CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of Canadian Application Serial No. 2,946,435, filed on 19 October, 2016, and Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 2,949,693 filed on 23 November, 2016, both entitled AWARENESS DEVICE FOR ATHLETES, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present technology relates to an easy to wear device for improved safety to be used by runners and walkers. The device allows the user to observe activity behind them while being aware of their own physical state. More specifically, the device is a rearview mirror for attaching to a fitness monitor that includes a storage compartment for medication and a separate clearly marked compartment for identification.

BACKGROUND

There are many situations where a user needs to know what is occurring behind their back. Runners, walkers and cyclist all need to look forward as much as possible. Looking over one's shoulder can lead to accidents including tripping and falling or running in to objects. However, there are many situations where one wants to be able to check over their shoulder.

Increasingly, active people are being encouraged to carry identification and any medication that they might need. This is especially important for people with allergies, heart conditions, and other conditions that require medication. Older runners are encouraged to carry aspirin.

Many athletes wear monitors that provide health information. Some include a watch and timer, but they are essentially dedicated devices with few additional capabilities.

FR 2,599,521 relates to a watch provided with a mirror mounted pivotally on a watch and covering the display. It is made up by incorporating and combining a moving or static reflecting element on a wrist watch or the like supplemented with a lens on the strap itself. It is intended to enable a person to survey his surroundings outside the visual field without having to turn around, without having to move his body or his head and this for preventive, utilitarian as well as recreational purposes. As shown, the mirror is concave and thus would not provide a good rearview. The mirror in the resulting device must be articulated in order that the user can read the time, or view any other metric on their watch or monitor. No further functionality is provided, hence a user will have to carry identification and/or medication elsewhere on them.

United States Patent Application 20050030836 discloses a watch that has a mirror dial plate assembly comprising a light valve layer, and a light reflective layer. The light valve is controlled by an electronic circuit for its on, off, and variable light transmission. The reflectivity of the mirror assembly is thus controlled. Dial marks are incorporated either on or in the light valve layer, or using a separation transparent layer. This would not provide a clear enough image for a user to see what is occurring behind them, nor could it be used to retrofit a watch or monitor to increase functionality.

United States Patent 7,063,427 discloses a portable mirror device for hunters or other persons who need to extend their field of view to the side or rear without moving their head appreciably. The device is reversibly attached to a body-segment of the user and can either be raised to an active position or folded in a stored position against the body-segment. Also disclosed is an attachment-cuff for attaching the invention to the body-segment. The cuff comprises a rigid or semi-rigid inner member encased by a covering, which covering has two ends with closure means attached thereto for securing the cuff to the body-segment. This would not be suitable for a runner or other athlete to use while running, cycling or being involved in other athletic activities.

United States Patent Application 20140226225 discloses a rearview mirror device for use by the rider of a bicycle or other personal mobility vehicle comprising a convex reflective mirror integrated with a base component and held in place over the optimum sweet spot triangulated area between the index finger, thumb and wrist of a bare hand or a gloved hand of any size by means of a harness system comprising an elastic cord threaded through holes in the base component to form loops for insertion of the wrist, index finger and thumb of the hand and secured on the back of the hand through cord pulls at the ends of the elastic cord. The device provides a near vibration-less, clear, sharp and accurate rearviewing, and effortless, infinite maneuverability into the most optimal position to focus through an individual's own unique eyesight, leading to less eye strain. This device interferes with a user's hand, and has only one function. It would not be suitable for use with a watch or monitor.

United States Patent 3,717,403 discloses a rear-viewing mirror that is adapted to be worn by the viewer. The mirror includes a base; a frame mounted on the base; and a mirror mounted in the frame. Apparel means, for example, a glove, or a mitt, or a band, or an elastic band, is secured to the base and is adapted to be worn by the user. This wearing is carried out in such a manner that the mirror is visible to the wearer. This device has only one function and would not be suitable for a runner.

United States Patent 4,054,375 discloses a rearview cycling mirror comprising a case housing a mirror adapted to be strapped to the wrist of a cyclist or attached via a clip to the bicycle. The mirror is mounted on the inside face of the case cover which is hinged to the base of the case by a universal ball joint. This joint provides maximum adjustability to the cyclist. The strap or clip is inserted through a slot in a dropped portion of the base. This device has only one function and would not be suitable for a runner.

