Pager safety system

• US 5,319,349 A
• Filed: 04/13/1992
• Issued: 06/07/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith, Frank E. III
• Original Assignee: Smith, Frank E. III
• Inventors: Smith, Frank E. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US07/868,017
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 340/311.1, 340/394, 340/407, 340/388, 340/391, 340/571, 340/572, 24/3 J, 24/3 L, 24/3 G, 24/3 H, 24/6, 24/11 M, 24/11 P, 24/12, 24/13, 248/255.31
• US Class Current: 340/7.63
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/021 to the belt
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1058 Pager holders or housings casings for electric apparatus H05K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1309 Pin attached
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/135 with movable catch [e.g., pin pivoted lever, roller, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1353 Pivoted jaw pencil holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1356 Pin attached
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1365 Pin attached
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1391 Article held by clip with spring [e.g., leaf, coil] member

Abstract

Accessory components aid in preventing loss of a pager of the type that emits an audible and/or visual signal in response to radio signals and which has a clip member pivoted to the pager housing for attaching the pager to another article and a clip tensioning spring which acts to pivot the member towards the housing. In the preferred form, one such component positions an auxiliary spring between the housing and clip member to supplement the force of the pager tensioning spring and enables adjustment of the auxiliary spring force to compensate for a weakened tensioning spring. Another component emits a perceptible signal when the clip member is pivoted outward from the housing to detect accidental dislodgment or theft of the pager.

Claims

1. Safety apparatus for preventing the loss of a pager which pager has a housing, a clip member for attaching the housing to another article, the clip member being pivoted to said housing at a location that is spaced away from a first end of the clip member member and a clip tensioning spring that acts to urge said first end of said clip member towards said housing, wherein said safety apparatus comprises:

a frame proportioned to fit between said pager housing and said clip member,

an auxiliary spring carried by said frame in position to exert a force on said clip member that is separate from the force that is exerted thereon by said clip tensioning spring and which supplements the force that is exerted on said clip member by said clip tensioning spring, and

means for selectively changing the force which said auxiliary spring exerts on said clip member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clip member has a second end that extends beyond said pivot location and wherein said auxiliary spring is positioned on said frame to fit between said second end of said clip member and said pager housing and has first and second ends positioned to exert forces on said second end of said clip member and said pager housing that urge said second end of said clip member outward from said pager housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for emitting a perceptible signal at said pager in response to pivoting of said clip member outwardly from said pager housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for emitting a perceptible signal includes a sensor housing proportioned to fit between said pager housing and said clip member and having means for retaining an electrical battery, an electrical switch attached to to said sensor housing and having an actuator situated outside of said sensor housing in position to be held at a first switch setting by compression between said clip member and said pager housing when said clip member is pivoted towards said pager housing and to be released into a second switch setting when said clip member is pivoted away from said pager housing, an electrically actuated signal generator and means for transmitting current to said signal generator following movement of said actuator to said second switch setting.

5. Safety apparatus for preventing loss of a pager which pager has a housing, a clip member for attaching the housing to another article, the clip member being pivoted to said housing at a location that is spaced away from a first end of the clip member and a clip tensioning spring that acts to urge said first end of said clip member towards said housing, wherein said safety apparatus comprises:

a frame proportioned to fit between said pager housing and said clip member,

an auxiliary spring carried by said frame in position to exert a force on said clip member that supplements the force that is exerted thereon by said clip tensioning spring, and

means for selectively changing the force which said auxiliary spring exerts on said clip member,

wherein said clip member has a second end that extends beyond said pivot location and wherein said auxiliary spring is positioned on said frame to fit between said second end of said clip member and said pager housing and has first and second ends positioned to exert forces on said second end of said clip member and said pager housing that urge said second end of said clip member outward from said pager housing,

further including an outer spring cover plate and an inner spring platform plate extending along a portion of said frame in angled relationship therewith and in angled relationship with each other, said auxiliary spring being disposed between said plates and being fastened to at least one thereof, and wherein said apparatus further includes hinging means for enabling pivoting of said plates relative to said frame and relative to each other.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for selectively changing the force which said auxiliary spring exerts on said clip member includes a cam which is slidable along said frame and which has a ramp surface that is angled relative to said inner spring platform and which extends between said frame and said platform in position to pivot said platform outward from said frame as said cam is translated towards said hinging means, and a threaded rotatable rod extending along said frame and having a threaded engagement with one of said cam and said frame and being immovable in the axial direction relative to the other thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said auxiliary spring has a substantially U-shaped configuration, said first and second ends of said auxiliary spring being diverging arms which extend along and bear against said cover plate and said platform plate respectively.

