Hand-near-mouth warning device

• US 4,965,553 A
• Filed: 04/27/1989
• Issued: 10/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Luis A. Tirado Jr, Thomas Ii Delbiondo
• Original Assignee: Luis A. Tirado Jr, Thomas Ii Delbiondo
• Inventors: Tirado, Luis A. Jr., DelBiondo, Thomas II
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/344,220
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/686, 368/10, 364/413.29, 364/705.07
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

The apparatus includes a strap for wearing the apparatus on the wearer'"'"'s wrist. A three-axis attitude sensor senses when the wrist in a position which places the hand near the wearer'"'"'s mouth. An alarm is actuated by the three-axis sensor and warns the wearer that his hand is near his mouth. The apparatus is particularly suited for use with a calorie counter for counting calories consumed by the wearer during a given time period.

Claims

1. Apparatus for warning a wearer when the wearer'"'"'s hand is near his mouth, said apparatus comprising:

strap means for wearing the apparatus on the wearer'"'"'s wrist;

three-axis attitude sensor means in the apparatus for sensing when the wrist is in a position which places the hand near the wearer'"'"'s mouth;

alarm means, for actuation by the three-axis sensor means, for warning the wearer that the hand is near the mouth.

2. A calorie counter for counting calories consumed by the wearer, said counter comprising:

strap means for wearing the counter on a wrist;

memory means in the counter for registering calorie intakes;

entry means for entering calorie intakes into the memory means;

three-axis attitude sensor means for sensing when the wrist is in a position to place food in the wearer'"'"'s mouth; and

alarm means, for actuation by the three-axis sensor means, for warning the wearer that the wrist is in a position to place food in the wearer'"'"'s mouth.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 comprising display means for displaying the number of calories consumed during the day.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the display means is also means for displaying:

a daily calorie limit;

a calorie intake as it is entered; and

a difference between the daily calorie limit and the number of calories already consumed during the day.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 comprising watch means for telling time.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 comprising switch means for changing modes of operation, said modes comprising:

a diet mode; and

a watch mode.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, having means for automatically switching to the diet mode upon actuation of the sensor means.