GB2348310A

GB2348310A - Alarm system for use with portable objects

Info

Publication number: GB2348310A
Application number: GB9906875A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Andrew Stevens; Michael Colin Moss
Original assignee: BOSS INT CORP Ltd
Current assignee: BOSS INT CORP Ltd
Priority date: 1999-03-25
Filing date: 1999-03-25
Publication date: 2000-09-27
Also published as: GB9906875D0

Abstract

The system comprises a hand-held controller for emitting a sequence of signals to activate, deactivate and/or switch the mode of operation of a device which is responsive to signals received from the controller. The device can be positioned on or in the object, and is capable of activating the alarm to produce a warning signal if the device is:-<BR> ```(i) moved from a stationary position (movement mode); and/or,<BR> ```(ii) moved more than a predetermined distance from the hand-held controller (proximity mode); and/or,<BR> ```(iii) tampered with, eg opened (tamper mode); and/or,<BR> ```(iv) separated from means for attaching the object to the carrier (snatch mode). The device is capable of at least two modes of operation as listed herein. Also described is a case, for carrying valuable equipment, which is removably secured to a surface locking system consisting of a plate with a locating pin and a locking pin (Figs 2a, 2b), or to an unmobile object by a cable with a loop and locking pin (Fig. 2c).

Description

SECURITY SYSTEMS This invention relates to security devices for portable equipment and bags or cases that carry portable equipment or valable items. More especially but not particularly, this invention relates to portable alarms.

In today's environment of increasingly mobile and compact computer and personal communications technology, people are exploiting the convenience of inter a/ia, constant computer access and telephone facilities available with portable systems. Such systems are kept on or with a person as they travel, in addition to the conventional briefcase, hand bag or case.

Security of such valuable technology is obviously of extreme importance to the carrier. Similarly, doctors carrying drug cases, jewellers carrying valable gems, and photographers with camera equipment are just a sample of the professionals who must also be security conscious.

Security cases for inter alia, lap-top computers, are presently made of steel plate. Though secure, such cases look like a metal box, are very heavy, are specifically designed for carrying one product, offer no protection if snatched away and, by the nature of their design, advertise the fact that their contents are valable.

To date, the only alarms that are availahle for protecting personal belongings are operated with a key or a number combination on a key pad.

Proximity, movement, panic and anti-tamper alarms are available for specific applications, but there is no product that can offer all these features in one alarm, that has been designed for use with portable objects.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi purpose, compact alarm device that can be used to protect a wide range of personal belongings and that is easy to control, even at a distance from the object to be protected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a case for carrying valable equipment which can be removably secured to a surface locking system or to an immobile object.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides an alarm for use with a portable object, comprising, (a) a hand-held controller for emitting a sequence of signals to activate and deactivate a device and/or switch the mode of operation of the device; (b) said device, responsive to signals received from the controller, for positioning on or in the object, capable of activating the alarm to produce a warning signal if the device is: (i) moved from a stationary position (movement mode); and/or, (ii) moved more than a predetermined distance from the hand-held controller (proximity mode); and/or, (iii) tampered with, e. g. opened (tamper mode); and/or, (iv) separated from means for attaching the object to the carrier (snatch mode); said device being capable of at least two modes of operation as listed herein.

The term"portable"as used herein relates to objects which are carried by hand, e. g cases ; pushed by hand, e. g. prams, trollies etc.; or accompanied e. g small children, the disabled or the elderly. Therefore, the term portable is not intended to include cars or the like.

Advantages provided by the present invention include the ability to use any case or carrying equipment to carry valable or delicate items.

Therefore, there is no longer any need to use for example, conventional and recognisable computer cases or photography equipment cases. Thus, the alarm is suitable for use in an extensive list of applications such as the security of golf bags, luggage, holdalls, motorcycles, bicycles and even less apparent applications such as the security of hotel room doors, or the monitoring of the proximity of small children who often wander away from adults and are a constant worry.

