A cocktail-ring with self-defense alarm that allows a person in distress to trigger a loud audio alarm from the cocktail-ring. The cocktail-ring comprises a trigger assembly, a ring head base, and a ring shank. The trigger assembly comprises a circuit board with a magnetic proximity sensor. The circuit board also houses all the electrical components used to control the flow of logic and generate the audio alarm signal, such as transducers, power supply, process timers, oscillators, output drivers, and the like. An upper ring jewel and a ring head base form the housing for the trigger assembly. When the upper ring jewel is depressed and rotated about a track, located within the ring head base, into a locked position, the sensor may be activated, causing the control circuitry and transducers to generate a loud audio sound to deter potential attackers or alert third-parties of a potential danger.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable security alarm device, and more particularly, a decorative cocktail-ring having a security alarm integrated into the ring, which enables a user to easily employ an audible security alarm during an emergency situation in order to deter an attack or threatened attack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Physical attacks against individuals for a variety of reasons are not uncommon. Some of the most common reasons for physical attacks are theft, rape, and random acts of assault. Woman are often the target of such physical attacks because they may be perceived to be more vulnerable and/or less prone to successfully defend themselves, particularly against a male attacker that is more physically dominant. Unfortunately, regardless of the preventative precautions that may be taken by women, there is no way to reduce the risk of such physical attacks to zero. It is impractical for a woman to be accompanied by another individual twenty-four hours per day.

Existing portable security alarm devices are inadequate. Many of them may be too large and cumbersome to carry in a women's purse, particularly if the purse is a small clutch or other small bag that is appropriate for certain social events. Even if a woman chooses to carry such a device in her purse, the device, stored in the purse, is not readily available during an unexpected attack. During an unexpected attack, a woman is not likely to have the time to unzip her purse, shuffle through the other items in her purse, and find the security alarm device. In fact, during a tense moment of attack, a woman may actually forget the she has the security alarm device in her purse. Even if the woman is able to retrieve the device, some devices are cumbersome or difficult to activate, especially during a tense moment of attack. The portable security alarm devices that are meant to be worm on a woman's person, rather than in her purse, are often unattractive and inappropriate to wear for certain social and professional events. Such drawbacks discourage women from purchasing and utilizing portable security alarm devices.

Importantly, many women who have not yet experienced an attack do not believe they will be attacked and, therefore, choose not to purchase or use a security alarm device. Cocktail-rings are becoming an increasingly popular fashion accessory, wearable by the style-conscious woman at a wide-range of social events, as an every-day accessory, as well as in a professional setting. Women, who may not purchase a generic security alarm device, may purchase an aesthetically desirable cocktail-ring that happens to have an added security feature.

Thus, there remains a need in the art to provide an aesthetically desirable fashion accessory, particularly a cocktail-ring, having a security alarm integrated within the cocktail-ring that is easily activated and encourages use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the known art and the problems that remain unsolved by providing a portable security alarm device wearable as a woman's decorative cocktail ring.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the invention consists of a security ring assembly, comprising:

a trigger assembly mounted inside a ring head base, the trigger assembly including a magnetic proximity sensor, a spring, and at least one transducer mounted on a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board being sized and shaped to be insertably engaged within a rotating collar body,a rotating collar body defining a circular flanged ring circumscribing the periphery of the printed circuit board, the rotating collar body having a plurality of rotating collar projections and a plurality of magnets, each rotating collar projection extending radially outward from an outer surface of the rotating collar body and each magnet attached to a surface of the rotating collar body, anda jewel cap being removeably attached to the rotating collar body; and

a ring head base mounted on a top of a ring shank, the ring head base includinga ring head base sidewall extending upwardly from a circular edge of a ring base interior bottom surface, the sidewall and bottom surface defining a ring base interior chamber that operates as an acoustic chamber for receiving alarm sound waves generated by the at least one transducer,a track formed along a periphery of the ring base interior chamber and adjacent to an interior surface of the ring head base sidewall, the track having a flat top surface, for allowing the rotating collar projections to glide along the track, anda plurality of audio apertures formed on the ring head base sidewall and through which alarm sound waves generated by the at least one transducer are projected;

wherein the track further comprises a plurality of track grooves, each track groove being sized and shaped to interlock with one of the plurality of rotating collar projections.

