Abstract:
There is a need in the water sensing alarm field for a device that alerts a supervisor when a child&#39;s nose and/or mouth come in contact with water that is easy to reset each time that the system is activated. This water safety device system includes a water alarm device for attachment to the user and alarm receiver device for monitoring by the supervisor. The water alarm device is configured to attach to the user expected to have contact with water and is worn on the user&#39;s head. The alarm receiver is configured to be used by the supervisor monitoring the user expected to have contact with water and contains visual, audio, and/or physical alert mechanisms. The water safety device system is activated by a momentary contact with water and sends an alert to the supervisor.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/910,922 filed Dec. 2, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to water sensing alarms and, in particular, to wearable water sensing alarm devices and systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Accidental drowning has been a leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, particularly for young children. The Center for Disease Control has reported that the highest drowning rate is among children ages 1 to 4. When playing in a shallow body of water, young children can easily lose their balance and submerge their nose and mouth under the surface of the water. Even with close adult supervision, it can be easy to lose sight of a child at a crowded beach or pool. Because of the risk of drowning present when young children are playing in water, even with adult supervision, there is a need for a device to immediately alert adults when a child&#39;s nose and/or mouth are in contact with the water. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,554,453 to Snyder et al., identifies a need for a device that detects a potential drowning with users that are permitted to have some water contact. Snyder proposes a water alarm device, including a buoyant alarm unit with a water sensor, for releasable attachment to a user. When a timer, in communication with the water sensor, determines that the duration of water contact with the water sensor has exceeded a predetermined time, the alarm device activates. When activated, the alarm releases from the user and travels to the surface of the water to transmit an alarm to a base station. 
     The device in Snyder is unsuitable for use by young children being supervised by an adult. The device in Snyder will only activate if submerged for a predetermined amount of time. While it may be safe for older children or adults to submerge their heads for a period of time while in the water, allowing young children to submerge their heads in water for any period of time creates a risk of drowning. Snyder contemplates a predetermined amount of time of thirty or sixty seconds for children under 3 or 4, which would not provide an immediate alert of potential drowning in young children. 
     The device in Snyder is also designed for releasable attachment to a user and is not suitable for use by a child who could cause the alarm unit to detach in quick succession when playing in water. It would be impractical to have an adult locate and reattach the alarm unit every time it was activated to reset the device system. Snyder does not meet the need for a water safety device that immediately alerts a supervisor that the user&#39;s nose and/or mouth has come into momentary contact with water and is easily reset. 
     Accordingly, there remains a need for a device that alerts a supervisor when a child&#39;s nose and/or mouth come in contact with water that is easy to reset each time that the system is activated. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to embodiments of the present invention, a water alarm device for attachment to the user and alarm receiver device for monitoring by the supervisor. The water alarm device is configured to attach to the user expected to have contact with water. The water alarm device has a water sensing portion, a main circuit board capable of wireless transmission and a waterproof housing with a means to attach the device to the user. 
     The alarm receiver is configured to be used by the supervisor monitoring the user expected to have contact with water. The preferred embodiment attaches the alarm receiver to the supervisor with a strap and can use visual, audio, and/or physical alert mechanisms. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the water safety device system; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the water alarm device; 
         FIG. 3  is an alternative perspective view of the water alarm device; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of the water alarm device; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the alarm receiver device; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of the alarm receiver device separated from the strap; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of the enlarged alarm receiver device separated from the strap. 
         FIG. 8  is an elevation view of the water alarm device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIG. 1 , the water safety device system  1  comprises a water alarm device  2  in wireless communication with an alarm receiver device  3 . The water alarm device  2  is attached to the person expected to have contact with water or a liquid. The alarm receiver device  3  is used by the person supervising the person with the water alarm device  2 . 
     The water alarm device  2  of  FIG. 1  comprises one or more water sensors  4 , a main circuit board  5 , and a waterproof case  6 . The main circuit board  5  comprises a microcontroller  7 , a power supply  8 , radio circuitry  9 , one or more input buttons  10 , one or more status lights  11 , and an input port  12 . The water sensor or sensors  4  are activated by a momentary or continuous contact with water or another liquid. When activated, the water sensor or sensors  4  send a signal to the input port  12  on the main circuit board  5 . In the preferred embodiment, the water sensor or sensors  4  are capacitive sensor electrodes, which can be implemented as a second circuit board mounted flush to the interior of the case or as foil strips attached to the interior of the case  6 . 
