Patent US2366060A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4800370A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Wetness detection system
Assignee: I E SENSORS Inc
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Filing: 1985-10-07
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Granted: 1989-01-24
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Expires: 2005-10-07
Abstract
Abstract A wetness detection system for detecting dampness in diapers or other articles of clothing includes a detector/transmitter which is attachable to the diaper or clothing. The detector/transmitter produces and transmits a signal when no urine or other conductive matter is present in the diaper or clothing, and this signal is received by and retransmitted from a retransmitting station which may, for example, be located on the bed of the person wearing the diaper or clothing. The retransmitted signal is ultimately received at a central station for alerting an attendant when a wetness condition is detected. Since signals are transmitted when no urine is present, the absence of signals over some predetermined period of time indicates that wetness is present.
Inventors
- 👤 Ivan Vetecnik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 03:15
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for detecting and signalling the presence of urine in a diaper or similar article of clothing comprising detector/transmitter means attachable to the diaper for producing and transmitting a signal when no urine or other conductive matter is present in the diaper, receiver means for receiving the signal transmitted remotely by the detector/transmitter means for producing a received signal in response thereto, timer means for producing a time-out signal if no received signal is produced for a predetermined period of time, repeater means responsive to the time-out signal for transmitting a radio signal, second receiver means for receiving the radio signal and for producing an indicator signal, and indicator means for producing a visual and/or audible indication in response to production of the indicator signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for detecting and signalling the presence of urine in a diaper or similar article of clothing comprising detector/transmitter means attachable to the diaper for producing and transmitting a signal when no urine or other conductive matter is present in the diaper, receiver means for receiving the signal transmitted remotely by the detector/transmitter means for producing a received signal in response thereto, timer means for producing a time-out signal if no received signal is produced for a predetermined period of time, repeater means responsive to the time-out signal for transmitting a radio signal, second receiver means for receiving the radio signal and for producing an indicator signal, and indicator means for producing a visual and/or audible indication in response to production of the indicator signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said detector/transmitter means includes oscillator means for continuously transmitting a series of signal pulses when no urine or other conductive matter is present in the diaper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system as in claim 2 wherein said detector/transmitter means further includes a pair of electrodes disposed adjacent one another and coupled to the oscillator means such that when a conductive path is established between the electrodes, the oscillator means is disabled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as in claim 3 wherein said electrodes comprise elongate conductor strips, said system further including a strip of material one side of which includes an adhesive, said conductor strips being carried on said one side of the strip of material generally in parallel with one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein said detector/transmitter means further includes a housing having a generally planar profile in which is disposed the oscillator means, and a pair of electrical contact elements disposed on the exterior of the housing in a position to be contacted by respective electrodes carried by the strip of material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as in claim 5 wherein said detector/transmitter means further includes attachment means supported by the housing for attaching the housing to the edge of a diaper or the like.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as in claim 3 further including a temperature detecting means joined to the detector/transmitter means for producing a signal representing the temperature of items contacted by the detector/transmitter means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as in claim 7 wherein said temperature detecting means comprises a thermistor coupled to the oscillator to cause an increase in the frequency of oscillation of the oscillator as the temperature increases.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system as in claim 8 further including a frequency-to-voltage converter coupled to the receiver means for producing a voltage signal whose magnitude is proportional to the frequency of pulses received by the receiver means, and voltage indicating means coupled to the frequency-to-voltage converter for producing a visual indication of the voltage output of the converter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
A system as in claim 9 wherein said oscillator means includes a battery, a transistor coupled by its collector to one side of the battery, a first inductor coil coupled between the emitter of the transistor and the other side of the battery, and a capacitor and second inductor coil connected in series between the base and emitter of the transistor, wherein one of said electrodes is coupled to the base of the transistor and the other of said electrodes is coupled to the emitter of the transistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
A system as in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of detector/transmitter means, a plurality of receiver means each for producing a receive signal in response to receipt of a signal from a corresponding detector/transmitting means, a plurality of timer means each coupled to a respective receiver means for producing a time-out signal if no receive signal is produced for a predetermined period of time by the respective receiver means, and a plurality of repeater means coupled to a respective timer means for transmitting a radio signal when the respective timer means produces a time-out signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
A system as in claim 11 wherein each of said repeater means includes an encoder means responsive to the respective time-out signal for producing a unique encoded radio signal identifying a respective detector/transmitter means and second transmitter means for transmitting the encoded radio signal, and wherein said indicator means includes decoder means for decoding each transmitted encoded radio signal to produce a decoded signal, and a plurality of indicator devices, each responsive to a different decoded signal for producing a visual signal identifying a respective detector/transmitter means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as in claim 12 wherein said indictor means further includes patient identifying means positioned on or adjacent to each indictor device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as in claim 13 wherein said indicator means further includes means for producing an audible signal for each transmitted encoded radio signal received by the second receiver means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-01-24 | 1992-07-25 | 1993-01-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-01-24 | 1996-07-25 | 1997-01-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-01-24 | 2000-07-25 | 2001-01-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |