Switch arrangement for child finder apparatus

• US 6,118,380 A
• Filed: 02/17/1999
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heather Gannon
• Original Assignee: Heather Gannon
• Inventors: Gannon, Heather
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/251,671
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.4, 340/573.1, 340/571, 340/572.8, 340/574
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article

Abstract

An improved child locator device 10 including a housing unit 11 provided with a rear face 24 equipped with an elongated clip arm 25 and containing a control unit 12 including an alarm signal speaker 22 for generating an alarm signal in response to the actuation of a first switch 33 responsive to the position of the clip arm 25 relative to the rear face 24 of the housing unit 11 and a second switch member 40 normally hidden by the clip arm 25 for overriding the first switch 33.

Claims

1. A switch arrangement for a child locator device comprising:

a housing unit having a rear face provided with an elongated spring loaded clip arm; and

a control unit disposed within the housing unit and including a battery connected to an alarm signal speaker wherein the switch arrangement comprises first switch means for actuating the alarm signal speaker wherein the first switch means is operatively associated with both the rear face of the housing unit and the spring loaded clip arm such that the alarm signal speaker is actuated when the clip arm is moved away from the rear face of the housing unit; and

second switch means for overriding first switch means wherein said second switch means is disposed at a hidden location on said housing unit.

2. The switch arrangement as in claim 1 wherein said second switch means is disposed on the rear face of the housing unit at a location normally covered by said clip arm.

3. The switch arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the housing unit is further provided with a bottom face and the switch arrangement further comprises:

a label permanently affixed to said bottom face and bearing information relative to the child that is wearing the child locator device.

4. A switch arrangement for a child locator device comprising:

a housing unit including a housing member having a rear face and a bottom face wherein the rear face is provided with an elongated spring loaded clip arm;

a control unit including a battery connected to an alarm signal speaker; and

first switch means for actuating the alarm signal speaker;

wherein the first switch means is operatively associated with both the rear face of the housing unit and the spring loaded clip arm such that the alarm signal speaker is actuated when the clip arm is moved away from the rear face of the housing unit, and including a double pull-double throw switch disposed within the housing unit and having a magnetic contact which extends through the rear face of the housing unit; and

,

a magnetic element disposed on the clip arm at a location normally adjacent to the rear face of the housing unit.

5. The switch arrangement as in claim 4 further comprising:

second switch means for overriding said first switch means wherein said second switch means is disposed at a hidden location on said housing unit.

6. The switch arrangement as in claim 5 wherein said second switch means is disposed on the rear face of the housing unit at a location normally covered by said clip arm.

7. The switch arrangement as in claim 6 wherein said second switch means comprises:

an on-off slide switch member.