Vehicular Safety Device

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A child presence and alert system integrated into a child car seat, comprising: a child occupancy sensor located within a molded compartment within the seat body just below the padding where the child would sit; a stand-alone, rechargeable battery powered control device, incorporating a microcontroller and updatable firmware; an optical sensor, which is also in communication with the control device, for determining whether a driver's door is open or closed; and a status LED protruding through a plastic molding of the seat and providing a visual indication of system functions, wherein the system functions comprise at least battery levels, driver-door-position status, communication-status of a driver's mobile device, and seat-occupied seat-not-occupied status, thereby enabling a visual check that the system is properly functioning. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: the occupancy sensor being in communication with the control device via wireless communication. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: the control device being located not within the body of the child seat but instead being located elsewhere within the vehicle; wherein the control device continuously polls the integrated child seat sensor for occupant presence and manage the control functions associated with all sensor inputs, including the optical sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: the control device being responsible for all alert notifications, including the alert signals sent to the mobile device.