Emergency signaling device

• US 4,959,637 A
• Filed: 08/07/1989
• Issued: 09/25/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: National Safety Devices Incorporated
• Original Assignee: National Safety Devices Incorporated
• Inventors: Smyth, Jerry S., Felton, Roger D., Woods, Richard E., Bonner, Guy Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sutcliffe, Geoff
• Application Number:
  US07/390,088
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/693, 340/321, 340/326, 340/539
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0415 detecting absence of activity per se

Abstract

An emergency signaling device adapted to attach to an existing flashlight is disclosed. The device provides audio, optical and radio frequency alarms when the device detects no movement for a period of time. The radio frequency alarm is coded so that a plurality of the devices may be used in conjunction with a receiver to form an emergency signaling system. The receiver decodes the signal and indicates which device has transmitted the alarm. The device uses the battery in the flashlight for power. A noxious gas detector may also be integrated into the device.

Claims

1. An emergency signaling system comprising:

a plurality of emergency signaling devices, each said device having a housing, a control means located within said housing, a motion detection means located within said housing and operatively connected to said control means, an audio alarm means located within said housing and operatively connected to said control means, and a coded radio frequency alarm means located within said housing and operatively connected to said control means, whereby a first audio alarm is produced after a first period of no movement of a particular signalling device and a coded radio frequency alarm associated with the particular signaling device and a second audio alarm are produced if there is no movement of the particular device for a second period of time following the first period, said second audio alarm being louder than said first audio alarm; and

an emergency signal receiver having coded radio frequency alarm receiver means, an alarm decoder operatively connected to said receiver means, and alarm indication means operatively connected to said decoder, whereby the occurrence of the coded radio frequency alarm may be detected and identified with the particular signaling device and wherein movement of the particular device during a first production of the coded radio frequency alarm cancels the same but has no effect on any subsequent production of the coded radio frequency alarm.

2. An emergency signaling device adapted to attach to a flashlight having a lamp and battery means, said device comprising:

a housing adapted to attach to the flashlight;

a control means located within said housing;

a motion detection means located within said housing and operatively connected to said control means;

an audio alarm means located within said housing and operatively connected to said control means;

a means to flash the lamp, said lamp flashing means located within the housing and operatively connected to said control means and said lamp;

a strobe light located within said and operatively connected to said control means; and

a radio frequency alarm means located within said housing and operatively connected to said control means, said battery means providing electrical power for said control means, motion detection means, audio alarm means, lamp flashing means, strobe light and radio frequency alarm means, whereby a first audio alarm is produced after a first period of no movement of the device and a second audio alarm, a flashing lamp alarm, a strobe light alarm and a radio frequency alarm are produced if there is no movement of the device for a second period of time following the first period and wherein movement of the device during a first production of the second audio alarm, flashing lamp alarm, strobe light alarm and radio frequency alarm cancels same but has no effect on any subsequent production.