IP Library Granted Patent US 10,744,043
Granted Patent B2
US 10,744,043 · App. 15/688,663 · Granted Aug 18, 2020

Moisture detecting article

Inventors: Debra K. Turner (Garden City, KS); Todd C. McCurry (Fort Collins, CO)
Assignee: Bad Little Monster LLC
A61F13/42A61F13/53G08B21/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,744,043
App. No.
15/688,663
Granted
Aug 18, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A moisture detecting article includes a moisture detection module secured to a garment, intended to contain and hold bodily fluids excreted by an animal. The moisture detection module is connectable to a moisture sensor disposed in the garment to detect when bodily fluid is excreted. If moisture is detected, the moisture sensitive detection module enables one or more signals, alarming the animal and its caretaker. The garment includes a moisture absorbent material, detachable from the garment for disposal of the excretion.

Claims (30)

1. A moisture detecting article, comprising:

a garment;

a moisture detection module secured to said garment, said moisture detection module including:

a moisture sensor disposed to sense moisture within said garment, said moisture sensor generating moisture sensor signals upon occurrence of said moisture in said garment; and

a processor communicatively coupled to a non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions executable to activate at least one moisture indicator which emits a sensorially perceivable indicia upon detection of said moisture in said garment, said computer executable instructions are further executable to re-initialize said moisture detection module with a reset element electrically connected to said moisture detection module.

2. The moisture detecting article of claim 1 , further comprising a moisture absorbent material removably affixed to said garment, said moisture sensor located to detect said moisture captured by said moisture absorbent material.

3. The moisture detecting article of claim 2 , wherein said moisture absorbent material removably affixed to said garment captures said moisture originating from a wearer of said garment.

4. The moisture detecting article of claim 3 , wherein said moisture comprises a body fluid originating from said wearer of said garment.

5. The moisture detecting article of claim 3 , further comprising fasteners attached to said garment, said fasteners operable to removably affix said moisture absorbent material at first location on said garment to capture said moisture.

6. The moisture detecting article of claim 5 , wherein said garment comprises a second location unreachable by mouth and paws of said wearer and said moisture detecting module removably secured to and detachable from said second location on said garment.

7. The moisture detecting article of claim 1 , wherein said computer executable instructions are further executable to receive said moisture sensor signals generated by said moisture sensor.

8. The moisture detecting article of claim 7 , wherein said computer executable instructions are further executable to analyze said moisture sensor signals received from said moisture sensor.

9. The moisture detecting article of claim 8 , wherein said computer executable instructions are further executable to detect said moisture in said garment based on analysis of said moisture sensor signals.

10. The moisture detecting article of claim 9 , wherein said computer executable instructions are further executable to validate detection of said moisture in said garment.

11. The moisture detecting article of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of said moisture indicators, at least one of said plurality of said moisture indicators being a light emitting element which emits a sensorially perceivable amount of light, wherein said computer executable instructions are further executable to activate each of said plurality of said moisture indicators and deactivate each of said plurality of said moisture indicators upon elapse of a period of time, said light emitting element remaining activated until deactivated by user interaction with said reset element of said moisture detection module.

12. The moisture detecting article of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of said moisture indicators include a light emitting element which emits a sensorially perceivable amount of light, a sound emitting element which emits a sensorially perceivable amount of sound, and a vibration emitting element which emits a sensorially perceivable amount of vibration.

13. The moisture detecting article of claim 1 , wherein said computer executable instructions are further executable to:

determine a power level value of a power source electrically connected to said moisture detection module;

compare said power level value of said power source to a low power level value; and

activate a low power level indicator if said power level value is less than said low power level value.

14. The moisture detecting article of claim 13 , wherein said low power level indicator comprises a light emitting element which emits a sensorially perceivable amount of light.

15. The moisture detecting article of claim 14 , wherein said computer executable instructions are further executable to disable determination of said power level of said power source upon activation of said moisture indicator.

16. The moisture detecting article of claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver for exchanging data with a remote computing device.

17. The moisture detecting article of claim 16 , wherein said transceiver comprises wireless communication.

18. The moisture detecting article of claim 17 , wherein said computer executable instructions are further executable to transmit notification of detection of said moisture in said garment to said remote computing device.

19. The moisture detecting article of claim 18 , wherein said computer executable instructions are further executable to associate a date-time stamp with each said notification of detection of said moisture in said garment to said remote computing device.

20. The moisture detecting article of claim 19 , wherein said computer executable instructions are further executable to save each said notification associated with said date-time stamp in a moisture detection log in date-time order retrievable by said remote computing device.

21. The moisture detecting article of claim 20 , wherein computer executable instructions further executable to:

receive reset instructions from said remote computing device; and

re-initialize said moisture detection module by said user interaction with said reset element electrically connected to said moisture detection module.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2017
From: TURNER, DEBRA K.; MCCURRY, TODD C.
To: BAD LITTLE MONSTER LLC
Reel/Frame 043427/0034 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190060136A1 · Feb 28, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,329,616