Two-way alarm safety apparatus

• US 4,177,460 A
• Filed: 09/30/1977
• Issued: 12/04/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Water Systems Development Corp.
• Original Assignee: Water Systems Development Corp.
• Inventors: Hoinski, Walter W., Simkanich, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US05/838,136
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 340/279, 340/575, 340/576, 180/99, 200/DIG. 2
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/04 responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons G08B21/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 200/02 Body attached switches

Abstract

An alarm safety apparatus for use by operators of motor vehicles, transportation equipment, manufacturing equipment and the like for signaling in response to a specific operator movement or position is provided having a multi-directional movement limit alarm preferably including a soft deformable support which may contain a plurality of electric contact switches, at least one each thereof, oriented along each direction of movement of interest; and wherein the plurality of electric contact switches may be electrically connected to signal and power supply components.

Claims

1. An alarm apparatus, capable of being worn by operators of motor vehicles and the like, to signal an undesirable position of one part of the body with respect to another or with respect to a fixed object, comprising:

means for providing an electrically produced signal;

an electrical power source capable of powering said electric signal means;

means responsive to an undesirable position of the body for electrically connecting said electric signal means to said electrical power source, said electrical connection means including two electric switches each being capable of individually electrically connecting said electric signal means to said electrical power source, said switches being positioned to have two distinct planes of operation; and

means for securing said electrical connection means to said body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical connection means also includes means for maintaining an electrical connection between said electrical power source and said electric signal means for a fixed period of time once a said connection is first provided by one of said switches, independently of further operation of said switches, said maintaining means being connected to the serial connection of said electric signal means and said electrical power source, as well as being connected to said parallel connection of said switches.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said electric signal means includes an electric buzzer and wherein said electrical power source includes a battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said two electric switches include:

a soft deformable support;

two cavities within said support, each being of similar shape and at a 90°

rotated orientation from one another; and

two pairs of electrical contacts being situated one pair within each said cavity, said paired electrical contacts being electrically connected in parallel between said power source and said electric signal means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each said cavity includes:

a protruding angular projecting wall;

a first film of electrically conductive material forming one contact of a said electrical contact pair, said film residing on said protruding wall; and

a first electrical connection from said first conductive film.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each said cavity further includes a second electrically conductive film covering the wall facing said first film, said second film forming the other contact of a said electrical contact pair;

and a second electrical connection from said second conductive film.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 also including means for anchoring said securing means to said fixed object.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said securng means includes a collar having two portions each said portion being connected on an end to said soft deformable support, said portions being connectable to one another on their free ends.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said anchoring means includes:

a break away hook positionable behind said collar at said connectable free end position when said collar is secured to said body; and

a cord attached to said break away hook and to said fixed object.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said anchoring means also includes a clamping block, said cord being passed through said block to clamp said cord at a fixed length.