Identification card holder with personal locator

• US 10,028,120 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2015
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Life-Line, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Global Life-Line, Inc.
• Inventors: Eisenman, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BRIAN E
• Application Number:
  US14/625,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20160240075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

An ID card and/or cell phone holder provides position identification, 2-way communication, and panic control features for emergency communication. Contemplated holders include those configured as a wallet, arm band, belt clip, or money clip, and can additionally or alternatively be adapted for use with a key ring, lanyard, or other carrying adapter. Position identification circuitry, the communication circuitry, and the panic control interface can be physically distributed between or among at least first and second cards or other components.

Claims

1. An identification card apparatus (ICA), in communication with a cell tower and a distal entity, comprising:

a visual unique identifier of a user;

a position identification circuitry configured to derive a set of location coordinates of the ICA;

a communication circuitry configured to operate a two-way voice communication between the ICA and the distal entity through a communication network; and

a dedicated tactile panic control interface operable by the user configured to initiate both the two-way communication and communicate the set of location coordinates to the distal entity, all upon actuation of the panic control interface, wherein the dedicated tactile panic control interface comprises an interface requiring a pre-defined number of squeezes on the body of the ICA to activate, and wherein the pre-defined number of squeezes comprises a number greater than one.

2. The identification card apparatus of claim 1, wherein the visual unique identifier comprises a photograph of the user.

3. The identification card apparatus of claim 1, wherein the visual unique identifier comprises a unique number.

4. The identification card apparatus of claim 1, wherein the visual unique identifier comprises a transparent window through which an identification portion of a card is shown.

5. The identification card apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ICA comprises an identification card having a length at most 2.375 inches and a width at most 3.625 inches.

6. The identification card apparatus of claim 5, wherein the communication circuitry is disposed as part of the identification card.

7. The identification card apparatus of claim 5, wherein the position identification circuitry is disposed as part of the identification card.

8. The identification card apparatus of claim 5, wherein the panic control circuitry is disposed as part of the identification card.

9. The identification card apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first housing sized and disposed to receive an identification card.

10. The identification card apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a second housing sized and disposed to receive a cellphone.

11. The identification card apparatus of claim 1, wherein the panic control interface further comprises a physical actuator.

12. The identification card apparatus of claim 1, wherein the panic control interface further comprises a sound actuator.

13. The identification card apparatus of claim 1, configured as a wallet, arm band, belt clip, or money clip.

14. The identification card apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hole sized for use with a key ring or lanyard.

15. The identification card apparatus of claim 1, wherein the position identification circuitry, the communication circuitry, and the panic control interface are physically distributed between or among at least first and second cards.