Wearable Personal Locator Device with Removal Indicator

• US 20140225730A1
• Filed: 04/24/2014
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher Depascale
• Original Assignee: Christopher Depascale
• Inventors: DePascale, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,508,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit

Abstract

Disclosed is a wearable personal locator device that communicates the location of a wearer to an administrator input terminal. The device is a wearable structure comprising either a wristband or adhesive patch, whereby the device registers whether or not the device is actively being worn by the wearer and provides a means to receive alert signals sent from the administrator input terminal. The device includes a processing unit, a power source, an antenna, and a communication means for processing and transmitting location data to the remote input terminal. The device further comprises one of several wearer contact means, including a heat sensor for registering body heat of the wearer, a pressure sensor adapted to be pressed against the wearer, or a frangible circuit that registers when the device is removed from the wearer. The device provides a location monitoring means for children traveling in groups with at least one administrator.

Claims

1. ) A wearable locater device adapted to track a user and register when the device is removed from the user, comprising:

a housing adapted to be worn by a user;

said housing supporting;

a processing unit, a memory, and a power source;

a GPS tracking unit adapted for communicating with a ground based network;

a wearer contact sensing means adapted to register when said housing;

an alert means.

2. ) The locator device of claim 1, wherein:

said wearer contact sensing means further comprises a heat sensor adapted to be in contact with a user and register body heat therefrom.

3. ) The locator device of claim 1, wherein:

said wearer contact sensing means further comprises a pressure sensor adapted to be in contact with a user and register contact therewith.

4. ) The locator device of claim 1, wherein:

said wearer contact sensing means further comprises a frangible circuit adapted to register when said housing is removed from said user.

5. ) The locator device of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a wristband extending therefrom.

6. ) The locator device of claim 1, wherein said housing is supported by an adhesive patch assembly that is adhesable to a user.

7. ) The locator device of claim 1, wherein said alert means comprises speaker adapted to project audible alerts from said housing.

8. ) The locator device of claim 1, wherein said alert means comprises one or more light sources adapted to project visual alerts from said housing.

9. ) The locator device of claim 1, wherein said GPS tracking unit further comprises a GPRS module.

10. ) A method of tracking one or more individuals using wearable locater devices, comprising the steps of:

registering one or more wearable locator devices to an administrator;

securing said one or more wearable locator devices to one or more wearers after registration;

transmitting location data over a ground based network to a remote server;

transmitting said location data to a remote terminal;

verifying each of said one or more wearable locator devices are being worn by each of said one or more wearers using a wearer contact means;

sending a signal over said ground based network when said wearer contact means no longer registers said wearer.

11. ) The method of claim 10, wherein:

transmitting an alert signal from said input terminal to said one or more wearable locator devices via said remote server and said ground based network;

each of said one or more wearable locator devices initiating an alert when said alert signal is received.

12. ) The method of claim 10, wherein said wearer contact means comprise a heat sensor.

13. ) The method of claim 10, wherein said wearer contact means comprise a pressure sensor.

14. ) The method of claim 10, wherein said wearer contact means comprise a frangible circuit.

15. ) The method of claim 10, wherein said one or more wearable locator devices comprises a wristband device with a housing that supports a processing unit, a memory, and a power source.

16. ) The method of claim 10, wherein said one or more wearable locator devices comprises an adhesive patch with a housing that supports a processing unit, a memory, and a power source.