Abstract:
A tracking assembly monitors a transmitter and alerts a user when the transmitter exceeds a certain distance in real time. The assembly has a receiver, transmitter, and a means to secure the transmitter to an object. The receiver has a means to process information, a means to input information, a means to output information, a scanner connected to the processing means, and a power source. Preferably, the input means is keys and buttons; alternatively, a stylus and an entry screen. The transmitter emits a continuously generated radio signal. The securing means affixes the transmitter to skin. In use, the receiver displays the relative location of the transmitter at both short and long ranges.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a parental alert and child tracking device for use in connection with tracking children beyond the vision of parents. The parental alert and child tracking device has particular utility in locating children by satellite in real time.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Parental alert and child tracking devices are desirable for watching children when beyond the vision of parents. Devices to monitor the location of children have become increasingly popular to thwart abductions. The devices use radio signals to link a mobile transmitter to a separate receiver. A parent attaches a transmitter to a concealed location on the child. If the child wanders beyond a certain distance, the device notifies the parent who can retrieve the child. If the child wanders greatly beyond a certain distance or endures abduction, the transmitter emits a signal for reception and retransmission by an orbiting satellite. The device then provides the location of the child for rescue. In an interesting application, the receiver tracks multiple transmitters where parents can leave their children in a group for supervision by a staff member such as at a child themed restaurant. The staff member logs the arrival of children and releases them only to pre-designated people.  
         [0005]     The use of a personal alarm system is known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,163 to Perez et al. discloses a child position monitoring and locating device that emits a continuous signal from a transmitter carried by a child to a receiver held by a parent. However, the Perez &#39;163 patent does not accept identifying information about children, and has further drawbacks of no keyboard and no signal transmission to a satellite.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,291 to Hawthorne discloses a distance monitor especially for child surveillance that monitors a child at a predetermined range and notifies a parent by sight and sound of the distance to a wandering child. However, the Hawthorne &#39;291 patent does not have a text or graphic display, and additionally does not attach a transmitter to the skin of a child and has no signal transmission to a satellite.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,087 to Ingargiola et al. discloses a remote personal security device that monitors children at adjustable ranges and notifies a parent by sight and sound of the distance to a wandering child. In one application, the Ingargiola &#39;087 patent has a transmitter located within the soles of a child&#39;s shoes. This application may face heightened scrutiny during airport screening. However, the Ingargiola &#39;087 patent does not have a keyboard for entering information, and additionally does not emit signals to satellites.  
         [0008]     Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,770 to Schlager et al. discloses a self-locating remote monitoring device that conserves transmitter power by using a polling signal to summon the transmitter&#39;s location when the transmitter exceeds a predetermined distance or encounters a hazard. However, the Schlager &#39;770 patent does not have a keyboard in the base station to enter identifying information for the wearer of the transmitter, and cannot monitor multiple remote units.  
         [0009]     Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 391,510 to Leo et al. discloses a combined transmitter and receiver for locating lost children that has a belt mounted transmitter and a receiver with a display of radial distance rings and cardinal directions. However, the Leo D&#39;510 patent does not attach the transmitter to the skin of a child, and cannot enter text and numeric information into the receiver.  
         [0010]     Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,002 to Creek et al. discloses a tracking system using radio frequency signals that identifies the unique codes of multiple transmitters and reradiates signals to ascertain the distance to a transmitter. However, the Creek &#39;002 patent does not accept text and numeric information into the receiver, and cannot transmit a signal to an orbiting satellite.  
         [0011]     Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,324 to Hildebrant discloses a vehicle locating system that provides a vehicle location via a global positioning system—GPS—satellite. However, the Hildebrant &#39;324 patent does not accept identifying information about children, and has further drawbacks of no keyboard and no internal power source for the locator unit.  
         [0012]     While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a parental alert and child tracking device that allows locating children by satellite. The Perez &#39;163 and Creek &#39;002 patents make no provision for transmitting a radio signal to an orbiting satellite. While the Hawthorne &#39;291 and Leo D&#39;510 patents do not provide for attaching a transmitter to skin. The Ingargiola &#39;087 patent lacks a keyboard for entering information. The Schlager &#39;770 patent makes no provision for multiple remote units. And the Hildebrant &#39;324 patent makes no provision for entering identifying information about children.  
         [0013]     Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved parental alert and child tracking device that can be used for locating children by satellite. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the parental alert and child tracking device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of locating children by satellite.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of personal alarm systems now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved parental alert and child tracking device, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved parental alert and child tracking device and method which has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a parental alert and child tracking device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.  
