SWITCH MEANS FOR RADIO ALARM DEVICE

Abstract: In a miniature concealable radio alarm transmitter (6) to be worn on the person, a switch means to activate the transmitter. The transmitter is preferably flat in shape, and includes a small battery (2) which extends across the end of the circuit board (6). Two spring contact members (3, 3') extend adjacent each end of the battery (2), which has button-type terminals (12, 12') on its ends. A soft sponge elastomer spacer (4, 4') is fitted between each contact member (3, 3') and its end of the battery. The spacer has a central hole. Finger pressure against either spring member (3, 3') forces it toward the adjacent battery terminal (12, 12') to make contact therewith. To connect the battery (2) to the circuit and energize the alarm transmitter, both spring members (3, 3') must be squeezed toward each other from opposite sides of the transmitter, making contact with each battery terminal. It is thus difficult to accidentally activate the transmitter. The switch means comprises two switches in series. The whole device is preferably cased in a bag-like enclosure (5) of soft flexible material with a cord (8) adapted to be hung around the wearer's neck.

Description: S itch Means for Radio Alarm Device Miniature radio transmitters worn on the person are known for the purpose of summoning police or medical aid in case of emergency. Such a transmitter may have a range of 100 or 200 m, and may form a part of a system that includes a re¬ ceiver which is adapted to activate an alarm or a telephone dialing device. The transmitter itself is preferably worn on the person, as by a neck strap or cord, and may be about the size of a paper match book or a cigarette lighter. Ordinary switches are not suitable for activating such a -tsTansmi-feter. --A—toggle -swi ch-for.example^e^^ -es-^t^g^hands-, one to hold the t transmitter»and the other-,.tp flip the switch;. Ordinary push-button switches are susceptible to false opera- ' "tiofi when'the.-- earer.cleans against an object or;,, .in the case' of a cardiac patient, turns over in bed. " -- " " '- ■ " " -'- , A switch means is needed-which is operable with one *,, , ' hand, requires little--space, cannot be operated.,by pressures! incident to normal activities, and is operable silefrttly in',a ' ■ -t - '. concealed manner. • ,.-,, . The present invention provides in a inature' a arm . t* . transmitter device adapted to be worn on the body -o'f a person' under the clothing: a battery, and a miniature radio trans¬ mitter built on a circuit board, said battery having a ' OMPI -2- terminal at each of its opposite ends and extending generall parallel to one side portion of said board; a pair of resil¬ ient metal spring contact and support members each secured to a said side portion adjacent one of said terminals and havin a contact portion extending generally outward opposite to on of said terminals; a pair of ring-like resilient insulating spacers each positioned between each said contact portion an its adjacent said terminal, said spacers electrically sepa¬ rating both said contact portions and terminals and also supporting said battery by its said terminals from said mem¬ bers, and an outer housing in the form of a soft flexible ba closing both said battery and transmitter, whereby squeezing pressure through said outer housing, simultaneously against both said support members toward each other is adapted to press both said contacts against their respective battery terminals to activate said transmitter. The transmitter comprises a circuit board about 4 cm. square with a small stick-shaped batter extending across one end. A suitable battery is a type known as NEDA 220, which delivers 15 volts and is about 1.5 cm. in diameter by 3.3 cm. long, with button-type terminals at its opposite ends. In the accompanying drawings:- Figure 1 is a front view of a transmitter and switch means according to the invention, with the soft case shown i section; - Figure 2 "is a detail section view of one of the switch means; Figure 3 is a partial back perspective view of the ^ cir- .cuit-bo-ard -and a spring member; and . ... ? cFigure 4 is a partial sectional view of an. encapsulated transmitter. • ..'-.-In -Figure 1 the transmitter 1 is shown in block form. It will be understood that in practice it is typically a. suitable assembly of fifteen or twenty electronic components on a printed circuit board 6 of known type. - The- battery 2 preferably extends across the top edge 16 of the circuit board 6. It is supported by its ends through soft elastomeric spacers 4, 4', which in turn are held y OMPI -3- against the ends of the battery 2 by flat spring members 3, 3'. The whole assembly of transmitter 1 on board 6, and battery 2, may preferably be encased in a soft flexible bag-like case 5, which is shown in section. Case 5 may have a neck cord 8 attached to it, as shown. The transmitter 1 may be provided with an indicator lamp 7, normally a small light-emitting diode which protrudes through a small hole in the case 5. The indicator lamp 7 is preferably connected so that it lights when the switching contact pairs are both closed and the battery 2 is operable. Pressure against the points opposite the battery ends, as indicated by arrows Pi and ^ , serves to close the con¬ tacts to the battery and energize ' the transmitter 1. Figure 2 shows a cross-section of one of the switching elements. The ends of battery 2 carry button-type terminals 12, 12'. Opposite these terminals are contact buttons 13, 13 ' , which are soldered or otherwise fastened to the spring members 3, 3'. The terminal 12 and contact button 13 are held apart by the elastomeric spacer 4, which has an opening in the middle to clear them. The spacer 4 may be ' made of sponge or foam rubber or other material of similar physical properties. A suitable force P 2 , Figure 2, will press the contacts 12 and 13 together against the elastic separating force of the spacer 4. The construction at the other end of the battery, not shown in Figure 2, is the same. Referring back to Figure 1, both spring members 3 and 3' must be pressed toward each other by forces P-^ and P2 for contact to be made at both ends of the battery 2 to energize the trans¬ mitter 1. It will not do, e.g., to hold the transmitter 1 in one hand and press with the other hand against only " one side of the device, either at P, or at P.. ' " • -. ■ It will be apparent that other spring-type switching means may be used within the purview of the' invention,- pro¬ vided that they are dual in character and located at opposite points on the device. Figure 3 shows a preferred detailed construction for the spring members 3, 3'. Only member 3 is shown. It may be made of spring bronze or the like about 0.1 mm. thick. The side portion extends perpendicular to the " plane of the boar 6 as shown. A bent-under portion 33 is provided which is fastened, as by soldering, to a suitable conductor 34 on th back side of the circuit board 6. The second spring member 3' , not shown in Figure 3, may be made and mounted in the same manner. Referring to Figure 4, a cross-section is shown of a modification in which the circuit board 6 and the transmitt 1 are encapsulated or potted in a suitable material. The front encapsulation is indicated at 10a, enclosing and wate proofing the electronic components such as are indicated at 18. The back side of the circuit board 6 may also be encap sulated or coated as at 10b. It will be noted that the battery 2 and its associated holding and contact and switching means 3, 4 are not part o the circuit board. The flat spring members 3, 3' protrude off the top edge 16 of the board 6. The spacers 4, 4 1 may be made of cellular foam-like material which liquids will not flow through, and be cement both to the spring members 3, 3" and to the ends of the bat tery 2, making a waterproof assembly. In addition, the sof flexible case 5 may be sealed against the entry of water so that, for example, the whole device may be worn in a bathro shower. Such encapsulation and sealing is not feasible wit conventional switches which use, for example, internal slid or toggle mechanisms, since such a switch would have to be mounted on the circuit board 6. In addition, the switching and battery-support means of the invention has been found t permit a substantial reduction in size and weight of the co plete device, so that it can be worn comfortably under the clothing.

