Safety warning system and method

• US 8,810,424 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rodolfo Garcia
• Original Assignee: Rodolfo Garcia
• Inventors: Garcia, Rodolfo
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US13/740,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20130222145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/506, 340/522, 340/573.1, 340/457, 340/686.1, 340/665, 340/666, 340/667, 340/309.3, 340/309.4, 219/445.1, 219/446.1, 219/457.1, 219/481, 219/490
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/08 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

An appliance warning system comprises a floor pad for location on or adjacent a device such that a user must stand on the floor pad in order to normally use the device. The floor pad has at least one switch movable between an open position when no weight pressure is detected on the floor pad and a closed position when the switch is activated by weight pressure detected on the floor pad. A transmitter is provided for transmitting a signal depending upon whether the switch is in the open or closed position. A warning device is activated when the switch has been in the open position for a preselected period of time after having been in the closed position.

Claims

1. A warning system comprising:

a pad for location on or adjacent a device such that a user must stand on the pad in order to normally use the device;

a switch formed in or on the pad, the switch being activated by weight pressure on the pad, the switch being movable between an open position when no weight pressure is detected on the pad and a closed position when the switch is activated by weight pressure detected on the pad;

a control circuit associated with the pad and connected to the switch for determining when the switch is in the open position or the closed position, the control circuit being operational between a ready state before the switch is activated from the open position to the closed position and a monitoring state after the switch is activated to the closed position;

a warning device connected to the control circuit, the warning device being activated by the control circuit when in the monitoring state when the control circuit determines that the switch has been in the open position for a preselected period of time after having been in the closed position; and

a reset switch on the pad for resetting the control circuit from the monitoring state to the ready state.

2. A warning system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pad is substantially rectangular and the switch and control circuit are embedded in the pad.

3. A warning system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one switch comprises a plurality of momentary switches embedded in the pad.

4. A warning system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control circuit restarts the preselected period of time when the switch is closed during the monitoring state.

5. A warning system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reset switch is located near an edge of the pad and is activated by the user with a foot.

6. A warning system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the warning device is selected from the group consisting of:

piezo crystal, a bell, a buzzer, a speaker, a horn, a strobe light, or any combination thereof.