Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators – Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-14
2001-10-09
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...
C340S457100, C340S459000, C340S438000, C180S271000, C180S286000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06300869
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a vehicle alarm system and, more particularly, to a vehicle alarm system and method for sounding an alarm only when a vehicle door is open and a seat belt is inactive.
2. Related Art
Almost all motor vehicles produced today have warning systems for certain vehicle conditions. For instance, U.K. Pat. No. 1,454,978 discloses a system that may warn a user when a vehicle door has been opened and the keys are still in the ignition or the lights are on.
One particular situation that is not addressed by the prior art is the combined evaluation of door position and seat belt position. An example of where this type operation is necessary is the motorized delivery vehicle field. In this field, it is convenient for a driver or occupant of a vehicle to leave their seat belt inactive and/or a door of the vehicle open so they may enter and exit the vehicle frequently. However, when both a door is open and a seat belt is inactive, an unsafe condition exists. For instance, it is possible for a driver to exit a running vehicle, which can potentially cause injury to the driver. Injury may also result to anyone, or anything, in proximity of the vehicle if the vehicle moves.
To prevent this occurrence, United States Postal Service regulations mandate that running delivery vehicles either have the driver door closed or the driver seat belt activated. Unfortunately, there is no alarm system that sounds only when both a door is open and a seat belt is disconnected.
Another shortcoming of prior art devices is that many turn off after a certain amount of time, i.e., they time out. As a result, a user becomes accustom to ignoring warning systems and potentially may operate a vehicle in an unsafe manner. Furthermore, a pedestrian may unknowingly enter an area where a vehicle is driverless and the alarm has timed out.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for an alarm system and method for a motor vehicle that sounds when both a seat belt is inactive and a door is open.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a vehicle alarm system for a vehicle having a door and a seat belt, the vehicle alarm system comprising: a door position sensor; a seat belt position sensor; an alarm, operable when the vehicle is running, that sounds only when the door position sensor determines the door is open and the seat belt position sensor determines the seat belt is disconnected. The invention provides an alarm system that prevents unsafe operation of a delivery vehicle. The system may advantageously continue sounding until the unsafe condition is remedied.
In a second aspect of the invention is provided an alarm system for a motor vehicle having a door and a seat belt, the system comprising: first means for sensing when a door of the motor vehicle is open or closed; second means for sensing when a seat belt of the motor vehicle is active or inactive; and means for sounding an alarm, coupled to the first means and the second means, only when both the door is open and the seat belt is inactive.
A third aspect of the invention includes a method of preventing unsafe operation of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: determining whether the motor vehicle is operative; determining whether a door of the motor vehicle is open or closed; determining whether a seat belt of the motor vehicle is active or inactive; and sounding an alarm when the motor vehicle is operative and both the door is open and the seat belt is inactive.
In a fourth aspect of the invention is provided a vehicle comprising: a motive power source for driving wheels of the vehicle; a battery; a door; a seat having a seat belt; and an alarm system having: a door position sensor; a seat belt position sensor; and an alarm that sounds only when the door position sensor determines the door is open and the seat belt position sensor determines the seat belt is inactive.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention.
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White Bruce J.
White Wayne A.
Hoffman, Warnick & D'Alessandro LLC
Pham Toan
Warnick Spencer K.
Wu Daniel J.
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