Patent Publication Number: US-9836951-B1

Title: Emergency alert device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Field of the Invention 
     This relates to the safety of individuals when sometimes in remote locations. This device can be used by anyone who is required to travel to remote locations particularly with unknown individuals. For instance, the device can be used by real estate professionals who are required to show properties often times in remote locations to strangers. In order to protect the professional from an unknown danger this device will allow a professional to alert a specified or predetermined contact and also allow the professional to send an alarm in the event of a danger. 
     B. Prior Art 
     Much of the wearable emergency alert devices in the prior art are meant to be concealed or disguised as another object. In addition, few devices within the prior art can be operated with the same hand on which it is worn. For example, with a watch the user must use the opposite hand to operate the watch. Furthermore, with a necklace the user will be required to bring his or her hand up to the neck region to operate the device. This is substantially important for operation of the device in the event that the user&#39;s hands are restricted from movement. 
     A representative example of this type of device is illustrated by Fellner U.S. Pat. No. 8,249,547 which is a device that incorporates an emergency alert device with a mobile phone. Another example can be found at Hwang U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2009/0322513. None of the other prior art references incorporate all the features of the current application. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This is a wearable device which is placed around the fingers of an individual. It will be compromised of a rigid hard plastic casing which will have a visual screen at one end and appropriate finger holes for the user. The finger holes or shank will be somewhat flexible to allow the device to be used by a variety of people with different finger sizes. The device can be worn on either hand. 
     This display will indicate the time of departure as well as also provide a stopwatch or alarm system in the event that an appropriate response from the user has not been received by the monitoring party or an unforeseen circumstance has arisen. On the bottom surface will be an alert button where the user can notify the appropriate parties in the event that something unfortunate has happened. 
     A speaker and microphone will also be included so that the user can notify a predetermined party about the possible danger that has occurred. 
     A power source, which is likely a battery, has been provided and in order to avoid the necessity of needing to frequently replace the power source, a recharging port will also be provided. The recharging port will accommodate a variety of charging connectors. 
     Because this device may be taken to remote locations, a transmitter will be provided so that the location of the individual can be determined using a global positioning system (GPS). 
     Once the alarm button has been pressed the device will then emit an alert signal to a predetermined set of contacts, a monitoring station, or both. After which, the contacted individual(s) may then contact emergency authorities or personally check on the distressed user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the device from the top depicting a screen, two function control buttons, a microphone and speaker, a ring for fingers, two cutaways in the two finger ring for flexibility, and an alarm button. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the device depicting the ring for fingers, the alarm button, and the two cutaways in the ring for fingers. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the device depicting the ring for fingers, the screen, and several interior parts of the device which include, a cover to a charging port compartment, a charging port, a power source, a microprocessor, and a transmitter. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view depicting the ring for fingers, the two cutaways in the ring, the alarm button, a charging port compartment, and the charging port. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view depicting the two finger ring, the screen, two function control buttons, the speaker, the microphone, the cutaways, and the alarm button. 
         FIG. 6  is an in use view depicting the device being worn on two fingers and displaying a time on the screen. 
     
    
    
     NUMBERING DESCRIPTION 
     
         
           5  Device 
           10  Screen 
           15  Ring for fingers 
           16  Cutaways 
           20  Alert button 
           25  Microprocessor 
           30  Transmitter 
           35  Power source 
           36  Charging port compartment 
           37  Charging port 
           40  Speaker 
           45  Microphone 
           50  Function Control Button 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     When prospective home buyers or tenants are shown property or other assets in remote locations by another individual it is prudent that the individual take the necessary precautions for safety. This device will protect the safety and well-being of the individual who is showing the property by providing a hand-held portable device that is placed on the person&#39;s finger or fingers by placing the person&#39;s fingers through the ring for the fingers  15  or shank. There are a plurality of flexible cutouts or cutaways  16  that are adjacent to the ring for fingers  15 . Although this device is discussed in relationship with real estate professionals, it can be used in a variety of applications. 
     This device  5  may have multiple applications but in terms of this application the device will be used in the context of a real estate professional who is required to show property to prospective unknown buyers or unknown sellers. At times the professional will know very little about the individual and safety is a priority. The device may also be used in applications where an individual is simply being shown assets (not necessarily real estate) to unknown individuals. 
     The device  5  will be worn on the user&#39;s fingers such as shown in  FIG. 6 . It will likely be made from a rigid plastic casing. On one end of the casing a display  10 , speaker  40 , and microphone  45  are provided. 
     On the opposite end of the display will be a charging port  37 . A power source  35 , a transmitter  30 , and a microprocessor  25  are contained in the rigid hard casing. An appropriate charging port compartment  36  opening is also provided to charge the battery. The power source in the present invention is a rechargeable battery. The charging port  37  will be provided to maximize the battery life. Alternatively, it is contemplated and anticipated that the power source may be replaceable. 
     On the bottom surface of the casing an alert button  20  will be provided to notify a selected number of other individuals in the case of an emergency. 
     In addition, in order to accommodate the power needs of this device it is anticipated that the display will be a LED screen and will be constructed so that it will minimize power use. 
     A plurality of function control buttons  50  are provided on the device next to the screen  10 . The user may use these buttons to perform a variety of functions such as toggle through various displays on the screen, call in to a monitoring center or user&#39;s office, or as a code for user identification. 
     The provided microphone  45  and speaker  40  allow the user to communicate with another party at a separate location. For example, a monitoring center may call the device after the alarm button  20  is pressed and speak with its user. The user may then provide a secret passphrase or word to inform the monitoring center that the alarm button was pressed accidently. The user may use an alternative word or passphrase if being forced to communicate through the device while under duress. 
     While the presented embodiment of the device shows the microphone  45  and the speaker  40  within relatively close proximity to each other on the same face of the casing, it is anticipated that the two may be located on different faces of the device. 
     The device also provides a GPS locator. The GPS locator allows for the user&#39;s location to be monitored during use. The GPS locator is housed within the casing of the device. The GPS locator operates in connection with the microprocessor and controller. 
     While the embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, certain modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to modify the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.