Here's my problem: I have my alarm clock on the other side of the bedroom and when it goes off I'm quickly up, across the room to turn it off, and back in bed before I know what has happened in my morning grogginess.
Solution: An alarm clock that I can place in my room but the switch/button to turn it off can be placed remotely. For example, I'd like to be able to place the wireless switch in the bathroom near the shower since that's the first thing that I do in the morning to wake up. The alarm clock would would only be able to be turned off from this remote switch, which would get me out of bed, out of my bedroom and practically in the shower in the morning.
If there's anything like this out there already, I'd love to know.
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Update from author:
Further research into the idea led me to a 1982 patent describing exactly the thing I'd like to see produced. It describes an "alarm clock system consisting of a clock with a local alarm circuit and provided with a remotely located turn-off control device actuated by a push button switch." Full text: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4316273.html
Anyone know of anything like this has ever been produced?
I am opposed to this type of device unless the configuration of the device is difficult to be employed as a remote detonator. On the surface, I am opposed to providing such a device to the public.
Maybe if the range of the device was limited to about 25 feet. Though in this configuration it could be used as an explosive leash.
There are alarms that turn themselves off after 60 seconds. Get one loud enough to run you out of the room until the alarm turns itself off. Glue the reset button so you can't shut the alarm off manually.
I appologize for being so negative. I just got off line with a person in Iraq and they are having a great deal of trouble because of such device misuse. I can use almost anything as a weapon, so I will redress my previous answer.
Set your cell phone in the mode to answer automatically. Place the ring volume on maximum. Put your cell phone in your bathroom. Program your computer to auto-dial your cell phone at the time you want to get up. When the computer clock triggers the auto-dial, the cell phone rings and picks up automatically. You are now using up your minutes. If you don't go to the bathroom to shut off the cell phone you won't have any minutes left.
You can also set your room alarm clock to go off a few minutes before your computer calls your cell phone, so you can avoid using any minutes at all.
Perhaps this may be a simpler means to achieve your goal:
Purchase an alarm clock with a headphone or speaker jack. Many of the better-quality clocks include this. Place the clock in the bathroom, or next to the coffee maker. Place a speaker in the bedroom and run the wire to the jack. Unless your house or apartment is unusually tightly constructed, you should not have much trouble fishing the line under the baseboard, then under the wall to get to the next room.
Please let us know if this works for you.
Danolsen. Did you find anything like this to buy? I thinks its a brilliant idea.
I have not yet found anything like this to buy yet but I did come up with a solution that is not perfect but is working for me in the meantime. I took an extra alarm clock radio that I had, installed a headphone jack, and am using a wireless speaker.
This was a straightforward install -- took apart the clock so that I could get to the speaker, clipped the wire from the circuit board to the speaker, soldered in the jack plug, then drilled a hole in the back of the clock housing for the jack. The switching of the jack allows the speaker to play normally with nothing plugged in and the speaker to be off when something is plugged in.
I had cheap wireless speaker setup lying around that I've employed here. The transmitter is plugged into the clock, which is in the cabinet in the bathroom down the hall from my bedroom. The wireless speaker is in my room in a difficult to reach place (so I don't go after it first in the morning). I set the alarm the night before and when it goes off the next morning (either as radio or buzzer) I have to go into the bathroom to shut it off.
This is far from the ideal setup I'd like (as described in the original post) since I have to keep the clock in the bathroom instead of just the switch to turn it off, but it is working for now.
Still waiting to hear of a alarm clock with this remote switch feature...
- Dane
It might be about as easy to add the alarm functions to audio players that already have remotes -- they have the TIME and chips & all that.
I have a pet peave on alarm clocks, they tend to jam 50 functions into 3 buttons. I'd like my iPod, Receiver, CD player, etc to have alarm functions.
Until then, though, a watch with an alarm might help you.
It might be about as easy to add the alarm functions to audio players that already have remotes -- they have the TIME and chips & all that.
I have a pet peave on alarm clocks, they tend to jam 50 functions into 3 buttons. I'd like my iPod, Receiver, CD player, etc to have alarm functions.
Until then, though, a watch with an alarm might help you.
I have exactly the same problem daneolsen. I practically sleepwalk to the (one of many) alarm over the other side of the room, turn it off, and climb srtaight back into bed, as well as always managing to turn off my main alarm next to me instead of putting it on snooze for about the eighth time. All this and the radio blaring out of my stereo in the front room. I could sleep for England.
After turning up to work 2hrs late for the 2nd day in a row today, i knew I had to do something about it. And funnily enough I had the same idea as you (after dismissing the idea of wiring my shower to my alarm, to only turn off once the shower is on (and possibly not even until I'm under it with the aid of a motion sensor): this was too tricky for me but very feasible (wireless would probably be better).
Anyway, after much searching, I think I've found the perfect article. 10 of the most annoying alarm clocks. The one in particular that would be ideal is number 6, the laser target one. Put the remote/pointer in the bathroom next to the shower for added effect. Perfect!
I see you posted this a while ago so I hoped you've sorted out your sleep issues by now. If not good luck with this one. It's certainly the option i'll be taking to get my lazy arse out of bed in the morning. (Ah, if only I had a lovely fit girl to wake me up every morning. I could throw the alarm clock out of the window!)
You may not be entirely out of luck. Look into the method or means by which the shut-off switch is achieved in the prior art reference. If you use a different method, such as RF or bluetooth, then you may still be able to get a patent. Also, you may have some additional features not present in the prior art. For example, what if your remote switch included a hook on which you hung your towel or bathrobe, and the switch is actuated when you remove the supported item, thereby turning off the alarm? Just an idea. All great inventions build off other inventions. Take a look at the prior art and compare your invention. Look for ways to improve or distinguish your idea and you may have a patentable invention.