Wearable Safety Device for Swimming

This present invention relates to a safety wearable device such as a band for wrist, ankle, or neck, which is designed to alert others if an individual is drowning or struggling in a pool or other body of water. The safety wearable device comprises a display screen, GPS chipset, and various other sensors to monitor the vital signs of the wearer, and in case the wearer is submerged for an extended period of time in the body of water, the device is used to alert parents, caretakers or other individuals having a companion software application installed on their electronic devices. The safety wearable device can also be used to locate children or other individuals who wander off or become lost.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a field of wearable devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a swim-safe wearable device that is designed to alert others when a user of the wearable band is drowning or struggling in a pool, lake or other body of water. The swim-safe wearable device of the present invention is used to detect dangerous situations, such as the act of drowning of a child in a body of water, or to identify the exact location of an individual with dementia that suddenly goes missing. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

By way of background, drowning is one of the most common causes of accidental death in young children. Drowning is also a major risk of death in adults and older children. Young children can easily fall into a body of water, such as a swimming pool, or wander into the ocean and end up drowning. Even persons trained in swimming can become victims to drowning in some circumstances. Often young children swim under the supervision of parents, care takers, lifeguards, swimming coaches or other adults, but it is not unusual for such parents, care takers, lifeguards, swimming coaches or other adults to become distracted by other things, such as conversation with others. Once distracted, people may be unable to detect if their children are in distress in the water, which may lead to serious injury or death.

There are different types of devices and systems that have been suggested to avoid these tragedies, but they fail to alert the child's guardians early enough to be effective. Some devices or systems fail to accurately notify a user to a water danger or water emergency, or fail to provide enough advanced warning of the child drowning or struggling in a pool, lake or other body of water. Devices such as emergency alert devices are also known in the prior art that provide to the wearer the ability to press a panic button. These devices have no other function than to relay a call to a service, which can bring help to the person's location if needed. However, the device requires the wearer to press the panic button, and the wearer may not always be able to press the panic button. In a situation when the wearer is drowning in a body of water, the wearer may be unconscious and may not be able to press the panic button him/herself, thereby failing to inform others in case of emergency situations.

Additionally, in case children or other individuals wander off, their parents, guardians or the like may be unable to locate and find them. People may be unable to find the exact location of the children or other individuals to keep them safe. Children or elderly people or other individuals suffering from dementia have a tendency to become lost. In such situations, it becomes too difficult to find lost individuals and/or track their path. A safety solution to overcome such situations is required in the state of the art.

Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for a safety wearable device that provides real-time alerts or notifications to parents, care takers, lifeguards, swimming coaches or others in case their children or any other person is drowning or struggling in any body of water. There is also a long felt need in the art for a safety wearable device that does not require the wearer to manually press any button to inform their supervisors of any pending tragedy or injury. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a safety wearable device that sends location information of the wearer, in case the wearer is drowning in a swimming pool, lake or other body of water. Furthermore, there is a long felt need in the art for a safety wearable device that enables individuals to track their children or other individuals who have lost their way, in order to keep them safe. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a safety wearable device that enables individuals to locate people who are suffering from dementia and may become lost. Finally, there is a long felt need for a safety wearable device that affords parents and caretakers peace of mind that at-risk individuals can be quickly located.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a safety wearable device in the form of a flexible wrist band or alternatively in the form of a bracelet, an ankle band or a necklace that is designed to provide real-time audio alerts or notifications, or visual alerts when a user of the wearable band is drowning or struggling in a pool, lake or other body of water. The safety wearable device is made of an elastic and flexible material such as silicone or rubber. More specifically, the safety wearable device is preferably comprised of one or more sensors that may detect the submerged timing, location and one or more vital signs of the wearer of the band when the wearer enters the swimming pool, lake or other body of water. The band preferably comprises at least one or more holes, a loop or an annular structure, or a fastener that engages in one of the holes to secure the band. Additionally, the band of the present invention can be used to locate individuals suffering from dementia who have a tendency to become lost.

In this manner, the novel safety wearable device of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives, and provides a relatively safe, easy, convenient and effective solution to detect a drowning individual, and provide an alert or push notification to persons in the surrounding area, and to allow the notified persons to rescue the drowning individual in time. Additionally, the safety wearable device can be used to track the location of children or individuals who wander off, or are suffering from dementia.

