Four—states warning switch

• US 6,262,665 B1
• Filed: 03/19/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eskander; Nader Nessem , Nader Nessem Eskander
• Original Assignee: Nader Nessem Eskander
• Inventors: Eskander, Nader Nessem
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sihong
• Application Number:
  US09/272,352
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/574, 340/693.5, 340/541, 340/545.1, 340/546
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

The four-states warning switch is a special warning device of exceptional features. One of these features, allows the user to send an initial signal, in case he only suspects that he may be attacked, assaulted, go into a coma or may face a danger of any other type. He does so by pressing the device'"'"'s handle, closing a “suspicion circuit” that transmits a “suspicion signal” to a security office, a police station, an ambulance or a doctor'"'"'s clinic. The user then shifts the handle rightwards while it is still pressed, bringing it to a position, where the device is ready to automatically close a warning circuit in case he releases the handle. This is the second important feature of the device, for if the user releases his/her hand involuntarily in case of an attack or in case he becomes unconscious, a warning signal is automatically transmitted. On the other hand, the user can bring the device back to its “idle state” manually from the “suspicion state”, whenever he feels safe. However, besides these two exceptional features, the device also keeps its prime feature as a direct warning facility. The user can simply bring the device to its “direct warning state” by shifting the handle leftwards without pressing it. He/she benefits from this feature of the device in case of a sudden attack or on facing an unexpected danger.

Claims

1. A four-states warning switch, comprising:

a. a hollow housing, said housing electrically connected to a first electric circuit and a separate, second electric circuit;

b. a hollow actuating cylinder element enclosed inside said housing and pivoted to said housing by a pivot pin from one end, said actuating cylinder element enclosing;

i. a piston having two parts, an inside part and an extension of a smaller diameter extending outside said actuating cylinder element, movable only leftwards, guided by a groove in the inner surface of said housing,

ii. an activated only when pressed first push-button switch, electrically connected to said first electric circuit,

iii. a rod, fixed to said inside part of said piston, with tip of said rod facing said first push-button switch so as to press said first push-button switch when said piston moves inwards,

iv. a bar fixed to said piston extension, and extending outside said housing, guided by a slot in said housing for rightward and leftward movement with said slot having same center line of said groove,

v. a compression spring, fitted between said inside part of said piston and said first push-button switch,

c. a protrusion on outer surface of said actuating cylinder element,

d. a handle fixed to said bar,

e. an activated only when pressed second push-button switch, electrically connected to said second electric circuit, fixed to inner surface of said housing , having a side “

U”

shape opening wherein said bar fits smoothly on reaching the right end of said slot on pressing said handle and shifting said actuating cylinder element rightwards so as to activate said second push-button switch by said piston extension,

f. an activated only when pressed third push-button switch, electrically connected to said second electric circuit and connected in parallel to said second push-button switch, fixed to inner surface of said housing thereat a spot facing said protrusion of said actuating cylinder element so as to activate it by shifting said actuating cylinder element leftwards until said protrusion presses said third push-button switch.

2. A four-states warning switch of claim 1, wherein said piston having such form and dimensions so that its said inside part remains always inside the said actuating cylinder element;

and said piston extension remains totally or partially outside said actuating cylinder element even when said piston is pressed inwards.

3. A four-states warning switch of claim 1, wherein said groove and said slot having such a form so that said actuating cylinder element can not be moved rightwards except when said handle is pressed.

4. A four-states warning switch of claim 1, wherein said handle having five settings whereby:

in first setting, said four-states warning switch is in its off state, said handle is not pressed, said piston extension is inside said groove positioned at the right end of said groove;

in second setting, said handle is pressed to activate said first push-button switch;

in third setting, said handle is moved rightwards while being pressed until said bar reaches right end of said slot;

in fourth setting, said handle is released to inactivate said first push-button switch and activate said second push-button switch;

in fifth setting, said handle is moved leftwards to activate said third push-button switch.

5. A four-states warning switch of claim 4, wherein said slot in said housing having circular openings at two spots;

whereby said first setting and said second setting of said handle taking place at the first spot, while said third setting and said fourth setting of said handle taking place at the second spot; and

said bar having larger clearance at said two spots than the clearance between said bar and the rest of said slot, allowing the user to feel where to locate said handle without looking.

6. A four-states warning switch of claim 1, further comprising:

additional push-button switches fitted beside said second push-button switch;

allowing for extra warning functions or signals when required, said additional push-button switches are of a split type, so that said bar passes through them to the required position; and

fixed to inner surface of said housing, facing said piston extension when said actuating cylinder element is shifted rightwards.

7. A four-states warning switch of claim 1, further comprising:

a second compression spring, fitted between the left side of said actuating cylinder element and said housing so as to facilitate the movement of said actuating cylinder element rightwards when extra power is required.

8. A four-states warning switch of claim 1, wherein said pivot connection of said actuating cylinder element to said housing is replaced by slide attachments on both ends of said actuating cylinder element so as to effect slide movement inside said housing when straight movement of said handle is required.

9. A four-states warning switch of claim 5, further comprising:

an angle shape of said slot whereby;

i. said first spot on the position where said first setting and said second setting of said handle take place is located at the vertex of said angle,

ii. said bar does not move leftwards from said first spot, but deviates, making an angle before it activates said third push-button switch to prevent unintentional shifting of said handle leftwards when required; and

iii. said pivot connection of said actuating cylinder element to said housing is modified to allow for angle movement.

10. A four-states warning switch of claim 1, wherein said third push-button switch fixed to the outside surface of said housing when clearer location is required, so that the pressing of said third push-button switch is effected directly by the user;

and so limiting the movement of said actuating cylinder element to the right direction.

11. A four-states warning switch of claim 1, wherein the size of said four-states warning switch is minimized when required, by replacing said first push-button switch, said second push-button switch and said third push-button switch by three pairs of terminal lugs whereby said rod, said piston extension and said protrusion are electrically insulated and they contact said pairs of terminal lugs directly.

12. A four-states warning switch of claim 11, wherein the outer body of said actuating cylinder element is eliminated when minimized size is required, whereby the electric connection between first pair of said terminal lugs replacing said first push-button switch effected by a flange fitted before the end of said rod allowing the tip of said rod to fit in a hole between said first pair of terminal lugs when said handle is pressed inward, and the electric connection between third pair of said terminal lugs replacing said third push-button switch effected by a line shaped protrusion, fixed to the side of said piston and facing said third pair of terminal lugs.

13. A four-states warning switch in form of a hollow actuating cylinder element, electrically connected to a first electric circuit and to a separate second electric circuit, comprising:

a. a horizontally drawn “

T”

shaped slot in the body of said actuating cylinder element, wherein the horizontal side ends with a circular opening and the lower vertical side is wider than the upper vertical side; and

b. said actuating cylinder element enclosing;

i. an activated only when pressed upper push-button switch fixed to the upper end inside the cylinder hollow of said actuating cylinder element and electrically connected to said first electric circuit,

ii. an activated only when pressed lower push-button switch fixed to the lower end of said cylinder hollow and electrically connected to said second electric circuit,

iii. a piston located between said upper push-button switch and said lower push-button switch, with its lower end facing said lower push-button switch so as to press and activate it when said piston moves downwards,

iv. a rod fixed to upper side of said piston, with its tip facing said upper push-button switch so as to press and activate it when said piston moves upwards,

v. a bar fixed to the cylindrical surface of said piston, extending outside the body of said actuating cylinder element through said slot,

vi. a handle fixed to said bar, and used in shifting said piston upwards or downwards through said bar guided by said slot,

vii. a compression spring fitted between said piston and said upper push-button switch, pressing said piston downwards.

14. A four-states warning switch of claim 13, wherein said handle having four settings, whereby:

in first setting, said four-states warning switch is in its off state, said bar is positioned in said horizontal side of said slot;

in second setting, said handle is shifted upwards until said bar reaches its final position in said upper side of said slot so that said upper push-button switch is activated;

in third setting, said handle is released so that said bar moves vertically downwards along said upper side and said lower side of said slot, reaching its final position, so that said lower push-button switch is activated, and said upper push-button switch is inactivated; and

in fourth setting, said handle is shifted downwards until said bar reaches its final position in said lower side of said slot, so that said lower push-button switch is activated.

15. A four-states warning switch of claim 13, wherein the lower side of said slot having such a form so as to facilitate the moving of said bar from the upper side to said lower side of said slot.

16. A four-states warning switch of claim 13, wherein the horizontal side of said slot having such a form so as to avoid an unintentional slipping of said bar from its position.

17. A four-states warning switch of claim 13, wherein the size of said four-states warning switch is minimized when required, by replacing said upper push-button switch and said lower push-button switch by two pairs of terminal lugs, whereby said piston and said rod are electrically insulated and they contact said pairs of terminal lugs directly.