Personal alarm device

• US 7,289,036 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ahsp, LLC, American Home Safety Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Leora Sarah Salzhauer, Michael Alexander Salzhauer
• Inventors: Salzhauer, Michael Alexander, Salzhauer, Leora Sarah
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/382,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20040135699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 340/692, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/691.3, 340/573.1, 340/626, 340/632, 340/286.05, 340/540
• US Class Current: 340/692
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0208 Combination with audio or video communication, e.g. combination with "baby phone" function
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/012 using recorded signals, e.g. speech G08B25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a method for alerting a quiescent person, may include recording a personal alert message, receiving an alarm over a wireless communications link, and, in response to the alarm, playing the personal alert message. In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, a device for alerting a quiescent person may include an audio input to record a personal alert message, a memory to store the personal alert message, an audio output to play the personal alert message, a wireless receiver to receive an alarm, a power supply and a processor, coupled to the audio input, the audio output, the memory, the wireless receiver and the power supply. The processor may be adaptively configured to receive an alert signal from the wireless receiver, and in response to the alert signal, send a play signal to play the personal alert message.

Claims

1. A method for alerting a quiescent person, comprising:

providing written instructions to record a personal alert message, the personal alert message to contain a recording selected to alert a predetermined quiescent person;

providing a remote wireless module, the remote wireless module configured to sense an audible signal and send an alarm over a wireless communications link, the alarm generated to trigger playing a personal alert message; and

providing a device to receive an alarm from the remote wireless module over a wireless communications link;

wherein the device, in response to the alarm, plays a vocal personal alert message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications link is a wireless radio-frequency communications link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the audible alarm is generated by a smoke detector.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided device further comprises a vibration actuator which vibrates in response to receiving the alarm.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided device further comprises a strobe light which flashes in response to receiving the alarm.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising combining an audible alarm with the personal alert message, the recording including the name of the predetermined quiescent person.

7. A system for alerting a quiescent person, comprising:

an audio input to record a personal alert message;

a memory storing a personal alert message, the stored personal alert message selected to alert a predetermined quiescent person;

an audio output to play the personal alert message;

a wireless receiver configured to sense an audible signal from an alarm condition detector and send an electronic signal over a wireless communications link;

a power supply; and

a processor, coupled to the audio input, the audio output, the memory, and the power supply, the processor configured to;

receive a wireless alert signal from the wireless receiver, and

in response to the alert signal, send a play signal to play a vocal personal alert message.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the wireless receiver detects radio frequencies.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the stored personal alert message includes the name of the preselected quiescent person.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the stored personal alert message is recorded by a relative of the preselected quiescent person.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the stored personal alert message is the preselected quiescent person'"'"'s name followed by an instruction.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the audio input includes a digital voice recorder/player.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor sends the play signal to the digital voice recorder/player.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor sends the play signal to the audio output.

15. The system of claim 7, further comprising a removable interlock to permit recording of the personal alert message when coupled to the processor.

16. The system of claim 7, further comprising a strobe light coupled to the processor and responsive to a visual alarm signal from the processor.

17. The system of claim 7, further comprising a vibration actuator coupled to the processor and responsive to a vibratory alarm signal from the processor.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is attached to a wristband.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is installed within a stuffed animal.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is installed within a pillow.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is installed within a mattress.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is attached to a bed frame.