DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a representative moving vehicle is shown at 10 as but one representative environment for the present invention. The moving vehicle 10 consists of a body 12 mounted upon a frame with wheels 14 . The vehicle 10 has a front compartment 16 within which an engine 18 is mounted. The body 12 defines a passenger compartment 20 within which front and rear passenger seats 22 , 24 , respectively, are located. An exit door 26 can be opened and closed to selectively allow entry into, and exit from, the passenger compartment 20 and to secure the same.

[0036] A child safety seat 28 is shown mounted to the rear seat 24 , as required by government regulations. The safety seat 28 consists of a bottom support 30 , which bears the majority of the weight of the infant occupant 32 , and an angled back portion 34 . The bottom support 30 and back portion 34 are configured to nest into a complementary seating surface 36 on the rear vehicle seat 24 . The precise configuration of the seat 28 is not key to the present invention. The safety seat 28 may be separately attached and secured to the rear seat 24 , as by a belt arrangement 38 , or fixedly incorporated into the rear seat 24 , as is common on some recent model vehicles, typically vans.

[0037] The invention is focused principally on a system for monitoring the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment 20 and which is capable of alerting an operator, or other person, of the existence of a state that could be detrimental to the occupant. More specifically, the system includes a number of component parts. One of the components is a sensing system 40 which is capable of detecting the presence of the occupant 32 in the passenger compartment 20 . While various structures are described hereinbelow for sensing the presence of the occupant 32 in the child safety seat 28 , the sensing system 40 could detect the presence of the child safety seat 28 on the rear seat 24 or the direct contact of an occupant 32 against the rear seat 24 .

[0038] As an alternative to the sensing system 40 , as will be described hereinbelow, which utilizes pressure or contact to detect the presence of the occupant 32 in the passenger compartment 20 , a sensing system 42 can be utilized using motion sensing technology.

[0039] The sensing systems 40 , 42 can be used to detect the presence of an occupant on the front seat 22 , rear seat 24 , or elsewhere in the passenger compartment 20 , as at another seating section, or elsewhere.

[0040] Another component of the inventive monitoring system is a detectable signal generator 44 , which gives to the user of the vehicle, an observer of the vehicle, or someone remote from the vehicle, a sensory indication of a state for the vehicle 10 that is potentially detrimental to the occupant in the passenger compartment 20 . This potentially detrimental state is detected by one or more sensors responding to one or a combination of conditions, as an incident of which an activating signal is generated by the sensor which causes the detectable signal generator to generate a detectable signal.

[0041] Certain of these vehicle states which are potentially threatening and dangerous to the occupant 32 will now be described. The alerting aspect of the inventive monitoring system for each such state will also be described. One dangerous state may occur when the vehicle operator exits the vehicle 10 and simply forgets that the child being transported is still in the passenger compartment 20 . The user departs from the vehicle by opening the exit door 26 and then closes and possibly locks the exit door 26 . The user then walks away from the vehicle, either intentionally or inadvertently leaving the child 32 in the passenger compartment 20 , so that the child may be dangerously unattended. In one form of the invention, an exit sensor 48 is provided. The exit sensor 48 may be changed from a first state into a second state by either the opening of the exit door 26 or by the combined movements of opening and closing the exit door 26 . As an incident of the exit sensor 48 changing from its first state into its second state, the exit sensor 48 generates an activating signal to the detectable signal generator 44 , thereby giving a sensory indication that this vehicle state has occurred. This system is shown in simplified, schematic form in FIG. 6 .

[0042] Another vehicle state that can be monitored using the inventive system results when the vehicle operator changes the operating engine 18 from its on state into its off state. As shown in FIG. 2 , an on/off sensor 50 senses the changing of the engine 18 from the on state to the off state and, in response thereto, changes itself from a first state into a second state. As an incident of the sensor 50 changing from its first state into its second state, an activating signal is directed to the detectable signal generator 44 . In the event that the sensing system 40 , 42 detects the presence of the infant 32 in the passenger compartment 20 , a detectable signal is generated by the detectable signal generator 44 . Accordingly, if an operator shuts the vehicle 10 off, he/she is given a sensory reminder that the infant 32 is in the passenger compartment 20 , preferably before exit from the vehicle is even attempted.

[0043] Alternatively, the system configuration shown in FIG. 2 could be modified to incorporate a timer 54 which delays the delivery of the activating signal to the detectable signal generator 44 for a predetermined time interval. This avoids the situation where the vehicle operator might otherwise be unnecessarily burdened by the signal from the detectable signal generator 44 when, in fact, the individual is aware of the presence of the infant 32 in the passenger compartment 20 , and may actually be in the process of removing the infant 32 therefrom. Alternatively, a timer 56 can be incorporated into the detectable signal generator 44 to build in this delay.

