Bathtub monitors
AssigneeRJE International, Inc.
InventorsRobert Jechart, Steve Cole
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments according to at least some aspects of the present disclosure comprise methods, apparatus, devices, and/or systems pertaining to bathtub monitors that may be configured to sense motion and/or absence of motion, such as motion associated with an occupant of a bathtub. Some example embodiments may be configured to provide local and/or remote alarm(s) upon detection of a potentially unsafe condition, such as an absence of motion of the occupant of a bathtub. In some example embodiments, a bathtub alarm system may comprise a pressure sensor, such as a piezo sensor, to sense movement (or lack of movement) in the tub by sensing pressure waves (or lack of pressure waves) within the tub.
Claims16
A monitor system for a tub, comprising:
- a sensing circuit, including a transducer configured to be at least partially immersed in water contained in the tub, the transducer comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense temperature fluctuations attributable to movement of a person situated within the water contained in the tub, the sensing circuit providing an output signal;
- a microprocessor operatively coupled to the sensing circuit to receive the output signal and configured to process the output signal to determine if movement of the person situated within the water contained in the tub has been sensed within a predetermined time period and to initiate an alarm sequence if movement of the person situated within the tub has not been sensed within the predetermined time period;
- and
- an alert device operatively coupled to the microprocessor for selective activation by the microprocessor.
A monitor system for a tub, comprising:
- a sensing circuit, including a transducer configured to be at least partially immersed in water contained in the tub;
- the transducer being configured to emit ultrasound into the water contained in the tub and to sense a condition in the water contained in the tub attributable to movement of a person situated within the water contained in the tub, the sensing circuit providing an output signal;
- a microprocessor operatively coupled to the sensing circuit to receive the output signal and configured to process the output signal to determine if movement of the person situated within the water contained in the tub has been sensed within a predetermined time period and to initiate an alarm sequence if movement of the person situated within the tub has not been sensed within the predetermined time period;
- an alert device operatively coupled to the microprocessor for selective activation by the microprocessor;
- and
- wherein the ultrasound creates a standing wave in the water contained in the tub, and the microprocessor is configured to filter sound detected by the transducer and associated with movement within the tub from a carrier frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.