GB2593550A

GB2593550A - Means for reducing virus self infection

Info

Publication number: GB2593550A
Application number: GB2006662.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Granville Kelly Hugh-Peter
Original assignee: DIRECT THRUST DESIGNS Ltd
Current assignee: DIRECT THRUST DESIGNS Ltd
Priority date: 2020-03-25
Filing date: 2020-05-05
Publication date: 2021-09-29
Also published as: WO2021224621A1; CN115812158A; GB202004314D0; GB202006662D0

Abstract

Reducing the chance of viral infection of a user by deterring hand-to-face or hand-to-mouth contact comprises wearable warning device 27, 28 mounted on a user. The warning device emits a warning signal when it detects the proximity of a human body part to a head of the user. The warning signal may be visual or audible and emitted by buzzer/vibrator 32 or LED 33. The warning device may include a detector for detecting the proximity of an object to the head, mouth, or face of the user and emit the warning signal if the detected proximity is less than an adjustable threshold separation. The warning device may feature Doppler, infra-red, capacitive, inductive, magnetic, or Hall effect sensor 29. The detector may include magnetic antenna 25. The device may feature counter 36 for counting the number of warning signals emitted. The device may include a switch to allow a user to silence the warning signal for a predetermined amount of time.

Description

Means for reducing virus self infection The following invention relates to means for reducing the likelihood of a person catching a virus infection.

It is well known that infections are most commonly caught by persons through inadvertent ingestion or inhalation. This can be through the nose, mouth and even eyes. Certain strains of virus can be fatal to groups of the population. At the time of the present invention, such a pernicious virus -known as COVID-19, is prevalent world-wide and is accounting for thousands of mortalities.

It is also known that the average person touches his or her face at least two hundred times a day, and that this can often lead to infection by a virus. For example, an infection, having been picked up from a handrail or other such place, is easily transmitted simply by hand or finger to facial orifices once the hand is raised to contact the face for any purpose.

Knowing this, medical authorities therefore exalt populations to wash or sanitise their hands vigorously and frequently to remove any traces of virus lying thereon. However, this is a secondary operation. A primary operation is to help prevention of hand to face contact in the first place.

According to the invention, means are provided for warning a person of the proximity of that person's hands to the face of that person before contact takes place.

By this means, a person intending -without thinking-to scratch his or her face, or indulging in any other such contact, can be warned before the action takes place, and so avoid inadvertent infection.

Another form of transmission can be by the deposition of infected saliva by contact with another infected person, such as during kissing.

Means are also provided for warning a person of the proximity of other person(s) body or body parts to the face of the said first person.

According to a first aspect of the invention, detection means for providing a warning signal may be borne upon the body of the person to be protected.

The warning can be in the form of an audible signal, a visual signal, a vibration, a noticeable smell, a blue tooth connection to earphones worn by the person (or other wireless transmission means) or a combination of the foregoing, or any other means capable of alerting the person to their intended action and in sufficient time to avoid any hand to face contact.

According to a first feature of the invention, proximity detection means can be in the form of a detector worn or mounted upon or about the body or neck of the person to be protected, or within a hat or other fashion accessory worn by that person, such that an electronics signal provided thereby is effective to provide a warning signal.

As aforesaid the warning can be in the form of an audible signal, a visual signal, a vibration, a noticeable smell, a blue tooth connection to earphones worn by the person (or other wireless transmission means) or a combination of the foregoing, or any other means capable of alerting the person to their intended action and in sufficient time to avoid any hand to face contact. A preferred means of warning comprises a simple buzzer along with a flashing Light Emitting Diode.

Alternatively, or in combination with the proximity detector worn on or about the body, the proximity detection means can be worn upon suitable locations on the persons arms, such as his/her wrists or even -given adequate microminiaturisation-the fingers.

A variety of proximity detection means may be employed to provide warning signal(s), which are hereinafter described by way of example.

According to a second feature of the invention, the proximity detection means may be in the form of a Doppler detector. By sensing movement of a person's hand towards that person's face, an electronics signal is provided for sounding, eg, a buzzer. The detector means, if mounted suitably upon or about the body, may thus also provide a signal indicative of the advance and proximity of a further person.

