Status Monitoring System For A Fenestration Unit

• US 20090140858A1
• Filed: 11/26/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andersen Corporation
• Original Assignee: Andersen Corporation
• Inventors: Gore, Sachin, Timmerman, Daniel, Plummer, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,269,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/547
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/00 Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/04 by breaking of glass
• 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 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/046 prevention of tampering with detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0841 Flexible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0846 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0886 Sliding and swinging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0968 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1039 Swinging and camming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1041 Rigid operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7486 Single key

Abstract

A status monitoring device for a fenestration unit is provided. The device is positioned in or on the fenestration unit and includes a panel position sensor and a lock status sensor. The device is capable of transmitting panel position data and lock status data to a remote device, trigger an audible alarm on the device or the remote device, trigger a visual alarm on the device or the remote device, or a combination of these.

Claims

1. A status monitoring device for a fenestration unit, the fenestration unit including at least a first panel and a second panel movable with respect to each other, the device comprising:

a switch on the first panel;

a switch triggering component on the second panel; and

the device transmitting a first signal when the switch is in a first position proximate the triggering component and transmitting a second signal when the switch is in a second position not proximate the triggering component.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the switch is adjacent a latch.

3. The device of claim 1 further including a visible light signal output device indicating whether the switch is in the first position or the second position.

4. The device of claim 1 further including an audible output device, providing an audible alarm when the switch is moved from the first position.

5. The device of claim 1 further including a position sensor that triggers an alarm when the switch is moved from the first position.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the fenestration unit is a window and the device is integral the window.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the fenestration unit is a door adjacent a wall and the device is part of a slide bar lock moveable between the door and the wall.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the switch is a magnetically operated reed switch.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the triggering component is a magnet.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is operable to gather information about environmental conditions surrounding the fenestration unit, with the information comprising at least one of outside temperature, inside temperature, humidity, moisture, light, or motion.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is operable to gather information about the fenestration unit, with the information comprising at least one of time of a change in position of the fenestration unit, position of the lock, an interior environment, or an exterior environment.

12. A status monitoring device installed adjacent a lock that includes a latch and a keeper, the device comprising:

a first housing disposed adjacent the latch;

a second housing disposed adjacent the keeper;

a switch disposed in the first housing or the second housing;

a switch triggering component disposed in the first housing or the second housing; and

,

a transmitter for communicating the position of the latch with respect to the keeper to a remote location.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the switch triggering component is a magnet.

14. The device of claim 12 further including a visible light signal output indicating whether the switch is in the first position or the second position.

15. The device of claim 12 further including an audible output device capable of providing an audible alarm when the latch is moved with respect to the keeper.

16. The device of claim 12 further including a position sensor that triggers an alarm when the latch is moved from the keeper.

17. The device of claim 12 wherein the device is installed under the lock.

18. The device of claim 12 wherein a reed switch is installed adjacent the lock.

19. The device of claim 12 wherein the device is operable to gather information about environmental conditions surrounding the fenestration unit, with the information comprising at least one of outside temperature, inside temperature, humidity, moisture, light, or motion.

20. The device of claim 12 wherein the device is operable to gather information about the fenestration unit, with the information comprising at least one of time of a change in position of the fenestration unit, position of the lock, an interior environment, or an exterior environment.

21. A status monitoring system for a closure assembly, comprising:

a locking member position sensor;

a closure panel position sensor;

a status code generator; and

,

a status code transmitter;

wherein the status code generator and the status code transmitter are integrated into a single device, and wherein the device is positioned to sense the position of a locking member and the position of a closure panel; and

wherein the status code generator generates a status code based upon both locking member position and closure panel position.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising a status code receiver.

23. The system of claim 21 further comprising an output device.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the locking member position sensor comprises at least one of a magnetically operated reed switch, a mechanically operated switch, an acoustical sensor, an RFID device, or an optical sensor.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the closure position sensor comprises at least one of a magnetically operated reed switch, a mechanically operated switch, an acoustical sensor, or an optical sensor.

