Child Seat Safety System

Abstract

A safety system for use with a car seat. The safety system protects a child from inadvertently being left alone in a locked car seat. The child seat safety system integrates a fob mechanism with a buckle of a restraint component capable of sending an alert to a mobile application when a parent or caregiver leaves the vicinity of the car seat while the buckle is armed. The armed buckle is released when the fob mechanism is inserted into a slot in the buckle. The fob mechanism is in wireless communication with the buckle to sense when the fob mechanism is moved away from the car seat. When a predetermined distance between the buckle and the fob mechanism is sensed, a wireless communication is sent to the mobile application to alert the user.

Claims

1. A child seat safety system comprising: a restraint component adapted for use with a car seat; a fob mechanism for arming and disarming the restraint component; and a mobile application for receiving an electronic communication from the fob mechanism and signaling a user.

2. The child safety system of claim 1, wherein the restraint component is a harness.

3. The child safety system of claim 1, wherein the restraint component comprises a pair of shoulder and leg straps, a crotch strap, and a buckle in electronic communication with the fob mechanism.

4. The child safety system of claim 3, wherein the fob mechanism comprises a buckle engaging element for arming and disarming the buckle.

5. The child safety system of claim 1, wherein the car seat is an infant carrier, a rear-facing car seat, a convertible seat, a combination car seat, or a booster seat.

6. The child safety system of claim 1, wherein the fob mechanism is in electronic communication with the buckle of the restraint component when the restraint component is armed.

7. The child safety system of claim 1, wherein the fob mechanism comprises a transmitter.

8. The child safety system of claim 1, wherein the fob mechanism is an RFID enabled key fob.

9. A child seat safety system comprising: a car seat comprising a restraint component, the restraint component comprising a buckle; a fob mechanism for arming and disarming the buckle of the restraint component; and a mobile application for receiving an electronic communication from the fob mechanism and signaling a user once the fob mechanism is separated from the buckle by a preset distance while the buckle is armed.

10. The child seat safety system of claim 9, wherein the buckle comprises a Bluetooth transmitter.

11. The child seat safety system of claim 9, wherein the fob mechanism comprises a fob mechanism receiver in electronic communication with the buckle when the buckle is armed.

12. The child seat safety system of claim 9, wherein the mobile application signals the user with an audible or digital alert.

13. The child seat safety system of claim 12, wherein the audible alert can only be silenced by disarming the buckle with the fob mechanism.

14. The child seat safety system of claim 9, wherein the restraint component further comprises a harness.

15. The child seat safety system of claim 14, wherein the buckle comprises buckle transmitter for in electronic communication with the fob mechanism when the restraint component is armed.

16. A child seat safety system comprising: a car seat comprising a restraint component comprising a buckle; a fob mechanism for arming the buckle of the restraint component; and a mobile application for receiving an electronic communication from the buckle and signaling a user once the fob mechanism is separated from the restraint component by a preset distance while the restraint component is armed.

17. The child seat safety system of claim 16, wherein the buckle comprises a buckle sensor for detecting when the buckle is armed.

18. The child seat safety system of claim 17, wherein buckle sensor is a mechanical switch.

19. The child seat safety system of claim 17, wherein the buckle sensor is an electronic switch.

20. The child seat safety system of claim 16, wherein the car seat further comprises a temperature sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention of a child safety seat system for protecting a child from inadvertently being left alone in a locked car seat in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the child seat safety system of the present invention where the car seat is an infant carrier in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the child seat safety system of the present invention where the car seat is a booster seat in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up perspective view of a restraint component in a locked and armed configuration and a fob mechanism of the child safety seat system of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates a close-up perspective view of a buckle of the restraint component in an unlocked and disarmed configuration and the fob mechanism of the child safety seat system of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of the buckle of the restraint component and the fob mechanism of the child safety seat system of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

[0022] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a mobile application of the child safety seat system of the present invention alerting a user that the restraint component is still locked and armed after moving a predetermined distance away from the child car seat in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

[0023] FIG. 8 illustrates a close-up view of the restraint component of the child safety system of the present invention in the locked and armed configuration in in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

[0024] FIG. 9 illustrates a close-up view of the restraint component of the child safety system of the present invention in the unlocked and disarmed configuration in in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They do not intend as an exhaustive description of the invention or do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

[0026] The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a system for providing parents and guardians from accidently leaving a child behind in a vehicle. The system is a wireless alert system comprising a small wireless attachment capable of communicating with a paired smart phone application, functioning as the notification device for the child. The invention includes a specialized unlocking mechanism on a key fob that can be used to release the seatbelt buckle of the car seat thereby reducing the chance of the child being inadvertently left behind in the vehicle. The invention ensures that the parent or guardian does not walk too far away from an unattended child in their car seat, allowing an alert to be continuously sent until reset.

[0027] The child safety seat system is a wireless communication tool. The system comprises a physical attachment (e.g. a USB key fob), integrated with Bluetooth® or radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology designed to communicate with a smart phone application. The application can emit an alert received from the physical attachment should the parent or guardian walk too far away from a vehicle with the car seat seatbelt still engaged. When a preset distance is breached, an alert is sent from the device to the application. The car seat may also be equipped with temperature sensors capable of determine the internal temperature of the vehicle. The car seat buckle can only be unlocked using the USB fob mechanism. If the notification is sent from the USB fob, it reminds the parent or guardian to attend to the child in the back seat and promptly remove them from the vehicle.

[0028] The “smart” car seat uses a restraint system comprising a shoulder and hip harness that attaches to a crotch strap with a “smart” buckle. A key fob is insertable into the buckle to arm and disarm the buckle. The key fob is configured with an arming and disarming key that can be bypassed via a mobile application. When the child is in the car seat, the restraint system is buckled, and the key fob is removed arming the system. Once armed, the system monitors both the child in the car seat and the ambient temperature in the car.

