Safety alarm device

Claim 1

A self-contained, portable safety alarm device for use by vehicle drivers and adapted to be worn on the hand of a user grasping the controls of the vehicle, for providing an alarm signal when, through drowsiness or otherwise, the user's grasp relaxes and the user's fingers move away from the contact surface of said vehicle controls, comprising: at least partial glove means including fingertip means adapted to be worn on at least one fingertip of the user; wrist band means adapted to be worn about the user's wrist; connecting means connecting said fingertip means and said wrist band means; a two part housing adapted for attached to said wrist band means including; an upper compartment for housing a battery; and, a lower compartment integrally connected to said upper compartment for housing an alarm circuit; circuit elements supported by said housing and electrically connected together to provide the desired alarm signal including; circuit elements supported by said housing and electrically connected together to provide the desired alarm signal including; said battery enclosed in said upper compartment; an on-off switch mounted on said housing and electrically connected in series with said battery for switching said safety alarm device on during use and off during storage; alarm means enclosed within said lower compartment and electrically connected to be energized by said battery; circuit interuption means including a spring-loaded, normally-closed contact switch connected in series with said battery and alarm means, whereby said contact switch opens when the user engages the contact switch against a contact surface of said vehicle controls and said contact closes to connect said battery to said alarm means when the user's fingers relax away from said contact surface; a battery test circuit enclosed in said lower compartment and connected in parallel with said battery, alarm means, and circuit interuption means for testing the charge condition of the battery, said test circuit including a test switch mounted on said housing and connected in series with a test light mounted on said housing, whereby when said test switch is activated said test light will illuminate if the charge condition of battery is satisfactory.