Infant monitoring system with removable ear insert

• US 6,989,744 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James R. Proebsting
• Original Assignee: James R. Proebsting
• Inventors: Proebsting, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US10/461,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20040257233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.15, 340/539.1, 340/573.1, 340/825.19, 340/384.1, 381/312, 381/315, 381/328
• US Class Current: 340/539.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/06 Children, e.g. for attention deficit diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0208 Combination with audio or video communication, e.g. combination with "baby phone" function
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions

Abstract

An infant monitoring system contains a removable ear insert. The ear insert receives an audible parameter from an infant in an infant'"'"'s room and provides the parameter to a parent monitoring device in a parents'"'"' room. The parent monitoring device comprises the removable ear insert, whereby only the wearer of the insert is alerted to the audible parameter, without disturbing others nearby the wearer. Individuals near the wearer are not exposed to, or otherwise made aware of, the audible parameter, thereby providing an audio stimulus that is personal to the wearer of the insert. Preferably, the ear insert is comfortably inserted into and worn within the ear of the wearer for use in conjunction with the infant monitoring system, whereby non-wearers of the ear insert remain undisturbed.

Claims

1. An infant monitoring system comprising a wireless removable ear insert for providing an audible parameter from a remote infant monitoring device to a wearer of said insert, wherein said insert is a self-contained insert including a receiver for receiving said parameter from said remote infant monitoring device, a transducer for converting said parameter into sound energy, and a power source to power the receiver and the transducer, and wherein said insert is formed to fit securely to fit securely and comfortably within a concha of a wearer'"'"'s ear without requiring any straps or mounting loops.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert provides said parameter only to said wearer of said insert and not to non-wearers of said insert.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert is wearable within abutting contact of an ear of said wearer.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert is dimensioned to fit within an outer ear of said wearer.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert is wearable within an outer ear of said wearer.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert is dimensioned to fit within a concha of an ear of said wearer.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert fits within a right ear of said wearer or a left ear of said wearer.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert fits within a right ear of said wearer and a left ear of said wearer.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert is dimensioned to minimize slippage within an ear of said wearer.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert is molded to match a contour of an average outer ear of said wearer.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert is custom-molded to match a contour of a specific outer ear of said wearer.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert is positionable at an entrance portion of an ear of said wearer.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert is positionable at an entry passage to an ear canal of said wearer.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert directs said parameter towards an ear drum of said wearer.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert isolates an ear of said wearer from an external environment relative to said ear.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said system provides said parameter to said wearer based on a comparison of said parameter by a comparator.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said comparison is relative to one or more predetermined reference parameters.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said insert contains said comparator.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein said remote infant monitoring device contains said comparator.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert covers an outer ear of said wearer.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert mounts on an ear of said wearer.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert provides said parameter such that said parameter is personal to said wearer.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert provides said parameter such that said parameter is personally hearable by said wearer.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert provides said parameter such that said parameter is personal to said wearer and personally hearable by said wearer.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein said parameter comprises a personal alert to said wearer.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert provides an audio output to said wearer.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said audio output is based on said parameter.

28. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert and said remote infant monitoring device are in electrical communication.

29. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote infant monitoring device contains a microphone for receiving said parameter.

30. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote infant monitoring device contains a transmitter for transmitting said parameter to said insert.

31. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote infant monitoring device contains a microphone for receiving said parameter and a transmitter for transmitting said parameter to said insert.

32. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote infant monitoring device contains a microphone for receiving said parameter and a transmitter for transmitting said parameter to said insert.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein said insert is made from a material selected from a group consisting of plastic, rubber, and silicone.

34. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert is of a type selected from a group consisting of electro-magnetics and piezo-magnetics.

35. The system of claim 1 wherein said insert contains a surrounding cushioning member to enhance comfort for said wearer.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein said cushioning member is selected from a group consisting of cloth, foam, rubber, and foam rubber.

37. An infant monitoring system comprising one or more removable ear inserts for providing one or more audible parameters from on or more remote infant monitoring devices to one or more wearers of said one or more inserts, wherein said insert is a self-contained insert including a receiver for receiving said parameter from said remote infant monitoring device, a transducer for converting said parameter into sound energy, and a power source to power the receiver and the transducer, and wherein said insert is formed to fit securely to fit securely and comfortably within a concha of a wearer'"'"'s ear without requiring any straps or mounting loops.

38. An infant monitoring system comprising an infant monitoring device in electrical communication with a remote parent monitoring device, the parent monitoring device being a removable ear insert for providing an audible parameter from said infant monitoring device, wherein said insert is a self-contained insert including a receiver for receiving said parameter from said remote infant monitoring device, a transducer for converting said parameter into sound energy, and a power source to power the receiver and the transducer, and wherein said insert is formed to fit securely to fit securely and comfortably within a concha of a wearer'"'"'s ear without requiring any straps or mounting loops.

39. An infant monitoring system comprising an infant monitoring device in electrical communication with a remote parenting monitoring device and an ear insert, the infant monitoring device providing an audible parameter from said infant monitoring system to either or both of the parent monitoring device and ear insert, wherein said insert is a self-contained insert including a receiver for receiving said parameter from said remote infant monitoring device, a transducer for converting said parameter into sound energy, and a power source to power the receiver and the transducer, and wherein said insert is formed to fit securely to fit securely and comfortably within a concha of a wearer'"'"'s ear without requiring any straps or mounting loops.

40. A method for providing a personal alert to a caregiver comprising:

providing an infant monitoring system having a removable wireless ear insert, and

providing an audible parameter from a remote infant monitoring device to a wearer of said insert, wherein said insert is a self-contained insert which includes a receiver for receiving said parameter from said remote infant monitoring device and a transducer for converting said parameter into sound energy, and wherein said insert is formed to fit securely to fit securely and comfortably within a concha of a wearer'"'"'s ear without requiring any straps or mounting loops.

41. A personal monitoring system comprising a removable wireless ear insert for providing an audible parameter from a remote monitoring device monitoring an infant or the like to a wearer of said insert, wherein said insert is a self-contained insert including a receiver for receiving said parameter from said remote infant monitoring device, a transducer for converting said parameter into sound energy, and a power source to power the receiver and the transducer, and wherein said insert is formed to fit securely to fit securely and comfortably within a concha of a wearer'"'"'s ear without requiring any straps or mounting loops.

42. A removable wireless ear insert for use with an infant monitoring system comprising means for providing an audible parameter from a remote infant monitoring device to a wearer of said insert, wherein said insert is a self-contained insert including a receiver for receiving said parameter from said remote infant monitoring device, a transducer for converting said parameter into sound energy, and a power source to power the receiver and the transducer, and wherein said insert is formed to fit securely to fit securely and comfortably within a concha of a wearer'"'"'s ear without requiring any straps or mounting loops.

43. A removable wireless ear insert for use with a personal monitoring system comprising means for providing an audible parameter from a remote monitoring device monitoring an infant or the like to a wearer of said insert, wherein said insert is a self-contained insert including a receiver for receiving said parameter from said remote infant monitoring device, a transducer for converting said parameter into sound energy, and a power source to power the receiver and the transducer, and wherein said insert is formed to fit securely to fit securely and comfortably within a concha of a wearer'"'"'s ear without requiring any straps or mounting loops.