US 11,869,333 B2
Merchandise handling alert apparatus
Christopher A. Kelsch, Palm Harbor, FL (US); William Claude Chazotte, Indian Rocks Beach, FL (US); John N. Figh, Jr., Oldsmar, FL (US); and Michael P. Mitchell, Pinellas Park, FL (US)
Assigned to Vanguard Products Group, Inc., Oldsmar, FL (US)
Filed by Christopher A. Kelsch, Palm Harbor, FL (US); and Vanguard Products Group, Inc., Oldsmar, FL (US)
Filed on Mar. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/120,607.
Application 18/120,607 is a continuation of application No. 17/502,803, filed on Oct. 15, 2021, granted, now 11,605,285.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/110,728, filed on Nov. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0274630 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G08B 21/22 (2006.01); G08B 3/10 (2006.01); G08B 5/38 (2006.01); G08B 25/01 (2006.01); G08B 7/06 (2006.01); G08B 13/14 (2006.01)
CPC G08B 21/22 (2013.01) [G08B 3/10 (2013.01); G08B 5/38 (2013.01); G08B 7/06 (2013.01); G08B 13/1436 (2013.01); G08B 25/016 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A handling alert apparatus for an object configured to be handled, comprising:
a housing configured to be connected to the object;
a handling sensor disposed within the housing, the handling sensor being in electrical communication with a processor, wherein the handling sensor is configured to detect a handling event in response to handling of the object, and wherein the handling sensor is configured to transmit a first electrical signal to the processor in response to detecting the handling event; and
an electronic output device in electrical communication with the processor, wherein responsive to receiving the first electrical signal from the handling sensor, the processor is configured to trigger the electronic output device to output a visual alert or an audible alert, wherein the visual alert or the audible alert is outputted subsequent to the object being returned to a designated at-rest position.