Abstract:
A personal security assembly for use in association with a mobility aide. The personal security assembly includes a housing, an audio alarm, an alert light for drawing attention. In an embodiment, a secondary light is provided for lighting an area proximate the mobility aide to enhance visual perception.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to personal security devices and more particularly pertains to a new personal security assembly for use in association with a mobility aide. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of personal security devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, personal security devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,219; U.S. Pat. No. 3,903,513; U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,990; U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,461; U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,445; U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,340; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 408,127. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new personal security assembly. The inventive device includes a housing, an audio alarm, an alert light for drawing attention. In an embodiment, a secondary light is provided for lighting an area proximate the mobility aide to enhance visual perception of the area by the user. 
     In these respects, the personal security assembly according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of use in association with a mobility aide. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of personal security devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new personal security assembly construction wherein the same can be utilized for use in association with a mobility aide. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new personal security assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the personal security devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new personal security assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art personal security devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a housing, an audio alarm, an alert light for drawing attention. In an embodiment, a secondary light is provided for lighting an area proximate the mobility aide to enhance visual perception. 
     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. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one 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. 
     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 systems 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 scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new personal security assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the personal security devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new personal security assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art personal security devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new personal security assembly that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new personal security assembly that is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new personal security assembly which is susceptible of 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 personal security assembly economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new personal security assembly which 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. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new personal security assembly for use in association with a mobility aide. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new personal security assembly which includes a housing, an audio alarm, an alert light for drawing attention. In an embodiment, a secondary light is provided for lighting an area proximate the mobility aide to enhance visual perception. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new personal security assembly that emits an audible and visual alarm upon activation by a user. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new personal security assembly that is either integrally incorporated into or attachable to a mobility aide such as a wheelchair, walker, or cane. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which 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 made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     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: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new personal security assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is an in-use view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the integrally attached embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new personal security assembly embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the personal security assembly  10  generally comprises a housing  20 , an alert light  30 , an audio transmitter  40  and an activation button  50 . In alternate embodiments described in more detail below, the housing  20  may be designed for coupling to a mobility aide  2 , such as a wheelchair, walker or cane, or may be an integral part of the structure of the mobility aide. 
     The alert light  30  is coupled to the housing  20  for emitting a visual signal that a user is in distress upon activation of the alert light  30 . Typically, the alert light is provided to emit a red flashing light. 
     The audio transmitter  40  is coupled to the housing  20  for emitting an audible sound upon activation of the audio transmitter  40  to draw attention in the direction of the mobility aide. 
     The activation button  50  is operationally coupled to the alert light  30  and the audio transmitter  40  for activating the alert light  30  and the audio transmitter  40  upon depression of the activation button  50 . 
     An illuminatable ring  68  is coupled to the housing  20  and positioned to surround the activation button  50  to assist in locating the activation button  50  during low light conditions. 
     For providing removable coupling of the housing  20  to the mobility aide  2 , a clamp assembly  60  is coupled to the housing  20 . The clamp assembly  60  is designed for engaging an elongated member  3  of the mobility aide  2 . Thus, the housing  20  is coupled to the mobility aide  2 . 
     A battery  38  is electrically couplable to the audio transmitter  40  and the alert light  30 . The housing  20  includes a generally cylindrical battery chamber  24 . An outer portion  25  of a wall  26  of the battery chamber  24  is threaded. The battery  38  is positioned in the battery chamber  24 . 
     A generally disk-shaped battery cover  32  has a threaded outer perimeter  33  for engaging the threaded outer portion  25  of the wall  26  of the battery chamber  24 . The battery cover  32  is couplable to the housing  20  such that an outer surface  31  of the battery cover  32  is positioned flush with a lower surface  23  of the housing when the battery cover  32  is coupled to the housing  20 . The battery cover  32  further includes a slot  27  for facilitating rotation of the battery cover  32  for uncoupling the battery cover  32  from the housing  20 . The battery cover  32  is designed for covering the battery chamber  24  such that the battery  38  is held within the battery chamber  24  when the cover  36  is coupled to the housing  20 . 
     In the removable version, the clamp assembly  60  is positioned such that opposite arm portions  62  of the clamp assembly  60  are positioned on opposite sides of the battery cover  32 . Thus, the elongated member  3  of the mobility aide  2  is positioned adjacent to the battery cover  32  when the clamp assembly  60  is engaged to the elongated member  3  of the mobility aide  2  for inhibiting access to the battery chamber  24  while the clamping assembly  60  is engaged to the elongated member  3  of the mobility aide  2 . 
     Each of the arm portions  62  includes an arcuate portion  63  and a planar portion  64 . The arcuate portions  64  are positioned for receiving the elongated member  3  of the mobility aide  2  therebetween. A pair of clamp apertures  65  are each positioned in an associated one of the planar portions  64 . The clamp apertures  65  are substantially aligned with each other. A bolt member  61  is provided having a head portion  51  and a rod portion  53 . The rod portion  53  is insertable through the aligned clamp apertures  65 . A nut member  55  is selectively engageable to the rod portion  53  of the bolt member  61  for urging the opposing arm portions  62  towards each other for clamping the elongated member  3  between the arm portions  62 . 
     In an embodiment, a secondary light assembly  70  is coupled to the housing  20 . The secondary light assembly  70  is designed for selectively illuminating an area adjacent to the mobility aide  2  when the housing  20  is coupled to the mobility aide  2 . The secondary light assembly  70  includes a light bulb  72  that extends from a forwardly facing end  29  of the housing  20 . 
     The secondary light assembly  70  also includes a reflector  73  positioned adjacent to the light bulb  72  for directing light from the light bulb  72  in a beam outwardly from the end of the housing  20 . 
     The secondary light assembly  72  also includes a transparent cover member  74  couplable to the housing  20  for covering the light bulb  72 . 
     A light activation button  66  is coupled to the housing  20 . The light activation button  66  is operationally coupled to the light bulb  72  such that the light bulb  72  is illuminatable by pressing the light activation button  66 . 
     When integrally incorporated into the mobility aide  2 , the mobility aide  2  has a generally horizontal portion when the mobility aide  2  is in an upright position. 
     A forwardly positioned portion of the horizontal portion forms the housing  20 . The alert light  30  is coupled to a longitudinal side of the housing  20  for emitting a visual signal that a user is in distress upon activation of the alert light  30 . 
     The housing  20  includes an audio aperture  12  positioned adjacent to the audio transmitter  40 . The activation button is coupled to an upper surface  14  of the housing  20 . 
     In use, the device is integrally incorporated into a mobility aide or is clamped to an existing mobility aide. When needing help, a user pushes the activation button for activating the alert light and audio transmitter to alert surrounding persons that the user is in a state of distress and requires assistance. Upon pressing the light activation button, the secondary light assembly is activated to illuminate an area adjacent to the mobility aide. Preferably, the secondary light assembly is oriented to direct light in a forward direction during use of the mobility aide. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     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. 
     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.