This invention relates to providing an occupant reminder system to remind at least one occupant of a vehicle, prior to leaving such vehicle, that there is at least one other occupant in the vehicle (such as a child or pet). More particularly, this invention relates to providing a system relating to reminding a driver not to leave a child in the vehicle.
A primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide a system overcoming the above-mentioned problem(s).
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide such a system that assists reminding a driver, prior to leaving or exiting a vehicle, that there is a child in the vehicle.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide such a system that once set, simply and inexpensively physically blocks a vehicle door from latching, thereby acting as a reminder to the driver or other responsible adult of an occupant still within the vehicle.
A further primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide such a system that is efficient, inexpensive, and handy. Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent with reference to the following descriptions.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment hereof, this invention provides a reminder system, relating to assisting reminding at least one first occupant of at least one vehicle, having at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door, of at least one second occupant within the at least one vehicle, comprising: blocker means for blocking latching of the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door; user-positioner means for purposeful user-positioning of such blocker means to allow entry of the at least one first occupant into the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door and to allow a single closing and latching of the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door; and automatic-positioner means for automatic positioning of such blocker means, when the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door is opened to allow exit of the at least one first occupant, to prevent the first occupant entry latching door from latching closed; wherein such reminder system assists the at least one first occupant to be reminded of the at least one second occupant. Moreover, it provides such a reminder system wherein such blocker means comprises attacher means for attaching such blocker means adjacent at least one latching component of the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door. Additionally, it provides such a reminder system wherein such attacher means comprises magnet means for magnetically attaching such blocker means adjacent at least one latching component of the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door. Also, it provides such a reminder system wherein such automatic-positioner means comprises gravity-enabled-positioning means for gravity-enabled-positioning of such blocker means.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment hereof, this invention provides a reminder system, relating to assisting reminding at least one first occupant of at least one vehicle, having at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door, of at least one second occupant within the at least one vehicle, comprising: at least one blocker structured and arranged to block latching of the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door; at least one user-positioner structured and arranged to purposefully user-position such at least one blocker to allow entry of the at least one first occupant into the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door and to allow a single closing and latching of the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door; and at least one automatic-positioner structured and arranged to automatically position such at least one blocker, when the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door is opened to allow exit of the at least one first occupant, to prevent the first occupant entry latching door from latching closed; wherein such reminder system assists the at least one first occupant to be reminded of the at least one second occupant.
In addition, it provides such a reminder system wherein such at least one blocker comprises at least one attacher structured and arranged to attach such at least one blocker adjacent at least one latching component of the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door. And, it provides such a reminder system wherein such at least one attacher comprises at least one magnet structured and arranged to magnetically attaching such at least one blocker adjacent at least one latching component of the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door. Further, it provides such a reminder system wherein such at least one automatic-positioner comprises at least one gravity-enabled-positioner structured and arranged to gravity-enable-positioning of such at least one blocker. Even further, it provides such a reminder system wherein such at least one automatic-positioner comprises at least one living hinge structured and arranged to assist such at least one gravity-enabled-positioner.
