Combined alarm, security and rescue system

• US 5,227,776 A
• Filed: 10/03/1990
• Issued: 07/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carl E. Starefoss
• Original Assignee: Carl E. Starefoss
• Inventors: Starefoss, Carl E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US07/592,692
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/531, 340/533, 340/539, 340/568, 340/500, 340/628, 340/332, 340/333, 340/825.36, 340/825.06, 340/825.15, 340/825.08, 340/825.37 , 340/825.54, 340/825.55, 340/286.07-286.08, 340/287-290, 340/305
• US Class Current: 340/6.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/014 Alarm signalling to a central station with two-way communication, e.g. with signalling back
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/00 Alarm systems in which the alarm condition is signalled from a central station to a plurality of substations
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip

Abstract

A combined alarm, security and rescue system includes room boxes (33a-33j, 35a-35j) in associated rooms, a two way communication system (29a-29C, 30a-30C, 31a-31b, 32a-32j, 34a-34j) between a number of room boxes and a central operator station, and a central operator station. The system can be used in hotels, hospitals, cruise vessels, offshore living quarter platforms, and other places where many people usually are gathered within a definite area. In case of an emergency situation, the system provides essential information at the operator station for rescue crew, and thus acts as a decision tool for the rescue leader. The system also provides personal safety equipment like breathing masks (contained in the room boxes), that can be used by the people in the rooms in order to break through areas filled with smoke. Further, necessary equipment for a person-to-person communication between the central operator and the people present in the actual rooms is provided. The communication system enables the central operator to give alarms and other messages to persons in one or more rooms, and to receive acknowledgements from the persons in the room(s). Finally, all events are time-stamped and recorded at the central operator station, so that investigators easily can reconstruct the progress of a disaster.

Claims

1. A combined alarm, security and rescue system comprising

a plurality of room boxes, each room box having a chamber for storing safety equipment, a door for providing access to said chamber, at least one microswitch for activation on opening of said door and at least one output device for indicating an alarm;

and

a central operator station connected to each said room box, said station including a data processing unit, an output interface card connected between said data processing unit and said output device of each room box for selectively emitting a signal thereto from said data processing unit for actuation of said respective output device, and an input interface card connected between said data processing unit and said microswitch of each room box for receiving a signal from each microswitch indicative of opening of a respective door and for transferring a signal to said data processing unit indicative of the identity and state of said activated microswitch.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said central operator station includes a visual display unit for visually displaying the state of each room box simultaneously.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said station includes a printer for printing information regarding the time of receipt of a signal from said input interface card, and the nature of said signal.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each room box has a plurality of output devices for visually displaying messages, each said output device being connected to said output card to receive a signal therefrom for selective activation thereof.

5. A combined alarm, security and rescue system for a multi-room complex comprising

a plurality of alarm producers, each producer being disposed in a respective room to emit a warning signal in response to activation thereof;

an output interface card electronically connected with said alarm producers to emit a signal to selected producers for activation thereof;

a plurality of room boxes, each box being disposed in a respective room of the complex and including a chamber to contain safety equipment, a door providing access to said chamber and a microswitch for emitting a coded signal in response to opening of said door, said signal being indicative of the location of the respective room;

an input interface card electronically connected to said room boxes for receiving said coded signals from said room boxes;

a microprocessor connected to said input card for evaluating said received coded signals; and

a data screen for visually displaying information corresponding to said evaluated signals.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said cards, said microprocessor and said data screen are disposed in a remote data exchange.

7. A combined alarm, security and rescue system for a multi-room complex comprising

a plurality of room boxes, each box being disposed in a respective room of the complex and including a chamber to contain safety equipment, a door providing access to said chamber and a microswitch for emitting a coded signal in response to opening of said door, said signal being indicative of the location of the respective room;

a plurality of alarm producers, each alarm producer being disposed in a respective room of the complex; and

a data exchange having an output interface card for emitting a signal to selected alarm producers for activation of an alarm in a respective room, an input interface card for receiving said coded signals room said room boxes, a microprocessor connected to said input card to evaluate said received coded signals, a data screen for visually displaying information corresponding to said evaluated signals and a printer for printing the information displayed on said screen.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein each room box has a plurality of output devices for visually displaying messages, each said output device being connected to said output card to receive signal therefrom for selective activation thereof.

9. A combined alarm, security and rescue system for a multi-room complex comprising

a plurality of room boxes, each room box having a chamber for storing equipment, a door for providing access to said chamber, at least one microswitch for activation of a person-to-person communication between an operator at a central operator-activated station and a person in a respective room on opening of said door and at least one output device for indicating an alarm;

and

a central operator-activated station connected to each said room box, said station including a data process unit, an input interface card connected between said data processing unit and said microswitch of each room box for receiving a signal from each microswitch indicative of opening of a respective door and for transferring a signal to said data processing unit indicative of the identity and state of said activated microswitch and an output interface card connected between said data processing unit and said output device of each room box for selectively emitting a signal thereto from said data processing unit for actuation of said respective output device.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said central station includes a visual display unit for visually displaying the state of said microswitch of each room box simultaneously.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said station includes a printer for printing information regarding the time of receipt of a signal from said input interface card, and the nature of said signal.

12. A system as set forth in claim 9 wherein each room box has a plurality of output devices for visually displaying messages, each said output device being connected to said output interface card to receive a signal therefrom for selective activation thereof.