US20160066636A1

US20160066636A1 - Emergency help button cover having personal use accessory

Info

Publication number: US20160066636A1
Application number: US14/886,051
Authority: US
Inventors: Lisa Marie West
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-06-17
Filing date: 2015-10-18
Publication date: 2016-03-10

Abstract

An elasticized styled cover sleeve, having an attached personal use accessory, covers and transforms any of a variety of personal emergency help buttons into a clothing accessory. Interchangeable differently styled cover sleeves enable matching the style of the transformed clothing accessory to a style of clothing worn by a user. An emergency button pressing portion of the cover sleeve positioned over a personal help button flexes to allow pressing the help button through the cover sleeve. Distinguishable decorative elements on the emergency button pressing portion reveal the location of the emergency button pressing portion and the personal help button beneath, when pressed, will summon help.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present utility patent application is a continuation-in-part of applicant's utility patent application Ser. No. 13/920,049 filed Jun. 17, 2013 and claims the benefit of applicant's provisional application 62/065,588 filed Oct. 17, 2014.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to personal emergency signaling devices and in particular to personal use accessories attached to a universally adaptable transforming styled tubular cover sleeve for transforming any personal emergency help button device into a familiar clothing accessory which provides, in combination, both an added functional element adapted for personal use by a wearer and a personal emergency help button device adapted for emergency use by a wearer to signal for emergency help, together transformed into a visually appealing and socially acceptable clothing accessory, which is interchangeable to enable a user to remove and replace the styled cover sleeve and personal use accessory with a differently styled cover sleeve and personal use accessory to match the style of clothing of the wearer to encourage wearing the transformed combination clothing accessory at all times for the safety and security of the wearer for using the personal use accessory as well as being able to signal for emergency help whenever it is needed to save the homes and lives of the many people who often do not wear their emergency personal help button devices because of the stigma associated with the devices and the unattractive medical appearance of the devices which do not fit with any style of clothing.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Men and women ages 65 and older are living independently and wanting to stay at home. Ten thousand people in the US turn 65 each day; the baby boomers are here. Of the people over 65 years of age, 33% will fall every year and 50% will fall again. Long lie times increase the likelihood of a adverse outcome in which 33% will not be able to return to the homes they love so dearly. There are 54 million people in the USA 65+ and there will be 62.7 million in 2017. A huge number of aging people worldwide face a similar situation.
For any person in danger of experiencing any medical emergency or other emergency, the person is usually provided with an emergency Personal Help Button (PHB) device normally worn on the person hanging from a cord around the neck of the person, on a strap around the wrist of the person, or on a clip-on attachment to the belt of the person. The device normally consists of a plastic case with a large button located on the face of the case to push to signal emergency response services to provide immediate emergency help to the person in need pressing the button. The case with the rather large button is clearly an emergency help button which does not resemble any accessories normally worn by other people, and is therefore a socially unacceptable stigma and a signal that the person wearing the emergency help button may be weak and vulnerable.
Many people, especially women (who are the vast majority of Personal Emergency Response Service customers), do not want to wear the Personal Help Button (PHB) since it looks unattractive and looks like a medical alert button and can signal to them and others that they are weak and frail. Often people have the service but don't wear the PHB since it looks “ugly” or casts a social stigma or signal of vulnerability to others; therefore they don't have the PHB when they need it and could possible suffer serious health difficulties or even death because emergency help will not be sent when it is needed. If a person falls and lies on the floor without the necessary emergency medical response help for an hour or more, if that person survives, often that person never fully recovers and cannot return to that person's home, but that person must live in some kind of heath care facility.
Prior art devices generally do not take into consideration the importance of providing an emergency help button that people will actually wear all of the time to insure that they can activate the emergency help button to receive emergency help when it is in range in the home whenever and wherever it is needed. A few signaling devices have been fabricated into other things so they are not seen, but the prior art fails to produce a more universal solution to insure that everyone who has an emergency help button device can transform it into something they will feel comfortable wearing all of the time. Nor do they provide emergency help button device covers with personal use accessories to transform the emergency help button device and personal use accessory into an attractive style clothing accessory that they will want to wear all of the time.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,160, issued Oct. 17, 1978 to Cataldo is for a miniature concealable radio alarm transmitter to be worn on the person, a switch means to activate the transmitter. The transmitter is preferably flat in shape, and includes a small battery which extends across the end of the circuit board. Two spring contact members extend adjacent each end of the battery, which has button-type terminals on its ends. A soft sponge elastomer spacer is fitted between each contact member and its end of the battery. The spacer has a central hole. Finger pressure against either spring member forces it toward the adjacent battery terminal to make contact therewith. To connect the battery to the circuit and energize the alarm transmitter, both spring members must be squeezed toward each other from opposite sides of the transmitter, making contact with each battery terminal. It is thus difficult to accidentally activate the transmitter. The switch means comprises two switches in series. The whole device is preferably cased in a bag-like enclosure of soft flexible material with a cord adapted to be hung around the wearer's neck.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,129, issued Nov. 10, 1981 to Cataldo, illustrates a concealable signaling, e.g., radio alarm, device worn on the person and actuated by concealed switch means that include mechanical detents. The engagement of the detents provides secret tactile information back to the wearer. The presently preferred embodiment is a miniature radio alarm transmitter concealed in a device which also serves as a belt buckle. The wearer distends his waist to actuate the transmitter. Tension in the belt moves an element through one or more detent engagements before it activates the transmitter. These detent engagements make transient changes in the belt tension which are felt by the wearer; these inform the wearer of impending activation, so preventing false transmitter signals or alarms.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,749, issued Sep. 8, 1987 to Bussing, provides a wearable alarm, which can be in the form of a religious cross, jewelry or decorative article or the like, normally found on the user's person, which, through simple sliding action, achieves completion of a contained electrical circuitry and the energization of an audible signaling device. Entry to the operative components may be achieved in any manner, depending on the article in which the alarm is presented and, additionally, the audible alarm varied to provide a warning at any pre-selected distance from the wearer.
U.S. Pat. No. D542,165, issued May 8, 2007 to Ayr-Popowski, shows a design for a heart-shaped pendant with reverse side having concealed alarm transmitter.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,570 (and U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,746), issued May 30, 1995 to Leitten, et al, describes a personal alarm which is compact, portable and fashionably designed. In one embodiment, this personal alarm is structurally incorporated into a wrist watch with the alarm components arranged thereon in a fanciful yet highly functional manner. This alarm may also be structurally incorporated into other conventional items such as a bracelet, pendant, necklace, keychain ornament, or any other conventional item which is often carried by the persons to be protected. In a further embodiment, the compact size is achieved without sacrificing intensity in the alarm signal by incorporating a specially wound autotransformer and an efficient switching device so as to provide a tuned warbling signal upon a piezoelectric transducer. Additionally, the alarm may be activated or deactivated by manually actuating an actuator, such as a switch or plurality of switches, in a particular sequence.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,970, issued Jan. 1, 1985 to LaWhite, et al., puts forth a small portable radio transmitter unit which can be worn on the wrist or suspended from a neck chain to provide immediate access in the event of an emergency condition and without interfering with the normal day-to-day activities of the wearer. The unit is contained within a watertight housing having a resilient membrane depressible by finger pressure to actuate a button switch within the housing for actuation of the transmitter. The housing is vented to the atmosphere to provide equalization of internal and ambient pressure in a manner providing isolation from water or other liquid entry to thereby maintain a watertight enclosure.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,668,528, issued Jun. 6, 1972 to Hutchinson, et al, concerns a housing assembly for miniature radio apparatus, such as a radio pager, having a molded frame member which supports the chassis and forms one end and two opposite sides of a housing. A U-shaped cover member slides in grooves in the frame member to form the other end and the other two sides of the housing, thereby providing a completely enclosed housing. Space for a battery is provided adjacent the end of the housing formed by the frame member, and the cover can slide with respect to the frame member to open the housing at that end to afford access to the battery. A detent is provided on the frame member which engages the cover member to hold the cover completely closed. A clip for holding the radio apparatus in a pocket includes a button to release the detent to permit the cover to slide for access to the battery. A second detent prevents further movement of the cover with respect to the housing preventing access to the radio chassis, with a key being required to release the second detent for removal of the cover from the frame member. Both single use and rechargeable batteries can be used, and contacts are provided in the housing for connecting the rechargeable battery to a charger.
U.S. Patent Application #20120212339, published Aug. 23, 2012 by Goldblatt, describes a transmitter, GPS, clock and, optionally, a microphone, video camera and identification signal means, and health monitoring sensors that are housed in personal articles such as a pendant, a watch, a ring, mobile telephone, or other personal article. The article is disguised to look like it does not have all or some of said features, and is provided with a switching device, preferably operable with one hand, to turn the transmitter on. Preferably, the switching device has two switching elements which require simultaneous operation to energize the transmitter, so as to minimize false alarms. The method of use includes selecting the best-suited type of transmitter, causing emergency personnel to be prepared to act when receiving transmission from the alarm device, and advising users on carrying the modified personal article when protection is desired.
What is needed is a universally applicable device combining a styled personal emergency help button cover and personal use accessory that can be installed on any emergency help button device to transform the emergency help button device into a normally worn styled clothing accessory which is acceptable and attractive to the person in need and to others to insure that everyone who has an emergency help button device can transform it into something they will feel comfortable wearing all of the time for the convenience of the personal use accessory and the security of the personal emergency help button device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a universally applicable device combining a styled personal emergency help button cover and personal use accessory that can be installed on any emergency help button device to transform the emergency help button device into a normally worn styled clothing accessory which is acceptable and attractive to the person in need to insure that everyone who has an emergency help button device can transform it into something they will feel comfortable wearing all of the time for the convenience of the personal use accessory and the security of the personal emergency help button device, and thereby save the homes and save the lives of people who should be wearing an emergency personal help button device at all times to signal for emergency help when needed.
A corollary object of the present invention is to provide a combined decorative stretchable tubular sleeve and personal use accessory configured to be adjustably and interchangeably installed over and cover any of a variety of personal emergency help button devices of various shapes and sizes and having various means of attachment to transform the personal emergency help button and housing into a commonly worn clothing accessory which is attractive and acceptable to the user and to others so that the transformed clothing accessory covering the help button will be worn by the user at all times.
Another related object of the present invention is to provide an interchangeable styled cover sleeve and personal use accessory to enable a user to remove and replace the styled cover sleeve and personal use accessory with a differently styled cover sleeve and personal use accessory to match the style of clothing of the wearer to encourage wearing the transformed clothing accessory covering the transformed personal emergency help button at all times.
One more object of the present invention is to provide interchangeable cover sleeves and personal use accessories which are styled for special occasions or events or locations such as holiday themed cover sleeves, sports and arts themed cover sleeves, and birthday or other occasion themed cover sleeves.
An added object of the present invention is to provide a personal help button cover sleeve and personal use accessory using washable material which allows removal and cleaning of the material and allows the converted personal help button with the cover sleeve around it to be worn in the shower or bath or swimming so that the personal help button may be worn by the user at all times so that the personal help button is always available to signal for emergency help when needed.
A related object of the present invention is provide that any appliqués on the outer surface of the personal help button cover sleeve and personal use accessory are attached by waterproof means including waterproof adhesives or sewing or other waterproof connecting means so that the transformed personal help button device may be worn by the user at all times.
In brief, the present invention provides an elasticized stretchable interchangeable styled cover sleeve and attached personal use accessory, the cover sleeve formed of stretchable tubular material in a variety of styles and colors with a variety of personal use accessories to attach to the cover sleeve. The combined cover sleeve and personal use accessory cover and camouflage any of a wide variety of emergency personal help button devices to transform the personal help button devices into a styled clothing accessory to match the style of clothing being worn by a user so that the user will always wear the transformed styled clothing accessory and be able to make use of the personal use accessory at all times and be able to push the personal help button whenever and wherever it is needed.
Preferably a styled cover sleeve may be fabricated in the form of a highly stretchable thin SPANDEX material in the shape of a tube with a stretchable opening at each end, made in various styles, colors, patterns, imprints, insignia, characters, logos, and other decorative exterior features which is universal to fit interchangeably on most emergency personal help button devices, with a limited number of different shapes and sizes for extreme shapes and sizes of personal help button devices. Various decorative and personal use accessories can be applied to the cover sleeve by waterproof attachment means. A button pressing portion of the cover sleeve positioned over the personal help button may be indicated by a visual or tactile surface of the cover sleeve or a decorative attachment on the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve. The material of the cover sleeve is sufficiently thin and flexible, at least over the button pressing portion, so that the ridges or indent of the actual pressable portion of the personal help button can be felt through the cover sleeve under the button pressing portion.
An emergency button pressing portion of the cover sleeve positioned over a personal help button flexes to allow pressing the help button through the cover sleeve or provides a protruding solid element to assist in pressing the help button below the solid element, or a screen portion with the help button visible below the screen portion, or a cut-out with the help button exposed through the cut-out. Distinguishable decorative elements or other features as described above, on the emergency button pressing portion reveal the location of the emergency button pressing portion and the personal help button beneath, when pressed, will summon help.
The styled cover sleeve and personal use accessory of the present invention can transform all types of personal help button (PHB) devices used for service with Personal Emergency Response Systems/Services (PERS) including the personal help button device on a pendant (most popular) transformed into a necklace, on a wristband transformed into a bracelet, on a key ring transformed into a decorative key ring and on a belt clip transformed into a styled belt clip.
There are a variety of textures, colors, visual features, accessories and other utility and decorative attachments representing six major general configurations associated with the button pushing portion of the styled cover. The most complex is a the iron-on decal cover in which an inverted snap is installed on the inside of the cover and on the front the cover where the “teeth or prongs” are bent into the fabric an iron-on decal cover is installed over the teeth or prongs. That way when a senior or disabled person presses the iron-on decal (on the front of the cover) (white dot also) to make it very easy to locate and press the press button portion of the help button.
There are at least six generally preferred embodiments of the button pushing portion of the present invention: rhinestone embellishments to push, fun iron-on themes with an inverted snap to facilitate pushing the button, see-through fabric for visually locating the help button, die cut push button hole in the covers, a white dot iron-on press button visual indicator over the emergency push button, and a selection of decorative covers of thin resilient material to feel the emergency push button through the cover; providing a wide variety to suit most of the senior needs.
The covers of the present invention can be fabricated in a variety of sizes to accommodate any variations in various brands of medical alert devices in a large assortment of colors and patterns.
Custom cover sleeve pouches for small GPS-mobile devices make them look more like a decorative accessory. The pouch is fabricated in many styles, colors, and with embellishments or iron-on decals as well as a personal use accessory. The mobile solution uses GPS & cellular technology and can be used anywhere there is cellular service for a mobile decorative accessory which can be used for emergency situations.
An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a means to ensure that people will always want to wear their transformed clothing accessory with the personal use accessory and camouflaged personal help button so they can have necessary daily use items on hand always and be able to get help in emergency situations when to needed to enable people to maintain their ability to reside in their home in a health-threatening emergency by responding instantly for emergency help when needed.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a wide variety of designer styles and colors of personal help button cover sleeves and personal use accessories.
An added advantage of the present invention is that it provides a personal help button cover sleeve using soft flexible thin material on at least one button pressing portion of the cover sleeve to enable the personal help button to be easily pressed through the button pressing portion of the sleeve.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the covers and personal use accessories of the present invention are designer medical alert help button covers that transform the ugly help button into a decorative accessory like jewelry.
Still another advantage is that the present invention transforms the help button and makes the emergency personal help butten device look nice and fun and socially acceptable to give the senior or disabled person “confidence” and help that person feel more attractive.
An ensuing advantage of the present invention is that it is washable and can be worn in the shower or bath or swimming so that the personal help button may be worn by the user at all times so that the personal help button is always available to signal for emergency help when needed.
A related advantage of the present invention is that waterproof attachments of any appliqués or embroidered design or initial on the outer surface of the personal help button cover and personal use accessory further ensure that the personal help button may be worn by the user at all times.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of the present invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

