Wearable switch method and apparatus for people with limited mobility

• US 20030079973A1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Allan T. Ducharme, Marc A. Duquette, Steven E. Kanor, Ying Sun
• Original Assignee: Allan T. Ducharme, Marc A. Duquette, Steven E. Kanor, Ying Sun
• Inventors: Ducharme, Allan T., Kanor, Steven E., Duquette, Marc A., Sun, Ying
• Application Number:
  US10/282,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20030079973A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/52R
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/0221 the switches being fixed to the operator's hand, e.g. integrated in a glove or fixed to a ring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0214 Hand-held casings

Abstract

A wearable switch apparatus for a person having a digit which comprises a housing, a switch disposed in the housing, a member secured to the housing and adapted to receive the digit and an adjustable lever in communication with the switch. The lever is configured and arranged based on the mobility of the digit to form a spaced relationship between the digit and the lever thereby allowing the digit to contact the lever and activate the switch. The apparatus is supported on the digit.

Claims

1. A wearable switch apparatus for a person having a digit which comprises:

a housing;

a switch secured to the housing;

a member secured to said housing and adapted to receive the digit; and

an adjustable lever in communication with said switch, said lever being configured and arranged based on the range of motion of the digit to form a spaced relationship between said lever and the digit thereby allowing the digit to contact the lever and activate the switch, the apparatus being supported on the digit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said switch is disposed in said housing and said member is integral with said housing and comprises a first ring in registration with a second ring.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lever has a first end and a second end and which further comprises a knob secured to said second end.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said lever is comprised of a malleable metal.

5. A wearable switch apparatus for a person having a first, a second and a third digit which comprises:

a housing;

a switch secured in said housing;

a first member secured to said housing and adapted to receive the first digit;

a second member secured to said housing and adapted to receive the second digit; and

an adjustable lever in communication with said switch, said lever being configured and arranged based upon the range of motion of the third digit to form a spaced relationship between said lever and the third digit thereby allowing the third digit to contact the lever and activate the switch, the apparatus being supported on the first and second digits.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first member comprises a first ring and the second member comprises a second ring, the first and second rings being contiguous.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the lever is comprised of a malleable metal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first and second rings are rigid.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first and second rings are flexible.

10. A method for operating a wearable switch by a person having a digit comprising:

supporting a housing having a switch and a member adapted to receive the digit on the digit;

positioning an actuator in communication with said switch in a spaced relationship with the digit such that when the digit moves and contacts said actuator the switch is activated; and

contacting said actuator to activate the switch.

11. A wearable switch apparatus for a person having a first and a second digit which comprises:

a housing;

a switch secured to said housing;

a member secured to said housing and adapted to receive the first digit; and

an actuator in communication with said switch, said actuator being configured and arranged based upon the mobility of the second digit to form a spaced relationship between the actuator and the digit thereby allowing the second digit to control the actuator and activate the switch, the being supported on the first digit.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said actuator is a button.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said actuator is a pressure sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said actuator is an IR sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said actuator is a lever.