EP0706335A1

EP0706335A1 - Container for valuables, or other valuable article, with security connection

Info

Publication number: EP0706335A1
Application number: EP94918465A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jeremy Harben James
Original assignee: HARBEN JAMES JEREMY
Current assignee: HARBEN JAMES JEREMY
Priority date: 1993-06-30
Filing date: 1994-06-21
Publication date: 1996-04-17
Also published as: WO1995001111A1; AU6977594A

Abstract

In order to prevent theft, a container for valuables, such as a note case or handbag, is connected to the person or a valuable article is connected to a fixed location, by a flexible, elongate connecting member (3) which is retractable into a housing (1) so that the container can be held close to the person but can be distanced from the person as the connecting member is drawn out of the housing. There is an alarm device (7, 8, 9) for actuating an alarm when a substantial length of the connecting member (3) has been drawn out of the housing (1).

Description

Container for Valuables, or other Valuable Article, with Securitv Connection

Background to the Invention

The present invention relates to a container for valuables or a valuable article per se, with a security connection, namely security connecting means for connecting the container or article to the person or to a fixed location, the connecting means having an attachment for securing the connecting means to the person or to the fixed location. The invention also relates to the security connecting means per se. The security connection is intended to prevent theft of the container or valuable article.

The container may be of any suitable type, . for instance a wallet, billfold or note case, or a passport holder, or a handbag, or a belt bag, bum bag, body bag or tummy bag, or a sporran, or a briefcase or document case, or a night safe wallet. Said containers are not primarily containers which are for holding relatively heavy goods, say weighing over say about 9 Kg or about 13.5 Kg or

2 having a capacity of greater than say about 30000 cm

2 or 33000 cm , such as suitcases, or containers which have wheels. The container can be made of any suitable material, and can be suitable for instance for holding money or for documents. The valuable article may be for instance a television set, a radio, a video recorder or a tape recorder. The fixed location can be part of a room, for instance a hook or an eye screwed into a wall, or can be less permanently fixed such as a vehicle, which is particularly applicable to the protection of radios in motor cars. It is desirable to increase the convenience of using security connections and also to prevent the risk of injury to the person, either by pulling him over or harming the part of the body to which the security connection is connected. It is also desirable to decrease the risk of a thief taking the container or valuable article away, even if he has broken the security connection.

The Invention

The present invention provides containers as set forth in Claim 1, 9 or 20, security connecting means as set forth in Claims 21, 22 or 26, and a method as set forth in Claim 27. The remaining Claims claim preferred or optional features of the invention, and other preferred or optional features of the invention are disclosed in the following description.

The container of Claim 1 and the security connecting means of Claim 21 have connecting means in the form of a flexible, elongate connecting member which is retractable into a housing. This has a number of advantages. Firstly, a thief when finding that the container or valuable article is still connected to the person may well drop the container or valuable article at that moment before the connecting member has been fully drawn out of the housing. Secondly, if the user wants to distance himself slightly from the container or valuable article, he can do so, for instance by putting down a briefcase or document case or tape recorder. Thirdly, if the container or valuable article is carried in the hand, the retractable connecting member allows the distance between the container or valuable article and attachment to vary, for instance as the person is walking along, without a significant length of the connecting member dangling freely. Fourthly, the retractable connecting member provides a very suitable arrangement for actuating the alarm of the container or valuable article of Claim 9 or the security connecting means of Claim 22.

The connecting member can be of any suitable type, for instance a chain, a wire, eg cloth-covered- or plastics-covered, a cord, a fibre optic, or a metal tape generally as is known for retractable measuring. tapes. The free length of the connecting member can be chosen according to the use expected, but will be normally greater than 600 (or 615) or 900 (or 915) mm and greater than tapes used to pull along wheeled suitcases. The retracting means can be a coiled spring, generally as is known for retractable measuring tapes. Normally, one end portion of the connecting member will be secured to the housing so that the connecting member cannot be drawn completely out of the housing; however, it is conceivable that the arrangement could have some utility without the end portion being so secured as a thief may by then have dropped the container or valuable article or an alarm may have been actuated.

In order to prevent the person being injured, either by pulling him over or injuring the part of the body to which the connecting means are connected, or damaging the fixed location, and/or for actuating an alarm, a weak portion can be associated with the connecting means, which weak portion will break when the connecting member is subjected to a tension less than that expected to injure the person, which tension can be predetermined for instance, a range of security connecting means could be provided, having parting tensions of about 2.25, 4.5, 6.75 and 9 Kg. wt. This is most conveniently done by incorporating the weak portion adjacent the end portion of the connecting member which will be nearer the person so that the extended connecting member will remain connected to the container.

Particularly for a container such as a belt bag, bum bag, body bag or tummy bag, or a valuable article such as a radio or portable tape recorder, the arrangement can be such that the retracting means hold the container against the person, against a belt, and the retracting means having sufficient tension to do this or a brake being provided. A withdrawal force of about 2.25 kg. wt. should be sufficient to hold most containers against the pers on.

The housing can either be fixed to the container or valuable article (eg in the container or if suitable in the article, for instance with perforations in the container or article to enable an alarm to be heard), or fixed to the attachment for securing to the person or fixed location. In one variation, the housing is fixed to or secured, for instance with a flexible connector such as a chain or wire, to a smaller container which is placed within a larger container, the smaller container being for instance a purse and the larger container a handbag. The housing can be placed loose within the larger container, and connected to the person or to the fixed location by the connecting means of the invention, for instance by taking the connecting means of the invention out through an eye in a handbag. In this way, if a thief attempts to take the smaller container, the alarm will sound. The flexible connection can have for instance a clip or T-bar for example for making a simple attachment to a purse or for putting round a note case to make a simple attachment.

The container or valuable article of Claim 9 and the security connecting means of Claim 22 have the advantage that an alarm is actuated when the container or valuable article is removed from the person or fixed location. The alarm may be an electronic acoustic device. The alarm device can be secured to the container or valuable article or can be secured to the attachment; in other words, the alarm device can remain close to the person or fixed location when it sounds (or gives another signal) or can remain with the container or article when it sounds (or gives another signal); in the latter case the alarm device could cause the thief to drop the container or article.

The connecting means can be means for conducting a signal, such as an electric conductor or a fibre optic. The conducting means can be arranged such that if it is broken, the alarm is actuated.

In general, there can be means for actuating the alarm manually eg using a switch or a push button. The actuating means can be on the alarm device or on the container or suitable article on or in which th.e alarm device is placed, or the conducting means referred to above can connect the actuating means to the alarm device.

In general, the alarm device can be arranged to remain actuated until manually deactivated eg by a switch or push button.

The connecting means can be manufactured and sold separate from the container or valuable article, for securing to a suitable container or valuable article.

Preferred embodiments

The invention will be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view, with the housing and other parts shown in section, of security connecting means in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the alarm device of the security connecting means of Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates an alternative weak portion to that shown in Figure 1, shown with the connecting member drawn out of the housing;

Figure 4 shows a second arrangement for actuating the alarm, shown with the connecting member drawn out of the housing;

Figure 5 shows a third arrangement for actuating the alarm, showing part of the housing;

Figure 6 shows a different form of attachment; Figure 7 shows a briefcase in accordance with the invention;

Figure 8 shows a handbag in accordance with the invention;

Figure 9 shows a body bag in accordance with the invention;

Figure 10 shows another handbag in accordance with the invention;

Figure 11 is a side view of the push button shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 shows another briefcase in accordance with the invention;

Figure 13 shows the alarm of the invention looped around the waist and used as a personal alarm;

Figure 14 shows the alarm of the invention for placing in a large container and connecting to a smaller container within the large container;

Figure 15 shows a note case which can be used with the alarm of Figure 14; Figure 16 is a schematic view showing an alarm within a container, for attachment to a fixed location; and

Figure 17 shows a special T-bar connection associated with the arrangement of Figure 16.

Figures 1 to 6

The security connecting means of Figures 1 and 2 have a housing 1 which contains a reel 2 on which is wound a flexible, elongate connecting member 3 in the form of a high tensile wire covered in plastics material. The reel 2 contains retracting means in the form of a conventional spiral spring 4 for retracting all but the free end portion of the connecting member 3 into the housing 1 and enabling all but the captive end portion of the connecting member 3 to be drawn out of the housing 1. The spiral retracting spring 4 is contained within the hub of the reel 2 which has an aperture receiving the shank of a plug 5 whose head is on the inside of the reel hub. The reel 2 can be made of a deformable material, for instance plastics material and/or the plug 5 can be made of a deformable material such as plastics material, the arrangement being such that the plug 5 and associated part of the reel 2 provide a weak portion which will part when the connecting member 3 is subjected to a tension less than that expected to injure the person, the head of the plug 5 being drawn out through the aperture. The flexibility of the plug 5 and/or of the reel 2, and the size of the aperture in the hub of the reel 2 in relation to the size of the head of the plug 5, can be adjusted in order to provide a suitable parting tension.

Figure 3 illustrates another possibility for providing a weak portion. In this case, the weak portion is a length of line 6 which is threaded through two holes in the hub of the reel 2 and secured to the end of the connecting member 3. The line 6 can for instance be a fishing line with a predetermined break tension.

The housing 1 contains an alarm device which can be of a conventional type. The alarm device shown has suitable batteries 7, an acoustic sounder such as a buzzer 8, and an actuating circuit component 9. The alarm device can be actuated in any suitable way. Figures 1 and 2 show a normally-closed magnetic reed switch 10 which is held open in the close presence of the ferromagnetic material and closes when the ferromagnetic material is removed. The wire forming part of the connecting member 3 holds the reed switch 10 open. If the connecting member 3 is cut, the end of the portion attached to the reel 2 will be withdrawn inside the housing 1 and the reed switch 10 will open to actuate the alarm (8). If the connecting member 3 is pulled right out of the housing 1 with sufficient force to cause the weak portion 5 or 6 to

RECTIFIED SHEET ( RULE 9^"L1 ) part, the reed switch 10 will close to cause the alarm (8) to sound.

A second arrangement is shown in Figure 4. The connecting member 3 can have its captive end connected to a short length of high tensile plastics (non-ferromagnetic) filament or multifilament line 11 so that when the connecting member 3 is drawn right out of the housing 1, the reed switch 10 closes and the alarm (8) is sounded. The alarm (8) will sound before the weak portion (5 or 6) parts.

A third arrangement is shown in Figure 5. The connecting member 3 passes out of the housing 1 between a fixed switch contact 12 and a moveable switch contact in the form of a roller 13 carried on a rod 14 which is spring-loaded towards the left so as to bear on the connecting member 3, and, if the connecting member 3 is absent, to engage the contact 12 and cause the alarm (8) to sound. The electrical connections are not shown, but can be conventional.

In a fourth arrangement, the connecting member 3 is a conductor, such as a wire or fibre optic for conducting a signal, and has a weak part which is arranged to break under a certain tension. The arrangement can be such that a low or intermittent signal is sent along the conductor, with a sensor for detecting if the signal ceases and actuating the alarm.

The connecting member 3 is shown in Figure 1 with an end attachment in the form of a clip 15. The housing 1 can be fixed to a container for valuables, preferably being within the container, and the clip 15 fixed to the person, e. g. to an article of clothing such as a belt. The container for valuables is not shown in Figure 1, but can be of any suitable type. Although the housing 1 is preferably provided in addition to the actual housing of the container, it is possible to have the housing of the container acting as the housing. Alternatively, the housing 1 can be fixed to the person and the clip 15 fixed to the container for valuables. The attachment is such as to secure the connecting member 3 or housing 1 to the person; ie the attachment is a permanent attachment which normally can only be released by human intervention.

Other forms of attachment are possible. Figure 6 shows a T-bar 16 which can be inserted through a eye 17 secured to the person (for instance in a belt loop such as that shown in Figure 7 or in a belt itself) or secured to a container for valuables. Another form of attachment is the loop shown in Figure 7.

The housing 1 contains a brake pad 18 which can be caused to press against either a rotating part of the reel 2 or against the connecting member 3, in order to apply a brake to the movement of the connecting member 3. The brake pad 18 has an actuating knob 19 which can be rotated to change the braking force, e. g. by having a screw-threaded spindle 20 screwed into a threaded bore in the housing 1.

Figure 7

Figure 7 shows the security connecting means associated with a brief case 21. In this instance, the connecting member 3 is in the form of a plastics-covered chain. The housing 1 (not shown) is contained within the brief case 21, and an eye 22 is provided for the exit of the connecting member 3. The other end of the connecting member 3 is fixed to an attachment in the form of a loop 23, e. g. of leather or steel or brass, for going round the waist belt 24 of the person. The arrangement is such that the brief case 21 can be placed on the ground, the connecting member 3 being drawn out of the housing 1 in order to permit this. When the brief case 21 is picked up, the connecting member 3 is retracted into the housing 1 and does not form an inconvenient hanging loop. The brake (18, 19) need not be included.

