GB2409363A

GB2409363A - Personal safety device

Info

Publication number: GB2409363A
Application number: GB0426913A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Michael Freakes; Helen Christine Halstead
Original assignee: H & G Technology Ltd
Current assignee: H & G Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2003-12-09
Filing date: 2004-12-08
Publication date: 2005-06-22
Also published as: GB0426913D0; GB0328555D0

Abstract

A personal safety device 10 is disclosed for wearing on or about the body of a user. The device 10 comprises a position determining device and a communication device for transmitting the determined position to a remote receiving unit. The device 10 is fabricated on a flexible circuit board 12. The device 10 may be incorporated into or onto an article of clothing or jewellery. The device 10 may be encapsulated in a protective material 14. The position determining means may comprise a satellite tracking system such as a global positioning system, and/or a radio direction finder which determines the location of the device 10 by bisection or triangulation of signals received from radio transmitters. The positioning system may utilise mobile telephone transmitters and may determine the position of the device 10 by reference to the identification code of the nearest mobile telephone transmitter. The communication device may be adapted to transmit signals at timed intervals; in response to a received signal; on demand by means of a panic button; and/or if the device 10 leaves a predetermined area. The transmitted signal may comprise a text message utilising the SMS protocol of a GSM network. The device 10 may be self-powered 22 by an onboard power source which may comprise one or more photovoltaic cells; a kinetic mechanism that generates power in response to movement; and/or a piezoelectric element arranged to flex during use. The device 10 may comprise a means for detecting whether the device is moving and may comprise one or more biometric sensors for monitoring the user's body temperature and/or pulse. The device 10 may further raise an alarm if the device is removed from the user. In a further embodiment the personal safety device 10 can be powered by a rechargeable battery that is connected to an external power source via an inductive circuit.

Description

Title: Personal safety devices

Description:

The present invention relates to personal safety devices and in particular, but not exclusively, to personal safety devices capable of being There are many different types of personal safety device including personal attack alarms to ward off would-be attackers and distress beacons for example Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs). Mobile telephones have also become well-known safety devices and the number of would-be victims has reduced since the inception and proliferation of personal mobile telephony equipment.

However, many people are still afraid to travel by themselves for fear of attack and/or abduction. Moreover, many parents are afraid to allow their children the freedom that they themselves enjoyed for fear that they get into difficulty.

Even if a person is carrying a mobile telephone, they may not be able to raise a call for help for a number of reasons. For example, they may be unaware that they are in danger until is too late (e.g. if they are endangered ë by someone they know) or they may not be able to call for help for fear of A. alerting or aggravating their attackers. ..

There are other situations where having a personal safety device would . . be advantageous, for example where a person's car breaks down on an ë .....

unfamiliar road or where the person is simply lost. In such circumstances, it would be difficult to summon help not knowing where to direct assistance.

Recent, high profile cases have brought many of the above issues to the forefront of people's minds and there now exists a need for personal safety devices that can be effectively and reliably be worn on or about the body, especially by minors, the elderly and infirm, that is capable of automatically, and possibly covertly, transmitting a distress signal along with positional information to a responsible person.

There are other situations where being able to wear a personal safety device on the body may be convenient or advantageous, for example to monitor unsupervised minors or the elderly or infirm to check that they are where they should be and that they are not in distress.

The present invention is concerned with the incorporation of a personal safety device into a piece of clothing or provision of a personal safety device in a manner that enables it to be worn on or about the person. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved personal safety device suitable for wearing on or about the body of a user.

Accordingly, a the present invention provides a personal safety device suitable for wearing on or about the body of a user, the personal safety device comprising a positioning system adapted to determine the position of the ë *. personal safety device and a communications device adapted to transmit the . position of the personal safety device to a remote receiving unit, wherein the personal safety device is fabricated on a flexible circuit board. - a.

..e e.

The personal safety device is adapted to be worn on the body of a user. It may be worn as an article of clothing or adornment or it may be incorporated into an item of clothing. Where the personal safety device is adapted to be worn as an article of clothing or adornment, it may be adapted to be worn around a limb or the torso of the user, e.g. as a wristband or belt.

