Vehicle child onboard visual alert device

Abstract

A noncomplex, extremely inexpensive childcare alert device to prevent a vehicle operator from leaving a child in a vehicle unattended. The system includes an elongated visual display tag that includes a slot for suspending the tag from the shaft of a rearview mirror located in the front seat of the vehicle. The tag body includes indicia that can be bold black letters on a highly bright colorful tag surface that reminds the vehicle operator that the operator should remove an infant in a car seat when exiting the vehicle. The device also includes a vehicle operator wristband that also has printed text reminding the wearer of the infant, to remove a child from the vehicle. The tag can easily be stored in a glove compartment or on a sun visor when not in use.

Claims

1. A system having at least two different indicia displays to remind a vehicle operator that a child is onboard a vehicle comprising: a tag including a slot for a tag support for attaching the tag to the shaft of a rearview mirror located in a vehicle that includes a child in a child seat, said tag having a body made of a thin sheet material, an indicia display that includes a bright color uniform on said tag surface, and bold printed indicia on one side of said tag to remind a vehicle operator to remove a child from the vehicle; said tag including a plurality of slits for inserting a photograph on a portion of the surface of said tag; and a wristband made of a bright color that includes bold contrasting letters forming an indicia display clearly visible on said wristband to remind person wearing a wristband that there is a child onboard a vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view car alert tag used in a vehicle to remind the driver that there is a child on board.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a wristband used with the present invention to remind a vehicle operator that a child is on board the vehicle.

(3) FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1, a childcare alert tag 10 is shown that includes an elongated heavy-duty paper or cardboard body 12 that includes a circular slot 12a that can be attached to the rearview mirror support shaft found in an automobile or truck, typically over the dashboard. The tag body 12 includes indicia that reminds or alerts a vehicle operator that there is a child in the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1, the tag body could be of a highly visually bright and colorful background such as yellow that would offer contrast to black, bold text letters such as CHILD CARE ALERT REMOVE CHILD FROM CARSEAT WHEN YOU EXIT AUTOMOBILE.

(5) The tag 10 also includes a plurality of cutouts or slits 12b that may be arranged in a rectangle to receive and attach a photograph of a baby (photo not shown in FIG. 1) to cover the words PHOTO INSERT. Having a photograph of a child attached to the tag 12 will amplify the visual reminder that there is a child on board the vehicle.

(6) In addition, the lower portion of the tag may include the impression or image of a child seat shown at 12e that is positioned below the photo insert area. Again, this is used to reinforce the fact that there is a child seat and a child onboard to remind the vehicle operator not to abandon the child when leaving the vehicle.

(7) Referring now to FIG. 2, an additional memory aid for a vehicle driver may be utilized with the device in the form of a lightweight plastic wristband that would include large contrasting letters with indicia such as REMOVE CHILD FROM AUTO. Another phrase or sentence could be used on the wristband such as WHERE IS YOUR CHILD?

(8) FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment of the invention tag 100 has a paper or cardboard body 120 that includes a shaped bottom edge displaying the bottom of a car seat 120a illustrated on tag 120 along with a baby photo 120b. Tag body cutout 120c can be used to hang the tag 100 from a vehicle mirror shaft.

(9) To utilize the device, the vehicle operator that is transporting a child car seat, normally in the back seat of the vehicle, would place the child alert tag 10 on the shaft supporting the rearview mirror so that the tag is extremely visible from the perspective of the vehicle operator below the rearview mirror which would not be such a distraction that could cause a traffic accident. Upon reaching the destination, vehicle operator could easily remove the child car alert tag 10 while exiting the vehicle and retrieving child in the back seat. In addition to the child care tag demonstratively displayed from the rearview mirror of the vehicle, the vehicle operator will have a wristband as a reinforcement that there is a child onboard in the vehicle.

(10) When the device is not in use such as when there is no child onboard the vehicle, the childcare alert tag 10 can be easily stored in a glove compartment or on top of the sunshades in the vehicle.