         [0015]     To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises an alert and tracking assembly that tracks the position of a transmitter and alerts a user—typically a parent—when the transmitter—worn by a child—exceeds a certain distance from the user. The assembly has a receiver, transmitter, and a means to secure the transmitter to an object. The receiver has a compact portable housing, a front and a back, a means to process information, a means to input information into the processing means, a means to output information from the processing means to the user, a scanner connected to the processing means, and a power source. Preferably, the input means is keys and buttons on the front of the receiver. Alternatively, the input means is a stylus and an entry screen. The transmitter has a continuously generated radio signal transmitted at a predetermined frequency and at a predetermined strength. The securing means permits affixing the transmitter to skin for at least 21 days. In use, the receiver displays the relative location of the transmitter at both short and long ranges measured by the distance between the transmitter and the receiver.  
         [0016]     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.  
         [0017]     The invention may also include: buttons to turn the receiver on and off, to scroll through the output means, to choose among the modes of operation, and to activate a search function; a unique code from each transmitter; both local—line of sight—signal reception and GPS satellite signal reception; a microprocessor that receives input, processes information, and displays output; the ability to identify multiple transmitters, measure range and direction to a transmitter; output information by display, alarm light, homing light, sound transducer, vibrating actuator, and port; a waterproof pouch to secure the transmitter to an object—a child; and a cover. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.  
         [0018]     Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0019]     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and devices for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.  
         [0020]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved parental alert and child tracking device that has all of the advantages of the prior art personal alarm systems and none of the disadvantages.  
         [0021]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved parental alert and child tracking device that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.  
         [0022]     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved parental alert and child tracking device that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such parental alert and child tracking device economically available to the buying public.  
         [0023]     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new parental alert and child tracking device that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.  
         [0024]     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a parental alert and child tracking device for locating children by satellite. This allows tracking via satellite children located beyond visual range or earshot from the receiver.  
         [0025]     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a parental alert and child tracking device for locating children by satellite. This makes it possible to enter identifying information about children into the receiver.  
         [0026]     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a parental alert and child tracking device for locating children by satellite. This makes it possible to track multiple children with one receiver.  
         [0027]     Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of tracking one or more objects using these steps: 1) inserting a transmitter into a pouch; 2) placing the pouch upon the object; 3) entering information about the object into a receiver; 4) activating a receiver to receive a unique signal generated by the transmitter; 5) selecting the mode of operation of the receiver wherein the receiver tracks the signals from one or more objects; and 6) displaying information about the identity and location of the object to the user of the receiver at both short and long ranges between the transmitter and the receiver.  
         [0028]     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:  
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the parental alert and child tracking device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the parental alert and child tracking device of the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the parental alert and child tracking device of the present invention.  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the transmitter of the parental alert and child tracking device of the present invention.  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of the satellite tracking function of the parental alert and child tracking device of the present invention.  
         [0035]     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0036]     Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1-5 , a preferred embodiment of the parental alert and child tracking device of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral  10 .  
         [0037]     In  FIG. 1 , a new and improved parental alert and child tracking device  10  of the present invention for locating children by satellite  40  is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the parental alert and child tracking device  10  has a receiver  14  generally rectangular in shape suitable for handheld operation. The receiver  14  has a housing  16 , an input means  24 , an output means  26 , a scanner  28 , and a processing means  22 . The housing  16  has a front  18  and an opposite back  20  with the front  18  shown in  FIG. 1 . The housing  16  is formed from plastic. The input means  24  accepts information from a user about an object to be located. In the preferred embodiment, the input means  24  has an array of keys  34  representing letters and numerals. The key array  34  is similar to a typewriter “QWERTY” arrangement for the letters and has the numerals above the letters closer towards the center of the receiver  14 . Opposite the key array  34 , the receiver  14  has the output means  26 . In the preferred embodiment, a liquid crystal display  44 —LCD—serves as the output means  26 . The display  44  is generally rectangular and at least half as wide as the lateral axis of the housing  16 . Opposite the display  44  and the key array  34 , the housing  16  has a scanner  28 . The scanner  28  receives radio signals from the transmitter  12  and relayed signals from an orbiting satellite  40 . The scanner  28  routes signal information to the processing means  22  for use by the user upon the display  44 . The processing means  22  stores information from the input means  24 , processes the information with the signal, and reveals a result upon the display  44  for the user.  
