Water alarm devices, systems and related methods

• US 8,144,020 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermocline Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: Thermocline Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Snyder, Graham E., Mann, Courtney Hopkins
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, JACK K
• Application Number:
  US12/474,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20090251323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.6, 340/539.26
• US Class Current: 340/573.6
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/088 by monitoring a device worn by the person, e.g. a bracelet attached to the swimmer

Abstract

A water alarm device for releaseable attachment to a user in a body of water includes a buoyant alarm unit having a water sensor. The water sensor is configured to sense if a sensing portion of the alarm unit is in contact with water. A timer is in communication with the water sensor and is configured to determine a duration of water contact with the sensing portion of the alarm unit. The alarm unit is configured to travel to a surface of the body of water and activate an alarm when the duration of water contact is greater than a predetermined time.

Claims

1. A water alarm device for attachment to a user in a body of water, the device comprising:

a buoyant alarm unit including a water sensor and an attachment member connected to the buoyant alarm unit and configured to attach the buoyant alarm unit to the user, the water sensor being configured to sense if a sensing portion of the alarm unit is in contact with water, wherein the buoyant alarm unit and the attachment member are configured so that the buoyant alarm unit floats at a surface of the water such that the sensing portion is generally not in contact with the water when the user is swimming at the surface of the water, and submersion of the sensing portion of the buoyant alarm unit for a predetermined time indicates that the user has an increased risk of drowning;

a timer in communication with the water sensor and configured to determine a duration of water contact with the sensing portion of the alarm unit; and

wherein the buoyant alarm unit is configured to be submerged when the user is at an increased risk of drowning and to activate an alarm when the duration of water contact is greater than the predetermined time.

2. The water alarm device of claim 1, wherein the alarm unit is configured to activate an alarm while the alarm unit is under water.

3. The water alarm device of claim 1, wherein the duration of water contact is substantially continuous.

4. The water alarm device of claim 1, wherein the alarm unit includes an alarm transmitter.

5. The water alarm device of claim 4, wherein the alarm transmitter is configured to produce an audible and/or visual signal at the surface of the body of water.

6. The water alarm device of claim 1, wherein the alarm unit includes a transmitter configured to transmit an alarm activation signal at the surface of the body of water to activate the alarm.

7. The water alarm device of claim 6, wherein the alarm unit includes a portable alarm base station.

8. The water alarm device of claim 1, wherein the water sensor is configured to sense if the sensing portion of the alarm unit is in contact with water when the alarm unit is substantially submerged.

9. The water alarm device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is between about 15 seconds and 2 minutes.

10. The water alarm device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is adjustable by a user.

11. The water alarm device of claim 1, wherein the water sensor comprises at least two spaced-apart electrodes and is configured to detect a current between the electrodes when the electrodes are in contact with water.

12. The water alarm device of claim 11, wherein the at least two spaced-apart electrodes are sized and configured so that the current is detected when the alarm unit is substantially submerged and the current is not detected when the alarm unit is partially submerged.

13. The water alarm device of claim 12, wherein the at least two spaced-apart electrodes are sized and configured so that one of the electrodes is not in contact with water when the alarm unit is partially submerged.

14. The water alarm device of claim 1, further comprising a release unit configured to releasably attach the alarm unit to the user such that the release unit is configured to release the alarm unit from the user when the duration of water contact is greater than the predetermined time.

15. The water alarm device of claim 14, wherein the release unit comprises a necklace, and the buoyant alarm unit is releasably attached to the necklace by the release unit.

16. The water alarm device of claim 14, wherein the alarm unit is sufficiently buoyant so that the alarm unit floats to the surface of the body of water when the alarm unit is detached from the user.

30. The water alarm device of claim 2, wherein the alarm unit comprises a radio frequency transmitter configured to activate the alarm.

33. The water alarm device of claim 2, wherein the alarm unit comprises a radio frequency transmitter configured to activate and/or deactivate the alarm.

17. A water alarm system comprising:

an alarm base station configured to provide an audible alarm when an alarm activation signal is received;

a water alarm device comprising;

a buoyant alarm unit having a water sensor and an attachment member connected to the buoyant alarm unit and configured to attach the buoyant alarm unit to the user, the water sensor being configured to sense if a sensing portion of the alarm unit is in contact with water, wherein the buoyant alarm unit and the attachment member are configured so that the buoyant alarm unit floats at a surface of the water such that the sensing portion is generally not in contact with the water when the user is swimming at the surface of the water, and submersion of the sensing portion of the buoyant alarm unit for a predetermined time indicates that the user has an increased risk of drowning; and

a timer in communication with the water sensor and configured to determine a duration of water contact with the sensing portion of the alarm unit;

wherein the buoyant alarm unit is configured to be submerged when the user is at an increased risk of drowning and to transmit the alarm activation signal to the alarm base station when the duration of water contact is greater than the predetermined time.

18. The water alarm system of claim 17, wherein the alarm unit is configured to activate an alarm while the alarm unit is under water.

19. The water alarm system of claim 17, further comprising a release unit configured to releasably attach the alarm unit to the user such that the release unit is configured to release the alarm unit from the user when the duration of water contact is greater than the predetermined time.

20. The water alarm system of claim 19, wherein the release unit comprises a necklace, and the buoyant alarm unit is releasably attached to the necklace by the release unit.

21. The water alarm system of claim 17, wherein the water sensor is configured to sense if the sensing portion of the alarm unit is in contact with water when the alarm unit is substantially submerged.

22. The water alarm system of claim 17, wherein the predetermined time is between about 15 seconds and 2 minutes.

23. The water alarm system of claim 17, wherein the predetermined time is adjustable by a user.

24. The water alarm system of claim 19, wherein the alarm unit is sufficiently buoyant so that the alarm unit floats to the surface of the body of water when the alarm unit is detached from the user.

25. The water alarm system of claim 17, wherein the water sensor comprises at least two spaced-apart electrodes and is configured to detect a current between the electrodes when the electrodes are in contact with water.

26. The water alarm system of claim 25, wherein the at least two spaced-apart electrodes are sized and configured so that the current is detected when the alarm unit is substantially submerged and the current is not detected when the alarm unit is partially submerged.

27. The water alarm device of claim 26, wherein the at least two-spaced apart electrodes are sized and configured so that one of the electrodes is not in contact with water when the alarm unit is partially submerged.

31. The water alarm system of claim 18, wherein the alarm unit comprises a radio frequency transmitter configured to activate the alarm.

34. The water alarm system of claim 18, wherein the alarm unit comprises a radio frequency transmitter configured to activate and/or deactivate the alarm.

28. A method for reducing a risk of drowning in a user in a body of water, the method comprising:

attaching a buoyant alarm unit to the user with an attachment member connected to the buoyant alarm unit, the buoyant alarm unit having a water sensor thereon, wherein the buoyant alarm unit and the attachment member are configured so that the buoyant alarm unit floats at a surface of the water such that the sensing portion is generally not in contact with the water when the user is swimming at the surface of the water, and submersion of the sensing portion of the buoyant alarm unit for a predetermined time indicates that the user has an increased risk of drowning;

sensing with the water sensor if a sensing portion of the alarm unit is in contact with water, wherein the buoyant alarm unit is configured to be submerged when the user is at an increased risk of drowning;

determining a duration of water contact with the sensing portion of the alarm unit; and

activating an alarm with the alarm unit when the duration of water contact is greater than the predetermined time.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein activating an alarm comprises activating an alarm while the alarm unit is under water.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein activating an alarm with the alarm unit comprises activating the alarm unit with a radio frequency transmitter.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein activating an alarm with the alarm unit comprises activating and/or deactivating the alarm unit with a radio frequency transmitter.