Patent Application
20240315595
A wearable device includes a band, and a smart watch coupled to the band, and having a face and a display. A blood alcohol tester is integrated with the smart watch, the blood alcohol tester coupled to the smart watch to provide blood alcohol reports to the smart watch upon testing for blood alcohol level.
A method of testing blood alcohol content with a wearable device includes providing the wearable device with a breathalyzer blood alcohol tester integrated with an operating system of the wearable device. A port coupler and attached tube are rotated from a stowed position to an active position. The port is opened by a predetermined motion of the port coupler and attached tube. The blood alcohol is tested by blowing into the breath tube.
This summary is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of wearable blood alcohol testers as described herein. Many other novel advantages, features, and relationships will become apparent as this description proceeds. The figures and the description that follow more particularly exemplify illustrative embodiments.
In general, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a blood alcohol breathalyzer type blood alcohol tester in a wearable smart watch. The watch itself may be any type of wearable smart watch, such as but not limited to FitBit, AppleWatch, or the like. In addition to its typical smart watch capabilities, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a portion of the watch face with a visible blood alcohol breathalyzer type tester.
Alcoholic drinks are a favorite beverage of many people. Unfortunately, when alcohol is consumed to excess, bad decisions often result. The drinker may decide to drive, call someone and say things that should not be sad, or buy things on impulse that can cause additional financial, physical, or emotional hardship. Most people do not start out wanting to end up in an inebriated state, but parameters such as time, consumption of food, unknown alcohol levels in drinks and the lake can all affect a person in different ways. The only sure way of determining blood alcohol level is via a breathalyzer or blood test. Unfortunately, such testing means are not always available, and even if they are, they are not discreet to use. Accordingly, there exists a need for a blood alcohol tester that may be used at any time in a discreet manner.
When a person is in a position where they have been consuming alcohol, there are some portable options for making a quick test of blood alcohol content. However, many such devices are not immediately accessible, and may not be remembered when the time comes to operate a vehicle. Such options include pocket sized breathalyzers, such as may be carried in a pocket, purse, or the like, or stowed in a glove box or center console of a vehicle. When such items are not in plain sight, they may be much more likely not to be used, as the potential user may momentarily forget to use them, or forget they are even available.
In contrast, most watch users refer to their watches multiple time an hour, or even more, such as to check the time, to review text message that has been received, taking a phone call, when a reminder or the like is provided, when a fitness app on the watch indicates it is time for some movement, and the like. Accordingly, most smart watch users are much more likely to look at their smart watches routinely, and often many times during the course of an hour or a night out. As such, a smart watch that has a breathalyzer type blood alcohol tester on the actual face of the watch is much more likely to be used, as it will be in the mid of a potential user many times over the course of multiple checks of the smart watch.
In one embodiment, the watch includes a breathalyzer with requisite components for analysis and connections to the smart watch to display readings of blood alcohol content. In one embodiment, a port is provided in a watch face with a replaceable tube that connects to the port and folds down to be stored when not in use. The port is coupled to received breath blown through the tube to the breathalyzer for analysis. When not in use, the tube connected to the port is stowed in a cavity or other opening so as to render the watch flat or nearly flat for regular use. When it is desired to use the breathalyzer to
It should be noted that the same reference numerals are used in different figures for same or similar elements. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments, and the terminology is not intended to be limiting. Unless indicated otherwise, ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third, etc.) are used to distinguish or identify different elements or steps in a group of elements or steps, and do not supply a serial or numerical limitation on the elements or steps of the embodiments thereof. For example, “first.” “second,” and “third” elements or steps need not necessarily appear in that order, and the embodiments thereof need not necessarily be limited to three elements or steps. It should also be understood that, unless indicated otherwise, any labels such as “left.” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top.” “bottom,” “forward,” “reverse,” “clockwise,” “counter clockwise,” “up,” “down,” or other similar terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “aft.” “fore,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “proximal,” “distal,” “intermediate” and the like are used for convenience and are not intended to imply, for example, any particular fixed location, orientation, or direction. Instead, such labels are used to reflect, for example, relative location, orientation, or directions. It should also be understood that the singular forms of “a.” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The breathalyzer contains circuitry and systems common to breathalyzers to allow it to accurately read a user's blood alcohol level. In one embodiment, the breathalyzer 110 is actuated and accessed through a port 112 that is normally closed, a port coupler 114 rotatable from a first stowed position (
In one embodiment, the smart watch 104 is coupled to display output from the blood alcohol tester 110 on the display 108 when the blood alcohol tester is used. In this embodiment, the smart watch 104 and the blood alcohol tester 110 operate and/or interact with an app on the smart watch 104 that is configured to communicate with and store and monitor readings from the blood alcohol tester. In another embodiment, the wearable device 100 is configured to pair to an external cellular telephone for maintaining records related to the blood alcohol tester 110.
In another embodiment, the blood alcohol tester 110 and/or the app operable on the smart watch 104 is configured to use Bluetooth, WIFI, cellular, or other wireless communication to make at least one notification of a determined blood alcohol content not only to the display 108 of the smart watch 104, but also to a third party, upon use of the blood alcohol tester.
In another embodiment, a clasp lock 130 may be used on the band 102 to releasably lock the band 102 and therefore the wearable device 100 to a wrist of a user. While a clasp lock is shown, it should be understood that different locking mechanisms may be used without departing from the scope of the disclosure, and that such locking mechanisms would be evident to one of skill in the art, and as such, are not described further herein. The locking on of the wearable device to the wrist of the user facilitates any required type of testing by not allowing the user to remove the device.
For example, a person under guardianship, underage, or the like, may be required to have the wearable device on their wrist, and to test at a certain time. Should the test not occur, the wearable device may in one embodiment notify a third party that the test did not occur. Alternatively, the wearable device can communicate to the third party results of such a test.
A method 150 of testing blood alcohol content with a wearable device blood alcohol tester is shown in flowchart form in
The method further comprises in one embodiment the wearable device displaying output from the blood alcohol tester upon use thereof. The method further comprises in one embodiment the wearable device pairing to a cellular telephone for maintaining records related to the blood alcohol tester. The method further comprises in one embodiment the wearable device operating an application configured to store and monitor readings from the blood alcohol tester. The method further comprises in one embodiment the blood alcohol tester using the wearable device to make at least one notification of a determined blood alcohol content to a third party upon use of the blood alcohol tester.
Other features of wearable devices such as smart watches, such as but not limited to taking blood pressure, pulse, providing access to the Internet, telephone, messaging, and the like are available in embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiments are capable of being wirelessly coupled to a smart phone, or operated directly from the smart watch. The wearable device with breathalyzer according to embodiment of the present disclosure appears as a conventional smart watch with a band, display, control switches, rechargeable battery, and the like. The embodiments can report date, time, and other parameters to any paired smart phone. In addition to all functions of a traditional smart watch, embodiment of the present disclosure are equipped with a breathalyzer accessible via a port in the face of the watch, the breathalyzer function is accessed via connection of a tube to the port, rotation of the tube to make it accessible, and a correction and opening of the port via some mechanism, such as pressing the tube and twisting it to open the port. Once the port is open, the breathalyzer function of the watch is activated, and a breath test may be effected by blowing into the tube for a specified period of time. Once activated, the watch display, or a separate display for the breathalyzer, may be used to provide instructions on its operation. Once the test is complete, the tube and port may be deactivated, and the tube folded back to a stored position. Replacement tubes for use with additional tests may also be provided.
The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the true scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law. the scope of the present disclosure is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 63/453,723, filed on Mar. 21, 2023, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63453723 | Mar 2023 | US |
