This invention relates to an improved time capsule for domestic use.

The general meaning of a 'time capsule' is a container in which objects and documents are sealed in the hope that they will display the current state of civilisation to whoever might eventually find it in later years.

Such time capsules are usually associated with constructions such as buildings, and are normally buried in the ground or in foundations, are sealed into walls, and so on. By embedding the time capsule into the wall or foundations of a building the security of the time capsule is guaranteed at least until the building is renovated or demolished. It is intended that such conventional time capsules be left undisturbed for a long period of time but apart from a seal which is evidence that the contents have not been disturbed, no other security or timing devices are used.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved, accessible time capsule.

The invention provides a time capsule for storing articles including a main body having a cavity therein, a base for attachment to said body in a sealing relationship, a means for extracting air from said cavity to provide a low pressure environment in said cavity, a locking means for maintaining the main body and base in sealing relationship and a data entry means, said locking means being disengageable according to information entered into said data entry means.

Preferably, said time capsule also includes timer means connected to said data entry means such that a predetermined time entered into said data entry means sets said timer, said timer disengaging said locking means upon reaching said predetermined time.

The data entry means may be connected to said locking means such that a security code entered into said data entry means disengages said locking means.

Features, objects and advantages will become more apparent from the description of the preferred embodiment in which :-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of a time capsule in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view along line 2-2 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 with the stabilising crescent removed;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the body and base of the embodiment of fig. 1 in a disengaged state;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the stabilising crescent in the stored position;

Fig. 7 is the end view of Fig. 6 showing the stabilising crescent in the "in use" position, and

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the interconnections and interactions between the electronic and electrical units of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the time capsule 10 has, preferably, a distinctive paraboloid shape, and includes a main body portion 12 and a base 14.

Preferably, the body portion 12 is formed from cast aluminium, with a high-quality outer surface. The surface may preferably be formed by sand blasting. Other suitable materials may be used, such as pewter or precious metals, or the outer finish may be in the form of a plating or coating.

As shown in Fig. 4 main body portion 12 includes a cavity 18 adapted to contain material which it is desired to store. Examples of such material may be family mementos, newspaper clippings, tape recordings and so on. A preferred volume for cavity 18 is 5-9 litres.

The body 12 has a circumferential rebate 13 extending substantially around the lower portion thereof. The rebate enables the lower portion of body 12 to be received within a recess 16 in the base 14. To provide a mechanical keying together of the body 12 and base 14, a bayonet latch 20 is provided in the lower portion of cavity 18 of the body. The latch 20 is designed to co-operate with a flange 21 in the base 14 when the rebated section of the body is received within the recess 16 of the base. The latch and flange are brought into engagement by rotating the base relative to the body about the horizontal axis of the body until the latch and flange mechanically engage.

Base 14 is generally circular and has three legs 28 which are preferably integrally formed with the base. Alternatively they can be separate and capable of being attached and removed by screws, bolts or the like. Base 14 also includes a plurality of apertures 30 for

the location of screws/bolts. The apertures align with the recesses 31 in the lower portion of the body 12 when the flange of the base and the bayonet latch of the body are engaged. The recesses 31 in the body are for the reception of screws or bolts for securement of the base 14 to the body 12. In the recess 16 of the base is an O-ring seal 24 which is held in position by a sloping ledge 25 shown in Fig. 1 formed in the lower portion of the body 12.

A protrusion 32, preferably centrally located and preferably extending from base 14 a shorter distance than legs 28, is located on base 14. The protrusion 32 has a central bore 34, extending through base 14, the bore 34 having a increased diameter portion 36 and a screw threaded portion 38. A one-way valve 40 is adapted to seat in portion 36.

The stem of a plug 42 is adapted to enter and be releasably retained in bore 38. A sealing portion preferably made from rubber, is provided on the stem of plug 42 to seal between the head of plug 42 and protrusion 32.

The base 14 of the invention is provided with the electronic circuitry for time keeping and operation of the time capsule. Shown schematically in Fig. 8 the electronic circuitry is operated by a central processing unit (CPU) 58 having a memory and a timer means such as a digital time keeper 57. A CPU suitable for the invention is an Hitachi 8/330 CPU with 32/64 Kb memory. It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other CPU's may be capable of suitably functioning in accordance with the invention and the choice of CPU does not affect the scope of protection.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention the relevant information to operate the electronic circuitry is input to the CPU 58 from a data entry means such as a touch pad 54 having selection keys 56a, 56b, 56c, and 56d. Key 56a, marked "A" is to activate the electronic circuitry of the invention. Key 56b marked "S" is used to select the option as it is scrolled through the liquid crystal display 52. Keys 56c and 56d are provided to respectively scroll the menu options in the electronic memory up and down.

An alternative input may be through an infra red signal to an infra diode 60 positioned within or behind the liquid crystal display.