In a second aspect, each of the plurality of rotating collar projections is evenly spaced one from the other about the circumference of the rotating collar body.

In another aspect, each of the plurality magnets is evenly spaced one from the other about the circumference of the rotating collar body.

In another aspect, each of the plurality of rotating collar projections is cylindrical shaped.

In another aspect, the spring is centrally mounted on an upper surface of the printed circuit board and the spring vertically extends to a concave surface of the jewel cap, for providing resistance when a user presses down on the jewel cap and rotates the jewel cap to activate the security ring assembly.

In another aspect, the ring head base further comprises at least one decorative jewel located on an exterior surface of the ring head base.

In another aspect, the security ring assembly further comprises a power storage device mounted on the printed circuit board.

In another aspect, the power storage device is preferably an ultracapacitor.

In another aspect, the security ring assembly further comprises a delay timer circuit mounted on the printed circuit board, for preventing false triggering of the trigger assembly by ensuring that the magnetic proximity sensor remains in an “on” position for a predetermined amount of time.

In another aspect, the predetermined amount of time is approximately 0.5 to 1.5 seconds.

In another aspect, the printed circuit board comprises an orientation notch, defining an indentation on an edge of the printed circuit board, for proper placement of the printed circuit board into the ring head base, such that when the jewel cap is depressed and rotated until the rotating collar projections are interlocked with the track grooves, at least one of the plurality of magnets is in sufficient proximity to the magnetic proximity sensor to switch the sensor to the “on” position.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a security ring assembly, comprising:

a trigger assembly mounted inside a ring head base, the trigger assembly includinga magnetic proximity sensor, a spring, and at least one transducer mounted on a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board being sized and shaped to be insertably engaged within a rotating collar body,a rotating collar body defining a circular flanged ring circumscribing the periphery of the printed circuit board, the rotating collar body having a plurality of rotating collar projections and a plurality of magnets, each rotating collar projection extending radially outward from an outer surface of the rotating collar body and each magnet attached to an inner surface of the rotating collar body, anda jewel cap having a projecting wall extending outwardly from a bottom portion of a concave inner surface of the jewel cap, the projecting wall having an L-shaped cross-section and forming a circular groove extending along a circumference of a bottom edge of the jewel cap, for insertion therein of an upper flange member of the rotating collar body into the circular groove; and

a ring head base mounted on a top of a ring shank, the ring head base includinga ring head base sidewall extending upwardly from a circular edge of a ring base interior bottom surface, the sidewall and bottom surface defining a ring base interior chamber that operates as an acoustic chamber for receiving alarm sound waves generated by the at least one transducer,a track formed along a periphery of the ring base interior chamber and adjacent to an interior surface of the ring head base sidewall, the track having a flat top surface, for allowing the rotating collar projections to glide along the track in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, anda plurality of audio apertures formed on the ring head base sidewall and through which alarm sound waves generated by the at least one transducer are projected;

wherein the track further comprises a plurality of track grooves, each track groove being sized and shaped to interlock with one of the plurality of rotating collar projections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A security ring assembly100is presented inFIG. 1. The security ring assembly100includes a ring head110mounted to a ring shank180. The ring head110comprises a trigger assembly120integrated into a ring head base150.

