GB2271445A

GB2271445A - Alarm devices for use by motorists.

Info

Publication number: GB2271445A
Application number: GB9308998A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Warren Allman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-04-30
Filing date: 1993-04-30
Publication date: 1994-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 2013-04-30
Also published as: GB2271445B; GB9308998D0; GB9209405D0

Abstract

An alarm device for use by a motorist to warn him that it is time to return to his car comprises a moulded plastic housing (10) of such size that it can be carried on a keyring or chain (18). The housing (10) includes a control circuit which can be set to register a whole number of hours, a display (14) which shows the selected time period and an alarm mechanism, such as a piezoelectric bleeper, which is operated at a predetermined time interval prior to completion of the set number of hours. A lock de-icer and compass may be incorporated along with a clock and torch. <IMAGE>

Description

ALARM DEVICES FOR USE BY MOTORISTS Field of the Invention This invention relates to alarm devices for use by motorists.

Motorists who park their vehicles in time-allocated parking spaces are sometimes unaware that they have exceeded the period of time for which they have paid and can be faced with fines imposed for exceeding the stipulated parking time.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an alarm device for use by motorists to obviate the above problem.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an alarm device for use by motorists which affords additional facilities over and above its alarm function.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided an alarm device for use by a motorist, which alarm device includes a control circuit which can be set by the motorist in dependence on the period for which he intends to park, and an alarm mechanism operable under the control of said control circuit which is such that, regardless of the time period selected by the motorist, the alarm mechanism will be operated at a predetermined time interval prior to completion of the time period.

The control circuit is preferably such that it can be set to register a desired whole number of hours whereas the alarm mechanism will always operate at a predetermined time prior to completion of the selected whole number of hours. The alarm mechanism preferably operates fifteen minutes (or thereabouts) prior to completion of the selected time period.

Other preferred features of the device are set out in the appended claims.

Brief Description of the Drawing The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a perspective view of an alarm device attached to a vehicle ignition key.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment The alarm device shown in the drawing comprises a moulded plastic housing 10 having parallel upper and lower surfaces 11 and 12. The housing 10 contains an electronic control circuit (not shown) and a small disc-like power source (also not shown) in the form of a small disposable battery access to which is obtained by means of a slidable panel 13 in the upper surface 11 of the housing 10. The lower surface 12 of the housing 10 is flat and may be used to carry printed personal details, a logo or the like.

A digital display unit 14 is provided in the upper surface 11 of the housing 10 and, as shown in the drawing, can be set to display a whole number of hours. Setting of the display is effected by means of a push-button 15 carried on the slidable panel 13. When the button 15 is pressed once, the display unit 14 displays "1.00". When the button 15 is pressed twice, the display unit 14 displays "2.00" and so on.

A piezoelectric bleeper or other suitable audible alarm mechanism is contained within the housing 10. The alarm operates at the appropriate time, as explained below, and the slidable panel 13 is formed with a series of parallel openings 16 to allow emission of the sound of the alarm.

The moulded plastic housing 10 is formed with a through aperture 17 for the passage of a chain 18 on which a vehicle ignition key 19 is mounted. Instead of using a chain, the key 19 and housing 10 may be mounted on a key ring or other form of carrier.

By mounting the key 19 and the housing 10 on a common carrier, the alarm device will always be accessible to a driver when he locks his car on parking, thereby providing a reminder of the need to set the alarm if he is parking the vehicle in a situation where parking for a limited period only is permitted, or if he pays the price for parking the vehicle for a set period of time.

If, for example, the driver parks the vehicle and pays the parking fee appropriate to a parking period of two hours, the driver will press the push-button 15 twice and the display unit 14 will display the indicia "2.00" indicating that a total parking period of two hours has been selected. The electronic control circuit will then start to count down and the period of time indicated by the display unit 14 will steadily be reduced.

