System and method for protecting a building
First Claim
1. A building protection system for controlling the flow of a utility, such as water or gas, through an inlet line into a building, comprising:
- a valve disposed in the inlet line and having an open position permitting flow of the utility into the building and a closed position preventing flow of the utility into the building, said valve responsive to an electrical signal to move between said open and said closed positions;
a manual switch having a first state corresponding to said open position of said valve and a second state corresponding to said closed position of said valve, said switch operable to generate a state signal corresponding to the state of said switch;
a wireless transmitter connected to said manual switch and configured to generate a transmitted signal corresponding to said state signal, said transmitter being positioned remote from said valve; and
a wireless receiver operably associated with said valve and configured to receive said transmitted signal and to generate said electrical signal in relation to said transmitted signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A building protection system includes a switch, a transmitter, a receiver and a controllable shut-off valve disposed within the inlet line of a utility, such as water or gas, provided to a building. The switch is used to close or open the shut-off valve to stop the flow of the utility into the building. The receiver is proximate the valve, while the transmitter and switch are remote from the valve. In one embodiment, the switch is a manual switch that can be used to generate a valve open or a valve closed signal. The switch and transmitter can be wall-mounted, such as in a garage, or can be integrated into a hand-held device, such as a remote control. In other embodiments, the switch is associated with a condition sensor, such as for sensing a utilities leak or for sensing a temperature outside a certain pre-determined limit value. In still further embodiments, the building protection system includes an auto-dialer for automatically dialing a pre-determined list of phone numbers in response to a sensed condition or in response to closing the utility shut-off valve.
20 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A building protection system for controlling the flow of a utility, such as water or gas, through an inlet line into a building, comprising:
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a valve disposed in the inlet line and having an open position permitting flow of the utility into the building and a closed position preventing flow of the utility into the building, said valve responsive to an electrical signal to move between said open and said closed positions;
a manual switch having a first state corresponding to said open position of said valve and a second state corresponding to said closed position of said valve, said switch operable to generate a state signal corresponding to the state of said switch;
a wireless transmitter connected to said manual switch and configured to generate a transmitted signal corresponding to said state signal, said transmitter being positioned remote from said valve; and
a wireless receiver operably associated with said valve and configured to receive said transmitted signal and to generate said electrical signal in relation to said transmitted signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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13. The building protection system according to claim 12, wherein said sensing switch is a water sensing switch.
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14. The building protection system according to claim 12, wherein said sensing switch is a gas sensing switch.
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15. The building protection system according to claim 12, wherein said sensing switch is a temperature sensing switch operable to generate said sensing signal when the sensed temperature falls outside a predetermined limit value.
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16. The building protection system according to claim 12, comprising:
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a plurality of sensing switches connected to said transmitter and operable to generate a plurality of sensing signals in response to sensing a leak of the utility in proximity of the switch; and
said transmitter is configured to generate said transmitted signal in response to receipt of one of said plurality of said sensing signals.
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17. The building protection system according to claim 12, wherein said auto-dialer is operable to convey a pre-determined message through the phone system.
Specification