SAFETY SYSTEM

• US 20080266082A1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cronapress Limited
• Original Assignee: Cronapress Limited
• Inventors: Parker, Ian, Keery, Fred, Naylor, Ken, Butler, Christopher M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,821,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/20 Actuation by change of fluid pressure

Abstract

This invention relates to a safety system comprising an elongate signal carrying device having a first end and a second end. At least a part of the elongate signal carrying device is selectively manipulable at a manipulation point to generate a measurable non-electric signal that can be carried by the signal carrying device. The safety system further comprises an output device for causing an audible or visible alarm signal or an electric signal to be outputted in response to the non-electric signal.

Claims

1. A safety system comprising:

an elongate signal carrying device having a first end and a second end, at least a part of which is manipulable at a manipulation point to generate a measurable non-electric signal that can be carried by the signal carrying device; and

an output device for causing an audible alarm signal, a visible alarm signal or an electric signal to be output in response to the non-electric signal.

2. A safety system according to claim 1 in which the signal carrying device is static and is manipulable by a dynamic object.

3. A safety system according to claim 1 in which the signal carrying device is dynamic and is manipulable by a static object.

4. A safety system according to claim 1 wherein the output device causes an audible alarm signal or a visible alarm signal to be output in response to the non-electric signal.

5. A safety system according to claim 1 wherein the output device causes an electric signal to be output in response to the non-electric signal.

6. A safety system according to claim 5 wherein the signal carrying device is mountable on an edge of a motor-driven garage door and the electric signal causes the motor to reverse, to stop or to adopt low voltage operation.

7. A safety system according to claim 2 wherein in use the non-electric signal is generated by a user selectively manipulating the manipulation point.

8. A safety system according to claim 3 wherein in use the non-electric signal is generated by a floor or obstruction manipulating the manipulation point.

9. A safety system according to claim 1, in which the signal carrying device is a wave carrying device, and in which the non-electric signal is either a measurable wave generated in the wave carrying device or a measurable disturbance in a wave carried by the wave carrying device.

10. A safety system according to claim 1, wherein the non-electric signal is a pressure wave.

11. A safety system according to claim 1, in which the wave carrying device is a hollow tube containing a fluid and the non-electric signal is a pressure wave.

12. A safety system according to claim 1, in which at least a part of the signal carrying device is compressible to generate the measurable non-electric signal.

13. A safety system according to claim 1 further comprising a detector for detecting the non-electric signal, wherein the output device is operatively connected to the detector.

14. A safety system according to claim 13, in which the detector outputs a detector output signal that is representative of the non-electric signal, and wherein the safety system further comprises:

a detector processing device for processing the detector output signal.

15. A safety system according to claim 14, in which the detector processing device comprises a filter device for filtering the parts of the detector output signal that are representative of background non-electric signals.

16. A safety system according to claim 13, in which the detector is located at the first end of the signal carrying device.

17. A safety system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a positioning system for determining the position of the manipulation point.

18. A safety system according to claim 17, in which the positioning system comprises:

a first detector for detecting the non-electric signal located at the first end of the signal carrying device; and

a second detector for detecting the non-electric signal located at the second end of the signal carrying device.

19. A safety system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a testing system capable of testing the safety system.

20. A safety system according to claim 19, in which the testing system comprises a test signal generating device capable of generating a measurable non-electric test signal that is carried by the signal carrying device.

21. A safety system according to claim 20, in which the test signal generating device comprises a manipulating device for mechanically manipulating the signal carrying device.

22. A safety system according to claim 20, in which the test signal generating device comprises an inducing device for inducing a non-electric test signal in the signal carrying device.

23. A safety system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a visual monitoring system operatively connected to the output device, wherein the visual monitoring system comprises;

at least one camera device capable of generating an image of at least a part of the signal carrying device; and

a visual display unit on which the image from the or each camera device can be displayed in response to the non-electric signal.

24. A safety system according to claim 23, in which the visual monitoring system comprises:

at least two camera devices, each camera device capable of generating an image of a different part of the signal carrying device wherein the image generated by at least one of the camera devices is an image of the manipulation point.

25. A safety system according to claim 1, further comprising a spraying device for spraying a substance in response to the non-electric signal.

26. A safety system according to claim 25, in which the substance is a dye.

27. A safety system according to claim 25, further comprising a motion detector for detecting the locality of a moving body, and causing the spraying device to spray the substance in the locality.

28. A safety system according to claim 1, wherein:

the manipulation point is a second manipulation point; and

the measurable non-electric signal is a second measurable non-electric signal;

wherein the output device is adapted to cause a primer signal to be output in response to a first measurable non-electric signal generated by the manipulation of the signal carrying device at a first manipulation point.

29. A safety system according to claim 28, wherein when the second measurable non-electric signal is generated within a preselected time after the first measurable non-electric signal, the alarm signal is different from the primer signal.

30. A method for operating a safety system comprising:

manipulating an elongate non-electric signal carrying device at a manipulation point to generate a measurable non-electric signal thereby causing an output device to cause an audible alarm signal, a visible alarm signal or an electric signal to be outputted in response to the non-electric signal.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the step of manipulating the signal carrying device comprises:

compressing the signal carrying device.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the step of compressing the signal carrying device comprises:

radially compressing the signal carrying device.

33. A method according to claim 30, further comprising:

generating a controlled non-electric signal to test the safety system.

34. A method according to claim 30, wherein:

the manipulation point is a second manipulation point; and

the measurable non-electric signal is a second measurable non-electric signal;

the method further comprising manipulating the elongate non-electric signal carrying device at a first manipulation point to generate a first measurable non-electric signal thereby causing the output device to cause a primer signal to be output in response to the first non-electric signal.

35. A movable garage door having a leading edge which in a closed position contacts the ground, wherein a signal carrying device is mounted on the leading edge, the signal carrying device having a first end and a second end, at least a part of which is manipulable at a manipulating point to generate a measurable non-electric signal that can be carried by the signal carrying device.

36. A movable garage door edge safety assembly comprising:

a movable garage door having a leading edge which in a closed position contacts the ground, wherein a signal carrying device is mounted on the leading edge, the signal carrying device having a first end and a second end, at least a part of which is manipulable at a manipulating point to generate a measurable non-electric signal that can be carried by the signal carrying device; and

an output device for causing an audible alarm signal or a visible alarm signal to be output in response to the non-electric signal.

37. An alarm system comprising:

a wall-mounted signal carrying device having a first end and a second end, at least a part of which is manipulable at a manipulating point to generate a measurable non-electric signal that can be carried by the signal carrying device; and

an output device for causing an electric signal to be output in response to the non-electric signal.