Package-mounted sensor

• US 6,104,307 A
• Filed: 09/17/1998
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter Hanratty
• Original Assignee: Peter Hanratty
• Inventors: Hanratty, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/156,125
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 340/689, 340/571, 340/569
• US Class Current: 340/689
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1481 with optical detection

Abstract

A condition responsive alarm system is provided including a mount with an adhesive situated on a rear face thereof. Also included is a portable power source secured to the mount. An indicator is secured to the mount for alerting a user upon the receipt of power. Connected between the power source and the indicator is a condition responsive trigger for supplying power to the indicator upon the presence of a condition.

Claims

1. A condition responsive alarm system for packages comprising, in combination:

a plurality of planar rectangular mounts each constructed from a flexible material with an adhesive situated on a rear face thereof and a waxed paper backing situated over the adhesive for being removed therefrom such that the mount may be secured to a package, each of the mounts having a portable power source and an alarm for transmitting an audible signal upon the receipt of power;

a first one of said mounts including a cross-shaped housing coupled to a front face of the mount, a conductive ball bearing freely situated within the housing, and a pair of spaced conductors passing through ends of three of four portions of the cross-shaped housing and connected between the power source and alarm for supplying power from the power source to the alarm upon the ball bearing being situated within one of the three of the four portions, thereby indicating that the package is tilted;

a second one of said mounts including a thermistor and a photoelectric cell each connected in parallel with respect to each other and in series between the power source and alarm for supplying power from the power source to the alarm upon at least one of the detection of light and heat, thereby indicating that the package is subjected to light and heat;

a third and fourth of said mounts including a transmitter connected to the power source for transmitting a signal via free space for a predetermined distance and a receiver connected between the power source and alarm for supplying power from the power source to the alarm upon the receipt of the signal via free space, thereby indicating that a package is with the predetermined distance from another package; and

a fifth of said mounts including a timepiece connected between the power source and the alarm for supplying power from the power source to the alarm upon reaching a previously set expiration date on the time piece.

2. A condition responsive alarm system for packages comprising:

a mount with an adhesive situated thereon;

a portable power source secured to the mount;

an indicator secured to the mount for alerting a user upon the receipt of power; and

a condition responsive trigger connected between the power source and the indicator for supplying power to the indicator upon the presence of a condition;

wherein the condition responsive trigger includes a level indicator and the condition is a non-upright orientation, the level indicator including a cross-shaped housing having four portions extending from a central location of the housing, a conductive ball bearing freely movable in the housing, and a pair of spaced conductors located in ends of at least three of the four portions for supplying power from the power source to the alarm upon tilting of the housing and the ball contacting the spaced conductors in one of the four portions.

3. A condition responsive alarm system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the condition responsive trigger includes a thermistor and the condition is a predetermined amount of heat.

4. A condition responsive alarm system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the condition responsive trigger includes a photoelectric cell and the condition is a predetermined amount of light.

5. A condition responsive alarm system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the condition responsive trigger includes a radio transceiver and the condition is a predetermined proximate distance.

6. A condition responsive alarm system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the condition responsive trigger includes a timepiece and the condition is a predetermined time and date.

8. The condition responsive alarm system of claim 2 additionally comprising a second mount with a condition responsive trigger connected between the power source and the indicator for supplying power to the indicator upon the presence of a condition and wherein the condition responsive trigger includes a thermistor and the condition is a predetermined amount of heat;

a third mount with a condition responsive trigger connected between the power source and the indicator for supplying power to the indicator upon the presence of a condition and wherein the condition responsive trigger includes a photoelectric cell and the condition is a predetermined amount of light;

fourth and fifth mounts each having a condition responsive trigger connected between the power source and the indicator for supplying power to the indicator upon the presence of a condition, and the condition responsive trigger includes a radio transceiver and the condition is a predetermined proximate distance between the fourth and fifth mounts; and

a sixth mount with a condition responsive trigger connected between the power source and the indicator for supplying power to the indicator upon the presence of a condition and wherein the condition responsive trigger includes a timepiece and the condition is a predetermined time and date.

7. A condition responsive alarm system for packages comprising:

a plurality of mounts each constructed from a flexible material with an adhesive situated on a rear face thereof, a backing situated over the adhesive for being removable from the adhesive such that the mount may be secured to a package, each of the mounts having a portable power source and an alarm for transmitting an audible signal upon the receipt of power;

a first one of the mounts including a cross-shaped housing coupled to a front face of the mount, a conductive ball bearing freely situated in the housing, and a pair of spaced conductors extending into ends of three of four portions of the cross-shaped housing, the conductors being connected between the power source and alarm for supplying power from the power source to the alarm upon the ball bearing being situated at an end of one of the three of the four portions, thereby indicating that the package is tilted;

a second one of said mounts including a thermistor and a photoelectric cell each connected in parallel with respect to each other and in series between the power source and alarm for supplying power from the power source to the alarm upon at least one of the detection of light and heat, thereby indicating that the package has been subjected to light and heat;

a third and fourth of said mounts including a transmitter connected to the power source for transmitting a signal via free space for a predetermined distance and a receiver connected between the power source and alarm for supplying power from the power source to the alarm upon the receipt of the signal via free space, thereby indicating that a package is with the predetermined distance from another package; and

a fifth of said mounts including a timepiece connected between the power source and the alarm for supplying power from the power source to the alarm upon reaching a previously set expiration time on the time piece.