Safety alertness monitoring system

• US 5,012,226 A
• Filed: 02/23/1990
• Issued: 04/30/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samuel D. Love
• Original Assignee: Samuel D. Love
• Inventors: Love, Samuel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mullen, Jr., Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US07/483,635
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 340/576, 340/309.15, 340/439, 180/272, 361/170, 368/244, 368/250, 368/261-263
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

The present invention utilizes operator interaction for maintaining an operator alert. A switching means is provided which must be actuated by the operator within an adjustable time period to prevent a first alarm from being activated. Upon detection of this first alarm, the driver must actuate the switching means, indicating his alertness and restarting the first time period, otherwise after expiration of a second time period a second alarm will be activated to further alert the operator and passengers. This second alarm will remain activated until the switching means is actuated restarting the process. The present invention also includes a waiting mode whereby the timer can be deactivated while driving in congested traffic. During the waiting mode, a third alarm is activated to provide some alerting function. The present invention can be portable and thus easily used and installed in different vehicles. A variety of mounting means can be used to mount the device in the vehicle. The device also includes a first electrical output which is usually ON, but is turned OFF when the buzzer sounds. This output can be used to supply power to, for example, games for the enjoyment by children. Since the drive in effect "controls" the power supplied to the first output, additional interaction of passengers with the driver is ensured, thus further raising the alertness of the driver. A second electrical output is provided which is usually OFF, but is turned ON when the buzzer sounds. The second output can be used to control additional safety devices.

Claims

1. A safety alertness monitoring system comprising:

a housing;

timer means located in said housing, for counting a first predetermined time period and a second predetermined time period after counting said first predetermined time period;

first alarm means, located in said housing, for sounding a first alarm after said first predetermined time period is counted by said timer means;

second alarm means, located in said housing, for sounding a second alarm after said second predetermined time period is counted by said timer means;

resetting means for resetting said timer means, said resetting means causing said timer means to begin counting said first predetermined time period when actuated; and

attaching means for removably attaching said system to a power supply whereby said system is portable.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said attaching means includes a connector for removably attaching said system to a vehicle power supply.

3. The system according to claim 1, whereby said attaching means is a plug engageable with a vehicle'"'"'s cigarette lighter.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said resetting means is a switch movable between first and second positions, said first position designating a timing mode of said apparatus wherein said timer means is activated and begins counting said first predetermined time period, said second position designating a waiting mode wherein said timer means is deactivated and reset.

5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a third alarm, said third alarm being activated when said switch is in said second position.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said first alarm is a first flashing light, said second alarm is a buzzer and said third alarm is a second flashing light.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an on/off receptacle located on said housing, said on/off receptacle being supplied with power when said timer means is counting said first and second predetermined time periods.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an off/on receptacle located on said housing, said off/on receptacle being supplied with power only after said second predetermined time period is counted.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said timer means is a two-phase timer.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said timer means includes setting means for adjustably setting the first and second predetermined time periods.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first alarm means includes a flashing light and a switch for selectively shutting off power to said flashing light.

12. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a first relay having activated and deactivated positions, said first relay being activated by said timer means after said first time period is counted and being deactivated when said resetting means is actuated, said first relay closing a first circuit to supply said first alarm means with power when activated and opening said first circuit when deactivated.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a second relay having activated and deactivated positions, said second relay being activated by said timer means after said second predetermined time period is counted and being deactivated when said resetting means is actuated, said second relay completing a second circuit to supply said second alarm means with power when activated and opening said second circuit when deactivated.

14. The system according to claim 1, further comprising mounting means for removably mounting said housing in a vehicle.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said mounting means includes a bracket.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein said mounting means includes a clip.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein said mounting means includes a hook-and-loop fastener wherein one of a hook fastener and a loop fastener is attached to said housing and the other of said hook fastener and said loop fastener is attachable to a surface in an internal compartment of a vehicle.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein said resetting means includes a switch which is separate from said housing and operatively attached to said timer means by a cord.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a tapered upper surface.

40. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second alarm is separate from said first alarm.

