GB1561097A - Safety suitcase - Google Patents

Description

(54) SAFETY SUITCASE (71) We, TEI-MO CHIU, of 35-1, Lane 61, Section 3, Yen Ping N. Road, Taipei, Taiwan and Hui-Lang Smieh, of 108, Section 2, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, Taiwan, both citizens of Taiwan, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a safety suitcase having an alarm device for preventing or deterring theft thereof.

Traditional suitcases can be easily stolen.

An object of the invention is to provide a safety suitcase having an alarm which in the event of robbery, will immediately give a signal which will attract attention to the suitcase, and may encourage bystanders to proffer assistance.

A further optional object of the invention is to provide a suitcase in combination with a radio, and optionally, an umbrella mounting and lighting means.

With this object in view the present invention provides a safety suitcase having trigger circuitry for actuating an alarm circuit in the event of theft or attempted theft, the alarm circuitry including a power source connectable, by the trigger circuitry, to an oscillator for generating a signal to activate a loudspeaker to give an audible alarm, and to a relay for actuating a lamp or lamps to give a visual alarm, the trigger circuitry comprising first and second jack sockets accessible from outside the suitcase and plugs for insertion into the jack sockets, a first of the jack sockets being interconnected with a standing pressure switch and a mercury switch of the trigger circuitry so that removal of a plug from the first jack socket enables these switches which actuate the alarm circuit when the case if lifted from a standing position or moved from a lying position respectively, and the second of the jack sockets being connected to actuate the alarm circuit directly upon removal of the plug therefrom, an internal switch being provided and lock-eontrolled to ensure that when one or other of the jack plugs have been removed, the associated part of the trigger circuitry cannot be de-activated by the re-insertion of the jack plugs, until the lock-controlled switch has been actuated.

The suitcase may be provided with a mounting means for mounting an umbrella, a radio set and lighting means.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the safety suitcase of the invention with its lid open; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the safety suitcase of Figure 1, but with the lid closed; Figure 3 is a block diagram of an alarm circuit of the safety suitcase of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a circit diagram corresponding to Figure 3.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings which show front and rear views of a preferred embodiment of suitcase 1 of the invention, in which two sockets 11 and 12 are provided at a front side. Two plugs 21 and 22, having respective ring portions 211 and 221 attached thereto, are provided for insertion into the sockets 11 and 12 to siwtch off an alarm circuit 3 (shown in Figure 4).

To prevent the insertion of other plugs into the sockets 11 and 12 cancelling an alarm, a built-in switch 13, operable by a numeral lock 4 on the suitcase 1, is provided on an inner side of the suitcase 1. This ensures that once the plugs 21 and 22 have been removed, reinsertion does not cancel the alarm.

Pilot lamps 51 are disposed on one side of the suitcase 1. These lamps 51 may be activated by the alarm circuit 3 so as to flash intermittently when activated. A lighting lamp 61 and a mounting means 62 for an umbrella are disposed on the other side of the suitcase.

A power source 81, two speakers 82A and 82B, a printed circuit board 83 of the alarm circuit 3, a radio set 84, a pressure switch 85 and a mercury switch 86 are disposed on a base of the suitcase 1 and are protected by an insulated plate 87. The radio set 84 has a turning knob 84A and an on/off switch 84B protruding from the bottom of the suitcase.

The pressure switch 85 has a spring-type switch member 85A also protruding from the base of the suitcase 1.

Referring now to Figure 3, which is the block diagram of the alarm circuit of the invention, the alarm circuit 3 comprises a plug PLG, a power source PWR, a radio device RADIO, a switching means SW, relays RY, a resonance circuit RS, an audio oscillator AUDIO, a push pull circit PP, an amplifier AMP and speakers SP.

The power source PWR supplies power to the alarm circuit 3 and also to the radio set 84, the lighting lamp 61 and the pilot lamps 51, the power source PWR being switched to the appropriate parts of the circuit by the switch means provided therein.

The switching means SW are operated by the plugs 21 and 22.

The alarm circuit, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, will be cut-off from the power source PWR if the plugs 21 and 22 are inserted into their respective sockets 11 and 12 and, the alarm circuit will be de-activated. If the plug 22 is removed from its respective socket 12, the socket 12 will automatically close and the alarm circuit will be switched on. When the suitcase 1 is in a horizontal position, with the alarm circuit 3 on, the pressure switch 85 and the mercury switch 86 will be in "on" and "off" conditions respectively; then, when the suitcase 1 is moved, the mercury switch 86 will automatically switch "on" and the alarm circuit 3 will be activated to generate an acoustic alarm and a light signal alarm.

