Apparatus and method for a balcony access status alert system

• US 10,665,048 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2020
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• 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., Heisler, Joshua B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Brian
• Application Number:
  US16/741,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20200168021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 134 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 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• 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: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• 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

An automatic alert system pertaining to a gate that is releasably secured across an ingress/egress to a balcony or other elevated platform. The gate 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 activated when its respective post is removed from the boot. Another switch-activated transmitter is activated whenever the gate is opened. If the post is pulled out of the boot, or the gate is opened, the switch-activated transmitters transmit a wireless signal to a transceiver located on the gate which then transmits a signal to an on-site controller that transmits respective text messages to authorized personnel informing them of the gate removal/opening and will continue to do so until the gate status changes. The transceiver may be housed within a housing that also contains a visual and/or audible warning at the gate vicinity to warn those in the vicinity of the gate removal or opening.

Claims

1. A gate 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 gate has been removed from the position or has been opened, said system comprising:

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

a first detector that transmits a first wireless signal whenever a portion of the gate has been removed from the position, said first detector being associated with a receptacle secured to a floor at said position, said receptacle receiving said portion of said gate therein;

a second detector that transmits a second wireless signal whenever said gate is opened;

a transceiver which receives said first wireless signal or said second wireless signal, said transceiver transmitting a third wireless signal to an on-site controller upon receipt of said first wireless signal or said second wireless signal; and

said on-site controller transmitting a fourth wireless signal to at least one wireless device of the at least one authorized personnel indicating that said gate has been removed or opened and said on-site controller transmitting a fifth wireless signal to said at least one wireless device of the at least one authorized personnel indicating that said gate has been restored or closed when said on-site controller no longer receives said third wireless signal.

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

3. The gate status alert system of claim 1 wherein said at least one wireless device is a smartphone and said fifth wireless signal is a text message alerting said at least one authorized personnel that said gate has been restored or closed.

4. The gate status alert system of claim 1 wherein said transceiver is positioned on said gate.

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

6. The gate status alert system of claim 5 wherein said indicator is a visual indicator.

7. The gate status alert system of claim 5 wherein said indicator is an audible indicator.

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

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