Locating system with both visual and voice simulated indication capabilities

• US 5,673,023 A
• Filed: 06/03/1996
• Issued: 09/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bradley K. Smith
• Original Assignee: Bradley K. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Bradley K.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/656,829
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571, 340/540, 340/539, 340/691, 340/692, 340/693, 340/825.36, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A locating system including a transmitter housing having a plurality of button switches situated thereon. Also included is at least one receiver housing coupled to an object. A speaker, button key, and high intensity strobe light are situated on the receiver housing. The transmitter housing is equipped with transmitter circuitry for emitting one of a plurality of unique signals upon the instantaneous depression of an associated button on the transmitter housing. Receiver circuitry is situated within the receiver housing and is adapted to activate upon the receipt of an associated signal transmitted via the transmitter circuitry. The receiver circuitry is further adapted to deactivate only upon the depression of the key on the receiver housing. Also included is audible receiving indication circuitry for emitting an audible signal via the speaker comprising a short descriptive phrase representative of the object to which the receiver housing is connected. The audible signal is only emitted upon the activation of the receiver circuitry. Finally, visual receiving indication circuitry is connected to the receiver circuitry and strobe light of the receiver housing for allowing the intermittent actuation of the strobe light upon the activation of the receiver circuitry.

Claims

1. A new and improved locating system with both visual and voice simulated indication capabilities comprising, in combination:

a transmitter housing with a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween defining an interior space, the top face having a first portion, a second portion, and a bevelled intermediate portion formed therebetween with the second portion situated in a plane which resides above a plane in which the first portion resides, the transmitter housing further having a plurality of button switches situated on the first portion of the housing in linear alignment, a plurality of indicators situated on the intermediate portion with each indicator comprising a transparent window capable of releasably receiving a strip of translucent material with opaque indicia printed thereon, and a plurality of light emitting diodes each situated within the interior space adjacent an associated transparent window and adapted to emit light upon the actuation thereof;

at least one receiver housing with a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween defining an interior space, the receiver housing comprising a speaker situated within the interior space of the receiver housing adjacent a grill formed therein, a high intensity strobe light situated on the periphery of the receiver housing for emitting high intensity light upon the actuation thereof, a key also situated on the periphery of the receiver housing, and an adhesive lining situated on the bottom face of the receiver housing for being adhered to an object;

transmitter means situated within the transmitter housing and connected to the buttons for emitting a plurality of unique signals each at a predetermined frequency and with each signal being transmitted upon the instantaneous depression of an associated button on the transmitter housing;

transmitting indication means positioned within the transmitter housing and connected to the light emitting diodes for allowing the actuation of a diode upon the depression of an associated button;

receiver means situated within the receiver housing and adapted to activate upon the receipt of an associated signal transmitted via the transmitter means, the receiver means adapted to deactivate only upon the depression of the key on the receiver housing;

audible receiving indication means connected to the receiver means and speaker of the receiver housing for emitting an audible signal comprising a short descriptive phrase representative of the object to which the receiver housing is connected, wherein the audible receiving indication means only emits an audible signal upon the activation of the receiver means; and

visual receiving indication means connected to the receiver means and strobe light of the receiver housing for allowing the intermittent actuation of the strobe light only upon the activation of the receiver means.

2. A locating system comprising:

a transmitter housing having a plurality of button switches situated thereon;

at least one receiver housing comprising a speaker situated thereon and a key situated on a periphery thereof, wherein the receiver housing is coupled to an object;

transmitter means situated within the transmitter housing and connected to the buttons for emitting a plurality of unique signals at a predetermined frequency with each signal being transmitted upon the instantaneous depression of an associated button on the transmitter housing;

receiver means situated within the receiver housing and adapted to activate upon the receipt of an associated signal transmitted via the transmitter means, the receiver means adapted to deactivate only upon the depression of the key on the receiver housing; and

audible receiving indication means connected to the receiver means and speaker of the receiver housing for emitting an audible signal comprising a short descriptive phrase representative of the object to which the receiver housing is connected, wherein the audible receiving indication means only emits an audible signal upon the activation of the receiver means.

3. A locating system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the transmitter housing has a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween defining an interior space, the top face having a first portion, a second portion, and a bevelled intermediate portion formed therebetween with the second portion situated in a plane which resides above a plane in which the first portion resides.

4. A locating system as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising a plurality of indicators situated on the transmitter housing with each indicator having a transparent window capable of releasably receiving a strip of translucent material with opaque indicia printed thereon, a plurality of light emitting diodes each situated adjacent an associated transparent window and adapted to emit light upon the actuation thereof, and transmitting indication means positioned within the transmitter housing and connected to the light emitting diodes for allowing the actuation of a diode upon the depression of an associated button.

5. A locating system as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising a high intensity strobe light situated on the receiver housing for emitting high intensity light upon the actuation thereof and visual receiving indication means connected to the receiver means and the strobe light of the receiver housing for allowing the intermittent actuation of the strobe light only upon the activation of the receiver means.

6. A locating system comprising:

a transmitter housing having a plurality of button switches situated thereon;

at least one receiver housing comprising a light situated thereon and a key situated on a periphery thereof, wherein the receiver housing is coupled to an object;

transmitter means situated within the transmitter housing and connected to the buttons for emitting a plurality of unique signals at a predetermined frequency with each signal being transmitted upon the instantaneous depression of an associated button on the transmitter housing;

receiver means situated within the receiver housing and adapted to activate upon the receipt of an associated signal transmitted via the transmitter means, the receiver means adapted to deactivate only upon the depression of the key on the receiver housing; and

visual receiving indication means connected to the receiver means and light of the receiver housing for allowing the actuation of the light only upon the activation of the receiver means.