GB2398823A

GB2398823A - Door security device and portable alarm

Info

Publication number: GB2398823A
Application number: GB0302589A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Hines
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-05
Filing date: 2003-02-05
Publication date: 2004-09-01
Also published as: GB0302589D0

Abstract

A security device for a door comprises an alarm unit (26) fitted to the top of a telescopic prop (2,4,6), arranged for the top of the alarm unit to engage the underside of a door handle and for the bottom of the telescopic prop, when expanded in length, to engage the floor. The alarm unit includes a pressure or movement transducer for activating the alarm in the event of an attempt to open the door: the alarm unit (26) is removable from the telescopic prop, for use on its own as a panic or emergency alarm.

Description

Portable Security Device The present invention relates to a portable

device for preventing a door from providing security against a door being opened by an unauthorized person, and including a removable unit for use as a personal panic alarm.

My UK patent application No. 2,351,759 discloses a security device which comprises a telescopic prop the top of which engages under a lever-handle of a door, the prop being expanded in use, to extend generally vertically below the door handle to the floor, to prevent rotation of the door handle: an alarm is housed in a compartment at the top of the telescopic prop and responds to an associated pressure or movement transducer to give an audible warning when an attempt is made to open the door from the outside.

I have now devised an improved security device, which includes an alarm unit which is removable and can then be used, on its own, as a personal panic or emergency alarm.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a security device which comprises an alarm unit removably fitted to the top of a telescopic prop, arranged for the top of the alarm unit to engage the underside of a door handle and for the bottom end of the telescopic prop, when expanded in length, to engage the floor, the alarm unit including a pressure or movement transducer for activating the alarm in the event of an attempt to open the door, and the alarm unit being removable from the telescopic prop for use on its own as a panic or emergency alarm.

Preferably the telescopic prop comprises a plurality of coaxial, nested sections and means for fixing the position of the nested sections with respect to one another when the telescopic prop is in an expanded state.

Preferably the or each adjacent pair of sections are provided with fixing means in the form of an eccentric cam arrangement, whereby the two sections of the pair are locked together, against relative longitudinal movement, upon rotation one relative to the other.

The top of the alarm unit is preferably provided with a cap, the top of which is formed with a channel, recess or other profile to receive the underside of the door handle.

Preferably the cap is removable: preferably a number of replacement caps are provided, preferably with differently profiled tops to suite different shapes of door handle.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a security device in accordance with the present invention, expanded to extend substantially vertically below a lever-handle of a doors Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the handle- engaging portion of the security device; Figure 3 is a vertical section through the security device; and Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section through a joint between two sections of the security device.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a security device is shown comprising an alarm unit 26 fitted to the top of a telescopic prop formed by three coaxial, tubular sections 2,4 and 6 which may be nested for storage or transportation or may be expanded (as shown) to secure a door against unauthorized entry. The alarm unit 26 may be removed and used as a personal panic alarm. As shown, the bottom of the alarm unit 26 is formed with a projection 26a which engages into the open top of the tubular section 2, when it is desired to assemble the device to secure a door.

The alarm unit 26 is provided, at its upper end, with an elastomeric cap 8 the top of which is formed with a channel 10 for receiving the horizontally extending handle portion 12 of a lever- handle of a door, to hold the security device in a substantially upright position. The cap 8 may be removable and replaced by alternative caps. The lowermost section 6 is provided with an elastomeric foot 14 for seating on the floor.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, respective pins 16 and 18 are secured within and extend eccentrically from members 19,21 fitted into the uppermost ends of each of the two lower sections 4 and 6 of the telescopic prop: respective discs 20 and 22 are rotatably supported, in eccentric manner, on the pins 16,18.

The discs 20 and 22 are formed from a resilient material and each has a diameter normally enabling free longitudinal movement of section 4 relative to sections 2 and 6, respectively, but providing interference with the respective section 2 or 4 upon turning either adjacent pair of sections relative to each other, owing to their eccentric mounting.

In order fix the sections 2,4 and 6 in position when the telescopic prop is expanded to rest at one end on the ground and engage under the door handle at its other end, the three sections may be twisted with respect to one another. As frictional interference prevents the discs 20 and 22 from rotating within the tubular sections into which they project, then due to the eccentricity of the discs 20 and 22, the twisting of adjacent tubular sections with respect to one another causes the respective exterior surfaces of the tubular sections 4 and 6 to be wedged against the adjacent interior surfaces of the tubular sections 2 and 4.

An alarm 24, enclosed within the alarm unit 26, comprises at least one pressure or movement sensing transducer 28 which responds to pressure exerted upon the cap 8 or to movement of the device by emitting an audible signal through a speaker 30. In the case of a movement sensor, then even when the device is used on a round door handle, the action of turning the handle from the outside will cause the device to move and so set off the alarm, thus providing a deterrent against unauthorized entry and also a warning to the occupant of the room.

The alarm unit 26 may however be removed from the top of the telescopic prop and used, on its own, as a personal panic alarm: the user may then press a key of the unit to activate the alarm, in the event of a panic or emergency situation.

The security device thus described provides a convenient, portable device for providing security against a door being opened, by an unauthorized person. The sections of the telescopic prop can be nested when the device is not required for use, and the device will then be small enough to carry in a handbag. Moreover, the alarm unit can be removed from the telescopic prop, and used conveniently as a stand- alone panic alarm.

Claims

1) A security device which comprises an alarm unit removably fitted to the top of a telescopic prop, arranged for the top of the alarm unit to engage the underside of a door handle and for the bottom end of the telescopic prop, when expanded in length, to engage the floor, the alarm unit including a pressure or movement transducer for activating the alarm in the event of an attempt to open the door, and the alarm unit being removable from the telescopic prop for use on its own as a panic or emergency alarm.

2) A security device as claimed in claim 1, in which said telescopic prop comprises a plurality of coaxial, nested sections and means for fixing the position of said sections with respect to one another when the telescopic prop is in an expanded state.

3) A security device as claimed in claim 2, in which the or each adjacent pair of sections are provided with fixing means in the form of a concentric cam arrangement, whereby the two sections of the pair are locked together, against relative longitudinal movement, upon rotation one relative to the other.

4) A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said alarm unit is provided with a cap, the top of which is formed with a channel, recess or other profile to receive the underside of the door handle.

5) A security device as claimed in claim 4, in which said cap is removable.

6) A security device as claimed in claim 5, provided with a number of replacement caps for said alarm unit, the tops of said replacement caps being formed with differing profiles to suit different shapes of door handles.

7) A security device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.