Claims: What I claim is : 1. In a miniature alarm transmitter device adapted to be worn on the body of a person under the clothing: a bat¬ tery, and a miniature radio transmitter built on a circuit board, said battery having a terminal at each of its opposite ends and extending generally parallel to one side portion of said board; . a pair of resilient metal spring contact and sup¬ port members each secured to a said side portion adjacent one of said terminals and having a contact portion extending generally outward opposite to one of said terminals; a pair of ring-like resilient insulating spacers each positioned between each said contact portion and its adjacent said terminal, said spacers electrically separating both said con¬ tact portions and terminals and also supporting said battery by its said terminals from said members, and an outer housing in the form of a soft flexible bag enclosing both said bat¬ tery and transmitter, whereby squeezing pressure through said outer housing simultaneously against both said support mem¬ bers toward each other is adapted t*o.press both said contacts against their respective battery terminals to activate said tr nsmitter. 2. A device as in claim 1 wherein each said spacer is of cellular elastomeric material impervious to water. 3. A device as in claim 2, further comprising: a waterproof encapsulant encasing said transmitter inside said outer housing, and waterproof cement between each said spacer and its adjacent said member and terminal. 4. A device as in claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising: a neck strap secured to said outer housing, said device being wearable around the neck under the clothing and energizable by squeezing against opposite sides of said device.

Inventors: CATALDO T
Applicants: CATALDO T
Application year: 1978
Main classification: H04B1
IPC codes: G07C9, G08B1, G08B21, G08B25, H04B1