Abstract:
An alarm is worn on the wrist and vibrates to alert the wearer of a set time. The alarm includes a wrist strap that is fastened by hook-and-loop material and includes a padded cover that extends over the face of the device to protect the device.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the general art of alarms, and to the particular field of wrist-worn alarm. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In numerous situations, it is useful to be able to transmit a piece of information to a person other than by acoustic or visual means. This is the case in particular when one wishes to alert a person who is in the middle of a meeting. 
         [0003]    Quiet alarms of the described character have many important applications and uses. For example, such an alarm could be employed by one spouse to awaken at an early hour without disturbing the other spouse. An alarm of the described character could be employed by an incontinent individual, such as a young child having a bed-wetting problem, to awaken at a preselected time during the night without disturbing others in the surrounding area. A non-audible alarm may also be employed by the hearing impaired. A non-audible alarm can also be used to alert an elderly patient or a confused patient to take his or her medicine. 
         [0004]    Conventional wrist watches having an alarm unit generally produce an alarm sound of various forms. Ordinarily, the wrist watch is made small in size, and it is difficult to mount therein a large battery which has a large current handling capacity and thus to produce a large acoustic sound. Therefore, unfortunately, such conventional wrist watches are convenient but the alarm sounds they produce tend to disturb other people near the wearers of the watch. This feature is inconvenient for a person who is working in a noisy area such as an airport, construction work area and so on. For a person who is working at a hospital, theater, a council chamber etc., where the noise is limited, it is also very inconvenient to use an acoustic sound electronic alarm wrist watch. 
         [0005]    While the inventor is aware of several wrist worn devices that can be used to generate a silent alarm to the wearer, the inventor is not aware of any such devices that are easy and comfortable to wear and which also protect the device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by an alarm that is worn on the wrist and which vibrates to alert the wearer of a set time. The alarm includes a wrist strap that is fastened by hook-and-loop material and includes a padded cover that extends over the face of the device to protect the device. 
         [0007]    Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0008]    The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wrist-worn silent alarm embodying the present invention in the use condition. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a wrist-worn silent alarm embodying the present invention in the uncoiled condition. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a wrist-worn alarm unit  10  that will silently alert a wearer when a preset time is reached. Alarm unit  10  comprises a wrist strap  12  that will encircle a wearer&#39;s wrist when worn. The strap includes a first end  14 , a second end  16  and a longitudinal axis  18  which extends between first end  14  and second end  16 . Strap  12  can be formed of any suitable material. Strap  12  further includes a first surface  20  which is an outer surface when the strap is worn and a second surface  22  which is an inner surface when the strap is worn. It being noted that unit  10  is in the  FIG. 1  configuration when worn. 
         [0012]    A clasp  30  is fixed to first end  14  of the strap. Clasp  30  is sized and adapted to accommodate the strap adjacent to second end  16  as can be seen in  FIG. 1  to attach the strap to the wrist of the wearer. Three portions of hook-and-loop fastener material,  34 ,  36  and  38  are located on first surface  20  of the strap. The three portions of hook-and-loop fastener material are spaced apart from each other in the direction of longitudinal axis  18  of the strap. As can be understood from  FIG. 1 , the first and second portions of hook-and-loop fastener material are located to releasably engage each other when the strap extends through the clasp on the first end of the strap. 
         [0013]    A vibrating alarm mechanism  40  is mounted on first surface  20  of the strap. The circuits and components of vibrating alarm mechanism  40  are known to those skilled in the art. The details of the component parts of alarm mechanism  40  are not important to the present invention and thus will not be claimed or discussed. 
         [0014]    A padded cover  50  is mounted on first surface  20  of the strap adjacent to vibrating alarm mechanism  40 . Padded cover  50  includes a first end  52  which is fixed to the strap adjacent to the vibrating alarm mechanism, a second end  54 , a first surface  56  that is an outer surface when the cover is in use and a second surface  58  that is an inner surface when the cover is in use. 
         [0015]    A pad  60  is located on second surface  58 , and a portion  64  of hook-and-loop fastener material is mounted on second surface  58  of padded cover  50  adjacent to second end  54  of the padded cover in position to cooperate with third portion  38  of hook-and-loop fastener material on first surface  20  of strap  12  to releasably lock cover  50  to the strap in position so pad  60  covers vibrating alarm mechanism  40  when hook-and-loop fastener material  64  of the padded cover releasably engages third portion  38  of hook-and-loop fastener material on the strap. 
         [0016]    While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.