According to a third feature of the invention, the proximity detection means may be in the form of electronics circuitry using changes in capacitance and/or inductance to indicate proximity of a hand of a person, or in the case of the capacitance version, another person's body or body part, to the said first person's face. This type of device is now well known, as is used in automatic hand dryers and water taps and the like. (The hand is advanced and at a predetermined point, the hand dryer/ tap is switched on.) Note, in the case of the inductive detector, a prerequisite will be for the person using the device to wear some form of ferromagnetic band or other adornment, in order to affect the inductance of the inductive proximity detector.

It is a however a limitation of these types of detection means that quite some power is consumed for their successful operation, as the fields to be emanated thereby have to be propagated some distance, for example several inches, and of course they must remain on at all times. Powerful and compact light weight dry cells capable of providing this power are commercially available, such as lithium ion batteries, but some expense is entailed in their replacement from time to time.

Means are preferred that minimise power consumption.

According to a fourth feature of the invention, active wireless transmission means are mounted upon or about the body of the person to be protected, with signal detection and alarm sounding means being mounted for example-upon the wrist(s) of that person. Alternatively, the transmission means are mounted upon the wrist(s) and the signal detection means on or about the body of the person.

Such an arrangement is considerably more economical in terms of power consumption as propagation of a wireless signal is less power-consumptive than the aforesaid forms of detection using capacitance or induction.

Ideally however power consumption should be kept to an absolute minimum. This is especially important in cases where a virus is so virulent that authorities restrict the movement of citizens from their homes, eg to shops, to purchase replacement batteries.

According to a fifth feature of the invention, rather than use active means to provide a detectable field, proximity detection is provided by the use of a permanent magnet as one part of the device and, as the other part, a sensitive Hall effect magnetic field detector. The permanent magnet may be housed for example within a watch like container mounted upon the wrist(s) -in the manner of a watch-and the Hall effect detector, upon or about the body of the person to be protected, along with appropriate electronics to sound eg a buzzer. Alternatively, the permanent magnet may be worn on or about the body, and the Hall effect detection means, along with buzzer, within the watch like container. The latter arrangement has the practical advantage of avoiding accidental demagnetisation of credit cards and other magnetic media handled by the person wearing the device.

By using a permanent static field, as provided by the permanent magnet, no electrical energy is expended in irradiating a field as is necessary in the case of the preceding realisations, and battery power is preserved. The quiescent power necessary to feed a Hall effect device component is minimal.

Although static magnetic fields do not in fact have any adverse effect upon body tissue or functioning, to alleviate any anxiety, the rear of the magnet, as faces the body or wrist, may be mounted upon a high permeability material such as soft iron or better kt metal effective to disperse the magnetic field.

Persons using the device according to the present invention may wish to self-train in reducing the number of times facial contact is attempted during waking hours. To this end, the device may be fitted with a visual counter, resettable by the person, eg daily, to indicate progress.

In the case of any of the foregoing realisations of the invention, the sensitivity of the detection means may be adjusted, for example by a simple potentiometer, to suit the person wearing the device. An on/off switch may also be provided.

Use of the device disclosed herein need not be confined solely to protection against a deadly virus. Many citizens have general habits entailing facial contact, such as dermatophagia, nose picking and other obsessive compulsive disorders, even smoking, which may benefit from use of the device. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) may thereby be feasible.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figs la and lb illustrate the general principle of operation of the present invention Figs 2a to 2d depict four means of hand to face proximity detection Fig 3 shows a preferred method of detection using one or more permanent magnets and a Hall effect transducer Fig 4 shows circuitry used in association with the detection means of Fig 3 Fig 5 shows methods of implementation of the arrangements of Fig 3 Fig 6 illustrates detector means and a wrist carried permanent magnet Fig 7 shows improved magnetic detection means according to the invention Fig 8 shows a magnetic field pattern upon antennae Fig 9 shows an enclosure, antennae and lanyard means Fig 10 shows in detail positioning of a Hall effect detector adjacent to antennae Fig 11 shows various options for improving the facilities provided by the detector Fig 12 shows magnetic strip means for emanating magnetic fields and Fig 13 shows one method of increasing the reach of magnetic fields emanating from a permanent magnet assembly.