Moreover, it provides such a reminder system wherein such at least one living hinge is integral to such at least one blocker. Additionally, it provides such a reminder system wherein such at least one blocker is essentially comprised of rubber material. Also, it provides such a reminder system wherein such at least one blocker is essentially comprised of neoprene rubber. In addition, it provides such a reminder system wherein such at least one attacher comprises at least one magnetic layer structured and arranged to attach to a ferrous material. And, it provides such a reminder system wherein: such at least one user-positioner comprises at least one handle structured and arranged to be grasped by at least the at least one first occupant; and such at least one handle assists moving such at least one blocker to such user-position. Further, it provides such a reminder system wherein such at least one blocker, such at least one user-positioner, such at least one automatic-positioner, and such at least one attacher comprise rubber.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment hereof, this invention provides a reminder system, relating to assisting reminding at least one first occupant of at least one vehicle, having at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door, of at least one second occupant within the at least one vehicle, comprising: at least one blocker structured and arranged to block latching of the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door; at least one user-positioner structured and arranged to purposefully user-position such at least one blocker to allow entry of the at least one first occupant into the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door and to allow a single closing and latching of the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door; and at least one automatic-positioner structured and arranged to automatically position such at least one blocker, when the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door is opened to allow exit of the at least one first occupant, to prevent the first occupant entry latching door from latching closed; wherein such at least one blocker comprises at least one attacher structured and arranged to attach such at least one blocker adjacent at least one latching component of the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door; wherein such at least one attacher comprises at least one magnet structured and arranged to magnetically attaching such at least one blocker adjacent at least one latching component of the at least one first occupant entry/exit latching door; wherein such at least one automatic-positioner comprises at least one gravity-enabled-positioner structured and arranged to gravity-enable-positioning of such at least one blocker; wherein such at least one automatic-positioner comprises at least one living hinge structured and arranged to assist such at least one gravity-enabled-positioner; wherein such at least one living hinge is integral to such at least one blocker; wherein such at least one blocker is essentially comprised of rubber material; wherein such at least one user-positioner comprises at least one handle structured and arranged to be grasped by at least the at least one first occupant; wherein such at least one handle assists moving such at least one blocker to such user-position; and wherein such reminder system assists the at least one first occupant to be reminded of the at least one second occupant.
Even further, it provides such a reminder system wherein such at least one attacher comprises at least one magnetic layer structured and arranged to attach to a ferrous material. Even further, it provides such a reminder system wherein such at least one blocker, such at least one user-positioner, such at least one automatic-positioner, and such at least one attacher comprise rubber. Even further, it provides such a reminder system further comprising at least one vehicle. Even further, it provides such a reminder system wherein such at least one vehicle comprises at least one child safety seat.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment hereof, this invention provides a method of reminding at least one first occupant exiting at least one vehicle, having at least one entry/exit latching door, of at least one second occupant within the at least one vehicle using at least one latch blocker in position between the “latch” and the “catch” of the at least one entry/exit latching door, the at least one latch blocker having at least two settable positions, at least one first position which permits closing of the at least one entry/exit latching door and at least one second position which blocks latching of the at least one entry/exit latching door, such method comprising the steps of: user-setting, upon entry into the at least one vehicle, the at least one latch blocker into the at least one first position allowing closing and latching of the at least one occupant entry/exit latching door; user assisting, upon opening of the at least one occupant entry/exit latching door, positioning of the at least one latch blocker into the at least one second position preventing latching of the at least one occupant entry/exit latching door; wherein the at least one first occupant may be reminded of the at least one second occupant before the at least one first occupant may latch the at least one occupant entry/exit latching door. Each and every novel feature, element, combination, step and/or method disclosed or suggested by this provisional patent application.
Preferably, the door-latch blocker 110 is installed on the drivers-side door, preferably along the vertical B-Pillar 130, preferably located above the striker pin 135, as shown. Upon reading this specification, those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, technological advances, etc., other placement arrangements such as, for example, placement on the C-pillar, D-pillar, other latch locations, etc., may suffice.
Conventional doors of most vehicles in use today have a hinged portion on the front-facing (towards the front of the vehicle) side of the door 125 that allows the door 125 to swing outwardly from the body of the vehicle 120. The door 125 preferably comprises a lock mechanism 140 (see
Preventing the clasping of the lock mechanism 140 onto the striker pin 135 will preferably prevent the door from latching closed. The door latching prevention preferably is the reminder to the responsible occupying party of the vehicle to check for other occupants (such as, for example, a sleeping child).
The door-latch blocker 110 preferably comprises a blocker tab 160, an attacher tab 165, a hinge portion 170 and a set tab 175, as shown. The door-latch blocker 110 is preferably positioned above and behind the striker pin 135 so that the blocker tab 160 will cover the striker pin 135, when the blocker tab 160 activates, as further described below and as shown. The attacher tab 165 preferably attaches to the door frame 115. For use on vehicles with a metal door frame (preferably comprising at least one ferrous material), the attacher tab 165 preferably comprises a magnetic strip 155, preferably about five inches to about seven inches in length (preferably, attacher tab 165 is entirely magnetic). For use on vehicle having a door frame that is other than metallic (i.e., non-ferrous materials), attacher tab 165 preferably comprises an adhesive to assist attaching to the door frame, preferably removable adhesive. Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of attachment as described herein, other methods of attachment of the attacher tab 165 to the door frame 115 will be understood by those knowledgeable in such art.
