Systems and methods for providing a portable alarm device

Abstract

This specification discloses a system and method for providing a portable alarm device. The system may include a key member including a connector extending from a first side, and a base member. The key member is shaped to have a first recess and a second recess on opposite sides of each other. The base member has a rear portion shaped to have a first ledge extending from the inside and a second ledge extending from the inside and located on the side opposite to the first ledge, and a front portion joined to the rear portion so that the first ledge is positioned inside the first recess and the second ledge is positioned inside the second recess, encapsulating a part of the key member, and the key member is prevented from being completely removed from the base member by the first ledge positioned inside the first recess and the second ledge positioned inside the second recess, and includes a transceiver and an alarm member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to systems and methods configured to provide a portable warning device.

Background Art

[0002] In non-safe situations, people often carry personal protective equipment (e.g., mace, tear spray, pocket knife). In such non-safe situations, people may wish to activate an audible alarm and / or a visual alarm as a deterrent against threats and / or to attract the attention of people present nearby. Alternatively, people may wish to inform others of their dangerous situation without being conspicuous and / or may wish to receive communication for verifying or not verifying their safety.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a portable warning device. The system may be in the form of a keychain holder or other portable device, including two components, a key member and a base member, which may be partially detached and / or may cause a communication alarm. When the two components are partially disengaged (i.e., intentionally by the user), an audible alarm may be activated. Conversely, the audible alarm may be stopped when the two components are engaged. Additionally, when a button on the base member is selected, a communication alarm may be sent to provide a communication alarm to the user of the portable warning device and / or to a communication destination specified by the user. Thus, the structural members consisting of the key member and / or the base member can be removed to prevent loss or damage. Further, the user of the portable warning device may be made communicable to other people (e.g., friends, emergency services) to ensure their own safety.

[0004] The key member may include a connector and / or other members. The connector may extend from the center of the first side surface of the key member. The connector may be bare metal or may be of other materials. The second side surface of the key member may be shaped to have a first recess within the first portion of the key member. The third side surface of the key member may be shaped to have a second recess within the first portion. The first recess may be located on the side opposite to the second recess.

[0005] The base member may include a rear portion, a front portion, a transceiver, an alarm member, and / or other members. The rear portion may be shaped to have a first ledge and a second ledge extending from the inner surface in the vicinity of the fourth side surface of the base member. The second ledge may be located on the side opposite to the first ledge.

[0006] The front portion may be joined to the rear portion to enclose the first portion of the key member. Thus, the first ledge may be positioned inside the first recess, and the second ledge may be positioned relative to the second recess. Thereby, although the key member may be allowed to move outward from the base member, the first ledge positioned inside the first recess and the second ledge positioned inside the second recess prevent the key member from being completely removed from the base member.

[0007] The transceiver may be connected to the alarm member. This connection may enable the alarm member to be managed by a mobile application by wirelessly linking the alarm member to a mobile smart device related to the user of the portable alarm device.

[0008] The warning member may include an audible alarm and a button connected to the transceiver. Different communication warnings may be caused by the user defining different selection combinations of the buttons via a mobile application. The connector may be engaged with the warning member, whereby the audible alarm is activated in response to the connector being disengaged from the warning member, and the audible alarm is stopped in response to the connector being engaged with the warning member.

[0009] These and other features, characteristics, and properties of the present technology, as well as the operating methods and functions of the related members of the structure, and the methods related to the combination of the members, and further, the economic efficiency of the manufacturing, will become clearer by considering the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, where all of the accompanying drawings, the following description, and the appended claims form a part of this specification, and like reference numerals in the various drawings indicate corresponding components. However, it should be clearly understood that the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to define the limits of the present invention. As used in this specification and the claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 5

[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a portable alarm device 100 configured to provide a portable alarm device according to one or more implementations. In some implementations, the portable alarm device 100 may be composed of one or more types of plastic, silicon, metal, and / or other materials. The portable alarm device 100 may include a key member 102, a base member 118, and / or other members. The key member 102 may include an annular opening 146. In some implementations, the opening 146 may be an opening shaped as a square or other shapes. The opening 146 may enable a user's finger of the portable alarm device 100 to engage with the key member 102. In some implementations, a keychain ring (not shown) may be attached to the portable alarm device 100 through the opening 146, facilitating the attachment of the portable alarm device 100 to one or more keys, a strap, and / or other articles.

