WO2001024133A1

WO2001024133A1 - Safety cubicle with alarm

Info

Publication number: WO2001024133A1
Application number: PCT/AU2000/001127
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew James Byrne
Original assignee: Right Hemisphere Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1999-09-24
Filing date: 2000-09-18
Publication date: 2001-04-05
Also published as: AUPQ303799A0

Abstract

An alarm is activated if a person present within a certain zone becomes unresponsive for a predetermined interval. The invention is directed to reducing the risk of death or injury in situations where a medical emergency occurs in a secluded place, such as a toilet cubicle or the bedroom of a person living alone. The alarm may summon assistance and/or unlock a door.

Description

SAFETY CUBICLE WITH ALARM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to reducing the risk of death or injury in situations where a medical emergency occurs in a secluded place, such as a toilet cubicle, by providing an automatic alarm in case of apparent loss of consciousness.

It is common for people to die through lack of medical care if overcome by illness or injury whilst secluded. One exemplary situation is drug overdoses after injecting in the privacy of a public toilet. Another example is suffering an acute illness, such as a diabetic coma, whilst using a toilet. In such cases, the victim may become unconscious and is at great risk of death as it may be a long time before they are discovered and help sought.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system which activates an alarm if a person is present in a confined space for more than a certain time and that person does not reset a timer within a prescribed time.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cubicle with improved safety by providing a cubicle with an alarm that activates if a person is present in said cubicle for more than a certain time and that person does not reset a timer within a prescribed time.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an alarm system which senses the presence of a person within a confined space, senses movement of said person, and if presence is sensed and movement is not sensed for a prescribed time, an alarm is activated. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided timer means, said timer means being started by start conditions and reset by reset conditions, an alarm output of said timer being activated if a prescribed time interval has elapsed after said timer is started unless said timer is reset before said prescribed time has elapsed. Said start conditions according to this aspect of the present invention can include one or more of:

Door closing Door locking Operation of a start switch

Detection of payment for use of the facility, for example, coin insertion Detection of presence of a person within the cubicle, for example by: sensing weight acting on the floor or on the toilet seat Infra-red detector Ultrasonic detector

Radar detector

Change of volume of air in the cubicle Sound detector

Light beam interruption or reflection Video imaging

Reset conditions according to this aspect of the invention can include one or more of: Operation of a reset switch Unlocking or opening a door

Detection of payment for use of the facility, for example, coin insertion Detecting movement within the cubicle, for example by: sensing changing weight acting on the floor or on the toilet seat Infra-red movement detection Ultrasonic movement detection Radar movement detector Changing volume of air in the cubicle

Sound detector

Changing light beam interruption or reflection Changing video image. In another aspect, the present invention further comprises alarm means activated by output of said timing means. Said alarm means can perform one or more of the following functions:

Unlock a cubicle door Open a cubicle door

Sound a siren

Generate a spoken message

Activate a visual warning

Display a visible message Activate a remote alarm, for example call an emergency service via telephone, radio or other means

In another aspect of the present invention, said timing means is further adapted to include a warning output, said warning output becoming activated a prescribed time before said alarm output.

In another aspect, the invention further comprises revenue collection means, such as a coin acceptor or card reader. According to this aspect, said revenue collection means can be coupled with the invention in various beneficial ways, including: A door locks only after revenue collection

Said timer starts after revenue collection

Said timer is reset on revenue collection

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a cubicle comprising an occupant enclosure, a door and door locking means, said locking means comprising timing means which issues a warning after a first preset time period after assuming a locked state and, if resetting action is not performed by said occupant with a second preset time period, causes said locking means to assume an unlocked state.

An example of the invention according to this aspect is a mechanical timer arranged to operate a door catch. The timer is started by the action of turning a handle to lock the cubicle door, which winds up a clockwork mechanism. After three minutes, for example, a warning notice becomes visible on the lock, inviting the occupant to turn the handle again to extend the time before unlocking. If the occupant does not respond, the mechanism continues to time for a further minute, for example, after which time the timing mechanism releases the door. The door is spring-loaded so that it opens once released.

