Television viewing distance safety system

• US 5,541,664 A
• Filed: 08/14/1995
• Issued: 07/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Juan Cuadrado
• Original Assignee: Juan Cuadrado
• Inventors: Cuadrado, Juan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US08/514,688
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 348/552, 348/553, 348/725, 348/61, 348/180
• US Class Current: 725/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42201 biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

A television viewing distance safety system including a television receiver having a viewable screen; a sensor assembly mechanism positioned at a location proximal to the screen of a television receiver for radiating a signal to a remote location in front of the screen, detecting a reflected portion of the signal from an object positioned within a predetermined distance therefrom, and transmitting an indication of the presence of the detected object; an alarm mechanism coupled to the sensor assembly means for providing a warning upon receipt of the indication to signify the presence of the detected object; a timed switching mechanism coupled between the alarm mechanism and the television receiver and with the timed switching mechanism being responsive to the activation of the alarm means for preventing delivery of electrical power to the television receiver; and a power supply mechanism coupled to the sensor assembly mechanism, the alarm mechanism, and timed switching mechanism for supplying electrical power for operation.

Claims

1. A television viewing distance safety system for preventing children from watching television at a potentially harmful close viewing distance comprising, in combination:

a rigid box-shaped hollow housing having a bottom wall, a top wall, and a periphery interconnected therebetween formed of a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of opposed long side walls and with the bottom wall further having a plurality of feet extended downwards therefrom for positioning the housing upon a recipient surface proximal to a screen of a television receiver and with the front wall further having a generally transparent rectangular window formed thereon;

sensor assembly means disposed within the housing for radiating a signal through the window to a remote location in front of the screen of the television receiver, detecting a reflected portion of the signal through the window from an object positioned within a predetermined distance therefrom, and transmitting an indication of the presence of the detected object, the sensor assembly means having a manually actuated dialable switch means cooperative therewith and extended through the top wall of the housing for allowing the predetermined distance to be changed;

alarm means coupled to the sensor assembly means and extended through the front wall of the housing for providing a visual warning upon receipt of the indication to signify the presence of the detected object;

an auxiliary electrical receptacle coupled to the back wall of the housing and with the receptacle securable to a plug end of the television receiver for supplying electrical power thereto for operation;

timed switching means coupled between the alarm means and the electrical receptacle and with the timed switching means being responsive to the activation of the alarm means for preventing delivery of electrical power to the electrical receptacle after a predetermined amount of time;

a power cable for supplying electrical power having a distal plug end securable to a remote electrical power source and a proximal terminal end extended within the housing; and

a power switch coupled between the terminal end of the power cable and the sensor assembly means, the alarm means, and the timed switching means and with the power switch having one orientation for allowing supply of electrical power for operation of the television viewing distance safety system and the television receiver securable thereto and another orientation for preventing such supply.

2. A television viewing distance safety system comprising:

a television receiver having a viewable screen;

sensor assembly means positioned at a location proximal to the screen of a television receiver for radiating a signal to a remote location in front of the screen, detecting a reflected portion of the signal from an object positioned within a predetermined distance therefrom, and transmitting an indication of the presence of the detected object, and wherein the sensor assembly means includes a manually actuated dialable switch means cooperative therewith for allowing the predetermined distance to be changed;

alarm means coupled to the sensor assembly means for providing a warning upon receipt of the indication to signify the presence of the detected object;

timed switching means coupled between the alarm means and the television receiver and with the timed switching means being responsive to the activation of the alarm means for preventing delivery of electrical power to the television receiver, and wherein the sensor assembly means, the alarm means, and timed switching means are encased in a housing that has a window formed thereon from which the signals from the sensor assembly means are radiated;

an auxiliary electrical receptacle coupled to the sensor assembly means and with the receptacle securable to a plug end of the television receiver for supplying electrical power thereto for operation; and

power supply means coupled to the sensor assembly means, the alarm means, timed switching means, and receptacle for supplying electrical power for operation.