         [0038]     Further, the input means  24  has buttons  36  to control the operation of the receiver  14 . An on/off button  62  regulates power to the receiver  14  from the power source  30 . One or more scroll buttons  36   a  allow a user to advance the display  44  line by line to read entered information. One or more mode buttons  36   b  allow a user to choose functions of the receiver  14  such as search, scrolling, and preset information. Through a mode button  36   b,  the user may activate previously stored identifying information from a transmitter  12 . This reduces the data entry burden during operation of the receiver  14 . For example, a user may select the information from a child #2 out of many stored in the receiver  14 . The receiver  14  has an important function to assist a user to find a wayward child wearing a transmitter  12 . A search button  36   c  allows a user to command the receiver  14  to scan the allotted radio frequency band to find a selected transmitter  12 . In the search mode, the receiver  14  reveals the direction and distance to the transmitter  12  upon the display  44 . If the transmitter  12  exceeds a predetermined distance, the search mode of the receiver  14  queries an orbiting satellite  40  to relay the signal of the transmitter  12  to the receiver  14 . As a protective measure, the receiver  14  has a removable cover  38  for the input means  24 .  
         [0039]     The output means  26  has additional features of an alarm light  46  and a homing light  48  visible upon the front  18  of the housing  16 . When the transmitter  12  exceeds a predetermined distance from the receiver  14 , the processing means  22  triggers the alarm light  46  to illuminate steadily. An alert user will notice the alarm light  46  and act to recover a wandering child. The predetermined distance may vary based upon the environment of the child. For instance, an open field may provide a greater predetermined distance—typically sight distance of the parent—than a forest—typically earshot of the parent. When the user selects the search mode, the scanner  28  acquires the signal of the transmitter  12  and feeds it to the processing means  22 . The processing means  22  reveals the direction and distance to the transmitter  12  upon the display  44 . As an alternate to compass and pace readings, the receiver  14  has a homing light  48  to assist the user in finding the direction and closing the distance to the transmitter  12 . The homing light  48  blinks intermittently and the blinking frequency increases when the receiver  14  points towards the transmitter  12  and approaches the transmitter  12 . As a special feature, the output means  26  includes a port  54  opposite the scanner  28  and the key array  34 . The port  54  allows one receiver  14  to share information with a second receiver  14 . For example, a child wearing a transmitter  12  may exceed the predetermined distance greatly. A parent may request police assistance. When the police arrive, the parent can download information from the receiver  14  into the police receiver  14  so the police may assist.  
         [0040]     Turning to  FIG. 2 , an alternate embodiment of the input means  24  and buttons  36  appears. The input means  24  has an entry screen  60 , generally rectangular, LCD, and touch sensitive. A stylus  58 , generally plastic, enters information upon the entry screen  60  and into the processing means  22  and selects modes of operation of the receiver  14  and display means  44 . A user would grasp the stylus  58 , tap the entry screen  60 , and enter identifying information for a transmitter  12  using the stylus  58 . Tapping the entry screen  60  with the stylus  58  again, the user would select the mode of the receiver  14  from scroll, preset information, and search. This embodiment retains an on/off button  62 , an alarm light  46 , a homing light  48 , a display  44 , a scanner  28 , a cover  38 , and a port  54  as in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 3  illustrates the relationship between the input means  24 , processing means  22 , output means  26 , scanner  28 , port  54 , and power source  30  with the back  20  of the housing  16  removed. The power source  30  energizes the processing means  22  and the remainder of the receiver  14 . The power source  30  is a rechargeable battery. The processing means  22  in the form of a microprocessor  42  receives information from the input means  24 . The information identifies the transmitters  12  and selects the mode of operation of the microprocessor  42  and hence the receiver  14 . Accepting signal information from the scanner  28 , the microprocessor  42  processes the signal with the identifying information in the mode selected and sends a result to the output means  26 . The output means  26  reveals the result on the display  44 , the alarm light  46 , and the homing light  48 . The output means  26  also activates a transducer  50  to sound loudly when the transmitter  12  exceeds a predetermined distance in conjunction with the alarm light  46 . The transducer  50  also sounds intermittently in conjunction with the homing light  48 . Then the output means  26  also energizes an actuator  52  to vibrate the housing  16  when the transmitter  12  exceeds a predetermined distance in conjunction with the alarm light  46  and sound transducer  50 . As a separate feature, the microprocessor  42  of one receiver  14  can exchange information with a second receiver  14  through the port  54 . The microprocessor  42  would exchange the identifying information, direction, and distance of a transmitter  12  to the microprocessor  42  of a second receiver  14  via a cable C. The second receiver  14  could then track the transmitter  12 .  
         [0042]     The transmitter  12  appears in  FIG. 4 . A means to secure  32  the transmitter  12  takes the form of a round plastic pouch  56 . The transmitter  12  and its power source  30 , typically a battery, fit within a pouch  56 . The waterproof pouch  56  surrounds the transmitter  12 . The pouch  56  has a generally skin tone color and an adhesive to bond with skin for at least 21 days. A user, typically a parent, places the transmitter  12  within the pouch  56  then places the pouch  56  upon an object, typically a child.  
