WO2009153103A1

WO2009153103A1 - Device used to prevent excessive use of electronic devices, such as tv, pc, videogame console, audio and video players, and similar items.

Info

Publication number: WO2009153103A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/055623
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marcello Fringuelli
Original assignee: Marcello Fringuelli
Priority date: 2008-06-20
Filing date: 2009-05-08
Publication date: 2009-12-23
Also published as: ITMC20080118A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an innovative box provided with lock, hinges, supports for padlock and holes (or openings) to let the power cord (of the plug, which is connected or not to the timer) and the plug of the timer come out, designed to lock up a timer (plug programmer) with electrical plug coming out of a suitable hole (or opening) provided on the box, or lock up any electrical plug, or computer mouse, box designed to be used to prevent or regulate the excessive use of electrical and electronic devices, such as TV's, videogame consoles, videorecorders, DVD, DVX, CD players, etc. and PC's.

Description

Device used to prevent excessive use of electronic devices, such as TV's, PC's, videogame consoles, audio and video players, and similar items.

This patent application relates to a device used to prevent excessive use of electronic devices, such as TV's, PC's, videogame consoles, audio and video players, and similar items.

As it is known, the aforementioned electrical and electronic devices are often used by children, teenagers and young people. The problem is that many young people make an excessive use of the said devices. In fact, they misuse, rather than use them, with severe physiological, psychological and behavioural damage, i.e. with negative effects on health and psychological and physical conditions and consequently on school performance and relational life. In some cases this induces situations of addiction to the said devices, including severe ones, although they are recognised to be useful and indispensable if used correctly, for reasonable periods of time and circumstances, according to the instructions given by the manufacturers of the said devices and by psychologists (reference is made to misuse of Internet by teenagers and to the danger of the net: pornographic sites, paid sites, paedophilia, etc.).

As recognised by the manufacturers of videogame consoles, the continuous improper use of the said devices for more than forty-five minutes can determine severe problems for players, including epilepsy. The same is true for the use of Internet via PC or other devices, which causes the same addiction as the one caused by drugs. Moreover, this reduces the time dedicated to personal relations, reading, playing, either at home or outdoor, sports, hobbies, etc. Also the use of TV, the vision of films or the listening to music (especially at full volume) can induce addiction, without neglecting the damage caused by the images or situations of extreme violence or sex that young people are forced to see (sometimes beyond their intention, being broadcast during protected hours), and assimilate, including at subliminal level, through films, videos and other programmes transmitted on TV or DVDs. It is known that children have difficulties in distinguishing fiction from reality and very often what they see is more "destructive" than "constructive" for the family and society. Additionally, the excessive use of TV determines physical damage. A recent study by Dr. Jeffrey Schwimmer from the University of California has shown that children and teenagers (between 4 and 17 years old) that spend many hours in front of the TV are fatter and more exposed to arterial hypertension. The risk of suffering from high pressure is three times higher for children, especially obese ones, who watch TV for more than four hours a day, compared to those who watch TV for less than two hours.

A regulation in the use of the aforementioned devices that is exclusively determined by paternal or maternal authority is not always sufficient to guarantee compliance, either for "weakness" or permissivism of both parents, or of one of them, who is too indulgent or dominated by children, if not accomplice, while the other parent is at work and cannot supervise, or situations that are difficult to control, in which children, especially teenagers, are alone in their bedrooms (especially in the evening or at night), very often with TV, videogame console, DVD player, PC with Internet connection, etc.

The main purpose of the invention is to eliminate the aforementioned inconveniences, by means of a device used to limit the use of electronic appliances that is efficient, practical, versatile and easy to make.

This purpose is achieved according to the present invention, with the device whose features are claimed in the independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims. The device of the invention comprises a box that can be opened on two sides connected by hinges, provided with a key lock and supports for a padlock. Once it is open, the box can receive the electrical plug of TV's, videogame consoles, videorecorders, PC's and relevant accessories, DVD, DVX, CD players, etc. or the computer mouse. Once it is closed, either with a key and/or a padlock, the box is designed to enclose, that is to say lock up the plug of the electronic device.

Advantageously, the box can be provided with an ordinary timer (plug programmer) in which the electrical plug of the electronic device is inserted to limit its use. The timer is set according to the time in which the connected device must be operated. The timer plug, which protrudes from a large hole on one side of the box, can be inserted normally in the electrical socket on the wall, but the box, which is locked with a key or padlock, prevents the operation time from being changed, except by the holder of the said key/s.

If the timer is not available, or to prevent the operation of one of the aforementioned electrical and electronic devices, it is simply necessary to insert a thin rectangular plate in the box, with suitable dimensions made of the same material as the box (or of a different, yet suitable, material). The said plate is situated above the side with the hole (as mentioned above, in case of timer, the plug of the timer comes out of the said hole), in such a way to close the hole and prevent that the plug that is successively inserted and locked in the box is passed through the hole and freed.