When the suitcase 1 is in a vertical position the pressure switch 85 is in the "off" condition and when the suitcase is then lifted the standing switch will automatically switch "on" and the alarm circuit 3 will be activated to generate an alarm as before.

To prevent the alarm being cancelled by the insertion of other plugs into the sockets 11 and 12, the built-in switch 13 is arranged to override the sockets 11 and 12 to keep the alarm circuit 3 switched on. Thus, if the same or any other plug is inserted into the sockets 11 and 12 of the suitcase 1, the alarm will not be cancelled, because switch 13 keeps the circuit live until the combination lock 4 is actuated.

If the suitcase 1 is carried by hand, the ring portion 211 of the plug 21 can be placed over a finger of the carrier's hand so that if the suitcase 1 is wrenched away from the carrier, the plug 21 is pulled from the socket 11, the socket 11 then closing automatically to activate the power source PWR and generate an alarm signal.

In the detailed circuit of Figure 4, when the plug 21 is inserted in the jack 11, the power source PWR will be cut-off. When the suitcase is closed and the built-in switch 13 is in the "on" condition, the power source PWR is connected to both the standing switch 85 and the mercury switch 86.

When the suitcase 1 is placed in a horizontal position, the pressure switch 85 is turned on and the mercury switch 86 is turned "off" automatically, and if the suitcase is moved the mercury switch 86 is turned on and the alarm circuit activated in exactly the same way as when the plug 22 is pulled from its socket. The power source, when connected to the alarm circuit, energises the relays RY1 and RY2.

Initially, the power source PWR energises the first relays RY1 which activates two transistors Q1 and Q2, which comprise the resonance circuit RS, which produces a resonant signal and causes a transistor Q3 to oscillate and generate an audio oscillation, i.e. a signal of a frequency between 100Hz and 20KHz, and an audio signal is generated.

This audio signal is then amplified by a push-pull amplifier comprising the transistors Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10 and Q11 and associated components to drive speakers 82A and 82B and thus broadcast an alarm signal.

When the second relay RY2 is energised, transistor Q12 will be activated and the pilot lamps 51 will flash intermittently and produce a light alarm signal.

The lighting means 61 is switched by a switch SW3.

The other components of the alarm circuit, namely the condensors and resistors, are arranged to form known biassing and coupling circuits and the purpose of these components will be deemed understood and a description of these components thus omitted.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing embodiment of the safety suitcase of the invention is described by way of example only and variations may be made thereto within the scope of the following claims.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A safety suitcase having trigger circuitry for actuating an alarm circuit in the event of theft or attempted theft, the alarm

