Notification device for containers with openings

A notification device for use with a plurality of barriers corresponding to a plurality of openings in a container having an interior space accessible through said openings. Each barrier having a closed position in which it closes a corresponding opening and an open position to provide access to said interior space. The notification device providing a notification signal when one or more of said barriers has been moved from the closed position toward said open position. The notification device comprises: a power supply; a sensor mounted adjacent each barrier and corresponding opening for sensing when that barrier is not in a closed position; and a signal generator having multiple signal generation modes for generating a unique notification signal in each mode in response to each sensor. Each sensor for a corresponding barrier: (1) electrically connects the signal generator to the power supply when that barrier is not in the closed position, and (2) electrically disconnects the signal generator from the power supply when the barrier is in the closed position. As such, when electrically connected to the power supply, the signal generator generates a unique notification signal for each barrier not in a closed position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to notification devices for 
containers. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Containers having openings protected by doors, such as drawers and closets, 
are used for storing objects including valuable objects. A user gains 
access to the container through an opening by opening the door. After 
placing an object in the container, the user then uses the door to close 
the opening. However, in many instances, a user may neglect to close the 
container door properly. As such, there is a need for a notification 
device to notify the user if the container door is not closed properly. In 
other instances, after the user closes the door properly, the user desires 
notification if another user opens the door to the container. Further, for 
container with multiple openings and doors, the user desires notification 
of which door has been opened. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a notification device that satisfies these 
needs. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a notification 
device for use with a plurality of barriers corresponding to a plurality 
of openings in a container having an interior space accessible through 
said openings. Each barrier having a closed position in which it closes a 
corresponding opening and an open position to provide access to said 
interior space. The notification device providing a notification signal 
when one or more of said barriers has been moved from the closed position 
toward said open position. The notification device comprises: a power 
supply; a sensor mounted adjacent each barrier and corresponding opening 
for sensing when that barrier is not in a closed position; and a signal 
generator having multiple signal generation modes for generating a unique 
notification signal in each mode in response to each sensor. Each sensor 
for a corresponding barrier: (1) electrically connects the signal 
generator to the power supply when that barrier is not in the closed 
position, and (2) electrically disconnects the signal generator from the 
power supply when the barrier is in the closed position. As such, when 
electrically connected to the power supply, the signal generator generates 
a unique notification signal for each barrier not in a closed position. 
The notification device can further comprise a switch means for each 
barrier, each switch means being responsive to the sensor for a 
corresponding barrier for: (1) electrically connecting the signal 
generator to the power supply when that barrier is not in the closed 
position, and (2) electrically disconnecting the signal generator from the 
power supply when the barrier is in the closed position. 
In another embodiment, at least one of the sensors comprises a switch means 
mounted proximate said opening, the switch means having: (i) an open 
position whereby the signal generator is electrically disconnected from 
the power supply, and (ii) a closed position whereby the signal generator 
is electrically connected to the power supply. The sensor further 
comprises, an actuator mounted to the barrier, wherein: (i) when the 
barrier is in the closed position the actuator places the switch means 
into the open position to electrically disconnect the signal generator 
from the power supply, and (ii) when the barrier is not in the closed 
position the actuator places the switch means into the closed position to 
electrically connect the signal generator to the power supply.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
FIGS. 1-2 show example containers such as a chest of drawers or bureau 1 
comprising a shell 1a including sidewalls 2, top 3 and bottom 4, and 
multiple openings 5a-9a for receiving corresponding drawers 5b-9b. Each 
drawer e.g. 6b has a closed position (e.g., FIG. 3) in which it closes a 
corresponding opening e.g. 6a, and an open position (e.g., FIG. 4) to 
provide access to the interior of the shell 1a. The container 1 includes 
an embodiment of a notification device 1c according to the present 
invention to provide a signal when one or more of the drawers 5b-9b has 
been moved from the closed position toward the open position. 
Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the notification device 1c comprises a power supply 
18; sensors 10-14 mounted adjacent corresponding drawers 5b-9b and 
corresponding openings 5a-9a for sensing when each of the respective 
drawers 5b-9b is not in a closed position; and a signal generator 16 
having multiple signal generation modes for generating a unique 
notification signal in each mode in response to each of the sensors 10-14. 
Each of the sensors 10-14 for each of the corresponding drawers 5b-9b: (1) 
electrically connects the signal generator 16 to the power supply 18 when 
that drawer is not in the closed position, and (2) electrically 
disconnects the signal generator 16 from the power supply 18 when the 
drawer is in the closed position, such that, when electrically connected 
to the power supply 18, the signal generator 16 generates a unique 
notification signal for each of the drawers 5b-9b not in a closed 
position. 