Figure 8

Figure 8 shows a handbag 25 containing the housing 1, again with an eye 22 for the exit of the connecting member 3; the housing 1 is as shown in Figure 1. If a thief attempts to take the handbag, the alarm will sound if the weak portion 5 or 6 parts, or, if an embodiment such as that shown in Figure 4 is adopted, when the handbag 25 is removed sufficiently from the person for the connecting member 3 to be practically fully withdrawn from the housing 1. The brake (18, 19) need not be included.

Figure 9

Figure 9 shows a body bag 26 which can be generally like the bag 25 shown in Figure 8, having the connecting member 3 exiting from the rear side of the bag 26 and secured to the belt 24 with any suitable attachment. The tension of the spring 4 is insufficient to hold the body bag 26 against the body, but the brake knob 19 is screwed sufficiently tight to prevent the body bag 26 falling away from the body. However, if the body bag 26 is pulled away by a thief, the connecting member 3 will be drawn out of the housing 1 and the alarm will sound as described above.

Figures 10 and 11

Figure 10 shows the handbag 25 of Figure 8. There are manual alarm actuating means in the form of a small control casing 30 with a push-button 31. The connecting member 3 is as described in the fourth arrangement in relation to Figures 1 to 6, and pushing the button 31 interrupts the signal and causes the alarm to be actuated.

Figure 12

Figure 12 shows the briefcase 21 of Figure 7, but with a push-button casing 30 attached to the waist belt 24. The arrangement can otherwise be as Figures 10 and 11. The push-button 31 is situated for convenient access.

Figure 13

Figure 13 demonstrates how the security connecting means of the invention need not necessarily be associated with a container or valuable object as such. The connecting member 3 can be pulled out from the housing 1, looped around the waist and clipped onto itself, the connecting member 3 having a push-button 31 as described in Figures 10 and 11. In the arrangement shown in Figure 13, the person' s hands are free for his or her defence and there is no impairment of freedom to move, for instance running, walking or any other activity. In this way, the push-button 31 can be used as a personal alarm. If desired, the connecting member 3 could be looped around the wrist or the casing 1 could merely be held in the hand with the connecting member 3 retracted and the push-button 31 accessible.

Figures 14 and 15

Figure 14 shows an alarm housing 33 which is very similar to the housing 1 described above but has an opening behind which is held a T-bar 34 secured to the end of a flexible connector 35 in the form of a chain or wire with an end hook 36. The arrangement can have the casing 30 and push-button 31, if desired. In this way, the housing 33 can be placed loose in a container such as a handbag and the hook 36 attached to for instance a purse or to a note case 37 as shown in Figure 15, with the hook 15 secured to the person, for instance taken through an eye in the handbag. If a thief takes the purse or note case 37 from the handbag, the housing 33 remains attached to the purse or note case 37 and the connecting member 3 is drawn out so that the alarm sounds.

Figure 16

Figure 16 shows how the invention can be applied to a valuable article such as a television set 38 (only a small part of the casing of the article 38 is shown). The alarm housing 39 is placed within the article 38, and the connecting member 40 is taken out through an opening ■

RECTIFIED SHEET _.( RULE 91,1 41 in the housing of the article 38. The alarm housing 39 can be of the type shown in Figure 1, with a retractable connecting member, but is preferably of a simple type with a connecting member 39 which is not retractable but which causes the alarm to sound when broken. At the end of the connecting member 40, there is a T-bar 42 for attaching the connecting member 40 to a suitable fixed location, such as a hook or eye screwed into the wall of a room, or a hole in a partition.

Figure 17

Figure 17 shows that the T-bar 16 (Figure 6) or 34 (Figure 15) or 42 (Figure 16) can be arranged such that its side-limbs are spring-loaded into the extended position shown dashed and can be sprung back into the arrow-head position shown in full lines, so that the T-bar can be inserted easily through an opening.43 provided for instance by an eye in the side of a hand bag or briefcase or an opening in a partition or other fixed solid object.

The present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Cl i ms

1. A container for valuables, having security connecting means for connecting the container to a person, the connecting means comprising a flexible, elongate connecting member, an attachment for securing the connecting means to the person, a housing for the connecting member, and retracting means for retracting at least part of the connecting member into the housing and for enabling a length of the connecting member to be drawn out of the housing, whereby the container can be held close to the person with part of the connecting member retracted into the housing, or distanced from the person as the connecting member is drawn out of the housing.

2. The container of Claim 1, wherein a weak portion is associated with the connecting means, which weak portion will part when the connecting member is subjected to a tension less than that expected to injure the person.

3. The container of Claim 2, wherein the weak portion is an end retainer for securing the end portion of the connecting member to the housing.

4. The container of Claim 3, wherein the weak portion is a member with a head and an element secured to the end portion of the connecting member, the element extending through an opening in a part secured to the housing and the head being positioned on the other side of said part so that when the connecting member is subjected to the parting tension, the head is drawn through the opening.

4. The container of Claim 2, wherein the weak portion comprises a length of line of known breaking tension, securing the end portion of the connecting member to the housing.

6. The container of any of the preceding Claims, wherein the retracting means is arranged to hold the container against the person.

7. The container of any of the preceding Claims, wherein a brake is associated with the retracting means, to increase the tension required to draw the connecting member out of the housing.

8. A container for valuables, or a valuable article, having security connecting means for connecting the container or article physically to the person or to a fixed location, the connecting means comprising means for actuating an alarm if the container or article is removed form the person or fixed location. 9. The container or article of Claim 8, and comprising an alarm device secured to the container or article.

10. The container or article of Claim 8 or 9, wherein the connecting means is for conducting a signal and is arranged such that if the connecting means are broken, the alarm is actuated.

11. The container of any of Claims 8 to 10, wherein the connecting means is for conducting a signal, and is associated with manual alarm actuating means for actuating the alarm.

12. The container both of any of Claims 1 to 7 and also of any of Claims 8 to 11, wherein the alarm actuating means actuate the alarm when a substantial- length of the connecting member has been drawn out of the housing.

13. The container both of any of Claims 1 to 7 and also of any of Claims 8 to 12, wherein a weak portion is associated with the connecting means, which weak portion will part when the connecting means is subjected to a tension less than that expected to injure the person, the arrangement being such that the alarm actuating means actuates the alarm before the weak portion parts.

14. The container both of any of Claims 1 to 7 and also of any of Claims 8 to 12, wherein a weak portion is associated with the connecting means, which weak portion will part when the connecting means is subjected to a tension less than that expected to injure the person, the parting of the weak portion causing the alarm to be actuated.

15. The container both of any of Claims 1 to 7 and also of any of Claims 8 to 14, wherein the withdrawal of the end of the connecting member out of the housing causes the alarm to be actuated.

16. The container or article of any of the preceding Claims, comprising a flexible, elongate connecting member for connecting the container to the person or to the fixed location, and means for actuating an alarm if the connecting member is severed.

17. The container of Claim 15 or 16, wherein the presence of the connecting member adjacent a switch holds the switch in a position in which the alarm is not actuated, and the absence of the connecting member from adjacent the switch actuates the alarm.

18. The container of Claim 17, wherein the switch is a magnetic switch.

19. The container of both Claim 8 and of any of Claims 9 to 18, wherein the alarm actuating means comprise a connection for connecting the alarm actuating means to a smaller container which can be placed in said first-mentioned container.

20. A container for valuables, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, any one of Figures 7 to 10 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.

21. Security connecting means for connecting to the person a container for valuables, the connecting means comprising a flexible, elongate connecting member, an attachment for securing the connecting means to the person, an attachment for securing the connecting means to the container, a housing for the connecting member, and retracting means for retracting at least part of the connecting member into the housing and for- enabling a length of the connecting member to be drawn out of the housing, whereby the container can be held close to the person with part of the connecting member retracted into the housing, or distanced from the person as the connecting member is drawn out of the housing.

22. Security connecting means for connecting physically to a person or to a fixed location a container for valuables or a valuable article, the connecting means comprising an attachment for securing the connecting means to the person or to the fixed location, an attachment for securing the connecting means to the container or valuable article, and means for actuating an alarm if the container or valuable article is removed from the person or fixed location.

23. The security connecting means of Claim 22, and comprising an alarm device which is arranged to be secured to the container.

24. The security connecting means of Claim 23, wherein the alarm device comprises connecting means for connecting the alarm device to a smaller container which can be placed in said first-mentioned container.

25. The security connecting means of any of Claims 21, 22, 23 and 24 and having the features of any of Claims 2 to 7 and 9 to 19.

26. Security connecting means for connecting to.a person a container for valuables, the security connecting means being substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 6 or 10 or 14 or 16 of the accompanying drawings.

27. A method of providing a security connection, comprising physically connecting to the person or to a fixed location the container or valuable article of any of Claims 1 to 20 by securing the connecting means to the person or to the fixed location.