Multiple function personal security alarm

• US 4,438,428 A
• Filed: 02/20/1981
• Issued: 03/20/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omnitronics Research Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omnitronics Research Corporation
• Inventors: Ober, John W., Ferry, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US06/236,242
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 340/517, 340/521, 340/528, 340/540, 340/541, 340/545, 340/546, 340/549, 340/584, 340/586, 340/627, 340/628, 340/630
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/107 for detecting light-scattering due to smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/113 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems

Abstract

A multiple function alarm (10) for the security of an individual within a preselected area, the alarm (10) having substantially all its electrical components mounted to a board (12), includes a switch (14) for selecting the function the alarm is to perform; a smoke detector (16) for optically detecting the presence of smoke including a light source (72) for generating light and a light sensor (73) both mounted on the board (12); intrusion detector (15) for detecting an unauthorized intrusion into the selected area, a visual alarm (18) and audio alarm (19) for communicating to the individual the presence of a potential security threat; and a plate assembly (13) for housing switch (14), the intrusion detector (15) and the alarms (18, 19) in operative association with the electrical components mounted to the board (12). Plate assembly (13) defines an opaque chamber (74) for controlling the transmission of light from the light source (72) to the light sensor (73) dependent upon the amount of smoke in the opaque chamber (74), light source (72) and light sensor (73) communicating with opaque chamber (74).

Claims

1. An alarm having multiple functions for the security of an individual within a preselected area, the alarm having a board mounting substantially all electrical components, comprising:

switch means for selecting among the functions the alarm performs;

smoke detection means for optically detecting the presence of smoke in the preselected area including a light source for generating light, a light sensor for detecting light and opaque chamber means, said light sensor being positioned within said opaque chamber means in substantially perpendicular alignment to a longitudinal axis of transmission of light through said opaque chamber means from said light source, said opaque chamber means receiving light from said light source and isolating said light sensor from detecting light from said light source;

intrusion detection means for detecting an unauthorized intrusion into the preselected area;

alarm means for communicating to the individual the presence of a potential security threat; and

plate assembly means housing said switch means, said intrusion detection means, and said alarm means and being secured to the board, said plate assembly means defining said opaque chamber means for permitting the transmission of light from said light source to said light sensor upon the presence of a preselected concentration of smoke in said opaque chamber means from the preselected area.

2. An alarm, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said smoke detection means includes entrance port means for receiving from the environment air to be monitored for the presence of smoke, said entrance port means including inclined plane means for directing said environmental air to within said chamber means in proximity to said light sensor means.

3. An alarm, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said light sensor means is encapsulated by said smoke chamber means.

4. An alarm, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said smoke detection means further includes slot means interposed between said light source and said smoke chamber means for directing substantially all said light from said light source to travel along the longitudinal axis of said smoke chamber to strike said inclined plane means, said inclined plane means absorbing and deflecting said light from said light source in a direction away from said light source.

5. An alarm, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said smoke chamber means includes exit port means at the end of smoke chamber means opposite that of said entrance port means facilitating the continuous passage of said environmental air through said smoke chamber means.

6. An alarm, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said intrusion detection means includes trip arm mechanism means for monitoring for an unauthorized intrusion into the preselected area in operative association with said plate assembly means.

7. An alarm, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said intrusion detection means further includes contact set means mounted on the board for activating said alarm means in the event of said unauthorized intrusion, said contact set means engaged by said trip arm mechanism means in the event of said unauthorized intrusion.

8. An alarm, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said plate assembly means includes a first plate and a second plate and a shaft therebetween in one corner of said plate assembly means, said trip arm mechanism means including trip arm means for rotation about said shaft and engagement of said contact set means in the event of said unauthorized intrusion.

9. An alarm, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said trip arm means includes contact closure arm means for engagement of said contact set means, said contact closure arm means rotating in fixed relation with said trip arm means, said contact set means preventing further rotation of said trip arm means upon engagement by said contact closure arm means.

10. An alarm, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said plate assembly means further includes flange means and said trip arm mechanism means includes coil means about said shaft means for acting against said flange means and continuously rotationally biasing said trip arm means into engagement with said contact set means.

11. An alarm, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said intrusion detection means further includes trip arm interlock means for selectively locking said trip arm means in a spatial position in which said trip arm is substantially adjacent to said plate assembly means and said contact closure arm means is disengaged from said contact set means.

