Item locator with attachable receiver/transmitter

• US 5,939,981 A
• Filed: 01/28/1998
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marjorie Renney
• Original Assignee: Marjorie Renney
• Inventors: Renney, Marjorie
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/014,927
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/531, 340/825.49, 340/825.36, 340/825.54, 340/407.1, 340/691.6, 340/692, 340/693.5, 340/686.6
• US Class Current: 340/539.32
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A device which functions to locate preselected items which are remote from a user. The device comprises two parts; a hand held device and multiple sensors/chips which are applied to objects the user desires to locate. The hand held devices contains a control panel selector buttons for each multiple sensors/chip it is desired to locate. When a preselected button is depressed, a transmitter sends signal containing preselected code. The signal is received by a receiver in each multiple sensors/chip. The receiver in each multiple sensors/chip reads the code and if a match is obtained the receiver enables an audio tone generator in the multiple sensors/chip to send a tone through an audio speaker. The multiple sensors/chip further, transmits a signal to the hand held device which is received by a second receiver and decoded. The second receiver matches the code with the multiple sensors/chip selected and enables a second audio tone generator to send a second tone through a second speaker. Both tones are controlled to become louder the closer the hand held device is to the desired multiple sensors/chip. The multiple sensors/chip has an attachment device permitting attachment to various articles to be found. The hand held device and multiple sensors/chip are powered by a power source.

Claims

1. An item locator with attachable receiver/transmitter (10) comprising:

A) a housing (12) which comprises a housing front (12F) and a housing back (12B);

B) at least two locator buttons each corresponding to a different item, the at least two locator buttons are positioned on the housing front (12F);

C) a microchip (22) positioned within the housing (12) and electrically connected to the at least two locator buttons;

D) an ON/OFF switch (16) positioned within the housing (12) and electrically connected to the microchip (22);

E) a battery (26) positioned within the housing (12) and electrically connected to the ON/OFF switch (16);

F) a receiver/transmitter (24) positioned within the housing (12) and electrically connected to the microchip (22);

G) a speaker (28) positioned within the housing (12) and electrically connected to the microchip (22);

H) at least two locator button remote members each corresponding to the at least two locator buttons, each of the at least two locator button remote members are removably attached to one of the different items, each of the at least two locator button remote members comprise a locator button remote member battery electrically connected to a locator button remote member microchip which is electrically connected to a locator button remote member receiver/transmitter which is electrically connected to a locator button remote member speaker, each of locator button remote member receiver/transmitters operate on a different radio frequency corresponding to a frequency generated by the receiver/transmitter and relating to the locator button corresponding to the different item, when a user activates one of the at least two locator buttons, an electrically impulse is transmitted to the microchip (22) which sends an electronic signal to the receiver/transmitter (24) broadcasting a radio signal therefrom, the corresponding locator button remote member receiver/transmitter of the locator button remote member receives the radio signal and sends an electrical signal to the locator button remote member microchip which sends an electronic signal to the locator button remote member speaker which emanates sound therefrom, concurrently the locator button remote member microchip sends an electronic signal to the locator button remote member receiver/transmitter which broadcasts a radio signal to the receiver/transmitter (24) which sends an electronic signal to the microchip (22) which sends an electronic signal to the speaker (28) which emanates sounds therefrom, the strength of the sound emanating from the speaker (28) corresponds to a distance the housing (12) is from the locator button remote member, the closer the distance, the louder the sound which emanates from the speaker (28);

I) a vibrator (30) electrically connected to the microchip (22), when the user activates one of the at least two locator buttons, an electrically impulse is transmitted to the microchip (22) which sends an electronic signal to the receiver/transmitter (24) broadcasting a radio signal therefrom, the corresponding locator button remote member receiver/transmitter of the locator button remote member receives the radio signal and sends an electrical signal to the locator button remote member microchip which sends an electronic signal to the locator button remote member speaker which emanates sound therefrom, concurrently, the locator button remote member microchip sends an electronic signal to the locator button remote member receiver/transmitter which broadcasts a radio signal to the receiver/transmitter (24) which sends an electronic signal to the microchip (22) which sends an electronic signal to the vibrator (30) which emanates vibrations therefrom, the strength of the vibration emanating from the vibrator (30) corresponds to a distance the housing (12) is from the locator button remote member, the closer the distance, the stronger the vibration which emanates from the vibrator (30);

J) a volume control (18) electrically connected between the microchip (22) and the speaker (28); and

K) LCD lights (20) electrically connected to the microchip (22), when the user activates one of the at least two locator buttons, an electrically impulse is transmitted to the microchip (22) which sends an electronic signal to the receiver/transmitter (24) broadcasting a radio signal therefrom, the corresponding locator button remote member receiver/transmitter of the locator button remote member receives the radio signal and sends an electrical signal to the locator button remote member microchip which sends an electronic signal to the locator button remote member speaker which emanates sound therefrom, concurrently, the locator button remote member microchip sends an electronic signal to the locator button remote member receiver/transmitter which broadcasts a radio signal to the receiver/transmitter (24) which sends an electronic signal to the microchip (22) which sends an electronic signal to the LCD lights (20) which emanates light therefrom, the number of illuminated lights emanating from the LCD lights (20) corresponds to a distance the housing (12) is from the locator button remote member, the closer the distance, the more lights illuminated.

2. The item locator with attachable receiver/transmitter (10) as described in claim 1, wherein the housing back (12B) further comprises a removable housing back compartment cover (12BA) which covers a compartment which houses the battery (26).

3. The item locator with attachable receiver/transmitter (10) as described in claim 1, wherein the at least two locator buttons are selected from a group consisting of keys locator button (14A), glasses locator button (14B), telephone locator button (14C), watch locator button (14D), money locator button (14E), address book locator button (14F), remote control locator button (14G), and purse/wallet locator button (14H).

4. The item locator with attachable receiver/transmitter (10) as described in claim 3, wherein the locator buttons are large each having a large icon of the item positioned thereon which facilitates location by visually impaired persons.

5. The item locator with attachable receiver/transmitter (10) as described in claim 1, wherein the at least two locator button remote members are selected from a group consisting of telephone locator button remote member (14CA), watch locator button remote member, money locator button remote member, address book locator button remote member, remote control locator button remote member, and purse/wallet locator button remote member.

6. The item locator with attachable receiver/transmitter (10) as described in claim 5, wherein the telephone locator button remote member (14CA) comprises a telephone locator button remote member icon (14CAA) positioned thereon.

7. The item locator with attachable receiver/transmitter (10) as described in claim 6, wherein the telephone locator button remote member (14CA), removably attachable to a phone (32), comprises a telephone locator button remote member battery (14CAB) electrically connected to a telephone locator button remote member microchip (14CAC) which is electrically connected to a telephone locator button remote member receiver/transmitter (14CAD) and a telephone locator button remote member speaker (14CAE) electrically connected to the telephone locator button remote member microchip (14CAC).