U.S. patent application number 13/920049 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-18 for cover sleeve to transform emergency personal help button into clothing accessory.
The applicant listed for this patent is Lisa Marie West. Invention is credited to Lisa Marie West.
Application Number | 20140366249 13/920049 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52017925 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140366249 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
West; Lisa Marie |
December 18, 2014 |
COVER SLEEVE TO TRANSFORM EMERGENCY PERSONAL HELP BUTTON INTO
CLOTHING ACCESSORY
Abstract
An elasticized styled cover sleeve 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.
Inventors: |
West; Lisa Marie;
(Attleboro, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
West; Lisa Marie |
Attleboro |
MA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52017925 |
Appl. No.: |
13/920049 |
Filed: |
June 17, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/244 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 25/001 20130101;
A44C 3/001 20130101; A44C 15/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/244 |
International
Class: |
A41D 27/08 20060101
A41D027/08; A41D 27/00 20060101 A41D027/00 |
Claims
1. An adaptable cover sleeve to cover and camouflage any of a
variety of emergency personal help button devices and transform
each 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, the cover sleeve comprising: 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 each personal
help button device to transform the device into a familiar clothing
accessory which is visually appealing and socially acceptable to be
worn by a user at all times, and enabling the user to remove and
interchange the cover sleeve with another cover sleeve to transform
the personal help button device into another familiar 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 the personal help button is always available to the
user to press for emergency help when needed; the cover sleeve
further comprises a button pressing portion of the cover sleeve
configured to fit over a compressible emergency personal help
button on the emergency personal help button device to enable the
user wearing the transformed device to press the help button
through the button pressing portion of the cover sleeve to summon
emergency help; thereby providing a universally adaptable
transforming cover sleeve for transforming any of a variety of
personal emergency help button devices into a familiar clothing
accessory being visually appealing and socially acceptable and
matching the style of clothing of the wearer to encourage wearing
the clothing accessory at all times, for the safety and security of
the wearer to enable the wearer to signal for emergency help
whenever it is needed.
2. The cover sleeve of claim 1 wherein the cover sleeve comprises a
styled tubular cover sleeve having an outer surface simulating a
styled clothing accessory to match a clothing style worn by a user,
the styled tubular cover sleeve fabricated of stretch material
smaller than the outer perimeter of the emergency personal help
button device so that the styled tubular cover sleeve stretches
open to receive the emergency personal help button device inserted
within the styled tubular cover sleeve and contracts closed over
the emergency personal help button device so that the emergency
personal help button device is concealed within the styled tubular
cover sleeve 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.
3. The cover sleeve 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 including SPANDEX, LYCRA,
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 cover sleeve of claim 2 wherein the styled tubular cover
sleeve 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, a character surface, an embroidered surface, an iron-on
patch surface and a sewn-on patch surface.
5. The cover sleeve 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
including 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 cover sleeve of claim 2 wherein the styled tubular cover
sleeve is 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 cover sleeve of claim 2 wherein the styled clothing
accessory further comprises a neck encircling element so that the
styled clothing accessory comprises a styled necklace worn by a
user.
8. The cover sleeve of claim 2 wherein the styled clothing
accessory further comprises a wrist encircling element so that the
styled clothing accessory comprises a styled bracelet worn by a
user.
9. The cover sleeve of claim 8 further comprising at least one
additional tubular portion for covering the wrist encircling
element to prevent direct contact of the wrist encircling element
with the skin of the user.
10. The cover sleeve of claim 2 wherein the styled clothing
accessory further comprises a clip 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.
11. The cover sleeve of claim 2 wherein the styled clothing
accessory further comprises a keychain and keychain fob covered by
the cover sleeve so that the styled clothing accessory comprises a
styled keychain fob.
12. The cover sleeve 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.
13. The cover sleeve of claim 12 wherein 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.
14. The cover sleeve of claim 12 wherein the distinguishable
element comprises 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.
15. The cover sleeve of claim 12 wherein the distinguishable
element comprises 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 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.
16. The cover sleeve of claim 12 wherein the distinguishable
element comprises 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.
17. The cover sleeve of claim 16 wherein the at least one visible
element combined with at least one tactile 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 including 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.