FIG. 1A is a front elevational view of the transforming cover sleeve of the present invention showing a decorative button mounted on the decorative fabric of the cover sleeve and showing an emergency personal help button housing being inserted into the cover sleeve with a partial view of the neck cord attached to the top of the emergency personal help button housing;

FIG. 1B is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of FIG. 1A showing the emergency help button device (shown dashed) completely concealed inside the cover sleeve with the neck cord from the emergency personal help button device protruding out of the cover sleeve top opening, thereby concealing and camouflaging the personal help button device and transforming the personal help button device into a common clothing accessory in the form of a decorative necklace pendant with the decorative button of the cover sleeve positioned directly over the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve above the help button to enable a user to locate, visually or tactilely, the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve to push for depressing the help button beneath it;

FIG. 2A is a front elevational view of the transforming cover sleeve of the present invention showing a decorative jewel mounted on the decorative fabric of the cover sleeve and showing an emergency personal help button housing being inserted into the cover sleeve with a partial view of the wrist band attached to the personal help button housing;

FIG. 2B is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of FIG. 2A showing the emergency personal help button device (shown dashed) completely concealed inside the cover sleeve with the wrist band from the emergency personal help button device protruding out of the cover sleeve top and bottom openings, thereby concealing and camouflaging the personal help button device and transforming the personal help button device into a common clothing accessory in the form of a decorative bracelet with the decorative jewel of the cover sleeve positioned directly over the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve above the help button to enable a user to locate, visually or tactilely, the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve to push for depressing the help button beneath it, wherein the decorative element, such as the jewel, is smaller than the help button itself so the decorative element does not interfere with pressing the help button effectively;

FIG. 3A is a front elevational view of the transforming cover sleeve of the present invention showing a decorative pendant or locket or charm mounted on the decorative fabric of the cover sleeve and showing an emergency personal help button device being inserted into the cover sleeve with a partial view of the neck cord attached a top loop of the emergency personal help button housing;

FIG. 3B is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of FIG. 3A showing the emergency personal help button device (shown dashed) completely concealed inside the cover sleeve with the top loop and the neck cord from the emergency personal help button device protruding out of the cover sleeve top opening, thereby concealing and camouflaging the personal help button device and transforming the personal help button device into a common clothing accessory in the form of a decorative necklace pendant with the decorative pendant or locket or charm of the cover sleeve positioned directly over the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve over the help button to enable a user to locate, visually or tactilely, the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve to push for depressing the help button beneath it;

FIG. 4A is a side elevational view of the transforming cover sleeve of the present invention showing an emergency personal help button housing being inserted into the cover sleeve with a belt clip attached to the personal help button housing remaining outside of the cover sleeve;

FIG. 4B is a front elevational view of the transforming cover sleeve of the present invention showing a sports image of a football imprinted or embroidered or adhered as a patch on the decorative fabric of the cover sleeve and showing the emergency personal help button housing being inserted into the cover sleeve;

FIG. 4C is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of FIGS. 4A and 4B showing the emergency personal help button device (shown dashed) completely concealed inside the cover sleeve with the top and bottom of the belt clip of the emergency personal help button device seen behind the cover sleeve, thereby concealing and camouflaging the personal help button device and transforming the personal help button device into a common clothing accessory in the form of a belt clip with the sports image on the cover sleeve positioned directly over the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve over the help button to enable a user to locate the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve to push for depressing the help button beneath it;

FIG. 5A is a front elevational view of the transforming cover sleeve of the present invention showing a car company logo or emblem embroidered on or as a patch ironed or sewn onto the decorative fabric of the cover sleeve and showing an emergency personal help button housing being inserted into the cover sleeve with a partial view of the key chain attached to the top of the emergency personal help button housing and showing the two side emergency help buttons on opposing side edges of the housing which are pushed simultaneously;

FIG. 5B is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of FIG. 5A showing the emergency help button device (shown dashed) completely concealed inside the cover sleeve with the key chain from the emergency personal help button device protruding out of the cover sleeve top opening, thereby concealing and camouflaging the personal help button device and transforming the personal help button device into a common clothing accessory in the form of a decorative key fob on a key chain with the two side edge emergency help buttons causing the cover sleeve to stick out on both sides due to the emergency help buttons protruding from the housing to stretch outwardly revealing the location of the emergency help buttons through the cover sleeve to enable a user to locate, visually or tactilely, the button pressing portions of the cover sleeve to push for depressing the help buttons beneath them;

FIG. 6A is a front elevational view of the transforming cover sleeve of the present invention showing a heart-shaped locket mounted on the decorative fabric of the cover sleeve and showing an emergency personal help button housing being inserted into the cover sleeve with a partial view of the wrist band attached to the personal help button housing and further showing two cover sleeve tubular accessories for covering the wrist band on each side of the emergency help button device housing;

FIG. 6B is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of FIG. 6A showing the emergency personal help button device (shown dashed) completely concealed inside the cover sleeve and the wrist band covered by the two cover sleeve tubular accessories, thereby concealing and camouflaging the personal help button device and transforming the personal help button device into a common clothing accessory in the form of a decorative bracelet with the heart-shaped locket of the cover sleeve positioned directly over the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve above the help button to enable a user to locate, visually or tactilely, the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve to push for depressing the help button beneath it, wherein the heart-shaped locket decorative element is smaller than the help button itself so the decorative element does not interfere with pressing the help button effectively;

FIG. 7A is a front elevational view of the transforming cover sleeve of the present invention showing a decorative pendant or locket or charm mounted on the decorative fabric of the cover sleeve and showing an emergency personal help button device being inserted into the cover sleeve with a partial view of the neck cord attached a top loop of the emergency personal help button housing;

FIG. 7B is a front elevational view of the transforming cover sleeve of the present invention showing a decorative pendant or locket or charm mounted on the decorative fabric of the cover sleeve and showing an emergency personal help button device being inserted into the cover sleeve with a partial view of the neck cord attached a top loop of the emergency personal help button housing;

FIG. 7C is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of FIG. 3A showing the emergency personal help button device (shown dashed) completely concealed inside the cover sleeve with the top loop and the neck cord from the emergency personal help button device protruding out of the cover sleeve top opening, thereby concealing and camouflaging the personal help button device and transforming the personal help button device into a common clothing accessory in the form of a decorative necklace pendant with the decorative pendant or locket or charm of the cover sleeve positioned directly over the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve over the help button to enable a user to locate, visually or tactilely, the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve to push for depressing the help button beneath it;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the cover sleeve fabricated of thin resilient material to enable a user to feel the emergency push button through the cover for pushing the button when needed;

FIG. 9A is a side elevational partial section view of the cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the cover sleeve having an iron-on decal tactile insignia ironed on the cover sleeve fabric with an inverted snap or other solid thin metal disc on the inside of the cover in the center of the button pushing portion, where a number of teeth or prongs pierce the fabric from the inside and are bent over the front of the fabric and the tactile insignia is ironed on over that;

FIG. 9B is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of FIG. 9A housing an emergency help button device;

In FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the cover sleeve having a white dot iron-on press button on the cover sleeve surface within the button pushing portion to serve as a visual (and tactile) indicator over the emergency push button to enable finding pressing the emergency help button when needed;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the cover sleeve having a see-through fabric for visually locating the help button enables accurate locating and pushing of the emergency help button through the highly flexible stretch mesh or other patterned cover with more open space than fabric;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the cover sleeve having a die cut push button hole in alignment with the casing surrounding the emergency help button leavisc a full-open visual and manual contact with the emergency help button 30 through the cover sleeve fabric;

FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the cover sleeve having a rhinestone embellishment attached in the center of the button pushing portion to enable a user to easily see and feel the location to push the rhinestone which pushes the emeregency help button beneath it;

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the cover sleeve having a pouch with a top opening hanging downwardly from the cover sleeve by a jump ring and to act as a small light change purse, the decorative pouch of the same design as the cover which can contain, key, medicine, money, ID, credit card, etc, the cover sleeve further having a necklace, such as a decorative chain necklace or lanyard is attached to a top of the cover sleeve for attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help button device around a neck of a user;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the cover sleeve having a loop sleeve attached to the center of the back of the cover sleeve to receive a bracelet or wrist band attached to the cover sleeve for attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help button device to a wrist of a user;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational partial section view of the cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the cover sleeve having a jump ring attached to the bottom of the cover sleeve to attach a chain or other connecting means to the jump ring for attaching keys or a change purse or other personal user accessories to the cover sleeve housing the emergency personal help device;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational partial section view of the cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the cover sleeve having a pocket with a top opening attached to the cover sleeve on a back surface of the cover sleeve for storing necessary daily use items carried by a user;

FIG. 18 is a side elevational partial section view of the cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the cover sleeve having an alternate pocket with a top opening has a clear plastic face on the pocket to allow an ID or photo to show through the pocket;

FIG. 19 is a side elevational partial section view of the cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the cover sleeve having a bracket sleeve attached to a top portion of the back of the cover sleeve for attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help button device to a belt worn by a user;

FIG. 20 is a side elevational partial section view of the cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the cover sleeve having a loop bracket attached to the top of the back of a cover sleeve for receiving a keychain attached to the loop bracket so that the styled cover sleeve and personal use accessory comprises a styled keychain fob;

FIG. 21 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the pouch-type of cover sleeve with a single top opening is aligned to receive a mobile device which is a medical alert device that use GPS & cellular technology;

FIG. 22 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of FIG. 21, the pouch-type cover sleeve covering the mobile device which is a medical alert device that use GPS & cellular technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1A-13, an adaptable cover sleeve 10 covers and camouflages any of a variety of emergency personal help button devices 20A-20D and transforms each personal help button device into a familiar clothing accessory which is visually appealing and socially acceptable to encourage wearing the clothing accessory at all times for the safety and security of a wearer to enable the wearer to signal for emergency help whenever it is needed.
In FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 4B, 5A, 6A, 7A and 7B the cover sleeve 10 comprises a decorative stretchable tubular cover sleeve, having a decorative styled outer surface 8 and expansible end openings 11, the tubular cover sleeve configured to be adjustable, removable, and interchangeable when installed over any of a variety of emergency personal help button devices 20A-20E to cover and camouflage each personal help button device and transform the personal help button device into a familiar clothing accessory, as shown in FIGS. 1B, 2B, 3B, 4C, 5B, 6B, and 7C, which is visually appealing and socially acceptable to be worn by a user at all times.
The adjustable, removable, and interchangeable tubular cover sleeve 10 enables the user to remove and interchange the cover sleeve with another differently styled cover sleeve to transform the personal help button device into another familiar clothing accessory having a different style to match another style of clothing of the user, to encourage wearing the transformed decorative clothing accessory at all times so the personal help button 30 is always available to the user to press for emergency help when needed.
The cover sleeve 10 further comprises a button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve positioned over a compressible help button 30 on the personal emergency help button device, as shown in FIGS. 1B, 2B, 3B, 4C, 5B, 6B, and 7C, to enable the user wearing the transformed device to press the help button 30 through the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve to summon emergency help. The button pressing portion 9 is an easily compressible portion of the cover sleeve which is directly over the personal help button, and may be a thin flexible portion of the cover sleeve or the entire cover sleeve may be fabricated of a thin flexible material.
In FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A, 4B, 5A, 6A, 7A and 7B, the cover sleeve 10 preferably comprises a styled tubular cover sleeve 10 having an outer surface 8 simulating a styled clothing accessory to match a clothing style worn by a user, the styled tubular cover sleeve 10 fabricated of stretch material smaller than the outer perimeter of the emergency personal help button device 20A-20E so that the styled tubular cover sleeve stretches open at an end opening 11, as shown by the horizontal arrows, to receive the emergency personal help button device 20A-20E inserted within the styled tubular cover sleeve and the cover sleeve 10 contracts closed over the emergency personal help button device so that the emergency personal help button device (dashed lines) is concealed within the styled tubular cover sleeve 10 transforming the emergency personal help button device into a visually appealing styled clothing accessory matching a clothing style of a user to be worn by a user at all times, as shown in FIGS. 1B, 2B, 3B, 4C, 5B, 6B, and 7C. The button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve 10 is preferably provided with a distinguishable feature to enable a user to find the button pressing portion 9 easily when needed.
The styled tubular cover sleeve 10 is fabricated of any of a variety of different materials taken from a list of different materials including SPANDEX, LYCRA, NEOPRENE, NYLON, ELASTANE, a stretchable blend of materials, rubber, stretchable cotton, woven fabric material combined with at least one stretchable end opening 11, stretchable silk, silk material combined with at least one stretchable end opening 11, stretchable velvet, velvet material combined with at least one stretchable end opening 11, stretchable satin, satin with at least one stretchable end opening 11.
The styled tubular cover sleeve 10 comprises any of a variety of outer surfaces taken from the list of outer surfaces including a colored surface, a patterned surface, an indicia bearing surface, an image bearing surface, a textured surface, an imprinted surface, a combined surface, a natural fabric surface, a styled surface, a coated surface, a painted surface, a metallic surface, a rumpled surface, a padded surface, an embroidered surface, an iron-on patch surface and/or sewn-on patch surface.
The styled tubular cover sleeve 10 further comprises at least one personal adornment attached to the outer surface taken from a list of personal adornments including at least one flat ornamental bead, at least one sequin, at least one ornamental button 12 (shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B), at least one pendant 14 (shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B), at least one locket (19 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B), at least one piece of jewelry 13 (shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B), at least one charm, insignia 15 (shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C), sparkles, metallic thread, embroidery, mesh, netting, lace, hanging dangles 18, jump rings 7, chains 6, and beads 4 (shown in FIG. 3B), at least one decorative hanging chain 6, at least one jump ring 7 and at least one clear faceted stone 5 (shown in FIG. 1B), and any other decorative element.
The styled tubular cover sleeve 10 is fabricated of a material that can dry easily after getting wet to enable washing the material and to enable wearing the emergency help button 30 with the cover sleeve in a shower or bath and in inclement weather so that the emergency button 30 may be worn at all times by the user.
The styled clothing accessory may further comprise any of the following means for supporting the styled clothing accessory on the body of a wearer, including a neck encircling element 40 so that the styled clothing accessory comprises a styled necklace worn by a user, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 3B; a wrist encircling element 50 such as a wrist band so that the styled clothing accessory comprises a styled bracelet worn by a user as shown in FIG. 2B, a clip 60 for attachment to an article of clothing or attachment to a clothing accessory so that the styled clothing accessory comprises a styled clip-on clothing accessory such as a styled belt clip, as shown in FIG. 4C, and a decorative key fob on a key chain 70, as shown in FIG. 5B.
The cover sleeve 10 preferably further comprises a distinguishable element positioned on the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve 10 over the personal help button 30 to indicate to a user where to press on the cover sleeve to activate the personal help button 30 underneath the distinguishable element to signal for emergency help, the distinguishable element having a size and shape equal to or smaller than the personal help button 30 to insure that the user will push only the personal help button 30 and not push any other part of a casing or housing surrounding the personal help button.
The distinguishable element comprises at least one visible element taken from the list of visible elements including at least one printed indicia, at least one embroidered indicia, at least one attachment, at least one pattern variation, at least one color variation, at least one shape variation, at least one texture variation distinguishing the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve 10.
The distinguishable element may comprise at least one tactile element taken from the list of tactile elements including at least one tactile fabric variation, at least one texture variation, at least one added tactile material, at least one tactile decorative element, at least one tactile functional element.
The cover distinguishable element may comprise at least one audible element taken from the list of audible elements including at least one sound producing finger heat sensing element, at least one sound producing finger sensing light sensor element, at least one sound producing finger detecting proximity sensing element.
The distinguishable element may comprise at least one combination element taken from the list of combination elements including at least one visible element combined with at least one audible element, at least one visible element combined with at least one tactile element, at least one audible element combined with at least one tactile element, and at least one visible element combined with at least one audible element and at least one tactile element.
The at least one visible element combined with at least one tactile element may comprise at least one personal adornment, attached to the button pressing portion 9 on an outer surface 8 of the tubular cover sleeve 10, taken from a list of personal adornments including at least one flat ornamental bead, at least one sequin, at least one ornamental button 12 as shown in FIG. 1B, at least one pendant or least one locket or at least one charm as shown in FIG. 3B, at least one tactile insignia 15 as shown in FIG. 4C, sparkles, metallic thread, embroidery, mesh, netting, lace, the at least one decorative element being smaller than the emergency button 30 to permit ease of pressing the emergency button without contacting a casing holding the button.
In FIG. 1A, a decorative button 12 is mounted on the decorative fabric 8 of the cover sleeve 10 and the emergency personal help button housing 20A is being inserted into the cover sleeve 10 with a partial view of the neck cord 40 attached to the top of the emergency personal help button housing.
In FIG. 1B, the emergency help button device 20A (shown dashed) is completely concealed inside the cover sleeve 10 with the neck cord 40 from the emergency personal help button device protruding out of the cover sleeve top opening 11, thereby concealing and camouflaging the personal help button device and transforming the personal help button device into a common clothing accessory in the form of a decorative necklace pendant with the decorative button 12 of the cover sleeve positioned directly over the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve aligned with and above the help button 30 to enable a user to locate, visually or tactilely, the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve to push for depressing the help button 30 beneath it. Hanging decorations are shown extending down from the bottom of the cover sleeve including a plurality of jump rings or jump loops 7 and decorative chains 6 and gem stones 5.
In FIG. 2A, a decorative jewelry 13 setting is mounted on the decorative fabric 8 of the cover sleeve 10 and an emergency personal help button device 20B is being inserted into the cover sleeve 10 with a wrist band 50 attached to the personal help button device.
In FIG. 2B, the emergency personal help button device 20B (shown dashed) is completely concealed inside the cover sleeve 10 with the wrist band 50 from the emergency personal help button device protruding out of the cover sleeve top and bottom openings 11, thereby concealing and camouflaging the personal help button device and transforming the personal help button device into a common clothing accessory in the form of a decorative bracelet with the decorative jewelry 13 of the cover sleeve positioned directly over the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve above the emergency personal help button 30 to enable a user to locate, visually or tactilely, the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve to push for depressing the help button 30 beneath it. The decorative element, the jewelry 13, is smaller than the help button 30 itself so the decorative element does not interfere with pressing the help button effectively.
In FIG. 3A, a decorative pendant 14 or locket or charm is mounted on the decorative fabric outer surface 8 of the cover sleeve 10 and an emergency personal help button device 20C is being inserted into the cover sleeve 10 with a partial view of the neck cord 40 attached a top loop 21 of the emergency personal help button housing.
In FIG. 3B, the emergency personal help button device 20C (shown dashed) is completely concealed inside the cover sleeve 10 with the top loop 21 and the neck cord 40 from the emergency personal help button device protruding out of the cover sleeve top opening 11, thereby concealing and camouflaging the personal help button device and transforming the personal help button device into a common clothing accessory in the form of a decorative necklace pendant with the decorative pendant 14 or locket or charm of the cover sleeve positioned directly over the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve over the help button 30 to enable a user to locate, visually or tactilely, the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve to push for depressing the help button 30 beneath it.
In FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, an emergency personal help button device 20D is being inserted into the cover sleeve 10 with a belt clip 60 attached to the personal help button housing remaining outside of the cover sleeve.
In FIG. 4B, a sports image of a football tactile insignia 15 is imprinted or embroidered or adhered as a patch or ironed on as a heat patch on the front of the decorative fabric 8 of the cover sleeve.
In FIG. 4C, the emergency personal help button device 20D (shown dashed) is completely concealed inside the cover sleeve 10 with the top and bottom of the belt clip 60 of the emergency personal help button device seen behind the cover sleeve, thereby concealing and camouflaging the personal help button device 20D and transforming the personal help button device into a common clothing accessory in the form of a belt clip with the sports image tactile insignia 15 on the cover sleeve positioned directly over the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve over the help button 30 to enable a user to locate the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve, tactilely and visually, to push for depressing the help button 30 beneath it.
In FIG. 5A, a car company logo or emblem 17 is embroidered on or as a patch ironed or sewn onto the decorative fabric outer surface 8 of the cover sleeve 10 and an emergency personal help button device 20E is being inserted into the cover sleeve with a key chain 70 attached to the top of the emergency personal help button device and two side emergency help buttons 30 on opposing side edges of the device which are pushed simultaneously.
In FIG. 5B, the emergency help button device 20E (shown dashed) is completely concealed inside the cover sleeve 10 with the key chain 70 from the emergency personal help button device protruding out of the cover sleeve top opening 11, thereby concealing and camouflaging the personal help button device and transforming the personal help button device into a common clothing accessory in the form of a decorative key fob on a key chain with the two side edge emergency help buttons 30 causing the cover sleeve to stick out on both sides due to the emergency help buttons protruding from the housing to stretch outwardly revealing the location of the emergency help buttons through the cover sleeve on button pressing portions 9 of the cover sleeve to enable a user to locate, visually or tactilely, the button pressing portions 9 of the cover sleeve to push for depressing the help buttons 30 beneath them.
In FIG. 6A, a heart-shaped locket 19 is mounted on the decorative fabric 8 of the cover sleeve 10 and an emergency personal help button device 20B is being inserted into the cover sleeve and a wrist band 50 is attached to the personal help button device. Two cover sleeve tubular accessories 10A are used for covering the wrist band 50 on each side of the emergency help button device, preferably fabricated of soft cotton for contact with the skin of the user rather than the plastic wrist band.
In FIG. 6B, the emergency personal help button device 20B (shown dashed) is completely concealed inside the cover sleeve 10 and the wrist band 50 is covered by the two cover sleeve tubular accessories 10A, thereby concealing and camouflaging the personal help button device and transforming the personal help button device into a common clothing accessory in the form of a decorative bracelet with the heart-shaped locket 19 of the cover sleeve positioned directly over the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve above the emergency personal help button 30 to enable a user to locate, visually or tactilely, the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve to push for depressing the help button 30 beneath it, wherein the heart-shaped locket 19 decorative element is smaller than the help button 30 itself so the decorative element does not interfere with pressing the help button effectively. The heart shaped locket 19 is an example of a series of cover sleeves with a holiday (Valentines Day) or special occasion (anniversary, engagement, birthday, etc.) theme.
In FIGS. 1B and 3B, the cover sleeve 10 further comprising means for aligning the cover sleeve 10 with the emergency personal help button device 20A and 20C to insure that the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve aligns with the emergency personal help button 30 beneath the cover sleeve. In FIG. 1B, a demarcation 3 on the center of the edge of the top opening 11 of the cover sleeve 10 aligns with the neck cord 40 where it inserts into the emergency personal help button device. In FIG. 3B, a pair of demarcations on the edge of the top opening 11 align with the sides of the neck cord loop 21 on the emergency personal help button device 20C. Other alignment means include a center seam on the back of the loop aligned centrally on the emergency personal help button device, a semi-transparent stretch material used to fabricate at least the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve to enable a user to see through the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve to visually align the button pressing portion 9 with the help button 30 below.
Means for signaling a user that the emergency help button has been pressed properly through the cover sleeve to send a signal for emergency help may comprise a sound chip or an LED or both which are activated by pressure or motion of a piezo-electric device or other sound producing and/or light producing mechanisms attached to the button pressing portion 9 of the cover sleeve 10, such as a pressure sensitive switch 2 attached inside the cover sleeve 10 below the decorative emblem tactile insignia 15, as shown in FIG. 4A to activate a sound and/or light device attached contiguously or in another location on the cover sleeve.
Preferred options for cover sleeve material include fancy thin SPANDEX or thin LYCRA or other stretchable fabric in a wide variety of colors and designs and fancy SPANDEX fabric with sparkles, gold or silver thread, or shiny metallic thread designs.
The SPANDEX cover sleeve 10 may be further enhanced with flat ornamental beads or sequins or ornamental buttons 12 or lockets or charms or pendants 14 or any other decorative element each smaller than the emergency button 30 adhered to the button pressing portion 9 of the sleeve with special waterproof stretch fabric glue or sewn onto the outside of the sleeve centered over the position of the emergency button 30 so that the outside elements indicate visually as well as tactilely where the user presses on the cover sleeve to activate the emergency help button below it.
Embellishment choices are many, including but not limited to embroidery monogrammed on the front (or in a design of choice), embroidered logo's can go on the front or back of the cover sleeve, a tag logo or message could be sewn on the back of the cover, a silk screen design can be printed on the cover, a photograph (of grand children or husband or family or a pet) can be printed on the cover in the front or in the back. Different Spandex materials stretch differently, so there may be “adjustments” to the various covers to allow for stretch differentials
Other variations can be added to the cover sleeve 10 to enhance the look and appeal in the form of characters. The cover sleeve can be decorated like a dog with the fluffy ears attached to the side of the sleeve, having a silk screen imprinted dog face on the cover; or angel wings attached to the side of the cover sleeve to be the “guardian” angel with the angel image imprinted on the cover sleeve.
There can be sets of three or more styled cover sleeves 10 in a package of differently styled cover sleeves for mixing and matching with various clothing styles or differently styled holiday or themed kits.
For men or women, a preferred embodiment may be a SPANDEX cover sleeve 10 that has a silk screen printed or embroidered or ironed on patch design of an insignia such as sports teams (Red Sox), sports paraphernalia (football 15 as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, baseball, golf ball etc.), geographical location (Aruba, Jamaica, etc.), sport designation (NASCAR, NFL, NHL, etc.) or other insignia, (such as the embroidered initials 16, shown on a decorative pendant on a necklace in FIGS. 7A-7B). Insignia (especially sports insignia) would apply most often in the belt clip emergency help button device 20D of FIGS. 4A-4C preferred by men. On the belt clip, the cover sleeve 10 slides over the personal help button device 20D only, as indicated in FIG. 4A, and does not interfere with the clip's ability to clip onto to a belt or other clothing edges.
In FIGS. 8-13, at least six generally preferred embodiments of the button pushing portion 9 of the present invention are shown.
In FIG. 8, and a selection of decorative covers of thin resilient material 8 enable a user to feel the emergency push button 30 through the cover for pushing the button when needed.
In FIGS. 9A and 9B, an iron-on decal tactile insignia 15 in this example in the shape of an oval frames cross, is ironed on the cover sleeve fabric 8 an inverted snap or other solid thin metal disc 1 on the inside of the cover in the center of the button pushing portion 9, where a number of teeth or prongs 1A pierce the fabric from the inside and are bent over the front of the fabric. The tactile insignia 15 is ironed on over that. That way when a senior or disabled person presses the iron-on (on the front of the cover) it is very easy to press the press button portion of the help button with the metal disc 15 contacting the emergency help button 30 beneath the fabric 8.
In FIG. 10, a white dot iron-on press button 2 on the cover sleeve surface 8 within the button pushing portion 9 serves as a visual (and tactile) indicator over the emergency push button 30 to enable finding pressing the emergency help button 30 when needed.
In FIG. 11, a see-through fabric 8B for visually locating the help button 30 enables accurate locating and pushing of the emergency help button 30 through the highly flexible stretch mesh or other patterned cover with more open space than fabric.
In FIG. 12, a die cut push button hole 9A in alignment with the casing surrounding the emergency help button 30 leaves a full-open visual and manual contact with the emergency help button 30 through the cover sleeve fabric 8C.
In FIG. 13, a rhinestone embellishment 5 is attached in the center of the button pushing portion 9 to enable a user to easily see and feel the location to push the rhinestone which pushes the emergency help button 30 beneath it.
Another embodiment of FIGS. 21 and 22, comprises a custom pouch 10 for a small GPS-mobile device 20G to make them look more like a decorative accessory. The pouch could come in many styles, colors, and with embellishments or fun iron-on decals, such as the football iron-on tactile insignia 15. The mobile solution uses GPS & cellular technology and can used anywhere there is cellular service. This is truly a mobile solution. A jump ring 7 may be attached to the GPS-mobile device 20G for use in attaching a key chain or a neck encircling lanyard or necklace for wearing the device to keep the emergency help button available at all times in any situation when needed.
A pocket can be sewn into some covers on the front and/or the back which can contain a house key, a photograph, a credit card, or ID.
The back of cover can have a sewn loop which can attach to a key ring for a key to be attached. The sewn loop would be attached by a heavy duty snap.
A pocket can contain a little music chip which plays (reasonably loudly) a song of choice which can be activated by a small switch on the music chip
The pocket can contain a small potpourri pouch with a favorite fragrance
The pocket can contain a small heavy gage pouch to contain medicine
An inverted snap is attached with the 5 prong backing to the inside front of the cover and an iron-on decal design (with appropriate size to cover the snap) is ironed on over the backing of the snap on the front side of the cover. When a senior presses the iron-on decal the snap nub underneath touches the press button to activate that help is needed.
A decorative lanyard (like a chain or decorative beads) can be sold separately depending on the size on the ring on the help button. Kits can be sold to include a larger jump ring to be installed by someone with reasonable dexterity or a jeweler. This jump ring allows the lanyard to attach to the help button. The lanyard is made of strong nylon, solid chain (base metal or precious metals at a premium price) and if beads are involved they will be knotted in between to prevent a slipping and falling accident if the lanyard should be broken. The lanyard material must be strong and water resistant.
Covers come in many themes and Holiday themes are popular. Also sports, flowers, pets, initials, etc. Military, NFL, Red Sox, John Deere, etc.
In use, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4B two opposing sides of one of the end openings 11 of the cover sleeve 10 are pulled apart, as shown by the horizontal arrows, and the personal help button device 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D is pushed into the cover tube 10, as shown by the vertical arrow until the styled cover sleeve 10 conceals and camouflages the personal help button device 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D transforming the personal help button device into a styled clothing accessory with only the styled cover sleeve 10 showing around the outside of the personal help button device (shown dashed), as shown in FIGS. 1B, 2B, 3B, and 4C.
In FIGS. 7A and 7B, the procedure for installing the cover sleeve 10 on an emergency personal help button device 20C is illustrated showing the user's hands (shown dashed) installing the cover sleeve.
To prepare for installation, the cover sleeve 10 and the emergency personal help button device 20C are both placed on a flat surface, such as a table or counter top, aligned for installation adjacent to each other with the front of the cover sleeve 10 having the decorative element 16 and button pressing portion 9 facing up and the front of the emergency personal help button device 20C having the emergency help button 30 facing up. The cover sleeve 10 is positioned closer to the user on the table with a top opening 11 of the cover tube close to the bottom of the emergency help button device 20C.
STEP 1: the user inserts a tip of one index finger into the top opening 11A of the cover sleeve just enough to spread open the top opening 11A as indicated by ARROW 1 in FIG. 7A to admit the bottom of the emergency help button device 20C to fit into the top opening 11A of the cover sleeve, leaving the bottom of the cover sleeve flat on the table.
STEP 2: the user pinches each side edge of the top opening 11A of the cover sleeve with a thumb and middle finger of each hand and pulls outwardly on both sides, as shown by ARROWS 2 to stretch the top opening wider than the bottom of the emergency help button device while still holding the top opening 11A open with the index finger of one hand, as shown in FIG. 7A.
STEP 3: the user pushes the emergency help button device 20C into the top opening 11A of the cover sleeve with the other index finger pushing down on the top 21 of the emergency help button device with the device flat on the table aligned with the cover sleeve top opening 11, as shown by ARROW 3, in FIG. 7A until the bottom of the emergency help button device fits within the top opening 11 of the cover sleeve, as shown in FIG. 2, when the first index finger may be removed from the top opening 11, while still pulling outwardly on both sides of the opening, ARROW 2 as shown in FIG. 1 and still pushing down on the top 21 of the emergency help button device with an index finger, ARROW 1 as shown in FIG. 1.
STEP 4: after removing the user's first index finger from the top opening 11 of the cover sleeve, the first index finger may be used to push the emergency help button device into the cover sleeve as indicated by ARROW 4 in FIG. 2 to assist the other index finger ARROW 3, until the emergency help button device 20C is fully inserted into the cover sleeve 10, as shown in FIG. 7C, and the cover sleeve button pressing portion 9 having the personal adornment 16 attached thereon is aligned with the emergency personal help button 30 beneath the cover sleeve button pressing portion 9 to insure that pressing the cover sleeve button pressing portion 9 (and personal adornment 16) will press down the emergency personal help button beneath it to signal for emergency help, thereby forming decorative familiar clothing accessory in the form of a pendant worn on a necklace for personal adornment, as shown in FIG. 3.
STEP 5: after the emergency help button device 20C is fully inserted in the cover sleeve 10 and the cover sleeve button pressing portion 9 with the personal adornment 16 has been checked for alignment with the emergency personal help button 30 underneath the cover sleeve, then the transformed decorative personal clothing accessory having the concealed emergency help button must be tested by actually pressing the cover sleeve button pressing portion 9 with the personal adornment 16 is pressed to press the emergency help button underneath and signal the emergency help service that the emergency help button works 30 underneath the cover sleeve 10.
Styled cover sleeves 10 may be easily removed by holding an opposite end of a first styled cover sleeve 10 matching a first clothing style and pulling the personal help device 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D out of the first styled cover sleeve 10 and inserting the personal help device into a differently styled second styled cover sleeve to match a different second clothing style.
In FIGS. 14-20, a universally adaptable styled combination cover sleeve 10 and personal use accessory 80-100 is adapted to removably and interchangeably cover and camouflage any of a variety of emergency personal help button devices 20 and adapted to transform each device into a styled clothing accessory which is visually appealing and socially acceptable to encourage wearing the styled clothing accessory at all times, so that the personal use accessory is available to use for daily personal use functions and the emergency help button is available to signal for emergency help whenever it is needed.
At least one personal use accessory 80-100 is attached to the tubular cover sleeve 10, the personal use accessory matching the material and visual appearance of the tubular cover sleeve to combine with the tubular cover sleeve to transform the personal emergency help button device 20 into a styled clothing accessory adapted to be worn by a user, the personal use accessory adapted to be available to use for daily personal use functions.
The personal use accessory may comprise at least one of a variety of different personal use accessories taken from the list of personal use accessories.
In FIG. 14, a pouch 80 with a top opening 81 hangs downwardly from the cover sleeve 10 and emergency personal help button device 20A for storing necessary daily use items carried by a user. Hanging from the cover by a jump ring 7 and chain 6 (below it on the chest-belly of the subscriber) is a small—light “change purse” like decorative pouch 80 of the same design as the cover which can contain, key, medicine, money, ID, credit card, etc.
Also in FIG. 14, a necklace 40, such as a decorative chain necklace or lanyard is attached to a top of the cover sleeve 10 for attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help button device around a neck of a user. A jump ring 7, such as that shown to attach the pouch 80 at the bottom may also be used at the top for attaching the necklace or lanyard, but any conventional attaching means may be used such as having a gromet built into the cover sleeve material.
In FIG. 15, a loop sleeve 100A is attached to the centor of the back of the cover sleeve 10 covering the emergency personal help device 20F to receive a bracelet or wrist band attached to the cover sleeve 10 for attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help button device to a wrist of a user.
In FIG. 16, a jump ring 7 is attached to the bottom of the cover sleeve 10 at attach a chain or other connecting means to the jump ring for attaching keys or a change purse or other personal user accessories to the cover sleeve 10 housing the emergency personal help device.
In FIG. 17, a pocket 90 with a top opening 91 is attached to the cover sleeve 10 on a back surface of the cover sleeve for storing necessary daily use items carried by a user. The pocket 90 can be sewn into some covers on the front and/or the back and can contain a house key, a photograph, a credit card, or ID or other small item needed on a daily basis carried by a person.
In FIG. 18, an alternate pocket 90 with a top opening 91 has a clear plastic face 92 on the pocket to allow an ID or photo to show through the pocket.
In FIG. 19, a bracket sleeve 100B is attached to a top portion of the back of the cover sleeve 10 for attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help button device to a belt worn by a user.
In FIG. 20, a loop bracket 100C is attached to the top of the back of a cover sleeve 10 for receiving a keychain attached to the loop bracket so that the styled cover sleeve and personal use accessory comprises a styled keychain fob.
In FIGS. 21 and 22, a pouch-type of cover sleeve 10 with a single top opening 11 may be used for mobile devices which are medical alert devices that use GPS & cellular technology. They can range in size but are generally about 3″ tall×2.5″ across (wide) and 0.50 to 0.75 thick. The pouch is meant to make it look more attractive in a purse or pocket. The pouch could also be used for a cell phone. Some of the “mobile” medical alert devices have a clip on them (others are just one smooth piece) to be attached to pants waistband, pocket, purse, briefcase, duffle. The pouch would be able to slip “under” the retracting clip part. There is also button to press for help (on most) on this mobile device and I have decorative covers which have a gem embellishment over the button to indicate where the press button is and to make it easier to press. The mobile devices can be used anywhere there is cellular service. Many of the mobile devices are like a walky-talky and the senior or person with a disability can communicate with the appropriate help as needed. The thin Spandex material would not hamper the voice communication. The pouches are available in all 6 styles (iron-on etc.) and would come in appropriate sizes depending on the given manufacturer.
The present invention thereby provides a universally adaptable combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory adapted to removably and interchangeably cover and camouflage any of a variety of emergency personal help button devices and adapted to transform each device into a styled clothing accessory which is visually appealing and socially acceptable to encourage wearing the styled clothing accessory at all times, so that the personal use accessory is available to use for daily personal use functions and the emergency help button is available to signal for emergency help whenever it is needed.
It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A universally adaptable styled combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory adapted to removably and interchangeably cover and camouflage any of a variety of emergency personal help button devices and adapted to transform each device into a styled clothing accessory which is visually appealing and socially acceptable to encourage wearing the styled clothing accessory at all times, so that the personal use accessory is available to use for daily personal use functions and the emergency help button is available to signal for emergency help whenever it is needed, the cover sleeve and personal use accessory comprising, in combination:

a decorative stretchable tubular cover sleeve configured to be adjustable, removable, and interchangeable when installed over any of a variety of emergency personal help button devices to cover and camouflage the device and to transform the device into a styled clothing accessory which is visually appealing and socially acceptable, the cover sleeve adapted to enable the user to remove and interchange the cover sleeve with another cover sleeve to transform the personal help button device into another styled clothing accessory having a different style to match a style of clothing of the user, to encourage wearing the transformed clothing accessory at all times so an emergency personal help button is always available to press for emergency help when needed, the tubular cover sleeve fabricated of a highly stretchable thin material in the shape of a tube with a stretchable opening on at least one end adapted to receive any of a variety of emergency personal help button devices through the stretchable opening, the tubular cover sleeve stretchable opening adapted to contract closed over the emergency personal help button device after receiving the emergency help button device therethrough, so that the emergency personal help button device is concealed within the styled tubular cover sleeve, the tubular cover sleeve fabricated of a material sufficiently thin and flexible to allow a compressible emergency personal help button of the personal help button device underneath the tubular cover sleeve to be distinguishable by touch and to be compressible through the tubular cover sleeve so that the cover sleeve is adapted for pressing the emergency help button through the thin and flexible material of the cover sleeve;

the tubular cover sleeve further comprising a user distinguishable button pressing portion of the cover sleeve configured to be positioned over a compressible emergency personal help button on the emergency personal help button device within the tubular cover sleeve to further assist a user wearing the transformed device to press the compressible emergency personal help button through the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve to summon emergency help;

at least one personal use accessory attached to the tubular cover sleeve, the personal use accessory matching the material and visual appearance of the tubular cover sleeve to combine with the tubular cover sleeve to transform the personal emergency help button device into a styled clothing accessory adapted to be worn by a user, the personal use accessory adapted to be available to use for daily personal use functions;

thereby providing a universally adaptable combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory adapted to removably and interchangeably cover and camouflage any of a variety of emergency personal help button devices and adapted to transform each device into a styled clothing accessory which is visually appealing and socially acceptable to encourage wearing the styled clothing accessory at all times, so that the personal use accessory is available to use for daily personal use functions and the emergency help button is available to signal for emergency help whenever it is needed.

2. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim 1 wherein the at least one personal use accessory comprises at least one of a variety of different personal use accessories taken from the list of personal use accessories consisting of a pocket attached to the cover sleeve for storing necessary daily use items carried by a user, a pouch hanging downwardly from the cover sleeve for storing necessary daily use items carried by a user, a necklace attached to a top of the cover sleeve for attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help button device around a neck of a user, a jump ring attached to the cover sleeve for attaching a necklace to the jump ring for attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help button device around a neck of a user, a jump ring attached to the cover sleeve for attaching a lanyard to the jump ring for attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help button device around a neck of a user, a bracelet attached to the cover sleeve for attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help button device to a wrist of a user, a decorative wrist band attached to the cover sleeve for attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help button device to a wrist of a user, a loop bracket attached to a cover sleeve for attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help button device to a belt worn by a user, a loop bracket attached to a cover sleeve for receiving a keychain attached to the loop bracket so that the styled cover sleeve and personal use accessory comprises a styled keychain fob, a clip secured to the cover sleeve for attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help button device to an article of clothing or attachment to a clothing accessory so that the styled clothing accessory and personal use accessory comprises a styled clip-on clothing accessory.

3. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim 2 wherein the styled tubular cover sleeve is fabricated of any of a variety of different materials taken from a list of different materials consisting of SPANDEX, NEOPRENE, NYLON, ELASTANE, a stretchable blend of materials, rubber, stretchable cotton, woven fabric material combined with at least one concealed elasticized band at each end, stretchable silk, silk material combined with at least one concealed elasticized band at each end, stretchable velvet, velvet material combined with at least one concealed elasticized band at each end, stretchable satin, satin with at least one stretchable opening at each end.

4. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim 2 wherein the styled tubular cover sleeve and personal use accessory further comprises any of a variety of outer surfaces taken from the list of outer surfaces consisting of a colored surface, a patterned surface, an indicia bearing surface, an image bearing surface, a textured surface, an imprinted surface, a combined surface, a natural fabric surface, a styled surface, a coated surface, a painted surface, a metallic surface, a rumpled surface, a padded surface, a character surface, an embroidered surface, an iron-on patch surface and a sewn-on patch surface.

5. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim 2 wherein the styled tubular cover sleeve further comprises at least one personal adornment attached to the outer surface taken from a list of personal adornments consisting of at least one flat backed ornamental bead, at least one sequin, at least one ornamental button, at least one pendant, at least one locket, at least one piece of jewelry, at least one jewel, at least one gem stone, at least one charm, insignia, sparkles, metallic thread, embroidery, mesh, netting, lace, formed character features, iron-on patches, sewn-on patches, hanging dangles, jump rings, chains, beads, at least one decorative hanging chain, at least one jump ring, and at least one clear faceted stone.

6. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim 2 wherein the styled tubular cover sleeve and personal use accessory are fabricated of a water tolerant quick drying material to enable washing the material and to enable wearing the emergency help button with the cover sleeve in a shower or bath and in inclement weather so that the emergency button may be worn at all times by the user.

7. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim 1 further comprising a distinguishable element positioned on the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve over the personal help button to indicate to a user where to push on the cover sleeve to activate the personal help button underneath the distinguishable element to signal for emergency help, the distinguishable element having a size and shape equal to or smaller than the personal help button to insure that the user will push only the personal help button and not push any other part of a casing surrounding the personal help button.

8. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim 7 wherein the distinguishable element comprises at least one visible element taken from the list of visible elements consisting of at least one printed indicia, at least one embroidered indicia, at least one attachment, at least one pattern variation, at least one color variation, at least one shape variation, at least one texture variation.

9. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim 7 wherein the distinguishable element comprises at least one tactile element taken from the list of tactile elements consisting of at least one tactile fabric variation, at least one texture variation, at least one added tactile material, at least one tactile decorative element, at least one tactile functional element.

10. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim 7 wherein the distinguishable element comprises at least one audible element taken from the list of audible elements consisting of at least one sound producing finger heat sensing element, at least one sound producing finger sensing light sensor element, at least one sound producing finger detecting proximity sensing element to indicate audibly when in the dark or when a blind user's finger is adjacent to the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve.

11. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim 7 wherein the distinguishable element comprises at least one combination element taken from the list of combination elements consisting of at least one visible element combined with at least one audible element, at least one visible element combined with at least one tactile element, at least one audible element combined with at least one tactile element, and at least one visible element combined with at least one audible element and at least one tactile element.

12. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim 11 wherein the distinguishable element comprises at least one personal adornment, attached to the button pressing portion on an outer surface of the tubular cover sleeve, taken from a list of personal adornments consisting of at least one flat ornamental bead, at least one sequin, at least one ornamental button, at least one pendant, at least one locket, at least one charm, raised insignia, sparkles, metallic thread, embroidery, mesh, netting, lace, the at least one decorative element being smaller than the emergency button to permit ease of pressing the emergency button without contacting a casing holding the button.

13. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim 7 further comprising means for aligning the cover sleeve with the emergency personal help button device so that the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve aligns with the emergency personal help button beneath the cover sleeve.

14. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim 1 wherein the emergency personal help button device comprises at least two emergency personal help buttons pressed simultaneously and the cover sleeve comprises at least two button pressing portions each positioned over one of the at least two emergency personal help buttons.

15. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim 1 further comprising means for signaling a user that the emergency help button has been pressed properly through the cover sleeve to send a signal for emergency help.

16. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim 1 wherein a pouch-type of cover sleeve with a single top opening covers a mobile device which is a medical alert device that use GPS & cellular technology.