A child safety device

Abstract

A child safety device 199 for a vehicle comprises a pressure sensor 99 adapted for a vehicle seat, and a display unit 100. The pressure sensor and display unit are wirelessly connected to each other a

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to child safety device; in particular a child safety device for a vehicle; more particularly but not exclusively a child safety device for aiding emergency responders in identifying when there is a vehicle left. Background Many societies across the world increasingly have greater traffic and as a corollary numerous incidents occur where emergency responders are unaware of an infant or child inside a vehicle during critical situations, such as accidents or fires. An inability to quickly identify the presence of a child can lead to delays in rescue efforts, potentially endangering the child’s life. Existing systems, such as static window stickers, lack reliability as they may not accurately reflect the current presence of a child in the vehicle. Additionally or alternatively the vehicle may become damaged and traditional signs or stickers may become obscured or dislodged. Prior Art US 2021 0 276 485 (MITCHELL) discloses a backseat child occupancy safety alert system, includes a plurality of sensors that cover the seat belt buckles of a vehicle to detect the motion of the seat belt buckle within the seat belt housing. US 2022 0 063 446 (LEWIS) discloses an unattended occupant alarm assembly for alerting a driver that a child is seated in a vehicle to inhibit the driver from leaving the child unattended, said assembly comprising: a triggering unit being positioned on a car seat wherein said triggering unit is configured to be engaged by an occupant when the occupant sits in the car seat; and a display unit being positioned within the vehicle wherein said display unit is configured to be visible to the driver, said display unit displaying alert indicia comprising the words “baby safe” when said display unit is turned on, said display unit being in wired communication with said trigger unit and the vehicle power source. US 2014 0 104 053 (CLARK) discloses a vehicle having a plurality of seats and a safety restraint for each of the plurality of seats, an electrical system for externally indicating the occupancy status and the status of the safety restraints comprising: a first sensor mounted to each of the plurality of seats for detecting when a person is seated in the seat; a second sensor mounted to the safety restraint of each of the plurality of seats for detecting when the restraint is activated; a module connected to the first sensor and the second sensor of each of the plurality of seats for determining the occupancy of each of the plurality of seats and the status of the safety restraints of each of the plurality of seats; and a display panel connected to the control module and mounted to the vehicle for displaying the occupancy of each of the plurality of seats and the status of the safety restraints of each of the plurality of seats. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a child safety device for a vehicle comprising a pressure sensor adapted for a vehicle seat and a display unit, wherein the pressure sensor and display unit are connected by a wireless connectivity means and comprise battery power sources, and wherein the display unit comprises a light source and an attachment means for attachment of the display unit to the vehicle in a position where it is visible from the exterior of the vehicle. In this way the device of the present invention may provide a means of alerting emergency responders to presence of a child in the vehicle, even when the vehicle has been in an incident, for example being damaged or submerged. In some embodiments of the device the attachment means comprises one or more strap, so as to provide a flexible and secure means of attachment, for example to a headrest. In some embodiments of the device the attachment means comprises hook and loop material such as Velcro (RTM). In some embodiments of the device the connectivity means comprises local infrared, shortwave radio, or intermachine operability for example a Bluetooth (RTM) connectivity means such that the device may be mated and left. Additionally or alternatively the signal from the wireless connectivity may be visible to responders for example, the device may comprise a cellular network connection. It may be envisaged that the pressure sensor and display unit comprise separate modules. In some embodiments of the device the pressure sensor comprises a sensor pad and an electronics unit, so as to enable the electronics unit to be well protected in a robust independent housing that is not liable to damage from the infant. In some embodiments of the device the sensor pad and electronics unit are connected by a wire, such that the electronics unit may be located elsewhere. In some embodiments of the device the pressure sensor comprises a seat securement means, which may comprise one or more strap, and / or hook and loop material such as Velcro (RTM) allowing flexible, secure and adjustable securement. In some embodiments of the device the display unit comprises light emitting diodes, and may have illuminated lettering, wherein the light emitting diodes illuminate through the lettering. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises displaceable batteries. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises rechargeable batteries. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle incorporating a device substantially as described herein with reference to the figures. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which: Brief Description of Figures Figure 1 shows an isometric view of constituent parts of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the display unit from the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the pressure sensor from the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the display unit from the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the display unit from the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the pressure sensor from the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; and Figure 7 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the pressure sensor from the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1. Detailed Description of Figures With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of a child safety device 199 for a vehicle generally comprising a pressure sensor 99 adapted for a vehicle seat and a display unit 100, wherein the pressure sensor and display unit are connected by a wireless connectivity means, and wherein the display unit comprises a light source 21 and an attachment means 1 for attachment of the display unit to the vehicle in a position where it is visible from the exterior of the vehicle. In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises two separate modules, namely a pressure sensor module 99 and a display unit module 100. The display unit comprises an attachment means that allows it to be attached to the vehicle seat, or more particularly the vehicle seat headrest. In this way the attachment means comprises two straps, which straps are passed around the headrest. The straps in the pictured embodiment are inelastic, for example being cotton or polyamide webbing such as Nylon (RTM) and have hook and loop portions such as Velcro (RTM) to allow for an adjustable attachment to suit a plurality of vehicle and headrest styles or formats. In other embodiments it may be envisaged that the straps are elastomeric so as to allow for adjustment and attachment to a plurality of vehicle and headrest styles or formats. Further embodiments may include other attachment means, such as ferromagnetic or clip means or headrest or seat covers. In the pictured embodiment the display unit further comprises a housing comprising a front face 3 provided by a plastic panel, with diecut lettering 4 spelling CHILD. Behind this lettering is a tray 8 comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 21 in two strips along the sidewalls of the tray and a tray bottom extending below the lettering, so as to direct and diffuse the light from the LEDs and illuminate the lettering. A lid of translucent or frosted plastic material is located over the open top face of the tray. The tray comprises a moulding in a rear housing 2, which includes a battery holder 7 for three batteries 6 and a printed circuit board (PCB) which includes a wireless connectivity transceiver. The unit comprises a side-mounted local activation button 5 and a battery status LED 9. The rear housing is rigid opaque plastic such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The rear housing comprises a plurality of batteries 6, which may be replaceable and / or rechargeable. The pressure sensor 99 comprises two separate modules, namely a pressure sensor pad 12 and an electronics unit 10. The two modules are wired together, and it may be envisaged that the electronics unit may be located in use on the side of the infant seat, whilst the sensor pad is located on the seat itself, such that the infant is seated on the sensor pad. The unit comprises a plurality of batteries 23, which may be replaceable and / or rechargeable, such that continuous usage may be enabled. It may be envisaged for example that the device is provided with a plurality of replaceable batteries and a battery charger, or the device may comprise a second replacement unit for example having a charging socket such that the batteries may be charged in situ. The sensor pad comprises a notch 16 at a front edge for passage of a vehicle seat’s three-point harness. An upper face 13 comprises a curvature to accept the infant’s bottom, wherein pressure on the upper face pushes a lower face 14 against a plurality of pressure sensors on a sensor layer. It may be envisaged that as shown in Figure 8 a plurality of sensors 42 is spread about the layer allows in a connected grid 41 for proper recognition of an infant, liable to movement, and / or limits false positives. The sensor pad is comprised of a resiliently compressible material such that the pad is compressed by the weight of the occupant. The weight sensors maybe an electronic weight sensor or the like that has a triggering threshold of approximately 2.5 kg and a trigger conductor is electrically coupled to the weight sensors. The unit is comprised of the following parts: Activation button 17 LED battery and status indicator lamp 18 Rear casing 25 Battery cover 52 Displaceable batteries 23 Battery holder 24 PCB including transceiver 22 Front casing 19 The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A child safety device for a vehicle comprising a pressure sensor adapted for a vehicle seat and a display unit, wherein the pressure sensor and display unit are connected by a wireless connectivity means and comprise battery power sources, and wherein the display unit comprises a light source and an attachment means for attachment of the display unit to the vehicle in a position where it is visible from the exterior of the vehicle.