Alternatively, the personal safety device may be incorporated into an article of adornment, e.g. a wristwatch, anklet or necklace.

A further possible means of adapting the personal safety device to be worn on the body of a user is by incorporating it into an article of clothing or adapting it to be affixed to an article of clothing. The personal safety device could be affixed to clothing using any suitable means including, one or more hook and loop type fasteners, press-studs, buttons, clips and/or ties.

The personal safety device is fabricated on a flexible circuit board, thereby conveniently enabling it to be adapted into any of the above embodiments. The flexible circuit board may be of any suitable type, but is preferably manufactured of a polymeric or elastomeric web material.

The personal safety device is preferably encapsulated in a protective material, such as an elastomer (e.g. rubber) or a bendable polymer (e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride etc). The protective material is .. preferably liquid-resistant and/or impact absorptive to protect the personal -..

safety device from chemical, water and/or physical damage. In a most A. preferred embodiment of the invention, the flexible circuit board is encased in . polyurethane. The polyurethane may be in provided in sheet form either side . of the flexible circuit board and sealed around its periphery to encase the - ..e circuit. Sealing may be accomplished by any suitable means including welding and by using an adhesive. In order to provide a good seal, a two- pass weld may be used, i.e. a radio frequency welding step followed by a heat-welding step.

Where sheet materials are used to encase the circuit, the sheet materials need not be of equal thicknesses. Preferably, the sheet intended to contact the user is thinner than that on the opposite side. Such an arrangement provides extra material thickness outwardly of the circuit to afford additional protection, whilst enabling the innermost sheet to remain flexible for comfort of wearing. Trials have shown that having an outer thickness around three times that of the inner sheet provides good comfort and protection properties.

Furthermore, a foam material may be provided adjacent to the circuit to further protect it from impacts and to improve wearing comfort.

The positioning system of the invention is capable of determining the geographical location of personal safety device. It may be a satellite tracking system or any other system capable of determining the location of the personal safety device, such as a radio direction finder (RDF).

Where the positioning system is a satellite tracking system, it may comprise a Global Positioning System (GPS). The GPS preferably eee.

determines its position by bisection or triangulation of signals received from satellites that orbit above the earth. .

Where the positioning system of the personal safety device comprises *, an RDF, it may determine the location of the personal safety device by .. ë ë

bisecting or triangulation of signals received from radio transmitters.

Conveniently, these may be transmitters of the type used in marine or aircraft navigation systems, such as those installed at airports or seaports.

Alternatively, the positioning system may utilise mobile telephone network transmitters. Where a mobile telephone network system is used, the Global Specification for mobile telephones (GSM) system may be a convenient one to use since GSM transmitters are provided at many known locations and transmit identification signals. Thus, the position of the personal safety device may be determined according to the "cell" in which the personal safety device is residing (i.e. by reference to the identification code of the nearest GSM transmitter) or it may interpolate or otherwise calculate the position of the personal safety device on the basis of the relative strength and /or bearing of a plurality of received GSM signals.

The communications device of the invention may be of any suitable type, e. g. a radio transmitter, but is preferably a telecommunications device (e.g. a mobile telephone). The communication device of the invention is adapted to transmit a signal comprising the location of the personal safety device when desired.

The personal safety device may be adapted to transmit a signal at timed intervals or if the personal safety device leaves a pre-set zone. The ..

latter functionality may be useful in the case of tracking children who are : allowed free movement within certain geographical locations (e.g. near to the : : : home, school, friend's houses etc), but an alarm signal is raised when the child leaves an allowed location (e.g. when they stray out of the locality or if ..

they are taken somewhere without the parent's consent). Additionally or alternatively, the personal safety device of the invention may be adapted to transmit a location signal "on demand". In that case, the communications device is adapted to receive signals and to instigate a response in relation thereto.

The transmitted signal may be a pre-recorded voice message, data or a text message. The signal may be adapted to be received by a variety of means, including a computer, a telephone (mobile or otherwise) or a pager.

