Patent Application
20230285835
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The disclosure relates to passing runner alerting device and more particularly pertains to a new passing runner alerting device for allowing a person to alert others they are about to pass without using their voice. This is particularly helpful when the person is physically stressed from exercising and cannot easily vocalize a warning that they are overtaking another person.
The prior art relates generally to sound makers such as bells that are positioned on a bicycle but which are not conducive for wearing or using while running.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing that has a top wall, a bottom wall, and a perimeter wall attached to extending between the top and bottom walls. A wristband is attached to the housing and is releasably mounts the housing on a person's wrist. A sound emitter is mounted in the housing and emits a warning sound having a volume of at least 70 decibels when turned on. The sound emitter includes a switch mounted on the housing. The sound emitter is turned on to emit an alert sound when the switch is actuated.
In another embodiment, a method of warning a forward person on a path that a rearward person on the path is imminently about to pass the forward person includes placing on the wrist of the rearward person a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a perimeter wall attached to extending between the top and bottom walls. A wristband is attached to the housing and releasably mounts the housing on the rearward person's wrist. A sound emitter, in the housing, is actuated by the rearward person as the rearward person approaches the forward person to alert the forward person of a position of the rearward person and that the rearward person is about to pass the forward person. An alert sound is emitted by the sound emitter when the sound emitter is actuated.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A wristband 24 is attached to the housing 12 and is configured to releasably mount the housing 12 on a person's wrist. The wristband 24 may include a first section 26 attached to the housing 12 and a second section 28 attached to the housing 12 opposite of the first section 26. A coupler 30 releasably secures the first 26 and second 28 sections together. The coupler 30 may include conventional wristband closures such as clasps and buckles, though snaps, hooks and loop couplers, and magnets may also be employed. Alternatively, the wristband 24 may be a resiliently stretchable material which does not include a coupler such as a buckle or clasp.
A sound emitter 32 is mounted in the housing 12. The sound emitter 32 is typically capable of emitting an alert sound 34 having a volume of at least 70 decibels when turned on. Generally, the sound will be between 70 decibels and 90 decibels. The sound emitter 32 may be programmable or include a volume control should the user determine that particular circumstances warrant louder or quieter alert sounds 34. The sound emitter 32 includes at least one speaker 36. The perimeter wall 18 includes a front edge 38 which will typically be directed toward the user's hand, wherein the front edge 38 has a plurality of openings 40 extending therethrough. The speaker 36 is directed toward the openings 40 to facilitate the directing of the sound by the person using the device 10. In some embodiments, the openings 40 are positioned between the first 26 and second 28 wrist sections.
The sound emitter 32 includes a control chip 42 that is programmed with an alert sound 34 and the device 10 may include the ability to re-program or pre-program the control chip 42 to produce selectable alternate alert sounds 34. The alert sound 34 may comprise any sound emitted that will effectively warn a person that another person is about to pass on a path. Thus, the alert sound 34 may be a programmed voice stating that a person is about to pass or may include a conventional beeping or chirping sound. For chirping or beeping sounds, the alert sound will typically have a frequency of between 1000 Hz and 5000 Hz. A power supply 44, such as a battery, is mounted in the housing 12 and electrically coupled to the control chip 42.
The sound emitter 32 includes a switch 46 mounted on the housing 12. The sound emitter 32 is turned on to emit the alert sound 34 when the switch 46 is actuated. The switch 46 may comprise a push button positioned on the top wall 14 wherein the alert sound 34 is emitted only when the push button is forcibly depressed. However, the control chip 42 may be programmed so that the alert sound 34 plays for a pre-determined amount of time each time the switch 46 is actuated.
In use, the device 10 is used for alerting walkers, bike riders, and the like that a person is passing them on a trail 48, such as trails, paths, or walkways used for running, biking, and walking. As an example provided for in
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
