GB2130775A

GB2130775A - Anti-dozing alarm

Info

Publication number: GB2130775A
Application number: GB08232640A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chan Way
Original assignee: KING POWER TRADING Co LIM
Current assignee: KING POWER TRADING Co LIM
Priority date: 1982-11-16
Filing date: 1982-11-16
Publication date: 1984-06-06

Abstract

Attitude sensitive warning device including a housing adapted for location on a user's ear, a buzzer or the like in the housing to emit a sound close to the user's ear, and an adjustable attitude sensing member movable under gravity to make or break electrical contact, whereby to activate the buzzer when the user's head falls forward e.g. when he starts to doze.

Description

SPECIFICATION Attitude sensitive warning apparatus and antidozing device This invention relates to attitude sensitive warning apparatus, and more especially but not exclusively to devices to prevent the user from falling asleep or dozing, or to wake the user if he does doze. Although one primary use of the device is to prevent drivers from dozing at the wheel, with danger to themselves and others, the device is of general application.

The object of the invention is one aspect is to provide a'simple form of attitude sensitive warning apparatus. A particular application of the apparatus, depends on the appreciation that when a person engaged on some activity starts to doze his head tends to fall forward.

The invention in one aspect provides a device comprising a housing adapted for location on a user's ear, a buzzer or the like in the housing to emit sound close to the user's ear, and means sensitive to attitude to activate the buzzer when the user's head falls forward.

Thus the user "wears" the device and receives a warning from the buzzer when his bodily attitude changes, that is, his head drops, at the onset of sleep.

Preferably the device is self-contained, the housing containing a battery to power the buzzer.

The attitude sensitive means may be adjusted.

In another aspect the invention comprises an attitude sensitive warning apparatus, comprising a housing, a buzzer of the like in the housing to emit sound means sensitive to attitude to activate the buzzer, the attitude sensing means comprising a container mounted within the housing for adjustment of its attitude relative thereto by means external to the housing, a sensing member movable by gravity within the container between a non-contact position and a contact position in which it completes an electric circuit to activate the buzzer, the sensing member being a conducting rod movable over one contact plate whereby in its contact position to contact another contact plate.

One preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are two side views of the antidozing device, cut away to show different interior parts; Figures 3, 4 and 5 are respectively a side view, top view, and transverse sectional view of the electrical contact-mkaking parts of attitude sensitive means, with surrounding housing structure shown in chain lines; and Figure 6 shows a gear rack and housing closure in plan.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises a main housing 1 formed in two halves 2, 3 dividing on a vertical central plane and moulded of plastics material. The housing 1 is in the form of a bird with a head 4 and return-bent tail 5. The housing 1 contains a battery in the form of a button cell 7, and attitude sensitive switch 8 (to be described) and a buzzer 9 arranged in the head of the bird, with an adjacent part of the housing formed with opening 10 to let the sound out. The tail 5 of the housing 1 is moulded as one piece integral with the housing "half" 2. A ring 11 formed integrally with the housing 1 enabies connection to a security chain or cord.

The attitude sensitive switch 8 illustrated principally in Figures 3 to 6 comprises a generally rectangular open container or box 12 on its side: the box is shown in chain dots in Figures 3 to 5.

The open side is closed by a plate 1 3 (Figure 6) moulded integrally with a gear rack 14. Box 12, and plate and rack 13, 14 are moulded of plastics material. A rod 1 6 of conducting material is supported within the box 12 for longitudinal movement between a non-contact position (left in Figure 3) and a contact position (right in Figure 3) where one end 1 7 of the rod, which is rounded, contacts a dished conducting plate 1 8 mounted at the corresponding end of the box. A conducting support plate 20 is bent to trough-like form and located within and at the bottom 1 2 of the box: the rod 1 6 slides on the plate 20 and maintains electrical contact with it.The rod 1 6 thus completes a circuit between plates 1 8 and 20 when the box is tilted sufficiently for gravity to move the rod 1 6 from its non-contact to its contact poSition. The rod 1 6 is, in normal use, just clear of the side 22 of the box 12, the top 23 and (as will be seen) the plate 1 3.

Plate 1 8 is generally L-shaped with one limb 24 extending through a slot 25 in the top 23 of the box 12, across end 26 and into a slot 27 at the bottom of the box. The other limb 28 of plate 18 overlies top 23 of the box 1 2 on the outside.

