GB2363503A

GB2363503A - Grip alarm

Info

Publication number: GB2363503A
Application number: GB0014521A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John William Walker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-06-15
Filing date: 2000-06-15
Publication date: 2001-12-19
Also published as: GB0014521D0

Abstract

A grip alarm, eg a steering wheel grip alarm, has a body 1 that deforms under the pressure of a hand grip and within, spring loaded long travel switch(es) 5 with contacts closed in the normal position connected in series with an additional on/off switch, alarm component and battery pack. The alarm is activated for use with the on/off switch. Applying sufficient hand grip to the body causes its material to deform thereby depressing the long travel switch within and deactivating the alarm. The grip pressure must be maintained to prevent the alarm from sounding.

Description

2363503 GRIP ALARM This invention relates to an alarm mechanism with an

activation that depends on grip.

Electronic alarms have many varied every day uses. They comprise an alarm unit, a power source and a control unit. The control unit will determine the circumstances under which the alarm will activate. Examples include alarms that are activated by time, smoke particle concentration or movement. Other alarms require mechanical activation and examples include'break glass'fire alarms and personal alarms.

Principally, alarm controls default to an off position; that is to say unless a specific criteria is met, the alarm will not activate. Certain situations require an alarm to default to the on position, where a particular physical effort would be required to prevent the alarm from activating.

11 is the object of the present invention to provide an alarm mechanism that will activate unless a specific criteria is met. The criteria that relates to the present invention is the pressure of a hand grip on an object.

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a grip alarm that will activate unless a pressure of hand grip is maintained on it. The relaxation of a specified grip will result in the alarm activating.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example 1 with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:- Figurel. shows in perspective, a grip alarm in the form of a rubber sphere.

Figure2. illustrates the separation of the ball semi-spheres.

Figure 3. illustrates a top perspective of the component layout.

Figure 4. illustrates a side perspective of the component layout.

Referring to the drawing the grip alarm comprises two perforated rubber semi-spheres 1, a screw threaded joint 2, a moulded insert 3, and electronic component parts. The electronic component parts comprise an alarm 4, a spring loaded long travel switch 5, a battery pack 6, and an onloff switch 7.

The components are connected in series thus requiring both the long travel switch 5, and the onloff switch 7 to be in the on position for the alarm to activate. The contacts of the long travel switch 5 are closed in the normal position. Depressing long travel switch 5 opens the contacts thereby switching it off.

The onloff switch 7 is located in such a way as to require a greater force to effect its operation than long travel switch 5. Hence a force exerted by a normal grip will depress long travel switch 5, but not operate onloff switch 7. A stronger grip is required to operate onloff switch 7.

The grip required to operate long travel switch 5 and onloff switch 7 is dependent on the elasticity of rubber semi-spheres 1. A suitable elasticity requires the operator to concentrate on applying sufficient grip force to operate long travel switch 5. A relaxation of the operator's grip allows long travel switch 5 to return to the normal position.

In order to operate the grip alarm, two separate actions are required. The first action requires a relatively strong and sudden grip. The force exerted deforms rubber semi-spheres 1 and depresses both long travel switch 5 and onloff switch 7 thereby activating the alarm ready for use.

The second action requires a constant grip force to be maintained on rubber semi-spheres 1 in order to keep long travel switch 5 depressed. Insufficient grip force allows the long travel switch 5 to return to the normal position and thereby activates the alarm.

The rubber semi-spheres 1 can be separated by unscrewing threaded joint 2 allowing battery 6 to be removed from moulded insert 3. A new battery pack 6 can replaced by reversing the sequence.

z A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example 2 with reference to the accompanying drawing in which.- Figure 5. shows in perspective, a grip alarm in the form of a rubber cylinder.

Figure 6. illustrates a cross sectional view of the cylinder and its component parts.

Referring to the drawing the grip alarm comprises two perforated rubber end caps 1 a and 1 b, a hollow rubber tube 2, a moulded insert 3, and electronic component parts. The electronic component parts comprise an alarm 4, a spring loaded long travel switch 5, a battery pack 6, and an on/off switch 7 and a contact spring 8.

The components are connected in series thus requiring both the long travel switch 5, and the on/off switch 7 to be in the on position for the alarm to activate. The contacts of the long travel switch 5 are closed in the normal position. Depressing long travel switch 5 opens the contacts thereby switching it off.

Contact spring 8 keeps on/off switch 7 separated from battery pack 6. A force applied to end cap 1 b in the direction of battery pack 6 depresses contact spring 8 and operates on/off switch 7 thereby switching the alarm circuit on or off.

A grip force is required on hollow rubber tube 2 to deform the normal shape of the rubber and depress long travel switch 5 thereby switching the alarm circuit off.

