U.S. patent application number 14/886051 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-10 for emergency help button cover having personal use accessory.
The applicant listed for this patent is Lisa Marie West. Invention is credited to Lisa Marie West.
Application Number | 20160066636 14/886051 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55436269 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160066636 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
West; Lisa Marie |
March 10, 2016 |
EMERGENCY HELP BUTTON COVER HAVING PERSONAL USE ACCESSORY
Abstract
An elasticized styled cover sleeve, having an attached personal
use accessory, 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) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
West; Lisa Marie |
Attleboro |
MA |
US |
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|
Family ID: |
55436269 |
Appl. No.: |
14/886051 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13920049 |
Jun 17, 2013 |
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14886051 |
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62065588 |
Oct 17, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
150/154 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 27/08 20130101;
A45F 2200/0516 20130101; A45F 2005/006 20130101; A45F 2005/008
20130101; A44C 25/001 20130101; A44C 3/001 20130101; A45F 5/021
20130101; A44C 15/001 20130101; A45F 5/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41D 27/08 20060101
A41D027/08 |
Claims
1. A universally adaptable styled combination cover sleeve and
personal use accessory adapted to removably and interchangeably
cover and camouflage any of a variety of emergency personal help
button devices and adapted to transform each device into a styled
clothing accessory which is visually appealing and socially
acceptable to encourage wearing the styled clothing accessory at
all times, so that the personal use accessory is available to use
for daily personal use functions and the emergency help button is
available to signal for emergency help whenever it is needed, the
cover sleeve and personal use accessory comprising, in combination:
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 the device and to transform the device into a styled
clothing accessory which is visually appealing and socially
acceptable, the cover sleeve adapted to enable the user to remove
and interchange the cover sleeve with another cover sleeve to
transform the personal help button device into another styled
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 an emergency personal help button is
always available to press for emergency help when needed, the
tubular cover sleeve fabricated of a highly stretchable thin
material in the shape of a tube with a stretchable opening on at
least one end adapted to receive any of a variety of emergency
personal help button devices through the stretchable opening, the
tubular cover sleeve stretchable opening adapted to contract closed
over the emergency personal help button device after receiving the
emergency help button device therethrough, so that the emergency
personal help button device is concealed within the styled tubular
cover sleeve, the tubular cover sleeve fabricated of a material
sufficiently thin and flexible to allow a compressible emergency
personal help button of the personal help button device underneath
the tubular cover sleeve to be distinguishable by touch and to be
compressible through the tubular cover sleeve so that the cover
sleeve is adapted for pressing the emergency help button through
the thin and flexible material of the cover sleeve; the tubular
cover sleeve further comprising a user distinguishable button
pressing portion of the cover sleeve configured to be positioned
over a compressible emergency personal help button on the emergency
personal help button device within the tubular cover sleeve to
further assist a user wearing the transformed device to press the
compressible emergency personal help button through the button
pressing portion of the cover sleeve to summon emergency help; at
least one personal use accessory attached to the tubular cover
sleeve, the personal use accessory matching the material and visual
appearance of the tubular cover sleeve to combine with the tubular
cover sleeve to transform the personal emergency help button device
into a styled clothing accessory adapted to be worn by a user, the
personal use accessory adapted to be available to use for daily
personal use functions; thereby providing a universally adaptable
combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory adapted to
removably and interchangeably cover and camouflage any of a variety
of emergency personal help button devices and adapted to transform
each device into a styled clothing accessory which is visually
appealing and socially acceptable to encourage wearing the styled
clothing accessory at all times, so that the personal use accessory
is available to use for daily personal use functions and the
emergency help button is available to signal for emergency help
whenever it is needed.
2. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim
1 wherein the at least one personal use accessory comprises at
least one of a variety of different personal use accessories taken
from the list of personal use accessories consisting of a pocket
attached to the cover sleeve for storing necessary daily use items
carried by a user, a pouch hanging downwardly from the cover sleeve
for storing necessary daily use items carried by a user, a necklace
attached to a top of the cover sleeve for attaching the combination
cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help
button device around a neck of a user, a jump ring attached to the
cover sleeve for attaching a necklace to the jump ring for
attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory
and covered emergency help button device around a neck of a user, a
jump ring attached to the cover sleeve for attaching a lanyard to
the jump ring for attaching the combination cover sleeve and
personal use accessory and covered emergency help button device
around a neck of a user, a bracelet attached to the cover sleeve
for attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use
accessory and covered emergency help button device to a wrist of a
user, a decorative wrist band attached to the cover sleeve for
attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory
and covered emergency help button device to a wrist of a user, a
loop bracket attached to a cover sleeve for attaching the
combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered
emergency help button device to a belt worn by a user, a loop
bracket attached to a cover sleeve for receiving a keychain
attached to the loop bracket so that the styled cover sleeve and
personal use accessory comprises a styled keychain fob, a clip
secured to the cover sleeve for attaching the combination cover
sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help button
device to an article of clothing or attachment to a clothing
accessory so that the styled clothing accessory and personal use
accessory comprises a styled clip-on clothing accessory.
3. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory 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 consisting of SPANDEX, 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 combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim
2 wherein the styled tubular cover sleeve and personal use
accessory further comprises any of a variety of outer surfaces
taken from the list of outer surfaces consisting of 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 combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory 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 consisting of 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 combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim
2 wherein the styled tubular cover sleeve and personal use
accessory are 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 combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory 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.
8. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim
7 wherein the distinguishable element comprises at least one
visible element taken from the list of visible elements consisting
of 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.
9. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of claim
7 wherein the distinguishable element comprises at least one
tactile element taken from the list of tactile elements consisting
of 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.
10. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of
claim 7 wherein the distinguishable element comprises at least one
audible element taken from the list of audible elements consisting
of 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.
11. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of
claim 7 wherein the distinguishable element comprises at least one
combination element taken from the list of combination elements
consisting of 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.
12. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of
claim 11 wherein the distinguishable 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 consisting of 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.
13. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of
claim 7 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.
14. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory 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.
15. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory 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.
16. The combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory of
claim 1 wherein a pouch-type of cover sleeve with a single top
opening covers a mobile device which is a medical alert device that
use GPS & cellular technology.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present utility patent application is a
continuation-in-part of applicant's utility patent application Ser.
No. 13/920,049 filed Jun. 17, 2013 and claims the benefit of
applicant's provisional application 62/065,588 filed Oct. 17,
2014.
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 emergency
signaling devices and in particular to personal use accessories
attached to a universally adaptable transforming styled tubular
cover sleeve for transforming any personal emergency help button
device into a familiar clothing accessory which provides, in
combination, both an added functional element adapted for personal
use by a wearer and a personal emergency help button device adapted
for emergency use by a wearer to signal for emergency help,
together transformed into a visually appealing and socially
acceptable clothing accessory, which is interchangeable to enable a
user to remove and replace the styled cover sleeve and personal use
accessory with a differently styled cover sleeve and personal use
accessory to match the style of clothing of the wearer to encourage
wearing the transformed combination clothing accessory at all times
for the safety and security of the wearer for using the personal
use accessory as well as being 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] Men and women ages 65 and older are living independently and
wanting to stay at home. Ten thousand people in the US turn 65 each
day; the baby boomers are here. Of the people over 65 years of age,
33% will fall every year and 50% will fall again. Long lie times
increase the likelihood of a adverse outcome in which 33% will not
be able to return to the homes they love so dearly. There are 54
million people in the USA 65+ and there will be 62.7 million in
2017. A huge number of aging people worldwide face a similar
situation.
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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. Nor do they provide emergency help button
device covers with personal use accessories to transform the
emergency help button device and personal use accessory into an
attractive style clothing accessory that they will want to wear all
of the time.
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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.
[0014] 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.
[0015] 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.
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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.
[0018] 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.
[0019] What is needed is a universally applicable device combining
a styled personal emergency help button cover and personal use
accessory that can be installed on any emergency help button device
to transform the emergency help button device into a normally worn
styled 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 for the convenience
of the personal use accessory and the security of the personal
emergency help button device.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a
universally applicable device combining a styled personal emergency
help button cover and personal use accessory that can be installed
on any emergency help button device to transform the emergency help
button device into a normally worn styled clothing accessory which
is acceptable and attractive to the person in need 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
for the convenience of the personal use accessory and the security
of the personal emergency help button device, and thereby 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.
[0021] A corollary object of the present invention is to provide a
combined decorative stretchable tubular sleeve and personal use
accessory 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.
[0022] Another related object of the present invention is to
provide an interchangeable styled cover sleeve and personal use
accessory to enable a user to remove and replace the styled cover
sleeve and personal use accessory with a differently styled cover
sleeve and personal use accessory 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.
[0023] One more object of the present invention is to provide
interchangeable cover sleeves and personal use accessories 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.
[0024] An added object of the present invention is to provide a
personal help button cover sleeve and personal use accessory 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.
[0025] A related object of the present invention is provide that
any appliques on the outer surface of the personal help button
cover sleeve and personal use accessory are attached by waterproof
means including waterproof adhesives or sewing or other waterproof
connecting means so that the transformed personal help button
device may be worn by the user at all times.
[0026] In brief, the present invention provides an elasticized
stretchable interchangeable styled cover sleeve and attached
personal use accessory, the cover sleeve formed of stretchable
tubular material in a variety of styles and colors with a variety
of personal use accessories to attach to the cover sleeve. The
combined cover sleeve and personal use accessory 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 make use of the personal use
accessory at all times and be able to push the personal help button
whenever and wherever it is needed.
[0027] 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 and personal use accessories 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.
[0028] 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 or provides a protruding solid
element to assist in pressing the help button below the solid
element, or a screen portion with the help button visible below the
screen portion, or a cut-out with the help button exposed through
the cut-out. Distinguishable decorative elements or other features
as described above, 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.
[0029] The styled cover sleeve and personal use accessory 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.
[0030] There are a variety of textures, colors, visual features,
accessories and other utility and decorative attachments
representing six major general configurations associated with the
button pushing portion of the styled cover. The most complex is a
the iron-on decal cover in which an inverted snap is installed on
the inside of the cover and on the front the cover where the "teeth
or prongs" are bent into the fabric an iron-on decal cover is
installed over the teeth or prongs. That way when a senior or
disabled person presses the iron-on decal (on the front of the
cover) (white dot also) to make it very easy to locate and press
the press button portion of the help button.
[0031] There are at least six generally preferred embodiments of
the button pushing portion of the present invention: rhinestone
embellishments to push, fun iron-on themes with an inverted snap to
facilitate pushing the button, see-through fabric for visually
locating the help button, die cut push button hole in the covers, a
white dot iron-on press button visual indicator over the emergency
push button, and a selection of decorative covers of thin resilient
material to feel the emergency push button through the cover;
providing a wide variety to suit most of the senior needs.
[0032] The covers of the present invention can be fabricated in a
variety of sizes to accommodate any variations in various brands of
medical alert devices in a large assortment of colors and
patterns.
[0033] Custom cover sleeve pouches for small GPS-mobile devices
make them look more like a decorative accessory. The pouch is
fabricated in many styles, colors, and with embellishments or
iron-on decals as well as a personal use accessory. The mobile
solution uses GPS & cellular technology and can be used
anywhere there is cellular service for a mobile decorative
accessory which can be used for emergency situations.
[0034] 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 personal use accessory and
camouflaged personal help button so they can have necessary daily
use items on hand always and be able to get help in emergency
situations when to needed to enable people to maintain their
ability to reside in their home in a health-threatening emergency
by responding instantly for emergency help when needed.
