Concealed security system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A concealed security system comprising:
- a household appliance selected from the group consisting of a television, a video cassette recorder, and a clock, the appliance including a housing with an outer wall and a control panel forming a portion of the outer wall, the control panel being in communication with a processing means;
security sensing means for monitoring an area and detecting the presence of a person within the area, the security sensing means being disposed in the outer wall of the housing so as to have an appearance indistinguishable from the outer wall, and electronically connected to the control panel, said sensing means being responsive to a control signal generated by the control panel, for activating and deactivating the security sensing means; and
communication means disposed at least partially within the household appliance for communicating with a remote location so as to indicate when the security sensing means detects the presence of a person within the area, the communication means comprising a telephone line.
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Abstract
A concealed security system is disclosed including a security sensor which is disposed in conventional appliances, such as televisions, video cassette recorders, telephones and the like. The security sensors are disposed so as to blend with the components of the appliance and thereby be generally unnoticeable to intruders. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the normal functioning of the appliance is modifiable so as to disguise an indication signal which indicates to the user that the sensor is activated.
67 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A concealed security system comprising:
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a household appliance selected from the group consisting of a television, a video cassette recorder, and a clock, the appliance including a housing with an outer wall and a control panel forming a portion of the outer wall, the control panel being in communication with a processing means; security sensing means for monitoring an area and detecting the presence of a person within the area, the security sensing means being disposed in the outer wall of the housing so as to have an appearance indistinguishable from the outer wall, and electronically connected to the control panel, said sensing means being responsive to a control signal generated by the control panel, for activating and deactivating the security sensing means; and communication means disposed at least partially within the household appliance for communicating with a remote location so as to indicate when the security sensing means detects the presence of a person within the area, the communication means comprising a telephone line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for monitoring an area for the presence of persons without indicating that the area is being monitored, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a sensor for indicating the presence of a person within the area to be monitored; (b) positioning the sensor at an outer wall of a household appliance selected from the group consisting of a television, a video cassette recorder, a clock, a lamp, oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer, and a dryer so that the sensor may not be readily identified by those in the area to be monitored; (c) activating the sensor so as to monitor the area; and (d) providing a communication means disposed in the household appliance for contacting a remote location and indicating when the presences of a person within the area to be monitored is detected, the communications means comprising a telephone line. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A concealed security system comprising:
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a telephone including a housing with an outer wall and a control panel forming a portion of the outer wall, the control panel being in communication with a processing means; security sensing means for monitoring an area and detecting the presence of a person within the area, the security sensing means being disposed in the outer wall of the housing so as to have an appearance indistinguishable from the outer wall, and electronically connected to the control panel, said sensing means being responsive to a control signal generated by the control panel, for activating and deactivating the security sensing means, the security sensing means comprising a motion detector means for detecting movement within the area, wherein the telephone comprises a cordless telephone handset, and a base unit, and wherein said motion detector means is disposed within the cordless handset. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A concealed security system comprising:
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a telephone including a housing with an outer wall and a control panel forming a portion of the outer wall, the control panel being in communication with a processing means; security sensing means for monitoring an area and detecting the presence of a person within the area, the security sensing means being disposed in the outer wall of the housing so as to have an appearance indistinguishable from the outer wall, and electronically connected to the control panel, said sensing means being responsive to a control signal generated by the control panel, for activating and deactivating the security sensing means, the security sensing means comprising a motion detector means for detecting movement within the area, wherein the telephone comprises a cordless telephone handset, and a base unit, and wherein said motion detector means is disposed within the cordless handset; and wherein the telephone further comprises an answering machine, and wherein the answering machine comprises a means for conveying a recorded message via a phone line responsive to an indication from the security sensing means that a person is in the area. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A concealed security system comprising:
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a household appliance including a housing with an outer wall and a control panel forming a portion of the outer wall, the control panel being in communication with a processing means, the appliance comprising a television having a remote control sensor disposed in the housing thereof; security sensing means for monitoring an area and detecting the presence of a person within the area, the security sensing means being disposed in the outer wall of the housing so as to have an appearance indistinguishable from the outer wall, and electronically connected to the control panel, said sensing means being responsive to a control signal generated by the control panel, for activating and deactivating the security sensing means; and communication means disposed at least partially within the housing of the television for communicating with a remote location so as to indicate when the security sensing means detects the presence of a person within the area.
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Specification