Voice alarm

• US 8,872,623 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cherie Ann Simpson
• Original Assignee: Cherie Ann Simpson
• Inventors: Simpson, Cherie Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Casillashernandez, Omar
• Application Number:
  US13/299,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20120182126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 340/1.1, 340/6.1
• US Class Current: 340/6.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/004 using portable personal devices hand-held or body-worn self-defence devices using repellent gases or chemicals F41H9/10

Abstract

An alarm device configured with a power supply, a processing unit, speakers and an activator for emitting a voice alarm to alert passersby that the alarm holder is in danger. A handheld alarm device for alerting people more effectively than a mere tonal alarm.

Claims

1. A personal safety alarm consisting:

an alarm body configured to fit in the palm of a human hand, the alarm body comprising a housing containing an alarm device;

the alarm device consisting of;

a power source;

a processor;

a voice alarm database containing at least one voice alarm, wherein said voice alarm database contains a plurality of voice files comprising pre-recorded human voices, digitally created representations of human voices, or combinations thereof, and;

a voice recorder, wherein the voice recorder records a human voice to create a voice alarm comprising a custom message for requesting help, and storing the voice alarm in the voice alarm database, and wherein said voice recorder stores said voice alarm in at least one voice file comprising an audio file that, when played through said speaker, sounds like the wearer is crying for help;

at least one speaker; and

a button, wherein pressing said button causes said processor to play a voice alarm through said at least one speaker, in which a second voice follows a first voice, giving an attacker the impression that a person nearby is answering the voice alarm'"'"'s call for help; and

a strap attached to the housing for holding the alarm body in the palm of an open hand.

2. The personal safety alarm of claim 1, wherein said button is configured in a position that is reachable by a wearer'"'"'s finger when said alarm body is held in the wearer'"'"'s palm by the strap and when the wearer'"'"'s hand is open.

3. The personal safety alarm of claim 1, wherein said strap is configured to stretch around the outside of a wearer'"'"'s hand when the alarm body is in a wearer'"'"'s palm;

and

the strap is made of a stretch fabric which slides over the four fingers onto the back of the hand.

4. The personal safety alarm of claim 1, wherein said power source comprises batteries.

5. The personal safety alarm of claim 1, wherein said power source comprises a battery and charging circuitry, wherein said alarm further comprises a power adaptor, and wherein said alarm body further comprises a jack for connecting said power adaptor to said charging circuitry.

6. The personal safety alarm of claim 1, further comprising an alarm selection interface comprising a display and at least one toggle button for selecting a voice file from said plurality of voice files.

7. The personal safety alarm of claim 1, further comprising at least one amplifier for increasing the volume of the at least one voice alarm.

8. The personal safety alarm of claim 7, wherein said at least one amplifier is configured for increasing the volume of the at least one voice alarm to a sound intensity of at least 140 decibels.

9. The personal safety alarm of claim 1, wherein said processor is configured for playing said at least one voice alarm repeatedly until deactivated.

10. The personal safety alarm of claim 1, wherein said power source is coupled with a power test circuit, and wherein said alarm further comprises an indicator configured for indicating when said power source is low on power.

11. The personal safety alarm of claim 1, further comprising a safety switch configured to prevent inadvertent activation of said button.

12. The personal safety alarm of claim 1, wherein the voice recorder further comprises a microphone and a record button, wherein said microphone is configured to record a voice alarm upon activation of said record button.

13. The personal safety alarm of claim 1, further comprising an audio input jack for importing an externally stored voice alarm into said voice alarm database.

14. The personal safety alarm of claim 1, further comprising a universal serial bus port configured for importing data and re-charging said power source.

15. The personal safety alarm of claim 1, further comprising a deactivation interface for accepting a deactivation code, thereby deactivating said voice alarm.

16. The personal safety alarm of claim 1, wherein the voice alarm database contains a first voice alarm that is recorded in a first spoken language and a second voice alarm recorded in a second spoken language different from the first spoken language.

18. The personal safety alarm of claim 3, wherein the strap is made of neoprene.

19. The personal safety alarm of claim 1, wherein the custom message for requesting help alerts passersby of the need for help with:

a known risk including being assaulted or a medical emergency, wherein the custom message provides contact information or help instructions;

or

locating the wearer who is out of sight and whose location is unknown.

17. A hand-held voice alarm, consisting of:

an ergonomic alarm body configured for fitting into a human hand and configured in a position that is reachable by a wearer'"'"'s finger when said alarm body is in a wearer'"'"'s palm;

a strap coupled with said alarm body, wherein said strap is configured to stretch around the outside of a wearer'"'"'s hand when the alarm body is in a wearer'"'"'s palm;

a rechargeable power source coupled with a power test circuit;

an indicator coupled with said power test circuit and configured for indicating when said power source is low on power;

a processor;

at least one speaker;

a voice alarm database containing a plurality of voice files that when played through said at least one speaker, sound like the wearer is crying for help, in which a second voice follows a first voice, giving an attacker the impression that a person nearby is answering the voice alarm'"'"'s call for help, and wherein said plurality of voice files comprising pre-recorded human voices, digitally created representations of human voices, or combinations thereof;

at least one amplifier for enhancing the power of the at least one voice file and

a button, wherein pressing said button causes said processor to play said aleast one voice file through said at least one speaker; and

a safety switch configured to prevent inadvertent activation of said button.