[0035] Another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides a wide variety of designer styles and colors of personal
help button cover sleeves and personal use accessories.
[0036] 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.
[0037] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the
covers and personal use accessories of the present invention are
designer medical alert help button covers that transform the ugly
help button into a decorative accessory like jewelry.
[0038] Still another advantage is that the present invention
transforms the help button and makes the emergency personal help
butten device look nice and fun and socially acceptable to give the
senior or disabled person "confidence" and help that person feel
more attractive.
[0039] 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.
[0040] 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 cover and
personal use accessory 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
[0041] 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:
[0042] 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;
[0043] 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;
[0044] 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;
[0045] 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;
[0046] 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;
[0047] 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;
[0048] 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;
[0049] 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;
[0050] 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;
[0051] 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;
[0052] 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;
[0053] 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;
[0054] 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;
[0055] 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;
[0056] 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;
[0057] 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;
[0058] FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of
the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the
cover sleeve fabricated of thin resilient material to enable a user
to feel the emergency push button through the cover for pushing the
button when needed;
[0059] FIG. 9A is a side elevational partial section view of the
cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help
button device, the cover sleeve having an iron-on decal tactile
insignia ironed on the cover sleeve fabric with an inverted snap or
other solid thin metal disc on the inside of the cover in the
center of the button pushing portion, where a number of teeth or
prongs pierce the fabric from the inside and are bent over the
front of the fabric and the tactile insignia is ironed on over
that;
[0060] FIG. 9B is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of
FIG. 9A housing an emergency help button device;
[0061] In FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve
of the present invention housing an emergency help button device,
the cover sleeve having a white dot iron-on press button on the
cover sleeve surface within the button pushing portion to serve as
a visual (and tactile) indicator over the emergency push button to
enable finding pressing the emergency help button when needed;
[0062] FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of
the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the
cover sleeve having a see-through fabric for visually locating the
help button enables accurate locating and pushing of the emergency
help button through the highly flexible stretch mesh or other
patterned cover with more open space than fabric;
[0063] FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of
the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the
cover sleeve having a die cut push button hole in alignment with
the casing surrounding the emergency help button leavisc a
full-open visual and manual contact with the emergency help button
30 through the cover sleeve fabric;
[0064] FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of
the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the
cover sleeve having a rhinestone embellishment attached in the
center of the button pushing portion to enable a user to easily see
and feel the location to push the rhinestone which pushes the
emeregency help button beneath it;
[0065] FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of
the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the
cover sleeve having a pouch with a top opening hanging downwardly
from the cover sleeve by a jump ring and to act as a small light
change purse, the decorative pouch of the same design as the cover
which can contain, key, medicine, money, ID, credit card, etc, the
cover sleeve further having a necklace, such as a decorative chain
necklace or lanyard is attached to a top of the cover sleeve for
attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory
and covered emergency help button device around a neck of a
user;
[0066] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the cover sleeve of the
present invention housing an emergency help button device, the
cover sleeve having a loop sleeve attached to the center of the
back of the cover sleeve to receive a bracelet or wrist band
attached to the cover sleeve for attaching the combination cover
sleeve and personal use accessory and covered emergency help button
device to a wrist of a user;
[0067] FIG. 16 is a side elevational partial section view of the
cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help
button device, the cover sleeve having a jump ring attached to the
bottom of the cover sleeve to attach a chain or other connecting
means to the jump ring for attaching keys or a change purse or
other personal user accessories to the cover sleeve housing the
emergency personal help device;
[0068] FIG. 17 is a side elevational partial section view of the
cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help
button device, the cover sleeve having a pocket with a top opening
attached to the cover sleeve on a back surface of the cover sleeve
for storing necessary daily use items carried by a user;
[0069] FIG. 18 is a side elevational partial section view of the
cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help
button device, the cover sleeve having an alternate pocket with a
top opening has a clear plastic face on the pocket to allow an ID
or photo to show through the pocket;
[0070] FIG. 19 is a side elevational partial section view of the
cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help
button device, the cover sleeve having a bracket sleeve attached to
a top portion of the back of the cover sleeve for attaching the
combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered
emergency help button device to a belt worn by a user;
[0071] FIG. 20 is a side elevational partial section view of the
cover sleeve of the present invention housing an emergency help
button device, the cover sleeve having a loop bracket attached to
the top of the back of a cover sleeve for receiving a keychain
attached to the loop bracket so that the styled cover sleeve and
personal use accessory comprises a styled keychain fob;
[0072] FIG. 21 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of
the present invention housing an emergency help button device, the
pouch-type of cover sleeve with a single top opening is aligned to
receive a mobile device which is a medical alert device that use
GPS & cellular technology;
[0073] FIG. 22 is a front elevational view of the cover sleeve of
FIG. 21, the pouch-type cover sleeve covering the mobile device
which is a medical alert device that use GPS & cellular
technology.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0074] In FIGS. 1A-13, 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.