         [0043]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic of the long-range operation of the receiver  14 . When the transmitter  12  exceeds a predetermined distance greatly, such as beyond receiver  14  range or from curvature of the earth, an earth orbiting satellite  40  receives the transmitter  12  signal. The satellite  40  relays that signal to the receiver  14  when queried by the receiver  14 . The satellite  40  is one of the constellation of GPS satellites  40 . The receiver  14  accepts the GPS signal and computes the location of the transmitter  12 . The receiver  14  then reveals that location on the display  44 . When the receiver  14  nears the location, the homing light  48  activates for the close approach to the transmitter  12 .  
         [0044]     In use, it can now be understood that a parent places a transmitter  12  within a pouch  56  and the pouch  56  upon a child. The pouch  56  typically adheres to the child&#39;s skin in the upper back  20 . This prevents the child from dislodging the pouch  56  and conceals the pouch  56  under clothing. The parent then turns on the receiver  14  and enters the child&#39;s identifying information by keys  34  or stylus  58  into the input means  24  to correspond with the transmitter signal. The parent selects a predetermined distance and lets the child play. If the child wanders beyond the distance, an alarm sounds, the housing  16  vibrates, and lights illuminate to notify the parent. The parent then uses the receiver  14  to track the child by the direction and distance provided on the display  44  and through the homing light  48  and sound transducer  50 . If the child wanders beyond the range of the receiver  14 , such as over a hill or when abducted in a car, the signal of the transmitter  12  reaches an orbiting satellite  40 . The parent then selects search mode  36   c  upon the receiver  14  and the receiver  14  queries the GPS satellite  40  for the location of the transmitter  12 . If the parent summons police assistance, the parent can exchange location and identifying information with a receiver  14  operated by the police through a cable C between ports  54 . The police can then perform a rescue.  
         [0045]     Further, institutions that supervise children can use the receiver  14  to track multiple children. A day care center or child themed restaurant may have many children under supervision. When a child enters an institution, the parent provides identifying information to an institution employee who enters the information into a receiver  14 . Each receiver  14  can track twenty transmitters  12 , usually worn by children. When a child wanders or is taken beyond a distance set by the institution, an alarm sounds on the receiver  14  notifying an institution employee to act.  
         [0046]     The transmitter  12  emits a unique numeric code on a continuous signal. While the receiver  14  stores up to and including twenty records containing identifying information. The identifying information includes a child&#39;s name and phone number. Upon capturing a signal, the receiver  14  checks the code of the signal against the stored records. When the code matches a record, the receiver  14  displays  44  the identifying information to the user. A user may program the receiver  14  for different environments such as a store, park or yard, or home. For example, the user may set a ten foot predetermined distance when the child goes to a store. In a park setting, the user may increase the predetermined distance to visual range. At home during nighttime, the user may coordinate the predetermined distance with the perimeter of the home. In each of the examples, when the child exceeds the predetermined distance, the receiver  14  activates the output means  26  to alert the user. In the event a child wanders beyond visual range or is late, the user can activate the search mode  36   c  to determine the location of the child via satellite  40 . From the parental alert and child tracking device, users—like parents—have peace of mind from the ability to find a child quickly.  
         [0047]     From the software within the receiver  14 , the user can select a mode of operation. The preset mode allows a user to enter information and store it. The user can store identifying information for children regularly tracked and predetermined distances for different environments  36   b.  In scroll mode  36   a,  the user advances through information stored in the receiver  14 . In search mode  36   c,  the receiver  14  seeks the transmitter signal whether on line of sight or relayed by earth orbiting satellite  40 . The user also selects the method of the output means  26 , such as the alarm light  46 , homing light  48 , vibrate, and transducer  50  volume. Sound volume becomes important for nighttime use of the receiver  14 . A sleeping user may require a louder volume to alert the user when a child exceeds the predetermined distance.  
         [0048]     While a preferred embodiment of the parental alert and child tracking device has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. For example, any suitable sturdy material such as metal, composite, or a variety of wood may be used instead of the plastic housing described. Also, the display may be made of light emitting diodes, cathode ray tubes, or similar devices. Although locating children by satellite has been described, it should be appreciated that the parental alert and child tracking device herein described is also suitable for tracking hospital patients, nursing home residents, and livestock. Furthermore, a wide variety of transmitter securing means may be used instead of the skin adhering pouch described.  
         [0049]     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.