Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a wearable movement alert system comprising an enclosure, a divider positioned within the enclosure, a quiet chamber positioned within one longitudinal end of the enclosure, a noise chamber positioned within the longitudinal end of the enclosure that is opposite from the quiet chamber, at least one chime fixed within the noise chamber, and an agitator free to move about within the enclosure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/070,711 filed Sep. 3, 2014 titled “Walk Alerting and Monitoring Device.” 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to a system useful for movement notification and more specifically relates to a system particularly useful for alerting a caretaker to a patient&#39;s walking movements. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0003]    There are some wearable alert systems currently in place for the elderly. However, most alert systems that now exist for the elderly are one-time, push-button devices that are used in the event of an emergency. In addition, most devices operate on electric or battery power. Therefore, the need exists for a non-electronic system that can be used to alert a patient&#39;s caretaker that the patient is up and walking around in a non-emergency situation. 
         [0004]    The present invention provides a system which can be operated in non-emergency situations and used to alert a caretaker of a patient&#39;s movements. Injuries and other similar incidents can be reduced or prevented because a caretaker hears the audible sounds emitted when a patient is walking and can then find the patient to assist him or her. The present invention also provides a non-electronic alternative so that batteries are not needed. In addition, the present invention only emits sounds when a patient is upright and moving around, but is quiet when the patient is lying down and not at risk of a fall or other similar injury. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In view of the foregoing shortcomings inherent in the conventional type of methods and systems now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a wearable system for alerting caregivers to a patient&#39;s upright movements, even if the patient is not in the caretaker&#39;s line of sight. Audible tones are produced from within the system during walking movements, and when the system is in a horizontal position, it remains quiet. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, the wearable movement alert system comprises an enclosure; at least one divider positioned within the enclosure; a quiet chamber positioned within one longitudinal end of the enclosure; a noise chamber positioned within the longitudinal end of the enclosure that is opposite from the quiet chamber, at least one chime fixed within the noise chamber; and an agitator. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, the wearable movement alert system comprises a housing configured to hold internal components; an upper chamber within one end of the housing; a lower chamber within the end of the housing opposite that of the upper chamber; a divider within the housing, wherein the divider separates the upper chamber and the lower chamber such that a channel is formed between the upper chamber and lower chamber; and a plurality of agitators. 
         [0008]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0009]    To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings/pictures, recognizing however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    It should be noted that identical features in different drawings are shown with the same reference numeral. Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of the wearable movement alert system shown in a vertical, upright position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side view of one embodiment of the wearable movement alert system shown in a horizontal position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the wearable movement alert system, shown in a vertical, upright position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the wearable movement alert system, shown in a vertical, upright position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the wearable movement alert system, shown in a vertical, upright position with the inhibitor in a closed configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]      FIGS. 1 through 5  illustrate various views and embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1 , the system  10  comprises an enclosure  12  that houses the various internal components of the system  10 . The enclosure  12  is shown in a trapezoidal shape, though many different shapes or configurations could be used, such as rectangular, elliptical, cylindrical, conical, and so on. Further, the enclosure  12  may be made of any number of materials, though a type of plastic or other lightweight material may be preferred for added comfort while wearing. The outer portion of the enclosure  12  may include small holes (not shown) or perforations (not shown) in order to allow sound to escape from the system  10  when in use, as further described herein. 
         [0017]    Within the enclosure  12 , the system  10  comprises a quiet chamber  20  at one end of the enclosure  12 , and a noise chamber  22  at the end of the enclosure  12  that is opposite the quiet chamber  20 . The quiet chamber  20  and the noise chamber  22  may generally be open or hollow spaces within the enclosure  12 . One or more dividers  13  may be included within the enclosure  12  for separating the quiet chamber  20  from the noise chamber  22 . The dividers  13  may be solid in nature, or the dividers  13  may comprise a series of walls that separate the two chambers. Generally, the dividers  13  extend from the outer portion of the enclosure  12  toward the center of the enclosure  12 , but do not extend so far as to meet in the center of the enclosure  12 . Rather, the dividers  13  come together in such a manner as to form a channel  14  leading between the quiet chamber  20  and the noise chamber  22 . 
         [0018]    One or more chimes  18  may be located within the noise chamber  22 . Although  FIG. 1  shows two chimes  18 , the present invention contemplates using any number of chimes  18 , such as 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10. The chimes  18  may be attached to the walls of the enclosure  12  or the walls of the dividers  13 , or may be attached to both. The chimes  18  may be permanently fixed or removably attached within the noise chamber  22 , but in any event are configured in such a way that they remain within the noise chamber  22  no matter how the system  10  is moved, turned, or positioned. 
         [0019]    The chimes  18  may be small, cymbal-like structures made of metal or other material, though a type of metal may be preferred so that the chimes  18  are more likely to generate sound when in contact with the agitator  16 . Other configurations may be used, such as tubes, rods, or bells. 
