Electronic Swimmer Monitoring System

• US 20090027211A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aquatic Safety Concepts, LLC
• Original Assignee: Aquatic Safety Concepts, LLC
• Inventors: Cutler, David M., Healy, Thomas F., Miller, Lawrence R., Taylor, Paul E., Gregor, Marlin J., Sutton, Douglas D., Taylor, William G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,642,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.600
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/06 Safety devices; Coverings for baths
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/088 by monitoring a device worn by the person, e.g. a bracelet attached to the swimmer

Abstract

Electronic Tags are mounted on swimmers to reduce their risk of drowning by identifying when their heads are underwater for periods of time which may indicate a dangerous submersion situation, and for triggering corresponding alerts and alarms. In this method, each monitored person is equipped with a lightweight electronic Tag worn on the body that communicates with monitors that issue the alerts and alarms, including audible and visible distress signals. The monitors, in turn, communicate the alarms to receivers used by supervisory personnel, such as lifeguards or parents. The invention may be used in aquatic environments, such as public recreation facilities, pools, waterfronts, and water parks, as well as in more private settings, such as homes, apartment buildings or hotels.

Claims

1. A method for increasing the safety of swimmers, said method comprising the steps of:

a. attaching a Swimmer Safety Tag to a swimmer, said Swimmer Safety Tag comprising means for;

i. sensing when said swimmer'"'"'s nose and mouth is submersed in water below a predetermined depth;

ii. timing the duration of said submersion; and

iii. transmitting a signal when said duration is greater than a predetermined threshold;

b. monitoring for said signal;

c. transmitting an alarm to a supervisor when said monitoring detects said signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said signal is an ultrasonic signal.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said ultrasonic signal has a frequency of about 70 kHz.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said monitoring is performed by a Swim Monitor Unit, said Swim Monitor Unit comprising:

a. a hydrophone located under water; and

b. an annunciation unit located at least partially out of water wherein said annunciation unit comprises means for transmitting said alarm to said supervisor via an RF signal.

5. The method of claim 4 where wherein said hydrophone is located near the bottom of said water.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said monitoring is performed by two or more Swim Monitor Units.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting said alarm to said supervisor comprises the steps of:

a. Transmitting an RF signal to a Supervisory Control Unit; and

b. Transmitting a digital signal to a portable reception unit, said portable reception unit being mounted on said supervisor.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said RF signal is at a frequency of about 433 MHz.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said digital signal at least partially employs Bluetooth technology.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag has a weight of 10 gm or less in air.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensing comprises the steps of:

a. measuring the electrical conductivity between two contacts; and

b. initiating said timing when said conductivity indicates that said two contacts are submersed in water.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensing comprises the steps of:

a. measuring pressure; and

b. initiating said timing when said pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure threshold.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said predetermined pressure threshold is about 30 cm of water column.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag is mounted on the head of said swimmer.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag is mounted at or below the waist of said swimmer.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring is at least in part performed by electronics which are battery powered such that said electronics are portable.

17. A system for increasing the safety of swimmers, said system comprising:

a. a Swimmer Safety Tag, said Swimmer Safety Tag comprising means for;

i. sensing when said swimmer'"'"'s nose and mouth is submersed in water below a predetermined depth;

ii. timing the duration of said submersion; and

iii. transmitting a signal when said duration is greater than a predetermined threshold; and

b. a monitor, said monitor comprising means for;

i. detecting said signal; and

c. transmitting an alarm to a supervisor when said monitor detects said signal.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said signal is an ultrasonic signal.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said ultrasonic signal has a frequency of about 70 kHz.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein said monitoring is a Swim Monitor Unit, said Swim Monitor Unit comprising:

a. a hydrophone; and

b. an annunciation unit,

wherein said annunciation unit comprises means for transmitting said alarm to said supervisor via an RF signal.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said Swim Monitor Unit further comprises a connecting cable, said connecting cable:

a. Having a length of at least 3 meters; and

b. Said connecting cable being attached at one end to said hydrophone and at another end to said annunciation unit such that an electrical signal can be transmitted therebetween.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein said system comprises two or more Swim Monitor Units.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein said system further comprises a Supervisory Control Unit and a portable reception unit and wherein said monitor comprises:

a. means for transmitting an RF signal to said Supervisory Control Unit; and

b. means for transmitting a digital signal to said portable reception unit, said portable reception unit comprising means to be mounted on said supervisor.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said RF signal is at a frequency of about 433 MHz.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein said digital signal at least partially employs Bluetooth technology.

26. The system of claim 17 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag has a weight of 10 gm or less in air.

27. The system of claim 17 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag comprises means for:

a. measuring the electrical conductivity between two contacts; and

b. initiating said timing when said conductivity indicates that said two contacts are submersed in water.

