Child distance monitoring and alerting system

• US 7,106,191 B1
• Filed: 02/18/1999
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beatriz Liberati
• Original Assignee: Beatriz Liberati
• Inventors: Liberati, Beatriz
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walk, Samuel J.
• Application Number:
  US11/052,691
• Time in Patent Office: 2,763 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.15, 340/539.21, 340/539.23
• US Class Current: 340/539.15
• 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 child distance and alerting system comprising a transmitter unit to be attached to a child'"'"'s clothing and a receiver unit to be carried by a parent or guardian supervising the child, for preventing the child from wandering too far and becoming vulnerable to predators. The transmitter unit includes a disc-shaped body, a pin portion extending outwardly therefrom for piercing an article of clothing, and a pin-receiving component adapted for releasably clamping the pin portion so that the transmitter unit can be attached to the child'"'"'s clothing. Once the pin portion and the pin-receiving component are properly joined, the transmitter unit cannot be removed from the child'"'"'s clothing except by use of a special tool. The transmitter unit is designed to transmit radio frequency signals when it is attached to the child'"'"'s clothing and remains activated until the pin-receiving component is removed from the pin portion. The receiver unit receives the radio frequency signals sent by the transmitter unit and produces either an audible warning sound or a silent vibrating warning whenever the transmitter unit has traveled outside the predetermined distance from the receiver unit. The receiver unit will also alert the user when an unauthorized attempt has been made to remove the transmitter unit from the child.

Claims

1. A child distance monitoring and alerting device for alerting a user when a child under the supervision of the user has strayed beyond a predetermined distance, said child distance monitoring and alerting device comprising:

a) a transmitter unit having a transmitter for transmitting radio frequency signals, a first portable power source, and a circuit means, said circuit means electrically connected to said transmitter, and said first portable power source such that when said transmitter unit is attached to a child'"'"'s clothing, the transmitter transmits radio frequency signals and remains activated until said transmitter unit is removed from said child'"'"'s clothing; and

b) a receiver unit having a receiver for receiving said radio frequency signals sent by said transmitter unit, and an audible alarm electrically connected to said receiver, and a second portable power source such that whenever said signals detected by the receiver falls below a predetermined threshold level the alarm is activated to audibly alert the user that either the child wearing said transmitter unit has wandered outside said predetermined distance from said user or an unauthorized attempt may have been made to remove said transmitter unit from the child, the receiver unit further comprises a vibration generator electrically connected to the portable power supply, and the receiver such that whenever the signal detected by the receiver falls below the predetermined threshold level, the vibration generator vibrates to silently alert the user that the supervised child may be outside of the predetermined range, switch means for allowing the user to select between an audible alert mode wherein the alarm will produce an alarming sound, and a vibration alert mode wherein said vibration generator will vibrate, in response to the child straying beyond the predetermined distance;

c) a tamper-resistant fastening means incorporated within the transmitter unit to permit attachment to an article of clothing while prohibiting unauthorized removal of the transmitter from said clothing, the transmitter unit further comprises a body for housing electronic components, a pin portion extending outwardly from the body for piercing an article of clothing, a pin-receiving component having a bore adapted for releasably clamping said pin portion so that the transmitter unit can be secured to said clothing, wherein said pin-receiving component is so constructed to prohibit subsequent release of said pin-receiving portion except by use of a special tool, wherein said pin-receiving component including magnetic parts that can be actuated only by using said special tool, said special tool having an electromagnetic means which when energized actuates said magnetic parts of the pin-receiving component to facilitate release thereof from the pin portion of the transmitter unit.

2. A child distance monitoring and alerting device for alerting a user when a child under the supervision of the user has strayed beyond a predetermined distance, said child distance monitoring and alerting device comprising:

a) a transmitter unit having a body for housing electronic components, a transmitter for transmitting radio frequency signals, a first portable power source, and a circuit means, said circuit means electrically connected to said transmitter, and said first portable power source such that when said transmitter unit is attached to a child'"'"'s clothing, the transmitter transmits radio frequency signals and remains activated until said transmitter unit is removed from said child'"'"'s clothing, the transmitter unit further having a tamper resistant fastening means to permit attachment to an article of clothing while prohibiting unauthorized removal of the transmitter from said clothing having a pin portion extending outwardly from the body for piercing an article of clothing, and a pin-receiving component having a bore adapted for releasably clamping said pin portion so that the transmitter unit can be secured to said clothing, wherein said pin-receiving component is so constructed to prohibit subsequent release of said pin-receiving component from said pin portion except by use of a special tool; and

b) a receiver unit having a receiver for receiving said radio frequency signals sent by said transmitter unit, and an audible alarm electrically connected to said receiver, and a second portable power source such that whenever said signals detected by the receiver falls below a predetermined threshold level, the alarm is activated to audibly alert the user that either the child wearing said transmitter unit has wandered outside said predetermined distance from said user or an unauthorized attempt may have been made to remove said transmitter unit from the child.

3. The child distance monitoring device as recited in claim 2, wherein the receiver unit further comprises:

a) a vibration generator electrically connected to the portable power supply, and the receiver such that whenever the signal detected by the receiver falls below a predetermined threshold lever, the vibration generator vibrates to silently alert the user that the supervised child may be outside of the predetermined range; and

b) switch means for allowing the user to select between an audible alert mode wherein the alarm will produce an alarming sound, and a vibration alert mode wherein said vibration generator will vibrate, in response to the child straying beyond the predetermined distance.