[0012] The base member 118 may include a rear portion 120, a front portion 130, a transceiver 132 (see FIG. 4A), an alarm member 134, a removable battery door 156 (see FIG. 2), a power switch 154, and / or other members. The portable alarm device 100 and its functions described herein may be battery-driven. The removable battery door 156 may enable a user to replace one or more batteries that supply power to the portable alarm device 100. In some implementations, one or more batteries may be rechargeable via a port (not shown) on the base member 118.

[0013] The alarm component 134 may include an audible alarm 136, a button 138 connected to the transceiver 132, a light (not shown), and / or other alarm components. In some implementations, the alarm component 134 may deter a threat and / or draw attention to the portable alarm device 100. In some implementations, the light may be an LED light and / or another bright light. The audible alarm 136 may have unpleasant, high volume, high pitch, repetitiveness, and / or other characteristics. In some implementations, the audible alarm 136 may be louder than about 120 decibels, 130 decibels, 140 decibels, and / or may be less than about 120 decibels, 130 decibels, 140 decibels, and / or may be within a range having any volume within the former volume list as the upper limit and any volume within the latter volume list as the lower limit.

[0014] The use of the term "about" applies to all numerical values, whether or not explicitly indicated. This term generally refers to a range of numerical values that a person of ordinary skill in the art would consider to be a reasonable deviation from the recited numerical value (i.e., having an equivalent function or result). For example, this term can be interpreted to include a deviation of ±2 decibels from a given numerical value, provided that such a deviation does not change the final function or result of the numerical value. Thus, the value of about 130 decibels can be interpreted as ranging from 128 decibels to 132 decibels. Further, a range may be interpreted to include the starting and ending numerical values of the range. For example, the range of 120 decibels to 140 decibels (i.e., the range from 120 decibels to 140 decibels) includes 120 decibels, includes 140 decibels, and further includes decibel values between 120 decibels and 140 decibels, unless otherwise explicitly stated herein.

[0015] Figure 3 shows the key member 102. The key member 102 may include the connector 104 and / or other members. The connector 104 may extend from the center of the first side surface 106 of the key member 102. The connector 104 may be bare metal and / or other materials. The second side surface 108 of the key member 102 may be shaped to have a first recess 110 within the first portion 112 of the key member 102. The third side surface 114 of the key member 102 may be shaped to have a second recess 116 within the first portion 112. The first recess 110 may face the opposite side of the second recess 116. The first recess 110 and the second recess 116 may be rectangular recesses, rounded recesses, and / or recesses of other shapes. In some implementations, the first portion 112 of the key member 102 may include a part of the opening 146. That is, some of the opening 146 is considered to be located within the first portion 112.

[0016] In some implementations, the length of the connector 104 may be about 10 millimeters, 11 millimeters, 11.5 millimeters, and / or less than about 10 millimeters, less than 11 millimeters, less than 11.5 millimeters, and / or within a range that has the lengths in the former length list as the upper limit and any length in the latter length list as the lower limit. In some implementations, the connector 104 may be cylindrical, square, triangular, and / or of other shapes in terms of its length. The connector 104 may include an end portion 144 located farthest from the key member 102, and in particular, may include the first side surface 106 from which the connector 104 extends. The end portion 144 may include a tapered section 140 and a rim 142. The rim 142 may be attached to the tapered section 140 such that the rim 142 is located farthest from the first side surface 106.

[0017] FIG. 4A illustrates the rear portion 120 of the base member 118 described in FIG. 1. FIG. 4B illustrates a part of the rear portion 120 and the key member 102. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the rear portion 120 may have a shape having a first ledge 122 and a second ledge 124, and these ledges 122, 124 extend from the inner surface 126 in the vicinity of the fourth side surface 128 of the rear portion 120, and thus in the vicinity of the base member 118. The second ledge 124 may be located on the side opposite to the first ledge 122. Referring to FIG. 4B, the first ledge 122 is positioned inside the first recess 110, and the second ledge 124 is positioned inside the second recess 116. In some implementations, the first ledge 122 may be flush with the first recess 110, and the second ledge 124 may be flush with the second recess 116. In some implementations, the first ledge 122 and the second ledge 124 may be rounded ledges, square ledges, triangular ledges, and / or other shaped ledges so as to prevent the key member 102 from being completely removed from the base member 118 based on the shapes of the corresponding first recess 110 and second recess 116 of the key member 102.

