Beeper system

• US 6,239,715 B1
• Filed: 07/21/1999
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Karen L. Belton
• Original Assignee: Karen L. Belton
• Inventors: Belton, Karen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Son
• Application Number:
  US09/358,364
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 340/691.3, 340/573.1, 340/471, 340/505, 455/575, 455/227, 368/243, 368/245
• US Class Current: 340/691.3
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0216 Alarm cancellation after generation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• 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

A beeper system that includes a beeper attached to a flexible band. The flexible band is attached to the child, such as around the wrist, waist or neck, to prevent the child from removing the beeper. The beeper is programmed to reach a no shut off mode wherein a speaker outputs an audible output of increasing loudness until the beeper is turned off by keyswitch controlled or kept by the supervising adult. The keyswitch is also used to disconnect the flexible band to allow removal of the beeper. A wearer silence button is provided to allow for a warning period before the no shut off mode is reached.

Claims

1. A beeper system comprising:

a locking flexible band; and

a beeper attached to said locking flexible band;

said locking flexible band being constructed from a flexible material and including a locking end having a beeper housing insertion portion provided with a locking bolt aperture;

said beeper including a beeper housing and a beeper circuit;

said beeper housing having said beeper circuit provided therein, a band end receiving cavity formed into a sidewall thereof sized to receive a beeper housing insertion portion of a locking end of said flexible band and having a locking bolt movement portion in connection therewith, a speaker grate on an exterior surface thereof, a digital display on an exterior surface, a key receiving portion of an on/off keyswitch and band lock assembly extending through an exterior surface thereof, and a wearer speaker silence button extending through an exterior surface thereof;

said beeper circuit including a programmable beeper controller having a radio input in connection with a radio receiver including a radio antenna, a display output in connection with said digital display, a speaker output in connection with a speaker, a silence input in connection with said wearer speaker silence button, and a keyswitch input in connection with said on/off keyswitch and band lock;

said keyswitch and band lock including a two position electrical switch positionable between a closed and an open position with a key wherein positioning said electrical switch into said closed position causes a J-shaped mechanical locking bolt to move upward from an unlocked position to a locked position and positioning said electrical switch into said open position causes said J-shaped mechanical locking bolt to move downward from a locked position to an unlocked position;

said speaker being positioned within said housing behind said speaker grate;

said beeper controller circuit being programmed to activate said digital display and said speaker when an activation signal is received by said radio receiver, to temporarily allow a wearer to silence said speaker by depressing said wearer speaker silence button a fixed number of times, to reactivate said speaker after being deactivated by said depressing of said wearer speaker silence button after a predetermined time interval, to, once said last predetermined time interval has elapsed, finally activate said speaker at an increasing sound level that increases from a normal level to a high level over an elapsed period of time, and to only deactivate said speaker when an off input is received from said on/off keyswitch and band lock.

2. A method of urging a child to come to an appointed location comprising the steps of:

a) providing a beeper system comprising;

a locking flexible band; and

a beeper attached to said locking flexible band;

said locking flexible band being constructed from a flexible material and including a locking end having a beeper housing insertion portion provided with a locking bolt aperture;

said beeper including a beeper housing and a beeper circuit;

said beeper housing having said beeper circuit provided therein, a band end receiving cavity formed into a sidewall thereof sized to receive a beeper housing insertion portion of a locking end of said flexible band and having a locking bolt movement portion in connection therewith, a speaker grate on an exterior surface thereof, a digital display on an exterior surface, a key receiving portion of an on/off keyswitch and band lock assembly extending through an exterior surface thereof, and a wearer speaker silence button extending through an exterior surface thereof;

said beeper circuit including a programmable beeper controller having a radio input in connection with a radio receiver including a radio antenna, a display output in connection with said digital display, a speaker output in connection with a speaker, a silence input in connection with said wearer speaker silence button, and a keyswitch input in connection with said on/off keyswitch and band lock;

said keyswitch and band lock including a two position electrical switch positionable between a closed and an open position with a key wherein positioning said electrical switch into said closed position causes a J-shaped mechanical locking bolt to move upward from an unlocked position to a locked position and positioning said electrical switch into said open position causes said J-shaped mechanical locking bolt to move downward from a locked position to an unlocked position;

said speaker being positioned within said housing behind said speaker grate;

said beeper controller circuit being programmed to activate said digital display and said speaker when an activation signal is received by said radio receiver, to temporarily allow a wearer to silence said speaker by depressing said wearer speaker silence button a fixed number of times, to reactivate said speaker after being deactivated by said depressing of said wearer speaker silence button after a predetermined time interval, to, once said last predetermined time interval has elapsed, finally activate said speaker at an increasing sound level that increases from a normal level to a high level over an elapsed period of time, and to only deactivate said speaker when an off input is received from said on/off keyswitch and band lock;

b) affixing and locking said lockable band around the wrist of a child to be urged to the appointed location; and

c) transmitting an activation signal to the radio receiver of the beeper circuit;

whereby the child is urged to the appointed location to have the speaker silenced.