Infant security system
First Claim
1. An infant security system for thwarting the kidnapping of infants from a children'"'"'s ward or maternity ward of a hospital or the like having at least one exit through which an infant may be transported, said infant security system comprising:
- at least one transmitting means for transmitting infant security indicating signals,said at least one transmitting means being securably attached to an infant to be monitored, and including tamper signal generator means for generating at least a first unique coded tamper signal indicative of tampering with said at least one transmitting means, and including means for periodically generating a second unique coded signal;
at least one receiving means associated with said at least one transmitting means for detecting said unique signals and for generating alarm condition signals in response to the detection of the first unique signal and the failure to detect the second unique signal;
said means for periodically generating including maintenance signal generator means for periodically generating said second unique coded signal indicative of the infant being within a predetermined distance of said at least one said receiving means and not being shielded from said at least one receiving means; and
alarm means, responsive to said alarm condition signals, for providing an indication of said alarm condition.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An infant security system is disclosed which includes a transmitting device that generates at least two uniquely coded signals and is disposed around the leg or ankle of infants in a hospital maternity ward, children'"'"'s ward or the like. An activated magnetic strip is also attached to the transmitting device. An associated receiver is placed, for example, on the cart containing the infants'"'"' crib or bassinet which will typically be close enough to the infant so that it is well enough within the range of the transmitter. Every few seconds the RF transmitter transmits a coded RF pulse. If an infant with an attached RF transmitter is removed by some predetermined minimum distance from its associated RF receiver or if the RF transmitter becomes inoperative or is shielded, then the RF receiver will not receive the transmitted coded signal which will trigger an alarm. If a kidnapper attempts to detach the RF transmitter from the infant, a switch is opened which in turn causes the RF transmitter to emit a second coded signal. Upon detection of the second coded signal, an alarm in the RF receiver will be triggered. An alarm is also triggered if an activated magnetic strip on the RF transmitter is transported through a maternity ward exit point.
265 Citations
57 Claims
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1. An infant security system for thwarting the kidnapping of infants from a children'"'"'s ward or maternity ward of a hospital or the like having at least one exit through which an infant may be transported, said infant security system comprising:
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at least one transmitting means for transmitting infant security indicating signals, said at least one transmitting means being securably attached to an infant to be monitored, and including tamper signal generator means for generating at least a first unique coded tamper signal indicative of tampering with said at least one transmitting means, and including means for periodically generating a second unique coded signal; at least one receiving means associated with said at least one transmitting means for detecting said unique signals and for generating alarm condition signals in response to the detection of the first unique signal and the failure to detect the second unique signal; said means for periodically generating including maintenance signal generator means for periodically generating said second unique coded signal indicative of the infant being within a predetermined distance of said at least one said receiving means and not being shielded from said at least one receiving means; and alarm means, responsive to said alarm condition signals, for providing an indication of said alarm condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A valuable object security system for thwarting the kidnapping or unauthorized taking of said object from a predetermined area having at least one exit, said valuable object security system comprising:
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transmitting means securably attached to said valuable object for transmitting security indicating signals; said transmitting means including; tamper signal generating means for generating a unique coded tamper signal indicative of unauthorized tampering with said transmitting means, maintenance signal generating means for periodically generating a unique coded maintenance signal indicative of the valuable object being within said predetermined area; receiving means associated with said transmitting means and including first channel means for detecting said tamper signal and for generating an alarm triggering signal in response thereto, second channel means for detecting said periodically generated maintenance signal and for generating an alarm triggering signal in response to detecting the absence of a maintenance signal for a predetermined period of time; and alarm means responsive to said alarm triggering signals for providing an indication thereof. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. For use in a valuable object security system for thwarting the kidnapping or unauthorized taking of said valuable object from a predetermined area having at least one exit, a security signal transmitting device to be securably attached to said valuable object comprising;
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tamper signal generating means for generating a unique coded tamper signal indicative of unauthorized tampering with said transmitting means; and maintenance signal generating means for periodically generating coded maintenance signals indicative of the valuable object being within said predetermined area, whereby the reception of the tamper signal by an associated receiving device indicates an unauthorized tampering with the transmitting means and the failure to detect the maintenance signal by said associated receiving device indicates the breach of a security condition. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. For use in a valuable object security system for thwarting the kidnapping or unauthorized taking of said valuable object from a predetermined area having at least one exit, said security system having at least one transmitting means for transmitting coded security signals, a security signal receiving device comprising:
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first channel means for detecting a uniquely coded tamper signal indicative of unauthorized tampering with said transmitting means for generating an alarm triggering signal in response thereto; second channel means for detecting a periodically generated maintenance signal indicative of the valuable object being within said predetermined area and for generating an alarm triggering signal in response to the absence of a detected maintenance signal for a predetermined period of time; and alarm means responsive to said alarm triggering signals for providing an alarm condition indicating signal. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of thwarting the kidnapping of infants from the maternity ward of a hospital or the like having at least one exit through which an infant may be transported, said method comprising the steps of:
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securably attaching a transmitting means to each of a plurality of infants; generating and transmitting coded signals from each transmitting means indicative of predetermined infant security conditions; detecting with a receiver means associated with said transmitting means said transmitted coded signals; said step of generating and transmitting coded signals including the step of periodically generating coded signals from each of said transmitting means indicative of the infant being within a predetermined distance of an associated receiver means and not being shielded form said associated receiver means; and selectively energizing an alarm upon the detection of an infant security condition which may be indicative of the abduction of an infant. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 55)
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53. A method for thwarting the kidnapping of infants from the maternity ward of a hospital or the like having at least one exit through which an infant may be transported, said method comprising the steps of:
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securably attaching a transmitting means to each of a plurality of infants in the maternity ward; periodically generating and transmitting a first uniquely coded "I'"'"'m Okay" signal from each of said transmitting means; generating and transmitting from a transmitting means a second uniquely coded tamper signal if said transmitting means is tampered with; detecting with a receiver means associated with said transmitting means a tamper signal and generating an alarm triggering signal in response thereto; detecting with said receiver means associated with said transmitting means said "I'"'"'m Okay" signal and generating an alarm triggering signal in response to the absence of detecting said I'"'"'m Okay signal for a predetermined period of time; and providing an alarm in response to said alarm triggering signals. - View Dependent Claims (54, 56, 57)
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Specification