SUMMARY

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a wearable band device for the detection of a wearer of the band device in a drowning or near-drowning situation and ‘pushes’ a notification to one or more connected electronic devices. The wearable device comprises: a location sensor for detecting location of the wearer; a wireless transceiver for wirelessly connecting to one or more said electronic devices; an accelerometer for detecting orientation and depth of the wearer in water; a water-detecting sensor for detecting water and triggering a timer circuit to start counting time; the timer circuit counts the number of seconds for which the wearable band device is submerged in the water, and, a processor to control operations of electronic components of the band device and transmit one or more alerts to the connected electronic devices when the timer circuit counts for a time value longer than a predeterminable timer value. A sound sensor emits a loud audio alert when the timer circuit counts for a time value longer than a predeterminable timer value. The preferred value of the predeterminable timer value can be in the range of ten seconds.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a system for the detection of a wearer of a wearable safety band in a drowning or near-drowning situation is disclosed and comprises: a wearable safety band designed to be worn on a wrist, neck or ankle by the wearer; a computer-implemented application designed to be installed in one or more electronic devices; the band comprises a location sensor for detecting the location of the wearer; a wireless transceiver for wirelessly connecting to one or more electronic devices; an accelerometer for detecting orientation and depth of the wearer in water; a water-detecting sensor for detecting water and triggering a timer circuit to start counting time; the timer circuit counts the number of seconds for which the wearable band device is submerged in the water; and, a processor to control operations of electronic components of the band device and transmit one or more alerts to the electronic devices when the timer circuit counts for a time value longer than a predeterminable timer value. The one or more electronic devices include computer-implemented applications holding computer-executable instructions allowing a processor of the electronic device to display received alerts wherein the alerts are at least one of an audio alert, a text alert or a visual alert.

In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, a method of rescuing a person from drowning in a body of water is disclosed and comprises: wearing a safety band around a wrist, neck or ankle; pairing the wearable safety band with one or more electronic devices, wherein each of the one or more electronic devices has a software application installed; triggering a timer circuit of the wearable safety band when the person wearing the wearable safety band enters into the body of water; transmitting one or more vital signs of the person to the one or more paired electronic devices in real time; and, transmitting an alert to the one or more paired electronic devices when the timer circuit counts for a time value longer than a predeterminable timer value indicating that the person is in a near drowning condition allowing nearby people to rescue the person.

In still yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method is disclosed for providing an alert between at least two mobile users and enabling an emergency rescue. The method comprises: pairing one mobile wearable electronic device to at least one other mobile electronic device; wearing the mobile wearable electronic device on a person of one mobile user, wherein the mobile wearable electronic device is a band worn in direct contact with the person of the one mobile user; monitoring a plurality of inputs of the one mobile user, wherein the plurality of inputs comprises information selected from a group consisting of a submersion, a submersion time duration, a vital sign, a submersion depth, a location and a temperature, and wherein the monitoring of the plurality of inputs is automatically actuated when the mobile wearable electronic device is submerged in water; comparing at least one of the inputs to a predeterminable limit; determining when at least one of the inputs is beyond the predeterminable limit; and transmitting an alert to the at least one other mobile electronic device when at least one of the inputs is beyond the predeterminable limit, wherein the transmitting the alert is an automatic push alert to the at least one other mobile electronic device.

It should be noted that the wearable band of the present invention can connect to a plurality of electronic devices and an alert can be simultaneously transmitted to the plurality of electronic devices. The software application allows the user to display the alert or notification on a display of the electronic device.

The device and method of the present invention activates an alarm when the wearable device is submerged for a pre-defined number of seconds, for example ten seconds, along with measuring vital signs and/or environmental variables while the wearable device is submerged, activated, and worn by a person. The timer value and the vital signs are processed in real time for the detection of a drowning or a near-drowning situation of the person.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The process of drowning may be detected by monitoring the activities of individuals, especially young children, and many more who are in a body of water. There are several indicators or signs that may be used to determine whether a drowning may be taking place. One purpose of the device disclosed herein is detecting these potential signs of drowning, and providing an audio alert, text alert, or other warnings to nearby mobile phones in order to initiate a rescue.

