GB2204169A

GB2204169A - Key reminder apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2204169A
Application number: GB08709970A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arnold Walmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-04-28
Filing date: 1987-04-28
Publication date: 1988-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 2007-04-28
Also published as: GB2204169B; GB8709970D0

Abstract

The apparatus is positioned in a structure and comprises sensor means 8 positioned in the vicinity of a door 6 of the structure, visual reminder means 10 and audible reminder means 12, the sensor means being operated to activate the visual reminder means and the audible reminder means consequent upon a person being about to leave the structure through the door. The visual and the audible reminder means are positioned inside the structure and also in the vicinity of the door so that every time the person is about to leave the structure through the door the visual reminder means and the audible reminder means (12) are activated to remind the person visually and audibly to take their keys with them. The sensor may be responsive to opening of the door or to the presence of a person near the door e.g. on a pressure responsive mat adjacent an electronic beam sensor. <IMAGE>

Description

KEY REMINDER APPARATUS This invention relates to key reminder apparatus and, more especially, this invention relates to key reminder apparatus which is positioned in a structure such for example as a home, office, factory or vehicle.

It is well known that persons often forget to take their keys with them when they leave a structure such for example as a home, office, factory or vehicle. Once they have shut the door of the structure, it is too late to get their keys if they have forgotten them and much time and trouble is incurred in borrowing spare keys from someone else or breaking windows to get back into the structure.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce this problem.

Accordingly, this invention provides key reminder apparatus which is positioned in a structure and which comprises sensor means positioned in the vicinity of a door of the structure, visual reminder means and audible reminder means, the sensor means being operative to activate the visual reminder means and the audible reminder means consequent upon a person being about to leave the structure through the door, the visual and the audible reminder means being positioned inside the structure and also in the vicinity of the door so that every time the person is about to leave the structure through the door the visual reminder means and the audible reminder means are activated to remind the person visually and audibly to take their keys with them.

As indicated above, the structure may be a house, office, factory or a vehicle such for example as a car, lorry or coach. Other key operated structures may however also be provided with the key reminder apparatus.

Various types of sensor means may be employed in the key reminder apparatus. Thus, for example, the sensor may be a contact sensor. The contact sensor may be a button-operated contact sensor or a magnetically-operated contact sensor. The contact sensor may be surface mounted or it may be recessed into the door and/or a frame surrounding the door.

Alternatively, the sensor may be a pressure sensor.

The pressure sensor may be a pressure mat positioned near the door so that a person about to leave the structure will automatically tread on the pressure sensor mat.

The sensor may also be an electronic beam sensor.

Such sensors are already known and are used automatically to open doors in some large stores and offices.

The visual reminder means may have a display panel which contains the word KEYS, the display panel being illuminated when the visual reminder means is activated by the sensor means. Generally, the display panel can be left blank or it can be provided with any word or words, or even a symbol or symbols, to act to remind a person to take their keys with them.

The visual reminder means may give a continuous light or it may give a flashing light when activated by the sensor means.

Similarly, the audible reminder means may give a continuous sound or an intermittent sound when activated by the sensor means.

The audible reminder means may be a buzzer. Other types of audible reminder means may be employed. Generally, the audible reminder means may not be so loud as to be a klaxon-type audible reminder means because the main function of the audible reminder means is to act as a reminder rather than an intruder deterrent. It will however be appreciated that the key reminder apparatus of the invention can have an intruder deterrent function. Thus, for example, if an intruder should gain entry into the structure through the door or should otherwise activate the sensor means, then the audible alarm means will start to make a sound and this will be enough to scare off the intruder. The activation of the visual reminder means, especially if it is a flashing visual reminder means, may also help to scare off the intruder.

The visual reminder means can light up to any desired colour. Thus the illuminated visual reminder means can be white, red or any colour that is easily noticed.

Usually, the visual reminder means will be positioned closely adjacent the door and directly in the path of a person about to open the door. The visual reminder means will normally need to be positioned so that, when it becomes activated, it will always be noticed by a person about to leave the structure.

Preferably, the key reminder apparatus of the present invention is arranged to be inexpensive and easy to fix.

Thus, it is preferred that the key reminder apparatus is battery operated. This avoids the need for non-skilled persons to have to break into electrical wiring systems of the structure.

For structures such for example as houses, offices and factories, the key reminder apparatus of the invention can be mains operated if desired. In this case, a transformer will usually be employed to reduce the mains voltage.

Although it is preferred that the key reminder apparatus of the present invention be inexpensive and easy to fix, it is to be understood that the key reminder apparatus can be more sophisticated than mentioned above if desired. Thus, for example, the audible reminder means can be provided with musical chimes or other music. If desired the audible reminder means may be provided with a recorded message which would automatically be played out on activation of the audible reminder means.

Thus, for example, the audible reminder means could say 'have you remembered to take your keys1.

When the sensor means has operated to activate the visual reminder means and the audible reminder means, it is envisaged that the person being reminded will automatically check that they have their keys. Once this check has been accomplished, the visual reminder means and the audible reminder means should return to their inoperative state. The visual reminder means and the audible reminder means may return to their operative state in a variety of ways depending upon the type of sensor employed. For example, if the sensor is a contact sensor operated by the door, then the visual reminder means and the audible reminder means can be shut off when the door is closed. If the sensor is a pressure sensor such as a pressure mat, the visual reminder means and the audible reminder means will be shut off directly the person steps off the pressure mat.With a sensor such for example as an electronic beam sensor, the visual reminder means and the audible reminder means will be shut off directly the person moves out of the path of the electronic beam.

