GB2203275A

GB2203275A - Theft alarm device

Info

Publication number: GB2203275A
Application number: GB08707105A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reginald Charles David Vint
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-03-25
Filing date: 1987-03-25
Publication date: 1988-10-12
Also published as: GB8707105D0

Abstract

The device comprises a housing 11 for a power source 12 and an electronically activated audible alarm 13, two electric leads being provided to complete the circuit, one lead 14 being connected to the power source while the second lead 15 is connected to the alarm and means 16 being provided to prevent electrical connection between the two leads when the alarm is not required to sound. This means comprises an insulator 16 slidably mounted on one of the leads, which leads are flexible and biased so as to normally make contact. The device can be inserted into a wallet l7 and in use the two leads are separated by the material 18 of a pocket. Removal of the wallet, without the insulator being positioned to prevent contact between the two leads, causes the two leads to contact and energize the alarm. <IMAGE>

Description

PERSONAL ALARM DEVICE The present invention concerns an alarm device for attachment to a personally carried notecase, such as a wallet, credit card holder or purse.

An objection of the present invention is to provide an audible alarm device which will be activated if the notecase is feloniously removed or accidentally slips from the owners pocket.

According to the present invention an alarm device comprises a housing for a power source and an electronically activated audible alarm, two electric leads being provided to complete the circuit, one lead being connected to the power source whilst the second lead is connected to the alarm and means being provided to prevent the electrical connection between. the two leads. Preferably the housing is in the form of a long thin cylinder and the leads are made of flexible metal, one lead being spring loaded to co-operate in its normal position with the other to complete the circuit.

In one embodiment of the invention the means provided to keep the two leads apart is an insulator mounted on one lead and adapted to slide thereon whereby it can be positioned to overcome the spring force and thereby keep the two leads apart.

When the device is placed in a notecase or the like the insulator will nonnally be adjusted to keep the two leads apart.

After the notecase is disposed in the userts pocket one lead is arranged so that it is on one side of the pocket material and the other lead is on the other side of the material; the insulator can then be slid away so that the leads are separated only by the thickness of the pocket material. If'the notecase is feloniously or accidentally removed the two leads will make contact and the alarm will emit a piercing sound. To remove the notecase legally, the user only has to slide the insulator into position so that no alarm will be triggered.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a cross-section through a preferred form of alarm device.

A housing 11 is preferably of cylindrical shape into which are positioned a power source 12 and an electronically activated audible alarm 13. One end of a first spring metal lead 14 is connected to the source 12 whilst its other free end is extended outwardly and downwardly of the housing 11. One end of a second spring metal lead 15 is connected to the alarm 13 whilst its other free end is extended outwardly and downwardly of the housing 11 but inwardly of the free end of the lead 14. An insulated safety catch 16 is arranged to be slidable on the lead 14.

The device shown in the drawing is in place inside a wallet 17 the spine only of which is outlined in the Fig. The wallet 17 and device are also shown in position inside a pocket 18. The insulated safety catch 16 is shown slid away from the free end of the lead 14.

The alarm device is in the armed condition, the two lead ends only being separated by the thickness of the pocket material 18.

If it is desired to remove the wallet without the alarm sounding it is first necessary to slide the insulated safety catch 16 downwardly so that the free ends of the leads 14 and 15 are further out of contact with each other and will remain so even if the pocket material is no longer in between. With the safety catch 16 in the armed position shown in the drawing it can be seen that if the wallet is removed from the pocket feloniously or accidentally the free ends of tSe spring leads 14 and 15 will touch and complete the alarm circuit whereby a piercing sound will be emitted.

Claims

1. An alarm device comprising a housing for a power source and an electronically activated audible alarm, two electric leads being provided to complete the circuit, one lead being connected to the power source while the second lead is connected to the alarm and means being provided to prevent electrical connection between the two leads when the alarm is not required to sound.

2. An alarm device as claimed in claim 1, in which the housing is in the form of a long thin cylinder and the leads are made of flexible metal, one lead being spring loaded to co-operate, in its normal position, with the other to complete the circuit.

3. An alarm device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the means to keep the leads apart comprise an insulator mounted on one lead and adapt'ed to slide thereon whereby it can be positioned to overcome the spring force and thereby keep the two leads apart.

4. An alarm device constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.