8. Safety apparatus for preventing loss of a pager which pager has a housing, a clip member for attaching the housing to another article, the clip member being pivoted to said housing at a location that is spaced away from a first end of the clip member and a clip tensioning spring that acts to urge said first end of said clip member towards said housing, wherein said safety apparatus comprises:

a frame proportioned to fit between said pager housing and said clip member,

an auxiliary spring carried by said frame in position to exert a force on said clip member that supplements the force that is exerted thereon by said clip tensioning spring, and

means for selectively changing the force which said auxiliary spring exerts on said clip member,

wherein said pager clip member has a second end that extends beyond said pivot location and wherein said frame of said safety apparatus is proportioned to fit between said pager housing and said second end of said clip member, said frame having a cam track extending therealong, further including a cover plate having a first edge hinged to said frame and an opposite edge which is pivotable outward from said frame, a platform plate having one edge hinged to one of said frame and said cover plate and an opposite edge that is pivotable outward from said frame and pivotable relative to said cover plate, and wherein said auxiliary spring is disposed between said cover plate and platform plate in position to urge said plates apart, and wherein said means for selectively changing the force which said auxiliary spring exerts on said clip member includes a cam which is selectively translatable along said cam track of said frame and which has an inclined ramp surface that extends between said frame and said opposite edge of said platform plate to wedge said platform plate outwardly from said frame and thereby increase the force which said auxiliary spring exerts on said pager clip member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for selectively changing the force which said auxiliary spring exerts on said clip member further includes a threaded rod extending in parallel relationship with said cam track and which is of sufficient length to extend out of the region between said pager housing and said clip member, said threaded rod having a threaded engagement with one of said cam and said frame and being fixed against axial movement relative to the other thereof, and a selectively rotatable knob secured to said rod at the end thereof that is remote from said cam.

10. Safety apparatus for preventing loss of a pager which pager has a housing, a clip member for attaching the housing to another article, the clip member being pivoted to said housing at a location that is spaced away from a first end of the clip member and a clip tensioning spring that acts to urge said first end of said clip member towards said housing, wherein said safety apparatus comprises:

a frame proportioned to fit between said pager housing and said clip member,

an auxiliary spring carried by said frame in position to exert a force on said clip member that supplements the force that is exerted thereon by said clip tensioning spring, and

means for selectively changing the force which said auxiliary spring exerts on said clip member,

further including means for emitting a perceptible signal in response to pivoting of said clip member outwardly from said pager housing, wherein said means for emitting a perceptible signal includes a sensor housing proportioned to fit between said pager housing and said clip member and having means for retaining an electrical battery, an electrical switch attached to said sensor housing and having an actuator situated outside of said sensor housing in position to be held at a first switch setting by compression between said clip member and said pager housing when said clip member is pivoted towards said pager housing and to be released into a second switch setting when said clip member is pivoted away from said pager housing, an electrically actuated signal generator and means for transmitting current to said signal generator following movement of said actuator to said second switch setting,

further including means for selectively changing the position of said switch actuator relative to said sensor housing.

11. Safety apparatus for assuring retention of a pager which has a housing, a pivotable clip member for attaching the housing to another article and a clip tensioning spring that acts to urge a first end of the clip member towards said pager housing, wherein said safety apparatus includes a pager removal sensor comprising:

a sensor housing proportioned to fit between said pager housing and said clip member and having means for retaining an electrical battery,

an electrical switch attached to said sensor housing and having an actuator situated outside of said sensor housing in position to be held at a first switch setting by compression between said clip member and said pager housing when said clip member is pivoted toward said pager housing and to be released into a second switch setting when said clip member is pivoted outward from said pager housing, and

electrically operated signaling means for emitting an perceptible signal at said pager housing when said actuator switches from said first switch setting to said second switch setting, and

means for selectively changing the position of said actuator relative to said sensor housing.