The invention also consists in a cubicle comprising the timing and alarm means of the aspects of the invention described above.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the general arrangement of inputs and outputs to the timing element of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a simple mechanical embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 shows and electro-mechanical embodiment including coin operation and remote alarms;

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention which does not depend on any deliberate action on the part of the user for operation.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the invention is shown in elementary schematic form. When a start condition is generated by start source 2, timer 1 starts timing a present interval. Whenever a reset signal is generated by reset source 3, timer 1 is reset and the timing interval recommences. If the preset timing interval is reached before a reset is received, timer 1 generates a timeout output which activates alarm 4.

In one embodiment according to this general arrangement, the invention is used as a part of a toilet cubicle. Start source 2 in this case is a switch activated by closing of the cubicle door. Reset source 3 is a movement detector, for example a passive infrared detector as used in security applications. Once the door is closed, timer 1 starts timing. Every time the passive infra-red detector detects that the person in the cubicle moves, timer 1 is reset. If no movement occurs for a sufficiently long time, in this example three minutes, timer 1 generates a timeout output, causing alarm 4 to be activated. Alarm 4 in this embodiment comprises an audible siren and a flashing light to indicate the location of the suspected medical emergency.

Referring now to Fig. 2, in this alternative embodiment a mechanical timing means is used to implement the timing function of the invention. The invention is implemented as a door catch mechanism, which can readily be fitted to a conventional hinged door, as commonly used with cubicles. When the door is closed, latch 4, which is fixed to the door jamb, passes through a notch in disk 2 which is part of the movable door. The user then turns handle 1 clockwise as indicated by the arrow, so that latch 4 is captured and the door is retained in the closed position. The action of turning handle 1 also winds up a clockwork mechanism (not shown) located behind disk 2. After handle 1 is released, the clockwork mechanism slowly rotates disk 2 in an anticlockwise direction. The speed of rotation is such that latch 4 will fall through the notch in disk 2 three minutes after the locking of the door, causing the door to be released. A spring attached to the door can optionally be provided to cause the cubicle door to automatically open on release of the latch. At any time before the rotation of disk 2 is completed, the cubicle occupant can turn handle 1 again to reset the timer. To alert the occupant that the timer is about to expire, disk 2 is marked with a warning message, in this example the word "EXPIRED", which becomes visible, through aperture 3, a preset time before the timer expires.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, many variations on the above embodiment can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, an electronic mechanism can be used instead of the mechanical mechanism described.

Another embodiment will now be described with reference to Fig. 3. In this embodiment, the invention is implemented primarily by electronic means, assisted by certain mechanical input and output devices. This embodiment is well suited to incorporation into a cubicle, such as used for a public toilet. Although not an essential element of the invention, this embodiment includes coin acceptor means, so that revenue can be generated from use of the facility. On entering the cubicle, the occupant inserts a coin into coin acceptor 2. Controller 1 senses the output from coin acceptor 2 and causes door strike 4 to be activated. In this embodiment, door strike 4 is an electromagnet mounted in the door jamb of the cubicle. When the cubicle door is pushed closed by the occupant, an iron armature fitted to the door is attracted to the electromagnet in the jamb causing the door to remain closed.

On detecting an output from coin acceptor 2, controller 1 begins timing. In this exemplary embodiment of the invention, a period of three minutes is preset as the alarm timing interval .

Passive infra-red sensor 3 is a movement detector, of the type commonly used for security applications. Whenever the cubicle occupant moves, controller 1 resets the timing interval to three minutes. If the occupant does not move, the timer within controller 1 reaches the preset warning interval, in this example 2 minutes, and warning light 5 and buzzer 6 are activated via output 7 of controller 1. This serves as a prompt to the occupant to reset the timer by moving. To this end, the warning light includes a legend saying "Touch here to cancel alarm" which is illuminated after the two minute timeout. The act of reaching to touch the warning light causes passive infra-red sensor 3 to generate an output which resets the timer.

If the occupant does not move when the warning is issued, controller three waits a further one minute, and if no movement is sensed during that interval, alarm output 8 is activated. Alarm output 8 in turn activates siren 9 which is a loud siren designed to attract attention, light 10 which is an indicator which shows in which cubicle the suspected emergency has occurred, and radio 11 which sends a radio signal summonsing help from a remote response centre, such as an ambulance station. At the same time, door strike 4 is de-energised, allowing the cubicle door to be easily opened by a rescuer, or by a spring fitted to achieve automatic opening.