When the length of time which has elapsed since the pressing of the push-button 15 is one hour forty five minutes, i.e. when the period remaining is fifteen minutes, the audible alarm will be operated for a limited period, for example, five or ten seconds, to warn the driver that his selected period of parking has almost expired. He will thus have a period of fifteen minutes to finish whatever he is doing and return to his vehicle before expiry of the selected period.

If the selected period of time is one hour, the pushbutton 15 will be pressed once and the alarm will be caused to operate after forty five minutes. The driver will again have fifteen minutes after operation of the alarm within which to return to his vehicle. Similarly, if the selected period is three hours, the alarm will operate after two hours and forty five minutes, and so on.

If desired, the electronic control circuit can be programmed to operate the audible alarm for a second time when only five minutes of the selected period remains. The second operation of the alarm may be for a slightly longer period than the first limited period.

The housing 10 may incorporate not only an audible alarm but also a lamp which is caused, for example, to flash at the same time that the audible alarm is actuated.

The alarm device may also include means for providing other facilities. For example, a recess may be formed in the base of the housing in which a metallic heating element is located. The heating element is of such size that it can fit in the key slot of a vehicle lock and it is pivotally mounted within the recess. Switch means is provided such that, when the heating element is in its normal position within the recess, no power is supplied to the heating element. When, however, the heating element is pivoted so as to project out of the recess, power is supplied from the small battery within the housing 10 and the temperature of the heating element is raised thereby enabling it to be used for melting any ice which may have formed within the vehicle lock.

A further additional facility which may be provided is a light located, for example, at the end of the housing 10 remote from the aperture 17 and arranged to be illuminated by a switch (not shown).

The device may also be arranged to function as a clock except when the push-button 15 has been pressed, i.e. the normal display given by the display unit will be the time.

Pressing of the button 15 will then change the electronic control circuit within the housing 10 from a "time" mode to an "alarm" mode.

Although the underside 12 of the housing 10 may be flat, it may alternatively be formed with a recess in which a compass is located. This will be of assistance to a motorist parking in totally unfamiliar surroundings and will enable him to check whether, for example, he has parked in the North-West corner or the South-East corner of a large parking area.

Claims

Claims:

1. An alarm device for use by a motorist, which alarm device includes a control circuit which can be set by the motorist in dependence on the period for which he intends to park, and an alarm mechanism operable under the control of the control circuit which is such that, regardless of the period selected by the motorist, the alarm mechanism will be operated at a predetermined time interval prior to completion of the time period.

2. An alarm device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the control circuit is such that it can be set to register a desired whole number of hours.

3. An alarm device as claimed in Claim 2, which includes a push-button which is pressed to select the desired whole number of hours.

4. An alarm device as claimed in Claim 3, which includes a digital display which, on pressing the push-button, displays the selected number of hours.

5. An alarm device as claimed in Claim 4, in which the digital display provides a continuous display of the time remaining of said selected time period.

6. An alarm device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control circuit is such that the alarm mechanism is operated fifteen minutes (or thereabouts) prior to expiry of the selected time period.

7. An alarm device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the alarm mechanism is an audible alarm.

8. An alarm device as claimed in Claim 7, in which the audible alarm is a piezoelectric bleeper.

9. An alarm device as claimed in Claim 7, in which the alarm mechanism also includes a visible alarm.

10. An alarm device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the control circuit and alarm mechanism are contained within a plastics housing having an aperture through which a chain, ring or band can be passed so that a vehicle ignition key and the device can be mounted on a common carrier.

11. An alarm device as claimed in Claim 10, in which the control circuit is powered by a disposable battery access to which is obtained by means of a slidable panel forming part of the housing.

12. An alarm device as claimed in Claim 11, in which the slidable panel is apertured to provide vent means.

13. An alarm device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a heating element operable to provide a lock deicing facility.

14. An alarm device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a torch facility.

15. An alarm device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a clock facility.

16. An alarm device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a compass.

17. An alarm device for use by a motorist substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.