Typically, the hand-held controller takes the form of a convenient and easily accessible form, such as a key fob. Therefore, the controller may be available immediately when required and is user friendly. The activation or deactivation of the alarm unit, on or in the object, is preferably actionable within a few seconds. Thus, if the alarm is not activated and the carrier observes that someone is running away with his or her belongings, the alarm may be immediately activated and the warning signal set off.

The sequence of signals is preferably in the form of electromagnetic radiation, for example, radio waves, e. g. AM or FM frequencies, or infra-red radiation. The controller, by using, e. g. AM or FM frequencies, may allow over 16 billion different controller signals to be transmitted. Therefore, the likelihood of other carriers setting off a neighbour's alarm in the proximity is minimal. There is also no likelihood of a third party revealing the codes necessary to deactivate the alarm when in use. The activation/deactivation of the alarm unit may be accompanied by a unique audible signal to indicate to the carrier that the alarm has been set or otherwise.

When the alarm is in movement and/or tamper mode, any movement of the object, for example, movement of the object away from an initial resting position, or the lifting of, e. g. a case lid, may trigger an initial warning signal to deter any further disturbance. This feature also eliminates anti-social or accidental activation of the main alarm warning signal. If there is a further disturbance within a predetermined time interval, such as 15 or 30 seconds, the main warning signal may then be activated.

If the object is snatched when the alarm is not armed, the alarm may be activated remotely using the controller. If the carrier is attacked, the alarm may be triggered using the controller.

When the alarm is in proximity mode, the alarm may be activated if the object is moved more than a predetermined distance, e. g. 3 metres, away from the controller. The alarm may reset when the object returns to within the predetermined range.

When the alarm is in snatch mode, separating the object from means for attaching the object to the carrier, triggers the alarm immediately. The attachment means may take the form of a wrist strap which connects the carrier's wrist to, for example, the handle, of a case. In this embodiment, as the case is separated from the wrist strap, a magnetic reed-switch is activated which triggers the alarm.

The warning signal and the initial warning signal may take the form of an audible signal, for example a signal at 10OdB to 150dB, e. g. 120dB.

The alarm may be run by batteries. The alarm may also emit a signal to indicate when the batteries are running low.

In an another aspect, the invention provides a combination of an object and the alarm as described hereinabove.

In still another aspect, the invention provides a combination of a portable case and a securing plate for attachment to the case, the plate comprising a locating pin and a locking pin, the case comprising a first opening for receiving the locating pin and a second opening for receiving the locking pin, the second opening having locking means for retaining the locking pin in the case.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a combination of a portable case and a securing cable for attachment to the case, the cable comprising a locking pin at one end and a loop at the other end such that the cable can form an adjustable noose capable of linking the cable with an immobile object, the case comprising an opening for receiving the locking pin and locking means for retaining the locking pin in the case.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking pin is wider at its distal end, e. g. the locking pin takes the form of a ball on a dowel, and the locking means takes the form of a sliding plate having an aperture having wide and narrow sections. In this case, the locking pin may be inserted into the opening in the case and through the wide section of the aperture of the sliding plate. The sliding plate may then be slid across to engage the locking pin in the narrow section of the aperture such that the distal end, e. g. the ball, of the pin cannot pass through. Therefore, the pin is prevented from leaving the case.

The securing plate may be secured to, for example, the wall, floor or desk in an office, or the boot of a car. Typically, the plate is secured to a surface with screws or adhesives.

Preferably the cable is resistant to damage by shear, stress or strain forces. The securing cable may take the form of a steel braided cable. The cable may be linked to any secure object such as a radiator pipe, such that the cable and the case cannot be removed without severing the cable or dislodging the object (e. g. cutting a radiator pipe).