United States Patent 4,490,012 discloses a safety rearview mirror device that has a detachable mounting base part for removably securing it alternately on the brim or peak portion of a cap or the crown portion of a hat or other type of head covering. The mounting base part is bifurcated to alternately fit over and to be securely clamped by a mounting screw to the peak portion of a cap or alternatively, to rest against and to be clamped on the crown portion of a hat by a through- extending mounting screw. A flexible and ductile connector cable is endwise slidably, removably mounted at one end within a collar portion of the base part and, at its other end, is adapted to be securely and detachably mounting by a spring clip to a back mounting for a back-viewing mirror. The cable is constructed for easy finger-grip bending to move the mirror into the best rearviewing position, with full assurance that the cable will stay in its selected bent positioning. The cable has a metal core cast within and enclosed by a hollow insulating sheath. Head or hat mounted mirrors have been found to provide a poor image and are difficult to use as they obstruct the user's vision, if positioned to provide a rearview.

United States Patent 5,361,169 discloses a mirror which is attached to an underwater diver's wrist or arm. By placing the mirror in front of his face mask and controlling the line of sight reflected by the mirror, the diver can inspect equipment on his body or easily access equipment with the hand not wearing the mirror. In addition, the diver's peripheral vision is improved so he or she can see objects, fish or a diving partner located behind them. The mirror is attached to the diver's wrist or arm by a wrist strap made of water resistant material such as nylon or rubber. Alternate embodiments include a pouch containing the mirror on a flexible strap and a diver's handheld console with a hinged plate containing the mirror. This device is specific to diving and would not be suitable for runners or other athletes to use to check what is happening behind them. It is limited in functionality.

In a related technology, United States Patent 4,636,047 discloses a high quality mirror readily at hand for the emergency use of a contact lens wearer, an accessory mirror comprising a thin wafer having a mirrored outer surface is affixed to the back of a wrist watch. The presently preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a steel wafer shaped approximately to conform with the shape of the watch back. The steel wafer has a first surface which is mirror finished and chromium plated and a second surface coated with an adhesive layer which is itself overlayed by a paper wafer. Thus, the paper wafer is removable to permit affixing the steel wafer to the wrist watch back. A process for preparing the preferred embodiment of the product is disclosed. In addition, variants utilizing a plastic film sold under the trademark "Mylar" and coated with metal and incorporating a protective cover for the mirror surface are also disclosed. This would not be suitable for an athlete to use for viewing behind them, nor does it provide a storage area.

What is needed is a safety device that is multipurpose to allow an active person to easily see behind themselves on an as need basis, that does not obstruct their forward vision. The device would preferably be for locating on a user's wrist and would be retained with a removable strap which would be retaining a monitor such as a heart rate monitor, a Global Positioning System (GPS), a fitness tracker and the like, or watch. The device would preferably include a convex mirror, a storage compartment for medication and a clearly marked identification holder. The device would be small, light and unobtrusive.

SUMMARY

The present technology is a safety device for active people that allows them to see behind themselves on an as need basis, that does not obstruct their forward vision. The device is for locating on a user's wrist and is retained with a removable strap which retains a monitor such as a heart rate monitor, a Global Positioning System (GPS), a fitness tracker and the like, or watch. The device includes a convex mirror, a storage compartment for medication and a clearly marked identification holder. The device is small, light and unobtrusive.

In one embodiment, a personal safety device for use with a wrist band for releasable attachment to a user's wrist is provided, the safety device comprising: a frame, the frame including a front, a back, which is opposite the front, a bottom, a top which is opposite the bottom, the top and bottom defining a slot extending between the front and back, a pair of sides extending between the bottom and the top and including a step proximate the back, a pair of rims continuous with the sides and extending upward therefrom, each rim including an inward facing lip; a face which includes an upper convex mirrored surface, the face retained by the lips and the rims, the face and the top defining an identification (ID) holder slot, the ID holder slot extending from the front towards the back; an ID holder, the ID holder slidably, removably retained in the ID holder slot and including a raised first end and a raised second end, the ends defining a space for retaining ID; and a medication capsule, the medication capsule located at the back of the frame and including a first end, a second end, a bore therebetween, a plug, the plug retained in the first end, a lid which is hingediy attached to the second end, a plunger which is slidably housed in the bore, and a biasing member, the biasing member housed in the bore between the plug and the plunger, the spring for urging the plunger towards the second end.

In the personal safety device, the biasing member may be a spring.

In the personal safety device, the lid may be hingediy attached to the second end with a living hinge. In the personal safety device, the capsule and the frame may be a unit body.

In the personal safety device, the ID holder may include a raised tab that abuts the steps.

In the personal safety device, the raised tab may include a sign.

The personal safety device may further comprise a pill, the pill releasably retained in the capsule. The personal safety device may further comprise ID.

