Apparatus and method for a balcony access status alert system

• US 10,083,557 B1
• Filed: 01/09/2018
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jerome S. Heisler Jr
• Original Assignee: Jerome S. Heisler Jr
• Inventors: Heisler, Jr., Jerome S.
• Primary Examiner(s): WILSON, BRIAN P
• Application Number:
  US15/865,406
• Time in Patent Office: 259 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/3233 without permanent provision in the floor or roof
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A barrier that is releasably secured across an ingress/egress to a balcony or other elevated platform. The barrier is a fence-style assembly that has a pair of vertical posts that are releasably secured within respective boots secured to the floor. One of the boots includes a switch-activated transmitter that is inactive when the respective post is seated in the boot. If the post is pulled out of the boot, the switch-activated transmitter transmits a wireless signal to a transceiver located on the barrier which then transmits a signal to an on-site controller that transmits respective text messages to authorized personnel informing them of the barrier removal and restoration and will continue to do so until the barrier status changes. The transceiver may be housed within a housing that also contains a visual and/or audible warning at the barrier vicinity to warn those in the vicinity of the barrier removal.

Claims

1. A barrier status alert system for use at a position adjacent an opening frame to a balcony to alert at least one authorized personnel, remote from the balcony, that a barrier has been removed from the position, said system comprising:

the barrier that is configured to be installed or removed from the position and wherein the barrier is uncoupled to the opening frame when installed, said barrier preventing passage of a person through the opening frame;

a detector that transmits a first wireless signal whenever a portion of the barrier has been removed from the position, said detector being positioned on a receptacle secured to a floor at said position, said receptacle receiving a support of said barrier;

a transceiver which receives said first wireless signal, said transceiver transmitting a second wireless signal to an on-site controller; and

said on-site controller transmitting a third wireless signal to at least one wireless device of the at least one authorized personnel indicating that said barrier has been removed.

2. The barrier status alert system of claim 1 wherein said at least one wireless device is a smartphone and wherein said third wireless signal is a text message alerting said at least one authorized personnel that said barrier has been removed.

3. The barrier status alert system of claim 1 wherein said on-site controller transmits a fourth wireless signal, in the absence of receiving said second wireless signal, to said at least one wireless device of the at least one authorized personnel indicating that said barrier has been restored.

4. The barrier status alert system of claim 3 wherein said at least one wireless device is a smartphone and said fourth wireless signal is a text message alerting said at least one authorized personnel that said barrier has been restored.

5. The barrier status alert system of claim 1 wherein said transceiver is positioned on said barrier.

6. The barrier status alert system of claim 1 further comprising an indicator associated with said barrier, said indicator controlled by said transceiver, said indicator alerting personnel in a local vicinity when said barrier has been removed.

7. The barrier status alert system of claim 6 wherein said indicator is a visual indicator.

8. The barrier status alert system of claim 6 wherein said indicator is an audible indicator.

9. The barrier status alert system of claim 1 wherein said position adjacent the opening frame is inside an upper level structure.

10. The barrier status alert system of claim 1 wherein said position adjacent the opening frame is on the balcony.

11. A method for providing a status alert of a barrier installed for use at a position adjacent an opening frame to a balcony in order to alert at least one authorized personnel, remote from the balcony, that the barrier has been removed from the position, said method comprising:

releasably securing the barrier at the position without coupling said barrier to the opening frame;

detecting the removal of the barrier from the position using a detector that detects a barrier support positioned within a receptacle that is secured to a floor at said position, said barrier preventing passage of a person through the opening frame when the barrier is present at the position;

transmitting a first wireless signal from said detector whenever said detector has detected removal of said barrier support from the receptacle;

receiving said first wireless signal by a transceiver wherein said transceiver transmits a second wireless signal to an on-site controller; and

receiving said second wireless signal by said on-site controller wherein said on-site controller transmits a third wireless signal to at least one wireless device of the at least one authorized personnel indicating that said barrier has been removed.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said at least one wireless device is a smartphone and wherein said third wireless signal is a text message alerting the at least one authorized personnel that said barrier has been removed.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of transmitting a fourth wireless signal by said on-site controller, in the absence of receiving said second wireless signal, to said at least one wireless device of the authorized personnel indicating that said barrier has been restored.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said at least one wireless device is a smartphone and wherein said fourth wireless signal is a text message alerting the at least one authorized personnel that said barrier has been restored.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein a frequency of the transmission of said third and fourth wireless signals is configured to be altered.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said transceiver is positioned on said barrier.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of transmitting a second wireless signal further comprises activating an indicator associated with said barrier, said activated indicator alerting personnel in a local vicinity when said barrier has been removed.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of activating an indicator comprises activating a visual indicator.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of activating an indicator comprises activating an audible indicator.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein said position adjacent the opening frame is inside an upper level structure.

21. The method of claim 11 wherein said position adjacent the opening frame is on the balcony.