Devices for locating/keeping track of objects, animals or persons

• US 6,850,151 B1
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nathaniel Petterway, Ricky R. Calhoun
• Original Assignee: Nathaniel Petterway, Ricky R. Calhoun
• Inventors: Petterway, Nathaniel, Calhoun, Ricky R.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US10/374,653
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/7.58, 340/7.6, 340/7.61, 340/7.62, 340/309.16, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 340/309.16
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/021 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/00 Time-pieces comprising means to be operated at preselected times or after preselected time intervals G04G11/00, G04G13/00 take precedence; electronic timers G04F1/005; pulse delay circuits H03K5/13; electronic time-delay switches H03K17/28; electronic time-programme switches which automatically terminate their operation after the programme is completed H03K17/296
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

Devices for enabling a user to locate an object, animal or person or reminding the user of the location of an object, animal or person. In a non-transmitter/receiver embodiment, the device includes at least one alert mechanism which is connected to a digital clock or other timer and microprocessor which times transmission of alert signals emitted from the alert mechanism or mechanisms. The operational components of the device may be contained in a housing which is attached to the object, animal or person to be located. In a remote transmitter/receiver embodiment, the device includes a transmitter which transmits activation signals at preset times to activate an alert feature of a paired remote receiver which is provided on the object, animal or person to be located or tracked. The transmitter may include an on-command button for manual transmission of the activation signals to the receiver. The receiver may have a visible alert mode in combination with a selected audible or vibratory alert mode. In an on-board transmitter/receiver embodiment, the device includes a transmitter which is housed together with a receiver in a single unit. In that case, the transmitter of one unit can transmit preset timed activation signals to the receiver of a different unit which is placed on the object, animal or person. Alternatively, the transmitter of one unit can transmit preset timed activation signals to the receiver of the same unit placed on the object, animal or person.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting activation signals;

a timer operably connected to said transmitter for timing transmissions of said activation signals;

a receiver for receiving said activation signals; and

at least one alert mechanism operably connected to said receiver for emitting alert signals when said receiver receives said activation signals, respectively;

a set button operably connected to said timer for setting a date and a time for transmission of said activation signals from said transmitter; and

a display window operably connected to said set button for displaying the date and the time.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one alert mechanism comprises a visual alert for emitting a visual alert signal.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising an “

on command”

button operably connected to said transmitter for selective manual transmission of said activation signals from said transmitter.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said timer comprises a digital clock.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a transmitter housing and wherein said transmitter is provided in said transmitter housing, and further comprising a receiver housing and wherein said receiver is provided in said receiver housing.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a mode button operably connected to said timer for selecting between a “

current time set”

mode for setting a current time for said timer and an “

alert time”

mode for setting the date and the time for the activation signals.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one alert mechanism comprises a visual alert operably connected to said receiver for activation by said receiver and emitting a visual alert signal, an audible alert operably connected to said receiver for activation by said receiver and emitting an auditory alert signal, a vibratory alert operably connected to said receiver for activation by said receiver and emitting a vibratory alert signal, and a selector mechanism operably connected to said audible alert and said vibratory alert and said receiver for selecting between activation of said audible alert and activation of said vibratory alert by said receiver.

8. A device comprising:

a housing;

a transmitter for transmitting activation signals carried by said housing;

a timer carried by said housing and operably connected to said transmitter for timing transmissions of said activation signals;

a receiver carried by said housing for receiving said activation signals; and

at least one alert mechanism carried by said housing and operably connected to said receiver for emitting alert signals when said receiver receives said activation signals, respectively;

a set button operably connected to said timer for setting a date and a time for transmission of the activation signals from said transmitter; and

a display window operably connected to said set button for displaying the date and the time.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said at least one alert mechanism comprises a visual alert for emitting a visual alert signal.

10. The device of claim 8 further comprising an “

on comnmand”

button operably connected to said transmitter for selective manual transmission of the activation signals from said transmitter.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein said timer comprises a digital clock.

12. The device of claim 8 further comprising a mode button operably connected to said timer for selecting between a “

current time set”

mode for setting a current time for said timer and an “

alert time”

mode for setting the date and the time for the activation signals.

13. The device of claim 8 wherein said at least one alert mechanism comprises a visual alert operably connected to said receiver for activation by said receiver and emitting a visual alert signal, an audible alert operably connected to said receiver for activation by said receiver and emitting an auditory alert signal, a vibratory alert operably connected to said receiver for activation by said receiver and emitting a vibratory alert signal, and a selector mechanism operably connected to said audible alert and said vibratory alert and said receiver for selecting between activation of said audible alert and activation of said vibratory alert by said receiver.

14. A device comprising:

a visible alert for emitting visible alert signals upon activation;

an audible alert for emitting audible alert signals upon activation;

a vibratory alert for emitting vibratory alert signals upon activation;

a selection mechanism operably connected to said audible alert and said vibratory alert for selecting between activation of said audible alert and activation of said vibratory alert;

a timer operably connected to said visible alert, said audible alert and said vibratory alert for activating said visible alert and a selected one of said audible alert and said vibratory alert at selected times; and

a programming mechanism operably connected to said timer for programming the selected times for activating said visible alert and said selected one of said audible alert and said vibratory alert.

15. The device of claim 14 further comprising a display window operably connected to said programming mechanism for displaying the selected times as the selected times are entered into said programming mechanism.

16. The device of claim 15 further comprising a mode button operably connected to said programming mechanism for selecting between a “

time set”

mode for programming a current time into said timer and an “

alert set”

mode for programming the selected times for activating said visible alert and said selected one of said audible alert and said vibratory alert into said programming mechanism.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein said programming mechanism comprises a set button for entering the selected times for activating said visible alert and said selected one of said audible alert and said vibratory alert into said programming mechanism.

18. The device of claim 17 further comprising a mode button operably connected to said programming mechanism for selecting between a “

time set”

mode for programming a current time into said timer and an “

alert set”

mode for programming the selected times for activating said visible alert and said selected one of said audible alert and said vibratory alert into said programming mechanism.