Portable radio paging alarm apparatus and associated method for a vehicle containing an animal

• US 5,793,284 A
• Filed: 05/18/1995
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey K. Teague
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey K. Teague
• Inventors: Teague, Jeffrey K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANNAVA, ASHOK K
• Application Number:
  US08/444,379
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/439, 340/585-86, 340/588-89, 340/311.1, 340/506, 340/825.44, 340/825.45, 340/870.11, 340/501, 340/573, 340/546
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

An alarm apparatus includes a vehicle temperature sensor, a vehicle power failure sensor, and a radio paging alarm generator for generating a radio paging output signal to a remote paging receiver carried by an animal caregiver responsive to one of vehicle temperature being outside a predetermined temperature range, and failure of vehicle AC or DC electrical power. Accordingly, the animal caregiver is alerted by the radio paging alarm signal when the temperature within the vehicle is outside the predetermined range or when the temperature within the vehicle is likely to move outside the predetermined range as indicated by a failure of electrical power of the vehicle. Method aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A portable alarm apparatus for installation in a vehicle containing an animal for alerting an animal caregiver away from the vehicle when an undesired condition occurs within the vehicle, said portable alarm apparatus comprising:

a relatively compact portable housing for positioning within the vehicle;

power supply means in said housing and comprising a battery and charging means for charging said battery from vehicle electrical power;

vehicle temperature sensing means positioned at said housing for sensing vehicle temperature;

vehicle power failure sensing means in said housing for being operatively connected to vehicle electrical power for sensing failure of vehicle electrical power including a complete loss thereof; and

radio paging alarm means in said housing and operatively connected to said vehicle temperature sensing means and said vehicle power failure sensing means and being powered by said battery of said power supply means during a complete loss of vehicle electrical power for generating a radio paging output signal to be received by a remote paging receiver carried by the animal caregiver responsive to at least one of vehicle temperature being outside a predetermined temperature range and failure of vehicle electrical power including a complete loss of vehicle electrical power or both vehicle temperature being outside a predetermined temperature range and failure of vehicle electrical power including a complete loss of vehicle electrical power.

2. A portable alarm apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said radio paging alarm means further comprises repeating means for repeatedly sending the radio paging alarm signal.

3. A portable alarm apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said radio paging alarm means further comprises reset switch means carried by said housing for permitting resetting of the radio paging alarm generating means.

4. A portable alarm apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising auxiliary input means for accepting an auxiliary alarm input signal for causing said radio paging alarm means to generate a radio paging alarm signal responsive to an auxiliary alarm input signal.

5. A portable alarm apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a first connector carried by said housing for connection to alternating current (AC) vehicle electrical power, and a second connector carried by said housing for connection to direct current (DC) vehicle electrical power.

6. A portable alarm apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said vehicle power failure sensing means is operatively connected to both said first and second connectors for sensing a failure of either AC or DC vehicle electrical power.

7. A portable alarm apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said charging means includes means for operating from direct current (DC) vehicle power, and wherein said vehicle power failure sensing means includes means for sensing a failure of DC vehicle electrical power.

8. A portable alarm apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said temperature sensing means further comprises a temperature sensing probe carried by said housing.

9. A portable alarm apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said radio paging alarm means further comprises an antenna connector carried by said housing to facilitate connection to an antenna mounted on the vehicle.

10. A portable alarm apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vehicle temperature sensing means further comprises range setting means for permitting setting of the predetermined temperature range.

11. A portable alarm apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising auxiliary output means for providing an auxiliary alarm output signal.

12. A portable alarm apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a remote paging receiver for carrying by the animal caregiver.

13. A portable alarm apparatus for installation in a vehicle containing an animal for alerting an animal caregiver away from the vehicle when an undesired condition occurs within the vehicle, said portable alarm apparatus comprising:

a relatively compact portable housing for positioning within the vehicle;

a power supply in said housing and comprising a battery and associated charger for charging the battery from vehicle electrical power;

a vehicle temperature sensor positioned at said housing for sensing vehicle temperature;

a vehicle power failure sensor in said housing for sensing failure of vehicle electrical power including a complete loss thereof; and

radio paging alarm means in said housing and operatively connected to said vehicle temperature sensor and said vehicle power failure sensor and being powered by said battery of said power supply during a complete loss of vehicle electrical power for generating a radio paging output signal to be received by a remote paging receiver carried by the animal caregiver responsive to at least one of vehicle temperature being outside a predetermined temperature range and failure of vehicle electrical power including a complete loss of vehicle electrical power, said radio paging alarm means further comprising repeating means for repeatedly sending the radio paging alarm signal or both vehicle temperature being outside a predetermined temperature range and failure of vehicle electrical power including a complete loss of vehicle electrical power.

14. An alarm apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a housing, and wherein said radio paging alarm means further comprises reset switch means carried by said housing for permitting resetting of the radio paging alarm means.

15. An alarm apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising auxiliary input means for accepting an auxiliary alarm input signal for causing said radio paging alarm means to generate a radio paging alarm signal responsive to an auxiliary alarm input signal.

16. A portable alarm apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a first connector for connection to alternating current (AC) vehicle electrical power, and a second connector for connection to direct current (DC) vehicle electrical power;

and wherein said vehicle power failure sensing means is operatively connected to both said first and second connectors for sensing a failure of either AC or DC vehicle electrical power.

17. An alarm apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising auxiliary output means for providing an auxiliary alarm output signal.

18. An alarm apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a remote paging system for carrying by the animal caregiver.

19. A method for alerting an animal caregiver away from a vehicle containing an animal when an undesired condition occurs within the vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

sensing vehicle temperature;

sensing failure of vehicle electrical power; and

generating a radio paging output signal to a remote paging receiver carried by the animal caregiver responsive to at least one of vehicle temperature being outside a predetermined temperature range and failure of vehicle electrical power or both vehicle temperature being outside a predetermined temperature range and failure of vehicle electrical power.

20. A method according to claim 19 further comprising the step of repeatedly sending the radio paging alarm signal until reset.

21. A method according to claim 19 further comprising the steps of:

sensing an auxiliary alarm input; and

generating a radio paging output signal to the remote paging receiver carried by the animal caregiver responsive to receipt of an auxiliary alarm input signal.

22. A method according to claim 19 further comprising the step of setting the predetermined temperature range.

23. A method according to claim 19 further comprising the step of providing an auxiliary alarm output signal responsive to one of vehicle temperature being outside a predetermined temperature range and failure of vehicle electrical power.