HK1085627B - Security bag - Google Patents

Abstract

A security bag includes a body having an interior for receiving articles, a closure attached to or formed integrally with the body and openable to gain access to the body interior and a pair of catches closing the closure to the body. A security device co-operates with each catch to enable the closure to be opened without sounding an alarm but only when both catches are operated in unison or within a pre-set time of one another. The security device also alerts the user when the bag is not properly closed.

Description

Safety bag

Technical Field

The present invention relates to bags or cases and more particularly, although not exclusively, to handbags, backpacks or briefcases having a pair of closed buckles, each incorporating a built-in security system.

Background

Unfortunately, carrying a handbag or briefcase in a public place risks attracting the attention of pickers and robbers. Particularly in crowded public places, on public transportation and in restaurants. The package may be robbed or scratched out of the knowledge of the holder of the package, although the package is still in his or her possession.

Many bags, for example, have a pair of closed bag fasteners. A package drawer may open, or at least attempt to open, one of the bag fasteners to access the contents without opening, or attempting to open, the other bag fastener. Similarly, a bag rescuer may open or attempt to open one of two bag buckles for a bag having two bag buckles after carrying the bag to escape the crime scene.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bag or case having a pair of closed bag fasteners wired to an internal alarm system. The alarm system alerts if one buckle is opened and the other is not within a preset time interval.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bag or case having a pair of closed bag fasteners cooperating with one another. In order to open the bag or box, both bag clasps must be operated simultaneously.

It is a further object of the present invention to alert the user when the bag is not properly closed.

Hereinafter, the term "bag" is intended to include all types of handbags, cases, briefcases, backpacks, suitcases, file cases, boxes, money boxes, and other containers that carry items inside, such as personal, confidential, or valuable items.

Hereinafter, the term "bag clasp" is intended to include clips, snaps, magnetic clasps, locks, and any suitable means for closing a bag.

The package disclosed herein includes:

a bag body with an inner cavity for accommodating articles,

a flap attached to or integrally formed with the body and openable to access the contents of the bag,

a pair of bag fasteners for closing the bag cover and the bag body, an

A safety device cooperating with each pack buckle such that the pack cover is opened without giving an alarm only when both pack buckles are operated simultaneously or the time interval therebetween is within a preset time interval; if one buckle is opened and the other is not within a preset time interval, the security device issues an alarm.

In one form of the invention, the security device may include a control circuit electrically connected to each pack buckle and an alarm for generating an alarm.

In this embodiment, each pack clasp may include a pack mounting part electrically connected to the control circuit, and a pack mounting part electrically connected to the control circuit, wherein each pack mounting part is electrically connected to a respective pack mounting part when the pack is closed.

Each packet body assembly member may be magnetically attracted to its associated packet lid assembly member.

Preferably, the preset time interval is about three, four seconds or less.

Optionally, each pack assembly part may be mechanically locked to its associated pack cover assembly part.

In this form of the invention, each pack clasp may comprise a pack mounting part and a pack cover mounting part, wherein one of these parts comprises first and second moveable members which interact with the other part.

Preferably, the first movable member of one buckle is connected to the second movable member of another buckle and the second movable member of said one buckle is connected to the first movable member of said another buckle.

The connection may be via a Bowden cable.

The movable member is preferably spring biased to connect with the other component.

Drawings

The preferred forms of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag with the lid closed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 1 with the lid open and showing the internal security alarm system components;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the security alarm system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bag clasp for use in another security bag;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation view of two of the buttons of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6A-6C are schematic plan views of the pair of buckles of FIG. 5 in various use states;

FIGS. 7A-7C are cross-sectional elevation views of additional buckle structures; and is

Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram of a portion of the control circuit in the block diagram of fig. 3.

Detailed Description

The package 10 is schematically depicted in fig. 1 to 3 of the drawings. The package 10 may be a file package or other package as defined herein. It may be made of, for example, leather, textile or synthetic material.

The bag 10 includes a body 11 having a cover 12 in the form of a flexible flap, but may alternatively be a rigid cover, depending on the nature of the bag. Figure 1 shows a pair of clasp parts 13 and 14 attached to a lid 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the corresponding clasp parts 15 and 16 are attached to the bag body 11. The parts 15 and 16 may be magnetically or mechanically attracted to the respective parts 13 and 14. Regardless of the actual form of the clasp, the aim is to allow electrical interaction between them, and therefore they should be metallic or made of other conductive materials, or at least have conductive contact portions.

Leads 19 extend from each of the components 13, 14, 15 and 16 to control circuitry 17A located within the assembly 17 along with the battery 17B. The wires are hidden within the liner of the bag.

An example of a control circuit is shown in fig. 8 and will not be described in detail. The control circuit 17A of fig. 8 receives power from the battery 17B. The battery assembly 17 has a power indicator light or LED 18 visible from the exterior of the bag.

In an alternative configuration (not shown), the LEDs may be visible only within the bag. The LED may provide an indication of the battery charge status and the on/off status of the circuit.

The alarm 20 is electrically connected to the control circuit 17A by a conductor. Alarm 20 and its conductors are typically concealed within the lining of bag 10. The alarm may emit different sounds. For example, one tone or sound sequence may indicate a stroke, and another may indicate that the flap is not properly closed. Yet another tone or sound sequence may indicate that the battery is low. Still another may indicate that a temporary off switch S is activated and other sound sequences may indicate other states.

The control circuit 17A monitors the open circuit. That is, typically, associated with each buckle is a closed circuit.

