GB2271207A - Alarm device - Google Patents

Abstract

An alarm device (10) comprises a portable unit (11) and is operable when actuated to issue an alarm signal, the unit (11) having means to issue both an audible alarm signal and a visual signal. Activation may be by a manual switch and/or a pull out pin 12. The electro-sonic transducer 15 and strobe light 26 may be individually activated if necessary and the alarm may be adapted to respond to sensor outputs e.g. movement detectors. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Alarm device" Description of Invention This invention relates to an alarm device.

Alarm devices are known which comprise a portable unit including a manually operable means to cause the unit to issue an alarm signal. Such alarm devices are commonly known as "personal alarms".

According to the present invention we provide an alarm device comprising a portable unit, the device being operable when activated to issue an alarm signal, the unit having means to issue both an audible alarm signal and a visual alarm signal.

In this way a more effective personal alarm can be provided than hithertobefore known.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a front view of an alarm device in accordance with the invention and, FIGURE 2 is an end elevation of the device of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, an alarm device 10 comprises a portable unit 11 which comprises a casing having internally, the necessary electronic circuitry, battery supply and transducers etc. to enable the unit 11 to function as a personal alarm, as hereinafter described.

The casing has a first opening 14 therein behind which an electro-sonic transducer 15 is mounted, the transducer 15 being operable to provide audible frequency sound waves, to give an audible alarm signal.

The casing has a second opening 16 in which a slidable type of simple on/off switch 17 is mounted. When the switch 17 is in the position shown, the switch 17 is "off' and no alarm signal issues, but when switch 17 is moved upwardly to an "on" position, an audible alarm signal will issue.

The casing has on a rear surface 18 thereof, a clip formation 19 which includes a resilient limb 20 which terminates in a bulbous formation 21. The clip formation 19 enables the portable unit 19 to be clipped to, for example, an item of clothing, to facilitate carrying of the unit 11.

The unit 11 further comprises a disabling element 12, which in the present example comprises a pin which is connected to a ring 22 to which a laniard or other elongate flexible member can be attached. The ring 22 and laniard or other flexible element together provide a pull member by which the pin 12 can be disconnected from the unit 11 by pulling in a direction axially A of the pin 12. The pin 12 is received in a third opening in the casing of the unit 11, and whilst the pin 12 is located in the opening, an on/off switch is disabled.

However, in the event of the pin 12 being disconnected from the unit 11, the on/off switch will become abled and as a result, at least with the manually operable switch 17 in the "off' position shown, the unit 11 will function to issue an audible alarm signal.

The casing further comprises a lens 25 which conceals a light bulb 26.

The unit 11 is arranged so that when the unit is activated either as a result of the manually operable switch 17 being moved to an on position, or as a result of the pin 12 being disconnected from the unit 11, not only will the unit 11 issue an audible alarm signal from transducer 15, but also the unit will issue simultaneously a visual alarm signal. The bulb 26 is preferably driven from an electronic circuit which causes the visual alarm signal which issues to be stroboscopic in nature. The lens 25 could be of any desired colour but conveniently is of a blue colour.

When the switch 17 is moved to its "on" position and the pin 12 is removed from the unit 11, the unit 11 is arranged only to issue the visual alarm signal, so that a user for example in a broken-down vehicle, can attract the attention of a passer-by.

If desired, the unit 11 may comprise a sensor means such as an infrasonic, infrared, or ultrasonic detector, whereby the device 10 may also be used to detect a disturbance, by which we mean a movement of a person or item, within a protected area, and cause an audible and visual alarm signal to be issued.

Conveniently, the alarm device may be arranged to operate as described in our previous patent application No. 9118332.7 such that the portable unit 11 is receivable by a receiver unit and may be locked relative to the receiver unit and activated in the event, not only that a disturbance is detected, but also in the event of the unit 11 being removed from the receiver unit.

If desired, in the event that a disturbance is detected, the unit 11 may be arranged to transmit e.g. a radio signal to a remote receiver, to warn the remote receiver that the alarm device has been activated.

Various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the unit 11 need not have both the manually operable switch 17 and a disabling element being a pin 12, but any other arrangement to enable the device to be activated could be provided.

Whereas the visual alarm signal issued by the unit 11 has been described as being a stroboscopic visual signal, any other suitable visual signal may be issued from the device.

Of course the overall configuration of the casing of the device can be changed as appropriate, so that the visual signal may be issued from a light source located on a side of the portable unit instead of on a front surface, or on the top surface of the unit as desired.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, the following claims or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (13)

1. An alarm device comprising a portable unit, the device being operable when activated to issue an alarm signal, the unit having means to issue both an audible alarm signal and a visual alarm signal simultaneously.

2. A device according to claim 1 which is operable manually to issue the alarm signal.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein a portable unit includes a simple on/off switch whereby the device may be activated, and/or an on/off switch which is activated when a disabling element is disconnected from the unit.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the disabling element is a pin which is received in an opening of the device, the device being activated when the pin is removed from the portable unit.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the device is adapted to be carried on the person, and the pin is attached to a pull member which may be secured relative to the person whereby the pin is removed from the opening upon the pull member being pulled.

6. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 which is operative in response to a sensor means.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the sensor means is of the infrasonic, ultrasonic, infrared or other type to detect a disturbance or presence of a person within a protected area.

8. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 which includes a transmitter to transmit a signal to a remote receiver in the event that the device is activated.

9. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the audible signal is issued by an electro-sonic transducer.

10. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the visual alarm signal is issued by a stroboscopic light source.

11. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the portable unit comprises all the necessary electronic circuitry, power supply and traducers to function.

12. An alarm device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. Any novel feature or novel combination of features as disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.