KEY FOB COMMUNICATOR

• US 20040183671A1
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Long J. Wayne
• Original Assignee: Long J. Wayne
• Inventors: Long, J. Wayne
• Application Number:
  US10/707,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20040183671A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

An emergency-use key fob communicator that automatically dials an emergency number using a cellular telephone network upon actuation of a single activation button. The key fob communicator is configured to perform only outgoing calls to a single telephone number. The number to be dialed from the key fob communicator may be restricted to preprogrammed assigned emergency numbers or to a single emergency number such as 911. To prevent inadvertent activation, the key fob communicator includes a single activation button shielded by a button guard. The single activation button assigned to dial a programmed number prevents misdialed numbers and the button guard prevents damage to the activation button and inadvertent dialing. The key fob communicator may also be capable of determining the key fob communicator'"'"'s geolocation and communicating the geolocation to the receiver of an emergency call from the key fob communicator. The key fob communicator includes a sole power source internal to the key fob and is intended to be used only in emergency situations.

Claims

1. A key fob communicator comprising:

a key fob body;

a receiver configured to accept connection of a key to the key fob body;

a single activation button located on the key fob body; and

said key fob communicator being operable within at least one mobile telephone network upon actuation of the single activation button.

2. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 1, further comprising a button guard located on the key fob body, the button guard protectively shielding the single activation button from accidental actuation.

3. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 2, wherein the button guard is movable from a shielded position covering the activation button to an unshielded position uncovering the activation button.

4. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 3, wherein said key fob communicator is in a power-off configuration when the button guard is in the shielded position and the key fob communicator is in a power-on configuration when the button guard is in the unshielded position.

5. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 3, wherein the button guard is slidably mounted on the key fob body.

6. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 1, wherein said key fob communicator is limited to outgoing calls.

7. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 1, wherein said key fob communicator is exclusively operable for communication with a single preset number.

8. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 7, wherein the single preset number is an emergency number.

9. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 8, wherein in the emergency number is one of 911 and 311.

10. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 1, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver adapted for cooperation with GPS satellites for determining the geolocation of the activated key fob communicator.

11. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 10, wherein the key fob communicator is configured to transmit the geolocation of the activated key fob communicator to the receiver of an outgoing call.

12. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 1, wherein the one button communicator is keypad free.

13. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 1, further comprising an antenna configured to operate with said key fob communicator.

14. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 13, wherein said antenna is of linear configuration and is translationally installed upon the key fob communicator, said antenna is further interconnected with a slide-style button guard so that the antenna is deployed to a position substantially outside the key fob body from a position substantially inside the key fob body when a sliding button guard is moved to an activated configuration from a shielding configuration.

15. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 13, wherein the key fob body is essentially protrusion-free from the antenna.

16. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 15, wherein the antenna is exclusively internally located within the key fob body.

17. A key fob communicator as recited in claim 1, wherein the key fob communicator is configured to use replaceable batteries.