U.S. patent application number 11/243132 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-05 for james alert car seat.
Invention is credited to Reginald T. James.
Application Number | 20070075574 11/243132 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37901199 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070075574 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
James; Reginald T. |
April 5, 2007 |
James alert car seat
Abstract
The James Alert Car Seat is an alarm system for a baby seat that
allows a user to activate a monitoring unit by simply fastening a
child into a car seat. A set of wireless alert units attached to a
set of keys or other convenient object will vibrate or beep if the
user moves further than a preset distance from the vehicle,
preventing a user from accidentally leaving a child in a car seat.
The James Alert Car Seat is comprised of a conventional infant car
seat equipped with a plastic base, padded fabric cover, nylon
safety straps with a metal buckle fastening system, a sensor switch
located on the metal buckle fastening system that activates and
deactivates the seat's monitor system, and a wireless alert unit
capable of receiving a signal from the seat's monitor system.
Inventors: |
James; Reginald T.;
(Atlanta, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Raymond M. Galasso;Galasso & Associates LP
P.O. Box 26503
Austin
TX
78755-0503
US
|
Family ID: |
37901199 |
Appl. No.: |
11/243132 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/217.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/28 20130101; B60N
2/002 20130101; B60R 21/01546 20141001; B60R 2022/4816 20130101;
B60R 21/01556 20141001; B60R 2022/4866 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/217.3 |
International
Class: |
A47C 31/00 20060101
A47C031/00 |
Claims
1. A car seat and alarm system comprising: (a) a seat; (b) a back
rest attached to the seat; (c) a first safety strap and a second
safety strap attached to the seat; (d) an end protrusion on the
first safety strap and a buckle on the second safety strap; (e) a
sensor switch located on the buckle; (f) a wire attached to a
monitor on one end and the first safety strap on the other end; and
(g) a wireless alert unit equipped with a battery and capable of
detecting a signal from the monitor.
2. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 further comprising a
set of arm rests.
3. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 wherein the first
safety strap and second safety strap are made of nylon.
4. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 wherein the first
safety strap protrudes from the seat and the second safety strap
protrudes from the back rest.
5. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 wherein the end
protrusion and the buckle are made of metal.
6. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 wherein the wireless
alert unit vibrates when activated.
7. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 wherein the wireless
alert unit makes an audible sound when activated.
8. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 wherein a battery is
located within the monitor.
9. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 wherein the wireless
alert unit is attached to a key ring.
10. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 wherein the monitor
emits a signal detectable by a global positioning system.
11. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 further comprising a
base attached to the bottom of the seat.
12. The car seat and alarm system of claim 11 wherein the base is
made of plastic.
13. The car seat and alarm system of claim 2 wherein the seat, the
set of arm rests, and the back rest are covered with a padded
fabric.
14. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 further comprising a
safety arm attached to the rear of the back rest and maneuverable
over the back rest.
15. The car seat and alarm system of claim 14 further comprising a
pad located on the safety arm.
16. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 further comprising a
head rest attached to the top of the back rest and covered with a
padded fabric.
17. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 wherein the monitor
has a power cord.
18. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 wherein the monitor is
mounted to the rear of the back rest.
19. A baby carriage and alarm system comprising: (a) a seat
attached to a frame with a plurality of legs; (b) said legs having
a plurality of wheels; (c) a first safety strap and a second safety
strap attached to the seat; (d) an end protrusion on the first
safety strap and a buckle on the second safety strap; (e) a sensor
switch located on the buckle; (f) a wire attached to a monitor on
one end and the first safety strap on the other end; (g) a battery
located within the monitor; and (h) a wireless alert unit equipped
with a battery and capable of detecting a signal from the
monitor.
20. A car seat and alarm system comprising: (a) a seat; (b) a back
rest; (c) a first safety strap and a second safety strap attached
to the seat; (d) an end protrusion on the first safety strap and a
buckle on the second safety strap; (e) a weight sensor pad located
under the seat; (f) a wire attached to a monitor on one end and the
weight sensor pad on the other end; (g) a battery located within
the monitor; and (h) a wireless alert unit equipped with a battery
and capable of detecting a signal from the monitor.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Non-Provisional Patent Application does not claim
priority to any United States Provisional Application or foreign
patent application.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The disclosures made herein relate generally to safety
devices for baby seats and the like. The invention discussed herein
is in the general classification of seat alarms.
BACKGROUND
[0003] One of a parent's worst fears is accidentally leaving a baby
inside a car after departing from the vehicle. Many child-related
fatalities from heat or cold have occurred because a parent or
caregiver accidentally left a child in a car seat. In addition,
accidentally leaving a child in a car seat can result in other
types of injury to a child and increase the likelihood of the
kidnapping of a child. To date, no child car seat has adequately
addressed the need to alert a parent or caregiver of the child's
presence in the car should he accidentally forget to take the child
with him when he departs the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] In general, the James Alert Car Seat allows a caregiver to
activate a monitoring unit by simply fastening a child into a car
seat. A set of wireless alert units attached to a set of keys or
other convenient object attached to the caregiver will vibrate or
beep if the caregiver moves further than a preset distance from the
vehicle without deactivating the monitor by unbuckling the child,
thereby preventing a user from accidentally leaving a child in a
car seat.
