GB2292243A

GB2292243A - Portable security device

Info

Publication number: GB2292243A
Application number: GB9416369A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Paul Stanley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-08-12
Filing date: 1994-08-12
Publication date: 1996-02-14
Also published as: GB9416369D0

Abstract

A portable security device comprising: a housing 2 adapted to impede or delay the opening of a closure such as a door; an audio alarm situated substantially within said housing; a light source situated substantially within said housing, the alarm and light source being energised upon detection of opening of the closure, eg by a pressure actuator or portion sensitive switch. <IMAGE>

Description

PORTABLE SECURITY DEVICE Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of personal security, particularly portable security devices for personal use.

Background to the Invention The door wedge alarm is a particularly useful security device for travellers and business people. The devices are relatively small, lightweight and portable, and hence are particularly suited for hotel users.

Door wedges are, of course, well-known, both for keeping doors or other apertures open as well as for preventing or inhibiting them from being opened. A type of security device has been produced by incorporating an alarm into a door wedge in order to alert the user of an attempted intrusion.

These devices are typically designed to operate at night, being placed under the door or other aperture prior to retiring for the evening. A subsequent attempted opening of the door triggers the device which serves the dual function of impeding the opening of the door while sounding a loud alarm.

A major disadvantage of such a device is that, despite the inhibiting effect of the wedge shape, and the deterrent effect of the alarm, once activated it leaves the user/owner in the dark and possibly disorientated by the loud noise. This disadvantage is exacerbated if the user/owner is in an unfamiliar environment, for example a hotel room.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to alleviate the disadvantage that the cause of the alarm, ie, an intruder, is not readily visible using the existing devices.

It is a further object of the present invention to improve the deterrent effect of the existing devices.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a compact multipurpose device particularly suitable for use by travellers, thus reducing the number of individual items they need to pack.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a portable security device comprising: a housing adapted to impede or delay the opening of an aperture, such as a door; an audio alarm situated substantially within said housing; a light source situated substantially within said housing.

In a preferred form, said housing is substantially wedge-shaped.

Preferably, in use, said device is placed in contiguous relationship with a door whereby attempted opening of said door triggers said light source and/or said audio alarm.

Preferably said device is activated by the pressure of the attempted opening on the top, side or end surfaces of said housing.

Preferably said device is activated by lateral movement of said device along the surface on which it is situated, said movement being caused by the attempted opening.

Preferably said light source is independently operable from said audio alarm.

Preferably said device also comprises a simple alarm clock.

Brief Description of the Drawing A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein; Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the portable security device.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment The portable security device 1 consists of a housing 2 of a substantially wedge-shape, designed to allow the tapered end to slide under a door to inhibit opening. Compactness is an important feature, as the device is intended to be easily portable, so the overall size is similar to that of standard door wedges, ie unlikely to exceed 15 cm in overall length.

The material composition of the housing 2 is chosen to mammise the amount of friction with the surfaces it comes into contact with (eg. a rubber compound) to ensure maximum resistance, whilst at the same time being relatively inexpensive in order to minimise the production cost of the device.

The housing 2 contains a standard input transducer used to detect an attempted opening of the door. This could take the form of a simple pressure operated switch, such as those used in security pressure pads, a tracker ball built into the housing 2, similar to those incorporated in a computer "mouse", which would detect lateral movement of the device, or other motion sensor.

The wedge shape of the housing 2, should mean that the tapered end will fit under most doors or other apertures. However, if there is insufficient room under the opening, it could be possible to turn the device 1 onto its side where a pressure-sensitive tip, or motion sensor, would still activate the device when pushed by an opening door.

The non-tapered end of the housing 2 incorporates a light source and light diffusing perspex bulb cover 4. The housing 2 also contains an audio alarm, whose loudspeaker is positioned close to aperture 3 on one side of the housing 2.

To enable the device 1 to be fully portable, all electrical components are battery-operated. An indicator (for example a single LED) could be used to warn the usc that the battery power is low.

The controls 5,6 on the side of the housing 2 determine the results of the input transducer being activated. If both controls 5,6 are set to the OFF position, the alarm will not sound and the torch will not light.

If the upper control 5 (relating to the torch facility) is set to position A, the torch will come on when the input transducer is activated This automatic illumination provides a significant deterrent to an intruder. If the upper control 5 is set to position B, the torch will operate continuously and independently.

If the lower control 6 is set to position C a low volume alarm will sound. If the same control 6 is set to position D, a very high volume alarm will sound.

The controls 5,6 are of a standard nature, such as dials (as shown in Figure 1) or sliding switches. The other main elements of the device (including the battery, pressure switches, light source and light diffusing cover) are all readily available components.

Once the alarm and/or torch have been activated by the input transducer, they are reset by turning the appropriate control to the OFF position.

Because of the inclusion of the light source, the device could also be used on its own as a simple torch. Alternatively, it could be used as a portable personal alarm (such as a rape alarm) with the alarm and/or torch being operated by the user as and when required. The housing 2 could incorporate finger grips along its sides to make the device more comfortable to carry as a torch or personal alarm.

Although a wedge-shape housing has been described here, the device need not be restricted to such a shape.

The combination of features makes the device ideal for travellers, providing a number of valuable features in one compact device. An extension to this could see the inclusion of a simple alarm clock to further minimise the number of separate items the traveller needs to pack.

Claims

1. A portable security device comprising: a housing adapted to impede or delay the opening of an aperture, such as a door; an audio alarm situated substantially within said housing; a light source situated substantially within said housing.

2. A portable security device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said housing is substantially wedge-shaped.

3. A portable security device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein, in use, said device is placed in contiguous relationship with a door whereby attempted opening of said door triggers said light source and/or said audio alarm.

4. A portable security device as claimed in any of the above claims wherein said device is activated by the pressure of the attempted opening on the top, side or end surfaces of said housing.

5. A portable security device as claimed in any of Claims 1-3 wherein said device is activated by lateral movement of said device along the surface on which it is situated, said movement being caused by the attempted opening.

6. A portable security device as claimed in any of the above claims wherein said light source is independently operable from said audio alarnL

7. A portable security device as claimed in any of the above claims wherein said device also comprises a simple alarm clock.

8. A portable security device substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.