Wetness notification system

A wetness notification system includes a detection unit, a clip unit and a receiver unit. The detection unit includes a sleeve body, a moisture detector, a casing, a processor, a wireless transmitter, and a battery. The processor configures the wireless transmitter to transmit a moisture signal outputted by the moisture detector when the moisture signal corresponds to a moist condition. The clip unit clips the detection unit onto the clothing article. The receiver unit includes a wireless receiver, a controller, and a notification module. When the controller receives the moisture signal via the wireless receiver, the controller drives the notification module to output a wetness notification signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of R.O.C. application no. 102204794, filed on Mar. 15, 2013.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wetness notification system.

2. Description of the Related Art

R.O.C patent no. M403327 discloses a diaper having a wetness sensing device. The diaper includes a first non-woven fabric layer, two strip electrodes, a second non-woven fabric layer, a liquid absorbing layer made from a liquid absorbing material, a liquid-proof layer and two metallic sockets. A first side of the first non-woven fabric layer absorbs a liquid excreted from a human body, and the liquid permeates to a second side of the first non-woven fabric layer. The strip electrodes are attached onto the second side of the first non-woven fabric layer, and the strip electrodes are electrically connected when they come into contact with the liquid. A first side of the second non-woven fabric layer is attached to the second side of the first non-woven fabric layer and to the strip electrodes, and the strip electrodes are thus retained between the first and second non-woven fabric layers. The first side of the second non-woven fabric layer absorbs the liquid, which permeates to a second side of the second non-woven fabric layer. The liquid absorbing layer is attached to the second side of the second non-woven fabric layer, and absorbs that liquid permeated through the second non-woven fabric layer. The liquid-proof layer is made from a liquid proof material. A first side of the liquid-proof layer is attached to the second side of the liquid absorbing layer, and retains the liquid that permeated through the liquid absorbing layer to prevent the liquid from leaking out of the diaper. Each of the metallic sockets has a first engaging portion that engages with a respective one of two engaging bodies of an electrical detection device. This enables the electrical detection device to detect the electrical conduction between the strip electrodes when a liquid is excreted, and to send a wetness notification signal for notifying a guardian to change diaper according to the wetness notification signal.

However, the electrical detection device requires a battery for operation. Due to absence of a low battery notification mechanism for notification when the battery is low in power, untimely changing of the diaper may lead to skin allergy, rashes and other skin diseases. Moreover, the strip electrodes are sewn into the diaper, and sewing increases labor costs and may cause a rise in defective products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a wetness notification system for detecting wetness in a clothing article that is configured for absorbing urine.

Accordingly, the wetness notification system of the present invention includes a detection unit, a clip unit, and a receiver unit.

The detection unit includes a sleeve body, a moisture detector that is connected to an outer side surface of the sleeve body and that outputs a moisture signal corresponding to a surrounding moisture detected thereby, a casing, a processor that is disposed in the casing and that is electrically connected with the moisture detector, a wireless transmitter that is disposed in the casing and that is electrically connected with the processor, and a battery that is disposed in the casing and that provides electric power to the moisture detector, the processor and the wireless transmitter. The processor receives the moisture signal outputted by the moisture detector, and configures the wireless transmitter to transmit the moisture signal when the moisture signal, corresponds to a moist condition of the surrounding moisture detected by the moisture detector.

The clip unit includes a first portion removably inserted into the sleeve body, a curved second portion that extends from the first portion, and a third portion that extends from the curved second portion. The casing is removably disposed on the third portion of the clip unit. The third portion cooperates with the first portion to clip the detection unit onto the clothing article in a manner that the sleeve body and the moisture detector are disposed at an inner side of the clothing article and that the third portion is disposed at an outer side of the clothing article.