In another embodiment, an awareness combination for releasable attachment to a user's wrist is provided, the combination comprising: i) a personal safety device including: a frame, the frame including a front, a back, which is opposite the front, a bottom, a top which is opposite the bottom, the top and bottom defining a slot extending between the front and back, a pair of sides extending between the bottom and the top and including a step proximate the back, a pair of rims continuous with the sides and extending upward therefrom, each rim including an inward facing lip; a face which includes an upper convex mirrored surface, the face retained by the lips and the rims, the face and the top defining an identification (ID) holder slot, the ID holder slot extending from the front towards the back; an ID holder, the ID holder slidably, removably retained in the ID holder slot and including a raised first end and a raised second end, the ends defining a space for retaining ID; and a medication capsule, the medication capsule located at the back of the frame and including a first end, a second end, a bore therebetween, a plug, the plug retained in the first end, a lid which is hingedly attached to the second end, a plunger which is slidably housed in the bore, and a biasing member, the biasing member housed in the bore between the plug and the plunger, the spring for urging the plunger towards the second end.; ii) a monitor, a watch or a combination watch-monitor; and iii) a wrist strap, the wrist strap retaining the safety device and the monitor, the mirror and the monitor mounted a long a length of the wrist strap.

In the awareness combination, the personal safety device may be rectangular and has a longitudinal axis coaxial with the length of the wrist strap.

In the awareness combination, the biasing member may be a spring. In the awareness combination, the lid may be hingedly attached to the second end with a living hinge.

In the awareness combination, the capsule and the frame may be a unit body.

In the awareness combination, the ID holder includes a raised tab that abuts the steps.

In the awareness combination, the raised tab may include a sign.

The awareness combination may further comprise a pill, the pill releasably retained in the capsule.

The awareness combination may further comprise ID.

In the awareness combination, the monitor may be selected from the group consisting of a heart rate monitor, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and a fitness tracker.

FIGURES

Figure 1 is a plan view of the multipurpose combination of the present technology on a user's wrist.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the safety device of the present technology.

Figure 3A is a perspective view of the frame of the safety device of Figure 2; Figure 3B is a top view of the frame of the safety device of Figure 2; Figure 3C is a side view of the frame of the safety device of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front end view of the safety device of Figure 2 on a wrist strap.

Figure 5A is a side view of the safety device of Figure 2; Figure 5B is a back end view of the safety device of Figure 2; Figure 5C is a perspective view of the plug of the capsule of the device of Figure 2; Figure 5D is a sectional through line D of Figure 5A; Figure 5E is a perspective view of the plunger of the capsule of the device of Figure 2; and Figure 5F is a side view of the plunger of Figure 5E. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the safety device of Figure 2 with the ID holder removed.

Figure 7A is a perspective view of the ID holder of the safety device of Figure 2; Figure 7B is a plan view of the ID holder of the safety device of Figure 2; Figure 7C is a side view of the ID holder of the safety device of Figure 2; and Figure 7D is a sectional view at line D of Figure 7C.

DESCRIPTION

Except as otherwise expressly provided, the following rules of interpretation apply to this specification (written description, claims and drawings): (a) all words used herein shall be construed to be of such gender or number (singular or plural) as the circumstances require; (b) the singular terms "a", "an", and "the", as used in the specification and the appended claims include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise; (c) the antecedent term "about" applied to a recited range or value denotes an approximation within the deviation in the range or value known or expected in the art from the measurements method; (d) the words "herein", "hereby", "hereof", "hereto", "hereinbefore", and "hereinafter", and words of similar import, refer to this specification in its entirety and not to any particular paragraph, claim or other subdivision, unless otherwise specified; (e) descriptive headings are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any part of the specification; and (f) "or" and "any" are not exclusive and "include" and "including" are not limiting. Further, the terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted.

To the extent necessary to provide descriptive support, the subject matter and/or text of the appended claims is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Where a specific range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is included therein. All smaller sub ranges are also included. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges are also included therein, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used, the acceptable methods and materials are now described

A multipurpose awareness combination, generally referred to as 10 is shown in Figure 1, on the wrist 12 of a user. The user is typically an athlete, but need not be. The combination 10 has a wrist band 14 that releasably holds the combination 10 around the user's wrist 12. It has a closure 16 which may have a buckle closure or a hook and loop type closure. A monitor, watch or combination watch-monitor 20 is retained on the wrist band 14 and proximate the monitor, watch or combination watch-monitor 20 is a safety device 22. The safety device 22 has an upper mirrored surface 24, which is convex.

As shown in Figure 2, the safety device 22 is rectangular and has a longitudinal axis 26 coaxial with the length of the wrist band 14. The safety device 22 has a width 30 that is not significantly wider than the width 32 of the band 14, in other words, no wider than about the width of the monitor 20. The safety device 22 is curved to fit the wrist of the user. It has a medication capsule 34 with a lid 36 at one end. A living hinge 38 attaches the lid to the medication capsule 34. The capsule 34 has a sign 39 stating "ASPIRIN". At the other end is a tab 40 which has a sign 42 on it stating "PULL FOR ID".