Referring to Fig la, the body of a person using the device of the present invention is shown at 10 and the person's arm and hand is shown at rest at 11 and 12. Proximity detection means embodying an alarm 13 is shown at 14. Fig lb shows an arm and hand at a raised position 15 in front of the person's face and the alarm 13 consequently now sounding. As is self-evident, the method of operation is simply the raising of the person's hand towards his/her face thereby resulting in proximity to the proximity detection means and thereby sounding the said alarm.

For those young in age and wearing a detector of the invention, acceptance of the device may be facilitated by its providing a more "user-friendly" warning signal of the proximity of a hand of the user to his/her face. According to yet a further feature of the invention, a miniature loudspeaker is accommodated within a housing containing the device's electronic circuitry, and programming means are used to issue a vocal friendly warning such as "have you washed your hands".

There are many instances in which a hand is raised towards the face for good cause, for example when drinking a cup of coffee. This easily brings the hand into proximity with the face and thus within reach of the detection means. It can be annoying eg to activate a buzzer every time a sip is taken.

According to yet another feature of the invention, the electronic circuitry is fitted with switch means permitting the user of the device to de-activate its circuitry for a pre-stipulated period, for example ten minutes. A warning LED can be used to indicate the deactivated status. Upon cessation of the pre-stipulated period, an identifiable series of signals may be issued, indicating that the device is again set ready for detection. Thus the device includes a switch means permitting the user of the device to prevent emittance of the warning signal for a predetermined period of time. The device also includes a visual indicator to indicate to the user that the emittance of the warning signal is prevented during the predetermined time.

Four options for detecting the raising of a hand are now described with reference to Figs 2 a) to d).

In Fig 2a, a tuned circuit 16 is used in which changes in local area capacitance surrounding the detection means of Fig la, as caused by a hand or arm (as shown) entering the said local area, are detected by the circuitry 16 and used to sound a buzzer 17 and / or vibrator 18. A local battery 19 is used to supply power to the circuit, and an on/off switch 20 is incorporated. Adjustment of sensitivity can optionally be incorporated and controlled by an externally set potentiometer 21.

In Fig 2b, a similar tuned circuit is shown in which changes to the inductance of an inductor 22 are effected by the hand or arm entering the local area. However, in this case, a ferromagnetic arm band or other such adornment, must be worn, as shown at 23, in order to modulate the inductance of the inductor through inductive coupling.

In Fig 2c, the detector is simply in the form of a Doppler detector, 24. Any movement into the detection area in front of the detector causes the Doppler circuitry to respond, the signal available therefrom being used to sound a buzzer and/or vibrator (the circuitry in this case is omitted in this diagram for clarity, but follows the same principles as depicted in Figs 2a and 2b). In this particular case, not only can the detector respond to the raising of an arm, but also -on account of typically having a far reach -the approach of another person.

An infra red detector (not shown) can be combined with the Doppler detector, to ensure that inanimate objects are not registered by the apparatus.

Fig 2d shows the use of a radio wave transmitter, 24a, mounted upon the wrist of a person and a detector 24b mounted upon the body of the person. A signal is provided as the wrist approaches the detector.

Referring to Fig 3, an alternative arrangement is depicted removing the need for the electronic creation of an external field. (Although the arrangements of Fig 2 are effective, they can be power consuming and result in the need for frequent replacement of the batteries powering the apparatus.) In a first form of this alternative arrangement, a person using the device is furnished with one or more permanent magnets, as shown at 25. The magnet may be of the type known as rare earth, capable of emanating a detectable magnetic field at quite some distance, for example several inches. The magnet(s) may be hung from a lanyard, or fastened with a pin onto external clothing, or even contained within the brim of a suitable "base-ball" type hat, as shown at 26.

The wrists of the person are furnished with watch like containers, as shown at 27 and in more detail at 28. These contain circuitry embodying a Hall effect sensor 29, circuitry 30 responsive to the detection of a magnetic field, a battery 31 and a buzzer alarm and or vibrator 32. A flashing Light Emitting Diode (LED) 33 may also be added. An on/off switch 34 is fitted, and optionally a sensitivity detector 35, the purpose of which being to enable the wearer of the device to adjust the range at which the device responds.

