Flood light lamp removal alarm

• US 5,818,338 A
• Filed: 04/07/1997
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph C. Ferraro
• Original Assignee: Joseph C. Ferraro
• Inventors: Ferraro, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/835,200
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568, 340/571, 340/541, 340/506, 340/643, 340/539, 340/660, 340/661, 340/664, 340/641, 340/642, 315/129, 315/130, 315/131, 315/132, 315/133
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/149 with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives

Abstract

A flood light lamp removal alarm for security lights mounted on or near a home, wherein the lights are designed to turn on automatically if a motion detector is triggered and the ambient light level is low, detects if any of the flood light lamps are unscrewed or loosened, either prior to a burglary or during the attempt to disable the flood light assembly. A central contact of a lamp socket is modified so that it maintains contact with the lamp therein for a longer distance as the lamp is unscrewed out, so that the alarm is triggered before the light from the lamp is disabled. Alternatively, current detectors verify when a lamp is loosened from a socket by detecting changes in current draw across the socket.

Claims

1. A flood light lamp removal alarm assembly for home security flood light fixtures having at least on one socket accommodating at least one flood light lamp, said socket connected to a power supply for the lamp, the fixture having a low ambient light detector and a motion detector, wherein the assembly detects unwarranted unscrewing of the flood light lamp therefrom, comprising:

a housing containing a perceptible alarm;

a means for detecting removal of the lamp, said means comprising the lamp socket having a physical condition sensor therein, which physical condition sensor is inactivated when said lamp is properly screwed into said socket, said physical condition sensor being activated when the lamp is loosened or removed from the socket;

said sensor comprising a switch mounted in the bottom of said socket positioned in such a manner that when said lamp is properly screwed into said socket, said switch is depressed in the closed position;

an electrical circuit means being connected to said switch for triggering said alarm when said switch is released as a result of loosening or removal of said lamp from said socket, said alarm remaining inactive as long as said switch remains depressed by said lamp; and

,

said socket being provided with resilient electrical contact means for maintaining lamp-illuminating electrical contact during a partial removal of said lamp from said socket, while providing for said triggering of said lamp removal alarm even while said partially removed lamp remains illuminated by electrical contact with said resilient contact means.

2. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly of claim 1 where said resilient electrical contact means comprises an elongated leaf spring for maintaining electrical contact with said lamp respectively during the loosening or partial withdrawal of said lamp from said socket.

3. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 2 wherein said physical condition sensor means further comprises an electric circuit separate from the lamp illuminating electrical circuit, said physical condition sensor circuit further comprising a switch having a push-button disposed in the bottom of the socket respectively;

said push button having a short throw compressible when pressed upon by a fully seated and tightened lamp in said socket;

said switch having a no-alarm condition when said push-button is depressed by a fully-seated lamp; and

,

said switch having an alarm condition when said push button is not compressed due to the absence of a fully seated condition of said lamp.

4. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 2, wherein an oblique portion of said leaf spring is increased in length by 30-50 percent.

5. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 1 wherein said resilient electrical contact means comprises an electrically conductive coil spring.

6. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 5 wherein said coil spring has a central electrical contact in combination with and surrounded by an electrically insulating compressible sleeve;

said coil spring and bellows sleeve combination being mounted within said socket for extensible electrical contact of said lamp with said central contact for providing illuminating current during partial removal of the lamp from the socket.

7. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 6 wherein said physical condition sensor means further comprises an electric circuit separate from said lamp illuminating electrical circuit, said physical condition sensor circuit further comprising a switch having an electrically insulated narrow actuator rod disposed in a bottom of said socket;

said narrow actuator rod having a throw and being compressible when pressed upon by a fully seated and tightened lamp in said socket;

said switch having a no-alarm condition when said narrow actuator rod is depressed by a fully-seated lamp; and

said switch having an alarm condition when said narrow actuator rod is not compressed due to the absence of a fully seated condition of said lamp.

8. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 6, wherein said compressible sleeve is a bellows.

9. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 6 wherein said compressible sleeve is a telescoping cylinder.

10. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 6 wherein said compressible sleeve is made of silicone.