[0044] Another vehicle state is one in which the temperature in the passenger compartment 20 is either excessively high or low. One form of the invention contemplates using a temperature sensor 54 , as shown in FIG. 4 . In the event that the temperature sensor detects temperatures above or below the predetermined temperature, an activating signal is generated to the detectable signal generator 44 . Preferably, the detectable signal generator 44 will generate the signal only in the event that the sensing system 40 , 42 detects the presence of the infant 32 in the passenger compartment 20 .

[0045] Myriad variations of the basic system are contemplated. As just an example of additional variations is the one shown in FIG. 5 . In FIG. 5, a temperature sensor 54 and engine on/off sensor 50 are used simultaneously and their activating signals coordinated so as to cause the detectable signal generator 44 to produce the detectable signal only with the engine either on or off and temperature level above or below predetermined levels.

[0046] The invention contemplates a virtually limitless number of different signals that may be generated by the detectable signal generator 44 . FIG. 7 shows a number of representative signals that may be generated by the detectable signal generator 44 . In one form, a horn 54 ; conventionally operated through a button on the steering wheel 56 , can function as the detectable signal generator 44 to produce a continuous or intermittent noise.

[0047] Alternatively, the display 56 may be located on the vehicle dashboard 58 , or elsewhere, to provide either a visual message at 60 , or a voice message as through a speaker 62 , alerting the vehicle operator of the potentially dangerous vehicle state, be it the unattended state of the infant 32 and/or the presence of the infant 32 in the passenger compartment 20 in an excessively hot or cold environment.

[0048] As a further alternative, a dedicated light 64 may be illuminated by the detectable signal generator 44 . The light 64 may be a strobe light, a flashing light, etc.

[0049] As a further alternative, the detectable signal generator 44 may cause illumination, either continuously or intermittently, of one of the conventional operating lights 68 on the vehicle 10 . The operating lights 68 may be a headlight 70 , as shown in FIG. 1 , or brake lights, turn signals, running lights, etc.

[0050] As a still further alternative, some type of mechanical device, such as a flag, at 72 in FIG. 7 , may be repositioned from a first state, shown in dotted lines at 76 , to a second state, as shown in solid lines at 78 . The flag 72 may be within the vehicle compartment or at the exterior of the vehicle 10 . Myriad different mechanical devices capable of changing state could be used.

[0051] One version of the sensing system 40 , that is pressure responsive, is shown in FIG. 8 . In FIG. 8, a cushion 82 has a pressure sensor 84 incorporated therein. The cushion 82 may be part of the child safety seat 28 or placed directly upon the rear seat 24 or front seat 22 of the vehicle 10 . The sensor 84 can be electrically connected through a lead 86 , or otherwise, to generate a signal indicative of the presence of the infant 32 in the child safety seat 28 or on the rear seat 24 .

[0052] As an alternative design, a pressure sensitive switch 86 is provided with a depressible actuating button 88 . The sensor 86 may be incorporated into the rear seat 24 or the child safety seat 28 . In either event, by placement of a cushion 90 over the button 88 and application of pressure resulting from the weight of the infant 32 , the sensor 86 is placed in a state which is indicative of the presence of the infant 32 in the passenger compartment 20 . The sensor 86 has an electrical lead 90 which allows its integration into the systems as previously described herein. Of course, wireless communication between components is contemplated for all embodiments herein. Any number and type of sensors can be used to determine the presence of an infant in the passenger compartment. The above embodiments are merely exemplary in nature.

[0053] The inventive monitoring system can be integrally formed into the vehicle 10 at time of manufacture, or permanently retrofitted. Alternatively, the system can be portable, self-contained, and removable. As just one example, as shown in FIG. 1 , the child safety seat 28 can be provided with its own power source 92 together with a detectable signal generator 94 that may be transportable with the child safety seat 28 . The system may be alternatively powered by, for example, the battery 96 used for the vehicle engine 18 . A permanent or temporary connection can be made between the system and the battery 96 .

[0054] With the inventive system, sensory signals can be generated indicative of the fact that a potentially dangerous condition exists for an infant in the passenger compartment. The sensory signal can be a signal within the vehicle compartment or something that can be clearly seen from externally of the vehicle and/or from a remote location. For example, the detectable signal generator 44 could communicate with a remote receiver 100 to alert the vehicle operator or another individual of the dangerous state. By incorporating the inventive system, needless injuries to, and potentially death of, helpless victims may be avoided.

[0055] The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.