The receiver unit includes a wireless receiver to communicate wirelessly with the wireless transmitter, a controller electrically connected with the wireless receiver, and a notification module electrically connected with the controller. When the controller receives the moisture signal via the wireless receiver, the controller drives the notification module to output a wetness notification signal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1,2and3, the first preferred embodiment of a wetness notification system of the present invention includes a detection unit2, a clip unit3and a receiver unit4. The detection unit2includes a sleeve body21, a moisture detector22that is connected to an outer side surface of the sleeve body21, a casing23, a processor24that is disposed in the casing23and that is electrically connected with the moisture detector22, a wireless transmitter25that is disposed in the casing23and that is electrically connected with the processor24, and a battery26that is disposed in the casing23and that provides electric power to the moisture detector22, the processor24and the wireless transmitter25. The detection unit2further includes a residual power detector27that is disposed in the casing23and that is electrically connected with the battery26and the processor24, and a transmission wire28. The casing23includes a connector231. The battery26is electrically connected with the moisture detector22, the wireless transmitter25and the residual power detector27. One end of the transmission wire28connects electrically with the moisture detector22, and the other end of the transmission wire28includes a plug281that plugs into the connector231of the casing23to electrically connect the moisture detector22with the processor24.

The clip unit3is a hollow frame made from a bent resilient loop-shaped member, and has a first portion31removably inserted into the sleeve body21, a curved second portion32that extends from the first portion31, and a third portion33that extends from the curved second portion32. that the third portion33has the casing23removably disposed thereon, and cooperates with the first portion31to clip the detection unit2onto the clothing article. The width of the third portion33is smaller than the width of the first portion31.

The receiver unit4includes a wireless receiver41to communicate wirelessly with the wireless transmitter25, a controller42electrically connected with the wireless receiver41, a notification module43electrically connected with the controller42, a timer44electrically coupled with the controller42and storing a predetermined period value, and a power source45electrically coupled with the controller42to provide electric power to the receiver unit4. The controller42has a normal notification mode and a looping notification mode, which will be described in greater detail in the following paragraphs. The notification module43includes a light emitting component431for emitting light and a speaker432for outputting sound. The timer44can be integrated into the controller42such that the controller42is capable of counting in other embodiments of this invention. The frequency used between the wireless transmitter25and the wireless receiver41can be preset in the factory. The frequency can also be calibrated by the user using a tuner (not shown in the Figures) in other embodiments of this invention.

Preferably, the wetness notification system further includes a positioning member5that is provided on the clip unit3and that positions the transmission wire28on the clip unit3. The positioning member5includes a slit51for receiving a section of the transmission wire28.

Referring toFIGS. 1,2and4, the wetness notification system can be applied on a clothing article such as a diaper or a pant, wearable by a person. In use, the first portion31is removably inserted into the sleeve body21, the casing23is removably disposed on the third portion33of the clip unit3, the transmission wire28is positioned by the slit51of the positioning member5, and the plug281is plugged into the connector231of the casing23. The sleeve body21and the moisture detector22are disposed at an inner side of the clothing article6, preferably adjacent to the groin of the human body, and the third portion33is disposed at an outer side of the clothing article6. The clip unit3is a hollow frame that has a light weight which reduces the load on the user. The curved second portion32has a curved design that can enhance user comfort in spite of the detection unit2. The receiver unit4can be carried around by a guardian or be placed at a specific location that can be seen by the guardian.

Referring toFIG. 3, the moisture detector22outputs a moisture signal corresponding to a surrounding moisture detected thereby, that is, the moisture around the groin area when the detection unit2is clipped onto the clothing article6. The processor24receives the moisture signal outputted by the moisture detector22, and configures the wireless transmitter25to transmit the moisture signal when the moisture signal corresponds to a moist condition of the surrounding moisture detected by the moisture detector22, that is, when urine is excreted by the user of the clothing article6. The controller42receives the moisture signal through the wireless receiver41of the receiver unit4. When the controller42receives the moisture signal for a first time via the wireless receiver41, the controller42executes the normal notification mode to configure the notification module43to output a wetness notification signal, and at the same time configures the timer44to start counting. The controller42configures the notification module43to stop outputting the wetness notification signal when the timer44has counted to the predetermined period value. The wetness notification signal is at least one of the light emitted by the light emitting component431and the sound outputted by the speaker432, thereby alerting the guardian to attend to changing of the clothing article6.

