Wrist band including a mercury switch to induce an electric shock

• US 3,885,576 A
• Filed: 09/23/1974
• Issued: 05/27/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eliot N. Symmes
• Original Assignee: Eliot N. Symmes
• Inventors: Symmes, Eliot N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reich, Joseph S.
• Application Number:
  US05/508,453
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• Field of Search: 131/17A,171A,178 272/27N,27R 128/404,409 340/277,279,407 35/22R
• US Class Current: 131/270
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 47/00 Smokers' requisites not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/38 for producing shock effects

Abstract

A wrist band including a normally open mercury switch is worn by a person so that when the person raises his arm to put a cigarette to his lips, for example, the mercury switch closes to connect a source of power and induce an electrical shock in the person in order to deter the person from smoking, drinking or the like.

Claims

1. Electrical apparatus for inducing a shock in a person in response to a movement of one of his arms comprising a wrist band adapted to be worn on the arm of said person, a source of electrical power including means for attaching said source to the clothing of said person, a pair of spaced electrodes attached to said wrist band and disposed to physically contact the wrist of said person, a mercury switch disposed on said wrist band to be opened or closed dependent upon the position thereof, means connecting said mercury switch to said pair of spaced electrodes, means connecting said source of power to said pair of spaced electrodes through said mercury switch, whereby the closure of said mercury switch causes current to flow from said source of power through said spaced contacts and the arm of said person upon movement thereof, to induce a shock therein when said apparatus is worn by said person.

2. Electrical apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said source of power comprises a housing including electrical circuitry therein and said means for attaching comprises a spring clip disposed to be attached to a belt worn by said person.

3. Electrical apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said housing comprises a jack for receiving a plug connector and said means for connecting said source of power to said pair of spaced electrodes includes a plug connector to be inserted and withdrawn from said jack.

4. Electrical apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said housing further includes an adjustment knob for varying the amplitude of the electrical signaL supplied by said source of power.

5. Electrical apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said housing further includes a pair of spaced electrodes connected to output terminals of said source of power to permit a person to voluntarily self induce a shock when said jack and plug connector are disconnected.

6. Electrical apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said electrical circuitry included in said source of power comprises a pulse oscillating circuit.

7. Electrical apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein a side portion of said housing includes a recessed portion for receiving said spring clip therein to permit said housing to be placed on a flat surface when said housing is disconnected from said means for connecting said source of power to said pair of spaced electrodes.

8. Electrical apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mercury switch and said pair of contacts are serially connected across said source of power.

9. Electrical apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said mercury switch is normally open when said wrist band is worn on the arm of said person while the arm is in a horizontal position and said mercury switch closes when the arm of said person is raised towards a vertical position.

10. Electrical apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said pair of spaced electrodes is connected in parallel across said source of power.