18. The cover sleeve of claim 12 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.
19. The cover sleeve 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.
20. The cover sleeve 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.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0003] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention relates to personal electronic
signaling devices and in particular to a universally adaptable
transforming styled cover sleeve for transforming any personal
emergency help button device into a familiar clothing accessory
which is visually appealing and socially acceptable and which is
interchangeable to enable a user to remove and replace the styled
cover sleeve with a differently styled cover sleeve 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 for the safety and security of
the wearer to be 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.
[0006] 2. Description of Related Art Including Information
Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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.
[0014] 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.
[0015] 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.
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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.
[0018] What is needed is a universally applicable device that can
be installed on any emergency help button device to transform the
emergency help button device into a normally worn 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.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] A primary object of the present invention is to 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 by providing a visually appealing
universally adaptable styled cover sleeve device for transforming
any personal emergency help button device into a normally worn
clothing accessory which is visually appealing to encourage wearing
the transformed personal emergency help button at all times for the
safety and security of the wearer to be able to signal for
emergency help whenever it is needed.
[0020] A corollary object of the present invention is to provide a
decorative stretchable tubular sleeve 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.
[0021] Another related object of the present invention is to
provide an interchangeable styled cover sleeve to enable a user to
remove and replace the styled cover sleeve with a differently
styled cover sleeve 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 for the
safety and security of the wearer to be 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.
[0022] One more object of the present invention is to provide
interchangeable cover sleeves 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.
[0023] An added object of the present invention is to provide a
personal help button cover sleeve 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.
[0024] A related object of the present invention is provide that
any appliques on the outer surface of the personal help button
cover sleeve are attached by waterproof means including waterproof
adhesives or sewing or other waterproof connecting means so that
the transformed personal help button with the cover sleeve around
the personal help button may be worn by the user at all times.
[0025] In brief, the present invention provides a stretchable
interchangeable styled cover sleeve formed of stretchable tubular
material in a variety of styles and colors with a variety of
attachments to fit 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 push
the personal help button whenever and wherever it is needed.
[0026] 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 attachments 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.
[0027] The styled cover sleeve 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.
[0028] 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 camouflaged personal help
so they can survive and can maintain their ability to reside in
their home in a health-threatening emergency by responding
instantly for emergency help when needed.
[0029] Another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides a wide variety of designer styles and colors of personal
help button cover sleeves.
[0030] 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.
[0031] 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.
[0032] A related advantage of the present invention is that
waterproof attachments of any appliques or embroidered design or
initial on the outer surface of the personal help button 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
[0033] 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:
[0034] 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;
[0035] 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;
[0036] 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;
[0037] 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;
[0038] 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;
[0039] 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;
[0040] 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;
[0041] 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;
[0042] 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;
[0043] 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;
[0044] 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;
[0045] 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;
[0046] 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;
[0047] 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;
[0048] 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;
[0049] 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.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0050] In FIGS. 1A-7C, 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.
[0051] 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.
[0052] 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.
[0053] 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.
[0054] 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.
[0055] 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.
[0056] 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.
[0057] 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.
[0058] 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.
[0059] 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.
[0060] 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.
[0061] 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.
[0062] 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.
[0063] 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.
[0064] 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.
[0065] 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.
[0066] 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.
[0067] 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.
[0068] In FIG. 2A, a decorative jewel 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.
[0069] 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 jewel 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 jewel 13, is smaller than the help button
30 itself so the decorative element does not interfere with
pressing the help button effectively.
[0070] In FIG. 3A, a decorative pendant 14 or locket or charm is
mounted on the decorative fabric 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.
[0071] 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.
[0072] 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.
[0073] In FIG. 4B, a sports image of a football 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.
[0074] 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 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.
[0075] In FIG. 5A, a car company logo or emblem 17 is embroidered
on or as a patch ironed or sewn onto the decorative fabric 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.
[0076] 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.
[0077] 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.
[0078] 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.
[0079] 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.
[0080] 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 piezoelectric 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 15, as shown in FIG. 4A to activate a
sound and/or light device attached contiguously or in another
location on the cover sleeve.
[0081] 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.
[0082] 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.
[0083] 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.
[0084] 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.
[0085] 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.
[0086] 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.
[0087] 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.
[0088] 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.
[0089] 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.
[0090] 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.
[0091] 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.
[0092] 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.
[0093] 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.
[0094] 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.
[0095] 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.
* * * * *