In a most preferred embodiment of the invention, the personal safety device is adapted to transmit a location signal in the form of a text message using the Short Message Server (SMS) protocol of a GSM network. The message is then, preferably, received by a computerized call centre that forwards the signal to a mobile telephone or pager in the possession of a responsible person (e.g. a parent or to the police). The signal may also comprise an identification code and/or an annotation, for example "ID: 012345, POSITION: 23.25.12W 15.14.23N, CODE: OUTSIDE ALLOWED ZONE" or "ID: 98765, POSITION: STREET TOWN POSTCODE, CODE: HOURLY POSITION CHECK" Conveniently, the positioning system and communications device may be a single mobile telephony device, enabling positional information to be . obtained by reference to the relative strengths of nearby GSM transmitter a.: signals and enabling communication to take place between the personal : :: safety device and the same GSM transmitters/receivers using a mobile telephony protocol.

The personal safety device may be powered by a battery, which is preferably rechargeable. The battery, where provided, may be charged by connection to an external power source via a power jack or may be charged using an inductive circuit to negate the need for a power jack, which may degrade the water resistance of the personal safety device.

In a most preferred embodiment, the personal safety device is selfpowered. This may be by the provision of an on-board power source.

Suitable on-board power sources include photovoltaic cells, or kinetic mechanisms that generate power in response to movement (e.g. a pendulum connected via a ratchet system to a dynamo).

In a most preferred embodiment of the invention, the personal safety device is powered by a piezoelectric element that is arranged to flex during use, i.e. during the normal course of wearing the personal safety device on the user's body. Where provided, the piezoelectric element is preferably connected to a charge storage device, e.g. a capacitor, accumulator or rechargeable battery, such that as electrical pulses are generated during use, they are stored in the charge storage device for powering the personal safety device when it is not being flexed.

The piezoelectric element may be manufactured of any suitable .. material, such as for example a ceramic material (e.g. Ieadzirconate-titanate ëe.

(PZT) or barium-titanate (BaTiO3) or a polymeric material (e.g. Polyvinylidene . Fluoride (PVDF). The piezoelectric element preferably comprises a thin strip .

: of piezoelectric material having suitable electrical connections disposed . . thereon. ...

The piezoelectric element, where provided, is preferably mounted on the personal safety device as close to the neutral axis thereof as possible (e.g. in the central plane of the personal safety device) to maximise flexure but to minimise extension during use.

The personal safety device of the invention may further comprise a "panic button" that enables an emergency alarm signal to be sent by the user on demand.

The personal safety device of the invention may also comprise means for receiving programming signals. The programming signals may be used to assign an identification number or code to the personal safety device and/or to e.g. assign geographical zones to the device whereby if the device leaves one of the pre-determined zones an alarm signal is raised. Programming signals may also be used to customise other features of the device and/or to activate/deactivate it. The programming signals may be received via the communications device of the invention of via a dedicated port. The port may be cable port or an infrared port that can interface with e.g. a computer.

The device may contain an antenna. Where an antenna is provided, it is preferably integrated into or onto the circuit board of the device. In a most preferred embodiment, the antenna is a resonant structure in a low cost, low mass and small form factor. -e.

Additionally or alternatively, the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features: : aeeeee . ëe

..e.e e A vibrating buzer that can be activated by a direct call to the device, which could be used by the child's parent to alert a child playing away from home that it should return home.

A microphone to the device that enables a call centre operator to listen to the wearer's environment covertly. The microphone, where provided, may be a solid-state device mounted on an outer part of device and possibly with a means of coupling more effectively to the environment.

A magnetically activated off switch to save power while charging.

A low battery power warning device (e.g. a lighVLED, a buzer or other signal emitter).

Means for powering the device using the body heat of the user.

A "panic button" that when depressed causes the device to transmit a distress signal.

MEMS based accelerometers to detect whether the device is moving may be desirable - full MEMS gyro capability to compensate for loss of GPS for amounts of time will probably never be cost effective.

