Abstract:
The emergency alert system may include a device/emergency kit container, or may be incorporated into a belt, harness, or other personal protective equipment. The system may include a zipper slider, a zipper, access tab, alert device, and non-conductive pull tab. When the non-conductive pull tab is pulled, the alert device is triggered, and alerts monitors that an emergency situation has occurred involving traumatic injury and alerting the monitors of the location of the emergency situation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to emergency alert devices and systems, and more particularly to an emergency alert system that provides a switch-actuated emergency alert device for providing or summoning assistance to a person or a location. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Trauma, regardless of its source (gunshots, stabbings, serious falls, car accidents, natural disasters, etc.) is the leading cause of death among Americans under the age of forty-five, accounting for more fatalities than illness and infectious disease combined. Emergency first responders have developed a protocol to handle traumatic injuries, which includes early recognition, early treatment, and quick access to a medical facility. In particular, the time required to summon an emergency first responder to the scene of a traumatic injury is critical. The survival rate in traumatic injuries is substantially related to emergency response time. A few minutes may make the difference between life and death. While various systems have been developed for summoning assistance to the elderly who live alone, such systems are often geographically circumscribed to the person&#39;s home and require verbal communication with an intermediary security or monitoring service to determine the nature of the situation for which assistance is needed. A faster alert system that can accommodate younger individuals and is flexible enough for use in outdoor emergencies or activities, regardless of location, is needed. 
     Thus, an emergency alert system solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The emergency alert system may include a device/emergency kit container, or may be incorporated into a belt, harness, or other personal protective equipment. The system may include a zipper slider, a zipper, access tab, alert device, and non-conductive pull tab. When the non-conductive pull tab is pulled, the alert device is triggered, and alerts monitors that an emergency situation has occurred involving traumatic injury and alerting the monitors of the location of the emergency situation. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an emergency alert system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is an exemplary schematic diagram an electronic circuit of an alert device for an emergency alert system according to the present invention, showing the switch closed to activate the alert. 
         FIG. 2B  is an exemplary schematic diagram of the electronic circuit of  FIG. 2A , showing the switch open to inactivate the alert. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of an emergency alert system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an emergency alert system according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The emergency alert system  100  (an example of which is shown in  FIG. 1 ) may include a device/emergency kit container that includes a zipper slider  10 , a zipper  20 , access tab  40 , alert device  30  and non-conductive pull tab  50 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a battery-operated circuit may include a battery  110  having its negative terminal connected to a first lead  140   a  and a spring biased switch throw  130   a . A switch pole  130   b  is connected to a second lead  140   b . The first and second leads  140   a  and  140   b  are connected to a device  150  that is actuated when the battery-operated circuit is closed. The non-conductive pull tab  50  is removably disposed between the switch throw  130   a  and pole  130   b , thus keeping the circuit open until the non-conductive pull tab is pulled away from the switch throw  130   a  and switch pole  130   b  mechanism. The open configuration of the battery operated circuit is shown in  FIG. 2B , where the pull tab  50  is disposed between the switch throw  130   a  and the switch pole  130   b.    
     The closed configuration of the battery operated circuit is shown in  FIG. 2A , where the pull tab  50  is removed from the switch mechanism (spring-biased switch throw  130   a  and switch pole  130   b ). In this configuration, the circuit is closed and the device  150  is actuated to send a signal over line  170 . 
     When the battery-operated circuit is activated, it sends out an emergency signal over signal line  170  to a remote location, such as a central station, police station, paramedic service or other emergency responders. The emergency signal may also include identifying information about the location of the emergency using conventional circuitry, such as a global positioning system (GPS), or may transmit a beacon that can be triangulated. The emergency signal or beacon may be modulated with a message, either digital or analog, signifying that trauma has occurred and emergency response is required. In the event that the alert device incorporates a GPS receiver, the circuit may be configured so that the battery continuously supplies power to the GPS receiver, the switch being interposed between the battery and the alert transmitter, beacon, or transponder. The signal  170  may be transmitted using a radio that generates an RF signal, a cell phone signal, or other known communication signals. 
     The pull tab  50  may be attached to the door of an emergency response kit, such that the circuit is activated when the door of the kit is opened. Alternatively, the pull tab  50  may be attached to the door of a compartment built into the housing of the kit or attached to a zipper of a pocket that houses the alert device and is attached to the kit, so that the kit may be opened without activating the alert device when needed to treat minor abrasions that do not require emergency response. In another alternative, the pull tab  50  may be directly pulled by a user if the circuit is mounted on a wearable article, such as a harness, belt or other piece of apparel. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , attachment points  60  are disposed on a device  70 . A pull cord  50  is attached to the attachment points  60  and is tied to a left side of a guide  90  for a pre-staged power source  80 . The cord resumes and is attached to a right side of guide  90 , extending to a zipper slider  10 , and is hooked up to the device  70  via the pull tab  50 . When the zipper travels along the zipper  20 , the pull cord travels with the zipper slider  10 , pulling the guide  80 , thereby allowing the pre-staged power source  80  to close a circuit, such as the circuit shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
     The emergency alert system  100  functions as a trauma indicating system. The system/device may identify that an individual has sustained a trauma injury and that time is of the essence. The device  150  may be registered, and once activated, emits a signal via signal line  170  to an emergency communications center or tactical operations command. (In one embodiment, it is up to command or an emergency communications officer to send an alert out for emergency responders). 
     The emergency alert system  100  may utilize an identifier having a registered number to its owner. In the event that the identifier is activated, the emergency alert system  100  will send/e-mail the identifier via a signal over signal line  170  to an emergency communication center or tactical operations command or emergency operations command. The device  150  shall have a pre-staged power source to energize the system  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , at step  402 , the device  150  may be registered to an individual or a location. At step  404 , when the container of the system  100  is opened, the battery-operated circuit sends an activation signal. In addition to the activation procedure shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a pre-staged battery may be positioned to slide into the container to complete the battery operated circuit, thereby activating the device  150 . At step  406 , the activation signal may activate a GPS signal emitting present coordinates and last known location. At step  410 , a personal location beacon activates. At step  412 , a communications center triangulates the signal, references a personal locator beacon (PLB) and/or GPS lat/long, and dispatches a response team as appropriate. At step  408 , a 911 call to a closest emergency communications center is initiated. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.