Advantageously, the key reminder apparatus includes over-ride switch means for switching off the audible reminder means whilst leaving the visual reminder means on. It is envisaged that the over-ride switch means will normally be a manually operated switch means such for example as a button or lever. The over-ride switch means can then be employed for example in a situation where the key reminder apparatus is installed in a house and a person in the house is called to the front door and is kept talking at the front door. Since the person has no intention of leaving the house, they do not need to be reminded about their keys and they do not require any conversation that they may be having to be interrupted by the audible reminder means.

If desired; a manual over-ride switch means may be provided for both the audible reminder means and the visual reminder means.

The visual reminder means and the audible reminder means may be located in separate boxes or they may be located in a single box.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows key reminder apparatus and a front door which is drawn schematically to show its hinge edge.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown key reminder apparatus 2 which is positioned in a structure in the form of a house having a wall 4 and a front door 6.

The key reminder apparatus 2 comprises sensor means in the form of a button operated surface mounted sensor 8, visual reminder means 10 and audible reminder means in the form of a buzzer 12.

The sensor 8 has a spring biased contact button 14 which presses on the edge 16 of the door 6 that is adjacent a door jamb 18. The door 6 has a key operated lock 20 and once the lock 20 is operated from inside to open the door 6, the edge 16 of the door 6 will move away from the door jamb 18. The button 14 will be pushed otit by its spring (not shown) and this will cause an electrical circuit to be completed via line 22 and current from a battery or batteries (not shown) will then cause the visual reminder means 10 to become illuminated and the buzzer 12 to start to buzz.

It will be seen that the visual reminder means 10 has a panel 24 which is provided with the word KEYS. As the panel 24 becomes lit, the word KEYS becomes clearly visible. The panel 24 can be of any desired colour giving, for example, a white or a red light.

As can be seen from the drawing, the visual reminder means 10 and the buzzer 12 are positioned inside the house and in the vicinity of the front door 6 and just to the left of the front door 6. Thus as a person (not shown) is about to leave the house via the front door 6, they cannot miss being visually and audibly reminded to take their keys with them.

In case a person should be called to the front door 6 and should be required to talk at the front door 6 for any length of time, without actually going out of the house, an over-ride switch 26 is provided. If the person depresses the switch 26, the buzzer 12 will automatically be shut off. Thus, the persons conversation will not be interupted by the buzzer 12.

The front door 6 shown in the drawing is hinged to the door jamb 18 by hinges 28,30. The front door 6 is also provided with a letter box 32, a small glass panel 34 and a mortice lock 36.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawing has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example the front door 6 could alternatively be the door of an office, factory, or a similar building. Further, the front door 6 could alternatively be å door of a vehicle such for example as a car or a van. As an alternative to having a contact-type sensor 8, a magnetic contact switch having flush fitting parts 38, 40 could be employed. Also, a pressure sensor such as a pressure mat or a sensor such as an electronic beam sensor could be employed. Words and/or symbols other than KEYS could be employed for the panel 24 The buzzer 12 could be housed inside the visual reminder means 10. Also, if desired, the buzzer 12 and/or the light emited by the visual reminder means 10 could be arranged to be intermitent instead of continuous as is envisaged in the drawing. Further, although the key reminder apparatus 2 illustrated in the drawing is battery operated, it could be mains operated if desired. Where the key reminder apparatus is mains operated, it may be provided with a back-up battery operated system if required. The sensor can be positioned at any desired height on the door jamb 18 and/or the door edge 16 so that, for example, the flush fitting parts 38, 40 of the magnetic switch could be positioned where the contacttype sensor 8 is shown.

Claims

1. Key reminder apparatus which is positioned in a structure and which comprises sensor means positioned in the vicinity of a door of the structure, visual reminder means and audible reminder means, the sensor means being operative to activate the visual reminder means and the audible reminder means consequent upon a person being about to leave the structure through the door, the visual and the audible reminder means being positioned inside the structure and also in the vicinity of the door so that every time the person is about to leave the structure through the door the visual reminder means and the audible reminder means are activated to remind the person visually and audibly to take their keys with them.

2. Key reminder apparatus according to claim 1 in which the structure is a house, office, factory or a vehicle.

3. Key reminder apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the sensor is a contact sensor.

4. Key reminder apparatus according to claim 3 in which the contact sensor is a button-operated contact sensor or a magnetically-operated contact sensor.

5. Key reminder apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the contact sensor is surface mounted.

6. Key reminder apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the contact sensor is recessed into the door and/or a frame surrounding the door.

7. Key reminder apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the sensor is a pressure sensor.

8. Key reminder apparatus according to claim 7 in which the pressure sensor is a pressure mat positioned near the door so that a person about to leave the structure will automatically tread on the pressure sensor mat.

9. Key reminder apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the sensor is an electronic beam sensor.

10. Key reminder apparatus according to any one of the prece awing claims and including a display panel which contains the word KEYS, the display panel being illuminated when the visual reminder means is activated by the sensor means.

11. Key reminder apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the visual reminder means gives a continuous light or a flashing light when activated by the sensor means.

12. Key reminder apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the audible reminder means gives a continuous sound or an intermittent sound when activated by the sensor means.

13. Key reminder apparatus according to claim 12 in which the audible reminder means is a buzzer.

14. Key reminder apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the visual reminder means is positioned closely adjacent the door and directly in the path of a person about to open the door.

15. Key reminder apparatus according to any one of the prceding claims and which is battery operated.

16. Key reminder apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14 in which the key reminder apparatus is mains operated.

17. Key reminder apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including over-ride switch means for switching off the audible reminder means whilst leaving the visual reminder means on.

18. Key reminder apparatus according to claim 17 in which the over-ride means is a manually operated switch means.

19. Key reminder apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16 including a manual over-ride switch means for both the audible reminder means and the visual reminder means.

20. Key reminder apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.