In normal circumstances, the occupant will move from time to time, keeping the timer close to reset, so use of the cubicle will be quite conventional. When the occupant wishes to leave, release switch 12 is operated, which causes controller 1 to release the door via door strike 4, and controller 1 goes into a standby state, with its timer held reset.

Many useful variants of this embodiment of the invention are envisioned. For example, the invention can be realised as part of an automatic light switch. In this instance, the lighting in a bathroom, for example, is turned on by a PIR (passive infrared) sensor when a person enters the room. A traditional PIR sensor is responsive only to movement, so such a device has no way of distinguishing between an occupant who has stopped moving and an occupant who has left the room. Using this invention, the PIR sensor is adapted to detect and differentiate between the radiation from a still person as well as a moving person. When movement detection stops, the device switches to presence-detection mode. If presence is not detected, the lights are switched off. If presence is detected, a warning beeper is sounded, or the lights flashed, or both, to rouse the occupant. If movement is not detected for a further period, say 5 seconds, the alarm is activated. This embodiment of the invention has a secondary benefit of saving energy by turning off lights as soon as the occupant leaves, rather than after a time delay as per the usual PIR sensor.

In a further enhanced version of this embodiment of the present invention, certain elements of the apparatus are shared amongst several cubicles within the one building. For example, coin acceptor 2, controller 1 , radio 1 1 and siren 9 may serve multiple cubicles. In this case, controller 1 is equipped with multiple inputs and outputs to service release switches, motion detectors and so on. A single numerical indicator showing the number of the cubicle from which the alarm originated can be used in lieu of light 10.

Another embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 4. In this embodiment, the user of the cubicle does not need to perform any special actions to start, reset or stop the alarm feature. This embodiment uses ultrasonic sensor 3 to detect the presence of a person in the cubicle. The same sensor is used to detect movement of the person.

To achieve this, ultrasonic sensor 3 is arranged to generate output signals based on reflections of emitted ultrasonic pulses. The sensor includes means for emitting short bursts of ultrasonic energy at approximately ten bursts per second, and means for receiving reflections of these emissions. An ultrasonic sensor as used for range- finding in automatic-focus cameras is well suited to this task.

The echo output of ultrasonic sensor 3 feeds input 13 of controller 1. Controller 1 comprises a microprocessor programmed to continuously monitor the pulses arriving at this input. Input 14 of controller 1 receives timing reference pulses from ultrasonic sensor 3. By measuring the time between the receipt of a reference pulse at input 14 and the reflected signal pulse at input 13, controller 1 can ascertain the distance between the sensor and the reflecting target.

Ultrasonic detector 3 is mounted in the ceiling of the cubicle, facing downwards. When the cubicle is unoccupied, the reflection signals received by controller 1 will indicate the distance between the ceiling and floor of the cubicle, possibly along with reflections from other objects forming permanent features of the cubicle. When a person enters the cubicle, much shorter distances will be measured due to the reduced echo distance. This reduction in the round-trip time of the ultrasonic pulses is registered by the microprocessor and its associated software as a person being present in the cubicle.

Once a person is detected in this manner, a timer starts timing the alarm and warning intervals as described in relation to the embodiment of the invention above.

As the person inside the cubicle moves, the timing of the pulses recorded by controller 1 periodically changes. Each time movement beyond a preset noise-elimination threshold is detected in this manner, the timer is reset. If no movement is detected for two minutes, the warning buzzer 6 and light 5 are activated as described previously, and if movement has still not been detected a minute later radio 1 1 , siren 9 and light 10 are activated to summons help.