The lOOμA power requirements of the CPU other electric components and particularly the time keeper 57 are preferably provided by a solar voltaic panel 61 and power storage capacity. If the time capsule is to be stored in an environment where the

availability of solar energy is limited such as in a darkened cupboard or the like, a back up power supply such as a lithium battery 63 is provided.

The battery (not shown) is received within a compartment 62 in the base 14. A battery compartment lid 64 is provided to secure the battery within the compartment. The life expectancy of a standard 6 volt lithium in an environment where the solar panel is ineffective, battery is approximately 10 years when used in the invention. Therefore if the time capsule is to be used for a greater period of time in a darkened environment provision to replace the batteries will need to be made.

When the contents of the time capsule have been placed within the cavity of body 12 and the base engaged and secured, the CPU is activated and the locking means operated to restrict access to the contents. The locking means is preferably a motor driven spindle or mechanically driven lock located in the base and operated by the CPU. To engage the lock bolt 66, the motor driven spindle 67 is driven by motor 65. The spindle 67 is received within lock cam plate 68, so that the cam plate 68 can be moved towards or away from the motor 65 by rotating the spindle 67. The cam plate is fixed to a base plate 69 which is received within a recess in the base plate and slidable within that recess. Fixed to the base plate is a cam 71 which is located within an angled slot 76 in lock bolt 66. As the cam moves towards and away from the motor by rotation of the spindle, the lock bolt is advanced or withdrawn through a passage in the base 14 to engage a fixture 72 formed in that part of the body which is received within the recess 16 of base 12.

Stop block and screw 73 is provided on base 14 to also engage fixture 72 and prevent rotation of body relative to the base when the body and base are engaged.

A cover plate 76 may be provided on the base to protect the electronic circuity (not shown) in Figs. 3,4,5 from contacting the hard material stored in the cavity.

To use the above described embodiment of the invention, the stabilising crescent on the base of the capsule is first removed by unscrewing the retaining screws with a coin and refit to the base in the programming position. Beneath is an alien key within key recess 70 to unscrew the six fastening screws.

When the screws 74 are removed, it is necessary to ensure that the capsule's locking mechanism is disengaged and this can be done by checking the liquid crystal display 52. Whilst securely holding the capsule's body the base is twisted through 60° in a clockwise

direction to disengage the latch in the body portion from the flange in the base. At this time any message can be engraved on the base of the capsule in an area provided beneath where the stabilising crescent 75 is stored. The stabilising crescent 75 is shown in its stored position in Fig. 6. The cavity within the time capsule body is then filled with the desired contents. With the O-ring 24 in the correct position, the base 14 is replaced onto the body and rotated 60° in an anti-clockwise direction to engage the latches of the body with the flanges of the base. The six retaining screws 74 are then inserted and tightened with the alien key 70.

Plug 42 is then removed from protrusion 32 using a suitable instrument such as a screwdriver or coin.

A source of low pressure such as the hose of a domestic vacuum cleaner is positioned over the protrusion 32 to form a low pressure area on the outside of the one¬ way valve seated in portion 36. Due to the presence of the one-way valve 40, the air within the time capsule passes through the one-way valve into the low pressure region until the pressures on either side of the one-way valve are equalised. This will generally take approximately 20 seconds and it is recommended that the time capsule be oscillated or shaken slightly to remove any air which is trapped within the contents.

Plug 42 should then be replaced in bore 38 of protrusion 32. The alien key (not shown) is then replaced in the key recess 70 in the base of the time capsule.

During the activation and programming stage the stabilising crescent 75 may be set in the position shown in Fig. 7.

To activate the digital time keeper or chronometer a personal entry code is first entered into the memory of the CPU by a touch pad 54. The starting date is then entered and finally the date upon which the capsule can be opened. The time keeper or chronometer will now count down to the required opening date. At any time the chronometer may be interrogated to ascertain the start date and time remaining. However, it should be noted that over use of the display will shorten the battery life if the battery is being relied upon. The time capsule is now programmed and ready to preserve its contents for years to come.

Depending on whether the time capsule is to be stored horizontally or vertically, the stabilising crescent may be left in the programming position or returned to its storage

position.

In addition to the hard copy material stored in the cavity of the time capsule, the invention also has provision for the storage of up to 8,000 - 30,000 words in the memory of the CPU. This text can be input via an infra red signal to the infra red diode or transferred directly to the CPU while the base and body are in the unassembled position.

To this end, a data transfer plug is provided on the interior of the base for loading and downloading any information text to and from the memory.

When the text is loaded into the memory, it is stored in non-volatile memory to prevent loss due to power failure.

It can be seen that the present invention provides a time capsule which preserves objects in a low pressure environment and into which access cannot be gained without first inputting the personal entry code or the preset opening date.