GB2310323A

GB2310323A - Secure programmable usage controller for electrical appliances

Info

Publication number: GB2310323A
Application number: GB9603098A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Victor Laverick; Edward Mark Wakelin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-02-14
Filing date: 1996-02-14
Publication date: 1997-08-20
Also published as: GB9603098D0

Description

SEIZURE ÇROt RAMMUJtE USAGE COHIROLLW FOR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCB This invention relates to a secure, programmable usage controller for electrical appliances.

Most households are provided with electrical appliances, in narticular television sets, video games and personal computers, which may be available for unsupervised use by children and young persons.

Parents, those responsible for children and young persons and others may wish to control or limit the specific or cumulative periods during which electrical appliances are used and may seek to impose restrictions on the use of such appliances during certain hours or on certain days.

This invention provides a means by which the specific or cumulative periods during which an electrical appliance may be used can be controlled.

The invention consists of a durable controller as hereafter described which is connected to an ordinary electrical power supply socket by means of a conventional power supply plug. The controller is capable without adaptation of being free-standing or wall mounted.

The controller is provided with a programmable electronic calendar/timer having an integral rechargeable low voltage d.c. electrical power supply and an illuminated display, programming of the calendar/timer being effected by Ineans of buttons or other controls incorporated within the controller.

The controller is also provided with a conventional power supply outlet socket.

The controller is so designed that the conventional power supply input plu of any electrical appliance which has been inserted into the power supply outlet socket of the controller can be securely contained within a stro lockable cover and so that the buttons or other controls for programninP, the timer are likewise securely contained within the strong lockable cover such that the appliances supply innut plug cannot be withdrawn and the calendar/timer programming buttons or other controls cannot be operated unless the strong lockable cover is removed.

The controller is so designed that the illuminated display of the electronic calendar/timer remains visible while the strong lockable cover is in place and so that the buttons or other controls controlling the i ninated display remain accessible while the strong lockable cover is in place.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective the controller with the supply plug of an electrical appliance inserted into the power supply socket and the secure lockable cover in place; Figure 2 shows in plan the controller connected to an electrical supply and an appliance in turn connected to the controller.

Before use the integral electronic calendar/timer is progrartined with present day, date and time, these being shown on the illuminated display (2). The operator may then, by means of the calendar/timer control buttons (3), programme the electronic calendar/timer to supply current to the power supply socket (4) for such period and/or periods and/or during such hours and/or on such days as he or she wishes, the chosen periods/hours/days being shown on the illuminated display (2). Programming of the electronic calendar/timer may be effected with or without the controller (1) being connected to the electrical supply, the calendar/timer being provided with an integral rechargeable low voltage d.c. power supply.

Once set the controller (1) will supply current to the power supply socket (4) only during the programed periods/hours/days and any appliance plugged in to it will only function during such periods/hours/days.

Having inserted the power supply input plug of the appliance the secure lockable cover (5) is locked into place. The controller (1) is plugged into the power supply.

With the appliance's power supply input plug secured in the controller (1) by the secure lockable cover (5) the calendar/timer programming control buttons (3) are inaccessible. The control buttons (6) for the illuminated display (2) remain accessible so that the appliance user may see how the calendar/timer has been programmed and what usage time remains for the appliance.

Claims

1. A secure usage controller for electrical appliances capable without adaptatation of being free-standing or wall mounted incorporating a programmable electronic calendar/timer with integral rechargeable low voltage d.c. power supply, illuminated display and push-button or other programming controls and incorporating a conventional power supply outlet socket and incorporating a strong lockable cover which when in place prevents withdrawal of any conventional appliance power supply input plug inserted into the power supply outlet socket and which when in place also prevents operation of the push-button or other programming controls of the electronic calendar/timer but which when in place permits access to the buttons or other controls operating the illuminated display.

2. A secure usage controller for electrical appliances as claimed in Claim 1 which can also be programed to supply current for a certain period or certain cumulative periods of hours and minutes and having an illuminated display capable of displaying day and/or date and/or present time and/or total supply period and/or supply period remaining.

3. A secure usage controller for electrical appliances as claimed in Claim 1 and/or Claim 2 which can also be programed to supply current only between certain hours in each day and having an illuminated display capable of displaying the certain hours between which the said controller is programmed to supply current.

4. A secure usage controller for electrical appliances as claimed in Claim 1 and/or Claim 2 and/or Claim 3 which can be programmed to supply current only for a certain period or certain cumulative periods of hours and minutes within each day and having an illuminated display capable of displaying the supply period or cumulative supply period and/or the supply period remaining.

5. A secure usage controller for electrical appliances as claimed in Claim 1 and/or Claim 2 and/or Claim 3 and/or Claim 4 which can be prograivued to supply current for a certain period or cl lative periods of hours and minutes on each certain day of the week and having an illuminatcd display capable of displaying for each day of the week the supply period and/or the supply period remaining on the current day.

6. A secure usage controller for electrical appliances as claimed in Claim 1 and/or Claim 2 and/or Claim 3 and/or Claim 4 and/or Claim 5 which can be programmed to supply current only between certain hours in each certain day of the week and having an illuminated display capable of displaying the said certain hours for each day of the week and/or the supply hours remaining on the current day.

7. A secure usage controller for electrical appliances as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6 inclusive having a strong lockable cover secured by an integral or seperate digital or alpha combination lock.

8. A secure usage controller for electrical appliances as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6 inclusive having a strong lockable cover secured by an integral key operated lock.

9. A secure usage controller for electrical appliances as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6 inclusive having a strong lockable cover secured by a seperate padlock or similar seperate lock.

10. A secure usage controller for electrical appliances as claimed in any preceding claim having an audible alarm warning of interference with or irregular removal of the strong lockable cover.