[0075] 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.
[0076] 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.
[0077] 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.
[0078] 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.
[0079] 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.
[0080] 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.
[0081] 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.
[0082] 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.
[0083] 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.
[0084] 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.
[0085] 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.
[0086] 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.
[0087] 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.
[0088] 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.
[0089] 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.
[0090] 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.
[0091] 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.
[0092] In FIG. 2A, a decorative jewelry 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.
[0093] 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 jewelry 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 jewelry 13, is smaller than the help button
30 itself so the decorative element does not interfere with
pressing the help button effectively.
[0094] In FIG. 3A, a decorative pendant 14 or locket or charm is
mounted on the decorative fabric outer surface 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.
[0095] 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.
[0096] 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.
[0097] In FIG. 4B, a sports image of a football tactile insignia 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.
[0098] 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 tactile
insignia 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.
[0099] In FIG. 5A, a car company logo or emblem 17 is embroidered
on or as a patch ironed or sewn onto the decorative fabric outer
surface 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.
[0100] 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.
[0101] 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.
[0102] 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.
[0103] 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.
[0104] 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 piezo-electric
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 tactile insignia 15, as shown
in FIG. 4A to activate a sound and/or light device attached
contiguously or in another location on the cover sleeve.
[0105] 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.
[0106] 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.
[0107] Embellishment choices are many, including but not limited to
embroidery monogrammed on the front (or in a design of choice),
embroidered logo's can go on the front or back of the cover sleeve,
a tag logo or message could be sewn on the back of the cover, a
silk screen design can be printed on the cover, a photograph (of
grand children or husband or family or a pet) can be printed on the
cover in the front or in the back. Different Spandex materials
stretch differently, so there may be "adjustments" to the various
covers to allow for stretch differentials
[0108] 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.
[0109] 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.
[0110] 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.
[0111] In FIGS. 8-13, at least six generally preferred embodiments
of the button pushing portion 9 of the present invention are
shown.
[0112] In FIG. 8, and a selection of decorative covers of thin
resilient material 8 enable a user to feel the emergency push
button 30 through the cover for pushing the button when needed.
[0113] In FIGS. 9A and 9B, an iron-on decal tactile insignia 15 in
this example in the shape of an oval frames cross, is ironed on the
cover sleeve fabric 8 an inverted snap or other solid thin metal
disc 1 on the inside of the cover in the center of the button
pushing portion 9, where a number of teeth or prongs 1A pierce the
fabric from the inside and are bent over the front of the fabric.
The tactile insignia 15 is ironed on over that. That way when a
senior or disabled person presses the iron-on (on the front of the
cover) it is very easy to press the press button portion of the
help button with the metal disc 15 contacting the emergency help
button 30 beneath the fabric 8.
[0114] In FIG. 10, a white dot iron-on press button 2 on the cover
sleeve surface 8 within the button pushing portion 9 serves as a
visual (and tactile) indicator over the emergency push button 30 to
enable finding pressing the emergency help button 30 when
needed.