Yet a further indicator may be fitted, being a counter 36 recording how many times the hand wearing the detector has been raised towards the person's face. This can be reset manually by a control 37 and thus provide for example daily training information as to how well the person wearing the device is improving in reducing the number of attempted facial contacts.

The circuitry associated with the Hall effect detector is now outlined with reference to Fig 4. Assuming a supply voltage of five volts, as shown, the typical rest or quiescent voltage output from the detector 38, in the absence of any magnetic field, lies half way at 2.5 volts. (This voltage is raised or lowered, dependent on the polarity of the magnetic field, ie North or South, presented to it.) The voltage is fed into a comparative operational amplifier 39. The comparison voltage at which the amplifier triggers, and thus the strength of the prevailing magnetic field indicating the distance from the permanent magnet borne by the person, is provided by the sensitivity adjusting potentiometer 39a. Note, the potentiometer may be of the logarithmic type, reflecting the exponential decay of magnetic fields with distance and thus providing better adjustment. The gain of the amplifier is set during manufacture. The output from the said opamp is used to drive via an electronics switch 40 the sounding buzzer 41 and vibrator and a flashing LED 42. The output can augment a counter 41a as aforementioned.

Although the useful life of dry cell batteries can be of the order of several weeks, nevertheless replacement batteries are required from time to time, and those living alone who have been quarantined by authorities may not wish or indeed be allowed to visit local shops to procure replacements.

According to a further feature of the invention, rechargeable batteries are used to power the aforesaid circuitry. These can be of the type which can be recharged by a convenient "mains supply" charger, or indeed by the more modern method of using a "USB" connection, ie a power supply which is commonly available from mains supplies or personal computers and the like.

A specific advantage arising from such an arrangement is that rechargeable small and compact lithium ion batteries may be used in place of conventional dry cell batteries, such as those known as type "AA". This can at least halve the weight of the receptacle containing the electronics.

In either case, ie either the supply of power from dry cell or rechargeable batteries, naturally a user of the apparatus should be made aware of the state of charge. According to yet a further feature of the invention, warning means are incorporated to provide a signal in the event the battery supply is becoming depleted. This may be for example in the form of a flashing LED, or a suitable audible beeping signal or the like.

A schematic diagram of the arrangements of Fig 3 is shown with reference to Fig 5. A person is depicted at 42 with two pendants, 43, one upon each lapel, and each containing a permanent magnet. (The use of two pendants secures a more even radial spread of magnetic field across the chest of the person 42. Each magnet radiates out the same polarity magnetic field.) Each wrist is equipped with the watch like containers 44 as aforementioned. Bringing either of the hands towards the magnetic field area provided by the permanent magnets sounds the corresponding alarm. A further facility (not shown) comprises wireless means for broadcasting a wireless signal, eg "blue tooth" for communicating with a headset worn by the person, or even for connection to a mobile telephone carried by the person which itself can issue eg a warning ring tone.

Naturally, an ideal solution is one in which a wide as possible band of magnetic field is provided. According to yet a further feature of the invention, a ferromagnetic strip wide enough to reach a good proportion across a user's chest, is used to carry a longitudinal magnet, or series of magnets, in the latter case substantially adjacent to one another, and all of the same outward facing polarity. By this means a wide magnetic field is promulgated for detection by the Hall effect sensors mounted upon the wrist. Thus the device further comprises an elongate ferromagnetic strip along which one or more permanent magnets are attached, preferably a plurality of magnets with the same outward facing polarity.

As an alternative to the foregoing, the arrangement (as already afore-described) can be reversed, in which Hall effect detectors are mounted upon the body, and the permanent magnet(s) worn upon the wrist(s). In this especial case, because the detectors are light weight and small, a multiplicity can be mounted upon a band stretching across the chest, thereby improving the directional detection of any hand brought towards the face. A further advantage arising from this is that use is made possible of ordinary ferrite magnets in place of rare earth magnets. The use of a number of detectors obviates the need for high strength magnets as at some position the weaker ferrite magnets are likely to pass within the detection vicinity of the Hall effects.

