US 12,240,357 B2
Cushioned pad apparatus to indicate and alert presence of an unattended occupant within a vehicle
Charita Robin Anderson, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed by Charita Robin Anderson, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed on Jul. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/865,459.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/234,420, filed on Aug. 18, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0054366 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. G08B 21/00 (2006.01); B60N 2/00 (2006.01); B60N 2/26 (2006.01); B60N 2/64 (2006.01)
CPC B60N 2/64 (2013.01) [B60N 2/0021 (2023.08); B60N 2/0025 (2023.08); B60N 2/0033 (2023.08); B60N 2/267 (2023.08); B60N 2210/40 (2023.08); B60N 2230/20 (2023.08)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus configured to detect the presence of an unattended occupant within a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a cushion portion, the cushion portion having a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor capable of generating a continuous detected pressure signal;
a dongle, the dongle wirelessly coupled to the cushion portion, wherein the dongle is configured as an accessible structure configured to be coupled to a vehicle key, the dongle having an alarm to generate a verbal noise and a mechanical vibration motor, the dongle capable of receiving the continuous detected pressure signal, the dongle alarm and the mechanical vibration motor triggered when a distance between the dongle and the cushion portion is greater than a predetermined distance threshold while the continuous detected pressure signal is present;
an application hosted on at least one personal electronic device and wirelessly coupled to the dongle, wherein the application is configured to trigger an alarm when the distance between the dongle and the cushion portion is greater than the predetermined distance threshold while the continuous detected pressure signal is present;
wherein the application is wirelessly coupled to the cushioned portion, wherein the application receives the continuous detected pressure signal, the application triggering an alarm when the distance between the device hosting the application and the cushion portion is greater than the predetermined distance threshold while the continuous detected pressure signal is present.