Plate 20 has its central part 30 bent to trough form to receive the rod 16, with a support portion 31 against one side of the box 12. The other side portion 32 of the plate 20 extends to the outside of the box and is formed to overlie the bottom 21 on the outside. Plates 18 and 20 are thus firmly mounted in position without the need for securing means.

Lugs 34, 35 are formed integrally with the box 12 on top and bottom 23, 21 to hold connecting wires (not shown) in contact with the plates 18, 20. The lugs 34, 35 are L-shaped and have sufficient spring to wedge the wires.

The box 1 2 carries on its side 22 a stub shaft 38 which enters a hole (not shown) formed on the inside of the housing 1. Three integral posts 39 on the box provide for its connection to the plate 13, which has corresponding holes 41 to receive them. A recess 42 in the plate, aligned with the stub shaft 39 receives a fixed projection (not shown) formed in the housing. The box 12 and plate 1 3 are thus mounted pivotally on the axis of the stub shaft 38; the rack 14 is actuate, with its arc centred on this axis. A pinion 44 engages the rack 14 and is mounted in the housing for rotation manually by meaning of a knob 45 at the exterior of the housing.Ridges 46 formed in each half of the housing 1 engage opposite sides of the assembly of box 12 and plate 13, and provide sufficient friction to hold it in position until adjusted by the knob 45.

In use of the device, the tail 5 is mounted over the lobe of a user's ear as with certain types of deaf aid, and the knob is adjusted so that in the normal attitude of the user's head, for whatever task he is performing, the rod 1 6 is in its noncontact position and does not bridge the contact plates 1 8, 20. The buzzer 9 is silent. If the user becomes drowsy and his head falls forward, the rod 16 moves to the contact position, when the rod touches the plate 1 8 and completes an electric circuit through the battery 7 and buzzer 9.

The buzzer 9 sounds off and wakes the user, who lifts his head whereupon the rod 1 6 slides back to the non-contact position and breaks the circuit; the buzzer then stops. There is sufficient friction between the rod 1 6 and its support plate 20 to ensure that vibration and small movement of the head do not set off the buzzer. The head itself, and the user's body, will tend to damp vibration. If the user has some special reason -- apart from the onset of sleep - to lower his head he will be aware that the buzzer will sound whiie he does so.

The user in adjusting the device for use can test it in this way.

While one principal use of the device will be to prevent vehicle drivers from dozing, the device could be used by those engaged on a variety of other tasks, such as machine minding, watchman's duty and so forth.

The bird shape of the device is decorative, and other shapes could be devised serving the same purpose and not resembling a bird. The shape illustrated has the advantage of having a thin curved portion to go round the ear, the weight hanging on the ear and the buzzer being located on the right place to direct sound to the user's ear.

The buzzer may be a simple buzzer on any suitable electrical device for making a sound.

The attitude sensitive switch is capable of adaptation to other forms of device where a warning is required on change of attitude.

Claims

1. A device to prevent the user falling asleep or dozing, comprising a housing for location on a user's ear, a buzzer or the like in the housing to emit sound close to the user's ear, and means sensitive to attitude to activate the buzzer when the user's head falls forward.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, where in the housing contains a battery rendering the device self-contained.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the attitude sensing means is adjustable.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the attitude sensing means comprises a container mounted within the housing for adjustment of its attitude relative thereto by means external to the housing, a sensing member movable by gravity within the container between a non-contact position and a contact position in which it completes an electric circuit to activate the buzzer.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the sensing member is a conducting rod movable over one contact plate whereby in its active position to contact another contact plate.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the container is pivotally mounted and rotatable by means of an arcuate rack attached to the container and a pinion manually movable by an external knob.

7. Attitude sensitive warning apparatus, comprising a housing, a buzzer or the like in the housing to emit sound and means sensitive to attitude to activate the buzzer, the attitude sensing means comprising a container mounted within the housing for adjustment of its attitude relative thereto by means external to the housing, a sensing member movable by gravity within the container between a non-contact position and a contact position in which it completes an electric circuit to activate the buzzer, the sensing member being a conducting rod movable over one contact plate whereby in its contact position to contact another contact plate.

8. A method of sounding a warning or alarm at a preset bodily attitude by means of a combination of two component parts: one in which a conductor rod mounted within a container completes an electrical circuit to activate the buzzer when moved by gravity to a contact position; and another, in which the setting of attitude is made possible by rotating the above mentioned container by use of a rack and pinion combination as described in Claim 6, at a position as required by the user.

9. The anti-dozing device herein described with references to the drawings.