US 10,540,880 B1Granted

Apparatus and method to assess the contents of wearable items

OwnerLouise Brooks, Sriram Manivannan +2inventors

InventorsLouise Brooks, Sriram Manivannan, James Brent, Can Gun Yaprak

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Abstract

In some embodiments, frames and methods are provided herein useful to assess contents of personal wearable item). In some embodiments, the frame includes a substrate and a system positioned on a section of the frame's substrate. The substrate includes sections positioned adjacent relative to each other and each distinguished by a demarcation; and coupling elements configured to affix the substrate to a surface(s) of the wearable item. The system includes sensor(s), transceiver(s), and I/O device(s) conductively coupled to a control circuit(s). The sensor(s) and transceiver(s), each oriented toward and away from the interior of the wearable item, respectively, each include conductive elements that transmit and/or intercept electromagnetic energy. The control circuit(s) can utilize the sensor to receive wireless signals transmitted by computing device; received wireless signals to determine the presence of the computing devices; and the I/O device(s) to present the status of the presence of the wireless signal.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A frame for assessing contents of a wearable item, comprising:

a substrate comprising:
a plurality of sections positioned adjacent relative to each other and each distinguished by a demarcation;
a coupling element configured to affix the substrate to a surface of the wearable item;
a system positioned on a section included in the plurality of sections comprising:
a control circuit;
a sensor communicatively coupled to the control circuit and comprising a first conductive element positioned on a first section included in the plurality of sections, the first conductive element oriented towards an interior of the wearable item and configured to one or more of transmit and intercept electromagnetic energy;
a transceiver communicatively coupled to the control circuit and comprising a second conductive element positioned on a second section included in the plurality of sections, the second conductive element oriented away from the interior of wearable item and configured to one or more of transmit and intercept electromagnetic energy;
an I/O device communicatively coupled to the control circuit;
the control circuit configured to:
receive, via the sensor, a wireless signal transmitted by a first computing device positioned proximate to a surface of an object positioned within the wearable item, and thereby determine a presence of the first computing device within a threshold distance relative to the sensor;
present, via the I/O device, a status when a triggering event is generated, the triggering event consisting of receiving the wireless signal or not receiving the wireless signal, the status selected from a group consisting of:
a first status when the wireless signal is received and a second status when the wireless signal is not received;
and
wherein
the wearable item is a personal item;
the demarcation comprises one or more of a folding line, a crease, an incision line, and a fastener;
and
the substrate comprises an orientation configured to be modified according to the demarcation.

15 more elements

A method to form a frame for assessing contents of a wearable item, comprising:

forming a substrate comprising a plurality of sections and a coupling element, the plurality of sections positioned adjacent relative to each other and each distinguished by a demarcation, the coupling element configured to affix the substrate to a surface of the wearable item, the wearable item is a personal item, the substrate comprising an orientation configured to be modified according to the demarcation;
affixing a system on to a section of the plurality of sections, the system comprising a control circuit communicatively coupled to an I/O device, the system further comprising a sensor and a transceiver each communicatively coupled to the control circuit, the sensor comprising a first conductive element configured to at least one of transmit and intercept electromagnetic energy, the transceiver comprising a second conductive element configured to at least one of transmit and intercept electromagnetic energy;
positioning the first conductive element on a first section of the plurality of sections, the first conductive element oriented towards an interior of the wearable item;
positioning the second conductive element on a second section of the plurality of sections, the second conductive element oriented away from the interior of wearable item;
receiving, via the control circuit utilizing the sensor, a wireless signal transmitted by a device positioned proximate to a surface of an object positioned within the wearable item;
determining, via the control circuit using sensor data, the presence of the device within a threshold distance relative to the frame;
presenting, via the control circuit using the I/O device, a first status when the wireless signal is received and a second status when the wireless signal is not received;
and
wherein the substrate is formed in a manner that the demarcation comprises at least one of a folding line, a crease, an incision line, and a fastener.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/189,163Filed 13 Nov 2018 · continuation in part
Priority: 1 Dec 2016
Granted: 21 Jan 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G08B 21/24
Status alarms: reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
A45C 15/00
Purses, bags, luggage or other receptacles covered by groups a45c1/00 - a45c11/00
A45F 3/00
Travelling or camp articles
G08B 25/10
Characterised by the transmission medium: using wireless transmission systems