Drowning alert transmitter

• US 9,076,318 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2009
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jonathan James Hawkins
• Original Assignee: Jonathan James Hawkins
• Inventors: Hawkins, Jonathan James
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): DARAMOLA, ISRAEL O
• Application Number:
  US12/921,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20110187538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,315 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.6, 340/573.1, 340/539.11, 340/604, 340/575, 367/93, 367/134, 116/211, 242/6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/088 by monitoring a device worn by the person, e.g. a bracelet attached to the swimmer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a drowning alert transmitter comprising: a) a head component 1 for securing on a swimmer'"'"'s head, b) a head sensor 6A,6B to sense if a swimmer'"'"'s head is inclined back relative the upper torso and to then generate an alert signal, and c) a transmitter 3 connected to the head sensor to transmit an alarm signal upon generation of an alert signal.

Claims

1. A drowning alert transmitter comprising:

a) a head component for securing on a swimmer'"'"'s head,

b) a head sensor for sensing if the swimmer'"'"'s head is inclined back relative to the upper torso and then generating an alert signal indicative of drowning, with the head sensor being connected to said head component, for a defined alert signal range corresponding with a range of head inclination indicative of drowning, and

c) a transmitter connected to the head sensor to transmit an alarm signal upon generation of said alert signal.

2. A drowning alert transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the head sensor includes at least one accelerometer.

3. A drowning alert transmitter according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a dipping sensor connected to the head component to sense whether a swimmer'"'"'s head is dipping in and out of the water and to then generate the alert signal.

4. A drowning alert transmitter according to claim 3, wherein the dipping sensor measures the conductivity or capacitance of water or air between two electrodes.

5. A drowning alert transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising a movement sensor to sense absence of translational movement of a swimmer through the water and to then generate an alert signal.

6. A drowning alert transmitter according to claim 5, wherein the movement sensor includes at least one accelerometer.

7. A drowning alert transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising a water sensor to indicate whether the face of a swimmer is in the water for a prolonged period and to generate an alert signal.

8. A drowning alert transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the head component is a pair of head goggles.

9. A drowning alert system comprising:

an alert transmitter comprising;

a head component for securing on a swimmer'"'"'s head,

a head sensor capable of sensing if the swimmer'"'"'s head is inclined back relative to the upper torso and then generating an alert signal indicative of drowning for a defined alert signal ranger corresponding with a range of head inclination indicative of drowning, and

a transmitter connected to the head sensor to transmit an alarm signal upon generation of the alert signal; and

a receiver to receive the alarm signals from the alert transmitter, said receiver providing an indication means that the swimmer is in difficulty on receipt of the alarm signal.

10. A drowning alert system according to claim 9, wherein the receiver includes means to give directional information regarding a swimmer'"'"'s location.

11. A drowning alert transmitter comprising:

a) a head component for securing on a swimmer'"'"'s head,

b) a head sensor for sensing if the swimmer'"'"'s head is inclined back relative to the upper torso and then generating an alert signal indicative of drowning, with the head sensor being connected to said head component, for a defined alert signal range corresponding with a range of head inclination indicative of drowning, and

c) a transmitter connected to the head sensor to transmit an alarm signal upon generation of said alert signal.

12. A drowning alert transmitter according to claim 11, wherein the head sensor includes at least one accelerometer.

13. A drowning alert transmitter according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising a dipping sensor connected to the head component to sense whether a swimmer'"'"'s head is dipping in and out of the water and to then generate the alert signal.

14. A drowning alert transmitter according to claim 13, wherein the dipping sensor measures the conductivity or capacitance of water or air between two electrodes.

15. A drowning alert transmitter according to claim 11, further comprising a movement sensor to sense absence of translational movement of a swimmer through the water and to then generate an alert signal.

16. A drowning alert transmitter according to claim 15, wherein the movement sensor includes at least one accelerometer.

17. A drowning alert transmitter according to claim 11, further comprising a water sensor to indicate whether the face of a swimmer is in the water for a prolonged period and to generate an alert signal.

18. A drowning alert transmitter according to claim 11, wherein the head component is a pair of head goggles.

19. A drowning alert system comprising:

an alert transmitter comprising;

a head component for securing on a swimmer'"'"'s head, a head sensor capable of sensing if the swimmer'"'"'s head is inclined back relative to the upper torso and then generating an alert signal indicative of drowning for a defined alert signal range corresponding with a range of head inclination indicative of drowning, and

a transmitter connected to the head sensor to transmit an alarm signal upon generation of the alert signal; and

a receiver to receive the alarm signal from the alert transmitter, said receiver providing an indication means that the swimmer is in difficulty on receipt of the alarm signal.