Blocker tab 160 preferably comprises a hard rubber, preferably about five inches to about seven inches in length (preferably about the same length as the attacher tab 165, as shown) and about one inch to about one and one-half inches wide, preferably 3/16 neoprene rubber, preferably having an ASTM D2240 type A (Shore A) hardness of between about 65 and about 90, preferably 85 (as commercially available from plastic providers such as Central Plastics Company of Shawnee, Okla. [http://www.centralplastics.com]).
Set tab 175 preferably comprises a flexible rubber, preferably about 1/16 inch in thickness, preferably flat. Upon reading this specification, those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other “set tab” material arrangements such as, for example, durable fabric, rubber, natural materials (for example, hemp), etc., may suffice.
Preferably, set tab 175 is about six inches in length or as needed to extend from the B-pillar 130 to the opening 180 of the door 125, as shown. Preferably, set tab 175 is about one inch wide. Upon reading this specification, those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other dimension arrangements such as, for example, longer or smaller dimensions, strings, etc., may suffice.
Preferably the door-latch blocker is best utilized by the driver of a vehicle. In a preferred method of use, the door-latch blocker 110, once installed as described above, is utilized in the following manner: First, the driver preferably opens the driver-side door and enters the vehicle. Prior to closing the vehicle door, the set tab 175 is preferably grasped by the driver and lifted so as to raise the blocker tab 160 (see
Blocker tab 160 preferably is about five inches to about seven inches in length “L”. The attacher tab 165 preferably is about five inches to about seven inches in length “L” (preferably about the same length as the attacher tab 165, as shown). Preferably, both blocker tab 160 and attacher tab 165 are about one inch to about one and one-half inches wide “W”, as shown.
Set tab 175 preferably comprises a flexible rubber, preferably about 1/16 inch in thickness, preferably flat. Set tab 175 preferably is about six inches in length “T”. Preferably, set tab 175 is about one inch wide “X”. Living hinge preferably is about one inch to about one and one-half inches in length “Z”, as shown.
Attacher tab 165 is preferably coupled to blocker tab 160, preferably at the living hinge 195, preferably using adhesive 190, preferably permanent adhesive. Further, set tab 175 is preferably coupled to blocker tab 160, preferably using adhesive 190, preferably permanent adhesive, preferably about the middle third of blocker tab 160, preferably about the half-way point of blocker tab 160, as shown. Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of attachment as described herein, methods of adhering the preferably rubber components will be understood by those knowledgeable in the art. Adhesive 190 is preferably applied at about the same width dimension “A” as the living hinge 195, preferably at least about one inch, as shown.
Blocker tab 160 preferably comprises at least one marker 210, preferably comprising a dashed line or other indicia to assist locating the preferred position of the door-latch blocker 110 on the vehicle door frame 115 so that the marker 210 is at about the level of the striker pin 135, as shown. In addition, blocker tab 160 preferably comprises at least one indicia 220, preferably comprising at least one symbolic representation relating to use of door-latch blocker 110, such as, for example, an image of a child in a car seat. Upon reading this specification, those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, available indicia, technological advances, etc., other indicia arrangements such as, for example, a pet, a photograph, a light bulb (i.e., reminder), etc., may suffice.
Although applicant has described applicant's preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be understood that the broadest scope of this invention includes modifications such as diverse shapes, sizes, and materials. Such scope is limited only by the below claims as read in connection with the above specification. Further, many other advantages of applicant's invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above descriptions and the below claims.
The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/224,744, filed Jul. 10, 2009, entitled “VEHICLE OCCUPANT REMINDER SYSTEMS”, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by this reference and are not admitted to be prior art with respect to the present invention by the mention in this cross-reference section.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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