Helmet and method of use for emergency notification

• US 10,373,480 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2018
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Choprix LLC
• Original Assignee: Choprix LLC
• Inventors: Cholhan, Hilary J., Cholhan, Remy
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US15/897,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20180174431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 34053913, 340506, 34053927, 3405731, 340 1324
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A wearable emergency alert apparatus includes a communication device configured to communicate an alert to a node on a network external to the emergency alert apparatus, a shock sensor in communication with the communication device, where the sensor is pre-configured to send a message to the communication device based on experiencing pressure from a source external to the emergency alert apparatus exceeding a pre-determined threshold, and where the device is configured to communicate the alert based on receiving the message. The apparatus also includes a microcontroller communicatively coupled to one or more of: the communication device, or the shock sensor and a heat sensor communicatively coupled to the microcontroller. Based on the heat sensor obtaining a heat value exceeding a given threshold, the microcontroller activates one or more of: the communication device, or the shock sensor. A power source is also electronically coupled to the communication device and the microcontroller.

Claims

1. An emergency alert apparatus, comprising:

a component for coupling to a wearable item, the component comprising;

a communication device configured to communicate an alert to a node on a communications network external to the component;

a shock sensor in communication with the communication device, wherein the shock sensor is pre-configured to send a message to the communication device based on experiencing pressure from a source external to the component exceeding a pre-determined threshold, and wherein the communication device is configured to communicate the alert based on receiving the message;

a microcontroller communicatively coupled to at least one device selected from the group consisting of;

the communication device and the shock sensor;

a manual alert button communicatively coupled to the microcontroller, wherein upon activation, the manual alert button is configured to send the message to the communication device; and

a power source electronically coupled to the communication device and the microcontroller; and

a heat sensor for coupling to the wearable item, the heat sensor communicatively coupled to the microcontroller of the component, wherein based on the heat sensor obtaining a heat value exceeding a given threshold, the microcontroller automatically activates a device selected from the group consisting of;

the communication device and the shock sensor, and wherein subsequent to activation, based on the heat sensor obtaining a new heat value of less than the given threshold, the microcontroller automatically de-activates at least one device selected from the group consisting of;

the communication device and the shock sensor.

2. The emergency alert apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wearable item comprises a helmet.

3. The emergency alert apparatus of claim 1, wherein when coupled to the wearable item, the heat sensor is positioned adjacent to a head of a wearer of the wearable item and obtains the heat value based, in part, upon sensing a body temperature of the wearer.

4. The emergency alert apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat sensor comprises:

a plurality of heat sensors, wherein each heat sensor is configured, based on obtaining the heat value exceeding the given threshold, to activate at least one device selected from the group consisting of;

the communication device and the shock sensor.

5. The emergency alert apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is communicatively coupled to the communication device and the shock sensor, wherein the microcontroller is configured to relay communications between the shock sensor and the communication device, and wherein the microcontroller is further configured to supplement communications through the microcontroller with additional data.

6. The emergency alert apparatus of claim 5, wherein the component further comprises:

a location device communicatively coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller obtains location information from the location device, and wherein the alert comprises the location information.

7. The emergency alert apparatus of claim 6, wherein the location device comprises:

an accelerometer, wherein the location device is configured to send a message to the communication device, based on the accelerometer indicating motion outside of an expected pattern, and wherein the communication device is configured to communicate the alert based on receiving the message.

8. The emergency alert apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shock sensor comprises:

a plurality of shock sensors in communication with a transceiver communicatively coupled to the communication device, wherein each shock sensor of the plurality of shock sensors is pre-configured to send the alert to the communication device, based on the shock sensor experiencing pressure from the source external to the component, and wherein the pressure from the source exceeds the pre-determined threshold.

9. The emergency alert apparatus of claim 1, wherein the activation comprises engaging the manual alert button for a predetermined interval.

10. The emergency alert apparatus of claim 9, wherein the microcontroller is configured to produce feedback responsive to the activating.

11. The emergency alert apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component is removable from the wearable item.