The trigger assembly120comprises a magnetic proximity sensor222, a spring124, a printed circuit board (PCB)126, a transducer128, a jewel cap140, and a rotating collar130, as illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6. The trigger assembly120is mounted inside the ring head base150. The PCB126is sized and shaped to be insertably engaged within a rotating collar body131, as illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9. The exemplary PCB126is a thin circular disc, however, it is understood that the PCB136can be formed in other shapes, such as an oval, rectangle or square. As is well-known in the art, the PCB126provides mechanical support and electrical connection for electric components attached onto the PCB126via conductive pathways etched onto a non-conductive PCB substrate. The PCB comprises an orientation notch127, defining an indentation on an edge of the PCB126, for proper placement of the PCB126into a ring head base150and proper alignment of the PCB126with the rotating collar projections132,134,136and magnets142,144,146located on a rotating collar body131of the rotating collar130. The electrical components attached onto the PCB126include the magnetic proximity sensor222, a power source, transducers128, and control circuitry125. The exemplary magnetic proximity sensor222is a sealed magnetically activated reed switch, being in an off configuration when the security ring assembly100is in an unactivated state. It is understood that the sensor222may be any type of magnetic proximity sensor that is suitable for executing the safety feature of the security ring assembly100in accordance with the present invention. The exemplary power source is a power storage device, specifically an ultracapacitor or equivalent power storage device, having a negligible power loss over an extended period of time, thereby providing the security ring assembly100with a relatively long shelf-life. Two transducers128are mounted on opposite ends of the PCB126. The transducer128provides the speaker functionality of the security ring assembly100, the transducer128being capable of emitting a loud alarm sound upon activation of the security ring assembly100. The control circuitry125executes the logic required to activate the alarm sound in accordance with the present invention, enabling the safety feature of the security ring assembly100to be implemented. The control circuitry125may include an integrated circuit (IC), read-only memory (ROM), a microcontroller, or other well-known electrical components that may be utilized to execute the control logic in accordance with the present invention. Other electrical components may be included on the PCB126to provide additional functionality, such as a radio frequency (RF) transmitter to activate a remote device, a global positioning system (GPS) transmitter for transmitting location information to a remote receiver, or a Bluetooth device for communicating with a cellular telephone.

The spring124is centrally mounted on the upper surface of the PCB126and vertically extends to the concave surface of the jewel cap140. The spring124keeps the jewel cap140and the rotating collar body131under tension when the alarm is in an unactivated state and the spring124allows for resistance when a user presses down on the jewel cap140and rotates the jewel cap140to activate the security ring assembly100.

As illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9, the rotating collar130comprises a rotating collar body131, a plurality of rotating collar projections132,134,136, and a plurality of magnets142,144,146. The rotating collar body131defines a circular flanged ring comprising an upper flange member148and a lower flange member149. The upper flange member148forms a circular ring having a circumference slightly greater than the circumference of the lower flange member149. The upper flange member148defines an internal rim or lip projecting upwardly from the top surface of the lower flange member149. In the exemplary embodiment, the rotating collar130comprises three rotating collar projections132,134,136and three magnets142,144,146, each rotating collar projection132,134,136being evenly spaced one from the other about the circumference of the rotating collar body131and each magnet142,144,146being evenly spaced one from the other about the circumference of the rotating collar body131. The rotating collar projections132,134,136are cylindrical shaped projections extending radially outward from the outer surface of the rotating collar body131. The magnets142,144,146are attached to the inner surface of the rotating collar body131. The rotating collar130is preferably a polymer material, such as polyoxymethylene or nylon.

The jewel cap140is domical in shape. As illustrated inFIG. 6, the jewel cap140is sized and shaped to engage the rotating collar body131. The jewel cap140includes a projecting wall141extending outwardly from a bottom portion of the concave inner surface of the jewel cap140, the projecting wall141having an L-shaped cross-section and forming a circular groove extending along the circumference of the bottom edge of the jewel cap140, for insertion therein of the upper flange member148of the rotating collar body131into the circular groove.