[0115] In FIG. 11, a see-through fabric 8B for visually locating
the help button 30 enables accurate locating and pushing of the
emergency help button 30 through the highly flexible stretch mesh
or other patterned cover with more open space than fabric.
[0116] In FIG. 12, a die cut push button hole 9A in alignment with
the casing surrounding the emergency help button 30 leaves a
full-open visual and manual contact with the emergency help button
30 through the cover sleeve fabric 8C.
[0117] In FIG. 13, a rhinestone embellishment 5 is attached in the
center of the button pushing portion 9 to enable a user to easily
see and feel the location to push the rhinestone which pushes the
emergency help button 30 beneath it.
[0118] Another embodiment of FIGS. 21 and 22, comprises a custom
pouch 10 for a small GPS-mobile device 20G to make them look more
like a decorative accessory. The pouch could come in many styles,
colors, and with embellishments or fun iron-on decals, such as the
football iron-on tactile insignia 15. The mobile solution uses GPS
& cellular technology and can used anywhere there is cellular
service. This is truly a mobile solution. A jump ring 7 may be
attached to the GPS-mobile device 20G for use in attaching a key
chain or a neck encircling lanyard or necklace for wearing the
device to keep the emergency help button available at all times in
any situation when needed.
[0119] A pocket can be sewn into some covers on the front and/or
the back which can contain a house key, a photograph, a credit
card, or ID.
[0120] The back of cover can have a sewn loop which can attach to a
key ring for a key to be attached. The sewn loop would be attached
by a heavy duty snap.
[0121] A pocket can contain a little music chip which plays
(reasonably loudly) a song of choice which can be activated by a
small switch on the music chip
[0122] The pocket can contain a small potpourri pouch with a
favorite fragrance
[0123] The pocket can contain a small heavy gage pouch to contain
medicine
[0124] An inverted snap is attached with the 5 prong backing to the
inside front of the cover and an iron-on decal design (with
appropriate size to cover the snap) is ironed on over the backing
of the snap on the front side of the cover. When a senior presses
the iron-on decal the snap nub underneath touches the press button
to activate that help is needed.
[0125] A decorative lanyard (like a chain or decorative beads) can
be sold separately depending on the size on the ring on the help
button. Kits can be sold to include a larger jump ring to be
installed by someone with reasonable dexterity or a jeweler. This
jump ring allows the lanyard to attach to the help button. The
lanyard is made of strong nylon, solid chain (base metal or
precious metals at a premium price) and if beads are involved they
will be knotted in between to prevent a slipping and falling
accident if the lanyard should be broken. The lanyard material must
be strong and water resistant.
[0126] Covers come in many themes and Holiday themes are popular.
Also sports, flowers, pets, initials, etc. Military, NFL, Red Sox,
John Deere, etc.
[0127] 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.
[0128] 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.
[0129] 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.
[0130] 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.
[0131] 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.
[0132] 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.
[0133] 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.
[0134] 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.
[0135] 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.
[0136] In FIGS. 14-20, a universally adaptable styled combination
cover sleeve 10 and personal use accessory 80-100 is adapted to
removably and interchangeably cover and camouflage any of a variety
of emergency personal help button devices 20 and adapted to
transform each device into a styled clothing accessory which is
visually appealing and socially acceptable to encourage wearing the
styled clothing accessory at all times, so that the personal use
accessory is available to use for daily personal use functions and
the emergency help button is available to signal for emergency help
whenever it is needed.
[0137] At least one personal use accessory 80-100 is attached to
the tubular cover sleeve 10, the personal use accessory matching
the material and visual appearance of the tubular cover sleeve to
combine with the tubular cover sleeve to transform the personal
emergency help button device 20 into a styled clothing accessory
adapted to be worn by a user, the personal use accessory adapted to
be available to use for daily personal use functions.
[0138] The personal use accessory may comprise at least one of a
variety of different personal use accessories taken from the list
of personal use accessories.