In normal circumstances, a person using the cubicle will not need to be aware that the alarm system of this invention is present. The system resets itself to a quiescent state when the person vacates the cubicle, as indicated by a return to the pattern of ultrasonic echoes characteristic of a vacant cubicle. This embodiment of the invention can also be used with good results in other situations, such as is a bathroom. The ultrasonic transducer can be placed on the ceiling above a bathtub, enabling the invention to detect when a person is present in the bath by recognising reflections from the body closer to the transducer then the top of the bathtub. If the person stops moving, for example for more than one minute, a warning beeper sounds. This notifies the occupant that an alarm is imminent. If the occupant then moves the timer is reset and the alarm does not sound. If, however, the occupant does not move after the warning sounds, for example due to being stuck in the tub, or unconscious, the alarm will be activated.

As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, a wide variety of sensors can be used with good results instead of the ultrasonic sensors used in this embodiment of the invention. For example, infra-red sensors are well suited to this application. A passive infra-red detector can be used to detect the heat of a body present in the zone of interest. In some cases the same sensor can be used to detect movement as well. For example, a suitable lens can be used to cause the infra-red signal to vary in amplitude as the person moves, according to well-known techniques commonly applied to burglar alarms.

Alternatively, an infra-red sensor fitted with a chopper can be used to detect both presence and motion. For example, a conventional passive-infra-red motion detector comprises an infra-red detector behind an optical grating and lens. When a warm body moves in the field of view, the optics cause the level of infra-red detected to be modulated, and hence there is a varying output from the detector. When the person is stationary, however, the grating has no effect and the output from the detector is either static or absent. This type of detector can therefore not normally be used to detect presence of a person. In one embodiment of this invention, however, an optical chopper, such as a solenoid-operated vane, rotating slotted disk or electronic shutter, is fitted in front of the detector. When no movement is detected, the chopper is activated by a controller. If a warm body is present in the field of view, a modulated output will be generated by the sensor in synchronism with the chopping. In other cases, separate sensors can be used for the functions of presence detection and movement detection. Good results can be achived using an infra-red detector for the presence detector in combination with an ultrasonic or radar Doppler detector for motion detection.

It is also envisaged that presence of a person can be detected by utilising sensors which detect direction of movement of a person into our out of the zone of interest. For example, acoustic or radio frequency Doppler shift can be used to determine whether a person is leaving or entering a cubicle. After movement in and before movement out it can be assumed that a person is present.

It will be understood that this embodiment of the invention is particularly well suited to retrofitting to existing cubicles as no physical interface to the cubicle is required. For example, the invention can be implemented as a self-contained unit which mounts on the ceiling of a toilet cubicle, and can be powered from the pre-existing lighting power supply.

It will also be understood that the embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary only, and many variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It will be obvious that the invention can be applied to cubicles of any size, for example the invention can be applied beneficially to a public toilet cubicle or a home bathroom. Furthermore, the cubicle can be any type of enclosure, for example a changing room, elevator, car, and so on. The invention can also be benficially adapted for use in larger rooms with single or multiple occupants, for example hospital rooms or wards.

It will also be understood that whereas the invention described herein includes a door lock, it is intended that such a lock need not be a secure mechanism such as might be used to prevent entry from the outside. The lock can also be a simple catch or latch or like mechanism which serves, with varying degrees of security, to keep a door in the closed position.

It will also be obvious to those skilled in the art that many alternative techniques can be applied to enable the invention to discriminate between the salient conditions within the cubicle, including cubicle vacant, cubicle occupied by moving person, and cubicle occupied by still person. For example, a wide range of sensors can be applied to detecting the presence of a person, such as pressure mats as used for security applications. Similarly, many different forms of sensor can be used to discern movement of an occupant with good results. It is also possible to use a single sensor to discern multiple conditions within the cubicle, or to use the combined intelligence of multiple sensors for this purpose.

Additional safety features can be added to the invention, such as a panic button, in the form of a switch which immediately activates the alarm when pressed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that whereas the invention described herein uses cessation of physical movement as an indication that the person within the cubicle is medically endangered, other indicators of medical emergency can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, certain vital signs such as respiration can be monitored and used to reset the timer whenever predetermined conditions indicative of well-being are met. It will also be understood that whereas the invention described herein uses health indications to reset the timer and hence inhibit the alarm condition, it is also anticipated that the invention can also use indications of medical distress to trigger the alarm conditions, either instead of or in addition to the lack of health indications. For example, cardiac rhythms can be monitored and if certain conditions are detected, an alarm generated either immediately or after a predetermined period of sustained detection. One exemplary way of monitoring heartbeat is by means of a pressure transducer mounted in a toilet seat, the ballistic action of the circulatory system thereby being monitored. Alternatively, blood circulation could be monitored optically, for example by measuring transmission of light through blood-bearing tissues. Respiration can be monitored by acoustic means, by infra-red imaging of respiration, or other means.

