US5349340A — Portable patient alerting apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 66 words

A portable alerting device for use by medical patients confined to a gurney, wheelchair, or other transport apparatus, comprising: a housing, removably securable to the transport apparatus, having a plurality of side portions and a top portion; signalling means mounted to said housing; and actuating means, selectively operable by the patient, for controlling the operation of said signalling means in response to input from the patient.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 66 words

A portable alerting device for use by medical patients confined to a gurney, wheelchair, or other transport apparatus, comprising: a housing, removably securable to the transport apparatus, having a plurality of side portions and a top portion; signalling means mounted to said housing; and actuating means, selectively operable by the patient, for controlling the operation of said signalling means in response to input from the patient.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 46 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said signalling means comprises both a visual indicator and an audible indicator; and said actuating means controls the operation of both said visual and audible indicators in response to a single input effort by the patient.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 80 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said signalling means comprise electrical components; and said actuating means comprise a source of electric power, electronic circuitry operatively connected to said power source, and switch means operatively connected to said circuitry, selectively moveable by the patient between on and off positions, said switch means being operative when in said on position to establish an electrical connection between said power supply and said signalling means thereby activating said signalling means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said signalling means comprise a light and a beeper.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 70 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 4, further comprising: a stanchion mounted to said top portion of said housing, selectively moveable between lowered and raised positions, having a proximate end pivotally secured to said housing and a distal end, said light being mounted on said distal end whereby said light is maintained in a vertically spaced relation to said housing when said stanchion is in said raised position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said switch means comprise a button switch, normally biased in its off position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 3, wherein; said power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 40 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 7, further comprising: plug means disposed in one of said side portions of said housing, electrically communicative with said battery and engageable with an electrical outlet to effect recharging of said battery.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 52 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said plug means includes a male plug member pivotable between extended and retracted positions, said plug member being suitably disposed to engage said electrical outlet when in said extended position and substantially flush with said side portion when in said retracted position.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 7, further comprising: a warning light for indicating a low charge for said battery.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 65 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said actuating means further comprise: an extendable electrical cord, having a first end electrically connected to said circuitry and a second end operatively connected to said switch means; and a retaining mechanism associated with said switch means for securing said switch means at a location remote from said housing and readily accessible to the patient.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 77 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said signalling means further comprise a light and a beeper; and said circuitry includes a timer and a reset switch, said reset switch being operative to de-activate said signalling means, whereby; upon activation of said signalling means, said light is initially activated for a preselected time period, after which said beeper is automatically activated provided that said reset switch is not operated during said preselected time period.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 161 words

A portable alerting device for use by medical patients confined to a gurney, wheelchair, or other transport apparatus, comprising: a housing, removably securable to the transport apparatus, having a plurality of side portions and a top portion; signalling means mounted to said housing, comprising electronically activated visual and audible indicators; and actuating means, selectively operable by the patient, for controlling the operation of said signalling means in response to input from the patient, said actuating means comprising a battery for providing electrical power; electronic circuitry connected to said battery for controlling the operation of said visual and audible indicators; and a switch operatively connected to said circuitry and selectively moveable by the patient from an off position to an on position, said switch serving to activate said visual and audible indicators when moved to said on position by establishing an electrical connection between said circuitry and said indicators; and a reset switch, manually operable to de-activate said visual and audible indicators.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 161 words

A portable alerting device for use by medical patients confined to a gurney, wheelchair, or other transport apparatus, comprising: a housing, removably securable to the transport apparatus, having a plurality of side portions and a top portion; signalling means mounted to said housing, comprising electronically activated visual and audible indicators; and actuating means, selectively operable by the patient, for controlling the operation of said signalling means in response to input from the patient, said actuating means comprising a battery for providing electrical power; electronic circuitry connected to said battery for controlling the operation of said visual and audible indicators; and a switch operatively connected to said circuitry and selectively moveable by the patient from an off position to an on position, said switch serving to activate said visual and audible indicators when moved to said on position by establishing an electrical connection between said circuitry and said indicators; and a reset switch, manually operable to de-activate said visual and audible indicators.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 68 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 13, wherein said actuating means further comprise: a retractable electrical cord interconnected between said switch and said circuitry, having a proximate end operatively connected to said actuating means and a distal end attached to said switch; and a fastening device associated with said switch for attaching said switch to a location remote from said housing within reach of said patient.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 38 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 13, wherein said actuating means further comprise: a timer included in said circuitry for initially activating said visual indicator for a predetermined time period prior to activating said audible indicator.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 89 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said timer is programmable, and is pre-programmed to sequentially activate said visual and audible indicators in three discrete stages, wherein said first stage corresponds to said visual indicator operating in a pulsating manner, said audible indicator being inactive, said second stage corresponds to said visual indicator operating in a continuous manner, said audible indicator being inactive, and said third stage corresponds to said visual indicator operating in a continuous manner and said audible indicator operating in a pulsating manner.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 80 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 13, further comprising: a stanchion having a proximate end pivotally attached to said housing and a distal end in spaced relation thereto, said visual indicator being disposed on said distal end, said stanchion being selectively moveable between first and second positions, wherein said visual indicator is generally adjacent said housing with said stanchion in said first position, and maintained at a distance from said housing with said stanchion in said second position.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 36 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 17, wherein: said stanchion is telescopically extendable, whereby the distance between said visual indicator and said housing when said stanchion is in said second position may be increased.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 55 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 13, wherein: said battery is rechargeable, and; said housing includes recharge means disposed therein, said recharge means comprising a plug adapted to engage a suitable source of electricity, said plug being pivotable between an extended position suitable for engaging said source of electricity and a folded position.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

An alerting device as set forth in claim 13, wherein: said visual indicator comprises a light; and said audible indicator comprises a beeper.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-09-19	1998-03-21	1998-09-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-09-19	2002-03-21	2002-09-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-09-19	2006-03-21	2006-09-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Portable patient alerting apparatus

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