Because of the thickness of the electrical plug, the rectangular lamellar side (or in any case the side shaped as the upper or rear side of the box) is maintained in its position, closing the large hole (or opening) to prevent the electrical plug from being passed through the hole when the timer is not used. If the timer is used, the plate can be positioned inside the box above the other side of the box (the one without the large hole) before inserting the timer in order not to lose it. Otherwise, the said plate can be removed and kept elsewhere. Either when the timer (with inserted plug) or the electrical plug of one of the aforementioned devices, or the mouse is locked up, the electrical cord of the locked-up plug comes out through a hole of suitable dimensions that is formed and remains opened once the two parts of the box (provided with semi-holes) are placed one next to the other, after closing the box. Obviously, instead of two semi-holes (situated on two vertical matching sides), an opening with suitable shape and dimension can be provided on the edge of any vertical side of the box, either an upper or lower side, that is to say a small missing part that allows the two sides of the box not to be matched in that point, after closing the box, thus permitting the electrical cord of the locked-up plug to come out. By locking up the plug of the aforementioned devices, or the mouse in the box, it is possible to limit, with regulatory or sanctionative purpose, the excessive use of the said devices by children, teenagers or young people, especially if addicted to videos, videogames or Internet. The use of the timer (plug programmer) will allow to determine the time and the duration of the operation (one hour, two hours, or excluding the evening and/or night hours, etc.). By locking up the timer in the box, it will be possible to prevent changes to the set times, without the permission of the person who has defined the said values. Therefore, the device will operate normally, but only in the set time (or times). Parents know very well the great amount of discussions, quarrels, prohibitions, negotiations, concessions, violations that take place every day on such an issue.

Apart from the "regulatory" function, the device of the invention provides a "sanctionative" function, in such a way that parents can actually reduce or threaten to reduce or eliminate the use of TV, videogame consoles, Internet or other devices, for disciplinary reasons (behavioural reasons or reasons related with the child's school performance) for a set period of time.

The advantages of the device according to the present invention basically consist in the fact that the use of the electrical and electronic devices may be actually prohibited for the desired period of time, by locking the electrical plug (if the timer is not used) or the mouse in the special box with key and/or padlock, prohibiting connection to the electrical mains (it being impossible to insert the plug in the electrical sockets); or with the obligation to connect the electrical plug to the electrical mains only by means of the forced combination with a timer, which are locked up in the said box (from which only the timer plug and the cord of the plug of the connected device come out), it being impossible to change the operation settings, except by the person with the key of the box and/or the padlock. By limiting and regulating the use of the said devices with intelligence and common sense, the same devices can be converted into useful, educational and beneficial tools for the youth. These and other advantages and characteristics of the present invention will be better understood by all experts of the art from the following description, with reference to the enclosed drawings, which are a practical example of the invention, without a limiting purpose, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, in open position, with an exploded view of a plug of an electronic device and a mouse;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 in locked-up position with the plug inside it;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a different embodiment of the device of Fig. 1 , with an exploded view of a closing plate;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the closed device of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view that illustrates a different embodiment of the device of Fig. 3, with a timer illustrated separately outside the said box;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view that illustrates the timer and the closing plate of Fig. 5 assembled inside the open box; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the closed device of Fig. 6. With reference to the aforementioned figures, a device used to prevent excessive use of electronic devices is disclosed, according to the invention, referred to with numeral (1 ). With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the device (1 ) comprises a box (2) designed to contain a plug (100) connected to the power cord (101 ) of an electronic device. Alternatively, the box (2) can also contain a mouse (200), eventually provided with power cord (201 ). The box (2) can go from open configuration (Fig. 1 ) to receive the plug or mouse to closed configuration (Fig. 2) to lock up the plug or the mouse, in such a way that the plug (100) cannot be connected to an electrical socket and the mouse (200) cannot be used.

For illustrative purpose, the box (2) comprises two semi-bodies (2A) and (2B) with basically parallelepiped shape, which are mutually hinged with hinges (3) arranged on the edge of a longer lateral side of the two semi- bodies.

The edge of the shorter lateral wall is provided with a corresponding semi-circular opening (20). In view of the above, when the box (2) is closed (Fig. 2), the openings (20) overlap and form a circular hole (21 ) designed to pass the power cord (101 ; 201 ) of the plug or mouse. The small hole (21 ) has a lower diameter than the plug (100) or the mouse (200) to prevent them from being extracted from the closed box. Obviously, the small hole (21 ) can be obtained in any part of the box (2).