[0139] In FIG. 14, a pouch 80 with a top opening 81 hangs
downwardly from the cover sleeve 10 and emergency personal help
button device 20A for storing necessary daily use items carried by
a user. Hanging from the cover by a jump ring 7 and chain 6 (below
it on the chest-belly of the subscriber) is a small--light "change
purse" like decorative pouch 80 of the same design as the cover
which can contain, key, medicine, money, ID, credit card, etc.
[0140] Also in FIG. 14, a necklace 40, such as a decorative chain
necklace or lanyard is attached to a top of the cover sleeve 10 for
attaching the combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory
and covered emergency help button device around a neck of a user. A
jump ring 7, such as that shown to attach the pouch 80 at the
bottom may also be used at the top for attaching the necklace or
lanyard, but any conventional attaching means may be used such as
having a gromet built into the cover sleeve material.
[0141] In FIG. 15, a loop sleeve 100A is attached to the centor of
the back of the cover sleeve 10 covering the emergency personal
help device 20F to receive a bracelet or wrist band attached to the
cover sleeve 10 for attaching the combination cover sleeve and
personal use accessory and covered emergency help button device to
a wrist of a user.
[0142] In FIG. 16, a jump ring 7 is attached to the bottom of the
cover sleeve 10 at attach a chain or other connecting means to the
jump ring for attaching keys or a change purse or other personal
user accessories to the cover sleeve 10 housing the emergency
personal help device.
[0143] In FIG. 17, a pocket 90 with a top opening 91 is attached to
the cover sleeve 10 on a back surface of the cover sleeve for
storing necessary daily use items carried by a user. The pocket 90
can be sewn into some covers on the front and/or the back and can
contain a house key, a photograph, a credit card, or ID or other
small item needed on a daily basis carried by a person.
[0144] In FIG. 18, an alternate pocket 90 with a top opening 91 has
a clear plastic face 92 on the pocket to allow an ID or photo to
show through the pocket.
[0145] In FIG. 19, a bracket sleeve 100B is attached to a top
portion of the back of the cover sleeve 10 for attaching the
combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory and covered
emergency help button device to a belt worn by a user.
[0146] In FIG. 20, a loop bracket 100C is attached to the top of
the back of a cover sleeve 10 for receiving a keychain attached to
the loop bracket so that the styled cover sleeve and personal use
accessory comprises a styled keychain fob.
[0147] In FIGS. 21 and 22, a pouch-type of cover sleeve 10 with a
single top opening 11 may be used for mobile devices which are
medical alert devices that use GPS & cellular technology. They
can range in size but are generally about 3'' tall.times.2.5''
across (wide) and 0.50 to 0.75 thick. The pouch is meant to make it
look more attractive in a purse or pocket. The pouch could also be
used for a cell phone. Some of the "mobile" medical alert devices
have a clip on them (others are just one smooth piece) to be
attached to pants waistband, pocket, purse, briefcase, duffle. The
pouch would be able to slip "under" the retracting clip part. There
is also button to press for help (on most) on this mobile device
and I have decorative covers which have a gem embellishment over
the button to indicate where the press button is and to make it
easier to press. The mobile devices can be used anywhere there is
cellular service. Many of the mobile devices are like a walky-talky
and the senior or person with a disability can communicate with the
appropriate help as needed. The thin Spandex material would not
hamper the voice communication. The pouches are available in all 6
styles (iron-on etc.) and would come in appropriate sizes depending
on the given manufacturer.
[0148] The present invention thereby provides a universally
adaptable combination cover sleeve and personal use accessory
adapted to removably and interchangeably cover and camouflage any
of a variety of emergency personal help button devices and adapted
to transform each device into a styled clothing accessory which is
visually appealing and socially acceptable to encourage wearing the
styled clothing accessory at all times, so that the personal use
accessory is available to use for daily personal use functions and
the emergency help button is available to signal for emergency help
whenever it is needed.
[0149] 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.
* * * * *