Clearly the area upon a person's wrist available for carrying eg a permanent magnet, is limited. It is also undesirable to have to wear any bulky item around the wrist.

According to yet a further feature of the invention, magnetic field focussing means are used to direct the wrist mounted magnet's magnetic fields more outwardly away from the surface of the magnets. Such a means can comprise, for example, having the permanent magnet assembled in two planar halves, with the halfs brought together in repulsion. By this means more field is found to emanate from the outwardly facing surfaces of the magnets.

Referring to Fig 6, the general means of detecting the presence of a magnetic field borne upon one body part when adjacent to a detector worn upon another body part is shown at 210. A wrist is shown at 211, and borne upon it is a permanent magnet 212. A magnetic field detector and alarm system enclosure is shown at 213, which includes a Hall effect sensor 214 for detecting magnetic fields 215 emanating from the permanent magnet 212 and circuitry (not shown) responsive to its output. The circuitry is used to sound a bleeper 216 for emitting an alarm signal as the magnetic field emanating from the magnet is detected.

The field of response from such an arrangement is however limited. An indication of the area of detection of the Hall effect detector is shown symbolically at 217. It is self evident that the magnetic fields of 215 must fall within this area 217 to be detected. If a hand to face movement is made outside this area, it would not be registered.

It is self-apparent that the path taken by a hand when approaching the face is highly varied, and may not necessarily pass within the field of detection of the Hall effect sensor. The receiving area of a typical Hall effect integrated circuit is tiny, just one or two square millimeters, and even though its magnetic field detection space envelope fans out with distance, it certainly cannot cover a wide area. It is thus possible to miss the field from the wrist mounted magnet as the hand carrying it is raised towards the face. One method to cope with this, as disclosed above, is to utilize a string of such detectors across the chest. But this is both electronically complex and drains considerable power from the batteries used to power the device. Means are preferred to achieve a reliable detection magnetically.

According to yet another embodiment, means for detecting a magnetic field over an extended area comprises the use of one or more magnetic antennae disposed over all or a substantial portion of the area in which magnetism is to be detected, the antennae garnering in onto themselves at least a portion of the magnetic field present, and one or more magnetic field sensors arranged in proximity to the one or more antennae for responding to the field garnered upon them.

According to one aspect of the invention, the magnetic antennae and the magnetic field sensor are used in combination to detect the presence of a first human body part in proximity to a second human body part.

According to a further aspect, the first human body part is a hand, or both hands, and the second human body part is the face.

According to yet a further aspect, the first human body part may be a body of one or more second person(s).

In a feature of the invention, the magnetic field sensor may be a Hall effect integrated circuit (ic).

Any antenna may be used for the purpose of the present invention. In an embodiment the magnetic antenna is at least in part, ferromagnetic in order to garner in upon it any surrounding magnetic fields. For highly sensitive detection, it is desirable however for such a member to have zero, or near zero remanence (e.g. a remanence of less than 1 to 2 Gauss). The presence of residual magnetism after the physical departure of a magnetic field is undesirable to the extent it may compromise the sensitivity of the electronics used to detect the output of the Hall effect sensor.

According to a further feature of the invention, the antennae are fabricated from the especial type of magnetic material -used more commonly for magnetic shielding-known as mu-metal. This exhibits virtually zero remanence as well as being having an exceptionally high magnetic permeability, and is therefore ideal at drawing in surrounding magnetism upon itself. A mu-metal usually has a relative permeability in the range of 80000-100000H/m and so a relative permeability of above 80000 H/m is desirable. The mu-metal may be of the type specified in ASTM A753-08(2013) Alloy 4.

A practical realization of the present invention may be the use of an enclosure resting upon the upper portion of the chest which is held in place and supported by a lanyard. The magnetic antennae may be in the form of one or two wings, emanating from either side of the enclosure and extending across and optionally curved to fit the chest. Typical and effective dimensions for each wing (each magnetic antenna) (for an adult person) are length at least 100mm, for example 160mm. A typical width of each wing is 15mm and thickness 1mm.

