# US 8,542,107 B2 · Vapor alarm in flotation fob

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- Number: US 8,542,107 B2
- Document ID: US8542107B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/822,965
- Filed: 2010-06-24
- Published: 2011-06-30
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2009-06-24
- Applicants: Patrick Dolan
- Inventors: Patrick Dolan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542107B2

## CPC

- B60K 28/14: responsive to accident or emergency, e.g. deceleration, tilt of vehicle
- B60Y 2200/24: Military vehicles
- B60Y 2200/42: Amphibious vehicles
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

## Abstract

An apparatus includes an alarm device, enclosed in a water tight container adapted to buoyantly support the alarm device and a wireless receiver, the water tight container adapted to couple with a key ring, including hardware logic and-or logic embodied in machine readable memory to receive information from a remote vapor sensor and to activate the alarm if the information indicates a hazardous vapor condition.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
an alarm device, enclosed in a water tight container adapted to buoyantly support the alarm device and a wireless receiver, the water tight container adapted to couple with a key ring, comprising hardware logic and-or logic embodied in machine readable memory to receive information from a remote vapor sensor and to activate the alarm if the information indicates a hazardous vapor condition.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water tight container further comprises:
a substantially elliptical front profile.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alarm device further comprises:
a waterproof audio-generating device at least partially exposed to an exterior of the water tight container.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water tight container further comprises:
the container shaped and weight distributed so that the container will float with the alarm and vapor sensor receiver logic above a water line.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
hardware logic and-or logic embodied in machine readable memories to communicate bi-directionally with a remote vapor sensor, and to provide an audible and-or visual alarm if wireless communication is lost with the remote vapor sensor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
hardware logic and-or logic embodied in machine readable memories to provide an audible and-or visual alarm if battery power in the vapor alarm becomes low either in the vapor alarm or in the remote vapor sensor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
hardware logic and-or logic embodied in machine readable memories to provide an audible and-or visual alarm if wireless communication is obtained with the remote vapor sensor after said communication was unavailable.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
hardware logic and-or logic embodied in machine readable memories to disable an engine and-or starting of the engine of the vehicle if a hazardous vapor condition is detected in the engine compartment.

### Claim 9

A system comprising:
a vapor sensor mounted in an engine compartment of a powered vehicle; an alarm device adapted to couple with a key ring, the alarm comprising hardware logic and-or logic embodied in machine readable memory devices to communicate with the vapor sensor and to provide an alarm when a hazardous vapor condition exists in the engine compartment.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the alarm device further comprises:
a waterproof audio-generating device at least partially exposed to an exterior of the water tight container.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, further comprising:
hardware logic and-or logic embodied in machine readable memories to communicate bi-directionally with a remote vapor sensor, and to provide an audible and-or visual alarm if wireless communication is lost with the remote vapor sensor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, further comprising:
hardware logic and-or logic embodied in machine readable memories to provide an audible and-or visual alarm if battery power in the vapor alarm becomes low either in the vapor alarm or in the remote vapor sensor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, further comprising:
hardware logic and-or logic embodied in machine readable memories to provide an audible and-or visual alarm if wireless communication is obtained with the remote vapor sensor after said communication was unavailable.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, further comprising:
hardware logic and-or logic embodied in machine readable memories to disable an engine and-or starting of the engine of the vehicle if a hazardous vapor condition is detected in the engine compartment.

### Claim 15

A key fob comprising:
a water tight container comprising an alarm device, the alarm device comprising hardware logic and-or logic embodied in machine readable memory to attempt to maintain constant radio contact with a vapor sensor in an engine compartment of a vehicle, and to activate the alarm if information received from the vapor sensor indicates a hazardous vapor condition in the engine compartment.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The key fob of claim 15, further comprising:
the container shaped and weight distributed so that the container will float with the alarm and radio contact logic above a water line.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The key fob claim 15, further comprising:
hardware logic and-or logic embodied in machine readable memories to provide an audible and-or visual alarm if battery power becomes low either in the key fob or in the remote vapor sensor.