2. A child safety device for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises one or more strap.

3. A child safety device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the attachment means comprises hook and loop material such as Velcro (RTM).

4. A child safety device for a vehicle according to claim wherein the connectivity means is wireless.

5. A child safety device for a vehicle according to claim 4 comprising a Bluetooth (RTM) connectivity m eans.

6. A child safety device for a vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the pressure sensor and display unit comprise separate modules.

7. A child safety device for a vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the pressure sensor comprises a sensor pad and an electronics unit.

8. A child safety device for a vehicle according to claim 7 wherein the sensor pad and electronics unit are connected by a wire.

9. A child safety device for a vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the pressure sensor and display unit are waterproof.

10. A child safety device for a vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the pressure sensor comprises a seat securement means.

11. A child safety device for a vehicle according to claim 9 wherein the seat securement means comprises one or more strap.

12. A child safety device for a vehicle according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the seat securement means comprises hook and loop material such as Velcro (RTM).

13. A child safety device for a vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein 5 the display unit comprises light emitting diodes.

14. A child safety device for a vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the display unit comprises illuminated lettering.10 15. A child safety device for a vehicle according to any preceding claim comprisingdisplaceable batteries.

16. A child safety device for a vehicle according to any preceding claim comprising rechargeable batteries.1517. A vehicle incorporating a device according to any of the preceding claims.