It is also anticipated that the invention can be further adapted to include additional means of preventing false alarms. For example, to discriminate between the presence of an inanimate object and a person, temperature of the object can be measured as inferred from its infra-red radiation.

Claims

Claims:

1. A safety alarm comprising: first detector means adapted to detect presence of a person; second detector means adapted to detect consciousness of said person; alarm means; and controller means adapted to activate said alarm means if said first detector means detects the presence of a person and said second detector means does not detect consciousness for a predetermined period.

2. A safety alarm comprising: first detector means adapted to generate an entry signal when a person enters a predetermined zone and an exit signal when a person exits said zone; second detector means adapted to detect consciousness of said person; alarm means; and controller means adapted to activate said alarm means if, after said first detector means generates an entry signal and before first detector means generates an exit signal, said second detector means does not detect consciousness for a predetermined period.

3. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first detector means comprises means for detecting direction of motion of a person into or out of a prescribed zone.

4. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first detector means comprises means for sensing the mass of a person.

5. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first detector means comprises an infra-red sensor responsive to the heat radiated by a person.

6. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first detector means utilises ultrasonic reflections to detect the presence of a person.

7. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first detector means utilises changes in a radio frequency field to detect the presence of a person.

8. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first detector means detects the presence of a person by sensing change of volume of air in the cubicle when a person is present.

9. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first detector means utilises an acoustic transducer to detect the sounds emitted by a person present.

10. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first detector means determines the presence of a person accdoring to changes in a light beam.

1 1. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first detector means utilises a video imaging device to detect presence of a person.

12. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first detector means is a sensor which differentiaites bewteen a door being open or closed.

13. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first detector means is a sensor which differentiaites bewteen a door being locked or unlocked.

14. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first detector means is a switch operated by a person.

15. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first detector means is a sensor which detects the level of illumination in a predetermined zone.

16. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first detector means is a sensor which detects receipt of payment.

17. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said second detector means senses changing force caused by movement of a person within the cubicle.

18. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said second detector means comprises an infra-red motion detector.

19. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said second detector means comprises an ultrasonic motion detector.

20. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said second detector means detects changes in a radio frequency field due to movement of a person.

21. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said second detector means comprises means for detecting sound emitted by a person.

22. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said second detector means senses changes in a light beam caused by a moving person.

23. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said second detector means senses changes in an optical image caused by a moving person.

24. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said second detector means comprises a switch operated by a person.

25. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said alarm means comprises means for unlocking a door.

26. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said alarm means comprises means for opening a door.

27. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said alarm means comprises an acoustic siren.

28. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said alarm means comprises means for generating a spoken message.

29. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said alarm means comprises means for activating a visual indicator.

30. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said alarm means comprises means for displaying a visible message.

31. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said alarm means comprises means for activating a remote alarm.

32. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising warning means adapted to generate a warning signal a prescribed time before said alarm output is activated.

33. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising revenue collection means.

34. A safety alarm according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising revenue collection means and door locking means adapted to lock only after revenue collection.

35. A safety cubicle comprising a safety alarm according to any of claims 1 -34 and further comprising an occupant enclosure.

36. A door lock comprising latching means, timer means, alarm means and control means, said control means being adapted to activate said alarm means when said timer means indicates that said latching means has been in a closed state for a predetermined time period.

37. A door lock according to claim 36 wherein the time interval before alarm activation can be extended by an action of a person.

38. A door lock according to claim 37 wherein said action is movement.

39. A door lock according to claim 37 wherein said action is making a sound.

40. A door lock according to claims 36 and further adapted to generate a warning signal when said timer means indicates that since said latching means has been in a closed state for a second predetermined time period.

41. A safety alarm substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

42. A safety cubicle substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.