WO2009025630A1

WO2009025630A1 - Lock alert mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2009025630A1
Application number: PCT/TR2008/000094
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aytul Cakir
Original assignee: Aytul Cakir
Priority date: 2007-08-22
Filing date: 2008-08-11
Publication date: 2009-02-26
Also published as: TW200923187A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lock alert mechanism, which avoids the case in which a key (5) is left inattentively or obliviously on a door (1) for embodiments in which a key (5) is positioned into a key slot (10) on doors (1) for opening-closing the door (1), characterized by comprising at least one key position detector (6) formed in connection with said key slot (10) and at least one alert means (4) connected to said key position detector (6) in order to become activated when the key (5) is left in said key slot (10) for a certain period of time; or a key identifier means (15) by which the keys (5) are identified against the cases in which the keys (5) are lost.

Description

LOCK ALERT MECHANISM Field of Invention

The present invention relates to doors used in human residences and more particularly to locking mechanisms provided on such doors.

The present invention more particularly relates to a lock alert means, which is mounted together with security-providing alarm devices or is mounted/operates independently for avoiding the circumstances in which the keys are left inattentively or obliviously on the door (i.e. the circumstances in which the user of the key forgets the key on the lock unintentionally).

Prior Art

Alarm devices with various structures are used for providing the humans with a safe living environment. Such alarm devices, however, face the risk of being recognized from the outside and of being deactivated. There are also available different alarm devices mounted onto doors or windows.

Although such alarm devices provide security to a certain extent, they nevertheless have some drawbacks. In spite of the presence of an alarm system on a door, the cases in which the door is left unlocked, or with the key left on the look, render such an alarm device out of function.

In addition, if the key is left on the lock after the door is being locked, it becomes possible to open the door without any difficulty due to such user's fault, leading to substantial and unrecoverable circumstances. Such alarm devices give no alert for such circumstances. The case by which the doors are opened by means of the key without exerting any force brings about security gaps.

On the other hand, the stressful lifestyle of humans is a primary source which cause them to leave the keys on the doors inattentively. The existing alarm devices do not provide a solution to eliminate such security gaps. In the application TR 2007 01996 _

U is disclosed an alarm device for doors and windows, said device comprising at least one socket alarm means positioned on the locking point either in the door and/or window or in the frame of such door and/or window, said socket alarm device being activated against any jolts or shocks resulting from attempts to open such doors or windows. The alarm device disclosed here does not have any external connection, thus making it impossible to exercise any external intervention. On the other hand, if the user of such devices do forget and leave the key on the lock while locking such door and/or window, security gaps are faced.

This security gap is applicable to other alarm devices as well. Therefore, a novel solution is required to avoid such circumstances.

Objective of Invention

Under the light of the prior art, the objective of the present invention is to develop a novel lock alert mechanism, which avoids the circumstances in which the keys are left on doors inattentively or obliviously while/after the doors are locked for eliminating the drawbacks referred to in the prior art.

Another objective of the present invention is to alert the user, if he/she leaves the key on the lock inattentively as he/she locks the door.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide an embodiment which is not recognizable externally once such alarm is mounted to the exterior of such doors and/or windows.

Another objective is to avoid the circumstance in which the users leave the key inattentively on the lock of such doors.

A further objective of the present invention is to alert the users against the cases, in which they leave the key inattentively on the door's lock, together with the alarm mechanism, if such alarm mechanism is provided additionally. _ _

Another objective of the present invention is to alert the users in an audible or visual manner so that such alert means becomes activated when the presence of key is detected on the door's lock in the same position for a certain period of time.

A further objective of the present invention is to produce a lock alert mechanism which can be integrated to the door alarm mechanisms and which provides alert when the key is left inattentively on the lock for avoiding the circumstances in which the keys are left obliviously.

Another objective of the present invention is to form a key identifier means whereby a key to open a door lock is identified, so that the keys to be used are identified and the alarm means is activated if any attempt is made to open said door lock by means a different key, when, for instance the original key is lost or stolen.

In order to achieve said objectives, a novel lock alert mechanism is produced which activates and gives alert when the key is left on the lock obliviously or inattentively, said mechanism being integrated to existing alarm mechanisms on the doors or mounted independently. Thus, the cases are avoided in which the door alarms are deactivated and it is mounted independently to doors not equipped with alarm devices such that the occurrence of security gaps is prevented.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the subject device comprises at least one key position detector that is formed in connection with the key slot, and at least one alert means that is connected to said key position detector for becoming activated when the key is left in the key slot for a certain period of time.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one alert means connection is formed between said alert means and the key position detector for activating the alert means following the activation of the key position detector in such determined period of time. _

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the subject device comprises at least one alarm means formed on the door lock, and a key position detector connected to said alarm means.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one alarm-detector connection is formed between said alarm means and said key position detector.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the subject device comprises at least one alarm connection providing the connection between the alert means and the alarm means for the alert means connected to said alarm means.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one key position detector is formed on the outer section and/or inner section of the key slot facing the exterior and/or interior of the door.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the subject device comprises at least one power supply connected to said alarm means and/or alert means and at least one energy connection providing the connection to the power supply.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the subject device comprises alarm means and/or key position detector positioned on the door lock.

