Doze alerting device

• US 20030107489A1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Billion Team Limited
• Original Assignee: Billion Team Limited
• Inventors: Li, Yat Wah
• Granted Patent: US 6,756,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A doze alerting device (100) comprising a casing (200), an earplug (300) and an electronic operating circuit (400). The earplug (300) is insertable selectively into either one of the left and right ears, as desired, of a user to locate the casing (200) on the head at a desired angular position. The circuit (400) incorporates an audio generator (402/410) for generating a doze-alert audio signal and a gravity switch (500) for triggering the generator (402/410). The switch (500) has first and second contacts (522/540) for switching to trigger the generator (402/410), with the second contact (540) being movable under the action of gravity along a path towards and away from the first contact (522) to perform switching. The path is fixed relative to the casing (200) for simultaneous movement therewith such that the switch (500) will provide a trigger signal when the casing (200) moves from a first angular position corresponding to an upright position of the head when the user is looking straight ahead to a second angular position corresponding to a dipped position of the head when the user starts to doze, with the path tilting to below the horizontal. The path is linear such that the device (100) can be used at either the left or the right ear of said user without any material effect on the angular positioning of the casing (200) and the operation of the switch (500).

Claims

1. A doze alerting device comprising a casing, an earplug connected with the casing, said earplug being insertable selectively into either one of the left and right ears, as desired, of a user to locate the casing on the head of said user at a desired angular position relative thereto, and an internal electronic operating circuit incorporating an audio generator for generating a doze-alert audio signal for said user and a gravity switch for triggering the audio generator, said gravity switch having first and second solid electrical contacts for switching on or off to trigger the audio generator, with the second contact being movable under the action of gravity along a defined path towards and away from the first contact to perform switching, said path being fixed relative to the casing for simultaneous angular movement therewith such that the gravity switch will provide a trigger signal when the casing moves from a first angular position corresponding to an upright position of said head when said user is looking straight ahead to a second angular position corresponding to a dipped position of said head when said user starts to doze, with the path tilting to below the horizontal, wherein the path is substantially linear such that the doze alerting device can be used at either the left or the right ear of said user without any material effect on the angular positioning of the casing and the operation of the gravity switch.

2. The doze alerting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the earplug is fixedly connected to the casing and has a substantially circular shape such that it can be turned within said ear to adjust the angular position of the casing relative to said head.

3. The doze alerting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing is elongate and has a front end and a rear end, to which rear end the earplug is connected.

4. The doze alerting device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the casing has a longitudinally extending axis, and the path extends substantially parallel to the axis.

5. The doze alerting device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the casing has a substantially symmetrical shape on opposite sides about its axis.

6. The doze alerting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the casing has a plane of substantial symmetry alone its axis, and the path lies in that plane.

7. The doze alerting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the earplug has a substantially circular shape about a central axis, which axis intersects with that of the ca sing such that the casing and the earplug share a common plane of substantial symmetry.

8. The doze alerting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio generator is implemented based on an IC chip and includes a buzzer.

9. The doze alerting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gravity switch has a elongate body encasing the second contact and defining the path for the second contact.

10. The doze alerting device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the body comprises a tube having a circular cross-section and the second contact is in the form of a ball.

11. The doze alerting device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first contact and a third solid electrical contact of the gravity switch are fixed at opposite ends of the body to provide two terminals, and the body includes an inner surface which is electrically conductive and in electrical connection with the third contact and with which the second contact is in continuous sliding electrical contact.