Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-04
2001-08-21
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S539230, C340S574000, C342S457000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278370
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to locating and tracking apparatuses and more particularly, to a locating and tracking apparatus for lost or abducted children.
2. Description of the Related Art
The safety and well being of children takes the utmost priority in the lives of most people and most particularly in the lives of the parents and/or care givers. To that objective, people have been turning to technology more and more to protect children. Such technological means have included both audio and video monitors, alarm systems and the like. One danger to children that is one of the most frightful to parents and/or care givers is the threat of abduction or of the child becoming lost. While such technology exists for protection of automobiles against similar threats such as car jacking and theft, this technology has not been used to protect children against similar threats.
The previous art consists of many examples of devices that will alert parents and/or care givers to possible dangers to children against unintentional separation of the child from the parent and/or care giver greater than a predetermined distance. Examples of such prior art include the following:
U.S. Pat. No.
Inventor
Issue Date
5,650,770
Schlager et al.
Jul. 22, 1997
5,557,259
Musa
Sep. 17, 1996
5,389,915
Chen
Feb. 14, 1995
4,899,135
Ghahariiran
Feb. 6, 1990
4,785,291
Hawthorne
Nov. 15, 1988
4,675,656
Narcisse
Jun. 23, 1987
4,593,273
Narcisse
Jun. 3, 1986
While these devices serve a purpose in the retention of young children in crowded areas or in retaining the child in a specific area such as a yard or playground, they do not protect the child that may be older and thus allowed a greater distance from home. Many children become lost and/or abducted while returning from school, playing at a friend's house or while engaged in extended outdoor activities such as hiking or camping. The above-mentioned devices do not allow for protection of the child in such circumstances and are thus unsuitable for the application. Also, these devices work with a dedicated matched receiver that has a limited range, and as such is not suitable for locating a child that has traveled a great distance, such as when abducted by car, away from the original location. Some abductions of children involve the moving of the children into other countries using airplanes, where clearly only a worldwide monitoring system would suffice.
Other prior art includes security devices in which a lost or abducted child can be located by using a radio receiver that monitors the signal transmitted by a matching transmitter in possession of the lost or abducted child. Examples of such prior art include the following:
U.S. Pat. No
Inventor
Issue Date
5,714,932
Castellon et al.
Feb. 3, 1998
5,617,074
White
Apr. 1, 1997
5,121,096
Moore et al.
Jun. 9, 1992
5,115,223
Moody
May. 19, 1992
5,025,247
Banks
Jun. 18, 1991
4,777,478
Hirsch et al.
Oct. 11, 1988
4,736,196
McMahon et al.
Apr. 5, 1988
While these devices allow for the alerting of parents and/or care givers, they require the use of a large and/or cumbersome transmitter. While such a transmitter may be acceptable to adults, children are less likely to carry such a device on a regular basis. Additionally, these devices suffer from the same problem as listed above, that is the problem of requiring a matched receiver with only a limited receiving distance.
Consequently, a need has been felt for providing a device and method which overcomes the problems cited above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved child locating and tracking apparatus.
It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide an improved child locating and tracking apparatus that allows for the location of a child in danger anywhere in the world without the use of specific matched receivers.
It is therefore yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved child locating and tracking apparatus which utilizes a transmitter of small size such that it always may be continually carried by the child whether at home, school, at play or travel.
It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide an improved child locating and tracking apparatus that utilizes a transmitter that may easily be concealed in such articles of clothing or adornments such as shoes, coats, watches, earrings, bracelets, rings and the like.
It is therefore yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved child locating and tracking apparatus that allows for the determination of distance and bearing to a lost or abducted child in a quick and timely manner.
Briefly described according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an improved child locating and tracking apparatus which provides for the location of a child that is lost, abducted or in general danger to be quickly located is disclosed. The apparatus uses a small transmitter that is always carried by the child and as such, is always present when danger arises. The transmitter is easily disguised and hidden in the child's clothing or personal adornments such as shoes, coats, watches, earrings, bracelets, rings and the like. The apparatus uses a system of world wide receivers such as those provided by local cellular telephone towers or by low earth orbiting satellites used for low power communication. When a child is lost or in danger, the child simply activates the transmitter which sends a signal to a central reporting station or stations where trained personnel will contact the respective parents and/or care givers to determine if the child could possibly be in danger. If an affirmative decision is reached, the monitoring station personnel will then assist the local law enforcement officials in the respective area anywhere in the world where the alarm was received in locating the child and removing the child from harm's path.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a device that can be easily produced using existing technology, materials and assembly techniques.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it is simple, and therefore, inexpensive to manufacture. This savings, if passed on to the consumer, may influence the public to utilize such a device. A simple design also increases product reliability and useful product lifetime.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4591836 (1986-05-01), Feigenblatt, Jr. et al.
patent: 5021794 (1991-06-01), Lawrence
patent: 5521582 (1996-05-01), Kingston
patent: 5712619 (1998-01-01), Simkin
patent: 5742233 (1998-04-01), Hoffman et al.
patent: 6014080 (1998-10-01), Layson, Jr.
Gugliotta John D.
Nguyen Phung
Wu Daniel J.
LandOfFree
Child locating and tracking apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Child locating and tracking apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Child locating and tracking apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2448861