Child protection bracelet

• US 6,472,989 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2001
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frederick H. Roy Jr
• Original Assignee: Frederick H. Roy Jr
• Inventors: Roy, Frederick H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/777,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20020003477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/571, 340/572, 340/568, 340/551
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0017 Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article

Abstract

A child protection bracelet for preventing unauthorized passage of a child through the monitored entrance or exit region of a public facility includes a flexible band which can be locked upon a child'"'"'s wrist or ankle. Attached to the band is a housing which protectively confines an alarm-activating component which is activated by passage through said monitored region.

Claims

1. A protection bracelet of lightweight construction adapted to be functionally employed upon a child'"'"'s wrist or ankle, comprising:

a) a flexible band elongated upon a center axis between opposite extremities and bounded by inner and outer surfaces, said band having axially extending steel wire reinforcement embedded therein,

b) a lock pin having a head associated with said band and a stem emergent from said head and further emergent from the outer surface of said band, said stem adapted to penetrate said band when said band is doubled upon itself in a circuitous path of adjustable size, and

c) a housing having a substantially flat bottom panel provided with a hole that receives said stem, and a shell portion sealed to said bottom panel, said housing protectively confining;

1) locking means for releasibly engaging said stem, and comprised of ball bearings and a spring which forces said bearings into tight frictional engagement with said stem, and

2) at least one EAS alarm-activating component.

2. The bracelet of claim 1 wherein the bottom panel of said housing is provided with a recessed region directed upwardly toward said shell portion.

3. The bracelet of claim 1 wherein said housing is securable by said lock pin and locking means to the outer surface of said band.

4. The bracelet of claim 1 wherein said EAS alarm-activating component is selected from the group consisting of:

a) a resonant circuit capable of interaction with a radio frequency signal,

b) a magnetic element capable of interacting with an AC magnetic field, and

c) components interactive with microwave and acousto-magnetic stimulus.

5. The protection bracelet of claim 1 wherein said upper shell portion is of circular, dome shaped configuration.