Sonic Building Rescue Beacon

• US 20080100458A1
• Filed: 03/18/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Welford Chidakel, Michael Ellsworth Beach, Paul A. Boduch, William Harris Groves
• Original Assignee: David Welford Chidakel, Michael Ellsworth Beach, Paul A. Boduch, William Harris Groves
• Inventors: Beach, Michael Ellsworth, Chidakel, David Welford, Boduch, Paul A., Groves, William Harris
• Granted Patent: US 7,839,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/183 Emergency, distress or locator beacons

Abstract

A safety device which emits sounds that guide rescuers to people trapped in collapsed structures.

Claims

1. A safety device used to help locate survivors in a building comprising:

a. A means to determine that help or rescue assistance is needed for nearby survivors

b. A means to assist rescuers in locating survivors who have responded to the safety device

2. The safety device of claim 1 where the means to determine that help is needed utilizes voice recognition to respond to commands from nearby individuals.

3. The safety device of claim 1 where the means to determine that help is needed utilizes a wireless device with a switch or button

4. The safety device of claim 1 where the means to assist rescuers in locating survivors is a loud audible beacon.

5. A safety device used to help locate survivors in a collapsed building comprising:

a. A means to determine a building collapse has occurred

b. An audible sound prompt to elicit a response from nearby survivors

c. A means to determine that help or rescue assistance is needed for nearby survivors

d. A means to assist rescuers in locating survivors who have responded to the safety device

6. The safety device of claim 5 where the audible sound prompt is a recorded voice.

7. The safety device of claim 5 where the means to determine the building collapse is an accelerometer.

8. The safety device of claim 5 where the mean to determine the building collapse is determination of an electrical power failure in the building.

9. The safety device of claim 5 where the means to determine the building collapse utilizes both an accelerometer and an electrical power failure detection scheme.

10. A method of locating survivors in a building, using a pre-installed safety device, comprising the steps of:

a. The safety device determines that a building has collapsed

b. The safety device sounds a prompt to elicit a response from nearby survivors

c. The safety device recognizes a “

need help”

response from nearby survivors

d. The safety device indicates to rescuers the location of survivors who have requested help

11. The method of locating survivors of claim 11 where the rescuers are guided by an audible beacon to the location of the survivors.

12. The method of locating survivors of claim 11 where the prompt to elicit a response from survivors is a synthesized voice, and where the recognition of a “

need help”

response utilizes voice recognition technology.