Fashion accessory with wireless signal alerting device

• US 6,954,659 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: World Mobile Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: World Mobile Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Gorowitz, Morton, Tushinsky, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Danh C
• Application Number:
  US10/997,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20050113081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 455/567, 455/41.2, 455/577, 455/88, 455/66.1, 455/550.1, 340/539.15, 340/539.11, 340/825.69, 379/433.1
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/048 Arrangements providing optical indication of the incoming call, e.g. flasher circuits

Abstract

A fashion accessory provides a visual alert for the presence of a mobile communication signal from a nearby but not physically connected communication device. The accessory includes a signaling assembly for providing a visual signal when a mobile communication signal is detected within a defined distance, an antenna connected to the signaling assembly and extending from it, and an elongated member configured for attaching the fashion accessory to a body part or personal article. The signaling assembly may include a circuit module with an LED providing a visible signal when an adjacent mobile communication device is transmitting a signal within the defined distance. The defined distance is selected so as to make the fashion accessory responsive only to signals from a mobile device within a user'"'"'s personal space.

Claims

1. A fashion accessory operative to provide a visual alert for the presence of a mobile communication signal from a mobile communication device located within a personal space of a user, the accessory comprising:

a signaling assembly for providing a visual signal when a mobile communication signal is detected within a defined distance from the signaling assembly;

an elongated member attached to the signaling assembly, the elongated member configured for attaching the fashion accessory to a visible location selected from a portion of a user'"'"'s body or a personal article of the user; and

an antenna connected to the signaling assembly and extending for a distance from the signaling assembly in a substantially linear configuration along the elongated member, wherein the fashion accessory is not connected to the mobile communication device.

2. The fashion accessory of claim 1, wherein the defined distance is in the range of about one to four feet.

3. The fashion accessory of claim 1, wherein the defined distance is in the range of about four to twelve feet.

4. The fashion accessory of claim 1, wherein the fashion accessory is configured as a bracelet.

5. The fashion accessory of claim 1, wherein the fashion accessory is configured as a necklace.

6. The fashion accessory of claim 1, further comprising a second signaling assembly connected to the first signaling assembly.

7. The fashion accessory of claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises a chain of linked members, and the antenna is threaded through links of the chain.

8. The fashion accessory of claim 1, wherein the signaling assembly comprises a circuit module, that when placed on or adjacent to a user, is operative provide the visual signal when generally any operative GSM or TDMA mobile communication device located within a personal space of the user receives an incoming signal, and to not respond when like mobile communication devices located outside the personal space of the user receive an incoming signal.

9. The fashion accessory of claim 8, wherein the circuit module further comprises a sensor chip operative to sense activation of the antenna by a mobile communication signal, a light-emitting diode connected to the sensor chip, and a battery connected to the sensor chip.

10. The fashion accessory of claim 8, wherein the circuit module further comprises an RF filter disposed across terminals of the light-emitting diode.

11. The fashion accessory of claim 8, wherein the circuit module further comprises an RF filter configured to prevent activation of the light-emitting diode in response to activation of the antenna by transient pulses of static interference.

12. The fashion accessory of claim 11, wherein the RF filter comprises a capacitor and a resistor connected in parallel.

13. The fashion accessory of claim 12, wherein the RF filter further comprises a plurality of NOR gates.

14. The fashion accessory of claim 8, wherein the antenna extends from the circuit module for a length of at least about one inch and not greater than about four inches.

15. The fashion accessory of claim 8, wherein the antenna extends from the circuit module for a length of at least about four inches and not greater than about twenty inches.

16. The fashion accessory of claim 8, wherein the signaling assembly further comprises an ornamented case enclosing the circuit module, the case comprising a translucent portion configured for transmitting the visible signal to an exterior of the case.

17. The fashion accessory of claim 16, wherein the antenna extends from the case into an interior space of the elongated member.

18. The fashion accessory of claim 16, wherein the antenna extends through an interior of the elongated member into an adjacent case.

19. The fashion accessory of claim 16, wherein a distal end of the antenna is anchored in an adjacent case.

20. The fashion accessory of claim 16, wherein the ornamental case comprises a molded piece comprised of mating halves.

21. The fashion accessory of claim 16, wherein the ornamental case comprises an interior space configured to hold the circuit module.

22. The fashion accessory of claim 16, wherein the antenna extends from the case adjacent to the elongated member, and has a distal end anchored in an adjacent case.

23. The fashion accessory of claim 16, further comprising a second signaling assembly substantially identical to the first signaling assembly and attached thereto.

24. The fashion accessory of claim 23, wherein the first and second signaling assemblies are connected by the elongated member, the elongated member having an interior space open from a first end to a second end thereof.

25. The fashion accessory of claim 24, wherein the antenna of the first signaling assembly extends from the case of the first signaling assembly into the interior space of the elongated member, and an antenna of the second signaling assembly extends from a case of the second signaling assembly into the interior space of the elongated member.

26. The fashion accessory of claim 23, wherein the antenna of the first signaling assembly and the antenna of the second signaling assembly are anchored in a central member interposed between the first signaling assembly and the second signaling assembly.

27. The fashion accessory of claim 26, wherein the central member comprises an ornamental case like the ornamental case of the first signaling assembly.

28. The fashion accessory of claim 27, wherein the central member comprises an ornamented translucent bead having a hollow interior.

29. The fashion accessory of claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises a tubular member encasing the antenna for at least a portion of the distance extending from the signaling assembly.