Reminder apparatus

• US 5,025,426 A
• Filed: 06/29/1990
• Issued: 06/18/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Y M Shoval Limited
• Original Assignee: Y M Shoval Limited
• Inventors: Blumberg, Shlomo, Olti, Avraham
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US07/545,804
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/1, 368/6, 368/9, 340/539
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/22 Keys with devices for indicating whether the last operation was locking or unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/005 combined with a key
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0064 in which functions not related to time can be displayed digital output to display devices of digital computers G06F3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/32 Time-recording locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8081 Electric

Abstract

Reminder apparatus to be carried by a user with a key constructed to remind the user as to the last operation in which the key was used with respect to a lock. The key includes an operation sensor which stores the time of the last key operation, and a display which, upon manual operation of the key, displays the time of the last key operation.

Claims

1. Reminder apparatus to be carried by a user with a key to remind the user as to the last operation in which the key was used with respect to a lock, comprising:

a real time clock for measuring time;

an operation sensor for sensing the time of the last key operation in which the key was used with respect to the lock;

a memory for storing the time of the last key operation as sensed by the sensor;

a display;

a manually-operable member; and

a control circuit effective, upon manual operation of said latter member, to display in said display the time of the last key operation as stored in said memory.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said operation sensor also senses whether the last key operation was a lock-closing operation or a lock-opening operation;

said memory also storing information indicating whether said last key operation was a lock-closing operation or a lock-opening operation; and

said display also displaying an indication of whether said last key operation was a lock-closing operation or a lock-opening operation.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said display includes a digital numerical indicator for displaying the time at the last key operation and a light indicator for indicating whether the last key operation was a lock-closing or a lock-opening operation.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory also stores the date of said last key operation, said display also displaying the date of said last key operation.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control circuit normally connects said display to said real time clock to display the time measured thereby, but is effective, upon manual operation of said manually-operable member, to connect said memory to said display for displaying the time of said last key operation stored in the memory.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is incorporated in the key to be carried by the user and to be used for locking and unlocking the lock.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said operation sensor includes switching means carried by said key for sensing the last operation in which the key was used with respect to the lock.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said switching means comprises an inclination-responsive switch carried by said key and actuated to a first state when the key is turned to open the lock, and to a second state when the key is turned to close the lock.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said switching means further includes a micro-switch carried by said key and actuated to a first state when the key is inserted into the keyhole of the lock, and to a second state when the key is withdrawn from the keyhole of the lock, said control circuit being effective, when said micro-switch is actuated to said first state and then to said second state, to record in said memory the state of said inclination-responsive switch at the time the key iS withdrawn from the keyhole.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is incorporated in a key holder to be carried by the user with the key to be used for locking and unlocking the lock.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lock is on a door to be locked in the closed position, said apparatus further including a transmitter unit in the vicinity of said door transmitting a signal whenever the door is not in its locked condition;

and a receiver unit to be carried with the key;

said receiver unit including a receiver for receiving said signal from the transmitter, an audible signalling device, and an actuator circuit for actuating said audible signal device when the door is not in its locked condition, and said receiver unit is located more than a predetermined distance from said transmitter unit.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said transmitter unit transmits periodic pulses when the door is not in the locked condition;

said actuator circuit including a retriggerable monostable effective to disable said audible signalling device when the receiver receives said periodic pulses from the transmitter unit, and to enable said audible signalling device when the receiver ceases to receive said periodic pulses from the transmitter unit.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said key includes switching means settable to one state when the key was inserted and removed from the locking device;

said actuator circuit including a flip-flop effective to disable said audible signalling device when said switching means has been set to said first state.

14. Reminder apparatus comprising:

a transmitter unit adapted to be secured to a door having a lock and to transmit a signal;

a receiver unit adapted to be carried by person with a key to be used for locking and unlocking the lock, the receiver unit receiving said signal from the transmitter;

an audible signalling device;

a circuit means for actuating said audible signalling device when said receiver unit is located more than a predetermined distance from said transmitter;

said receiver unit including disabling means for disabling said audible signalling device when the door has been locked.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said audible signalling device and said circuit means are carried by said receiver unit.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said transmitter unit transmits a coded signal identifying a particular receiver unit;

said receiver unit including a decoder decoding said coded signal, and a control circuit for disabling said audible signalling device whenever the receiver unit receives said coded signal, and for actuating said audible signalling device whenever the receiver unit ceases to receive said coded signal.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said audible signalling device and said circuit means are carried by said transmitter unit located adjacent the door to be locked.