One or more biometric sensors for monitoring the wearer's body ..

temperature and/or pulse. One possibility is the addition of a .. thermistor to measure the temperature of the user; when the

I-

device is called it can provide both position and temperature .- ë..e information that could alert the caller that the device has been discarded.

A security alarm to that raises an alarm signal if the device is removed from the person. In this application the device may be A docking station may be provided for use in conjunction with the invention. The docking station would preferably be mains powered and comprise a transformer and an induction coil for providing a non-contact means of charging the battery of the device via the induction coil.

The docking station, where provided preferably has an IR port that communicates with the IR port of the device. Thus the device may be programmed and recharged simply by placing it a cradle provided on the docking station. The cradle, where provided may be open-ended such that personal safety devices having a variety of configurations (i.e. belt, wristband etc) can be conveniently accommodated thereby.

A preferred embodiment of the invention shall now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention; : Figure 2 is a schematic cross section through a device according to the - .. eeee

eee invention; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a docking station for use in : : conjunction with the invention; .- .e .

Figure 4 shows a wristband-type embodiment of the invention incorporating biosensors; Figures 5 and 6 show embodiments of the invention adapted for securing to clothing; Figure 7 shows a schematic cross-section through a foam padded version of the invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, a personal safety device 10 according to the invention is shown having a flexible circuit board 12 encapsulated in a flexible body moulding 14. The circuit board 12 is manufactured from polyimide and has a central processing unit (CPU) 16 powered by a rechargeable battery 18.

The CPU 16 comprises a GPS system and a mobile telecommunications device, each receiving signals via the antenna 20. The battery 18 is recharged using a piezoelectric element 22 that connects to the battery via a rectifying circuit. Also shown in Figure 1 is an induction coil 24 to enable non- contact charging and an infrared (JR) sensor 26 for receiving external signals.

Figure 2 shows a partial cross-section of a personal safety device according to the invention 10 having a flexible circuit board 12 encapsulated in a flexible body moulding 14. A piezoelectric element 22 is located at the neutral axis 28 of the device and has contacts 30 and 32 on upper and lower .. surfaces thereof respectively. Flexure A of the device 10 causes changes in - .e the dipole moment of the piezoelectric element 22, setting up a voltage between the upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric element 22. The : : voltage is then rectified and used to recharge the battery. ë- ... a..

Figure 3 shows a docking station 40 for use in conjunction with the invention. The docking station 40 is mains powered 42 and comprises a transformer (not shown) and a concealed induction coil (not shown) that provides a non-contact means of charging the battery of the device via the induction coil. The docking station also has an IR port 44 that communicates with the IR port 26 of the device. Thus the device 10 can be programmed and recharged simply by placing it in the cradle 46 provided by the docking station 40. The cradle is open-ended such that devices 10 having a variety of configurations (i.e. belt, wristband etc) can be accommodated thereby.

The docking station 40 also has a keypad comprising a set of keys 48 and cursors 50 for programming the device 10. Programming is conveniently achieved using a menu-based system. The docking station 40 also has a liquid crystal display 52 to facilitate programming of the device Figures 4, 5 and 6 show possible alternative configurations of the invention 10.

Figure 4 shows a wristband embodiment whereby the flexible body moulding 14 containing the flexible circuit board 12 has flaps 54 & 56 extending therefrom that are fastened to one another about the wrist of the user (not shown) using a buckle 58 or other suitable fastener. The buckle or other fastener 58 may be lockable to prevent unauthorized removal, which -.

embodiment may be useful in the monitoring of prisoners, parolees and the like.

:. . Figure 4 also shows the device 10 having biosensors 55 & 57 . . incorporated into the flaps for monitoring the pulse and temperature of the ëe -e wearer respectively. The pulse biosensor 55 is conveniently located near to an artery (e.g. the brachial artery) to maximise the signal to noise ratio, or sensitivity of the biosensor.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment whereby the flexible body moulding 14 has a flange 60 extending around the periphery thereof.

Because the body 14 is manufactured of a polymeric material, it can be stitched 62 into or onto an article of clothing 64.

