Local alarm system tamper protection device

• US 5,519,756 A
• Filed: 02/09/1995
• Issued: 05/21/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian Company The A Partnership
• Original Assignee: Brain Corporation
• Inventors: Clift, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US08/385,886
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 379/33, 379/44, 379/387, 379/397, 379/399, 379/402, 379/411-413, 379/417, 379/419, 379/428, 379/429, 379/437, 379/438, 379/440, 379/442, 379/445, 379/451, 379/453 , 379/457, 340/565, 340/566, 340/568-570, 340/665, 340/689, 340/540, 340/693, 70/277, 70/278, 70/282, 70/455
• US Class Current: 379/44
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/046 prevention of tampering with detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/08 Signalling of tampering with the line circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a local telephone line tamper protection device. In particular, it protects a conventional security alarm system using telephone lines from being disabled by an intruder before it has a chance to function. Telephone service lines are generally accessible from the exterior of the structure. The alarm system is protected by providing an service enclosure having a strong box and a conduit to enclose the telephone service box and service line. The protection device includes sensors and switches to inform the security monitor before an intruder can disable the alarm system. A vibration sensor is activated when movements of the strong box and conduit occur and a signal is generated to announce the intruder. The strong box has two access doors where the locked outside door must be opened to access the locked inside door. Each access door has a separate tamper switch means that generates a signal to also activate the alarm system. If the outside door is defeated the inside door continues to provide security. Another tamper switch means is provided to activate the alarm system if the intruder attempts to remove the strong box from its supporting surface. A total of four separate and redundant signals can inform the monitor of an intruder. This "LINEsafe" system far exceeds the protection currently provided for telephone operated alarm systems and can also be used to protect telephone lines when a separate alarm component is added.

Claims

1. In a telephone operated security alarm system which utilizes a telephone service box connected to telephone service lines, said security alarm system including a security alarm box electrically connected to said telephone service box for transmitting alarm signals to personnel at a discrete alarm monitoring station over said telephone service lines, a tamper protection device comprising:

a secured service enclosure for enclosing said telephone service box and an exposed portion of said telephone service lines to prohibit direct access to said telephone service box and said telephone service line portion by an intruder;

at least one vibration sensor mounted within said secured service enclosure to detect small and large amplitude vibrations of said service enclosure caused by any physical tampering of said secured service enclosure including that portion enclosing said telephone lines by an intruder to generate a first signal in response to said tampering; and

a connector circuit electrically connected between said secure alarm box and said secured service enclosure to energize said at least one vibration sensor and to transmit said first signal from said service enclosure to said alarm system, wherein said security alarm system generates an alarm signal for transmission over said telephone service lines to announce an intruder to said personnel at said remote monitoring station.

2. The tamper protection device of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a strong box portion having two access doors and being mounted on the same supporting surface as the service box is mounted, wherein an outside door has a lock and must be opened to gain access to an inside locked door.

3. The tamper protection device of claim 2, wherein said strong box has a first switch means being actuatable in response to said strong box being displaced from said support surface, wherein a second signal is generated in said connector circuit that transmits said second signal to said alarm system to announce said intruder.

4. The tamper protection device of claim 2, wherein said outside access door has a second switch means being actuatable in response to opening said outside door and said inside access door has a third switch means being actuatable in response to opening said inside door, wherein a third signal is generated in said connector circuit from said second switch being actuated that transmits said third signal to said alarm system and a fourth signal is generated in said connector circuit from said third switch being actuated that transmits said fourth signal to said alarm system, whereas said alarm system announces said intruder from either said second or said third switch means being actuated.

5. The tamper protection device of claim 2, wherein the enclosure further includes a conduit to encase said service line, wherein said conduit is made of a material that will transmit movements of said conduit in the form of solid vibrations to said vibration sensor in response to said intruder induced movements of said conduit.

6. The tamper protection device of claim 5, wherein the enclosure is made from any suitable material from the group consisting of steel, copper, aluminum, iron, or combinations thereof.

7. The tamper protection device of claim 1, wherein said connector circuit comprises:

a first system of electrical connectors from said alarm system to a terminal bar; and

a second system of electrical connectors from said terminal bar to at least said vibration sensor.

8. The tamper protection device of claim 4, wherein said connector circuit is a system of first and second electrical connectors and a terminal bar for energizing said protection device and for transmitting said first, third, and fourth signals to said alarm system to announce said intruder.

9. The tamper protection device of claim 4, wherein said connector circuit comprises:

a first system of electrical connectors from said alarm system to a terminal bar; and

a second system of electrical connectors from said terminal bar to said vibration sensor as well as to at least one switch means, wherein said second system of electrical connectors operates said circuit either as a closed loop or as an open loop circuit.