12. Safety apparatus for assuring retention of a pager which has a housing, a pivotable clip member for attaching the housing to another article and a clip tensioning spring that acts to urge a first end of the clip member towards said pager housing, wherein said safety apparatus includes a pager removal sensor comprising:

a sensor housing proportioned to fit between said pager housing and said clip member and having means for retaining an electrical battery,

an electrical switch attached to said sensor housing and having an actuator situated outside of said sensor housing in position to be held at a first switch setting by compression between said clip member and said pager housing when said clip member is pivoted toward said pager housing and to be released into a second switch setting when said clip member is pivoted outward from said pager housing, and

electrically operated signaling means for emitting an perceptible signal when said actuator switches from said first switch setting to said second switch setting,

further including a switch housing spaced apart from said sensor housing and which supports said switch actuator, an electrical connector extending between said sensor housing and said switch housing, and means for selectively changing the position of said switch actuator relative to said sensor housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said electrical connector is flexible enabling changing of the position of said switch housing relative to said sensor housing.

14. Safety apparatus for assuring retention of a pager which has a housing, a pivotable clip member for attaching the housing to another article and a clip tensioning spring that acts to urge a first end of the clip member towards said pager housing, wherein said safety apparatus includes a pager removal sensor comprising:

a sensor housing proportioned to fit between said pager housing and said clip member and having means for retaining an electrical battery,

an electrical switch attached to said sensor housing and having an actuator situated outside of said sensor housing in position to be held at a first switching setting by compression between said clip member and said pager housing when said clip member is pivoted toward said pager housing and to be released into a second switch setting when said clip member is pivoted outward from said pager housing, and

electrically operated signaling means for emitting a perceptible signal when said actuator switches from said first switch setting to said second switch setting,

wherein said switch is attached to said sensor housing through a switch housing and may be extended outward relative to said switch housing and drawn inward relative to said switch housing, further including a rod coupled to said switch housing by means for enabling rotational turning of said rod, said rod having a region which protrudes away from the axis of rotation of the rod and which is positioned to bear against said switch and move said switch outward relative to said switch housing when said rod is turned, and means for holding said rod at a selected rotational orientation.

15. In a pager which produces a perceptible signal in response to radio signals and which has a pager housing, a clip member pivoted thereto for fastening the pager to another article and a clip tensioning spring which acts against said clip member to pivot the clip member towards the pager housing, the improvement comprising:

a frame secured to said pager between said pager housing and said clip member,

an auxiliary spring carried by said frame and which is positioned to exert a force on said clip member that is separate from the force exerted thereon by said clip tensioning spring and which supplements the force that is exerted on said clip member by said clip tensioning spring, and

means for selectively varying the tension in said auxiliary spring to adjust the force which said auxiliary spring exerts on said clip member.

16. The pager of claim 15 further including means for emitting a perceptible signal at said pager when said clip member is pivoted away from said pager housing.

17. In a pager which produces a perceptible signal in response to radio signals and which has a pager housing, a clip member pivoted thereto for fastening the pager to another article and a clip tensioning spring which acts to pivot the clip member towards the pager housing, the improvement comprising:

a sensor housing secured to said pager between said pager housing and said clip member and having means for retaining an electrical battery,

an electrically actuated signal emitting device having means for emitting a signal at said pager that is perceptible to the owner of said pager, said signal emitting device being secured to said sensor housing,

an electrical switch attached to said sensor housing and having a switch actuator positioned to be held at a first switch setting by compression between said clip member and said pager housing when said clip member is pivoted towards said pager housing and to be released into a second switch setting when said clip member is pivoted outward from said pager housing, and

means for selectively changing the position of said switch actuator relative to said sensor housing, and

means for transmitting electrical current to said signal emitting device when said actuator switches from said first setting thereof to said second setting thereof.