Figure 6 shows a yet further alternative embodiment whereby the body 14 is secured onto a piece of clothing 64 using a hook and loop type fastener 66.

Finally, Figure 7 shows a cross-section through a foam-padded embodiment of the invention 10. The flexible circuit board 12 is encased between a pair of polyurethane sheets 14 & 14a that are welded 70 around their periphery to form a watertight seal. The intended outer sheet 14a is approximately three times as thick as the intended inner sheet 14. Foam strips 72 are provided either side of the circuit board 12 to provide additional protection against impacts and to improve wearing comfort for the user. a.. sea. e.e a ë

A ä. area .a.e

Claims

Claims: 1. A personal safety device suitable for wearing on or about the

body of a user, the personal safety device comprising a positioning system adapted to determine the position of the personal safety device and a communications device adapted to transmit the position of the personal safety device to a remote receiving unit, wherein the personal safety device is fabricated on a flexible circuit board.
2. The personal safety device as claimed in claim 1, adapted to be worn around a limb or the torso of the user.
3. The personal safety device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, adapted to be incorporated into or onto an article of clothing or jewellery.
4. The personal safety device as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3, further comprising fastening means.
5. A personal safety device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fastening :'' means comprises one or more hook and loop type fasteners, press-studs, .

.' buttons, clips or ties. .. .
6. A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the flexible circuit board is manufactured of a polymeric or elastomeric web material.
7. A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, encapsulated in a protective material.
8. A personal safety device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the protective material is liquid-resistant to protect the personal safety device from chemical or water damage.
9. A personal safety device as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein protective material is impact absorptive to protect the personal safety device from physical damage.
10.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the protective material is an elastomer
11.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the protective material is a bendable polymer case caea .

An.:
12.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the ë :.': positioning system is capable of determining the geographical location of I. . personalsafety device.

saaeca
13.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the positioning system comprises a satellite tracking system.
14.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the satellite tracking system comprises a global positioning system.
15.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the positioning system comprises a radio direction finder.
16. A personal safety device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the radio direction finder determines the location of the personal safety device by bisecting or triangulating signals received from radio transmitters used in marine or aircraft navigation.
17.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the positioning system utilises mobile telephone network transmitters. . e

:
18.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the positioning A. . system determines the position of the personal safety device by reference to the identification code of the nearest mobile telephone transmitter. e.e .e

..
19.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the positioning a..

system determines the position of the personal safety device by interpolating or calculating its position on the basis of the relative strength and/or bearing of one or more received mobile telephone transmitter signals.
20.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 19, wherein the communications device comprises a radio transmitter.
21.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 20, wherein the communications device comprises a mobile telephone.
22.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 20 or claim 21, adapted to transmit signals at timed intervals.
23.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 20 or claim 21, adapted to transmit signals if it leaves a pre-set zone.
24.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 23, adapted to receive signals and to instigate a response in relation thereto. :.e . ë

..
25.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 24, adapted to transmit .

. '. signals on demand.

I ë
26.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the transmitted

I

signal comprises a pre-recorded voice message.
27.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the transmitted signal comprises data.
28.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the transmitted signal comprises a text message.
29.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the text message utilises the Short Message Server protocol of a GSM network.
30.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the transmitted signal comprises an identification code.
31.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the transmitted signal comprises annotation.
32.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 31, wherein the positioning system and communications device are a single mobile ëe.

. telephony device, enabling positional information to be obtained by . .

reference to the relative strengths of nearby transmitter signals and . enabling communication to take place between the personal safety device A. and the same transmitters/receivers using a mobile telephony protocol. ee e. ë.e
33.A personal safety device as claimed in claim any of claims 1 to 32, powered by a battery.
34.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 33, wherein the battery is rechargeable.
35.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the battery is chargeable by connection to an external power source.
36.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 35, wherein the battery is connectable to an external power source via a power jack.
37.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 35, wherein the battery is connectable to an external power source via an inductive circuit.
38.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 32, wherein the personal safety device is self-powered.

.
39.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 38, wherein the personal A.