As noted above, there exists a long felt need in the art for a safety wearable device that provides real-time alerts or notifications to the parents, care takers, life guards, swimming coaches or others in case their children or any other person is drowning or struggling in any body of water. There is also a long felt need in the art for a safety wearable device that does not require the wearer to manually press any button to inform their supervisors of any tragedy or injury. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a safety wearable device that sends the location information of the wearer in case the wearer is drowning in a swimming pool, lake or other body of water. Furthermore, there is a long felt need in the art for a safety wearable device that enables individuals to track their children or other individuals who have lost their way and allows them to keep them safe. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a safety wearable device that enables individuals to locate people who are suffering from dementia and are lost. Finally, there is a long felt need for a safety wearable device that affords parents and caretakers peace of mind that at-risk individuals can be quickly located.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a novel wearable band device for the detection of a wearer of the band device in a drowning or near-drowning situation and “pushes” a notification to one or more connected electronic devices. The device comprises: a location sensor for detecting the location of the wearer; a wireless transceiver for wirelessly connecting to one or more of the electronic devices; an accelerometer for detecting orientation and depth of the wearer in water; a water-detecting sensor for detecting water and triggering a timer circuit to start counting time; the timer circuit counts the number of seconds for which the wearable band device is submerged in the water; and, a processor to control operations of electronic components of the band device and transmits one or more alerts to the connected electronic devices when the timer circuit counts for a time value longer than a predeterminable timer value. A sound sensor emits a loud audio alert when the timer circuit counts for a time value longer than a predeterminable timer value. The preferred value of the predeterminable timer value can be in the range of ten seconds.

Referring initially to the drawings,FIG. 1illustrates a perspective view of the swim-safe wearable band of the present invention designed to alert others if a wearer is drowning or struggling in a pool or other body of water in accordance with the disclosed structure. The swim-safe wearable band100of the present invention is a wearable device in the form of a flexible wrist band100, or alternatively in the form of a bracelet, an ankle band or a necklace, which is designed to alert others when a wearer of the safety wearable band100is drowning or struggling in a pool, lake or other body of water. The band100has a main body102and a fastening mechanism116such as a wrist buckle, a snap button, a snap closure or a magnetic fastener for securing the band100around a body part such as a wrist of the wearer. The main body102comprises a digital display114configured to display the current time, vital sign information such as oxygen saturation (SpO2) and other similar details. The digital display114is preferably positioned in the middle portion of the main body102of the band. The position of the display114is not limited and can be positioned on other desired locations of the main body102. The band100can be made of an elastic and flexible material such as silicone or rubber. Specifically, the band100can be made of an elastically stretchable material such as a Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE), a Thermoplastic polyurethane Elastomer (TPU), latex or silicone.

The main body102extends from both ends of the display114to form a first band part104and a second band part106. The first band part104is provided with at least one or more holes110to receive the fastener116. The second band part106of the band100is provided with a loop or an annular structure108through which the first wrist band part104is allowed to pass for securing the band100around a body part such as wrist of the user. As stated, the fastener116engages in one of the holes110to secure the band100. The fastener such as a snap closure116embeds in one of the holes110of the first band part104to secure the first band part104to the second band part106when the end of the first band part104passes through the loop, or an annular structure108.

The digital display screen114may have an integrated, waterproof and durable solar panel for charging of the digital screen114. The solar panel has a plurality of solar cells to absorb solar energy and to convert it into electrical energy. At the rear surface of the digital screen114, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) to house electronic components and sensors, and a battery to power the electronic components is present. To customize the band or to change the main body102, the digital screen114of the band100may also be replaceable.

It should be noted that all the electronic components of the band100are connected through one or more wired circuits within the band100. The wired circuits are insulated and protected from the moisture and water of a swimming pool, lake, or other body of water. The details of the sensors and other electronic components will be described hereinafter with reference to the figures.

FIG. 2illustrates a schematic diagram of connection of the swim-safe wearable band of the present invention with a companion smartphone application installed in an electronic device, as per the disclosed architecture. As shown, an alert-generating system200, using the swim safe wearable band100, may connect to one or more nearby smartphone devices204using a wireless communication medium202such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or any other similar wireless technology. The smartphone device204has a companion software application206that receives alerts and notifications from the swim-safe wearable band100. One or more sensors of the band100detect the submerged timing (i.e. duration), location and one or more vital signs of the wearer of the band100when the wearer enters a swimming pool, lake or other body of water. The band100automatically sends real-time alerts to one or more nearby mobile phones204, each having installed the companion software application206. The alert may be activated when the wearable device100is submerged for a pre-defined number of seconds such as, for example, ten seconds. A timer value/duration and vital signs may be processed in real time for the detection of a drowning or a near-drowning situation of the wearer. The alert may have information such as a wearer's location, the respiratory and other vital signs detected by the built-in sensors of the band100and other similar useful information.

It should be appreciated that parents, care takers, lifeguards and swimming coaches can possess the companion application206downloaded on their respective electronic devices204to receive real-time alerts of a wearer of the band100. The location sensor of the band100is useful to find individuals that have gotten lost, such as small children, elderly people or those with dementia. The alert or notification shown on the software application206may be in the form of a ‘push’ notification, an audio alert or a visual alert.