     The main circuit board  5  uses a microcontroller  7  to convert the signal from the water sensors  4  into a signal capable of being transmitted wirelessly through the radio circuitry  9  component of the main circuit board  5 . The signal generated by the microcontroller  7  and transmitted by the radio circuitry  8  can be a radio signal or other type of wireless interface. The preferred embodiment uses a radio transmission, specifically a 1-2 MHz channel within the 2.400 to 2.4835 GHz range, ISM band, and using GFSK modulation. The main circuit board  5  is powered by a power supply  8  which can be a battery, lithium-ion cell, solar panel or other device capable of generating an electric current. 
     The input button  10  is used for resetting the water safety device system  1 . The input button  10  is pressed to reset the system  1  after a water sensor  4  is activated. To avoid an inadvertent reset of the system by the person wearing the water alarm device  2 , in the preferred embodiment, the input button  10  is activated for longer than a momentary contact to reset the system. In the preferred embodiment, the water safety device system  1  must be reset by using input button  10  to require the supervisor to check on the person wearing the water alarm device  2  each time it is activated by contact with water. The input button  10  can be manipulated from the outside of the waterproof case  6 . The status light  11  illuminates or extinguishes to indicate the operational status of the water safety device system  1  or the water alarm device  2 . The status light  11 , if used, can be seen from outside of the waterproof case  6 . 
     The alarm receiver device  3  of  FIG. 1  comprises a receiver main circuit board  14 , and a water resistant case  15 . The receiver main circuit board  14  is similar to the main circuit board  5  contained in the water alarm device  2 . Instead of using an input port  12 , the receiver main circuit board uses an output port  20  in its place. The receiver main circuit board  14  comprises an alarm unit  13  connected to output port  20 , a microcontroller  15 , a power supply  16 , radio circuitry  17 , one or more input buttons  18 , and one or more status lights  19 . The alarm unit  13  can alert the user the user through a visual alert (such as a status light or display), an audio alert (such as a piezoelectric buzzer or speaker), and/or a physical alert (such as a vibration). The preferred embodiment uses a piezoelectric buzzer for the alarm unit  13  and is mounted directly to the receiver main circuit board  14 . The alarm unit  13  can be integrated as part of the water resistant case  15  to facilitate the use of a display screen or warning lights. 
     When the water sensor or sensors  4  are activated on the water alarm device  2 , the radio circuitry  17  in the alarm receiver device receives the wireless signal transmitted by the radio circuitry  9  of the water alarm device  2 . The signal is sent from the radio circuitry  17  on the receiver main circuit board to the microcontroller  15 . The microcontroller  15  processes the signal from the radio circuitry  17  and sends an output signal to the output port  20 . The alarm unit  13  is connected to the output port  20 . The output signal from the output port  20  activates the alarm unit  13  to alert the user of the alarm receiver device  3 . 
     The receiver main circuit board  14  is powered by a power supply  16  which can be a battery, lithium-ion cell, solar panel, or other device capable of generating an electric current. The input button  18  can be used for turning the alarm receiver device  3  on or off. The input button  18  can be manipulated from the outside of the water resistant case  15 . The status light  19  illuminates or extinguishes to indicate the operational status of the water safety device system  1  or the alarm receiver device  3 . The status light  19  is mounted directly on the receiver main circuit board  14  in the preferred embodiment and can be seen by the user through a transparent portion of the waterproof case  15 . Alternatively, the status light  19  can be remotely mounted on or in the water resistant case  15  and connected to the receiver main circuit board  14  through an electrical connection. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the water alarm device  2  is enclosed in a waterproof housing  6 . Housing  6  comprises a lid  21  and a base  22 . The lid  21  has a top side  23  and a bottom side  24  where the base  22  mounts. The top side  23  of the lid  21  is concave to increase the effectiveness of the water sensors  4 . The top side  23 , alternatively, can also have flat recess to increase the effectiveness of the water sensors  4 . Mounted through the exterior of the housing  6  is input button  10 . The status light  11 , if used, would also mount through the exterior of the housing  6 . 
