WO1994020939A1

WO1994020939A1 - Device for warning of the absence of activity in households occupied by a single person

Info

Publication number: WO1994020939A1
Application number: PCT/EP1994/000626
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Dusan Misik
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-03-04
Filing date: 1994-03-03
Publication date: 1994-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 1995-09-04
Also published as: AU6257794A

Abstract

Warning device for warning of the absence of activity in households with a single occupier whose main purpose is to draw attention if after a preset period of time has elaspsed no movement has occurred within its protection zone, characterised in that it comprises a motion detector (1) operatively associated with a timer (2) and an alarm switch (3), said timer being set to a time delay proportional to a normal sleeping time, said timer actuating an interior alarm (5) if said motion detector (1) has not sensed any movement in its protection zone (4) once said time delay has elapsed, said interior alarm (5) actuating an exterior alarm (6) via telephone or sound alarm if it has not been switched off within a short predetermined period of time, said exterior alarm (6) ringing on until somebody enters said protected zone (4), and wherein said timer is automatically reset each time the motion detector (1) senses a movement.

Description

DEVICE FOR WARNING OF THE ABSENCE OF ACTIVITY IN HOUSEHOLDS OCCUPIED BY A SINGLE PERSON

Field of the invention

The present invention relates, as hereunder stated, to a warning device for warning of the absence of activity in a household with a single occupier, the purpose of which device is to draw atten¬ tion of people if no movement has taken place in its protection zone since a predetermined period of time. Background of the invention

Up to now, there has been a problem with people living alone. This problem can arise when due to an unforeseeable indisposi¬ tion which impedes movement or to some other similar reason the lonely person cannot call for help.

Cases are known in which, as said above, a person which was living alone has been suffering for a long time, and has even died, without being able to call somebody or has suddenly collapsed and a long period of time elapsed before she or he was discovered. Such cases represent serious social and sanitary problems. Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a warning device for warning of the absence of activity in a household with a single occu¬ pier which can overcome the above-mentionned drawbacks. If the present warning device has not sensed any movement within a preset- table period of time which can be considered as normal as for example evening rest or sleeping time, it will activate an alarm inside the house and, should this interior alarm not having been switched off after a short period of time this interior alarm will be desactivated and an exterior alarm will then be activated.

In order to achieve this object, the warning device of the present invention comprises a motion detector associated with a timer and an alarm switch in order to perform the previous operations. Once installed, the device only requires a programmation of the normal time for an absence of activity or movement and, in extended period of absence such as holidays or the like, to be disconnected. Under any other circumstance, a detection of some activity by the motion detec- tor incorporated therein always resets the device according to the preset time for an absence of activity.

Its simple configuration, easy installation and simple use are, among others, the main advantages which make the present warning device a very useful tool in solving the problem encountered in house- holds with a single occupier.

Description of the drawings

In order to complement the present description and to get a better understanding of the features of the present invention, a sheet of drawings is included with the present application as an integral part of it, in which the only figure is a block diagram showing the structure of the device for warning of the absence of activity in households with a single occupier according to the invention. Preferred embodiment of the invention

As can be seen from the single figure, the warning device for warning of the absence of activity in a household with a single occu¬ pier according to the invention comprises a motion detector 1 which can be an infrared, ultrasonic sensor or the like, operatively connected with a timer 2 and an alarm switch 3 in such a way that if when the timer 2 has been set to a time delay proportional to a normal sleeping time the motion detector 1 has not sensed any movement within a protected zone 4 of the households after that time has elapsed, which zone is preferably the passageway to the bathroom, the device actua¬ tes an interior alarm 5; if after a short period of time such as for example one minute this interior alarm 5 has not been switched off an exterior alarm 6 will be actuated such as for example via a telephone or sound alarm.

Obviously if no movement exists within the protected zone 4 during the preset period of time, the timer 2 outputs a signal to switch on the alarm switch 3 but if any movement occurs within said zone 4 before the end of the time delay d e timer 2 will be automatically reset and this happens every time a movement is detected. If for example the timer 2 has been set with a time delay of eight hours and die detec¬ tor 1 senses a movement after four hours, as for example the move¬ ment of the occupier who goes to the bathroom, at that point the timer is automatically reset so that eight more hours must again elapse befo¬ re the alarm 5 can be activated.

The exterior alarm 6 will remain operating until somebody enters the house and specifically enters the protected zone 4.

In case of a longer absence, much longer than the preset time delay, the user will have to switch off an ON/OFF switch 7 provided in the alarm switch 3 and connected via Q to the timer 2. In this way only the interior alarm 5 will operate without actuating the exterior alarm 6. This function insures that when the user comes back home he does not forget to switch back the ON/OFF switch 7 to the ON posi- tion.

From the former description it can be seen that the device warning of the absence of activity takes care of all circumstances which can arise in the presence or absence of people, due to a full level of protection being reached anddiat through its use unique advantages are derived as it only requires a minimum attention from the user.

It is considered not necessary to further explain the above description as those versed in the technical field will understand die scope of the invention as well as all the advantages provided Uiereby. Many changes, modifications and variations in die materials, shape, size and arrangement of the parts of the present invention can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

All terms used in die present specification shall be conside¬ red in their general and by no way limitating sense.

Claims

1. Warning device for warning of the absence of activity in households widi a single occupier whose main purpose is to draw attention if after a preset period of time has elapsed no movement has occurred wid in its protection zone, characterised in that it comprises a motion detector (1) operatively associated widi a timer (2) and an alarm switch (3), said timer being set to a time delay proportionnal to a normal sleeping time, said timer actuating an interior alarm (5) if said motion detector (1) has not sensed any movement in its protection zone (4) once said time delay has elapsed, said interior alarm (5) ac- mating an exterior alarm (6) via telephone or sound alarm if it has not been switched off within a short predetermined period of time, said exterior alarm (6) ringing on until somebody enters said protected zo¬ ne (4), and wherein said timer is automatically reset each time the mo¬ tion detector (1) senses a movement.

2. Warning device for warning of die absence of activity in households with a single occupier according to claim 1, characterised in that the alarm switch (3) includes an ON/OFF switch (7) for dis¬ connection (OFF position) during an extended period of absence, and in tiiat when said ON/OFF switch is in d e OFF position the interior alarm (5) operates periodically in accordance with the preset time delay of die timer (2) so tiiat when the user comes back home he is warned to switch back said switch (7) to the ON position.