[0018] The front portion 130 (see FIG. 1) may enclose the first portion 112 (see FIG. 3) of the key member 102 by being joined to the rear portion 120 as shown in FIGS. 1-2. Thus, the first portion 112 may be located between and enclosed by the rear portion 120 and the front portion 130. Although the key member 102 may be allowed to move outwardly in a direction away from the base member 118, the key member 102 is prevented from being completely removed from the base member 118 based on the fact that the first ledge 122 is located inside the first recess 110 and the second ledge 124 is located inside the second recess 116. The key member 102 being completely removed from the base member 118 may refer to the key member 102 being physically separated from the base member 118.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 4A, the connector 104 may engage with the warning member 134 such that the audible alarm 136 is activated in response to the connector 104 being disengaged from the warning member 134, and the audible alarm 136 is stopped in response to the connector 104 being engaged with the warning member 134. In some implementations, the connector 104 may engage, in particular, with a first warning member (not shown) included within the warning member 134.

[0020] The stopped alarm may refer to the absence of the audible alarm 136, the light, the communication alarm, and / or other alarms such that the portable warning device 100 is in the standby mode. The audible alarm 136 may be activated in response to the connector 104 being disengaged from the warning member 134 (e.g., by the user). Conversely, the audible alarm 136, the light, the communication alarm, and / or other alarms may be stopped in response to the connector 104 being engaged with the warning member 134. The connector 104 may be disengaged from the warning member 134 when the user pulls the key member 102 and the base member 118 in opposite directions, or when the user pulls the key member 102 outward from the base member 118. When pulled or driven outward in such a manner, based on the first ledge 122 being positioned inside the first recess 110, and further based on the second ledge 124 being positioned inside the second recess 116, and still further based on the first ledge 122 and the second ledge 124 colliding with the corresponding first recess 110 and second recess 116 respectively, the key member 102 and the base member 118 are not completely removed from each other (see FIGS. 4A - 4B). The connector 104 may engage with the warning member 134 by fixing the key member 102 to the base member 118 when the user pushes the key member 102 and the base member 118 towards each other. In some implementations, a clicking sound may be generated when the connector 104 engages with the warning member 134.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, the power switch 154 may be connected to the audible alarm 136 described in FIGS. 1 and 4A. As described herein, the power switch 154 may enable the function of the audible alarm 136 when the connector 104 disengages from the alarm member 134 and when it engages. That is, when the power switch 154 is in the on position, the audible alarm 136 may be enabled when the connector 104 disengages from the alarm member 134. Conversely, when the power switch 154 is in the off position, the audible alarm 136 may not be enabled even when the connector 104 disengages from the alarm member 134. In some implementations, when the audible alarm 136 operates in response to disengagement, the audible alarm 136 may be immediately stopped by switching the power switch 154 from the on position to the off position.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 4A, the transceiver 132 may be connected to the alarm member 134. This connection may wirelessly link the alarm member 134 to a mobile smart device 150 associated with a user of the portable alarm device 100. This wireless link may enable the alarm member 134 to be managed by a mobile application 152. In some implementations, the alarm member 134 may individually generate different communication alarms on behalf of and / or for the user. Different communication alarms may be generated by different combinations of selections of the button 138 and / or by disengaging the key member 102 from the base member 118 (see FIG. 1) as defined by the user via the mobile application 152.

[0023] Different communication alerts may include initiating a pre-recorded call to the mobile smart device 150, communicating (e.g., text or auto-call) with another mobile smart device associated with a person (a person defined by the user) to initiate communication with the user via that mobile smart device 150 (e.g., a call), sending a text message and / or a call from an external resource to the mobile smart device 150, sending the location of the mobile smart device 150 to one or more other mobile smart devices, and / or other communication alerts. The external resource may include an emergency service, the police, and / or other external resources. One or more other mobile smart devices may be associated with a person defined by the user via a mobile application. For example, one or more other mobile smart devices may be associated with one or more of friends, family, spouse, partner, and / or other people. The list stored via the mobile application 152 may include people defined by the user, phone numbers for one or more corresponding mobile smart devices, whether to call or send a text, the priority of the people, the waiting time, and / or other information (e.g., My List in FIG. 4A). The waiting time may be the length of the elapsed time until contacting the next person on the list. The list may be stored to an electronic storage (not shown) managed by the mobile application 152, to an electronic storage (not shown) of the mobile smart device 150, and / or to other storage.

[0024] Individual communication alerts may be in response to various individual combinations of selections of the button 138, or may be in response to the key member 102 being disengaged from the base member 118. The combinations of selections may include selecting the button 138 only once, selecting the button 138 twice, selecting the button 138 a specific number of times, pressing and holding the button 138 for a specific time, and / or other combinations of selections.

[0025] For example, the transmission of a pre-recorded call to the mobile smart device 150 may be triggered in response to a first selection combination of the button 138 (e.g., selecting the button 138 only once). As another example, in response to a second selection combination of the button 138 (e.g., selecting the button 138 twice), a text message or an automatic call may be sent to one or more persons in the list, thereby calling the user on the mobile smart device 150. As another example, in response to a third selection combination of the button 138 (e.g., a long press of the button 138), the transmission of a text message may be triggered. As another example, in response to a fourth selection combination of the button 138 (e.g., quickly selecting the button 138 five or more times), the transmission of a location may be triggered.

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 for providing an alert via a portable alert device according to one or more implementations. Each operation regarding the method 500 presented below is intended to be illustrative. In some implementations, the method 500 may be achieved with one or more additional operations not described, and / or may be achieved without performing one or more of the described operations. Additionally, the order of each operation as illustrated in FIG. 5 and described below in the method 500 is not intended to be limiting.

[0027] Operation 502 may include activating an audible alarm included in the alarm member of the base member in response to the connector of the key member being disengaged from the alarm member (e.g., by a user). The connector may extend from the center of the first side surface of the key member (see the description of the connector 104 and the description of the first side surface 106 of the key member 102 as shown in FIGS. 1-4). The key member may be shaped to have a first recess on the second side surface of the key member and a second recess on the third side surface of the key member located on the side opposite to the second side surface (see the description of the first recess 110 on the second side surface 108 and the description of the second recess 116 on the third side surface 114 in the key member 102 and / or other members as shown in FIGS. 1-4). The base member may include a rear portion shaped to have a first ledge positioned inside the first recess and a second ledge positioned inside the second recess, and when a part of the key member is enclosed by the joining of the front portion and the rear portion, it is prevented that the key member is completely removed from the base member.

[0028] Operation 504 may include stopping the audible alarm in response to the connector being engaged with the alarm member (e.g., by a user). The audible alarm may be in a standby state or silent when the connector is engaged with the alarm member. See the description of the alarm member 134 and the audible alarm 136 in the base member 118 and / or the description of other members as shown in FIGS. 1-4.

[0029] Operation 506 may include causing a communication alarm via the mobile smart device in response to a selected combination of buttons as defined by the user via the mobile smart device. The buttons may be included in the alarm member. The communication alarm in response to the selected combination may be defined using a mobile application via the mobile smart device. See the description of the alarm member 134 and the button 138 in the base member 118 and / or the description of other members as shown in FIGS. 1-4.

[0030] Although the present technology has been described in detail for purposes of illustration based on what is considered to be the most practical and preferred implementation at present, it should be understood that such details are for purposes of illustration only, and that the present technology is not limited to the disclosed implementation, but rather is intended to cover any modifications and equivalent configurations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it should be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features in any implementation may be combined with one or more features in any other implementation.