As shown in Figure 3A, 3B and 3C, the safety device 22 has a frame generally referred to as 48, which includes a bottom 50, a top 52, a first rim 54, a second rim 56, which is parallel and opposite the first rim 54, a back 58, a front 60, a first side 62 and a second side 64, which is parallel and opposite the first side 62. The rims 54, 56 are continuous with the sides 62, 64 and define a step 66 proximate the front 60. The rims 54, 56 include an inward facing lip 70 along their length. At the back end 72 of the rims 54, 56, the rims 54, 56 define a concave curve 74 as they decrease in height and finally terminate on the top 52. The sides 62, 64 decrease in height from back 58 to front 60. Proximate the back 58, the top 52 includes a slight curve 76 that extends across the width 30. At the back 58, the sides curve frontward to the bottom 50. At the front 78 of the top 52, there is a centrally located indent 80.

As shown in Figure 4, there is a thin slot 81 extending from the front 60 to the back 58 between the top 52 and the bottom 50. The slot 81 is sized to accept the wrist band 14. One specific example is a Fitbit ^® Surge which is 1.34" (34.3 mm) wide, the Fitbit Charge which is .8" (20.3 mm) wide, the Fitbit Alta which is .6" (15.2 mm) wide, the Fitbit Blaze which is .87" (22.1 mm), the Fitbit Flex which is 0.5" (12.7 mm) wide and the Fitbit One which is .76" (19.3 mm) wide. This may be through the inclusion of spacers that fill the void in a slot sized to accept the Fitbit Charge when used with the Alta, One or Flex or a slot sized to fit the Blaze when used with the Charge or the One or a slot sized to fit the Surge when used with any other Fitbit. Alternatively, the slot may be specific to the product.

As can be seen in Figure 5A, the capsule 34 is rectangular with rounded corners 82 and defines a bore 84. As shown in Figures 5A and B, the lid 36 has a raised frame 86 that defines an interior space 88. The frame 86 is sized to press fit into the first end 88 of the capsule 34 and the interior space, so defined, is sized to accept an end of a 325 mg round pill. The frame interior end 89 is chamfered. As shown in Figure 5A, the distal end of the lid 36 has a tab 90 to allow it to be opened easily. As shown in Figure 5C, the capsule 34 has a plug 92 which has a raised frame 94 that defines an interior space 96. As shown in Figure 5B, the frame 94 is sized to fit into the second end 96 of the capsule 34. The interior end 98 of the plug 92 is chamfered. As shown in Figure 5D a spring 100 is housed in the bore 84 and extends between the second end 96 and a plunger 102. As shown in Figure 5D and 5E, the plunger 102 is sized and shaped to be slidably retained in the bore 84. It has a chamfered end 104. As shown in Figure 5F, the central aperture 106 extends substantially the depth of the plunger 102. In one embodiment, the aperture 106 is open to the ambient on the sides 108 of the plunger. The aperture 106 is sized to accept the coils 109 of the spring 100. As shown in Figure 6, the face 110 that has the upper mirrored surface 24 and the top 52 define an ID slot 112. The front of the ID slot 112 is open to the ambient and the back of the ID slot 112 is formed by a side 114 of the capsule 34. It can also be seen that the face 110 is held in place on the top 52 by the first and second rim 54, 56 and their lips 70.

As shown in Figure 7 A, the ID holder 116 is shaped to slide in the ID slot 112. The tab 40 curves upward to assist in a user grasping it. As shown in Figures 7B and C, the ID holder 116 has a ledge 118 on the top 120 at the distal end 122 and a ledge 124 on the top 120 abutting the tab 40. This creates a space 126 for retaining ID. As shown in Figure 7D, on the bottom 128 there is a centrally located key 130 that abuts the tab 40. This mates with the indent 80. Returning to Figure 2, it can be seen that the ID holder 116 slides into the ID slot 112 and the tab 40 sits flush on the step 66. It is aligned with the front and with the face 110 with its mirrored surface 24.

The safety device 22 is preferably a plastic polymeric material with a mirrored upper surface. Suitable plastics include polystyrene, polycarbonate, and other non-malleable plastic polymers.

With regard to a large sized wristband, the device bottom 50 preferably has a curvature with a radius of about 45 to about 47 mm. The total length of the device would preferably be about 30 to about 35 mm and the width of the device is preferably about 26 mm. The radius of curvature of the mirror is about 890 mm and 1800 mm.

While example embodiments have been described in connection with what is presently considered to be an example of a possible most practical and/or suitable embodiment, it is to be understood that the descriptions are not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the example embodiment. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific example embodiments specifically described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed in the scope of the claims, if appended hereto or subsequently filed. For example, the frame and the capsule may be provided as a unit body or may be two parts that are attached to one another.