Tether apparatus

• US 20090278694A1
• Filed: 05/06/2008
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FOGG Filler Company
• Original Assignee: FOGG Filler Company
• Inventors: Fogg, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 7,956,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.100
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/38 with power sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply

Abstract

A tether apparatus having a housing which includes a cavity, and further wherein the housing is adapted for association with a user; a securement member, wherein the securement member is associated with at least a portion of the housing; and a tracking sub-assembly having a communication member, wherein the communication member is at least partially positioned within the housing and wherein the communication member transmits a position signal; an energy storage device, wherein the energy storage device is at least partially positioned within the housing and/or a user'"'"'s footwear and wherein the energy storage device electrically communicates with the communication member; and a kinetic energy charger, wherein the kinetic energy charger is at least partially positioned within at least one of the housing and a user'"'"'s footwear and wherein the kinetic energy charger electrically communicates with at least one of the communication member and the energy storage device.

Claims

1. A tether apparatus, comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing comprises a cavity, and further wherein the housing is adapted for association with a user;

a securement member, wherein the securement member is associated with at least a portion of the housing; and

a tracking sub-assembly which comprises;

a communication member, wherein the communication member is at least partially positioned within the housing, and wherein the communication member transmits a position signal;

an energy storage device, wherein the energy storage device is at least partially positioned within at least one of the housing and a user'"'"'s footwear, and wherein the energy storage device electrically communicates with the communication member; and

a kinetic energy charger, wherein the kinetic energy charger is at least partially positioned within at least one of the housing and a user'"'"'s footwear and further wherein the kinetic energy charger electrically communicates with at least one of the communication member and the energy storage device.

2. The tether apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tracking sub-assembly further comprises a rectifier, wherein the rectifier is at least partially positioned within the housing.

3. The tether apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy charger comprises at least one linear kinetic energy charger.

4. The tether apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy charger comprises at least one vibrational kinetic energy charger.

5. The tether apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy charger comprises at least one torsional kinetic energy charger.

6. The tether apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy charger comprises at least one compressional kinetic energy charger.

7. The tether apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy charger comprises at least one of a linear kinetic energy charger, a vibrational kinetic energy charger, and a torsional kinetic energy charger associated with the housing and a compressional kinetic energy charger associated with a user'"'"'s footwear.

8. The tether apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the compressional kinetic energy charger electrically communicates with at least one of the communication member and the energy storage device of the tether apparatus.

9. The tether apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy charger consists of a vibrational kinetic energy charger associated with the housing and a compressional kinetic energy charger associated with a user'"'"'s footwear.

10. The tether apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises, a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall, wherein the first and second walls are spaced apart from one another, and the third and fourth walls are spaced apart from one another to define a substantially polygonal cavity.

11. The tether apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, the fourth wall, a cap, and a base cooperate to form a water-tight housing for containing at least one of the communication member, the energy storage device, and the kinetic energy charger.

12. The tether apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the securement member comprises a loop of elastomeric material attached to the housing which is releasably securable to a user.

13. The tether apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the securement member further comprises:

a first strap, wherein the first strap comprises;

a first tab; and

a second tab;

a second strap, wherein the second strap further comprises

a first tab; and

a second tab;

wherein the first tab of the first strap and the first tab of the second strap are attached to at least a portion of the housing, and wherein the second tab of the first strap comprises a series of hooks, and the second tab of the second strap comprises a series of loops, and further wherein the second tab of the first strap and the second tab of the second strap cooperate and provide releasable securement of the tether apparatus to at least a portion of a user.

14. The tether apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication member comprises an active radio frequency identification device which transmits the position signal.

15. The tether apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication member comprises a global positioning system which transmits the position signal.

16. The tether apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication member transmits the position signal to a monitor via at least one of a wireless communication system, a telephonic communication system, and a computer network system.

17. The tether apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises at least one of a primary electrochemical cell, a secondary electrochemical cell, and a capacitor.

18. The tether apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the energy storage device communicates at least one of alternating current and direct current to the communication member.

19. The tether apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the secondary electrochemical cell comprises at least one of an alkaline, a lead acid, a nickel-cadmium, a nickel metal hydride, a lithium-ion, and a lithium ion polymer secondary electrochemical cell.

20. The tether apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy charger converts kinetic energy of at least one of linear, vibrational, compressional and rotational movements of a user wearing the tether apparatus into at least one of alternating current and direct current.