EMERGENCY WARNING DEVICE

• US 20110140886A1
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mobilarm
• Original Assignee: Mobilarm
• Inventors: HILL, Andrew, COOK, Greg, MCNAMARA, Simon, Bettonvil, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/942,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20110140886A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2201/08 Electric light
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2201/16 Radio
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2201/20 Antenna or mast
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/0005 by means of alarm devices for persons falling into the water, e.g. by signalling, by controlling the propulsion or manoeuvring means of the boat alarms responsive to presence of persons in a body of water in general G08B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/088 by monitoring a device worn by the person, e.g. a bracelet attached to the swimmer

Abstract

An emergency warning device (10) is disclosed which comprises

• • an overboard detection device (15) arranged to determine when an overboard situation exists, a transmitter (14) for transmitting a warning signal indicative of an overboard situation, and a transmission control sensor (22) arranged to produce transmission control information indicative of whether the device is appropriately disposed for transmission of a warning signal. The device (10) is arranged to transmit the warning signal when an overboard situation is determined and when said transmission control information indicates that the device is appropriately disposed for transmission of a warning signal.

Claims

1. An emergency warning device comprising:

an overboard detection device arranged to determine when an overboard situation exists;

a transmitter for transmitting a warning signal indicative of an overboard situation; and

a transmission control sensor arranged to produce transmission control information indicative of whether the device is appropriately disposed for transmission of a warning signal;

wherein the device is arranged to transmit the warning signal when an overboard situation is determined and when said transmission control information indicates that the device is appropriately disposed for transmission of a warning signal.

2. An emergency warning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission control sensor comprises a motion sensor arranged to provide information indicative of movement and/or orientation of the device.

3. An emergency warning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transmission control sensor comprises an accelerometer.

4. An emergency warning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission control sensor is arranged to produce transmission control information indicative of whether the device is disposed adjacent the surface of a body of water.

5. An emergency warning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the device is arranged to transmit the warning signal when said transmission control information indicates that the device is disposed adjacent the surface of a body of water.

6. An emergency warning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission control sensor is arranged to produce transmission control information indicative of whether the device is disposed adjacent a crest of a wave or adjacent a trough of a wave.

7. An emergency warning device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the device is arranged to transmit the warning signal when said transmission control information indicates that the device is disposed adjacent a crest of a wave.

8. An emergency warning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission control sensor is arranged to produce transmission control information indicative of the orientation of the device.

9. An emergency warning device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the device is arranged to transmit the warning signal when said transmission control information indicates that the device is oriented in a substantially vertical orientation.

10. An emergency warning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission control sensor comprises a pressure sensor arranged to produce transmission control information indicative of the ambient pressure adjacent the device.

11. An emergency warning device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the device is arranged to transmit the warning signal when said transmission control information indicates that the ambient pressure is below a predefined level.

12. An emergency warning device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a light source arranged to produce a visible warning signal when an overboard situation is determined.

13. An emergency warning device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a light sensor arranged to produce information indicative of the ambient light level and the device is arranged to activate the light source when the ambient light level is below a predefined level.

14. An emergency warning device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the device is arranged to activate the light source when the transmission control signal indicates that the device is disposed adjacent the surface of a body of water.

15. An emergency warning device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the light sensor comprises a light dependent resistor.