The electronic device204may be any of the terminal devices such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop, a smartwatch or the like, and a user of the electronic device204may be a parent, a teacher, a lifeguard and the like.

FIG. 3illustrates a block diagram showing exemplary components and sensors of the swim-safe wearable band of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure. As shown, the wearable safety device or swim-safe wearable band100comprises a Bluetooth/Wi-Fi transceiver301which is a wireless transceiver allowing the swim-safe wearable band100to connect to one or more nearby smartphone devices. The Bluetooth/Wi-Fi transceiver301allows the swim-safe wearable band100to transmit alerts and notifications to a paired electronic device, wherein the alerts and notifications are displayed on the interface of the companion software application. The swim safe wearable band100includes a processor302to process the signals obtained from the sensors, and also to digitize the analog signals, if analog sensors are utilized. The processor302may also perform some rudimentary processing of the sensor data, if desired, for selecting the alerts and other information to be transmitted from the wearable band100.

Additionally, the swim-safe wearable band100includes a GPS sensor303which is used to detect the exact location of the wearer, and helps in identifying the location of the wearer if the wearer is lost. It is to be appreciated that the GPS sensor303of the band100is particularly useful to find individuals that have gotten lost, such as small children, elderly people or those with dementia. The location information of the wearer can enable the paired user(s) of the electronic device to timely rescue the wearer of the wearable device100when the user of the electronic device is not far away from the user of the wearable device, and the user of the electronic device can quickly reach a dangerous location of the user of the wearable device. The band100can further include an accelerometer304which is used to detect motion of the individual and/or detect the orientation and depth of the individual within the body of water.

The band100includes a water and/or air detecting sensor305, which is used to detect when the band100is above water, and/or when the band100touches or goes below water. The water and/or air detecting sensor305can also detect the depth of the swimmer in the body of water. The band100further includes a temperature sensor306which is used to detect the temperature of the individual and/or the surrounding environment, and a sound sensor307that produces an alarm if the water/air sensor305detects the depth is more than a predeterminable depth in water such as ten feet, for example. The depth can be predeterminable by the user by using various settings in the band100, or may be predeterminable during manufacturing of the band100.

Additionally, the band100comprises an internal timer308that triggers or starts when the band100is submerged under water. If the timer308exceeds a predeterminable time period, such as ten seconds, for example, the band100automatically transmits a real-time alert or a notification to one or more nearby paired electronic devices, each having the installed software application. If the timer308does not exceed the predeterminable time period, no alerts or notifications will be generated to the one or more nearby paired electronic devices, however, selective vital sign information can be transmitted by the band100. The time period can be predeterminable by the user by using various settings in the band100, or may be predeterminable during manufacturing of the band100.

The band100can include a respiratory sensor309that can detect the breathing rate of the wearer. The respiratory sensor309can also detect the sudden gasping for breath, greatly increased or decreased heart rates, or the cessation of breathing, any of which may indicate potential drowning events, and in the case of such an event, the band100can generate an alert or notification, along with a loud sound using the sound sensor307.

The band100comprises a battery or a solar power source311which is used to power various components of the band100. The band100has a waterproof digital display114configured to display current time, depth in water, vital signs information such as SpO2 and other important information. The sensors disclosed above can be powered by embedded batteries, solar cells, collected RF signals or temperature differentials, or can obtain power from any of a number of additional alternatives. The band100can automatically start, initiate or actuate once the band100touches or enters the water, so that a wearer is not required to manually start the band100. By utilizing a plurality of the above sensor types, the determination of the existence or absence of a drowning event represented by the drowning symptoms can be made more accurate.

FIG. 4illustrates a flow diagram showing an operation of the swim-safe wearable band of the present invention for generating an alert in accordance with the disclosed structure. As shown, initially, the swim safety band100turns ON (i.e. actuates) as a wearer enters a pool, a lake or other body of water (Block401). The swim safety band100is designed to alert others if the wearer is drowning or struggling in a pool or other body of water. The swim safety band100senses and starts the timer when the device is submerged under the water (Block402). Next, it is determined if the device is submerged in water for an extended period of time, such as ten seconds (Block403). If the device has been submerged under water for less than a predeterminable timer value, then no alerts or notifications are generated to the one or more nearby mobile phones (Block404). However, if the band device100has been submerged under water for an extended period of time, and the timer value exceeds the predeterminable timer value (Block403), then a real-time alert or notification is generated and transmitted to the one or more nearby mobile phones, each having installed the paired software application (Block405). The received alert is seen and reviewed by one or more of parents, care takers, lifeguards or swimming coaches having the paired electronic devices (Block406). The alert or notification shown on the software application may be in the form of a ‘push’ notification, an audio alert or a visual alert. The alert will show the wearer's exact location and the time they have been in the water. Then, based on the received alerts, the parents, care takers, lifeguards, swimming coaches or other nearby users may provide immediate rescue to the wearer submerged under water (Block407).

