This invention relates generally to pen-type electronic modules of the type commonly worn by health care workers, and more particularly relates to modules of this type that are automatically turned"on"or"off"by affixing them to the garment of a wearer in a particular orientation.

Pen-type electronic modules have become relatively widely used by health care workers and other workers exposed to dangerous or otherwise sensitive environments, during the 1990's. The modules are, in effect, miniaturized environmental sensors that are worn by workers to warn them of significant surrounding environmental conditions, such as temperature, air pollution, radiation levels, etc. All of the modules in use to date generally rely on manual operation of an electrical switch device to turn the module"on"and"off' ; that is, to activate or deactivate operation of the module. Users of such modules often overlook, for various reasons, the need to activate the module when they attach it to their garment, thereby depriving themselves, as well as their supervisors and other affected personnel, of the protection for which the module is intended. Alternately, many users forget to turn the module off when they remove it from their garment at the end of a wearing period, thereby running down the battery and/or rendering the module inoperative for the next use.

The present invention addresses and eliminates these existing problems of pen-type modules, by providing a module that can be secured to the garment of a wearer in either one of two positions; in one position, the module remains in its off condition; in the other position, the electronic circuits of the module are automatically turned on.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the apparatus of the module includes two different pocket or garment clips members to secure the module to the garment of a wearer/user in either one of two different positions. Electrical switch means associated with at least one of the clips turns the module on when that clip is used, and the module is automatically turned off when the other clip is used. Visible indicia, such as"ON"and "OFF"signs are associated with each clip to provide clear indications of the current condition of the module.

The circuitry of the module incorporates a normally-closed switch that maintains the module in the"off'condition until the switch is opened; opening the circuit

associated with the switch automatically turns the module"on", causing it to operate for its intended purpose. The switch incorporates the resilient pocket clip element as a conductor in the"on-off'circuit ; the clip resiliently engages an opposed, conductive surface on the main body of the module to complete the circuit. When a portion of the fabric of the wearer's garment, such as the edge of a pocket in which the module is received, is interposed between the clip and the opposed conductive surface, the circuit is interrupted, and the module is turned"on". This clip preferably may be associated with printed indicia, positioned to be visible outside of the pocket in which the module is received, indicating that the module is in the"on"condition. Alternatively, if the module is engaged in the garment pocket using the other of the two pocket clips, the"on-off'circuit remains uninterrupted and the module remains in the"off'condition. Similarly, printed indicia associated with this second clip, may be associated with printed indicating the"off"condition of the module.

These and other and further features and advantages of this invention will be made more apparent to those having skill in this art, by reference to the following specification considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a pictorial representation showing how pen-type modules may be used in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is a front plan view of a pen module in accordance with this invention; Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the pen module of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a partial side elevation view of the pen module of Figure 2; and, Figure 5 is a partial side elevation view of a modified embodiment of this invention.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation rather than limitation, specific details are set forth such as the particular architecture, interfaces, techniques, etc. , in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. For purposes of simplicity and clarity, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the pen-type module 10 of this invention can be seen to comprise a main body structure 12 having an indicator or sensor

portion 14 and a pair of resilient pocket clip elements 16,18 arrayed in opposed, spaced apart locations. In this embodiment the opposed locations for clip elements 16,18 are on opposite sides of the main body structure 12. In accordance with the structure of conventional pocket clips used on conventional pocket pens, each clip 16,18 has a fixed end 20 and a free end 22.

The fixed end 20 of each clip is attached to main body structure 12, either directly, or indirectly as through sensor portion 14. Free end 22 of each clip 16,18 is resiliently biased against the surface of main body structure 12 so as to securely but releasably grip a planar material, such as a portion 19 of garment fabric, between the free end 22 and the surface of the body structure 12. For this purpose, clips 16,18 may be made of a resiliently flexible material with fixed end 20 securely attached to body 12 so that free end 22 is biased against the surface of body 12 by the resilience of the clip structure. Alternatively, clips 16,18 may be made of a more rigid material and fixed end 20 may be resiliently coupled to body 12 to achieve the desired resilient biasing of free end 22 toward body 12.