[0005] In one embodiment of the invention, the James Alert Car Seat
includes a conventional infant car seat equipped with a plastic
base, padded fabric cover, nylon safety straps with a metal buckle
fastening system, a sensor switch located on the metal buckle
fastening system that activates and deactivates the seat's monitor
system, and a wireless alert unit capable of receiving a signal
from the seat's monitor system.
[0006] Although the device described herein is often referred to in
conjunction with a car seat or baby seat, it should be understood
that such a device could be used for a variety of types of
seats.
[0007] The principal object of this invention is to provide a car
seat and alarm system that prevents a user from accidentally
leaving a child in his seat after the user departs from a
vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the preferred
embodiment of the James Alert Car Seat.
[0009] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the wireless alert
units for use with the James Alert Car Seat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The James Alert Car Seat of the present invention is
comprised of at least some of the following: a conventional infant
car seat equipped with a plastic base, padded fabric cover, nylon
safety straps with a metal buckle fastening system, a sensor switch
located on the buckle fastening system that activates and
deactivates the seat's monitor system, and a wireless alert unit
capable of receiving a signal from the seat's monitor system.
[0011] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG.
1, a seat 1 with arm rests 2 is connected to a back rest 3. The
back rest 3 has a head rest 4 on top. The seat 1, arm rests 2, back
rest 3, and head rest 4 are all covered with a padded fabric 5.
Safety straps 6 protrude from the back rest 3 and seat 1. The
safety straps 6 are made of nylon and the seat 1 has a plastic base
7. On one end of the safety straps 6 a metal end protrusion (not
pictured) fits into a corresponding metal buckle 8. A sensor switch
9 is located on the metal buckle 8. An insulated wire 10 connects
on one end to a monitor 11 mounted on the back rest 3 and on the
other end to the strap protruding from the seat 1 such that the end
of the wire 10 contacts or almost contacts the sensor switch 9
located on the metal buckle 8 when the end protrusion and metal
buckle 8 are connected.
[0012] The monitor 11 is equipped with a rechargeable battery (not
pictured). A safety arm 12 with a pad 13 is also attached to the
rear of the back rest and maneuverable over the child once he is
placed in the seat 1.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows the perspective view of the preferred
embodiment of the wireless alert units 20. The wireless alert units
20 are designed to detect a signal from the monitor when the
monitor is activated after the metal end protrusion and metal
buckle are connected. The wireless alert units 20 are attached to a
key ring 21 for convenient use and are also equipped with a
battery.
[0014] The James Alert Car Seat is designed to remind a user of a
baby's presence in a car seat should he accidentally forget the
baby when he departs from a vehicle. It allows the user to activate
a monitoring unit by simply fastening a child into a car seat. A
set of wireless alert units attached to a set of keys or other
convenient object will vibrate or beep if the user moves further
than a preset distance from the vehicle, preventing a user from
accidentally leaving a child in a car seat. The same type of
wireless monitoring system could also be used in a baby carriage to
prevent a parent or caregiver from wandering too far from a baby
carriage.
[0015] In addition, the monitor can be equipped with the same
technology used for locating stolen vehicles. The monitor could
emit a signal that can be located through the use of a global
positioning system. The monitor can also be powered through the use
of a cord that plugs into a cigarette lighter in a car.
[0016] The components of the James Alert Car Seat may vary but will
likely utilize plastics, fabric, metal, and electronic
components.
[0017] Ideally, the James Alert Car Seat is constructed of the best
quality materials commonly accepted and used in the manufacturing
industry today. The metals would ideally be selected from available
steel or alloys of steel and aluminum. The production process
related to the use of these metals insures that the metal is
non-corrosive, durable and strong. The selected metal should have
high impact strength and be capable of accepting and retaining
coloring materials for an extended length of time.
[0018] Plastic may be used in the production process of the James
Alert Car Seat. The plastic used in the production will ideally be
selected for durability and longevity. Thermoplastics are commonly
used in the manufacturing of components similar to those used in
this invention. Polyethylene, polypropylene, and other similar
thermoplastic materials would be among those with the necessary
traits. Members of this family are recognized universally as being
versatile and of high quality.
[0019] The plastic components of the James Alert Car Seat can also
be formed with the use of plastic molding techniques, such as
injection molding or blow molding. Injection molding requires
melted plastic to be forcefully injected into relatively cool
molds. As the plastic begins to harden, it takes on the shape of
the mold cavity. This technique is ideal for the mass production of
products. Alternatively, blow molding, a form of extrusion, could
be utilized. Blow molding involves a molten tube being pushed into
a mold. Compressed air then forces the molten tube against the cold
walls of the mold.
[0020] All electronic components of the invention will also be
ideally selected from those currently having the highest industry
ratings. These components will also meet and/or exceed all safety
and usage regulations. Wiring and associated connecting hardware
should be insulated and otherwise protected from intrusion by any
harmful or degrading elements, including water, medium level
temperatures, and low to medium impact force.
[0021] It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that
changes or modifications may be made to the above-described
embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of
the invention. It should therefore be understood that this
invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described
herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications
that are within the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth
in the claims.
[0022] For example, but not by way of limitation, a pressure sensor
could be utilized instead of the electronic sensor discussed
herein. In this embodiment, the sensor is activated by the weight
of a child placed in the car seat or stroller. If a user wanders
too far from the car seat or stroller while the pressure sensor is
still activated by the weight of the child, the parent or caregiver
will be alerted via an audible alarm or vibration from the wireless
alert.
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