After the notification module43stops outputting the wetness notification signal when the timer44has counted to the predetermined period value, if the controller42continues to receive the moisture signal via the wireless receiver41, the controller42executes the looping notification mode to configure the notification module43to output the wetness notification signal intermittently until the controller42no longer receives the moisture signal. The looping notification mode helps to remind the guardians to attend to the clothing article6to prevent rashes and other skin diseases on a wearer.

The residual power detector27detects the residual power of the battery26. When the residual power detected by the residual power detector27corresponds to a low residual power level, the processor24configures the wireless transmitter25to transmit a low battery signal. When the controller42receives the low battery signal for a first time via the wireless receiver41, the controller42executes the normal notification mode to configure the notification module43to output the low battery notification signal, and at the same time configures the timer44to start counting.

The controller42configures the notification module43to stop outputting the low battery notification signal when the timer44has counted to the predetermined period value. The low battery notification signal is at least one of the light emitted by the light emitting component431and the sound outputted by the speaker432. Similarly, after the notification module43stops outputting the low battery notification signal when the timer44has counted to the predetermined period value, if the controller42continues to receive the low battery signal via the wireless receiver41(such as when the battery26is yet to be replaced), the controller42executes the looping notification mode to configure the notification module43to output the low battery notification signal intermittently until the controller42no longer receives the low battery signal. In the same manner, when the power in the power source45is low, the controller42configures the notification module43to output the low power notification signal until the power in the power source45is no longer low. The low battery notification signal and the lower power notification signal prevent a situation where the guardian fails to attend to the clothing article6due to insufficient power in the battery26or the power source45.

In this embodiment, the moisture detector22and the first portion31of the clip unit3are removable from the sleeve body21. The casing23that contains the processor24, the wireless transmitter25, the battery26and the residual power detector27is removable from the clip unit3. The transmission wire28is also removable from the casing23. Such removable design provides convenience in washing, repair and replacement of individual units in the wetness notification system.

Referring toFIG. 5, the second preferred embodiment of the present invention differs from the first preferred embodiment, in that the second preferred embodiment further includes a switch46electrically coupled with the controller42. When the controller42executes the normal notification mode to configure the notification module43to output one of the wetness notification signal and the low battery notification signal, the controller42configures the timer44to start counting, and the switch46may be operated by the guardian to control the controller42to control in turn the notification module43to stop outputting one of the wetness notification signal and the low battery notification signal. When the timer44has counted to the predetermined period value and the controller42continues to receives the one of the moisture signal and the low battery signal via the wireless receiver41, the controller42executes the looped notification mode to configure the notification module43to output the corresponding one of the wetness notification signal and the low battery notification signal intermittently.

The wetness notification system of the present invention has a simple and detachable structure that lowers manufacturing costs. The clip unit3can be removably clipped to different suitable locations of the clothing article6for wetness detection, and therefore the detection unit2, the clip unit3and the positioning member5of the wetness notification system can be reused again after they have been removed. In addition to wetness detection by the moisture detector22and the processor24, the residual power detector27detects the residual power of the battery26, and the notification module43outputs a notification signal (such as light and/or sound) for more than once when wetness or low residual power is detected, such that the guardian can attend to the clothing article6or replace the battery26. Also, when insufficient power in the power source45is detected, the controller42drives the notification module43to output a low power notification signal. In such manner, the guardian can attend to the clothing article6to prevent rashes and other skin diseases on a wearer and be notified to replenish the power in the wetness notification system. Moreover, the wetness notification system includes the moisture detector22and the first portion31of the clip unit3that are removable from the sleeve body21, the casing23that is removable from the clip unit3, and the transmission wire28that is removable from the casing23, and such removal design provides convenience in washing, repair and replacement of individual units in the wetness notification system.