Referring to FIGS. 3-4, at least one of the sensors e.g. 11 comprises a 
switch means 11d mounted proximate a corresponding opening 6a, wherein the 
switch means 11d has: (i) an open position (FIG. 3) whereby the signal 
generator 16 is electrically disconnected from the power supply 18, and 
(ii) a closed position (FIG. 4) whereby the signal generator 16 is 
electrically connected to the power supply 18. The switch means 11d 
comprises a fixed metal contact 11b connected to the power supply 18 via 
wire 15, and a pivoting metal contact 11c connected to the signal 
generator 16 via wire 15. 
The sensor 11 further comprises an actuator 11a mounted to the drawer 6b, 
wherein: (i) when the drawer 6b is in the closed position (FIG. 3) the 
actuator 11a urges the contact 11c away from the contact 11b, thereby 
placing the switch means 11d into the open position to electrically 
disconnect the signal generator 16 from the power supply 18, and (ii) when 
the drawer 6b is not in the closed position (FIG. 4) the actuator 11c 
allows the contact 11c to rotate into electrical contact with the contact 
11b, thereby places the switch means 11d into the closed position to 
electrically connect the signal generator 16 to the power supply 18. The 
contact 11c can be spring loaded to rotate into contact with the contact 
11b unless urged away from contact with the contact 11b by the actuator 
11a. Other sensors can have the same structure as the sensor 11. As shown 
in FIGS. 1-2, the sensors form a parallel system, such that if any one of 
the drawers 5b-9b is closed, the signal generator 16 is electrically 
connected to the power supply 18. 
Referring to FIG. 5, the signal generator 16 can include sound generation 
means such as a speaker 17 for generating audio signals when connected to 
the power supply 18. The generator 16 can also include light generation 
means such as bulbs 17a for generating light when connected to the power 
supply 18. The signal generator can also comprise an alarm system. The 
switch means in the sensors 10-14 are shown as switches SW1-SW5, 
respectively. The signal generator generates a unique notification signal 
when connected to the power supply 18 via each of the switches SW1-SW5. As 
such, a user can determine which drawer is not in a closed position. 
For example, the signal generator 16 can include multiple tone generators 
17b with different tones, each tone generator 17b connected to one of the 
corresponding switches SW1-SW5, such that when one of the switches SW1-SW5 
is closed, the corresponding tone generator in the signal generator 16 is 
electrically connected to the power supply 18 to drive the speaker 17 to 
generate a unique tone. The user can identify which drawer is open by the 
unique tone associated with that drawer. If two or more of the switches 
SW1-SW5 are closed, the speaker 17 can generate multiple tones at the same 
time. Similarly, the bulbs 17a can be different colors and each connected 
to a corresponding switch among SW1-SW5 to be turned on when a 
corresponding switch SW1-SW5 is closed to electrically connect the bulb 
17a to the power supply 18. The user can identify the open drawer or 
drawers by the color of one or more of the bulbs 17a being turned on. 
In another example embodiment, the signal generator 16 can include multiple 
sound or speech generators 17b with different sounds or speeches, each 
generator 17b connected to one of the corresponding switches SW1-SW5, such 
that when one of the switches SW1-SW5 is closed, the corresponding 
generator 17b in the signal generator 16 is electrically connected to the 
power supply 18 to drive the speaker 17 to generate a unique tone. The 
user can identify which drawer is open by the unique sound or speech 
associated with that drawer. If two or more of the switches SW1-SW5 are 
closed, the speaker 17 can generate multiple sounds or speeches at the 
same time. For example, each generator 17b can comprise a integrated 
circuit with a specific speech pattern stored therein such as e.g. "Hello 
John, here are your shirts" for one drawer, and "Hi Susan, here are your 
skirts" for another drawer etc. The speech can include tones such as 
music. The integrated circuit includes specialized digital circuits for 
storing said prerecorded sounds or speech patterns as is known in the art. 
FIG. 6 shows another container such a cupboard 19 having a shell 19a with 
sidewalls 19a, top 20 and bottom 21, and including doors 22 hingedly 
attached to the sidewalls 21a. A sensor 23 sensor the open/closed position 
of one or both doors 22 and electrically connects a signal generator 24 to 
a power supply 26 to drive the sound generator 25, when one or both doors 
22 are open. The sensor 23 can be the same as sensor 11 described above. 
Further, the signal generator 34 and the speaker 25 can be as described 
above. A notification device according to the present invention can be 
used with other containers such as wardrobes, filing cabinets, safes, 
storage boxes, etc. 
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail 
with regard to the preferred versions thereof, other versions are 
possible. Therefore, the appended claims should not be limited to the 
descriptions of the preferred versions contained herein.