In an alternative arrangement, the antennae may (optionally additionally) be wound as a spiral formed from thin film. Preferably enclosed within a tube. The tube may itself then form the lanyard both supporting the aforesaid enclosure as well as housing the antennae. Experimental evidence shows that effective detection of antennae magnetic fields by the Hall effect sensor is best achieved by placing the sensor at one longitudinal end of the magnetic antenna, e.g. at the longitudinal end of each wing.

A means of realising this requirement is shown with reference to Fig 7. In this, two magnetic antennae 218 and 219 are mounted on either side of the enclosure 213. Their width and field of (magnetic) view vastly expands the possible area of magnetic field detection. Any field 215 emanating from the magnet 212, is garnered by and upon them. The internal ends of the antennae are brought up to the Hall effect sensor 214 for detection of the fields that have alighted upon the antennae.

This effect is shown more clearly with reference to Fig 8. In this case, fields 220 denoted by the lower case letter n are shown resident upon the antennae 218 and 219.

It is a useful property of any such antennae (or indeed strip of ferromagnetic material) that upon the presence of such magnetic fields, however small, it becomes itself a bar magnet. That is to say, magnetic poles are formed at each end. In this case, as shown by the upper case letter N at 221.

It is this agglomeration of magnetism that is then detected by the Hall effect sensor placed at the end of the strip.

Referring to Fig 9, two possible arrangements of antennae and lanyards are shown at 222 and 223. The enclosure holding the Hall effect sensor and other components is shown at 213. In the arrangement 222, the antennae are shown reaching outwardly and terminate in lanyard portions 222a. In arrangement 223, the antennae are formed into lanyards 223a reaching directly around the neck. Selection of either method can be dependent upon the size/age of the person wearing the apparatus.

An aspect which improves functioning of the detector is that the ends of the antennae meet centrally and face on to the flat opposite planar surfaces of the Hall effect sensor. That is, ends of the antennae are positioned as close as possible and as centrally as possible and with surfaces as close as parallel as possible to a planar surface of a Hall element of the Hall effect sensor. This is shown at Fig 10. Ideally the distance "d" is zero (i.e. contact), but in practice up to one millimetre is found to suffice. If for mechanical reasons the angle 0 subtended between the antennae is less than 1802, then the ends of the antennae 224 and 225 are optimally cut such as to still meet flat on onto the Hall effect sensor as shown.

Referring to Fig 11, to avoid the use of dry cell batteries requiring replacement from time to time, the enclosure 213 is instead equipped with rechargeable batteries as shown at 226. These may be charged by conventional mains powered chargers, or over a USB connector as shown at 227. A warning LED 228 may be provided for indicating battery condition, or any other means capable of alerting the user.

For younger users, and to render the apparatus more acceptable and "user friendly", a small loudspeaker 229 may be incorporated within the enclosure. Rather than sounding eg a buzzer as a warning, internal programming means can be used to sound a message, such as "Hands Down" or "Have you washed your hands" and so forth.

To avoid the device activating during intended activities, such as drinking a hot cup of coffee and requiring multiple sips, a timer switch facility 230 is provided. Upon pressing this button, the device is silenced for a pre-stipulated period, for example five minutes. Upon the ending of this period, a specific bleep can be emitted to signify that the device is once again live.

For realisations of the invention in which permanent magnets are borne upon the body and the detection means is wrist mounted, a magnetic strip may be utilised as shown in Fig 12. Here, a ferromagnetic strip 231 is used to hold magnets 232 in a line (and all having the same outwardly facing polarity). Or a single long magnet may be used, but magnetised face to face, rather than end to end.

A means of focussing/ increasing a magnetic field, for example in the case of a wrist borne magnet, is illustrated with reference to Fig 13 and a) and b).

Fig 13a shows a simple cylindrical permanent magnets with field lines 233 linking the faces. Fig 13b shows a magnet of the same dimensions but in two halves. In this case the halves are affixed to one another in repulsion. The field lines 234 no longer wish to link, but emanate more widely as shown. The effective reach of the lines of force emanating from the magnet is thereby extended.