[0029] Once a destination is reached, the key fob is replaced in the buckle and the system is disarmed. If the child is inadvertently left in the car seat, an alert is sent to the mobile application once a pre-set distance is breached. The alert can be repeated at intervals, and an additional alert may be sent to emergency services if the buckle s not disarmed. The buckle is disarmed when the key fob is replaced in the buckle or the system is bypassed via the mobile application.

[0030] Referring initially to the drawings, FIGS. 1-9 illustrates a child seat safety system 100. The child seat safety system 100 protects a child from inadvertently being left alone in a locked car seat. The child seat safety system 100 comprises a car seat 102. The car seat 102 may be a child car seat 102 as illustrated in FIG. 1, an infant carrier car seat 102(a) as illustrated in FIG. 2, a child booster seat 102(b) as illustrated in FIG. 3, a rear facing car seat, a convertible seat, a combination car seat, or any other child safety seat adapted for use in a vehicle. The child car seat 102 is constructed to restrain and protect a child in a vehicle in the event of a motor vehicle accident.

[0031] The child car seat 102 comprises a restraint component 110 adapted for use with the car seat 102. The restraint component 110 is typically a harness, such as a five-point harness or system of belts, latches, and buckles designed to hold the child or infant safely in the car seat 102. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the restraint component 110 comprises a pair of shoulder and hip straps 112, a crotch strap 116, and a buckle 120. The buckle 120 is configured to secure the pair of shoulder and hip straps 112 to the crotch strap 114. The crotch strap 116 comprises a buckle attachment end 118 that is permanently attached to the buckle 120 via a crotch strap attachment element 126. The buckle 120 comprises a pair of female slots 122 for accepting a male buckle end 114 of each of the shoulder and hip straps 112. Each male buckle end 114 engages the corresponding female slot 122 to mechanically lock in place. Once each male buckle end 114 is engaged with the corresponding female slot 122, the restraint component 110 is in a locked position as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8.

[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the child seat safety system 100 further comprises a fob mechanism 138. The fob mechanism 138 is configured to arm and disarm the buckle 120 of the restraint component 110. The fob mechanism 138 may be a key fob, such as a Bluetooth enabled USB or RFID enabled fob. The fob mechanism 138 comprises a buckle engaging element 140 for arming and disarming the buckle 120. The buckle engaging element 140 engages a arming and disarming receiving slot 128 of the buckle 120 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 9. The buckle engaging element 140 may be a USB type connector that engages the arming and disarming receiving slot 128 mechanically or electronically to arming and disarming the buckle 120.

[0033] The buckle 120 further comprises a buckle sensor 130. The buckle sensor 130 is a mechanical or electrical switch that detects when the buckle 120 is armed and disarmed. The buckle 120 further comprises a buckle transmitter 132 in electrical communication with the buckle sensor 130. The car seat 102 may further comprise a temperature sensor 136 to indicate a temperature of the surrounding environment as illustrated in FIG. 1. The temperature sensor 136 may be contained in the buckle 120 and configured to send an alert and/or a loud audible beeping from the keyfob when the temperature is a predetermined too high/too low.

[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the fob mechanism 138 is in electrical communication with the buckle 120 of the restraint component 110 when the buckle 120 is armed. The fob mechanism 138 further comprises a fob mechanism transmitter 144 and a fob mechanism receiver 142. The fob mechanism receiver 142 is in electronic communication with the buckle transmitter 132. When the buckle sensor 130 detects that the buckle slot 128 is vacated, the buckle transmitter 132 transmits a signal to the fob mechanism receiver 142 indicating that the buckle 120 is armed. The fob mechanism transmitter 144 is typically a Bluetooth® transmitter. When the buckle sensor 130 detects that the buckle 120 is disarmed or the fob mechanism 128 is in the buckle slot 128, the buckle transmitter 132 stops transmitting the signal.

[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the child seat safety system 100 further comprises a mobile application 146 storable on a mobile electronic device 148. The mobile application 146 is configured to receive an electronic communication from the fob mechanism 138 when the buckle 120 is armed once paired. The fob mechanism transmitter 144 sends the electronic communication to the mobile application 146 once the fob mechanism 138 is separated from the restraint component 110 by a preset distance 150 whenever the buckle 120 of the restraint component 110 is armed. Once the electronic communication is received, the mobile application 146 signals the user with an audible or digital alert indicating that a child has been inadvertently left alone in the locked car seat 102. The mobile application 146 can be programmed to sound continuously and only be silenced once the fob mechanism 130 is back within the preset distance 150 or once the restraint component 110 is disarmed.

[0036] The mobile electronic device 148 is a user interface such as, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a tablet, an iPad, or the like. The mobile electronic device 110 uses a processor to execute instructions that are stored in a memory. The memory comprises a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of software instructions that stores the mobile application 146. The set of software instructions allows the mobile electronic device 148 to perform methods of the present technology when executed by the processor.

[0037] It is contemplated that the child seat safety system 100 constructed in accordance with the present invention will be tailored and adjusted by those of ordinary skill in the art to accommodate various levels of performance demand imparted during actual use. Accordingly, while this invention has been described by reference to certain specific embodiments and examples, it will be understood that this invention is capable of further modifications. This application is, therefore, intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention following the general principles thereof, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and fall within the limits of the appended claims.

[0038] Notwithstanding the forgoing, the child seat safety system 100 of the present invention and its various structural components can be of any suitable size, shape, and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the shape and size of the child seat safety system 100 and its various components and material, as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other shapes and sizes of the child seat safety system 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the child seat safety system 100 are important design parameters, the child seat safety system 100 and its components may be of any shape or size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits user need and/or preference.

[0039] What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.