Personal alarm

• US 4,719,454 A
• Filed: 10/30/1985
• Issued: 01/12/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hopkins International
• Original Assignee: Hopkins International
• Inventors: Power, Joseph K., Hopkins, Harry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mullen, Jr., Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US06/792,897
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 340/574, 340/689, 340/384 E, 340/693
• US Class Current: 340/574
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A portable personal alarm which has a small size and achieves high sound levels utilizes the overdriving of a miniature buzzer. In order to reduce the likelihood of damage to the buzzer and create a more terrifying and noticeable sound, the alarm tone is pulsed.

Claims

1. A portable alarm device comprising:

a miniature audio generating device having maximum recommended continuous voltage and power ratings;

a source of voltage at least twice as great as the maximum voltage rating;

a timer circuit means connectable to said source of voltage for periodically generating voltage pulses of substantially the same value as said source of voltage when connected thereto, and applying said pulses to said audio generating device so as to cause said audio generating device to operate and produce a loud sound, said pulses having a repetition rate and width such that the energy delivered to the audio generating device exceeds the maximum continuous power rating; and

means for connecting said timer circuit means to said source of voltage, said means for connecting including a latch circuit means for causing said source of voltage to be connected to said timer circuit means whenever the latch circuit means is set and causing the removal of such connection whenever it is reset, a first switch means for setting said latch circuit means, and a second switch means for resetting said latch circuit means, said latch circuit being resettable in operation only by means of said second switch means.

2. A portable alarm device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said miniature audio generating device is a miniature buzzer.

3. A portable alarm device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said buzzer has a voltage rating of approximately three volts and said source of voltage has a voltage of approximately nine volts.

4. A portable alarm device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pulses of the timer circuit means are generated at the rate of 3 Hz with 50% duty cycle.

5. A portable alarm device as claimed in claim 1 further including a radio frequency transmitter means activated by said means for connecting such that an alarm signal is sent to a remote location wherever the audio generating device is activated.

6. A portable alarm device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second switch means comprises a plurality of third activatable switch means, a logic circuit for producing an output only when preselected ones of said plurality of third activatable switch means are activated, the output of said logic means resetting said latch circuit means.

7. A portable alarm device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for connecting includes a gravity switch that is activated when the orientation of the device is changed, activation of said gravity switch being sufficient to cause said audio generating device to operate.