US5054686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automobile environment management system
Assignee: Prospect Corp
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Filing: 1990-11-05
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Granted: 1991-10-08
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Expires: 2010-11-05
Abstract
Abstract An automatic venting system for a vehicle having a plurality of motor operated vents in which the interior of the vehicle is monitored for the temperature as well as the presence of a living being, and a separate sensor is included for sensing precipitation outside the vehicle. When the interior of the vehicle is above a preselected threshold temperature, at least one of the vehicle vents is at least partially opened to cool the vehicle. Then, if precipitation is sensed, the open vent or vents are automatically closed unless a living being is sensed within the interior of the car, in which case one or more of the vents remains at least partially open even during the precipitation to provide sufficient ventilation and safety for the being in the car.
Inventors
- 👤 Cliff L. Chuang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:50
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/00642; B60H1/00735; B60H1/00742; B60R; B60R25/00; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/04; B62D1/06; B62D1/065; E; E05; E05F; E05F15/00; E05F15/40; E05F15/41; E05F15/70; E05F15/71; E05F15/60; E05F15/603; E05F15/665; E05F15/689; E05F15/695; E05Y; E05Y2400/00; E05Y2400/10; E05Y2400/44; E05Y2400/449; E05Y2800/00; E05Y2800/40; E05Y2800/42; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/50; E05Y2900/53; E05Y2900/55
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
An automatic venting system for a vehicle having a plurality of motor-operated vents, comprising: means for resolving the vehicle interior temperature; means for detecting the presence of a living being in the vehicle; means for sensing precipitation outside the vehicle; means, responsive to said means for resolving, for operating at least one of the motors to at least partially open the respective vehicle vent when the interior temperature rises above a preselected threshold temperature to cool the vehicle; means, responsive to said means for sensing, for commanding the motor of at least one open vehicle vent to close the vent when precipitation is sensed; and means, responsive to said means for detecting, for inhibiting said means for commanding when a living being is present in the vehicle to prevent at least one open vent from closing for providing fresh air for the being and for the safety of the being.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
An automatic venting system for a vehicle having a plurality of motor-operated vents, comprising: means for resolving the vehicle interior temperature; means for detecting the presence of a living being in the vehicle; means for sensing precipitation outside the vehicle; means, responsive to said means for resolving, for operating at least one of the motors to at least partially open the respective vehicle vent when the interior temperature rises above a preselected threshold temperature to cool the vehicle; means, responsive to said means for sensing, for commanding the motor of at least one open vehicle vent to close the vent when precipitation is sensed; and means, responsive to said means for detecting, for inhibiting said means for commanding when a living being is present in the vehicle to prevent at least one open vent from closing for providing fresh air for the being and for the safety of the being.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The venting system of claim 1 in which said means for detecting includes an infrared detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The venting system of claim 1 in which said means for detecting includes a motion sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The venting system of claim 1 further including means for selecting the open amount of the vent to be opened by said means for operating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The venting system of claim 4 in which said means for operating includes means for choosing which of the vehicle vents are to be opened to cool the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The venting system of claim 5 in which said means for selecting provides independent open amount selection for each chosen vehicle vent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The venting system of claim 1 further including means, responsive to said means for sensing, for warning that at least one open vehicle vent is about to close.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The venting system of claim 1 further including means for indicating that said venting system is in operation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The venting system of claim 1 further including means for detecting the presence of a dangerous gas in the vehicle interior.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The venting system of claim 9 in which said means for operating is further responsive to said means for detecting a gas for at least partially opening a vehicle vent when a dangerous gas is detected to vent the gas from the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The venting system of claim 10 in which said means for detecting a gas inhibits operation of said means for commanding to prevent the open vent from closing while the dangerous gas is present.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The venting system of claim 1 further including means for determining when a vent being closed is obstructed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The venting system of claim 12 in which said means for commanding is inhibited by said means for determining to stop vent closure on detection of an obstruction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The venting system of claim 13 in which said means for operating is enabled by said means for determining for re-opening the obstructed vent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The venting system of claim 14 in which said means for commanding again attempts to close the obstructed vent after it is re-opened.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The venting system of claim 15 further including means for determining the number of times the vent has been commanded to close in a predetermined closure period.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The venting system of claim 16 in which said means for commanding is responsive to said means for determining the number of times to cease attempts to close the obstructed vent after a number of tries.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The venting system of claim 1 further including means for determining when the vehicle is violently jarred.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The venting system of claim 18 in which said means for operating is responsive to said means for determining for fully opening all of the motor-operated vents when the vehicle is violently jarred to provide a vehicle escape path in an accident.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The venting system of claim 1 further including means for detecting sunlight in the vehicle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The venting system of claim 20 further including means for shading at least part of one of the vehicle windshields.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The venting system of claim 21 in which said means for shading is responsive to said means for resolving the vehicle temperature and said means for detecting sunlight for operating said means for shading when the interior temperature is above the preselected threshold and sunlight is detected.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The venting system of claim 1 further including means for determining when all of the vehicle doors are locked.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The venting system of claim 23 in which said means for commanding closes all of the motor-operated vents when said means for detecting detects the presence of a being after all of the doors are locked to deter vehicle theft.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The venting system of claim 1 in which said means for commanding is further responsive to said means for resolving for closing the open vents when the interior temperature falls below a preselected threshold temperature.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The venting system of claim 1 further including means for heating the vehicle steering wheel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The venting system of claim 26 in which said means for heating is responsive to said means for resolving for only heating the steering wheel when the interior temperature falls below a preselected threshold temperature.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The venting system of claim 1 in which said means for commanding closes the open vehicle vent when said means for detecting no longer detects a living being.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-07 | 1995-04-08 | 1995-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-07 | 1999-04-08 | 1999-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-07 | 2003-04-08 | 2003-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |