Integrated vehicle and building alarm system

• US 6,100,793 A
• Filed: 02/01/1999
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George A. Dimou
• Original Assignee: George A. Dimou
• Inventors: Dimou, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/241,479
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/547, 340/427, 340/431, 340/984, 379/37, 379/40, 379/42, 379/44, 307/10.1, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1012 Zone surveillance means, e.g. parking lots, truck depots
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

1. An integrated vehicle and building alarm system for protecting at least one vehicle located adjacent a building, comprising at least one vehicle alarm device, located within the vehicle, having means for detecting an intrusion into the vehicle, means for producing an audible alert in response to said intrusion, and means for activating an alarm signal when said intrusion occurs. The system also comprises a building alarm device having a plurality of input ports corresponding to a number of protected zones, the device is located within the building and has means for detecting the alarm signal on the input ports. In addition, the device has means for generating an alert signal when an alarm signal occurs. A junction box, having at least one input port and at least one output port, is located inside the building. An attachment cable is electrically connected between the vehicle alarm device and the input port of the junction box. Also, at least one alarm signal line is electrically connected between the output port of the junction box and the input port of the building alarm device. Finally, there are alert means for drawing attention to the area of the intrusion is electrically connected to the building alarm device which are actuated by the alert signal generated by the building alarm device.

Claims

1. An integrated vehicle and building alarm system for protecting at least one vehicle located adjacent a building, comprising:

at least one vehicle alarm device, located within the vehicle, having means for detecting an intrusion into the vehicle, means for producing an audible alert in response to said intrusion, and means for activating an alarm signal when said intrusion occurs;

a building alarm device having a plurality of input ports corresponding to a number of protected zones, said building alarm device located within the building, having means for detecting said alarm signal on said input ports and having means for generating an alert signal when said alarm signal occurs;

a junction box having at least one input port and at least one output port, said junction box comprising a plurality of switches each having a first position for coupling the vehicle alarm device to the building alarm device and a second position for simulating the coupling of the vehicle alarm device to the building alarm device when no vehicle is present;

an attachment cable, electrically connected between said vehicle alarm device and said input port of said junction box;

at least one alarm signal line electrically connected between said output port of said junction box and said input port of said building alarm device; and

alert means for drawing attention to the area of the intrusion, electrically connected to said building alarm device, wherein said alert means is actuated by said alert signal generated by said building alarm device.

2. The integrated vehicle and building alarm system according to claim 1, wherein said means for detecting an intrusion further comprises:

a magnetic-reed switch mounted on said vehicle in proximity to a door of said vehicle; and

means for holding said magnetic-reed switch in an electrically closed position, wherein said means comprises a magnet mounted on said door of said vehicle.

3. The integrated vehicle and building alarm system according to claim 1, wherein said means for detecting an intrusion further comprises:

a magnetic-reed switch mounted on said vehicle in proximity to a window of said vehicle; and

means for holding said magnetic-reed switch in an electrically closed position, wherein said means comprises a magnet mounted on said window of said vehicle.

4. The integrated vehicle and building alarm system according to claim 1, wherein said attachment cable further comprises quick connect/disconnect means located on one end of said attachment cable for easy attachment and detachment from said vehicle alarm device.

5. The integrated vehicle and building alarm system according to claim 4, wherein said quick connect/disconnect means further comprises:

a male phonograph connector having an electrically conductive tip and a circular detent located adjacent said tip, wherein a first conductive region includes said tip and said circular detent;

a first insulating region located adjacent said circular detent and opposite said tip;

a second conducive region located adjacent said first insulating region and opposite said tip; and

a second insulating region located adjacent said second conductive region and opposite said tip, wherein said first and said second conductive regions make electrical connections with a corresponding female connector and said detent provides frictional resistance to prevent accidental removal of said male connector from the female connector.

6. The integrated vehicle and building alarm system according to claim 5, wherein said attachment cable is electrically connected between a first female connector and a second female connector, said first female connector is electrically connected to said vehicle alarm device and said second female connector is electrically connected to said input port on said junction box.

7. The integrated vehicle and building alarm system according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle further comprises a rear wall, said rear wall having a reinforced side region and said first female connector is located within said reinforced side region.

8. The integrated vehicle and building alarm system according to claim 6, wherein said second female connector is located along an outside wall of the building.

9. The integrated vehicle and building alarm system according to claim 1, wherein said alert means for drawing attention to the area of the intrusion further comprises:

an automatic dialer electrically connected to said building alarm and a telephone line, wherein said automatic dialer places a telephone call via said telephone lines to a central monitoring station and notifies them of the intrusion.

10. The integrated vehicle and building alarm system according to claim 1, wherein said alert means for drawing attention to the area of the intrusion comprises a horn.

11. The integrated vehicle and building alarm system according to claim 1, wherein said alert means for drawing attention to the area of the intrusion comprises a flashing light.

12. The integrated vehicle and building alarm system according to claim 1, wherein said junction box flurer comprises:

means for reducing the number of input ports to a selected number of output ports; and

a power transformer, electrically connected to said means for reducing said input ports, for amplifying an output signal on said output port.

13. In a building having a building alarm system capable of detecting an alarm event on a plurality of sensors, the system being electrically connected to an automatic dialer for contacting a central monitoring station in the event of an intrusion and an audible alarm device, wherein at least one vehicle contains a vehicle alarm device capable of detecting an alarm event on a plurality of sensors, the improvement comprising;

a switching device coupled to the input of the building alarm system, wherein said switching device is located in close proximity to the vehicles, said switching device comprising a plurality of switches each having a first position for coupling the vehicle alarm device to the building alarm system, and a second position for simulating the coupling of the vehicle alarm device to the building alarm system when no vehicle is present; and

detachable means for connecting the vehicle alarm device to said switching device, so that when said vehicle alarm device is activated, the building alarm system detects the activation through said switching device and activates the automatic dialer and audible alarm of the building alarm system.

14. The invention according to claim 13, wherein said switching device further comprises:

a power transformer for providing power to said switching device.