The box (2) is closed by means of a safety closing system (4) that is actuated by the user. For instance, the safety closing system (4) can consist in a lock (44) mounted on the longer lateral wall of a semi-body (2B). The lock (44) comprises a locking tooth (40) that is actuated with a key (41 ) that can be inserted in a slot (42) of the lock. The tooth (40) is designed to engage with a latch (43) provided on the edge of the longer side of the other semi-body (2A). The safety closing system (4) can also comprise a pair of rings (45) arranged on the edges of the longer lateral walls of the two semi-bodies (2A, 2B), with possibility of overlapping in order to receive a padlock (46).

Although the figures illustrate safety closing means (4) actuated with a key (41 ), it appears evident that they can be actuated by means of a numeric combination or electronically by means of infrared control.

Moreover, although the figures illustrate a box (2) that comprises two semi-bodies (2A, 2B) that are mutually hinged, it appears evident that the box (2) can be composed of a container with any shape and a lid designed to close the container.

In the following text identical elements or elements that correspond to elements that have already been described are indicated with the same reference numerals, omitting their detailed description.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a different embodiment of the device (1 ) according to the invention, in which the base wall of a semi-body (2A) is provided with a hole (22) with suitable dimensions to allow a plug to come out. Therefore, in order to prevent the plug (100) of the electronic device from being extracted from the large hole (22), the device (1 ) is provided with a closing plate (5) with suitable dimensions to be housed inside the box (2) in such a way to close the large hole (22).

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of the device (1 ) according to the present invention, in which the device is provided with a timer (6).

The timer (6) comprises a plug (60), a socket (61 ) and a switch controlled by a timer designed to open/close the electrical contact between the plug (60) and the socket (61 ). The timer of the switch is set by the operator by means of a knob (62) (Fig. 6) provided on the body of the timer.

The plug (60) of the timer can come out of the large hole (22) of the box (2) in order to be connected to an electrical socket. Instead, the plug (61 ) of the timer is designed to receive the plug (100) of the electronic device.

The box (2) must be dimensioned in such a way to contain the timer (6) with the plug (100) of the electronic device connected to the timer. Instead, the large hole (22) of the box must be dimensioned in such a way to prevent the timer (6) from coming out.

As shown in Fig. 6, when the timer (6) is inserted in the semi-body (2A) provided with the large hole (22), the closing plate (5) can be arranged in the other semi-body (2B).

The box (2) and the closing plate (5) can be made of any type of rigid material, which cannot be tampered easily.

Preferably, the box (2) and the plate (5) are made of insulating material, such a plastics, wood or aluminium, to avoid possible electrical contacts with live parts.

Numerous variations and modifications can be made to the present embodiments of the invention by an expert of the field, while still falling within the scope of the invention as claimed in the enclosed claims.

Claims

1 ) Device (1 ) used to prevent excessive use of electronic devices, such as TV's, PC's, videogame consoles, audio and video players, and similar items, characterised in that it comprises: a box (2) designed to contain a plug (100) connected to the power cord (101 ) of the electrical or electronic device or the mouse (200) of the electronic device, and closing means (4) designed to close the box (2) to prevent the plug (100) or mouse (200) from being extracted.

2) Device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterised in that the closing means (4) comprise at least a lock (44).

3) Device (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the closing means (4) comprise at least a padlock (46).

4) Device (1 ) according to any of the above claims, characterised in that the closing means (4) comprise at least an actuation key (41 ). 5) Device (1 ) according to any of the above claims, characterised in that the closing means (4) comprise at least a key with numeric or alphanumeric combination.

6) Device (1 ) according to any of the above claims, characterised in that the closing means (4) comprise at least an infrared control. 7) Device (1 ) according to any of the above claims, characterised in that the box (2) is provided with a small hole (21 ) to pass the power cord (101 ; 201 ) of the plug (100) or the mouse (200) and prevent the plug (100) or mouse (200) from coming out.

8) Device (1 ) according to any of the above claims, characterised in that the box (2) comprises two semi-bodies (2A, 2B) that are mutually hinged with hinges (3).

9) Device (1 ) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the box (2) comprises a container and a lid.

10) Device (1 ) according to any of the above claims, characterised in that the box (2) is provided with a large hole (22) to allow the plug (60) to come out.

11 ) Device (1 ) according to claim 10, characterised in that it comprises a closing plate (5) designed to be arranged inside the box (2) to close the large hole (22).

12) Device (1 ) according to claim 10 or 11 , characterised in that it comprises a timer (6) with a plug (60), a plug (61 ) and a timed switch between them, in which the plug (60) of the timer can come out of the large hole (22) of the box to be connected to the electrical mains and the plug (61 ) of the timer is designed to receive the plug (100) of the said electrical or electronic device, in which the dimensions of the box are suitable to contain the timer (6) with the plug (100) of the electrical or electronic device connected and the dimensions of the large hole (22) are suitable to prevent the timer (6) from coming out of the box.