12. The emergency alert apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component is coupled to the heat sensor utilizing a connector selected from the group consisting of:

one or more wires and one or more communication relays.

13. The emergency alert apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component further comprises:

an on/off control, wherein the on/off control initiates at least one device selected from the group consisting of;

the microcontroller, the power source, and the communication device.

14. The emergency alert apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling of the component to the wearable item comprises affixing the component to the wearable item.

15. An emergency alert apparatus, comprising:

a component coupled to a helmet, the component comprising;

a memory configured to store a unique identifier;

a processor in communication with the memory;

a trigger in communication with the processor;

a location device in communication with the processor;

a power source electronically coupled to the location device and the processor;

a manual alert button communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein upon activation, the manual alert button is configured to communicate to an alert system;

a visual indicator coupled to the power source and configured to indicate power source availability;

a port coupled to the power source; and

a transponder in communication with the processor; and

a heat sensor communicatively coupled to the component and coupled to the helmet, wherein the heat sensor is in communication with the trigger, and wherein the emergency alert apparatus is configured to perform a method, the method comprising;

initializing the alert system, by the trigger, responsive to the heat sensor sensing heat at a pre-determined threshold;

obtaining, by the processor, data from the trigger;

determining, by the processor, that the data indicates an emergency condition;

based on the determining, obtaining, by the processor, location information from the location device;

based on the determining, obtaining, by the processor, the unique identifier from the memory;

communicating, by the processor, the location information and the unique identifier to a node, via a network connection, by accessing the transponder and

deactivating the alert system, by the trigger, responsive to the heat sensor sensing the heat below the pre-determined threshold.

16. The emergency alert apparatus of claim 15, wherein the heat sensor is positioned adjacent to a head of a wearer of the helmet and obtains the heat value based, in part, upon sensing the temperature adjacent to an inner surface of the helmet, wherein the inner surface is adjacent to the head of the wearer, and wherein the component and the heat sensor are removable from the helmet, and wherein the location device comprises an accelerometer, wherein the location device is configured to send a message to the communication device, based on the accelerometer indicating motion outside of an expected pattern, and wherein the communication device is configured to communicate the alert based on receiving the message.

17. The wearable emergency alert apparatus of claim 16, wherein the determining comprises applying, by the processor, at least one pre-configured threshold to evaluate whether the data from the trigger exceeds the pre-configured threshold.

18. The emergency alert apparatus of claim 16, wherein the component further comprises:

a plurality of sensors in communication with the processor, wherein the trigger comprises a pre-defined number of the plurality of sensors experiencing a pre-defined threshold of pressure.

19. An emergency alert apparatus, comprising:

a component coupled to a helmet, the component comprising;

a shock sensor in communication with a communication device, wherein the shock sensor is pre-configured to send a message to the communication device, based on experiencing pressure from a source external to the wearable emergency alert apparatus, wherein the pressure exceeds a pre-determined threshold;

a microcontroller communicatively coupled to at least one device selected from the group consisting of;

the communication device and the shock sensor;

a location device comprising an accelerometer communicatively coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the location device is pre-configured to send the message to the communication device based on the accelerometer indicating motion outside of an expected pattern;

the communication device configured to communicate an alert to a node on a communications network external to the wearable emergency alert apparatus, wherein the communication device is configured to communicate the alert based on receiving the message from the shock sensor and the message from the location device;

a power source electronically coupled to the communication device and the microcontroller; and

a manual alert button communicatively coupled to the microcontroller, wherein upon activation, the manual alert button is configured to send the message to the communication device; and

a heat sensor coupled to the helmet, wherein the heat sensor is communicatively coupled to the microcontroller of the component, wherein based on the heat sensor obtaining a heat value exceeding a given threshold, the microcontroller automatically activates at least one device selected from the group consisting of;

the communication device and the shock sensor, and wherein subsequent to activation, based on the heat sensor obtaining a new heat value of less than the given threshold, the microcontroller automatically de-activates at least one device selected from the group consisting of;

the communication device and the shock sensor.