Alarm system for precluding a child from straying

An alarm system for precluding a child from straying that automatically monitors the presence of a small child within a radius defined by the length of a cable connected between a child and a guardian of the child whereby an audible alarm is activated upon disconnecting or cutting of the cable, the alarm system comprising:

• a multiconductor retractable coiled cable having a first end and a second end and with each end having a separate mechanically locking multiple-contact electrical connector means fixedly operationally connected thereto, the cable further having a predetermined length whereby a circular control zone having a radius determined by the fully extended length of the cable is defined;
• an adult wrist strap for securing the first end of the cable to a guardian of the child, the adult wrist strap including a circular band of pliable elastic material, the circular band comfortably snugly securable around the guardian's wrist, the circular band also including a mechanically locking multiple-contact electrical connector means fixedly connected thereto, the connector means of the adult wrist strap additionally having electrically short-circuited contacts therein, the connector means of the adult wrist strap being operationally mated with the connector means of the first end of the cable;
• a child wrist strap for securing the second end of the cable to the child, the child wrist strap including a circular band of pliable elastic material, the circular band comfortably snugly securable about the child's wrist, the circular band also including a mechanically locking multiple-contact electrical connector means fixedly connected thereto, the connector means of the child wrist strap being operationally mated with the connector means of the second end of the cable;
• radio frequency transmitter means having a self-contained power source, the transmitter means also having small dimensions and a shape for allowing it to be secured to a key ring or worn as a neck pendant, the transmitter means further having an actuator means for manually initiating a radio frequency signal transmission at a characteristic transmission frequency;
• radio frequency receiver means having a reception frequency identical to the characteristic transmission frequency of the transmitter means, the receiver means also having power supply input terminals, the receiver means additionally having normally-closed switch contact output terminals which become open-circuited when a radio frequency signal from the transmitter means is received;
• alarm means for detecting an open-circuited condition whereby an audible alarm is activated, the alarm means further comprising processor means circuitry having power supply input terminals, the processor means circuitry also having audible signal loudspeaker output terminals, the processor means circuitry additionally having normally-closed input terminals operationally connected to the normally-closed switch contact output terminals of the radio frequency receiver means, the processor means circuitry further having reset switch input terminals;
• a loudspeaker operationally connected to the loudspeaker output terminals of the processor means circuitry for allowing an audible alarm signal to be sounded;
• a self-contained power source, the power source being operationally connected to the processor means circuitry power supply input terminals, the power source also being operationally connected to the radio frequency receiver means power supply input terminals;
• on/off means for manually disconnecting and reconnecting the power source to the radio frequency receiver means and the processor means circuitry, the on/off means including electrical switch means being operationally connected in series with the power source;
• alarm reset means for allowing the alarm means to be reset and for silencing the audible alarm signal, the alarm reset means including electrical switch means being operationally connected to the reset switch input terminals of the processor means circuitry;
• container means for enclosing and shock-protecting the radio frequency receiver means, the processor means circuitry, the power source, and the loudspeaker, the container means also having a user-accessible mounting surface for holding the on/off means and the reset means, the container means including a hard-shell case formed of lightweight impact-resistant rigid material, the case having integral sides and bottom, the case also having a removable top, the case additionally having a plurality of holes formed thereon for allowing passage of electrical cables therethrough and mounting of electrical switch means therein;
• carry pouch means for allowing the container means to be conveniently operationally transported by the child, the carry pouch means further comprising a sack enclosure formed of soft flexible resilient tear-resistant material having integral sides and a bottom with the sides and bottom bounding a hollow interior, the sack enclosure having opposing ends, the sack enclosure also having a top flap for covering the interior, the sack enclosure additionally having a closure means to releasably seal the flap;
• belt means for securably comfortably releasably attaching the sack enclosure to a child's waist, the belt means including an elongated resilient band of elastic material fixedly connected at each end to opposing ends of the sack enclosure;
• and
• a multiconductor electrical interconnect cable fixedly operationally extending from the electrical connector means of the child wrist strap to the normally closed terminals of the radio frequency receiver means and processor means circuitry thereby completing the closed-loop required by the alarm means for proper operation.