Abstract:
A toilet training apparatus according to the present invention includes a processor that is in data communication with a timer, a first alarm, and a presence sensor. At a predetermined time, the processor actuates the first alarm to awaken a sleeping toddler to urge him to go to the bathroom and, thus, proactively, avoid wetting the bed. The first alarm may include an audio or vibratory alarm, or both. The apparatus includes a presence sensor, such as a RFID tag/reader combination, for sensing if the toddler has in fact moved from his bed to the bathroom. Upon sensing the expected movement, the first alarm is reset for a next predetermined waking event. If this movement is not sensed in a predetermined time, the processor actuates a second alarm to awaken a parent to assist in awakening the toddler.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to toilet training devices and, more particularly, to a toilet training apparatus that awakens and urges a child to go to the bathroom before wetting the bed and that awakens a parent if the child fails to do so.  
         [0002]     Toilet training a toddler can sometimes be a tedious experience that requires much patience and persistence. Even when a child has learned this skill during the day, however, staying dry at right is still a challenge. The major difficulty is that a young child may not yet be sensitive enough to the urge to urinate to be naturally awakened and to move himself to a toilet. This delay, of course, results in bedwetting.  
         [0003]     Various devices have been proposed in the art for dealing with the problem of bedwetting. These devices, however, typically attempt to detect when a child has begun to urinate and then seeks to wake the child. Further, these devices either require a sensor to be worn by a child or to have sensors placed on the child&#39;s bed. While assembly effective to notify the child and urge him to hurry to the bathroom, such devices do not proactively train a child to wake up prior to urinating so as to completely avoid a bedwetting event.  
         [0004]     Therefore, it would be desirable to have an apparatus that periodically awakens a child and urges him to proactively walk to the bathroom prior to wetting the bed. Further, it would be desirable to have an apparatus that awakens a parent if the child does not respond to the notification to awaken.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Accordingly, a toilet training apparatus according to the present invention includes a processor that is coupled in data communication with a timer, a first alarm, and a presence sensor. The processor includes programming for actuating the first alarm when the timer indicates a predetermined time and for disabling the first alarm upon sensing a predetermined time event. The first alarm may be an audible or vibration alarm for waking a toddler at a predetermined time in the night or at set intervals of time. The purpose of the first alarm is to urge the toddler to get out of bed, take a trip to the bathroom, and then to return to bed. The presence sensor is able to sense if the toddler has left the bedroom or, alternately, to sense that the toddler has entered the bathroom. When this “presence event” is sensed, the processor disables the first alarm and resets the timer.  
         [0006]     The toilet training apparatus may also include a second alarm in data communication with the processor. The processor includes programming for actuating the second alarm if the first alarm is not disabled after a certain period of time after being actuated. The purpose of the second alarm is to notify a parent if the toddler has not moved to the bathroom in a predetermined time following actuation of the first alarm. In this instance, the parent is able to personally wake the child and take them to the bathroom.  
         [0007]     Therefore, a general object of the present invention is to provide a toddler training apparatus that proactively wakes and urges a toddler to visit the bathroom before wetting his bed.  
         [0008]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a toddler training apparatus, as aforesaid, having a first alarm for waking a toddler at a predetermined time or at a predetermined time interval.  
         [0009]     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a toddler training apparatus, as aforesaid, having a presence sensor for sensing if the toddler either leaves his bedroom or enters a bathroom.  
         [0010]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a toddler training apparatus, as aforesaid, that disables the first alarm when the toddler leaves his bedroom and moves into the bathroom.  
         [0011]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a toddler training apparatus, as aforesaid, having a second alarm that is actuated if the first alarm is not disabled after a predetermined amount of time, whereby to notify a parent that the child has not responded to the first alarm.  
         [0012]     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a toddler training apparatus, as aforesaid, in which the first alarm may be an audible or vibratory alarm.  
         [0013]     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a toilet training apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 1   b  is a front view of the toilet training apparatus as in  FIG. 1   a;    
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first alarm device according to the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating the logic of a processor according to the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating the logic of the processor according to another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating operation of the electronic components of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]     A toilet training apparatus  100  for a child according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 5  of the accompanying drawings. More particularly, a toilet training apparatus  100  according to the current invention includes a first alarm  110 , a timer  120 , a presence sensor  130 , and a processor  140 .  
         [0021]     The processor  140  is in data communication with the first alarm  110 , the timer  120 , and the presence sensor  130 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The processor  140  has programming for actuating the first alarm  110  upon the timer  120  reaching a predetermined time event and disabling the first alarm  110  upon the presence sensor  130  sensing a predetermined presence event. A predetermined time event may be, for example, a predetermined time of day or a predetermined time interval. It should be appreciated that “day” is used herein to denote a 24-hour time period, and that it also encompasses night. A predetermined presence event may be, for example, the child&#39;s presence adjacent the presence sensor  130  or the absence of the child&#39;s presence adjacent the presence sensor  130 . An input device  142   a  may be in data communication with the processor  140  for allowing a user to select the predetermined time event, and an input device  142   b  may be in data communication with the processor  140  for allowing the user to select the predetermined presence event. The input device  142   a  and the input device  142   b  may be separate input devices ( FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b ), or they may be a single input device  142  ( FIG. 5 ). A power source  101   a  (e.g., 110 volt AC power, a battery, etc.) powers the processor  140 .  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the timer  120 , the processor  140 , and the input device  142  may be associated with a control base  102 , and the first alarm  110  may be associated with a device  104  for the child. The processor  140  may communicate with the first alarm  110  through a transmitter  144  associated with the processor  140  and a receiver  114  associated with the first alarm  110 . The first alarm  110  may be powered by a second power source  101   b  (e.g., a battery), and the first alarm  110  may be an audible alarm, a vibrating alarm, or a vibrating audible alarm.  