         [0020]    The system  10  also comprises at least one agitator  16 . The agitator  16  remains unfixed to any surfaces and free to move internally about the system  10 . In this manner, the channel  14  is wide enough to allow the agitator  16  to pass through and travel between the quiet chamber  20  and the noise chamber  22 , as further described below. The agitator  16  is shown as a spherical object, though other configurations could be used. However, a spherical shape may generally assist the agitator  16  in moving easily within the system  10  because it is capable of a smooth, rolling motion. Many types of materials may be used to fabricate the agitator  16 , such as metal, plastic, or wood. Depending on the structure and material of the chimes  18 , the agitator  16  should be comprised of a material that facilitates sound generation when it comes into contact with the chimes  18 . Because the agitator  16  is free to move about the system  10 , a walking motion causes the agitator  16  to move between and make alternating contact with the chimes  18 , thus causing sound emission. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is an alternate view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , and further illustrates the function of the present invention. In  FIG. 2 , the system  10  is shown from the side, in a horizontal position. Generally, the noise chamber  22  is configured to be higher than the quiet chamber  20  when the system  10  is in a horizontal position, thus allowing gravity to cause the agitator  16  to either move to or remain in the quiet chamber  20 . For example, if the agitator  16  had been in the noise chamber  22 , when the system  10  is turned on its side, the agitator  16  would then move through the channel  14  toward the quiet chamber  20 , where it would come to rest. The angle and slope of the dividers  13 , and thus the angle and slope of the channel  14 , are configured to direct the agitator  16  away from the noise chamber  22  by using gravity. Conversely, when the system  10  is moved into an upright or vertical position, the agitator  16  is again pulled by gravity through the channel  14  and into the noise chamber  22 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The downward angle of the channel  14  allows the system  10  to remain quiet when the wearer is lying down, and only make noise when the wearer is upright and walking. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows an alternative embodiment of the system  10 . In this embodiment, multiple agitators  16  are used in place of chimes  18 . At least one agitator  16  is configured to remain in the noise chamber  22 , and may be permanently fixed within the noise chamber or may be removably attached. In this manner, a suspension thread  42  may be used to hold the agitator  16  in place within the noise chamber  22 . Still, at least one agitator  16  remains unfixed to any surface and free to move about the system  10 . 
         [0023]    In operation of the system  10 , the free agitator  16  moves to the noise chamber  22  when the system  10  is in an upright position, as described above in reference to  FIG. 2 . The free agitator  16  comes into contact with the agitators  16  in the noise chamber  22  to generate sound. Alternatively, the agitators  16  that remain within the noise chamber  22  may be held in place by the use of separation screens  40 , rather than suspension thread  42 . The separation screens  40  may be configured to prevent some of the agitators  16  from leaving the noise chamber  22  when the system  10  is positioned on its side, and instead only allow the free agitator  16  to do so. However, the separation screens  40  comprise a sheer material that allows the agitators  16  to make noise when they come into contact with one another, even through the separation screen  40  material. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  also shows the use of attachment straps  44 , which the wearer may use to fasten the system  10  to himself or herself. The attachment straps  44  may be made of a variety of materials, including nylon, leather, cloth, elastic, or other fabric. In addition, the attachment straps  44  may utilize a wide variety of fasteners for attaching to a patient&#39;s clothing, including VELCRO, buckles, or clips. Although  FIG. 3  shows the use of four attachment straps  44 , any number of attachment straps  44  may be used. Alternatively, a clip (not shown) may be affixed to the system  10  and used to fasten the system  10  to a patient, similar to clips used to fasten a device to one&#39;s belt. The present invention contemplates that a number of fastening devices may be used with any of the embodiments shown or described herein. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows an alternative embodiment of the system  10 . In this embodiment, inhibitors  46  may be included to dampen sounds, making the sounds more muffled or preventing sounds altogether, depending on user preference. The inhibitors  46  may include one or more movable walls which may slide from a position in the channel  14  to a position in the noise chamber  22 , as described in reference to  FIG. 5  below.  FIG. 4  shows the inhibitors  46  in a disengaged position, at rest in the channel  14 . In this position, the inhibitors  46  allow the agitator  16  to reach the noise chamber  22  and come into contact with the chimes  18 , thus generating sound. The inhibitors  46  may be attached to a handle (not shown) or switch (not shown) on the outside of the enclosure  12 , so that a user may move the handle (not shown) or switch (not shown) to an “on” or “off” position, thus engaging or disengaging the inhibitors  46  within the enclosure  12 . 
         [0026]    Although two inhibitors  46  are shown in  FIG. 4 , the present invention contemplates that other numbers of inhibitors  46  can be used. For example, one inhibitor  46  may be used to simply muffle the overall sound of the system  10 . Alternatively, two inhibitors  46  may be used as shown in order to completely prevent sound generation. In addition, the inhibitors  46  may be used with other embodiments of the present invention, such as an embodiment with multiple agitators  16  and no chimes  18 , as described in reference to  FIG. 3  above. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  shows an alternative embodiment of the system  10 . In this embodiment, the inhibitors  46  are shown in an engaged position, within the noise chamber  22 . In this position, the inhibitors  46  act as a barrier and do not allow the agitator  16  to come into contact with the chimes  18 . As a result, no sound would be generated, even though the system  10  may be in an upright and vertical configuration. As noted above, the inhibitors  46  may be attached to a handle (not shown) or switch (not shown) on the outside portion of the enclosure  12 , so that a user may manually slide the inhibitors  46  downward from a disengaged position within the channel  14  to an engaged position within the noise chamber  22 . 
         [0028]    While the invention has been discussed as being useful in the care of an elderly person, it should be recognized that the system  10  can be used for other purposes, such as the care of mentally impaired or otherwise incapacitated individuals, or children. The system  10  may be used in a number of settings, such as home or hospice care or other institutional settings.