Self-contained bed wetting alarm

• US 5,341,127 A
• Filed: 12/06/1993
• Issued: 08/23/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert J. Smith
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US08/163,605
• Time in Patent Office: 260 Days
• Field of Search: 340/603, 340/604, 340/605, 340/573, 340/407, 340/620, 340/825.46, 340/407.1, 128/885, 128/886, 128/DIG. 25, 604/361
• US Class Current: 340/604
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture

Abstract

A compact self-contained bedwetting alarm uses intermittent vibration to awaken the user. Sensors on the surface of the alarm enclosure sense the presence of urine and activate a low frequency vibration. The vibration is turned on and off by a timer so that the user is not lulled to sleep by the vibration. The alarm may be worn in close proximity to the source of urine. There are no external wires to entangle, and the position of the alarm close to the source of urine reminds the user to control the emission of urine when the alarm is on.

Claims

1. A nocturnal bedwetting alarm for alerting a sleeping user to a presence of urine by discontinuous mechanical vibrations, said alarm comprises:

an enclosure for housing the entire alarm, said enclosure has a sensing surface;

at least two sensor terminals on said sensing surface of said enclosure for sensing the presence of urine;

an electromechanical device for inducing mechanical vibrations in said enclosure;

switching means responsive to said terminals sensing the presence of urine for applying voltage to said electromechanical device so that said device induces vibrations in said enclosure; and

a timer circuit electrically connected between said switching means and said electromechanical device to alternately open and close the circuit'"'"'s electrical connection between said switching means and said electromechanical device so as to produce discontinuities in vibrations in said enclosure and thereby awaken the user.

2. The alarm of claim 1 wherein said electromechanical device induces mechanical vibrations at the lower extreme of the audio spectrum and said timer circuit alternately opens and closes the electrical connection in tens of cycles per minute.

3. Alarm apparatus for discontinuously vibrating a sleeping user upon detecting a presence of urine in close proximity to the source of urine, said apparatus is compact, self-contained and comprises:

an enclosure means for enclosing the entire alarm apparatus, said enclosure means has a surface positioned in close proximity to the source of urine;

means for vibrating said enclosure means;

means proximate to said surface of said enclosure means for sensing the presence of urine;

switching means responsive to said sensing means for switching on said vibrating means; and

cycling means responsive to said switching means for cycling said vibrating mean on and off to produce discontinuous vibration of said enclosure means whereby the discontinuous vibration of said enclosure means in close proximity to the source of urine awakens the user and alerts the user to stop urination.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said vibrating means vibrates said enclosure means at a frequency in the lower extreme of the audio spectrum.

5. The alarm apparatus of claim 4 wherein said cycling means cycles said vibrating means on and off in tens of cycles per minute.

6. The alarm apparatus of claim 4 wherein said cycling means cycles said vibrating means on and off about 20 cycles per minute.

7. The alarm apparatus of claim 3 wherein said vibrating means vibrates said enclosure means at substantially 30 cycles per second.

8. The alarm apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cycling means cycles said vibrating means on and off at substantially 20 cycles per minute.