26. The system of claim 21 further comprising a battery contained within the device.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the battery is held in a battery carrier movable from a position interior the device to a position exterior the device.

28. The system of claim 21 wherein the system is operable to gather information about environmental conditions surrounding the fenestration unit, with the information comprising at least one of outside temperature, inside temperature, humidity, moisture, light, or motion.

29. The system of claim 21 wherein the system is operable to gather information about the fenestration unit, with the information comprising at least one of time of a change in position of the fenestration unit, position of the lock, an interior environment, or an exterior environment.

30. A fenestration unit comprising:

a frame;

at least one panel disposed in the frame, the panel being movable between a closed position and an open position;

a latch having a locked position, for locking the panel in the closed position, and an unlocked position;

a first sensor detecting when the panel is in the closed position and when the panel is in the open position;

a second sensor detecting when the latch is in the locked position and when the latch is in the unlocked position; and

,

a processor coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor, the processor programmed to determine a status of the fenestration unit based at least on the detections of the sensors.

31. The fenestration unit of claim 30 further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the status of the fenestration unit to a remote location.

32. The fenestration unit of claim 30 wherein at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor comprises a reed switch and an associated magnet.

33. The fenestration unit of claim 30 wherein at least one of the first and second sensors comprises a mechanical switch.

34. The fenestration unit of claim 30 wherein the fenestration unit is a window.

35. The fenestration unit of claim 30 wherein the fenestration unit is a door.

36. The fenestration unit of claim 30 further comprising an indicator on the fenestration unit for indicating the status of the fenestration unit.

37. The fenestration unit of claim 36 wherein the indicator comprises an audible signal generator.

38. The fenestration unit of claim 36 wherein the indicator comprises a light source.

39. The fenestration unit of claim 30 wherein the fenestration unit is operable to gather information about environmental conditions surrounding the fenestration unit, with the information comprising at least one of outside temperature, inside temperature, humidity, moisture, light, or motion.

40. The fenestration unit of claim 30 wherein the fenestration unit is operable to gather information about the fenestration unit, with the information comprising at least one of time of a change in position of the fenestration unit, position of the lock, an interior environment, or an exterior environment.

41. A status monitoring system for a closure assembly, wherein the closure assembly comprises a fixed frame holding a panel moveable from a closed position to an open position, and wherein the assembly further comprises a locking member for holding the panel in the closed position, and wherein the system comprises a monitoring device comprising:

a locking member status sensor;

a closure panel position sensor;

a microprocessor; and

,

a status code transmitter;

wherein the locking member position sensor, the closure panel position sensor, the microprocessor, and the status code transmitter operate in an electronically integrated manner; and

wherein the device is positioned to sense both the position of the locking member and the position of the closure panel; and

wherein the microprocessor generates a status code that integrates the locking member status with closure panel position.

42. The system of claim 41 further comprising a status code receiver.

43. The system of claim 41 further comprising an output device.

44. The system of claim 41 wherein the locking member position sensor comprises at least one of a magnetically operated reed switch, a mechanically operated switch, an acoustical sensor, RFID device, or an optical sensor.

45. The system of claim 41 wherein the closure position sensor comprises at least one of a magnetically operated reed switch, a mechanically operated switch, an acoustical sensor, an RFID device, or an optical sensor.

46. The system of claim 41 further comprising a battery contained within the monitoring device.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the battery is held in a battery carrier movable from a position interior the device to a position exterior the device.

48. The system of claim 41 wherein the system is operable to gather information about environmental conditions surrounding the fenestration unit, with the information comprising at least one of outside temperature, inside temperature, humidity, moisture, light, or motion.

49. The system of claim 41 wherein the system is operable to gather information about the fenestration unit, with the information comprising at least one of time of a change in position of the fenestration unit, position of the lock, an interior environment, or an exterior environment.