         [0023]     The presence sensor  130  may incorporate various presence-sensing technologies, but it is presently preferred that the presence sensor  130  includes a RFID tag  132   a  and a RFID reader  132   b . The RFID tag  132   a  may be associated with the child&#39;s device  104 , and as shown in  FIG. 2 , the RFID tag  132   a  may be attached to a coupling device  133  (e.g., a wristband, ankle band, necklace, etc.). This ensures that the location of the RFID tag  132   a  is the same as the location of the child. While the RFID tag  132   a  and the RFID reader  132   b  is shown in  FIG. 5  as being passive, they may alternately be active; the RFID tag  132   a  may be associated with a power source. Passive RFID systems are currently smaller in size and less expensive than active RFID systems, though active RFID systems have the capability of tracking multiple RFID tags.  
         [0024]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the toilet training apparatus  100  may further include a second alarm  150  in data communication with the processor  140 . The processor  140  has programming for actuating the second alarm  150  if the first alarm  110  is not disabled within a predetermined length of time. The second alarm  150  may be associated with a device  106  for a parent or guardian and may be powered by a third power source  101   c  (e.g., a battery). The parent&#39;s device  106  may be attachable to the parent through a coupling device similar to coupling device  133 , or the parent&#39;s device  106  may be a stationary device that is not attached to the parent. Further, the second alarm  150  may be an audible alarm, a vibrating alarm, or a vibrating audible alarm. The processor  140  may communicate with the second alarm  150  through the transmitter  144  associated with the processor  140  and a receiver  154  associated with the second alarm  150 . A transmitter  155  associated with the second alarm  150  may further send data from the second alarm  150  to a receiver  145  associated with the processor  140 .  
         [0025]     In use, the toilet training apparatus  100  may proceed as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . If the control base  102  is to be positioned in the child&#39;s bedroom, then the user selects bedroom location with the input device  142   b . The apparatus  100  then proceeds as shown in  FIG. 3 . If the control base  102  is to be positioned in a bathroom, then the user selects bathroom location with the input device  142   b . The apparatus  100  then proceeds as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0026]     At step S 1  of process  201  shown in  FIG. 3 , the user places the control base  102  in the child&#39;s bedroom and selects bedroom location with the input device  142   b . The process then proceeds to step S 2 .  
         [0027]     At step S 2 , the user selects the predetermined time event using the input device  142   a . This may be, for example, a specific time (e.g., 11:00 pm) or a specific time interval (e.g., 3 hours). The process then proceeds to step S 3 .  
         [0028]     At step S 3 , the processor  140  actuates the first alarm  110  and the RFID reader  132   b  sends out signals searching for the RFID tag  132   a  when the timer  120  reaches the predetermined time event. The process then proceeds to step S 4 .  
         [0029]     At step S 4 , the RFID reader  132   b  or the processor  140  determines whether a reply signal was received from the RFID tag  132   a . If a reply signal was received, the process then proceeds to step S 5 ; if a reply signal was not received, the process then proceeds to step S 7 . Receiving a reply signal indicates that the RFID tag  132   a  (and therefore the child) is still in the bedroom.  
         [0030]     At step S 5 , the processor  140  determines whether a predetermined amount of time has passed without the first alarm  110  being disabled. If not, the process returns to step S 3 . If so, the process is directed to step S 6 .  
         [0031]     At step S 6 , the processor  140  actuates the second alarm  150 . The process then returns to step S 3 .  
         [0032]     At step S 7 , the processor  140  disables the first alarm  110  because the RFID tag  132   a  (and therefore the child) has left the bedroom—presumably to go to the bathroom. The process then continues to step S 8 , where the processor  140  waits for the timer  120  to reach the next predetermined time event. The process will then return to step S 3  when the timer  120  reaches the next predetermined time event.  
         [0033]     Turning now to process  202  shown in  FIG. 4 , at step S 11 , the user places the control base  102  in a bathroom and selects bathroom location with the input device  142   b . The process then proceeds to step S 12 .  
         [0034]     At step S 12 , the user selects the predetermined time event using the input device  142   a . This may be, for example, a specific time (e.g., 11:00 pm) or a specific time interval (e.g., 3 hours). The process then proceeds to step S 13 .  
         [0035]     At step S 13 , the RFID reader  132   b  sends out signals searching for the RFID tag  132   a . The process then proceeds to step S 14 .  
         [0036]     At step S 14 , the RFID reader  132   b  or the processor  140  determines whether a reply signal was received from the RFID tag  132   a . If a reply signal was not received, the process then proceeds to step S 15 ; if a reply signal was received, the process then proceeds to step S 17 . Not receiving a reply signal indicates that the RFID tag  132   a  (and therefore the child) has not yet made it to the bathroom.  
         [0037]     At step S 15 , the processor  140  determines whether a predetermined amount of time has passed without the first alarm  110  being disabled. If not, the process returns to step S 13 . If so, the process is directed to step S 16 .  
         [0038]     At step S 16 , the processor  140  actuates the second alarm  150 . The process then returns to step  1 S 3 .  
         [0039]     At step S 117 , the processor  140  disables the first alarm  110  because the RFID tag  132   a  (and therefore the child) has entered the bathroom. The process then continues to step S 18 , where the processor  140  waits for the timer  120  to reach the next predetermined time event. The process will then return to step S 13  when the timer  120  reaches the next predetermined time event.  
         [0040]     It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.