28. The system of claim 17 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag comprises means for:

a. measuring pressure; and

b. initiating said timing when said pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure threshold.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said predetermined pressure threshold is about 30 cm of water column.

30. The system of claim 17 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag comprises means for removably mounting on the head of a swimmer.

31. The system of claim 17 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag comprises means for removably mounting at or below the waist of said swimmer.

32. The system of claim 17 wherein said monitor is battery powered such that said monitor is portable.

33. A method for increasing the safety of swimmers, said method comprising the steps of:

a. attaching a Swimmer Safety Tag to a swimmer, said Swimmer Safety Tag comprising means for transmitting an RF signal, said RF signal being at a frequency that is absorbed by water, said RF signal further comprising information identifying said Swimmer Safety Tag;

b. monitoring the air above said water for the presence of said RF signal;

c. detecting the loss of said RF signal and timing the duration of said loss;

d. triggering an alarm when the duration of said loss is greater than a predetermined threshold.

34. A system for increasing the safety of swimmers, said system comprising:

a. a Swimmer Safety Tag to a swimmer, said Swimmer Safety Tag comprising means for;

i. mounting on a swimmer; and

ii. transmitting an RF signal, said RF signal being at a frequency that is absorbed by water, said RF signal further comprising information identifying said Swimmer Safety Tag; and

b. a monitor, said monitor comprising means for;

i. detecting the presence of said RF signal;

ii. detecting the loss of said RF signal and timing the duration of said loss; and

iii. triggering an alarm when the duration of said loss is greater than a predetermined threshold.

35. A Tag for increasing the safety of a swimmer, said Tag comprising:

a. means for mounting said Tag on said swimmer;

b. means for detecting immersion in water;

c. means for timing immersion in water;

d. means for transmitting a first signal in the event that the immersion time exceeds a first predetermined threshold value.

36. The Tag of claim 35 wherein said Tag has a weight in air of less than 10 gm.

37. The Tag of claim 35 wherein said first signal is an ultrasonic signal.

38. The Tag of claim 37 which further comprises means for transmitting a second ultrasonic signal in the event that said immersion time exceeds a second predetermined threshold value.

39. The Tag of claim 38 wherein said first ultrasonic signal and said second ultrasonic signal are broadcast at the same frequency and wherein said first ultrasonic signal comprises first pulses broadcast for a first duration and at first rate and said second ultrasonic signal comprises second pulses broadcast for a second duration at a second rate and wherein said first duration is less than one half of said second duration.

40. The Tag of claim 39 wherein said first rate and said second rate are less than or equal to about once every 2 seconds.

41. The Tag of claim 37 wherein said first ultrasonic signal has a frequency of about 70 kHz.

42. The Tag of claim 37 wherein said first ultrasonic signal has a frequency in the range of 30 to 100 KHz.

43. The Tag of claim 35 wherein said Tag has a diameter that is less than or equal to 20 mm, said Tag has a thickness that is less than or equal to 5 mm and said Tag has a weight that is less than or equal to about 3 gm.

44. The Tag of claim 37 wherein said means for transmitting said first ultrasonic signal comprises a disk shaped piezoelectric device with a mechanical resonant frequency that is less than ultrasonic.

45. The Tag of claim 35 which further comprises electronics and a battery and wherein the battery has enough capacity to power said electronics for at least 30 days in normal service.

46. The Tag of claim 45 which further comprises means for transmitting a sonic signal in the event that said battery has 20% or less than its full charge available.

47. The Tag of claim 35 wherein said means for mounting said Tag on said swimmer comprises an adhesive.

48. The Tag of claim 35 wherein a logo is displayed on the surface of said Tag and wherein a light is incorporated into said logo and wherein means are provided to flash said light when said Tag is mounted on said swimmer.

49. The Tag of claim 35 wherein said Tag further comprises:

a. means for sensing whether or not said Tag is mounted on a swimmer; and

b. means for transmitting a sonic signal in the event that said Tag is not mounted on a swimmer.

50. The Tag of claim 35 wherein said means for mounting said Tag on said swimmer comprises means for mounting said Tag onto an article of clothing of said swimmer and wherein said means for detecting the immersion of said Tag into water comprises means for measuring water pressure above a predetermined pressure threshold and wherein said pressure threshold is about 1 meter of water column.

51. The Tag of claim 35 wherein said means for mounting said Tag on said swimmer comprises means for mounting said Tag on the forehead of said swimmer.

52. The Tag of claim 35 wherein said means for detecting the immersion of said Tag into said water comprises two electrical contacts which close an electrical circuit upon immersion into water.

53. The Tag of claim 35 wherein said means for detecting immersion of said Tag into said water comprises a radio transmitter broadcasting at a radio frequency wherein said frequency is blocked by water.

54. The Tag of claim 35 which further comprises means for mounting said Tag on the neck of said swimmer.

55. The Tag of claim 35 which further comprises means for mounting said Tag on at least one ear of said swimmer.