Lock-confirmation supporting device

Abstract

To provide a lock-confirmation supporting device which helps a user to do the lock confirmation with the senses of a human being easily and surely at the time right after the locking operation, and to do the lock reconfirmation easily after being locked. A lock-confirmation supporting device is constituted of a key holder portion (2) in which a key is held and out of which it is taken by a user for locking and an electronic clock portion (3) comprising a clock circuit, CPU, ROM, RAM and a display unit. The lock-confirmation supporting device generates a lock-confirmed signal upon the user's key-returned action right after the locking oepration. Upon the lock-confirmed signal, the lock-confirming device stores in the RAM of the electronic clock portion (3) the real time as the lock-confirmed time and informs the user of the lock-confirmed time by displaying it on a liquid crystal display unit (18). The lock-confirmed signal is generated by a key-taken out or key-returned sensor means, a locking sound detecting means including locking sound sensor, for example, a microphone (5a) and the like or manual input switch (22) provided in the key holder portion (2). The lock-confirmed time stored in the RAM is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit (18) by operating a reconfirmation switch (7) after locking.

Description

[0001] 1. Technical Field to Which the Invention Belongs[0002] The present invention relates to a lock-confirmation supporting device which helps a user to do the lock confirmation with the senses of a human being at the time right after the locking operation and to do the lock reconfirmation after being locked.[0003] 1. Prior Art[0004] In case of going-out, everybody might have an experience of feeling anxious about whether locking has been done or not. If soon after going-out, not a few users return to do the lock confirmation. Some users feel uneasy and ask their neighbors or relatives to see if lock has been done or not over the telephone. Especially, many old users living alone seem to do such action frequently. They have also similar experiences regarding a safety check confirmation of gas, electricity, fastening doors of the house, etc.[0005] However, people seem mostly to be seized with uneasiness when it is uncertain whether locking has been done or not within about an hour...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Some users feel uneasy and ask their neighbors or relatives to see if lock has been done or not over the telephone.

However, people seem mostly to be seized with uneasiness when it is uncertain whether locking has been done or not within about an hour after going-out, especially within the time they can return at once, namely about 10 minutes after going-out.

However, they often feel uneasy about whether locking has been done or not.

However, they are not always released from uneasiness about whether locking has been done or not.

Therefore, such devices have an essential defect that cannot be applied to keys which are popularly used for locks attached to doors of houses and cars.

However, this lock-confirmation device has a complicated mechanism for mounting the key in the special case so as to keep it in the straight-line motion.

It is inconvenient for a user to do the locking / unlocking action, because the key itself cannot be taken out of the case completely.

Furthermore, it is impossible for the user to confirm the locking by the display lump only, because the display lump is turned on when the key is withdrawn partially for the unlocking.

It is impossible to apply this lock-confirmation device having the key-mounting member with a certain size or a mounting position and the sensing pin to those keys.

Therefore, this prior art is not suitable for a wide use.

However, the display means of the lock-confirmation devices is easily influenced by a shock or outer magnetic field so that the reliability of display is low.

Further, as the head of the key must be kept in the special holder during the locking operation, the grip portion of the key becomes larger, resulting in some inconvenience to the locking / unlocking operation.

It is impossible to apply this lock-confirmation device having the special holder with a certain size to those keys with various kinds of sizes or shapes.

Therefore, this prior art is not suitable for a wide use.

Accordingly, it is inconvenient to do the locking / unlocking operation and it is not suitable for a wide use, the same as the devices disclosed in the publication No. 7-233662.

Although people can understand that the lock confirmation with the senses of a human being is correct nearly 100 percent, they are often seized with uneasiness about whether lock has been done or not.

The uneasiness comes from the difficulty in remembering whether they have locked or not.

People can hardly keep in mind their daily actions which they have done unconsciously.

However, as stated above, since the key cannot be detached or taken out of the lock-confirmation device at the time of lock confirmation, it is inconvenient for the user to do the locking operation.

As a special holder for the key is needed and the devices cannot be easily applied to the keys of various kinds and sizes, this prior art is not suitable for a wide use.

Consequently, the conventional lock-confirming devices do not seem to be put into practice.

In conclusion, because an expensive home security system or home automation system cannot be introduced to common houses, people cannot help relying upon the lock confirmation with the senses of a human being.

Images