- .e

safety device is powered by an on-board power source. ë

ee...
40.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 39, wherein the on-board .

power source comprises one or more photovoltaic cells.

ë.e.e
41.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 39, wherein the on-board power source comprises a kinetic mechanism that generates power in response to movement.
42.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 39, wherein the on-board power source comprises a piezoelectric element arranged to flex during use.
43.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 42, wherein the piezoelectric element is connected to a charge storage device.
44.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 43, wherein the charge storage device comprises a capacitor, accumulator or rechargeable battery, such that as electrical pulses are generated by the piezoelectric element as it is flexed, they are stored in the charge storage device for powering the personal safety device when it is not being flexed.
45.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 42, 43 or 44, wherein the ..e *. piezoelectric element is manufactured of a ceramic material. A. .e ë
46.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 45, wherein the ceramic e....

material is lead-zirconate-titanate or barium-titanate. e. .e ë..
47.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 42, 43 or 44, wherein the piezoelectric element is manufactured of a polymeric material.
48.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 47, wherein the polymeric material is Polyvinylidene Fluoride.
49.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 48, further comprising a panic button that enables an emergency alarm signal to be sent by the wearer on demand.
50.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 49, further comprising means for receiving programming signals.
51.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 50, further comprising an antenna.
52.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 51, wherein the antenna is integrated into or onto the circuit board of the device. :. ë .e. A.
53.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 52, wherein the antenna is a resonant structure in a low mass and small form factor.

I. - .. .- ë
54.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 53, further ..e comprising a vibrating buzzer.
55.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 54, further comprising a microphone that enables the wearer's environment to be covertly listened to.
56.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 55, further comprising a magnetically activated off switch to save power while charging.
57.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 56, further comprising a low battery power warning device.
58.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 57, further comprising means for powering the device using the body heat of the user.
59.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 58, further comprising one or more MEMS based accelerometers to detect whether the device is moving. :. ë A. ..e
60.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 59, further . comprising one or more biometric sensors for monitoring the wearer's eve.. .

body temperature and/or pulse. . s ... I.
61.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 60, further comprising a security alarm to that raises an alarm signal if the device is removed from the person.
62.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 61 adapted for use in conjunction with a docking station.
63.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 62, wherein the docking station is mains powered and comprises a transformer and an induction coil for providing a non-contact means of charging the battery of the device via the induction coil.
64.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 63, wherein the flexible circuit board is encased in polyurethane.
65.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 64, wherein the polyurethane is provided in sheet form either side of the flexible circuit board and sealed around its periphery to encase the circuit. ë.e . A.
66.A personal safety device as claimed in claim 65, wherein the sheets are . e ..

sealed by welding. A.. e - .
67.A personal safety device as claimed in claims 66, wherein the weld is created using radio frequency energy or heat.
68.A personal safety device as claimed in claims 66, wherein the weld is created using a combination of radio frequency energy and heat.
69.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 65 to 68, wherein the sheet materials are of equal thicknesses either side of the flexible circuit board.
70.A personal safety device as claimed in claims 69, wherein the intended inner sheet is thinner than that the intended outer sheet.
71.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 70, wherein a layer of foam is provided adjacent to the flexible circuit board.
72.A personal safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 71, wherein a layer of foam is provided on either side of the flexible circuit board.
73.A personal safety device suitable for wearing on or about the body of a - ..

user, the personal safety device comprising a positioning system adapted ..e to determine the position of the personal safety device and a .

communications device adapted to transmit the position of the personal safety device to a remote receiving unit, wherein the personal safety .

device is fabricated on a flexible circuit board and is connectable to an external power source via an inductive circuit.
74.A personal safety device suitable for wearing on or about the body of a user, the personal safety device comprising a positioning system adapted to determine the position of the personal safety device and a communications device adapted to transmit the position of the personal safety device to a remote receiving unit, wherein the personal safety device is fabricated on a flexible circuit board and is powered by a rechargeable battery that is connectable to an external power source via an inductive circuit.
75.A personal safety device substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. :. #... ë. A. . We e - C-.