Tamper-proof security alarm system

• US 4,167,733 A
• Filed: 01/10/1977
• Issued: 09/11/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward B. Krause, William Seiden
• Original Assignee: Edward B. Krause, William Seiden
• Inventors: Seiden, William, Krause, Edward B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US05/758,317
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 340/224, 340/280, 340/282, 340/283, 340/261, 340/65, 340/539, 340/568, 340/571, 340/572, 340/546, 340/689, 340/566, 340/65, 325/111, 325/119, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.52, 200/61.47, 200/DIG. 20, 200/153 A, 200/52 A, 200/33 A, 200/61.83, 200/DIG. 8, 200/18
• US Class Current: 340/539.31
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1654 using passive vibration detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/046 prevention of tampering with detection circuits

Abstract

A tamper-proof security alarm system comprising basically a radio transmitter unit to be located at equipment which is to be protected, and a radio receiver unit with alarm and control circuits located at a point remote from the transmitter. The transmitter unit comprises a unique, wholly self-contained, small portable sensing and triggering assemblage constructed in a novel manner by which it is completely, 100 percent tamper-proof. The sensing and triggering assemblage employs an ultra-sensitive, gravity-responsive electrical switch connected to energize the transmitter, said switch incorporating a suspension system with reset means whereby the switch can be properly oriented to take care of various angularities of the supporting surface on which the assemblage is placed. The reset means clamps the switch in any of an infinite number of oriented positions. Whenever the unit is moved, however slightly, the switch closes and energizes the transmitter. A unique system of additional switches, including an on-off switch, is so arranged that the transmitter is also unfailingly excited to send out a pulse whenever any effort is made to disable the unit. Shifting of the on-off switch from the "on" to the "off" position momentarily excites the transmitter, and actuation of the reset mechanism likewise effects an excitation of the transmitter. The receiver at the remote point responds to all signals of any duration from the transmitter, by giving an alarm or effecting a control function.

Claims

1. A device of the kind described, comprising in combination:

(a) a casing,

(b) an electrical, gravity-responsive switch construction disposed wholly in the casing, said switch construction being open-circuited when motionless and in a given predetermined position, and being closed-circuited when it experiences either acceleration or arcuate movement, or both,

(c) suspension means for suspending the switch construction from a pivotal point above the same for free swinging movement, said suspension means enabling the switch construction, under the force exerted thereon by gravity, to occupy an infinitely large number of different arcuate positions within and with respect to the casing,

(d) manually releasable clamping means acting on said suspension means, for normally maintaining the switch construction in any given one of said infinitely large number of arcuate positions with respect to the casing, thereby to normally maintain said switch construction open-circuited except when experiencing said acceleration or arcuate movement or both,

(e) a second electrical switch construction connected in parallel with the first-mentioned switch construction,

(f) means responsive to operation of said manually releasable means, for closing the circuit of said second electrical switch construction,

(g) an electro-responsive device, and

(h) circuit means connected with both said switch constructions, for controlling said electro-responsive device.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, and further including:

(a) a self-contained radio transmitter in said casing, having switching circuitry connected with said electrical switch construction whereby the transmitter is operated when the switch construction and said casing experience acceleration or arcuate movement.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, and further including:

(a) a radio receiver located at a place remote from said casing, said receiver being tuned to the frequency of said transmitter.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, and further including:

(a) a self-contained radio transmitter in said casing, having switching circuitry connected with said first mentioned electrical switch construction whereby the transmitter is operated when the switch construction and said casing experience acceleration or arcuate movement.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the means for suspending the said switch construction comprises a hollow portion of a sphere which is carried by said construction, and a pivot ball carried by said casing and engaged with the inside of the sphere,

(b) the center of curvature of the sphere exterior being at the center of said ball.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the manually releasable means is operative to lower the switch construction in releasing the same against restraint,

(b) said second electrical switch construction being closed prior to the manually releasable means becoming operative to release the first-mentioned switch construction.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1, and further including:

(a) a self-contained electro-responsive device in said casing, having switching circuitry connected with said first mentioned electrical switch construction whereby the electro-responsive device is energized when the first-mentioned switch construction and said casing experience acceleration or arcuate movement,

(b) a visual electrical indicator, and

(c) means for energizing said indicator simultaneously with energization of the electro-responsive device whereby the operativeness of the electro-responsive device can be checked,

(d) said electrical indicator enabling the position of the gravity responsive switch construction to be checked as well as the operativeness of the second electrical switch construction.