10. In a telephone operated security alarm system which utilizes a telephone service box connected to telephone service lines, said security alarm system including a security alarm box electrically connected to said telephone service box for transmitting alarm signals to personnel at a discrete alarm monitoring station over said telephone service lines, a tamper protection device comprising:

a secured service enclosure for enclosing at least said telephone service box to prohibit direct access to at least said telephone service box, said service enclosure being mounted on a supporting surface being the same surface as the telephone service box is mounted thereupon;

an inside access door included in said service enclosure to cover said telephone service box and prevent any physical tampering with said telephone service box and connecting telephone service lines;

an outside access door included in said service enclosure to cover said inside access door which must be opened to gain access to said inside access door and further prevent any physical tampering with said telephone service box and connecting telephone service lines;

a first door lock carried by said outside access door for positively locking said outside access door so that said inside access door and said telephone service box are inaccessible, said first door lock having a locked position activated to an unlocked position only by an authorized person having a lock actuator device;

a second door lock carried by said inside access door for positively locking said inside access door so that said telephone service box is inaccessible, said second door lock having a locked position activated to an unlocked position only by an authorized person having a lock actuator device, wherein said outside door must be opened to gain access to said inside door and wherein at least one of said inside and outside access doors has a hinge positioned to prohibit access to said hinge from the exterior of said service enclosure to further prevent unauthorized door opening and further protect at least said telephone service box against tampering;

a second switch energized by said alarm system and being actuatable in response to the unauthorized opening of said outside access door, wherein a third electrical signal is generated;

a third switch energized by said alarm system being actuatable in response to the unauthorized opening of said inside access door, wherein a fourth electrical signal is generated; and

a connector circuit that transmits either one of said third or said fourth electrical signal to said security alarm system so that said third signal is transmitted by said connector circuit to said alarm system prior to transmission of said fourth signal to provide an alarm signal prior to the inside access door being opened to gain access to and cut any telephone service line, whereas the security alarm system operates to announce an intruder to said discrete alarm monitoring station over said telephone service lines.

11. The tamper protection device of claim 10, wherein said service enclosure includes a strong box portion having a first switch means being actuatable in response to said strong box being displaced from said support surface, wherein a second signal is generated in said connector circuit that transmits said second signal to said alarm system to announce said intruder.

12. The tamper protection device of claim 10, wherein said service enclosure has a vibration sensor mounted within said enclosure to detect any vibrations of said enclosure caused by an intruder, said vibration sensor generating a first signal in response to said vibrations, wherein said first signal is generated in said connector circuit that transmits said first signal to said alarm system to announce said intruder.

13. The tamper protection device of claim 10, wherein the enclosure includes a conduit to encase said service line and a strong box to enclose said service box, wherein said conduit and said strong box is of a material that will transmit movements of said conduit or said strong box in the form of solid vibrations to a vibration sensor in response to said intruder induced movements to said conduit or said strong box.

14. The tamper protection device of claim 12, wherein said enclosure further includes a conduit to encase said service line, wherein said conduit is of a material that will transmit movements of said conduit in the form of vibrations to said vibration sensor in response to said intruder induced movements of said conduit.

15. The tamper protection device of claim 14 wherein the enclosure is made from any suitable material from the group consisting of steel, copper, aluminum, iron or combinations thereof.

16. The tamper protection device of claim 11, wherein said connector circuit comprises:

a first system of electrical connectors from said alarm system to a terminal bar; and

a second system of electrical connectors from said terminal bar to at least said first, second and third switch means.

17. The tamper protection device of claim 12, wherein said connector circuit is a system of first and second electrical connectors and a terminal bar for energizing said protection device and for transmitting said first, third, and fourth signals to said alarm system to announce said intruder.

18. A telephone operated security alarm system which utilizes a telephone service box having telephone service lines, said tamper protection system including:

a security alarm box electrically connected to said telephone service box for transmitting alarm signals to personnel at a discrete alarm monitoring station using said telephone service lines;

a service enclosure for enclosing at least said telephone service box and a portion of said service lines to prohibit direct access to said telephone service box and said portion of said telephone service lines;

a vibration sensor mounted within said service enclosure to detect any vibrations of said service enclosure and generate a first electrical signal in response to said vibrations;

a first switch means mounted on said service enclosure being actuatable in response to displacing said enclosure from a supporting surface upon which the service enclosure is mounted for generating a second electrical signal;

an outside access door included in said enclosure having a second switch being actuatable in response to opening said outside door for generating a third electrical signal;

an inside access door included in said enclosure, enclosed by and accessible only through said outside door, having a third switch being actuatable in response to opening said inside door for generating a fourth electrical signal;

a first door lock carried by said outside access door for positively locking said outside door so that said inside access door and said telephone service box are inaccessible;

an second door lock carried by said inside access door for positively locking said inside access door so that said telephone service box is inaccessible; and

said first and second locks prohibiting direct access to the inside of said service enclosure and said security alarm box from receiving any one of said first, second, third and fourth signals and wherein said third signal provides an alarm signal to said security alarm box prior to the opening of said inside access door and prior to an intruder having access to said telephone service box or lines so that the alarm system operates to announce said intruder to said alarm monitoring station using said telephone service lines before said lines can be cut.

19. The alarm system of claim 18, wherein said system further includes a connector circuit having a first system of electrical connectors from said alarm system to a terminal bar and a second system of electrical connectors from said terminal bar to said vibration sensor and at least one of said first, second and third switch means, such that said first and second system of electrical connectors connect said system as an open circuit system.

20. The alarm system of claim 18, wherein said system further includes a connector circuit having a first system of electrical connectors from said alarm system to a terminal bar and a second system of electrical connectors from said terminal bar to said vibration sensor and at least one of said first, second and third switch means, such that said first and second system of electrical connectors connect said system as a closed circuit system.