GB2240648A - Security device - Google Patents

Abstract

A security device comprises a lockable retainer 11 for securing the device to the article, eg a vehicle or bicycle, or a part thereof, to be protected, an alarm signal generator 21, a trigger mechanism for triggering operation of the alarm signal generator, and a mechanism 18 for arming and disarming the device, said arming mechanism 18 being arranged to be operated automatically as the device is secured to the article, or part thereof, by said lockable retainer 11. The device further includes a time delay means to ensure that the alarm is not actuated immediately after arming, for example, when a driver leaves the vehicle. A flashing LED 22 provides an indication that the device is armed. <IMAGE>

Description

SECURITY DEVICE This invention relates to a security device for providing a warning of unauthorised movement of an article to be protected.

The device in accordance with the present invention is primarily, but not exclusively, intended for use in conjunction with a road vehicle, but it is to be understood that the device can be used in conjunction with other articles such as boats, c-les, motorcycles and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a security device in a simple and convenient form.

A security device in accordance with the present invention comprises a lockable retainer for securing the device to the article, or a part thereof, to be protected, an alarm signal generator, a trigger mechanism for triggering operation of the alarm signal generator, and a mechanism for arming and disarming the device, said arming mechanism being arranged to be operated automatically as the device is secured to the article, or part thereof, by said lockable retainer.

Preferably said lockable retainer comprises a shackle assembly moveable between an open position and a closed position, and lockable in said closed position by a locking mechanism.

Preferably said locking mechanism is a key operated mechanism.

Desirably said arming mechanism includes an operating member which is moved from an inoperative position to an operative position by engagement of said shackle around the article, of part thereof, to which the device is to be affixed.

Preferably the alarm signal generator generates an audible alarm signal.

Preferably the device includes indicator means for providing an indication that the device is armed.

Preferably the audible alarm signal is of a volume that renders the area surrounding the security device painful to inhabit.

Preferably the trigger mechanism is a pendulum switch.

Preferably the security device includes a time delay means ensuring that operation of the trigger mechanism within a predetermined time period after arming the security device will not result in operation of the alarm signal generator.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a security device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a security device, in accordance with a second example of the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, the security device comprises a two part lockable shackle 11, the two parts 12, 13 of which are metal castings hingedly interconnected at one end by a pivot pin 14. In use the shackle part 12 can be considered to be a stationary part, and the part 13 can be hinged relative to the part 12 between an open position and a closed position (as shown in the drawing), there being a key operated locking mechanism 15 carried by the part 12, engagable with the end of the part 13 remote from the pivot pin 14, to lock the part 13 relative to the part 12 in the closed position. The parts 12, 13, when in the closed position, define a generally circular aperture 16 into which protrudes the operating button 17 of a push-button arming mechanism 18 carried by the part 12 of the shackle 11.

Rigidly secured to the part 12 of the shackle 11, at its end remote from the hinged part 13, is a rigid, moulded body 19 housing an audible signal generator, an electric battery defining the power source for the signal generator, and a trigger mechanism. The output element 21 of the audible signal generator is exposed at one end of the body 19, and the trigger mechanism housed within the body 19 is in the form of a pendulum switch, although it is to be understood that other forms of movement operated switching mechanism could be utilised if desired.

The audible signal generator cannot be energised by the battery unless the push-button 17 of the arming mechanism 18 is depressed, and the pendulum switch has been operated.

Normal operation of the security device is as follows.

Let us assume that the article to protected by the device is a car. The car driver will attach the device to the steering wheel of the car by fitting the shackle 11 around the lower part of the rim of the steering wheel so that the body 19 hangs below the steering wheel, and then locking the part 13 of the shackle in the closed position relative to the part 12. The diameter of the aperture 16 is such, in relation to the diameter of the wheel rim, that the button 17 of the arming mechanism 18 will be depressed sufficiently far to operate the arming mechanism, by closing a pair of electrical contacts permitting energisation of the audible signal generator by the battery by way of the pendulum, or other motion sensitive, switch.Desirably the control circuit of the audible signal generator will include time delay means ensuring that operation of the movement sensitive switch within a predetermined time. period after arming by depression of the button 17 does not result in operation of the audible signal generator. Thus the operator of the vehicle will have a predetermined time period, after fitting the shackle 11 to the rim of the vehicle steering wheel, in which to exit from the vehicle, taking the key of the mechanism 15 with him. At the end of the time delay period the device will be fully armed, and any movement of the device will cause closure of the contacts of the movement sensitive switch thus energising the audible signal generator so that an extremely loud warning sound is generated.The control circuit of the audible signal generator can be such that the alarm continues to sound for a predetermined period of time, whereafter the device resets in readiness to be triggered again by further movement, or alternatively the circuitry can be such that the audible signal generator remains energised until the button 17 of the arming mechanism 18 is permitted to return to its rest position. Naturally in order for the button 17 to return, under the action of its return spring, to its rest position the shackle 11 must be unfastened from the steering wheel rim, and this in turn can only be accomplished by use of the authorised key to release the locking mechanism 15.

