Consumption control

• US 5,424,719 A
• Filed: 10/06/1993
• Issued: 06/13/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tomer Ravid
• Original Assignee: Tomer Ravid
• Inventors: Ravid, Tomer
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/132,591
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/540, 340/529, 340/527
• US Class Current: 340/573.7
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

Consumption control apparatus has a rate meter operative for determining an actual rate at which an arm of a user is brought into an eating position during a consumption session, and an indicator operative for providing a sensible indication whenever the actual rate deviates unacceptably from a preselected, standard, eating rate. The apparatus preferably provides the user, during preselected learn/practice time intervals, with a sensible indication corresponding to the preselected standard rate. Preferably, a learn/practice time interval is automatically initiated at the beginning of each consumption session and/or following each unacceptable deviation from the preselected eating rate. The apparatus preferably further includes a memory for recording the number of unacceptable deviations from the preselected eating rate and a visual display for displaying the recorded number of unacceptable deviations. The rate meter preferably includes a position switch, associated with the arm of the user, which is activated each time the arm of the user is brought into the eating position.

Claims

1. Consumption control apparatus comprising:

a rate meter operative for determining an actual rate at which an arm of a user is brought into an eating position during a consumption session; and

an indicator operative for providing a sensible indication whenever the actual rate deviates unacceptably from a preselected, standard, eating rate.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sensible indication includes an audio indication.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the indicator provides the user, during preselected learn/practice time intervals, with a sensible indication corresponding to the preselected standard rate.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the indicator provides the user, during preselected learn/practice time intervals, with a sensible indication corresponding to the preselected standard rate.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the sensible indication corresponding to the standard rate includes a series of sensible pulses separated by intervals corresponding to the standard rate.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein a learn/practice time interval is automatically initiated at the beginning of each consumption session.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein a learn/practice time interval is initiated following each unacceptable deviation from the standard eating rate.

8. Apparatus according to claim 4 and further comprising a visual display for displaying the number of unacceptable deviations from the preselected eating rate.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the indicator provides a sensible indication at the expiration of a preselected meal time.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 and further comprising a memory operative for recording the number of unacceptable deviations detected during the consumption session.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the memory further records the duration of each consumption session.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the rate meter comprises a position switch, associated with the arm of the user, which is activated each time the arm of the user is brought into the eating position.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the position switch is located near the inner elbow of the eating arm of the user so as to be activated each time the eating arm is folded to the eating position.

14. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the indicator provides a sensible indication at the expiration of a preselected meal time.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 and further comprising a memory operative for recording the number of unacceptable deviations detected during the consumption session.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the memory further records the duration of each consumption session.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the rate meter comprises a position switch, associated with the arm of the user, which is activated each time the arm of the user is brought into the eating position.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the position switch is located near the inner elbow of the eating arm of the user so as to be activated each time the eating arm is folded to the eating position.

19. Apparatus according to claim 4 and further comprising a memory operative for recording the number of unacceptable deviations detected during the consumption session.

20. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the rate meter comprises a position switch, associated with the arm of the user, which is activated each time the arm of the user is brought into the eating position.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the position switch is located near the inner elbow of the eating arm of the user so as to be activated each time the eating arm is folded to the eating position.

22. Apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a visual display for displaying the number of unacceptable deviations from the preselected eating rate.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the indicator provides a sensible indication at the expiration of a preselected meal time.

24. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the indicator provides a sensible indication at the expiration of a preselected meal time.

25. Apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a memory operative for recording the number of unacceptable deviations detected during the consumption session.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the information stored in memory is protected, such that tampering of the user with the stored information is detectable.

27. Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the rate meter comprises a position switch, associated with the arm of the user, which is activated each time the arm of the user is brought into the eating position.

28. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the rate meter comprises a position switch, associated with the arm of the user, which is activated each time the arm of the user is brought into the eating position.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the position switch is located near the inner elbow of the eating arm of the user so as to be activated each time the eating arm is folded to the eating position.

30. A consumption control method comprising the steps of:

determining an actual rate at which an eating arm of a user is brought into an eating position during a consumption session; and

providing a sensible indication whenever the actual rate deviates unacceptably from a preselected, standard, eating rate.

31. A method according to claim 30 and further comprising the step of providing the user, during preselected learn/practice time intervals, with a sensible indication corresponding to the preselected standard rate.

32. A method according to claim 31 and further comprising the step of indicating the expiration of a preselected meal time.

33. A method according to claim 32 and further comprising the step of recording the number of unacceptable deviations detected during the consumption session.

34. A method according to claim 33 and further comprising the step of recording the duration of each consumption session.

35. A method according to claim 31 and further comprising the step of recording the number of unacceptable deviations detected during the consumption session.

36. A method according to claim 31 wherein the step of determining the actual rate comprises the steps of:

mounting onto the eating arm of the user a position switch which is activated only when the eating arm is brought into the eating position; and

measuring the time lapsed between successive activations of the position switch.

37. A method according to claim 30 and further comprising the step of visually displaying the number of unacceptable deviations from the preselected eating rate.

38. A method according to claim 30 and further comprising the step of indicating the expiration of a preselected meal time.

39. A method according to claim 38 and further comprising the step of recording the number of unacceptable deviations detected during the consumption session.

40. A method according to claim 39 and further comprising the step of recording the duration of each consumption session.

41. A method according to claim 40 wherein the step of determining the actual rate comprises the steps of:

mounting onto the eating arm of the user a position switch which is activated only when the eating arm is brought into the eating position; and

measuring the time lapsed between successive activations of the position switch.

42. A method according to claim 39 wherein the step of determining the actual rate comprises the steps of:

mounting onto the eating arm of the user a position switch which is activated only when the eating arm is brought into the eating position; and

measuring the time lapsed between successive activations of the position switch.

43. A method according to claim 38 wherein the step of determining the actual rate comprises the steps of:

mounting onto the eating arm of the user a position switch which is activated only when the eating arm is brought into the eating position; and

measuring the time lapsed between successive activations of the position switch.

44. A method according to claim 30 and further comprising the step of recording the number of unacceptable deviations detected during the consumption session.

45. A method according to claim 44 wherein the step of determining the actual rate comprises the steps of:

mounting onto the eating arm of the user a position switch which is activated only when the eating arm is brought into the eating position; and

measuring the time lapsed between successive activations of the position switch.

46. A method according to claim 30 wherein the step of determining the actual rate comprises the steps of:

mounting onto the eating arm of the user a position switch which is activated only when the eating arm is brought into the eating position; and

measuring the time lapsed between successive activations of the position switch.

47. A method according to claim 30 wherein the sensible indication includes an audio indication.