GB2239973A

GB2239973A - Crime deterrent device

Info

Publication number: GB2239973A
Application number: GB9000873A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martyn William Rissen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-01-15
Filing date: 1990-01-15
Publication date: 1991-07-17
Also published as: GB9000873D0

Abstract

A device for deterring crime in particular theft from houses and other buildings, comprises a box with an illuminated display 4 bearing the wording "ALARM" or similar. The box is mounted adjacent 2 window or other area of a building or room to be viewable from the outside and may or may not be connected to an alarm system. A would be intruder is hopefully put into sufficient doubt as to whether a real alarm system protects the property so as not to attempt to break in. The device may include a timer 8 to reinforce the deterrent effect. <IMAGE>

Description

CRIME DETERRENT DEVICE This invention relates to a crime deterrent device.

It is becoming increasingly common and necessary to use alarm systems to protect buildings from break-ins and theft of their contents. However alarm systems often operate only after an intruder has broken in to a building, by which time damage, which can be expensive to repair, has been done to the building, for example windows, doors, etc may be broken. It is therefore desirable that a potential intruder is aware of the presence, or possible presence, of an alarm system before he attempts to break into a property.

According to the present invention there is provided a crime deterrent device comprising a box including a display panel having a display of one or more words, and means for illuminating the display.

The device is preferably adapted to be mounted or placed inside or adjacent a building or one or more rooms within a building, to be viewed from the outside of the building or rooms.

Preferably, the deterrent device includes a timer such that the wording can be illuminated for pre-selected time periods. The device may be adapted to be mounted adjacent a window so that it is viewable through the window. It can also be connected to an alarm system and actuated only when.

the alarm is on.

The illumination means may comprise a light source mounted behind the panel for illuminating the display. Other illumination means, for example means such as one or more mirrors or fibre optic lines for transmitting light from a remote source may be used.

Alternatively, the panel itself may include an illuminated display such as an LCD or BED display.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows schematically a deterrent device in situ; Figure 2 shows the deterrent device in more detail, and; Figure 3 shows schematically an alarm system incorporating a deterrent device.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a window assembly of a building viewed from outside the building. Mounted upon a window ledge 2 is a deterrent device 1. The deterrent device, which is further described below, includes writing with the words 'alarm on", "alarm" or similar or equivalent wording in English or any other language. Words in the form of acronyms or letters may also be used. The device includes means to illuminate the wording so that it can easily be viewed from outside the window.

When illuminated a would-be burglar may be deterred upon seeing the sign since he will assume the house or other building is alarmed. The deterrent unit may of course be connected to an alarm system, as shown and described with reference to Figure 9, or may be a stand alone unit.

Referring to Figure 2, a deterrent device according to the present invention comprises a box 3 made of, preferably, a plastics material. The material is preferably substantially weather-proof.

The front portion 4 of the box is formed of an opaque, typically black, plastics material and includes one section with wording arranged such that when illuminated from behind the wording shines through either by being more or less opaque than the remaining portion of front portion 4. The wording 5 is shown as the words "alarm on" but may of course be any other suitable wording such as "alarm", "alarmed" or any other wording. Foreign language equivalents may also be appropriate in different countries and the wording may be in two or more languages in countries or regions where that is desirable. Within the plastics box is mounted a light source 6 which typically comprises a fluorescent tube.The example shown is in the form of a fluorescent tube which is bent back upon itself to form a U-shape or could be a double fluorescent tube or a single tube for example.

Connections 7 are provided to a mains supply.

The unit further includes a timing unit 8.

This may be a 24 hour timing unit, a typical example of which is the 24 hour electronic module EM24 made by Smiths Industries Limited. This timer can be set to provide four ON and four OFF switchings during a 24 hour period and thus the alarm unit can be preprogrammed to be actuated during desired intervals.

Electronic timers of this type are commonly available and easy to use and will be well known to thse skilled in the art. Modules having a longer programming period, such as seven days may be used or alternatively the apparatus may be supplied without a timing unit for the user to add his own timing unit if required. If the Smiths Industries product is required, a separate powerboard may also be used to power it, a typical example is the Smiths Industries Pie01 powerboard.

Although the crime deterrent device may be used as a stand alone unit and placed at a suitable position in a window or outside a building (perhaps underneath rafters or roof lintels) it may also be used in conjunction with an alarm system to show a would-be burglar or intruder that a house or building is alarmed. Figure 3 shows schematically a system in which a crime deterrent unit 1 is connected to an alarm system, either by a cable or similar link or by a remote link, such as an infra-red or radiofrequency one. The central alarm unit is shown as 9 and includes a plurality of inputs 10 from sensors situated on windows, doors etc of the building and a plurality of outputs 11 which can actuate, for example, sirens, warning lights, telephone links to police stations, etc. Other alarm systems may of course be used where appropriate and if the alarm system includes timing means the on/off functioning of the deterrent device 1 may be timed from the alarm unit 9.

If a building already has an alarm system installed the crime deterent device can easily be added to the system and can be activated either independently by its own timer 8, or by the alarm unit 9.

Claims

1. A crime deterrent device comprising a box including a display panel providing a display of one or more words, and means for illuminating the display, the device being adapted to be mounted or placed inside or adjacent a building or one or more rooms within a building, to be viewed from the outside of the building or room.

2. - A crime deterrent device as claimed in Claim 1 including a timer such that the wording can be illuminated for pre-selected time periods.

3. A crime deterrent device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 which is connected to, but remote from, an alarm system.

4. A crime deterrent device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the illumination means comprises a light source mounted behind the display panel to illuminate the display.

5. A crime deterrent device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the illumination means comprises means to transmit light from a remote source to the display panel.

6. A crime deterrent device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the display panel is an LCD or LED display.

7. A crime deterrent device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, mounted adjacent a window so as to be viewable through the window.

8. A crime deterrent device substantially as.

hereinbefore described with reference td, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.