilizes internal sensors to monitor various vehicle occupancy conditions to determine when a triggering event has occurred while the car seat occupancy sensor is engaged. Once triggered, the system will immediately notify the driver that the child remains in the car seat inside the vehicle, and will also sent follow-up alerts.

An alert assembly includes a base unit that may be coupled to a seatbelt in a vehicle such that the base unit is positioned against a child seated in the vehicle. Thus, the base unit detects sounds made by the child. A remote unit is provided that may be carried and the remote unit is in communication with the base unit. The remote unit emits the sounds made by the child such that a user is reminded that the child is in the vehicle.