AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE CARE DEVICE

• US 3,662,111 A
• Filed: 08/13/1970
• Issued: 05/09/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Morton K. Rubinstein
• Original Assignee: Morton K. Rubinstein
• Inventors: Rubinstein, Morton K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stewart, David L.
• Application Number:
  US05/063,434
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 179/5P,2A,2TC,6.4,6.5,18BF,1VC,5R,1HF,1L
• US Class Current: 379/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/045 using recorded signals, e.g. speech

Abstract

Apparatus that attaches or couples to a patient'"'"''"'"'s telephone which automatically calls for help when the patient is incapacitated or for any reason is unable to reach his telephone. The apparatus attempts to warn or advise persons at predetermined telephone numbers such as the patient'"'"''"'"'s relatives, friends, neighbors or doctor in the event of his incapacity, without any effort or physical acts on the part of the patient. In addition, the patient may manually remotely trigger the unit when an emergency situation arises and he cannot physically reach the device. An alarm signal is cyclically generated at predetermined time intervals. If a manual switch is not activated within a predetermined time subsequent to the initiation of the alarm signal, a predetermined telephone number is dialed and a prerecorded message is transmitted. Remote manual activation of the dialing and message is also provided.

Claims

1. An automatic telephone care device for automatically transmitting a message without any physical action by a human operator comprising:

timer means for generating a first signal at predetermined times and for generating a second signal at a predetermined time after each said first signal, means for generating a first alarm actuating signal in response to said first signal, means, actuatable by a human operator, for terminating said first alarm actuating signal, means receiving said second signal and said first alarm actuating signal for generating a second alarm actuating signal when both said signals are simultaneously received, alarm means for providing first and second alarms perceptible to the human senses in response to said first and second alarm actuating signals, respectively, means connectable to a telephone line and responsive to said second alarm actuating signal for dialing a predetermined telephone number and transmitting a prerecorded message upon receipt of said second alarm actuating signal.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

means, actuable by a human operator, for terminating said second alarm actuating signal

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising means for successively dialing a plurality of telephone numbers and for transmitting a plurality of prerecorded messages.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means connectable to a telephone line is further responsive to a manually activated signal, and further comprising means for manually providing said manually activated signal.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said means for manually providing said manually activated signal is located remotely from said means connectable to a telephone line.

6. An automatic telephone care device for automatically transmitting a message without any physical action by a human operator comprising:

means for cyclically generating an alarm signal at predetermined time intervals switch means actuatable by a human operator for terminating said alarm, means responsive to said alarm signal and said switch means for dialing a predetermined telephone number to transmit a prerecorded message when said switch means is not actuated within a predetermined time period after the initiation of said alarm signal.

7. The combination of claim 6 further comprising means for successively dialing a plurality of telephone numbers and for transmitting a plurality of prerecorded messages.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said means for dialing a predetermined telephone number is further responsive to a manually activated signal, and further comprising means for manually providing said manually activated signal.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said means for manually providing said manually activated signal is located remotely from said means for dialing a predetermined telephone number.