Proximity monitoring system

• US 5,995,007 A
• Filed: 11/25/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Miriam Valdez, Noel J. Borja
• Original Assignee: Miriam Valdez, Noel J. Borja
• Inventors: Valdez, Miriam, Borja, Noel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/199,103
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539, 340/691.1, 340/693, 340/5, 340/574, 340/573.4, 342/457
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article

Abstract

A monitoring system is provided including a portable module including a radio device. Also provided is a monitoring unit also including a radio device and an indicator for providing an indication upon the radio devices being separated a predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A monitoring system comprising, in combination:

a wristband mount comprising of a sheet of flexible inelastic material with a uniform thickness, the wristband mount having a top face, a bottom face and a periphery formed therebetween defined by a pair of elongated generally rectangular side extents and a generally circular central extent, the top face of the wristband mount having pile fasteners lining a first one of the side extents and the central extent, the bottom face having a pile fastener lining a second one of the side extents, wherein the wristband mount is adapted for being removably attached to a wrist of a small child;

an adhesive mount having a rigid planar generally circular configuration with a top face having a pile fastener mounted thereon and a bottom face having an adhesive formed thereon for being secured to a piece of luggage;

a portable module having a disk-shaped configuration defined by a top face, a bottom face and a periphery formed therebetween with a size similar to that of the adhesive mount and the central extent of the wristband mount, the bottom face having a pile fastener mounted thereon for releasably securing to at least one of the mounts, the portable module including a green light emitting diode and a red light emitting diode each mounted to the top face of the portable module and adapted for illuminating upon the actuation thereof, the portable module further including a speaker for emitting an audible alarm upon the actuation thereof, the portable module further including a transceiver which is adapted to operate in a first mode upon the receipt of an activation signal during which the transceiver is adapted to continuously and unconditionally actuate the green light emitting diode and actuate the speaker and transmit an out-of-range signal during the lack of the receipt of a monitoring signal, the transceiver further adapted to only actuate the red light emitting diode upon the receipt of a deactivation signal; and

a wrist-mounted monitoring unit including a disk-shaped central portion with a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween, the monitoring unit including a pair of generally rectangular flexible bands each having an inboard end hingably coupled to diametrically opposed sides of the periphery of the central portion and outboard ends with a buckle for coupling to a wrist of a user, the central portion having a green light emitting diode and a red light emitting diode each mounted to the top face for illuminating upon the actuation thereof, a transceiver connected to a push button on the periphery of the central portion for unconditionally and continuously actuating the green light emitting diode of the monitoring unit, instantaneously transmitting the activation signal from the transceiver of the monitoring unit, continuously transmitting the monitoring signal from the transceiver of the monitoring unit with an intensity for effecting transmission within a predetermined range, and actuate the speaker of the monitoring unit upon the receipt of the out-of-range signal thus giving an indication that the portable module is out of the predetermined range, the push button further adapted to only illuminate the red light emitting diode of the monitoring unit upon the subsequent depression thereof.

2. A monitoring system comprising:

a portable module including a radio device; and

a monitoring unit including a radio device and an indicator for providing an indication upon the radio devices being separated by a predetermined amount;

wherein the radio device of the portable module is selectively deactivated by the monitoring unit;

wherein the portable module has a light indicating whether the radio device thereof is deactivated;

wherein the monitoring unit has a light indicating whether the radio device of the portable module is deactivated.

3. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the monitoring unit is wrist-mounted and has a clock mounted thereon.

4. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the portable module is removably attached to a mount which is adhesively secured to a recipient surface.

5. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the portable module is removably attached to a wrist strap.

6. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the indicator includes a speaker for generating an audible alarm.

7. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the portable module includes a speaker for generating an audible alarm upon the radio devices being separated the predetermined amount.