GB2290397A

GB2290397A - Personal alarm assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2290397A
Application number: GB9411651A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Victor Brian Rosewell; Richard Kwok
Original assignee: Audio Optics Ltd
Current assignee: Audio Optics Ltd
Priority date: 1994-06-10
Filing date: 1994-06-10
Publication date: 1995-12-20
Also published as: GB9411651D0

Abstract

A removable actuation member (3) is provided as well as means (6) for hanging the alarm (2) around a neck or on clothing. The alarm is actuated by a downward pull on a pull-knob (5') attached to a plug (4) of the actuation member (3) by means of a pull-cord (5) enabling actuation of the alarm with one hand only. Furthermore, quick-release means (8) comprising a male member (9) and a female member (10) detachably connectable with a snap-fit prevent the cord (6) from being used to strangle a victim. <IMAGE>

Description

Personal Alarm Assembly The present invention relates to a personal alarm assembly.

Personal alarms are known in which the alarm is actuated by removal of an actuation member, usually in the form of a plug connected to a pull-cord. In order to actuate the alarm two hands are necessary, one hand to hold the alarm, and the other hand to pull the cord so as to remove the plug. This is clearly a disadvantage, since it may not be possible for the person under attack to use both hands. Furthermore, the alarm may be in a bag or pocket making it virtually inaccessible during an attack.

An object of the present invention is to provide an alarm assembly which is much more readily accessible, and which may be actuated by one hand only.

The invention provides a personal alarm assembly as claimed in Claim 1.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a front view of a personal alarm assembly in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one quick-release means of Figure 1 with both members detached, and Figure 3 is a perspective enlarged view similar to Figure 2 with both members connected.

In Figure 1 a personal alarm assembly 1 comprises a personal alarm 2 of any suitable construction, and having a removable actuation member 3 in the form of a plug 4, a pull-cord 5 and a pull-knob 5'. On removal of the plug 4 the alarm 2 emits an extremely loud, unpleasant sound..

The assembly 1 has a neck strap or cord 6 divided into cord portions 7 by quick-release means 8.

As can be seen more clearly from Figures 2 and 3, each quick-release means 8 comprises a male member 9 and a female member 10 detachably connectable with a snap-fit. To this end the male member 9 has two resilient legs 11 with outwardly-directed end protuberances 12. The female member has a slot 13 leading to two diametrically-opposed apertures 14 lying in the plane of the slot 13. The spacing between the outer surfaces of the protuberances 12 is slightly greater than the length of the slot 13 so that the legs 11 must be moved towards each other before the male member 9 can enter the female member 10. Chamfered front portions 15 on the protuberances 12 allow the legs 11 to be resiliently moved towards each other as the protuberances 12 enter the slot 13.Insertion of the male member 9 inside the female member 10 continues until the protuberances 12 are aligned with the diametrically-opposed slots 14, whereupon the legs 11 spring outwardly away from each other and the protuberances 12 engage the apertures 14 with a snap-fit.

The protuberances 12 have rear chamfered edges 15' to force the legs 11 resiliently towards each other as the cord 6 is tensioned to allow removal of the male member 9 from the female member 10.

The reason for providing at least one, and preferably two or more, quick-release members in the cord 6 is to prevent the cord 6 being used by an attacker to strangle the victim. Any attempt to use the cord 6 in this way will result in detachment of the male and female members of at least one of the quick-release means 8 rendering the cord 6 ineffective. To prevent misuse of the cord portions 7 by an attacker, they should not be much longer than 30cm, and the number of quick release means 8 required may be determined accordingly.

The alarm is actuated by a downward pull on the pull-knob 5' to remove the plug 4 from the alarm 2. It is only necessary for the pull-knob 5' to be gripped by one hand. Furthermore, the downward action reinforces gravity and is therefore easier than an upward action.

Obviously, the force by means of which the plug 4 is held in the alarm 2 should be substantially less than the snap-fit force holding the male and female members 9, 10 of each quick-release means 8 together, so as to prevent separation of the cord 6 on actuation of the alarm 2.

The quick-release means 8 may be formed of any suitable material, such as polyethylene or other suitable plastics material.

The personal alarm 2 may be made to look inconspicuous, or it could be disguised as an item of jewellery, eg a necklace. When worn it could be tucked inside a blouse or jacket so as not to attract attention, but so that the pull-knob 5' is still readily accessible to the wearer.

Instead of a cord 6, the alarm could be attached to clothing with a pin or clip. It would still be actuatable by one hand with a downward pull on the pull-knob 5'.

Claims

Claims:

1. A personal alarm assembly comprising a personal alarm having a removable actuation member and means for hanging the alarm around a neck or on clothing, wherein the actuation member is removable in a downwards direction to enable actuation of the alarm with one hand only.

2. A personal alarm assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the alarm has a strap or cord for hanging around a neck.

3. A personal alarm assembly, wherein the cord has at least one quick-release means.

4. A personal alarm assembly as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the quick-release means comprises a male and female member detachably connectable with a snap-fit.

5. A personal alarm assembly as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the male member has a resilient leg with a protuberance engageable with a snap-fit into an aperture in the female member.

6. A personal alarm assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A personal alarm assembly as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the male member has two said resilient legs engageable in two said apertures in the female member.

7. A personal alarm assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 6, wherein the strap or cord has a plurality of quick-release means, so that the cord portions therebetween are sufficiently short to be ineffective for misuse by an attacker.

8. A personal alarm assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims haYe been fileå as fo ws Claims: 1. A personal alarm assembly comprising a personal alarm having a removable actuation member and a strap or cord for hanging around a wearer' s neck, wherein the actuation member is removable in a downwards direction to enable actuation of the alarm with one hand only, and the cord has at least one quick-release means to prevent mis-use of the cord by an attacker.

2. A personal alarm assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the quick-release means comprises a male and female member detachably connectable with a snap-fit.

3. A personal alarm assembly as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the male member has a resilient leg with a protuberance engageable with a snap-fit into an aperture in the female member.

4. A personal alarm assembly as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the male member has two said resilient legs engageable in two said apertures in the female member.

5. A personal alarm assembly as claimed in any one of preceding claims, wherein the strap or cord has a plurality of quick-release means, so that the cord portions therebetween are sufficiently short to be ineffective for misuse by an attacker.