In addition to the case in which keys are left on the door lock inattentively, another preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a subject device comprising at least one key identifier means positioned on the door lock and/or key lock, which operates independently and/or in coordination with the alarm means and key position detector formed on the door lock, and by which the key is identified against the cases when the keys are lost, without requiring the change of such keys and/or key slots. _ _

Description of Figures

Figure 1 is a schematic view of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1a is a schematic view of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

Reference Numbers

1 Door 8 Power supply

2 Door lock 9 Alert means connection

3 Alarm means 10 Key slot

4 Alert means 11 Energy connection

5 Key 12 Outer section

6 Key position detector 13 Inner section

7 Alarm connection 14 Alarm-detector connection

15 Key identifier means

Detailed Description of Invention

The present invention relates to a lock alert mechanism which aims to avoid the cases in which the keys (5) are left obliviously, i.e. inattentively on the door lock (2) of doors (1). There is being used alarm devices both on doors (1), and/or without doors (1). The case in which the key (5) is left inattentively in the key slot (10) of door locks (2) causes a substantial security gap. This negative circumstance must be eliminated.

In a door (1) even equipped with an alarm mechanism, the presence of the key (5) in the door lock (2), which may occur obliviously, causes a substantial security gap. In order to avoid this circumstance, a key position detector (6) is formed which is in connection with the key slot (10) on the door lock (2). When the key position detector (6) detects that the key (5) is present on itself, it activates the alert means (4) if the key (5) is not removed within a defined period of time. An alert is made which indicates the inattentive presence of key on the door lock by means of the alert means (4). If there is present an alarm means (3) on the door (1), it is integrated to -ti¬

the alarm means (3) so that the case is avoided in which the key (5) is left inattentively on the door (1). The alert types of the alarm means (3) and key position detector (6) are diverse. While a certain alert type can be used for the alarm, another type of alerting is used for indicating the presence of key (5) on the door (1).

As illustrated in Figure 1 , when the key (5) is positioned into the key slot (10) on the door lock (2) on the door (1), the alert means (4) is activated through the alert means connection (9) in a certain period of time thanks to the key position detector (6). If there is positioned an alarm means (3) on the door lock (2), the activation of the alert means (4) is ensured by means of the alarm connection (7). Either two different alert means are used, or two types of alerts are adjusted on a single alert means (4). Said alert means (4) is capable of providing diverse audible alerts indicating the case that the key is obliviously left on the lock, including a speech alert in the type of "please remove your key from the lock". A power supply (8) is provided in connection with the alert means (4) through an energy connection (11). Either the mains supply, or other supplies such as batteries are used in the role of said power supply (8).

As illustrated in Figure 2, when the key (5) is forgotten in the key slot (10) on the outer section (12), the alert means (4) is activated by means of the key position detector (6). If the key is forgotten on the inner section (13) of the key slot (10), the alert means (4) is activated. The reason why is that there may be external attempts to open the door (1), while no such security gap is mentionable on the inner section (13). If it is desired to avoid the case as well, in which the key is left inattentively at the inner section (13) of doors (1), the alert means (4) can be configured to activate in the same manner.

If an alarm means (3) is provided as illustrated in Figure 3, the position of key (5) is detected so as to activate the alert means (4), thanks to the key position detector (6) and the alarm-detector connection (14), or by means of the mechanism which makes an integrated structure on the alarm means (3). _ _

Additionally, if the key (5) is stolen or lost, such keys (5) are identified again thanks to the key identifier means (15) formed on the key slot (10), without requiring to change the key slot (10) and/or the key (5) itself. In this manner, the keys identified for individual doors (1) are enabled to open the related door locks (2). The alarm means (3) can be configured to activate against such cases, when there is an attempt to open such door (1) by means of a different key (5) which can not be identified by the key identifier means (15). In this case, the alert means (4) activates and provides an alert.

The present invention is not to be restricted with the representative embodiments given hereinabove. Any alternative embodiments to be produced by persons skilled in the art according to the basic principles, which are under the protection scope as set forth in the Claims, shall be an infringement of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lock alert mechanism, which avoids the case in which a key (5) is left inattentively or obliviously on a door (1) for embodiments in which a key (5) is positioned into a key slot (10) on doors (1) for opening-closing the door (1), characterized, it comprises;

- at least one key position detector (6) formed in connection with said key slot (10),

- at least one alert means (4) connected to said key position detector (6), in order to become activated when the key (5) is left in said key slot (10) for a certain period of time.

2. A lock alert mechanism according to Claim 1 , characterized in that, it comprises; - at least one alert means connection (9) formed between said alert means (4) and the key position detector (6) for activating the alert means (4) following the activation of the key position detector (6) in a defined period of time.

3. A lock alert mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, it comprises;

- at least one alarm means (3) formed on the door lock (2),

- a key position detector (6) connected to said alarm means (3).

4. A lock alert mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, it comprises;

- at least one alarm-detector connection (14) formed between said alarm means (3) and said key position detector (6).

5. A lock alert mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, it comprises;

- an alert means (4) connected to said alarm means (3), -y-

- at least one alarm connection (7) providing connection between the alert means (4) and the alarm means (3).

6. A lock alert mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, it comprises;

- at least one key position detector (6) formed on the outer section (12) and/or inner section (13) of the key slot (10) facing the exterior and/or interior of the door.

7. A lock alert mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, it comprises;

- at least one power supply (8) connected to said alarm means (3) and/or alert means (4),

- at least one energy connection (11) providing connection with said power supply (8).

8. A lock alert mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, it comprises;

- alarm means (3) and/or key position detector (6) positioned on the door lock (2).

9. A lock mechanism, which provides an easy key (5) change if such keys (5) are stolen or are left obliviously on doors (1) in relation to embodiments in which a key (5) is positioned into a key slot (10) on the door lock (2) of doors (1) for opening-closing the door (1), characterized in that, it comprises;

- at least one key identifier means (15) positioned on the door lock (2) and/or key slot (10), which operates independently and/or in coordination with the alarm means (3) and a key position detector (6) formed on the door lock (2), and by which the key (5) is identified against the cases when the keys (5) are lost, without requiring to change such keys (5) and/or key slots (10), in addition to the case in which the keys (5) are left on the door lock (2) inattentively.