Security structure

• US 4,234,875 A
• Filed: 03/06/1978
• Issued: 11/18/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sandstone, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sandstone, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US05/883,487
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 340/550, 340/540, 340/652, 340/541, 340/555, 109/21, 109/41, 109/42, 200/61.08, 174/117 F, 174/117 FF
• US Class Current: 340/550
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/10 with alarm, signal or indicator E05G1/14 takes precedence; burglar, theft or intruder alarm per se G08B13/00; fire or explosion alarm per se G08B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room

Abstract

A security panel arrangement for use with an intrusion alarm system designed to monitor the continuity of a normally continuous signal conductive path and to produce a warning signal when the signal conductive path is broken, which arrangement includes a cellular panel forming a series of parallel elongated passages through which extends at least one means for conducting a signal. The cellular panel is attached to a surface portion of a structure to be secured, and the means for conducting a signal is connected at its two ends to the alarm system in a continuity monitoring relationship therewith. Passage of a human being through the surface portion breaks the continuity of the means for conducting a signal and causes the alarm system to produce the warning signal.

Claims

1. A securing panel arrangement for use with an intrusion alarm system designed to monitor the continuity of a normally continuous signal conductive path and to produce a warning signal when the signal conductive path is broken, said arrangement comprising:

a cellular panel means positionable to cover an area on a surface of a structure to be secured and attachable thereto, including;

two generally co-extensive and substantially continuous parallel outer walls spaced a relatively small distance apart, and

a series of elongated inner walls substantially parallel to each other joining said outer walls to form a series of parallel elongated passages therewith, said elongated passages extending parallel to said outer walls in the space therebetween;

at least one means for conducting a signal, continuous between two ends thereof and extending through at least one of said elongated passages in a configuration preventing passage of a human being through said panel means unless said at least one conducting means is severed; and

means for connecting said at least one conducting means at said two ends thereof to the alarm system in a continuity monitoring relationship therewith;

whereby passage of a human being through the area on the surface and through said panel means breaks the continuity of said at least one conducting means and causes the alarm system to produce the warning signal.

2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said outer walls are integral with said inner walls.

3. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said panel means comprises a plurality of prefabricated modules connectible together to form a panel means covering a desired area on the surface of the structure and said at least one conducting means comprises at least one conductive section within each of said modules and a plurality of male and female connectors at the respective ends of said conductive sections for the operative connection thereof.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said panel means is foldable longitudinally of said elongated passages, whereby said panel means may be adapted to follow the contour of the surface at a corner thereof.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 which includes a sealing compound covering the edges of said panel means adjacent the ends of said elongated passages, closing said elongated passages and enclosing any lengths of said at least one conducting means leading from one of said elongated passages to another.

6. The arrangement of claim 5 which includes a trim strip attachable to cover the edges of said panel means adjacent the ends of said elongated passages and said sealing compound thereon.

7. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said configuration of said at least one conducting means comprises a series of parallel lengths thereof extending through various ones of said elongated passages which are substantially equally spaced along said panel means.

8. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said panel means is rigid.

9. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said panel means is pliable.

10. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said panel means is made of plastic.

11. The arrangement of claim 1 which further comprises:

an elongated strap; and

means for attaching said strap at two ends thereof to the surface with a section of said panel means containing a portion of said at least one conducting means confined between said strap and said surface such that an intruder pushing said panel means away from said surface after penetrating said surface will sever said panel means and said at least one conducting means from said section of said panel means and the portion of said at least one conducting means confined by said strap means, breaking the continuity of said at least one conducting means and causing the alarm to product the warning signal.

12. The arrangement of claim 11 wherein said strap is positioned across one of said elongated passages which contains said portion of said at least one conducting means with said attaching means aligned to pass through two of said elongated passages which do not contain said at least one conducting means.

13. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

said at least one conducting means includes a leg running through a peripheral portion of said panel means; and

said arrangement further comprises;

at least one panel holding element positionable over said peripheral portion of said panel means for said panel means covering the area on the surface to be secured; and

means for attaching said holding element to the surface through said peripheral portion of said panel means at a location on said panel means somewhat inboard of said leg of said at least one conducting means, confining said peripheral portion of said panel means and said leg between said holding element and said surface;

such that pushing said panel means away from said surface after penetrating the surface will sever said panel means and said leg, breaking the continuity of said at least one conducting means and causing the alarm to produce the warning signal.

14. The arrangement of claim 13 wherein said at least one panel holding element comprises at least one moulding strip and said attaching means comprises at least one screw thread mechanism.

15. The arrangement of claim 14 wherein the peripheral portion of said panel means is weakened adjacent to the attaching means to facilitate tearing said panel means and said leg of said conducting means from said holding element.

16. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one conducting means comprises at least one electrically conductive wire means and said connecting means comprises means for connecting said wire means at said two ends thereof in series with an electrical circuit of the alarm system.

17. The arrangement defined in claim 16 wherein said at least one wire means comprises bare metallic wire.

18. The arrangement defined in claim 16 wherein said at least one wire means comprises insulated metallic wire.

19. The arrangement defined in claim 16 wherein said at least one conducting means comprises terminal means mounted to the surface of the structure at a point adjacent said panel means and connected in series with said at least one wire means so that detachment and movement of said panel means from said surface for said terminal means mounted to said surface disconnects said wire means from said terminal means, thereby breaking the continuity of said at least one conducting means.

20. The arrangement defined in claim 19 wherein said terminal means comprises a printed circuit board.

21. The arrangement defined in claim 20 wherein said panel means is cut out to receive said printed circuit board for said panel means attached to the surface.

22. The arrangement defined in claim 20 wherein said outer walls are integral with said inner walls.

23. The arrangement defined in claim 22 wherein said panel means comprises a plurality of modules connectible together to form a panel means covering a desired area on the surface of the structure and said at least one wire means comprises at least one wire section within each of said modules and a plurality of male and female connectors at the respective ends of said wire sections for the operative connection thereof.

24. The arrangement of claim 23 wherein said panel means is foldable longitudinally of said elongated passages, whereby said panel means may be adapted to follow the contour of the surface at a corner thereof.

25. The arrangement of claim 24 which includes a sealing compound covering the edges of said panel means adjacent the ends of said elongated passages, closing said elongated passages and enclosing any lengths of said at least one wire means leading from one of said elongated passages to another.

26. The arrangement of claim 25 which includes a trim strip attachable to cover the edges of said panel means adjacent the ends of said elongated passages and said sealing compound thereon.

27. The arrangement defined in claim 26 wherein said configuration of said at least one wire means comprises a series of parallel lengths of wire extending through various ones of said elongated passages which are substantially equally spaced along said panel means.

28. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one conducting means comprises at least one optical fiber means.

29. The arrangement defined in claim 28 wherein said outer walls are integral with said inner walls.

30. The arrangement defined in claim 29 wherein said panel means comprises a plurality of modules connectible together to form a panel means covering a desired area on the surface of the structure and said at least one optical fiber means comprises at least one optical fiber section within each of said modules and a plurality of male and female connectors at the respective ends of said optical fiber sections for the operative connection thereof.

31. The arrangement of claim 30 wherein said panel means is foldable longitudinally of said elongated passages, whereby said panel means may be adapted to follow the contour of the surface at a corner thereof.

32. The arrangement of claim 31 which includes a trim strip attachable to cover the edges of said panel means adjacent the ends of said elongated passages, covering said ends and enclosing any lengths of said at least one optical fiber means leading from one of said elongated passages to another.

33. The arrangement of claim 32 which includes a silicone sealer compound covering the edges of said panel means adjacent the ends of said elongated passages, covering said ends and enclosing any lengths of said at least one optical fiber means leading from one of said elongated passages to another.

34. The arrangement defined in claim 33 wherein said configuration of said at least one conducting means comprises a series of parallel optical fibers lengths extending through various ones of said elongated passages which are substantially equally spaced along said panel means.

35. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said panel means defines at least one opening passing from one of said outer walls to the other whereby air can flow through said panel means in a direction substantially normal thereto.