US 5,963,137 A · Alarm device for monitoring an individual's movement and/or need for assistance

Abstract

An audible, visual, and remote alarm system designed to monitor the status of a person in another room to know when assistance or attention may be needed; thereby, reducing or alleviating the caregiver's dilemma of being tethered to a very small area. The persons being monitored may include the elderly, Alzheimer patients, sleep walkers, and others who may be at risk by getting out of the chair, or off the bed without assistance and may not be able to rationalize the need to summon help. The system is also suitable for monitoring individuals who can consciously summon assistance by activating a magnetic switch. Primarily designed for use in private homes as a stand-alone system, this system can also be used to augment permanent call cord systems in hospitals, nursing homes, and residential facilities. An optional remote activator switch and wireless audible chime and visual indicator (light) is provided as a part of the alarm device that can be integrated to augment the alarm device to allow the caregiver to monitor an individual from a further distance. By using the wireless chime device, the caregiver can move about freely in the yard or garden while carrying the device on his/her person. Because it is powered by 9 volt battery's, the system is very flexible and portable to give the individual being monitored and caregiver both a better quality of life, as it allows for visitation to other places, homes, hotels and even campers or cruise ships.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An alarm device for monitoring an individual's movement and/or need for assistance by signaling unsafe motion between an individual and a second stable surface comprising a continuous non-elastic adjustable strap (13A, FIGS. 1,2), with a clothing suspender fastener (13, FIG. 2) on one end, attached to the individual's clothing being monitored (FIG. 1), and a T Hook (13C, FIG. 4) on the other end linked to a magnetic switch (14, FIG. 3), attached to the stable surface by material (14B, FIG. 3) offering sufficient resistance to undesirable disconnect or separation;

the adjustable strap (13A, FIG. 2), has on the end opposite the T Hook (13C, FIG. 4), the clothing suspender fastener (13, FIG. 2), an adjustable clothing suspender clasp (13B, FIG. 2), to allow for adjusting the length of the strap (13A, FIG. 1) connecting the individual being monitored and the magnetic switch (14, FIG. 1);
when an unsafe forward or side movement by the individual being monitored occurs, or the individual consciously separates the magnetic switch, this completes an electronic circuit, which activates a hard wired battery powered (17B, FIG. 9) audible and visual alarm (17A), which simultaneously activates an optional remote wireless chime activator switch (16, FIGS. 1,9), or a remote audible and visual chime device (18, FIGS. 1, 11), attached to the belt or clothing of a caregiver (18, FIG. 1) using a metal, rubber or plastic clip affixed to the back of a chime cover (18A, 18B, FIG. 12).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Alarm device for monitoring an individual's movement and/or need for assistance

Life of this patent

Alarm device for monitoring an individual's movement and/or need for assistance

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9