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the suitcase 1. These lamps 51 may be activated by the alarm circuit 3 so as to flash intermittently when activated. A lighting lamp 61 and a mounting means 62 for an umbrella are disposed on the other side of the suitcase. A power source 81, two speakers 82A and 82B, a printed circuit board 83 of the alarm circuit 3, a radio set 84, a pressure switch 85 and a mercury switch 86 are disposed on a base of the suitcase 1 and are protected by an insulated plate 87. The radio set 84 has a turning knob 84A and an on/off switch 84B protruding from the bottom of the suitcase. The pressure switch 85 has a spring-type switch member 85A also protruding from the base of the suitcase 1. Referring now to Figure 3, which is the block diagram of the alarm circuit of the invention, the alarm circuit 3 comprises a plug PLG, a power source PWR, a radio device RADIO, a switching means SW, relays RY, a resonance circuit RS, an audio oscillator AUDIO, a push pull circit PP, an amplifier AMP and speakers SP. The power source PWR supplies power to the alarm circuit 3 and also to the radio set 84, the lighting lamp 61 and the pilot lamps 51, the power source PWR being switched to the appropriate parts of the circuit by the switch means provided therein. The switching means SW are operated by the plugs 21 and 22. The alarm circuit, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, will be cut-off from the power source PWR if the plugs 21 and 22 are inserted into their respective sockets 11 and 12 and, the alarm circuit will be de-activated. If the plug 22 is removed from its respective socket 12, the socket 12 will automatically close and the alarm circuit will be switched on. When the suitcase 1 is in a horizontal position, with the alarm circuit 3 on, the pressure switch 85 and the mercury switch 86 will be in "on" and "off" conditions respectively; then, when the suitcase 1 is moved, the mercury switch 86 will automatically switch "on" and the alarm circuit 3 will be activated to generate an acoustic alarm and a light signal alarm. When the suitcase 1 is in a vertical position the pressure switch 85 is in the "off" condition and when the suitcase is then lifted the standing switch will automatically switch "on" and the alarm circuit 3 will be activated to generate an alarm as before. To prevent the alarm being cancelled by the insertion of other plugs into the sockets 11 and 12, the built-in switch 13 is arranged to override the sockets 11 and 12 to keep the alarm circuit 3 switched on. Thus, if the same or any other plug is inserted into the sockets 11 and 12 of the suitcase 1, the alarm will not be cancelled, because switch 13 keeps the circuit live until the combination lock 4 is actuated. If the suitcase 1 is carried by hand, the ring portion 211 of the plug 21 can be placed over a finger of the carrier's hand so that if the suitcase 1 is wrenched away from the carrier, the plug 21 is pulled from the socket 11, the socket 11 then closing automatically to activate the power source PWR and generate an alarm signal. In the detailed circuit of Figure 4, when the plug 21 is inserted in the jack 11, the power source PWR will be cut-off. When the suitcase is closed and the built-in switch 13 is in the "on" condition, the power source PWR is connected to both the standing switch 85 and the mercury switch 86. When the suitcase 1 is placed in a horizontal position, the pressure switch 85 is turned on and the mercury switch 86 is turned "off" automatically, and if the suitcase is moved the mercury switch 86 is turned on and the alarm circuit activated in exactly the same way as when the plug 22 is pulled from its socket. The power source, when connected to the alarm circuit, energises the relays RY1 and RY2. Initially, the power source PWR energises the first relays RY1 which activates two transistors Q1 and Q2, which comprise the resonance circuit RS, which produces a resonant signal and causes a transistor Q3 to oscillate and generate an audio oscillation, i.e. a signal of a frequency between 100Hz and 20KHz, and an audio signal is generated. This audio signal is then amplified by a push-pull amplifier comprising the transistors Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10 and Q11 and associated components to drive speakers 82A and 82B and thus broadcast an alarm signal. When the second relay RY2 is energised, transistor Q12 will be activated and the pilot lamps 51 will flash intermittently and produce a light alarm signal. The lighting means 61 is switched by a switch SW3. The other components of the alarm circuit, namely the condensors and resistors, are arranged to form known biassing and coupling circuits and the purpose of these components will be deemed understood and a description of these components thus omitted. It will be appreciated that the foregoing embodiment of the safety suitcase of the invention is described by way of example only and variations may be made thereto within the scope of the following claims. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A safety suitcase having trigger circuitry for actuating an alarm circuit in the event of theft or attempted theft, the alarm

circuitry including a power source connectable, by the trigger circuitry, to an oscillator for generating a signal to activate a loudspeaker to give an audible alarm, and to a relay for actuating a lamp or lamps to give a visual alarm, the trigger circuitry comprising first and second jack sockets accessible from outside the suitcase and plugs for insertion into the jack sockets, a first of the jack sockets being interconnected with a standing pressure switch and a mercury switch of the trigger circuitry so that removal of a plug from the first jack socket enables these switches which actuate the alarm circuit when the case if lifted from a standing position or moved from a lying position respectively, and the second of the jack sockets being connected to actuate the alarm circuit directly upon removal of the plug therefrom, an internal switch being provided and lock-controlled to ensure that when one or other of the jack plugs have been removed, the associated part of the trigger circuitry cannot be de-activated by the re-insertion of the jack plugs, until the lock-controlled switch has been actuated.

2. A safety suitcase as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first relay is connected to resonance means which feeds the audio oscillator to generate an audio signal which then is amplified by a push-pull amplifier and then broadcast by the loudspeaker.

3. A safety suitcase as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the second relay which is activated when the suitcase is moved, switches power to said lamp or lamps generating an intermittent light signal.

4. A safety suitcase as claimed in claims 1, 2, or 3 having a radio set installed therein.

5. A safety suitcase as claimed in any preceding claim having lighting means provided thereon.

6. A safety suitcase as claimed in any preceding claim having a mounting means for mounting an umbrella thereon.

7. A safety suitcase substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated, in the accompanying drawings.