Telephone alarm and monitoring method and apparatus

• US 6,259,787 B1
• Filed: 05/26/1998
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dynachieve, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dynachieve, Inc.
• Inventors: Schulze, Herbert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US09/085,328
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 379/352, 379/355, 379/354, 379/37, 379/38, 379/40, 379/45, 340/825.64, 340/426, 340/539, 340/531, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/573.1, 340/665, 340/693.1, 340/693.5, 340/693.12, 455/404, 455/422
• US Class Current: 379/352
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus for activating a telephone so as to automatically connect to another telephone wherein the activation of the telephone is by means of electrical power delivered by the action of an electrical impact switch upon receiving an impact and particularly wherein the telephone is a cordless telephone handset concealed in another object with the impact switch activation means such the object may be jolted by dropping it or otherwise causing the telephone to go off-hook with immediate automatic dialing of another telephone number.

Claims

1. A method for signaling that assistance is required at a first location comprising:

preprogramming a wireless telephone handset circuitry with an emergency number to dial automatically upon being powered for telephone message transmission;

equipping said wireless telephone handset circuitry with a power circuitry including a normally open latching switch which, when closed will power said handset, a first momentary contact impact switch means connected between a source of electrical power and said latching switch in such manner that upon impact a first momentary surge of power will flow to and close said latching switch and cause power to be connected to said telephone handset circuitry, and a second momentary switch means which upon activation will cause a second momentary surge of power to flow to and open said latching switch so as to cause power to be disconnected from said telephone handset circuitry;

placing said wireless telephone handset within an inconspicuous package with the appearance of a common household article capable of being carried by hand; and

deliberately subjecting said package to an impact.

2. Emergency telephone means comprising:

a package suitable to be carried by hand and having the appearance of an ordinary household article; and

a wireless telephone handset circuitry including power circuitry including a normally open latching switch which when closed will power said handset, a first momentary contact impact switch means connected between a source of electrical power and said latching switch in such manner that upon impact a first momentary surge of power will flow to and close said latching switch and cause power to be connected to said telephone handset circuitry, and a second momentary switch means which upon activation will cause a second momentary surge of power to flow to and open said latching switch so as to cause power to be disconnected from said telephone handset circuitry located within said package.