8. A device of the kind described, comprising in combination:

(a) a casing,

(b) an electrical, gravity-responsive switch construction disposed wholly in the casing, said switch construction being open-circuited when motionless and in a given predetermined position, and being closed-circuited when it experiences either acceleration or arcuate movement, or both,

(c) suspension means for suspending the switch construction from a pivotal point above the same for free swinging movement, said suspension means enabling the switch construction, under the force exerted thereon by gravity, to occupy an infinitely large number of different arcuate positions within and with respect to the casing,

(d) manually releasable clamping means acting on said suspension means, for normally maintaining the switch construction in any given one of said infinitely large number of arcuate positions with respect to the casing, thereby to normally maintain said switch construction open-circuited except when experiencing said acceleration or arcuate movement or both,

(e) an electro-responsive device disposed in said casing, having switching circuitry connected with said electrical switch construction, whereby the electro-responsive device is operated when the casing and switch construction experience accleration or arcuate movement,

(f) an on-off electrical switch connected in said switching circuitry, said on-off switch including a manually operable switch member having a circuit-closing movement and a circuit-opening movement,

(g) a monitoring electrical switch connected with said switching circuitry to switch on the electro-responsive device, and

(h) means responsive to circuit-opening movement of said manually operable switch member, for momentarily closing the said monitoring switch to activate the electro-responsive device prior to opening of the circuit by said on-off switch.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8, and further including:

(a) a visual electrical indicator, and

(b) means for energizing said indicator simultaneously with energization of the electro-responsive device whereby the operativeness of said device can be checked,

(c) said electrical indicator enabling the position of the gravity-responsive switch construction to be checked as well as the operativeness of the said monitoring electrical switch.

10. The invention as defined in claim 8, wherein:

(a) said monitoring switch comprises a micro-switch having an operating plunger,

(b) said means for momentarily closing the monitoring switch comprising a projection on the manually-operable switch member.

11. The invention as defined in claim 8, wherein:

(a) the electro-responsive device comprises a radio transmitter.

12. A device of the kind described, comprising in combination:

(a) a casing,

(b) an electrical, gravity-responsive switch construction disposed wholly in the casing, said switch construction being open-circuited when motionless and in a given predetermined position, and being closed-circuited when it experiences either acceleration or arcuate movement, or both,

(c) suspension means for suspending the switch construction from a pivotal point above the same for free swinging movement, said suspension means enabling the switch construction, under the force exerted thereon by gravity, to occupy an infinitely large number of different arcuate positions within and with respect to the casing, and

(d) manually releasable clamping means acting on said suspension means, for normally maintaining the switch construction in any given one of said infinitely large number of arcuate positions with respect to the casing, thereby to normally maintain said switch construction open-circuited except when experiencing said acceleration or arcuate movement or both,

(e) said means for suspending the switch construction comprising an upstanding, upwardly-facing pivot member carried by the casing, and a downwardly-facing socket member carried by the switch construction and disposed over the pivot member,

(f) said socket member being adapted to hang the switch construction pendant under the pivot member.

13. The invention as defined in claim 12, wherein:

(a) the casing has a laterally extending arm on one end of which the pivot member is mounted, and

(b) means mounting the other end of said arm in the casing for pivotal movement therein.

14. The invention as defined in claim 12, wherein:

(a) the casing has friction means engageable with the socket member to minimize slippage therebetween.

15. The invention as defined in claim 13, and further including:

(a) a second electrical switch construction connected in parallel with the first-mentioned switch construction, and

(b) means responsive to the operation of said manually releaseable means, for closing said second switch construction,

(c) said manually-releasable means comprising an actuator member movably mounted in the casing and adapted for engagement with said pivot member,

(d) said actuator and pivot members constituting said second switch construction.

16. The invention as defined in claim 15, wherein:

(a) the pivot member includes a leaf spring constituting a base by which the member is mounted and which biases the member upward,

(b) said actuator member extending over said pivot member and having a leaf spring base by which it is mounted.

17. The invention as defined in claim 15, and further comprising:

(a) means for lowering the pivot member comprising a plunger movably carried by the casing, and

(b) cooperable means on said plunger and casing, limiting movement of the plunger in the direction which lowers the pivot member whereby said socket member is prevented from becoming dislodged from the pivot member while remaining separated from the said bearing member.