In accordance with this invention, the resiliently flexible material of at least one of clips 16,18, is electrically conductive, and at least a portion 24 of the surface of body 12 that is engaged by free end 22 of that clip is also electrically conductive. In the illustrated embodiment, clip 18 is made to be conductive, so that a continuous electrical path is established between conductive portion 24 and clip 18 when they are in contact with each other. Further in accordance with this invention, clip 18 is mounted to body 12 in such manner that it is electrically insulated from body 12, and accordingly, the only electrical contact between body 12 and clip 18 is at the interface of free end 22 and conductive surface portion 24. Conductive surface portion 24 and free end 22 of clip 18 are separated from electrical contact with each other when an electrically insulating barrier, such as a portion of garment fabric, is positioned between them. It will be understood readily by those having ordinary skill in this art, that in the process of using clip 18 to secure the associated pen module to the garment of a wearer, a portion of the garment fabric will be inserted between free end 22 and conductive portion 24 of body 12, to secure the associated pen module to the wearer's garment.

Still further in accordance with this invention, the internal electronic structure of the module is established in any conventional manner so that the continuous electrical circuit created by electrical engagement of contact surface 24 with free end 22 of clip 18, maintains the electronic functions of the module in the"off'condition ; that is, the module is not in operating mode. And accordingly, when the electrical path through contact 24 and free end 20 is interrupted, as by the insertion of a piece of garment fabric between the two, the

status of the module"switches"to the"on"condition. In this manner, automatic on-off operation is of module 10 achieved, the module being maintained in its"off"condition when the circuit path through contact 24 and clip 18 is compete because clip 18 is not attached to a portion of fabric, and the module being switched to its"on"condition automatically when the circuit path is interrupted because clip 18 is in use with a piece of fabric engaged between its opposed gripping/contacting surfaces.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 5, in which fixed end 20 of clip 18 is not fixedly attached to body 12, but rather is coupled to the lever actuator arm 28 of a conventional normally-closed lever-action electrical switch 26 that is, in turn, mounted to body 12. In this embodiment, the conventional resilient closing mechanism of switch 26 serves as the resilient bias means for urging the free end 22 of clip 18 into gripping engagement with body 12. The displacement of clip 18 caused by interposing a portion of garment fabric between free end 22 and the surface of body 12, activates the switch 26 and alters its condition from"closed"to"open"thereby interrupting the circuit controlled by the switch. In this manner switch 26 operates in the same manner and for the same purpose as the electrical path formed by clip 18 and contact 24 in the embodiment of Figure 4. Specifically, interposing a section of fabric between free end 22 and body 12, to grip the fabric and secure the module 10 to a wearer's garment, displaces clip 18 and opens switch 26 to which the clip is attached, thereby interrupting the circuit coupled to the switch so as to change the condition of the module from"off"to"on".

To further facilitate use of the invention, clips 16,18 preferably are used in conjunction with visible indicia 15, such as shown at reference numeral 15 in figure 2, identifying the function associated with the corresponding clip. As an example only, the words"ON"and"OFF"may be printed in prominent type face directly on or nearby each clip as identified by reference numerals 15 and 17 in figure 3, so that potential users can determine readily how to orient the module so that it will perform the desired function when it is being attached to the wearer's garment, and an outside observer can similarly determine if the module is being worn by another in proper orientation to function in an appropriate manner.

Now, it should be obvious to those having skill in this art that the wearable module of this invention will function, readily, to be turned on or off readily and automatically upon being attached to the garment of a wearer, without reference to manipulation or positioning of manual switches, and will remain in the proper function mode so long as it is worn, without concern about inadvertent operation of a manual switch.

The disclosed embodiment relies on the electrically insulating, that is, non- conductive, nature of almost all clothing materials to achieve the desired electrical switching function ; that is, the"ON"clip is in constant electrical contact with the main body of the module and forms a continuous electrical circuit with that body; the continuous circuit maintains the module in the"Off"condition. When the clip is attached to the garment of a wearer, with the garment fabric interposed between the clip and the main body, the continuous circuit is"broken"and the module is turned"on". Accordingly, when the module is inserted into the pocket of a garment using the"ON"clip, the module is turned"on and the "ON"label of the module preferably is clearly visible to the wearer and/or an outside observer. When the module is inverted in the wearer's pocket using the"OFF"clip to secure the module to the garment, the"ON"clip returns to its original position turning the module "off', and the"OFF label is clearly displayed.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those having skill in this art that various other forms and embodiments of the invention now may be visualized, readily, by those having skill in this art, without departing substantially from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the accompanying claims.