In addition to supporting an audible signal generator, the body 19 also supports a visual warning device 22 in the form of a light emitting diode (LED) exposed on the exterior of the body 19. The LED 22 is energised from the battery within the body 19 when the device is fully armed, that is to say at the end of the time delay period after depression of the arming button 17. Desirably the LED is caused to flash while the device remains armed thereby providing a visible indication of the armed, and therefore operative condition of the device. The flashing LED should therefore constitute a warning to an unauthorised intruder that the device is operative.

When used in a vehicle it will be recognised that the sound generated by the device will be extremely loud within the vehicle, but will be damped to a large extent by the vehicle so as not to cause annoyance to other persons in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. The audible signal will be sufficiently loud that persons in the vicinity will be aware that the device has been triggered, but it is intended that the volume shall be such that to anyone within the confines of the vehicle the sound will be intolerable.

In a minor modification the LED 22 is caused to flash immediately the button 17 is depressed, thereby indicating that the device is energised, and the signal generator is caused to emit a single, short tone at the end of the time delay period, when the device becomes fully armed.

Although not essential it is desirable that the device includes a time delay arrangement for delaying operation of the signal generator after triggering so as to allow an authorized user to unlock, and so disarm, the device prior to the alarm signal being generated.

It will be recognised that use of the security device is not restricted to vehicles, and the device could equally easily be fitted to a frame member of a cycle. Since the device is self-contained it can be used to protect any article to which it can be attached by means of the shackle 11. The button 17 can be arranged to have a relatively long travel, with arming occurring early in the movement of the button from its rest position, so that a wide range of tolerances between the internal diameter of the shackle, and the external diameter of the part to which the shackle is fixed, can be accommodated.

As an alternative, it would be possible to supply a range of alternative packing pieces which, when applied to the inner surface of the movable part 13 of the shackle, become fixtures, to accommodate differences between the internal diameter of the shackle and the external diameter of the part to which it is to be affixed.

The security device shown in Figure 2 comprises a lockable shackle 111 that can be locked to a vehicle steering wheel, the shackle 111 having two parts 112, 113 pivotally connected together so as to be able to move between an open position and a closed position, and a lock 115 allowing the two parts 112, 113 to be locked together in the closed position. The two parts 112, 113 define a generally circular aperture 116 into which protrudes an operating member 117 of an alarming mechanism. When the shackle 111 is attached to a vehicle steering wheel, the operating member 117 is pushed into the part 112 of the shackle 111. The arming mechanism arms the security device when the operating member 117 is pushed beyond a certain distance into the part 112.

A body 119 is rigidly attached to the part 112 of the shackle 111. The body 119 contains a battery, a movement detector, for example a pendulum switch or more preferably a piezo-electric element whose state is altered by movement so producing an electrical output, and a audible signal generator 121. When the security device is armed, any movement of the security device will trigger the movement detector and cause a signal to be produced by the audible signal generator 121.

A time delay means is included in the security device so that within a predetermined time of arming the security device, triggering of the movement operated switch does not cause the operation of the audible signal generator 121.

A light emitting diode (LED) 122 is also provided on the body 119. The LED 122 flashes intermittently when the device 13 armed and acts as a visible deterrent to thieves.

The LED 122 also acts as a battery charge indictor. To achieve this, the LED 122 may be lit permanently when the battery voltage falls below a predetermined level.

Alternatively, a series of rapid flashes of the LED 122 may occur.

Although it is preferable to attach the device, by means of the shackle 11 or 111, to a closed loop part of the article, for example the frame of a cycle, or the rim of a steering wheel, it is to be understood that provided that the device cannot be removed by sliding the shackle to the end of a component around which the shackle is engaged then the device can be attached to any other part of an article to be protected, for example the handlebars of a motorcycle. In such an application the shackle would be attached to the handlebars between the central mounting point and the brake and/or clutch control so that the shackle cannot be removed from the handlebars without releasing the locking mechanism.

Claims (10)

1. A security device comprising a lockable retainer for securing the device to the article, or a part thereof, to be protected, an alarm signal generator, a trigger mechanism for triggering operation of the alarm signal generator, and a mechanism for arming and disarming the device, said arming mechanism being arranged to be operated automatically as the device is secured to the article, or part thereof, by said lockable retainer.

2. A security device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said lockable retainer comprises a shackle assembly moveable between an open position and a closed position, and lockable in said closed position by a locking mechanism.

3. A security device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said locking mechanism is a key operated mechanism.

4. A security device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said arming mechanism includes an operating member which is moved from an inoperative position to an operative position by engagement of said shackle around the article, of part thereof, to which the device is to be affixed.

5. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the alarm signal generator generates an audible alarm signal.

6. A security device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the audible alarm signal is of a volume that renders the area surrounding the security device painful to inhabit.

7. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the security device includes indicator means for providing an indication that the device is armed.

8. A security device as claimed in any one of the above claims, wherein the trigger mechanism is a movement detector.

9. A security device as claimed in any one of the above claims, wherein the security device includes a time delay means ensuring that operation of the trigger mechanism within a predetermined time period after arming the security device will not result in operation of the alarm signal generator.

10. A security device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.