Below are some aspects of the invention: 1) Means for reducing the likelihood of a person catching a virus infection comprising the provision of a warning signal indicating the proximity of that person's hands to the face of that person.

2) Means for reducing the likelihood or a person catching a virus infection comprising the provision of a warning signal indicating the proximity of a further person or persons to the face of the aforesaid first person.

3) Means according to aspect 1 and/or 2 positioned in such manner as to detect specifically the position of a person's hand(s) relative to the face of the person.

4) Means according to any of the preceding aspects in which a device for detecting the position of a person's hand relative to that person's face is borne upon or about the person.

5) Means according to any of the preceding aspects in which the device of aspect 4 provides a warning signal as to the proximity of a person's hand relative to his/her face.

6) Means according to aspect 5 in which the said warning signal is in the form of an audible signal, a visual signal, a vibration, a noticeable smell, a blue tooth connection to earphones worn by the person (or other wireless transmission means) or a combination of the foregoing, or any other means capable of alerting the person to their intended action and in sufficient time to avoid any hand to face contact.

7) Means according to aspect 4 in which the detector used to indicate the proximity of a person's hands to that person's face can be the form of a detector worn or mounted upon or about the body or neck of the person to be protected, or within a hat or other fashion accessory worn by that person, or upon the person's clothing such that an electronics signal provided thereby is effective to provide a warning signal.

The means may comprise a plurality of the detectors, for example spread over the body or on each hand.

8) Means according to aspect 4 in which the detector is worn instead on suitable locations on a person's arms, such as his/her wrists and/or the fingers.

9) Means according to aspects 4) to 8) in which the detector for indicating proximity is in the form of a Doppler detector.

10) Means according to aspect 9) in which an infra red sensor is used in conjunction with the Doppler detector so ensuring that inanimate objects are not detected.

11) Means according to aspects 4) to 8) in which the detector for indicating proximity makes use of capacitive or inductive changes according to the position of a person's hands relative to the detector.

12) Means according to aspect 11) in which a ferromagnetic object is worn upon the hand or wrist of the person for modulating the inductive coupling necessary for operation.

13) Means according to aspects 4) to 8) in which the detection of the proximity of a person's hand(s) to the person's face is by the use of a wireless transmitter mounted on either one of the body of wrist(s) of that person, and a wireless receiver mounted accordingly upon the wrist(s) or body.

14) Means according to aspects 4) to 8) in which the detector is a Hall effect sensor mounted either on the body or the wrist of a person and the means for providing a magnetic field for detection by the sensor is in the form of one or more permanent magnets mounted accordingly upon the wrist or body of the person.

15) Means according to any of aspects 4) to 14) in which the sensitivity of the detector device may be manually adjusted by the person using it.

16) Means according to any of aspects 4) to 14) in which a resettable electronics counter is provided for keeping a tally as to the number of attempted facial contacts made in any one given period.