FIG. 5illustrates a perspective view of a child wearing the swim-safe wearable band of the present invention submerged in water in accordance with the disclosed structure. As shown, a young child500is submerged in a body of water501such as a swimming pool. The child500is wearing the swim-safe wearable band100on the wrist502. The swim-safe wearable band100is a preferably a flexible wrist band100, or alternatively can be a bracelet, an ankle band or a necklace which is designed to alert others when the wearer of the band100is drowning or struggling in a pool, lake or other body of water501. As the child500is submerged in the water, the internal timer of the band100senses when the band100is submerged under water, and in case the band is submerged for an extended period of time (i.e. a period of time that exceeds a predeterminable time period), then one or more real-time alerts or notifications are generated and transmitted to nearby electronic devices with the installed companion software application. The band100enables the users to provide immediate help to the child500and rescue the child500in case the child is drowning in a body of water.

The band100prevents a child or other individual from drowning by ensuring others are alerted to the individual's location and predicament, if the user wearing the band100is submerged in the water for an extended period of time. The band100provides peace of mind to parents and caretakers by allowing them to know the state of the wearer500quickly and in real time.

FIG. 6illustrates a flow diagram showing steps to receive alerts and other vital information of a wearer by an electronic device from the swim-safe wearable band of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure. As shown, for receiving real-time alerts or notifications on an electronic device, parents, care takers, lifeguards, swimming coaches, etc., install the companion software application on their respective electronic devices (Block601). The application can be downloaded from an application store and the application is compatible with the wearable band100. Next, the electronic device is paired with the swim-safe wearable band100using a wireless communication medium such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or any other similar wireless technology. For pairing an electronic device with the swim-safe wearable band, the electronic device needs to be in the proximity of the swim safe wearable band (Block602). The wireless transmitter of the wearable band100allows the transmission of alerts and notifications to the paired software application of the electronic device. The electronic device receives notifications including respiratory and other vital signs detected by the one or more sensors, and timing information of the wearer submerged in the water (Block603). The electronic device companion software application receives the alerts in the form of an alarm, or a visual alert. The alert will show the wearer's exact location and the time they have been in the water. The received alert is seen and reviewed by one or more parents, care takers, lifeguards, swimming coaches, etc., possessing one of the paired electronic devices (Block604).

FIG. 7illustrates a perspective view showing an alert received on the smartphone application installed on an electronic device from the wearable band of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure. The paired electronic device204, such as a smartphone device, has a companion software application206installed thereon. The device204receives alerts and notifications700from the swim-safe wearable band100worn by the user while submerged in water. The alert displayed on the paired electronic device204shows the submerged timing information i.e., “for ten seconds”, location, and/or one or more vital signs of the wearer of the band when the wearer enters a body of water such as a swimming pool, lake or any other body of water, and is submerged in the body of water for an extended period of time. Parents, care takers, lifeguards, swimming coaches, etc., based on the received alerts, can provide immediate rescue to the wearer submerged under water.

It should be noted that the smartphone application can display additional information that may be useful for providing safety to the wearer. The notification may be displayed on one or more electronic devices.

FIG. 8illustrates a perspective view showing swim-safe wearable bands of the present invention in various color options in accordance with the disclosed structure. As shown, the swim-safe wearable band100of the present invention is available in various color options and sizes800,802. The wearable band100of various embodiments may be made of an elastic and flexible material such as silicone or rubber, specifically, the band100may be made of an elastically stretchable material such as a Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE), a Thermoplastic polyurethane Elastomer (TPU), latex, or silicone. The specific material of wrist strap body can be any variety of materials outlined above. The band100is provided with a loop or an annular structure through which the band is allowed to pass for securing around a body part. In one embodiment, in addition to transmitting alerts to one or more electronic devices, the wearable device100may be connected to a central safety system of a campus, such as of a swimming pool, that may provide instructions to lifeguards to protect the wearers in dangerous situation.

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “swim-safe wearable band”, “flexible wrist band”, “safety wearable band”, “band”, “wearable safety device”, and “swim safety band” are interchangeable and refer to the swim-safe wearable band100of the present invention.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the swim-safe wearable band100of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the swim-safe wearable band100as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the swim-safe wearable band100are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the swim-safe wearable band100are important design parameters for user convenience, the swim-safe wearable band100may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.