20. A safety alertness monitoring system comprising:

timer means for counting a first predetermined time period and a second predetermined time period after counting said first predetermined time period;

first alarm means for sounding a first alarm after said first predetermined time period is counted by said timer means;

second alarm means for sounding a second alarm after said second predetermined time period is counted by said timer means;

a third alarm; and

a switch movable between first and second positions, said first position designating a timing mode of said apparatus wherein said timer means is activated and begins counting said first predetermined time period, said second position designating a waiting mode wherein said timer means is deactivated and reset and said third alarm is activated.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said first alarm is a first flashing light, said second alarm is a buzzer and said third alarm is a second flashing light.

22. The system according to claim 20, further comprising a first relay having activated and deactivated positions, said first relay being activated by said timer means after said first predetermined time period is counted and being deactivated when said switch is moved to said second position, said first relay completing a first circuit to supply said first alarm means with power when activated and opening said first circuit when deactivated.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said first relay closes a waiting circuit which includes said third alarm means when said first relay is deactivated and said switch is in said second position.

24. The system according to claim 22, further comprising a second relay having activated and deactivated positions, said second relay being activated by said timer means after said second predetermined time period is counted and being deactivated when said resetting means is actuated, said second relay completing a second circuit to supply said second alarm means with power when activated and opening said second circuit when deactivated.

25. The system according to claim 20, further comprising an on/off receptacle, said on/off receptacle being supplied with power when said switch is in said first position and said timer is counting said first and second predetermined time periods.

26. The system according to claim 20, further comprising an off/on receptacle, said off/on receptacle being supplied with power only when said switch is in said first position and after said second predetermined time period is counted.

27. The system according to claim 20, wherein said timer means is a two-phase timer.

28. The system according to claim 20, wherein said timer means includes setting means for adjustably setting the first and second predetermined time periods.

41. The system according to claim 20, wherein said second alarm is separate from said first alarm.

29. A safety alertness monitoring system comprising:

a housing;

timer means, located in said housing, for counting a first predetermined time period and a second predetermined time period after counting said first predetermined time period;

a first alarm located in said housing;

a second alarm located in said housing;

a third alarm located in said housing;

attaching means including a connector for removably attaching said system to a power supply;

signalling means for supplying first and second signals; and

control means, located inside said housing, said control means selectively connecting said attaching means to said timer means and said first, second and third alarms based on said first and second signals, wherein said control means causes said timer means to begin counting said first predetermined time period upon receipt of said first signal and resets said timer means upon receipt of said second signal, said control means attaching said first alarm to said attaching means after said first predetermined time period is counted, connecting said second alarm to said attaching means after said second predetermined time period is counted and connecting said third alarm to said attaching means upon receipt of said second signal.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein said control means includes a first relay having activated and deactivated positions, said first relay being activated after said first predetermined time period is counted and being deactivated upon receipt of said second signal, said first relay closing a first circuit which includes said first alarm when activated.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein said control means includes a second relay having activated and deactivated positions, said second relay being activated after said second predetermined time period is counted and being deactivated upon receipt of said second signal, said second relay closing a second circuit which includes said second alarm when activated.

32. The system according to claim 31, further comprising an on/off receptacle, located in said housing, wherein said control means connects said on/off receptacle to said attaching means upon receipt of said first signal and disconnects said on/off receptacle from said attaching means after said second predetermined time period is counted.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein said second relay attaches said on/off receptacle to said attaching means when deactivated and disconnects said on/off receptacle from said attaching means when activated.

34. The system according to claim 29, wherein said connector is for removably attaching said apparatus to a vehicle power supply.

35. The system according to claim 34, wherein said connector is a plug engageable with a vehicle'"'"'s cigarette lighter.

36. The system according to claim 29, wherein said first alarm is a first flashing light, said second alarm is a buzzer and said third alarm is a second flashing light.

37. The system according to claim 29, wherein said timer means is a two-phase timer.

38. The system according to claim 29, wherein said timer means includes setting means for adjustably setting the first and second predetermined time periods.

39. The system according to claim 29, further comprising mounting means for removably mounting said housing in a vehicle.

42. The system according to claim 29, wherein said second alarm is separate from said first alarm.