Numerous variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

Claims 1. A warning device configured to emit a warning signal indicative of proximity of a human body part to a head of a user.
2. The warning device of claim 1, wherein the human body part is a face or hand.
3. The warning device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the warning device is configured to emit a warning signal indicative of proximity of the human body part to a face of the user.
4. The warning device of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the human body part is a hand of the user.
5. The warning device of any of the preceding claims, adapted to be positioned so as to detect the position of the human body part relative to the face of the user.
6. The warning device of any of the preceding claims, adapted to be borne about the user.
7. The warning device of any of the preceding claims, in which the said warning signal is in the form of an audible signal, a visual signal, a vibration, a noticeable smell, a wireless transmission signal to earphones worn by the user or a combination of the foregoing, or any other means, preferably capable of alerting the person in sufficient time to avoid any body part to head contact.
8. The warning device of any of the preceding claims, comprising a detector for detecting the proximity of an object to the head of the user and assume the object is the human body part and so cause the device to emit the warning signal if the detected proximity of the object is less than a predetermined minimum.
9. The warning device of any of claim 8, wherein the detector is adapted to be worn or mounted upon or about the body or neck of the user, or within a hat or other fashion accessory worn by the user, or upon the user's clothing such that an electronics signal provided thereby is effective to provide a warning signal.
10. The warning device of claims, wherein the detector is adapted to be worn on the user's arms, preferably on the user's wrists, hands or finger.
11. The warning device of claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the detector comprises a Doppler detector.
12. The warning device of claim 8, 9, 10 or 11, further comprising an infra-red sensor and the detector is configured only to assume that the object whose proximity is detected as being less than the predetermined minimum if the infra-red sensor detects an infra-red signal within a predetermined range which is indicative of the object being a human body part.
13. The warning device of any of claims 8-12, wherein the detector comprises a capacitive or inductive sensor.
14. The warning device of claim 13, further comprising a ferromagnetic member adapted to be worn, preferably wherein the ferromagnetic member is adapted to be worn on the user's arm, preferably the user's wrist, hand or finger.
15. The warning device of any of claims 8-14, wherein the detector is a detector of a wireless electromagnetic wave and the warning device further comprises a electromagnetic wave transmitter, the one of the detector and transmitter adapted to be worn proximate the user's head and the other of the detector and transmitter adapted to be worn on the user's arm.
16. The warning device of any of claims 8-15, wherein the detector comprises a Hall effect sensor.
17. The warning device of claim 16, further comprising a magnetic antenna for garnering a magnetic field surrounding the magnetic antenna.
18. The warning device of claim 17, wherein the Hall effect sensor is arranged at an end of the magnetic antenna to detect magnetic field garnered by the magnetic antenna.
19. The warning device of claim 18, wherein the Hall effect sensor is within 1mm of a longitudinal end of the magnetic antenna and/or wherein a longitudinal end of the magnetic antenna is positioned adjacent a planar surface of a Hall element of the Hall sensor.
20. The warning device of any of claims 17 to 19, wherein the magnetic antenna comprises a ferromagnetic material.
21. The warning device of any of claims 17 to 20, wherein the magnetic antenna comprises a material with a remanence of less than 2 Gauss and/or a magnetic permeability of 80000H/m or higher.
22. The warning device of any of claims 17-21, wherein the magnetic antenna is comprised of a mu-metal.
23. The warning device of any of claims 17-22, wherein the magnetic antenna is elongate with an elongate length of at least 100mm.
24. The warning device of any of claims 17-23, wherein the magnetic antenna comprises thin film wound in a spiral.
25. The warning device of any of claims 16 to 24, further comprising a means for providing a magnetic field for detection by the Hall effect sensor, the means for providing a magnetic field preferably being in the form of one or more permanent magnets, the means for providing a magnetic field preferably being adapted to be mounted on the arm of the user.
26. The warning device of any of claims 16 to 24, further comprising a means for providing a magnetic field for detection by the Hall effect sensor, the means for providing a magnetic field preferably being in the form of one or more permanent magnets, the means for providing a magnetic field preferably being adapted to be mounted on the body of the user.
27. The warning device of claim 26, further comprising an elongate ferromagnetic strip along which a plurality of said permanent magnets are attached, preferably with the same outward facing polarity.
28. The warning device of any of claims 26 and 27, wherein each permanent magnet is comprised of two planar halves, the planar halves being held together in repulsion.
29. The warning device of any claims 8-28, wherein the predetermined minimum is adjustable by the user.
30. The warning device of any of the preceding claims, further comprising a counter for counting the number of warning signals emitted by the warning device, preferably wherein the counter is user resettable.
31. The warning device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the warning signal is an audible signal, preferably a human voice.
32. The warning device of any of the preceding claims, further comprising a switch means permitting the user of the device to prevent emittance of the warning signal for a predetermined period of time.
33. The warning device of claim 32, further comprising a visual indicator to indicate to the user that the emittance of the warning signal is prevented during the predetermined time.
34. A method of reducing the chance of virus infection of a user comprising: mounting a warning device of any of the preceding claims on the user.
35. A method of reducing the chance of virus infection of a user, the method comprising: mounting a warning device on a user, the warning device adapted to emits a warning signal when it detects the proximity of a human body part to a head of the user.
36. The method of claim 34, wherein the warning device is a warning device according to any of claims 1-33.