GB2346027A

GB2346027A - Security spy hole camera

Info

Publication number: GB2346027A
Application number: GB9901443A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sheila Jones
Original assignee: TECTONIC INTERNATIONAL Ltd
Current assignee: TECTONIC INTERNATIONAL Ltd
Priority date: 1999-01-23
Filing date: 1999-01-23
Publication date: 2000-07-26
Also published as: GB9901443D0

Abstract

A security device e.g. for hotel rooms comprises a video camera (20) for insertion into a hole (12) formed through the door, and a visual display (22) coupled to the camera positioned against the inner side of the door to cover the inner end of the camera and hole through the door. The camera may be powered by batteries that can be recharged by solar power and the device may include a delay timer that turns the camera on for a preset time. The camera may be operated by a door bell or by a proximity sensor.

Description

Security Device The present invention relates to a security device suited for use in hotel rooms and the like.

It is quite common nowadays for the doors of hotel rooms to be provided with a"fish eye", generally at headheight, to enable the occupant of the room to look through and see any person who may be at the outside of the door. This enables the occupant to check the identity of any person who knocks at the door or rings the door bell (where provided), before opening the door.

Although the"fish eye"comprises a lens with a relatively wide angle of view, it only gives the occupant a somewhat limited image which is of small size. Moreover, it is necessary for the occupant of the room to position his or her eye quite close to an precisely aligned with the fish eye, in order to obtain an image.

We have now devised a security device which overcomes the above-mentioned limitations of the fish eye.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a security device which comprises a video camera for insertion into a hole formed through a door, and a visual display coupled to the camera and arranged for positioning against the inner side of the door to cover the hole and the inner end of the camera.

It will be appreciated that the visual display gives a large, good quality image of the zone outside the door: this image can be viewed from a comfortable distance by the room occupant.

The visual display is preferably in the form of a flat panel display, e. g. an LCD display.

The device is preferably powered by a dry cell battery.

A solar cell may be provided for maintaining the charge of the battery, where this is rechargeable. Instead, the device may be powered by mains electricity.

Preferably the device comprises a unit in which the video camera and visual display are mounted to one-another or integrated together. In this case, the device is installed as a unit, simply by inserting the forward end of the camera into the hole formed through the door and fastening the unit in position.

The device is preferably provided with a switch which is manually-operable by the room occupant, for energising the device. Preferably a delay timer is provided, which deenergises the device after a predetermined period, e. g. 10 seconds, to conserve battery power.

Alternatively or in addition, the device may comprise a sensor arranged to detect the presence of a person outside the door, in order to energise the device. This sensor may comprise a proximity detector: alternatively, the device may be energised in response to operation of a door bell or other sounder.

The security device is suited for use in hotel rooms but is also suited to other uses, e. g. in the exterior door of a dwelling.

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 view of the inner side of a door, in which a security device in accordance with the present invention has been fitted; and FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the security device fitted in the door.

Referring to the drawings, a door 10, e. g. the door of a hotel room, is formed with a bore 12 generally at head height, the bore 12 being enlarged adjacent the inner side of the door. The security device of the present invention comprises a CCTV camera 20 inserted into the bore 12, the head portion 21 of the camera 20 being located in the enlarged portion of the bore. Further, the security device comprises a rectangular LCD display 22 mounted to the inner side of the door, positioned to cover the bore 12 and the camera 20.

In the example shown, the device is powered by a dry cell battery 24 which is positioned in a recess cut out of the inner side of the door, adjacent the enlarged portion of the bore 12. The battery may instead be incorporated in the casing of the LCD display. Whilst the device is shown as comprising the CCTV camera 20 and LCD display 22 as separate components wired together, the device may instead comprise a unit in which these components are integrated together.

The device shown is provided with a switch 26, positioned on the casing of the LCD display. Thus, the occupant of the room can operate the switch 26 to switch on the camera and LCD display, to provide an image on the LCD display of any person standing on the outside of the door. The device is provided with a delay timer, which automatically switches the camera and LCD display off again after a predetermined delay, e. g. of 10 seconds, to conserve the battery. Instead or in addition, the device may be coupled to a door bell or other sounder, to be switched on when this is actuated, or to a proximity or other sensor which detects the presence of a person outside the door.

It will be appreciated that the security device which has been described is of simple construction and easy to install, yet provides a large, good quality image of anyone at the outside of the door. The display has a reasonably wide angle of view and its image can be viewed from a comfortable distance.

Claims

Claims 1) A security device which comprises a video camera for insertion into a hole formed through a door, and a visual display coupled to the camera and arranged for positioning against the inner side of the door to cover the hole and the inner end of the camera.
2) A security device as claimed in claim 1, in which the visual display comprises a flat panel display.
3) A security device as claimed in claim 2, in which the visual display comprises an LCD display.
4) A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the device is powered by a dry cell battery.
5) A security device as claimed in claim 4, in which the battery is rechargeable and a solar cell is provided for maintaining the charge on the battery.
6) A security device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, arranged to be powered by mains electricity.
7) A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising means for energising the device and including a delay time for de-energising the device after a predetermined duration.
8) A security device as claimed in claim 7, in which said means for energising the device is manually operable by a room occupant.
9) A security device as claimed in claim 7, in which said means for energising the device comprises a sensor which detects the presence of a person at the outside of the door.
10) A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, in the form of a unit in which the video camera and visual display are integrated together.
11) A security device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.