# US 9,520,050 B2 · Interchangeable personal security device with a communication accessory > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,050 B2 - Document ID: US9520050B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/581,951 - Filed: 2014-12-23 - Published: 2015-04-23 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-04 - Assignees: Revolar, Inc. - Applicants: Revolar, Inc. - Inventors: Jacqueline V Ros - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520050B2 ## CPC - G08B 25/016: {Personal emergency signalling and security systems (emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12)} - G08B 15/004: {using portable personal devices (hand-held or body-worn self-defence devices using repellent gases or chemicals F41H9/10)} - G08B 21/0288: {Attachment of child unit to child/article} - A61B 5/681: {Wristwatch-type devices} - A61B 5/6822: {Neck} - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An apparatus for personal security is disclosed that includes a portable accessory formed to receive an alerting device. The alerting device fits within a compartment of the portable accessory, and the portable accessory includes a communication device. The apparatus includes an alerting device with an alerting element. The alerting device is interchangeable with a plurality of portable accessories. One or more activation elements are disposed on the portable accessory and formed to activate the alerting device wherein the alerting element sends an alert signal to the communication device in response to receiving an activation signal from the one or more activation elements. In one embodiment, the alerting device sends the alert signal to the communication device in response to receiving the activation signal. In another embodiment, the communication device notifies one or more predefined contacts that an alert signal was sent in response to receiving the alert signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: an alerting device comprising an alerting element, the alerting device being interchangeable with a plurality of portable accessories, wherein the alerting device comprises a wireless communication capability consisting of a short-range wireless communication capability; a communication device that comprises a wireless communication capability consisting of a long-range wireless communication capability; a portable accessory formed to receive the alerting device, the alerting device inserted within a compartment of the portable accessory, the portable accessory comprising the communication device, the communication device communicatively coupled to the alerting device using one or more of a short-range wireless communication connection and a wired connection in response to the alerting device being inserted into the portable accessory; and one or more activation elements disposed on the portable accessory and formed to activate the alerting device wherein the alerting element sends an alert signal to the communication device in response to receiving an activation signal from the one or more activation elements, and wherein the communication device of the portable accessory transmits a notification directly to one or more contacts using the long-range wireless communication capability in response to receiving the alert signal, the one or more contacts programmed by a user and stored on the communication device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises one or more of a satellite communication device, a short wave radio communication device, a two-way radio communication device, and a cellular network communication device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alerting device is in communication with the communication device and sends the alert signal to the communication device in response to receiving the activation signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the communication device notifies one or more predefined contacts that an alert signal was sent in response to receiving the alert signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a power supply separate from a power supply for the alerting device, the power supply for the communication device providing more power than the power supply for the alerting device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the power supply for the communication device comprises a battery, the battery comprising one or more of a rechargeable battery and a disposable battery. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the power supply for the communication device comprises a fuel cell, the fuel cell capable of maintaining an isolated fuel supply until the fuel cell is activated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication device is powered on in response to the activation signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an audible/visual alert module that transmits one or more of an audible alert and a visual alert in response to activating an activation element of the one or more activation elements, wherein a power supply for the communication device provides power for the audible/visual alert module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein alerting element sends the alert signal to the communication device in response to a first activation signal from the one or more activation elements and the audible/visual alert module transmits one or more of the audible alert and the visual alert in response to a second activation signal from the one or more activation elements, the first activation signal differing from the second activation signal. ### Claim 11 A system comprising: a communication device that comprises a wireless communication capability consisting of a long-range wireless communication capability; an interchangeable alerting device shaped to fit within two or more portable accessories, wherein at least one of the portable accessories comprises the communication device, and wherein the interchangeable alerting device comprises a wireless communication capability consisting of a short-range wireless communication capability; an activation module in the alerting device that receives an activation signal in response to a user interacting with one or more activation elements of the alerting device; an alert module in communication with the communication device that sends an alert signal to the communication device in response to receiving the activation signal, the communication device communicatively coupled to the alerting device using one or more of a short-range wireless communication connection and a wired connection in response to the alerting device being inserted within the compartment of the portable accessory; and a notification module that sends a notification in response to the communication device receiving the alert signal, the communication device sending the notification directly to one or more predefined contacts using the long-range wireless communication capability, the one or more predefined contacts programmed by a user and stored on the communication device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the communication device sends the notification to one or more predefined contacts by communicating with a single distribution device that distributes the notification to the one or more predefined contacts. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising a second communication device separate from the portable accessories, the second communication device receiving the alert signal and sending a notification to one or more additional predefined contacts. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising a map module that displays a recommended safe route between origin and destination points, wherein the map module determines the recommended safe route based on one or more of lighting, open businesses, and reported crime. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising a security notification module that sends a notification to a security force in response to the communication device receiving the alert signal, the notification to the security force comprising a location of the user. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising an automotive notification module that sends a notification via an automobile communication service, in response to the alert signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising a contacts module that stores the one or more predefined contacts and organizes the one or more predefined contacts into one or more groups. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising a location module that sends a location of the user in response to the communication device receiving the alert signal. ### Claim 19 A method comprising: receiving, in an alerting device, an activation signal in response to a user interacting with one or more activation elements of the alerting device, the alerting device interchangeable and shaped to fit within two or more portable accessories, wherein the alerting device comprises a wireless communication capability consisting of a short-range wireless communication capability, and wherein at least one of the portable accessories comprises a communication device, the communication device communicatively coupled to the alerting device using one or more of a short-range wireless communication connection and a wired connection in response to the alerting device being inserted within the compartment of the portable accessory; sending an alert signal to the communication device using one or more of the short-range wireless communication connection and the wired connection in response to receiving the activation signal; and sending a notification in response to the communication device receiving the alert signal, the communication device sending the notification directly to one or more predefined contacts using a long-range wireless communication capability of the communication device, the one or more predefined contacts programmed by a user and stored on the communication device.