In still a further aspect, the invention provides a combination of a portable case and a securing plate or securing cable for attachment to the case as described herein and an alarm as described hereinabove.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrams in which: Figure 1 is an operational flow chart of an alarm in accordance with the invention; Figure 2a is a cross-section through a case and a securing plate in accordance with the invention ; Figure 2b is a plan view of a sliding plate in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2c is a cross-section through a case and a securing cable in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 is a detailed flow-chart showing a range of functionalities of one embodiment of the alarm. In this example, the controller is in the form of a key fob. The alarm has many different modes of operation these including a proximity mode wherein movement of the alarm unit more than 3 metres away from the key fob activates a continuous 1 20dB full alarm. If the alarm unit is brought back within the 3 metre range, the audio signal stops; a movement/tamper mode wherein the alarm is in a sleep mode until it is either moved from its resting position or the lid of the case to which the alarm unit is fixed, is opened, or the case is separated from a wrist strap linking the container to the carrier of the case-an initial movement of the case triggers an audio signal as a warning such that if the case continues to move the full warning signal will be activated; a low battery warning signal mode ; a snatch mode wherein if a wrist strap linking the case to the carrier is separated from the case the full alarm will be activated.

A cross-section through a case and a securing plate is illustrated in Figure 2a. The case 2 has a first opening 4 for receiving a locating pin 6 on the securing plate 8. The securing plate is secured to a surface 13 such as a desk or wall of an office, with the aid of screws 15. Once aligned with the locating pin 4 the case is lowered onto the locking pin 10 which passes through a second opening 11 in the case, and the widest part 14a of an aperture 14 in a sliding plate 12. The sliding plate 12 (a plan view of the sliding plate is shown in figure 2b) is then slid sideways so that the widest part of the pin 10 is prevented from leaving the second opening by the narrow section 14b of the aperture 14 in the sliding plate 12.

Figure 2c illustrates a cross-sectional view of a case 2 and securing cable 18. The securing cable 18 has a locking pin 10 at one end and a loop 22 at the other end so that the cable can be manipulated to form a noose.

The locking pin 10 is retained by the sliding plate 12 in the case 2. The case 2 is secured to an immobile object (not shown) by linking the cable 18, via the noose, to a convenient position on the object, for example, the pipes leading from a radiator. Only by opening the case and accessing the sliding plate can the cable be removed from the case and the case moved from the immobile object.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is merely exemplary of the invention and that numerous modifications may be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An alarm for use with a portable object, comprising, a hand-held controller for emitting a sequence of signals to activate, deactivate and/or switch the mode of operation of a device which is responsive to signals received from the controller and which is positioned on or in the portable object, the device being capable of activating the alarm to produce a warning signal if the device and/or object is: (i) moved from a stationary position; and/or, (ii) moved more than a predetermined distance from the hand-held controller ; and/or, (iii) tampered with; and/or, (iv) separated from means for attaching the portable object to a carrier.
2. An alarm as claimed in claim 1 wherein the object is selected from, a laptop computer, a case, a document holder, a holdall, a golf bag, luggage, a motorcycle, a bicycle, a hotel room door, or a small child.
3. An alarm as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the hand-held controller takes the form of a key fob.
4. An alarm as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sequence of signals takes the form of electromagnetic radiation.
5. An alarm as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the activation/deactivation/mode of the alarm is accompanied by a unique audible signal.
6. An alarm as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein initial movement or tampering of the object, triggers an initial warning signal to deter any further disturbance.
7. An alarm as claimed in claim 6 wherein further disturbance within a predetermined time interval activates the main warning signal.
8. An alarm as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for attaching the portable object to the carrier takes the form of a wrist strap which connects the carrier's wrist to the object.
9. An alarm as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the warning signal and the initial warning signal may take the form of an audible signal, for example a signal at 100dB to 150dB, e. g. 120dB.
10. An alarm as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which runs on batteries.
11. An alarm substantially as described and as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A combination of a portable case and a securing plate for attachment to the case, the plate comprising a locating pin and a locking pin, the case comprising a first opening for receiving the locating pin and a second opening for receiving the locking pin, the second opening having locking means for retaining the locking pin in the case.
13. A combination of a portable case and a securing cable for attachment to the case, the cable comprising a locking pin at one end and a loop at the other end such that the cable can form an ajustable noose capable of linking the cable with an immobile object, the case comprising an opening for receiving the locking pin and locking means for retaining the locking pin in the case.
14. A combination of a portable case and a securing plate as claimed in claim 12 or a securing cable as claimed in claim 13 wherein the locking pin is wider at its distal end and the locking means is a sliding plate with an aperture having wide and narrow sections.
15. A combination substantially as described herein and as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.