The grip required to operate long travel switch 5 is dependent on the elasticity of hollow rubber tube 2. A suitable elasticity requires the operator to concentrate on applying a sufficient grip force to operate long travel switch 5. A relaxation of the operator's grip allows long travel switch 5 to return to the normal position.

In order to operate the grip alarm, two separate actions are required. The first action requires a relatively strong and sudden force to be applied to end cap 1 b in the direction of battery pack 6 to operate on/off switch 7 and activate the alarm ready for use.

The second action requires a constant grip force to be maintained on hollow rubber tube 2 in order to keep long travel switch 5 depressed. Insufficient grip force allows the long travel switch 5 to return to the normal position and thereby activates the alarm.

Rubber end caps 1 can be removed from hollow rubber tube 2 allowing components to be serviced and battery pack 6 to be removed. A new battery pack 6 can be replaced by reversing the sequence.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example 3 with reference to the accompanying drawing in which.- Figure 7. shows in perspective, a grip alarm in the form of a steering wheel.

Figure 8. illustrates cross sectional perspectives of the steering wheel.

Referring to the drawing, a grip alarm is embodied into the structure of a driver's steering wheel and comprises outer material 1, insert material 3 and a batch of spring loaded long travel switches 5. Alarm 4, battery pack 6 and onloff switch 7 are not represented on the drawing, these components may be remoted to the dash board or somewhere more convenient within the vehicle structure.

All components including the batch of long travel switches 5 are connected in series thereby requiring any one of the batch of long travel switches 5, and the onloff switch 7 to be in the on position for the alarm to activate. The contacts of the long travel switch 5 are closed in the normal position. Depressing any one of the batch of long travel switches 5 opens the contacts thereby switching it off.

The batch of long travel switches 5 is fixed into insert material 3 and located at strategic points around the circumference of the steering wheel thereby allowing a driver to maintain a specified grip at various driving positions.

Outer material 1 and insert material 3 provide the elastic properties required to deform under the pressure of the driver's grip, thereby depressing one or more long travel switches 5 and deactivating alarm 4. The elastic properties of outer material 1 and insert material 3 are such that the driver requires to maintain a specified grip on the steering wheel. The specified grip requires the driver to concentrate. A relaxation of the specified grip activates the alarm by allowing the batch of long travel switches 5 to return to the on position. The grip cannot be maintained during moments of drowsiness or poor concentration.

CLAMS 1 A grip alarm comprising a surround (body) that deforms when sufficient hand grip is applied, and within, spring loaded long travel switch(es) with contacts 'closed' in the normal position and contacts 'open' in the depressed position, and an onloff switch, are provided and connect in series with an electrical power source and an alarm component, and arranged in a physical format to allow the deformation of the surround (body) to depress long travel switch(es).

Claims

2 A grip alarm as claimed in Claim 1, wherein an insert is provided to

mount the internal alarm components and provide structure to the shape of the alarm.

3. A grip alarm as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2, wherein the elastic properties of the alarm surround and location of long travel switch(es) require a specified hand grip to deform the normal shape of the alarm surround and depress the spring loaded long travel switch(es).

4. A grip alarm as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 and Claim 3, wherein the elastic properties of the alarm surround return it to its normal shape once the pressure of a hand grip is released thereby allowing the spring loaded long travel switch(es) to return to the off position.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1 A grip alarm that is embedded and integral to its host unit, ball, cylinder or steering wheel, with components mounted internally and comprising a surround (body) that deforms when sufficient hand grip is applied, and within, spring loaded long travel switch(es) with contacts 'closed' in the normal position and contacts'open' in the depressed position, and an onloff switch, are provided and connect in series with an electrical power source and an alarm component, and arranged in a physical format to allow the deformation of the surround (body) to depress the long travel switch(es) and thereby prevent the alarm.from sounding.
2 A grip alarm as claimed in Claim 1, wherein an insert is provided to mount the internal alarm components and provide structure to the shape of the alarm.
3. A grip alarm as claimed in Claim land Claim 2, wherein the elastic properties of the alarm surround and location of long travel switch(es) require a concentrated hand grip to deform the normal shape of the alarm surround and depress the spring loaded long travel switch(es) and thereby prevent the alarm from sounding.
4. A grip alarm as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 and Claim 3, wherein the elastic properties of the alarm surround return it to its normal shape once the pressure of a hand grip is released, allowing the spring loaded long travel switch(es) to return to the on position and thereby cause the alarm to sound.
5. A grip alarm as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 and Claim 3, where the configuration of electrical components, the physical layout of the internal long travel switch(es) and the elastic properties of the alarm embodiment mean that when the alarm is switched on it will sound unless sufficient hand grip is applied to the outer surface of the alarm embodiment and held constant.