     In  FIG. 3  is the housing  6  in an alternative perspective view showing the bottom side of the base  22  in detail. The base  22  is attached to the bottom side  24  of the lid  21  using a plurality of fasteners (screws)  26  and when fastened, provides a waterproof seal. The waterproof seal can be aided by a variety of waterproofing materials, such as gaskets, rubber rings, etc. The base  22  can also be attached to the lid  21  using a variety of other methods, including but not limited to, a single fastener or by molding female threads on the bottom side  24  of lid  21  and corresponding male threads on the edge of base  22  (or vice versa). The lid  21  and base  22  of waterproof housing  6  are capable of separating to allow the replacement of the power supply  8  and/or any other component. The portion of the base  22  that faces the exterior of the waterproof case  6  includes a clip  25  or other mechanical means for attaching the water alarm device  2  to the user. The clip  25  can optionally include an additional sensor built into the clip itself or attached to the base  22  to sense if the water alarm device  2  is removed from the user. This optional sensor would generate an alert through the water safety device system  1 , similar to an alert for water contact. The input button  10  can also been seen in this view. 
     In  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of water alarm device  2 . The lid  21  is closed on the top side  23  and open on the bottom side  24 . The lid  21  has a plurality of female threaded sections  27  molded to the interior to allow for the corresponding fasteners  26  to thread in. When the lid  21  and base  22  are fastened together with the fasteners  26  threaded into the threaded sections  27 , there is a void  28  inside the waterproof housing  6 . 
     Inside the void  28  are mounted the water sensor or sensors  4  and the main circuit board  5 . The water sensor or sensors  4  are mounted flush to the interior of the lid  21 . In the preferred embodiment, the water sensors  4  are mounted on a circuit board and mounted flush to the interior of the lid  21 . The interior of the lid  21  has a flat area to accommodate the circuit board of water sensors  4 . The corresponding area on the exterior of lid  21  is concave or contains a flat recess to enhance the sensitivity of the water sensors  4 . The water sensors are mounted flush against the interior of the lid  21  to allow the case  6  to act as the capacitor dielectric. The main circuit board  5  is mounted between the water sensor or sensors  4  and the base  22 . The input button  10  extends through the lid  21  allowing it to be manipulated from the exterior of the waterproof case  6 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , the alarm receiver device  3  is removably mounted in a wristband or strap  29 . The alarm receiver device  3  can also be mounted to a variety of other devices to keep the alarm receiver device  3  in an optimal location to alert its user. The alarm receiver device  3  can also be permanently integrated into a wristband  29  so that the wristband is part of the water resistant case  15 . The input button  18  is mounted through the water resistant case  15  and the wristband or strap  29  to allow for manipulation by the user. The status light  19  is mounted inside the waterproof case  15  and can be seen by the user through a transparent portion of the case. 
     In  FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of the alarm receiver device  3  removed from the wristband or strap  29 . Also visible in this view is the input button  18  mounted on the side of the water resistant case  15 . The status light  19  is mounted on the receiver main circuit board  14  and can been seen through a transparent portion of the water resistant case  15 . 
     In  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional enlarged side view of the alarm receiver device  3  removed from the strap or wristband  29 . The water resistant case  15  has an access door  30  mounted on the bottom side. The access door  30  allows for the replacement of the power supply  16  and/or any other component. The access door can be hinged on one edge with a latching mechanism on the opposite edge or a fully removable panel using fasteners. The receiver main circuit board  14  is mounted inside the water resistant case  15 . 
     In  FIG. 8  is an elevation view of the water alarm device  2 . This view shows the relationship of the input button  10  with the clip  25  in the preferred embodiment. 
     The entire alarm receiver device  3  can be substituted by any device capable of receiving the alarm signal emitted by the alarm device  2 . For example, a smart cellular telephone could use a mobile application to receive the alarm signal from the alarm device  2  and convert the signal into an alert for a person in the vicinity of the smart cellular telephone. Similarly, the alarm signal could be received by a radio or other device. This invention contemplates the user of the alarm receiver device  3  to be near enough to the person using the water alarm device  2  to allow for intervention if drowning is imminent; however, this invention can also be used to transmit an alert to a location outside of the immediate vicinity of the person using the water alarm device  2 . 
     This invention is capable for use in fresh water and salt water, allowing for its use at beaches, lakes, pools, bathtubs and any other standing water. This invention could also be used in other applications that would require an alert when a user comes in contact with a liquid. 
     In this disclosure, there are shown and described only the preferred embodiments of the invention, but, as aforementioned, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of use in various other combinations and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein.