Message strip kit

Abstract

A small, lightweight, portable message strip kit includes an elongated flexible band carrying a battery, electrical circuit, programmable computer chip and signaling device for alerting the user to perform a recommended activity at certain time intervals during various physical endeavors. The strip carries a program key for the computer chip to select the time intervals for the initiation of the signals. The kit has a chart relating user size, and physical endeavor to frequency of the signal for operation of the program key.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of programmable devices producing specialized personal reminders to a user, particularly for maintaining a healthy state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Almost every autumn in some football training exercises, the tragedy of a young person's death due to heat exhaustion is repeated. Of course, this is an extreme example but many people, and not just conditioned athletes, expose themselves to the dangers of heat stroke simply through stress or inattention to their physical condition.

In addition to athletes who may be focused on their activity, it is well known that older individuals are often dehydrated simply as a result of neglect of body functions or forgetfulness. Further, dietary guidelines suggest that an individual should consume at least 64 ounces of water or similar non-caffeine fluid per day. If all the fluid is taken at one time, fluid overloading can be counterproductive since rapid hydration can lead to abnormal levels of anti-diuretic hormone production, resulting in the body becoming electrolytically imbalanced. The preferred manner of consumption at intervals throughout the day wherein a reminder system becomes most beneficial.

Examples of the need for simplistic reminders are endless. For instance, parents are concerned that their children understand the concern over dehydration when they attend day camp. However, when a parent leaves their child at camp and inform them to drink water at regular intervals, without some type of reminder it is most unlikely that the child will heed the parents advice.

If a parent leaves a child and requests that the child call the parent every 30 minutes, without some type of reminder it is most unlikely that the child will remember the time periods.

Clocks and wrist watches with various types of alarms are conventional, as shown by U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,301. The alarm indicates that a specific hour has been reached or that a specified period of time has passed depending on the intentions of the user. The alarm, per se, has no correlation to the wearer or the wearer's activities or surrounding conditions nor would the alarm indicate a recommended activity. Relating the sounding of the alarm to a recommended activity is a mental step that must be accomplished by the user.

Sandidge, U.S. Pat. No. 6,340,242, and Sharma et al, U. S. Pat. No. 6,574,165, teach wrist watch-like devices that relate a time to a medication.

There are various dosing devices, such as disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 6,075,755 to Zarchan, to remind the wearer to take a medication, among many other functions. The medication regimen is programmed into the timing system of a watch along with other functions. There are so many functions, the user must manually respond to the device when an alarm sounds to determine what is required.

What is needed in the art is a simple, lightweight, inexpensive, device that can be worn or carried, to provide a clear message to perform a recommended activity at varying intervals based on the user's physique and the degree of exertion.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention is directed to a simple, inexpensive, message strip that can be worn or carried during any physical activity to alert the user to perform a particular task at recommended intervals to maintain healthy conditions. The intervals may be set relative to the user's physical size and the climate or degree of exertion being employed. Disclosed is a personal health message strip for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity. The message strip is formed from an elongated band incorporating a power source, an electrical circuit connected to the power source and to a message device. The message device produces a signal when electrically activated for directing attention to perform a recommended activity for maintaining personal health.

Therefore, it is an objective of this invention to provide a small, lightweight, inexpensive message strip that may be worn or carried in all exertions that will get the wearer's attention and clearly direct the wearer to perform a certain activity to maintain a healthy condition.

It is a further objective of this invention to provide a message at selected alternative intervals of time related to the wearer's physique and the level of exertion or environment.

It is a further objective of this invention to provide a message at selected alternative intervals of time related to an instruction to perform a particular action, e.g. “Call Home,” “Drink Water,” “Dog Feeding,” and so forth.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a marketing tool allowing sponsorship yet provide the desired goal of a timely reminder, e.g.“Call Home w/AT&T,” “Drink Gatorade,” “Kibble Time,” and so forth.

It is another objective of this invention to provide a simple bracelet construction housing the components of the message strip and creating a text message.

It is yet another objective of this invention to provide an audible message as well as a visible message.

Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the message strip of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective of a sleeve for the message strip of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective of a strap for attachment to the message of this invention with Velcro fasteners on opposite ends; and

FIG. 4 is a wiring diagram of the circuit used in the message strip of this invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The message strip 10, shown in FIG. 1, is in the form of a continuous bracelet with an endless ring 11 which may be made of neoprene or plastic or other inert material, including metals and ceramics, having the requisite characteristics. The ring 11 is waterproof, lightweight, resilient, flexible, and non-irritating to the user. The ring may be formed as a tube or laminated plies to enclose the electromechanical components 13, shown in FIG. 4, in an internal cavity.

The outer surface 12 of the ring 11 has a visible message 14. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the message is a one word text. The text message may be excised from the outer surface of the ring, as shown in FIG. 1, or a sleeve 15 may be slid over the bracelet to cover the open mouth 16 of the internal cavity 17. The message is projected through the excised outer surface or sleeve as a visible light from the illuminating source 34 which may be incandescent, vacuum, LED, LCD or other, driven by the battery 31 in the electrical circuit 30, shown in FIG. 4. The excised portion of the outer surface 12 may have a transparent or colored covering to protect the components. The projected colors contribute to the attention-getting effect of the message. The sleeve 15 can also include such a colored covering.

The message strip 10 may be fabricated to attach to different sized supports by being formed as an elongated band 19, as shown in FIG. 3. Such an elongated band is capable of being fixed about the wearer's body, as well as, being attached to a piece of exercise equipment or other support in view of the user. The elongated band 19 may be made of the same materials as the bracelet 11. The opposite ends 20 and 21 of the elongated band carry cooperating fasteners, such as snaps, buckles. Velcro, a hook-and-loop fabric, may also be used as a fastener, as shown in FIG. 3 with the hook portion 22 on end 20 and the loop portion 23 on end 21.

The operation of the message strip 10 and the illumination source 34 is powered and controlled by the circuit 30. A small, inexpensive, commercially available, computer chip 32 is provided with pre-set programs, eg. three, to command illumination at different time periods, for interrupted or continuous illumination for a set interval. More or less programs could be used. One of the three programs is manually selected by the user by operating the push-button 33 on the outer surface of the message strip 10. The electrical circuit electrically connects the battery 31, the chip 32 and the illumination source 34.

The selection of the desired program is determined by reference to a chart or table which is an integral part of a kit including the message strip 10. For example, a table used for hydration is shown below. In this example, the time period between activation of the message is selected by the user by manually depressing the push-button 33 once for program 1, twice for program 2, and three times for program 3. Each of the programs determines the interval in which the message strip will illuminate the message, as well as, the period of activation. By referring to the table, the amount of liquid, in this case water, to be consumed to remain in a healthy status is given. The table has two columns for each height/weight category. One column gives a normal or regular activity consumption rate and the other column gives consumption for increased activities or exercise routine. The exercise column is also recommended for abnormal climatic conditions.

TABLE
	Interval	Oz	Oz	Oz	Oz	Oz	Oz
Program	Min	Normal	Exercise	Normal	Exercise	Normal	Exercise
1	15	2	4	2	6	2	10
2	30	4	8	4	10	4	14
3	60	8	12	8	14	8	16
	110 lb./5 ft.	170 lb./5.75 ft.	200 lb./6 ft.

The table, above, is exemplary only and not to be used as limiting. The example given is for hydration using water as the consumable liquid. There are other liquids that may be used in different quantities and intervals with the factory installed programs set to reflect such changes and other tables included. Also, the message strip may be used for reminders, other than hydration, with appropriate tables.

A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrated embodiment but only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A personal health message strip for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity comprising an elongated band incorporating a source of electrical power, an electrical circuit connected to said source and to an message device, said message device producing a signal when electrically activated, said signal directing attention to perform a recommended activity for maintaining personal health.

2. A personal health message strip for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity of claim 1 comprising said signal being visible illumination.

3. A personal health message strip for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity of claim 2 comprising said visible illumination in the form of a text message.

4. A personal health message strip for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity of claim 1 comprising said signal being an audible sound.

5. A personal health message strip for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity of claim 4 comprising said signal including a visible illumination.

6. A personal health message strip for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity of claim 2 comprising said elongated band formed of a flexible, resilient material, said band including a cavity having an open mouth, said signal device disposed in said cavity and said visible illumination viewable by a user through said open mouth, said elongated band adapted to secure said message strip about a support.

7. A personal health message strip for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity of claim 6 comprising said elongated band formed in an arcuate shape whereby said band is adapted to circumscribe a support and said flexible, resilient material secures said band the support.

8. A personal health message strip for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity of claim 7 comprising releasable cooperating fasteners on each end of said elongated band, said fasteners permitting temporary connection of said each end of said elongated band about a support.

9. A personal health message strip for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity of claim 6 comprising said source of electrical power being a battery, said battery and said electrical circuit being encased in said elongated band, a cover over said open mouth of said cavity, said visible illumination projected through said cover.

10. A personal health message strip for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity of claim 9 comprising said cover being opaque in part and transparent in part, said visible illumination projected through said transparent part of said cover.

11. A personal health message strip for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity of claim 1 comprising a programmable computer chip carried by said elongated band and connected to said electrical circuit, said chip controlling said electrical power to said message device whereby said chip controls the occurrence of said signal.

12. A personal health message strip for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity of claim 11 comprising a manual key mounted on said elongated band, said key connected to said chip whereby the programs of said chip can be manually selected by said key.

13. A personal health message strip for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity of claim 2 comprising a programmable computer chip carried by said elongated band and connected to said electrical circuit, said chip controlling said electrical power to said message device whereby said chip controls the appearance and disappearance of said visible illumination.

14. A personal health message strip for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity of claim 13 comprising a manual key mounted on said elongated band, said key connected to said chip whereby said the programs of said chip can be manually selected by said key.

15. A personal health message strip kit for generating a reminder to a user of a recommended activity comprising

(a) an elongated band incorporating a source of electrical power, an electrical circuit connected to said source and to an message device, said message device producing a signal when electrically activated, said elongated band formed of a flexible, resilient material, said signal device disposed on said elongated band, said elongated band adapted to secure said message strip about the user, a programmable computer chip carried by said elongated band and connected to said electrical circuit, said chip controlling said electrical power to said message device whereby said chip controls the occurrence of said signal, said signal directing attention to perform a recommended activity for maintaining personal health, said elongated band including a manual key connected to said programmable computer chip for manually selecting a computer program, and

(b) a chart containing information correlating the intervals between said recommended activity under different conditions and the size of the user, whereby said information dictates operation of said manual key to select the time frame for signaling the recommended activity.