Keep off your back alarm

• US 5,081,447 A
• Filed: 10/19/1990
• Issued: 01/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wilford R. Echols
• Original Assignee: Wilford R. Echols
• Inventors: Echols, Wilford R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/599,953
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/686, 340/689, 200/DIG. 2, 128/782
• US Class Current: 340/573.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 200/02 Body attached switches

Abstract

Apparatus for influencing a person preferentially to sleep on his side and not on his back. A gravity actuated sensor apparatus is attached to a sleeping person for detecting body position and to sound an alarm informing the person when he is resting on his back; thereby enticing the person to sleep on one side or the other and not on his back. Appropriate circuitry connects the sensor apparatus and alarm so that the alarm is actuated in response to the sensor apparatus detecting an undesirable body position. The sensor apparatus is positioned on one'"'"'s head, or alternatively, is positioned on one'"'"'s body. The alarm can be sensed by a sleeper to thereby induce the sleeper to move to an alternate position whenever he attempts to rest on his back for more than a few seconds.

Claims

1. Apparatus for training a person to sleep in a position other than on his back, comprising:

a gravity activated sensor apparatus adapted to be supported on the body for generating a signal when a person is resting on his back;

there being a right hand gravity activated sensor and a left hand gravity activated sensor that is responsive to and moves from a non-signaling position into a signaling position;

said right and left hand sensors are oriented respective to one another to assume the signaling position when the person rests on the back;

an alarm for informing a person that he is resting on his back;

circuitry for actuating said alarm in response to receiving a signal simultaneously from said right and left hand sensors.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said right and left hand sensors are adapted to be attached to the body at spaced locations on the right and left frontal body regions;

each said sensor is arranged at an angle respective to the vertical and horizontal such that when a person rests on his back, both the right and left hand sensors are gravity actuated into a signal producing position and thereby sound said alarm.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said right and left sensors are switch means connected in series and to said circuitry in such a manner that said alarm is sounded only when a person rests on his back and thereby simultaneously moves both switch means into the signal producing position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said right and left hand sensors are series connected switch means adapted to be attached in spaced relation on the frontal right and left hand portions of the body with said switch means each being arranged respective to a vertical plane whereby one of said switch means is open while the other switch means is closed when a person rests on his side and both switch means are closed when a person rests on his back.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said right and left hand sensors are gravity actuated switch means adapted to be supported on one'"'"'s body in spaced relationship respective to one another whereby when a person is resting on his back, the right and left hand sensors are actuated to produce a signal, whereupon said circuitry actuates said alarm;

and when a person rests on either side, one of said switches remains in the non-signaling position and the apparatus fails to produce a signal.

6. Apparatus for training a person to sleep in a position other than on his back, comprising:

a sensor apparatus that includes a right hand gravity activated sensor means and a left hand gravity activated sensor means, each sensor means being movable from a first signal producing position into a second position in which no signal is produced;

means for mounting the right and left hand sensor means on a person'"'"'s body and orienting said sensor means respective to one another to assume the first signal producing position when the person rests on his back, and for one sensor means to assume the second position when the person is not resting on his back;

an alarm for informing a person that he is resting on his back; and

, circuitry for actuating said alarm in response to receiving a signal simultaneously from the right hand and left hand sensor means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said circuitry includes means for providing a delay of several seconds before sounding said alarm.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said sensor apparatus is mounted on one'"'"'s head and wherein said alarm can be sensed by a sleeper to thereby induce the sleeper to move to an alternate position.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said sensor apparatus is mounted on one'"'"'s chest and wherein said alarm can be sensed by a sleeper to thereby induce the sleeper to move to an alternate position.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said right and left hand sensor means is connected to said circuitry in such a manner that said alarm is sounded only when a person rests on his back in excess of several seconds, and after a person moves to a position other than on his back, one of the right and left hand sensor means is moved to the second position and the alarm is silenced.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said sensor apparatus is a pair of series connected switch means adapted to be attached in spaced relation on the frontal right and left hand portions of the body, with said switch means each having an actuator means that is arranged at an angle respective to a vertical plane whereby one of said switch means is open while the other switch means is closed when a person rests on his side and both switch means are closed when a person rests on his back.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said sensor apparatus comprise gravity actuated switches adapted to be supported on one'"'"'s body in spaced relationship respective to one another whereby when a person is resting on his back the right and left switches are actuated to produce a signal, and wherein said circuitry actuates said alarm when the signal is present for several seconds;

and when a person rests on either side, one of said switches fails to produce a signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the right and left hand sensor means are moved into the first position when inclined at a first angle respective to the body, and said sensor means are moved into the second position when inclined at an opposite angle respective to the body;

said right and left hand sensor means are adapted to be attached to the body at spaced locations on the right and left frontal body regions such that the right hand sensor means is in the first position when the person rests on the right side and is in the second position when the person rests on the left side;

and said left hand sensor means is in the first position when the person rests on the left side and is in the second position when the person rests on the right side;

whereby, each said right and left hand sensor means is arranged at an angle respective to the vertical such that when a person rests on his back, both the right and left hand sensor means are actuated into the first position and thereby sound said alarm.

14. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said right and left sensor means are connected in series and to said circuitry in such a manner that said alarm is sounded only when a person rests on his back, and thereby moves said right and left hand sensor means into an actuated configuration.

15. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said right and left hand sensor means are series connected switch means adapted to be attached in spaced relation on the frontal right and left hand portions of the body between the eyes and the ears, with said switch means each being arranged at an angle respective to a person'"'"'s head whereby one of said switch means is open while the other switch means is closed when a person rests on his side and both switch means are closed when a person rests on his back.

16. Method of encouraging a person to sleep in a position other than on his back, comprising the steps of:

attaching a right hand and left hand gravity activated sensor means to the body of a person for generating a signal indicating when the person is resting on his back;

mounting the right hand sensor means to provide a signal when in a first position; and

mounting the left hand sensor means to provide a signal when in a first position;

orienting said right and left hand sensor means respective to one another to assume the first position when the person rests on his back; and

for one of said right and left hand sensor means to assume a second position in which there is an absence of said signal when the person rests on his side;

providing an alarm for informing a person that he is resting on his back; and

actuating said alarm in response to receiving a signal simultaneously from said right and left hand sensor means.

17. The method of claim 16, and further including the steps of attaching said right and left hand sensor means to the body at spaced locations on the right and left frontal body regions;

arranging each of said right and left hand sensor means at an angle respective to the vertical such that when a person rests on his side;

one of the right and left hand sensor means is gravity actuated into said second position and the other of said right and left hand sensor means is gravitated into the first position.

18. The method of claim 16, and further including the steps of connecting said right and left hand sensor means in series and to a circuitry means in such a manner that said alarm is sounded only when a person rests on his back and thereby simultaneously moves both the right and left hand sensor means into the first position.

19. The method of claim 16, and further including connecting said right and left hand sensor means in series and attaching said right and left hand sensor means in spaced relation on the frontal right and left hand portions of the body;

arranging the right and left hand sensor means at an angle respective to a vertical plane whereby one of said sensor means is open while the other sensor means is closed when a person rests on his side and both said right and left hand sensor means are closed when a person rests on his back.

20. Apparatus for monitoring a person'"'"'s sleeping habits, comprising;

a sensor apparatus for detecting body position;

a recorder means for storing data related to sleeping habits;

circuitry connected to said sensor apparatus and to said recorder means by which said recorder means is actuated in response to said sensor apparatus detecting a body position indicating the position a person is resting;

said sensor apparatus includes a plurality of signal producing means;

each said signal producing means being arranged to be actuated by gravity and to be attached to the body at spaced locations on the right and left frontal and rear body regions;

each said signal producing means is arranged at an angle respective to the vertical and to the horizontal such that when a person rests on his back some of the signal producing means are gravity actuated and thereby provide a signal, and when a person rests other than on the back, only one of the signal producing means is actuated and provides a signal.