The ring head base150comprises a track152, a ring base interior bottom surface154, a ring base interior chamber155, a ring head base sidewall159, and a plurality of audio apertures158. The ring head base150is affixed to a top of the ring shank180, for housing the trigger assembly120. The exemplary ring head base150is cylindrical-shaped, however, it is understood that the base150can be formed in other shapes, such as rectangular or square-shaped. The ring head base sidewall159extends upwardly from the circular edge of the ring base interior bottom surface154, the sidewall159and bottom surface154defining a ring base interior chamber155that operates as an acoustic chamber for receiving alarm sound waves generated by the transducers128. The ring head base150includes a plurality of audio apertures158formed on the ring head base sidewall159and through which alarm sound waves generated by the transducers128are projected. The ring head base150may further comprise one or more decorative jewels160located on the exterior surface of the ring head base150, for decorative purposes. The track152is a circular track formed along the periphery of the ring base interior chamber155and adjacent to the interior surface of the ring head base sidewall159. The track152includes a flat top surface, for allowing the rotating collar projections132,134,136to glide along the track152in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction. The track152comprises a plurality of track grooves156, each track groove156being sized and shaped to interlock with one of the plurality of rotating collar projections132,134,136when a user presses down on the jewel cap140and rotates the jewel cap140to activate the security ring assembly100.

The ring shank180defines a circular band for mounting the security ring assembly100on the user's finger. The ring shank180extends from a bottom wall of the ring head base150.

A flowchart showing the operation of the security ring assembly100is illustrated inFIG. 10. The process is initiated when the switch (magnetic proximity sensor122) is activated210, i.e. transitioned from the “off” position to the “on” position. The magnetic proximity sensor122is, by default, in the “off” position. When the jewel cap140is depressed and rotated in a counterclockwise direction until the rotating collar projections132,134,136are interlocked with the track grooves156, at least one of the plurality of magnets142,144,146is in close proximity to the magnetic proximity sensor122, thereby activating the sensor122to the “on” position. When the switch is in the “on” position, power is supplied from the power supply212to the power enable circuit214. The power supply212is preferably a power storage device, such as an ultracapacitor or supercapacitor. Unlike batteries, power storage devices such as ultracapacitors have high power density characteristics while providing negligible power loss over a prolonged period of time. The power enable circuit214powers the power management circuit216. The power management circuit216manages the power supply to the process timers218, oscillators220, and the output stage drivers222. The process timers218include the delay timer and the alarm timer. Initially, the power management circuit216supplies low voltage to a delay timer218. The delay timer218prevents false triggering by ensuring that the switch remains in the “on” position for a predetermined amount of time, preferably approximately 0.5 to 1.5 seconds. If the switch is transitioned to the “off” position during the delay timer, the power enable circuit214is disabled, shutting down the activation cycle. On the other hand, if the switch remains in the “on” position for the predetermined amount of time, an alarm timer218is triggered to sound the alarm for a predetermined alarm period. The alarm timer218enables the power management circuit216to supply a higher voltage to the oscillators220, output stage drivers222, and transducers224. The oscillators220generate the alarm audio signals, which are used to drive the output stage drivers222. The amplified signal from the output stage drivers222are transmitted to the transducers224, which produce the alarm sound waves for the predetermined alarm period. After the alarm period expires, the power enable circuit214is disabled, shutting the system down.

In use, when an emergency situation occurs, the user can depress the jewel cap140, rotating the jewel cap140in a counterclockwise direction while the jewel cap140is depressed, until the rotating collar projections132,134,136are interlocked with the track grooves156of the ring head base150. The alarm is then activated and generates a loud alarm sound for the predetermined alarm period. The loud alarm sound can alert nearby third-parties to an emergency or serve to deter a potential attacker.

The security ring assembly100provides several advantages over the current art. A portable security alarm wearable as a women's decorative cocktail ring allows the security alarm to be more readily available for easy activation during an unexpected emergency situation. The portable security alarm wearable as a decorative cocktail ring is more likely to be utilized by style-conscious women in a wide-range of social and professional settings. Moreover, the mechanical and electrical design of the security ring assembly100provides several advantages over the current art. The use of a power storage device rather than a battery allows for a longer shelf-life due to the negligible power drain of the power storage device during the “off” state of the security ring assembly100. The rotate and interlock structure provided by the rotating collar130and track grooves156in addition to the delay timer218safeguard against accidental engagement, which significantly depletes the power supply212.

The above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations, combinations, modifications or equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all the embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.