Claims

1. A portable alarm device, A key member including a connector, the connector being bare metal and extending from the center of the first side surface of the key member, The second side surface of the key member has a shape with a first recess in the first part of the key member, The third side surface of the key member has a shape with a second recess in the first part, and the first recess is located on the opposite side of the second recess. A key member, A base member, A rear part having a shape with a first ledge and a second ledge extending from the inner surface near the fourth side surface of the base member, the second ledge being located on the opposite side of the first ledge. A rear part, By being joined to the rear part, the first ledge is disposed inside the first recess and the second ledge is disposed inside the second recess, enclosing the first part of the key member. A front part, in this case, while the key member is allowed to move outward from the base member, the first ledge located inside the first recess and the second ledge located inside the second recess prevent the key member from being completely removed from the base member. A front part, connected to an alarm member and wirelessly linking the alarm member to a mobile smart device related to the user of the portable alarm device, enabling the alarm member to be managed by a mobile application. A transceiver, including, The alarm member includes an audible alarm and a button connected to the transceiver. By the user defining different selection combinations of the button via the mobile application, different communication alarms are triggered. The connector engages with the alarm member, whereby, In response to the connector being disengaged from the alarm member, the audible alarm is activated, In response to the connector being engaged with the alarm member, the audible alarm is stopped. A base member, including a portable alarm device.

2. The connector includes an end portion located farthest from the key member, and the end portion includes a tapered section and a rim attached to the tapered section. The portable alarm device according to claim 1.

3. The portable warning device according to claim 1, wherein the key member includes an annular opening.

4. The portable warning device according to claim 3, wherein the first portion of the key member includes a part of the annular opening.

5. The portable warning device according to claim 1, wherein the warning member is battery-driven, and the rear portion further includes a detachable battery door.

6. The portable warning device according to claim 1, wherein the different communication warnings include transmitting a pre-recorded call to the mobile smart device in response to a first selection combination of the buttons, transmitting a text message from an external resource to the mobile smart device in response to a second selection combination of the buttons, and transmitting the position of the mobile smart device to one or more other mobile smart devices in response to a third selection combination of the buttons.

7. The portable warning device according to claim 1, further including a power switch connected to the audible alarm, wherein the power switch enables the function of the audible alarm when the connector for the warning member is disengaged and engaged.

8. A method for providing a warning via a portable warning device, comprising: activating an audible alarm included in the base member in response to a connector included in a key member being disengaged from a warning member included in the base member, the connector being engageable with the warning member to enable such disengagement, the key member being bare metal and extending from the center of the first side surface of the key member, the second side surface of the key member having a shape with a first recess in the first portion of the key member, the third side surface of the key member having a shape with a second recess in the first portion, the first recess being located on the opposite side of the second recess, the base member A rear portion having a first ledge and a second ledge extending from an inner surface in the vicinity of a fourth side surface of the base member, the second ledge being located on the side opposite to the first ledge; and a front portion that is joined to the rear portion so that the first ledge is disposed inside the first recess and the second ledge is disposed inside the second recess, and that encloses the first portion of the key member. In this case, while the key member is allowed to move outward from the base member, the first ledge located inside the first recess and the second ledge located inside the second recess prevent the key member from being completely removed from the base member. A transceiver connected to the warning member and wirelessly linking the warning member to a mobile smart device associated with a user of the portable warning device, thereby enabling the warning member to be managed by a mobile application. The warning member includes the audible alarm and a button connected to the transceiver. Different communication alarms are caused by the user defining different selection combinations of the buttons via the mobile application. A method in which the audible alarm is stopped in response to the connector being engaged with the warning member.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the connector has a length of 11 millimeters.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the connector includes an end portion located farthest from the key member, and the end portion includes a tapered section and a rim attached to the tapered section.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the key member includes an annular opening.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first portion of the key member includes a part of the annular opening.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the warning member is battery-driven, and the rear portion further includes a detachable battery door.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the different communication alerts include transmitting a pre-recorded call to the mobile smart device in response to a first selection combination of the buttons, transmitting a text message from an external resource to the mobile smart device in response to a second selection combination of the buttons, and transmitting the location of the mobile smart device to one or more other mobile smart devices in response to a third selection combination of the buttons.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the base member further includes a power switch connected to the audible alarm, and the power switch enables the function of the audible alarm when the connector is disengaged from and engaged with the alarm member.

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