12. An alarm, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said trip arm interlock means includes a selectively retractable slide bar means for engagement with said contact closure arm means so as to prevent further rotation of said trip arm means.

13. An alarm, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said plate assembly means includes ramp means to elevate said contact closure arm means into aligned engagement with said slide bar means when locked by said trip arm interlock means.

14. An alarm, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the corner of said slide bar means closest said contact set means includes beveled wedge means for permitting said contact closure arm means to pass around said slide bar means when the latter is extended into the path of travel of a retracting said contact closure arm.

15. An alarm, as set forth in claim 14, further including hanger means for support of the alarm upon a door such that said trip arm means is biased against the fixed door frame, said contact closure arm means engaging said contact set means upon the opening of said door.

16. An alarm, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said hanger means is substantially housed within the alarm and telescopically projects therefrom for variable lengths to accommodate suspension on doors having varying widths.

17. An alarm, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plate assembly means includes a first plate and second plate, the board mounted adjacent said first plate, said switch means including a plurality of contact means mounted to the board and extending through said first plate, and slide bar means sandwiched between said first plate and said second plate for slideable selective engagement of said plurality of contact means.

18. An alarm, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said slide bar means includes cap means extending through said second plate and including an orifice into which a first of said plurality of contact means may extend, said first contact means biased into contact with certain of other of said plurality of contact means dependent upon the position of said slide bar means.

19. An alarm, as set forth in claim 18, wherein said switch means includes locking mechanism means for maintaining said slide bar means in a preselected position.

20. An alarm, as set forth in claim 19, wherein said locking mechanism means includes leaf means integral with an end of said slide bar means for carrying bulbous cylinder means in slideable relation to a plurality of detents, said bulbous cylinder means selectively movable between and intermittently reposeable within each of said plurality of detents, the position of said slide bar means and the engagement of said contact means thereby selectively maintained.

21. An alarm, as set forth in claim 20, wherein said first plate includes side walls defining a channel within which said slide bar means may slide, said plurality of detents integrally formed with one of said side walls at the end thereof.

22. An alarm, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said alarm means includes audio alarm means for providing an auditory alarm upon the detection of a potential security threat.

23. An alarm, as set forth in claim 22, wherein said alarm means further includes visual alarm means for providing a visual indication upon the detection of a potential security threat.

24. An alarm, as set forth in claim 23, wherein said visual alarm means includes lamp means removably mounted to the board for generating illumination upon the detection of a potential security threat.

25. An alarm having multiple functions for the security of an individual within a preselected area, the alarm having a board mounting substantially all electrical components, comprising:

switch means for selecting among the functions the alarm performs;

smoke detection means for optically detecting the presence of smoke in the preselected area including a light source for generating light and a light sensor for detecting light;

intrusion detection means for detecting an unauthorized intrusion into the preselected area;

alarm means for communicating to the individual the presence of a potential security threat, said alarm means including audio alarm means for providing an auditory alarm upon the detection of a potential security threat; and

plate assembly means housing said switch means, said intrusion detection means and said alarm means and being secured to the board,

said plate assembly means including a first plate and a second plate,

said plate assembly means defining opaque chamber means for permitting the transmission of light from said light source to said light sensor upon the presence of a preselected concentration of smoke in said opaque chamber means, said light source and said light sensor communicating with said opaque chamber means,

said audio alarm means including piezoelectric disc means for generating said auditory alarm and contacts mounted in the board and extending through said first plate into contact with said piezoelectric disc means, said piezoelectric disc means resting unattached between said first and second plate means to freely vibrate between said first and second plate means means while remaining in contact with said contacts during operation.

26. An alarm, as set forth in claim 25, wherein said audio alarm means further includes cylindrical supporting means in said first plate upon which said piezoelectric disc means may intermittently rest and vibrate during operation.

27. An alarm, as set forth in claim 25, wherein said cylindrical support defines the side wall of resonance chamber means in said second plate for dynamically magnifying said auditory alarm.

28. An alarm, as set forth in claim 27, wherein said plate assembly means includes annular flange means for constraining said piezoelectric disc means to its position upon said cylindrical supporting means.

29. An alarm, as set forth in claim 28, wherein said contacts of said audio alarm means includes a plurality of bifurcated leaf contacts mounted in contact with said piezoelectric disc means.