If one of the clasp parts 13 and 14 is lifted off the bag 11 and its associated bag mounting part, the control circuit begins a countdown, typically three or four seconds. If another clasp is not opened before the countdown is over, alarm 20 will sound. Similarly, if one of the wire loops 19 is cut by a scissors or knife, the alarm 20 will sound unless the other wire loop is severed or its associated clasp is opened within a preset time interval. When both circuits (the packet clasp) are disconnected, the circuit will start counting down for another predetermined time, such as 60 seconds. When the predetermined time is exceeded and the control circuit is not reset, the alarm unit will be triggered to sound a different tone or sound sequence of alarms to alert the user that the flap is not properly closed.

The circuit does not stop monitoring the open circuit until both circuits are closed by closing each binder.

In addition, the control circuit may include a "temporary off" switch S. Physically, the switch is hidden behind the wrapping material, but can be actuated by finger pressure through the material. When the switch S is pressed it will turn off the alarm system for a predetermined period of time, such as 60 seconds. When this time has elapsed, the circuit will reset. This helps the user to open the pack within a predetermined time without triggering the alarm unit. The "temporarily off" switch may be triggered by direct pressing or by "opening and closing" either of the clasps one or more times.

As mentioned above, the alarm unit is not triggered when one of the following conditions occurs:

1. the time interval between opening the two clasps is less than a predetermined time (e.g., three or four seconds), or

"temporarily closed" switch pressed/activated, or

3. Any one of the clasps is "opened and closed" one or more times within a predetermined time.

The alarm unit will be triggered to alarm when one of the following conditions occurs:

1. the time interval between opening the two clasps is greater than a predetermined time and the "temporarily closed" switch is not activated.

2. One or both of the clasps are not closed for a predetermined period of time, such as 60 seconds, regardless of the "temporarily closed" condition.

The situation where the control circuit is reset and the alarm unit does not sound an alarm is:

1. both bags are closed, or

2. When the "temporarily off" switch is activated and the predetermined time has been exceeded.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in fig. 4, 5, 6A, 6B and 6C. In this embodiment, there is no audible alarm, but there is still a security system that operates in conjunction with each purse clasp. A clasp shown in figure 4 includes a first clasp part 15 which may be attached to one of the cover 12 or body 11. The member 15 includes an upwardly projecting portion 29 having a mushroom-shaped head. The pair of plates 21 and 22 are biased by springs 25 and 26 toward the boss 29. When either or both panels 21 and 22 are pressed against the boss 29, the clasp cannot be opened because the mushroom-shaped heads are beyond the edges of the respective panels.

A bowden cable 23 is connected to the plate 21 and another bowden cable 24 is connected to the plate 22. Referring to fig. 6A-6C, the bowden cables 23 and 24 are reversely coupled to the corresponding plate members of the other buckle. The plates 21 and 28 are connected to a block-activation button (not shown) on the bag. Each of these buttons must be moved away from the other to open the pack. If one such button is removed from the other, the package cannot be opened unless the other button is simultaneously moved in the opposite direction. Furthermore, if plate 21 is moved to the left, it and plate 27 will move away from the respective boss 29. However, the other plates 22 and 28 are still in contact with the respective bosses 29 unless they are moved by operation of the other button (connected to plate 28). The person picking the bag cannot know this point and will therefore not be able to open one of the bag buckles separately.

Fig. 7A-7C are alternatives to fig. 6A-6C. In this alternative, the movable plates 21 and 22 are replaced by fingers 27 and 28, each having a barb 30 that catches under the edge 31 of the box or C-shaped latching member 16. The springs 25 and 26 are schematically shown and anchored to the latch member 16. In all other respects, the functionality of the embodiment of fig. 7A-7C is the same as that of the embodiment shown in fig. 6A-6C.

It is to be understood that modifications and variations as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, in addition to the bowden cable, any mechanical connection or even an electrical connection through a wire and a solenoid may be used in the second embodiment.

Additionally, in an electromechanical embodiment (fig. 1-4), instead of having wires connected to each of the buckle components, wiring can be reduced by extending a pair of conductors to only one of the buckle components, such as the bag assembly component. The bag assembly may have a switch that is actuated by interacting with the bag cover assembly.

Claims (11)

1. A bag, comprising:

a bag body with an inner cavity for accommodating articles,

a flap attached to or integrally formed with the body and openable to access the contents of the bag,

a pair of bag fasteners for closing the bag cover and the bag body, an

A safety device cooperating with each pack buckle such that the pack cover is opened without giving an alarm only when both pack buckles are operated simultaneously or the time interval therebetween is within a preset time interval; if one buckle is opened and the other is not within a preset time interval, the security device issues an alarm.

2. The bag of claim 1, wherein the security device includes a control circuit electrically connected to each buckle, and an alarm for generating an alarm.

3. The bag of claim 2, wherein each bag fastener comprises a bag body mounting member electrically connected to the control circuit and a bag cover mounting member electrically connected to the control circuit, wherein each bag body mounting member is electrically connected to its respective bag cover mounting member when the bag cover is closed.

4. A pack according to claim 3, wherein each pack-body fitting is magnetically attracted to its associated pack-lid fitting.

5. A kit according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined time interval is three to four seconds.

6. A pack according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined time interval is less than three seconds.

7. A pack according to claim 3, wherein each pack body fitting is mechanically locked to its associated pack cover fitting.

8. The bag of claim 7, wherein each bag clasp comprises a bag body mounting component and a bag cover mounting component, wherein one of the components comprises first and second movable members that interact with the other component.

9. The bag of claim 8, wherein the first movable member of one buckle is connected to the second movable member of another buckle, and the second movable member of said one buckle is connected to the first movable member of said another buckle.

10. The bag of claim 9, wherein the connection is through a bowden cable.

11. A pack according to claim 9, wherein the movable member is spring biased into contact with the other component.