Access control vestibule

• US 6,298,603 B1
• Filed: 11/10/1999
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William Diaz
• Original Assignee: William Diaz
• Inventors: Diaz, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Redman, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Curtis A.
• Application Number:
  US09/437,693
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 109/2-9, 49/25, 49/68, 49/29, 49/30, 49/31
• US Class Current: 49/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 5/003 Entrance control E05G5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 5/02 Trapping or confining mechanisms, e.g. transaction security boothsthief or burglar incapacitating means in general G08B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/116 for sluices
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/01 Measuring or predicting earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/105 forming directly coupled primary and secondary coils or loops

Abstract

An access control chamber security system with a security chamber having an aluminum frame and an entrance door and an exit door, a metal detector located within the access control chamber to detect a weapon being carried within the chamber, locks on the doors and control means to prevent the doors from being opened at the same time or prevent the exit door from opening when a weapon is detected, and including improvements such as a side frame member with a cutout section having an insulated member placed therein to provide an open electrical loop in the side frame member, the metal detector having a plurality of coils located in a plurality of zones, a three second time delay from when the manually operated exit door is opened to when the lock on the exit door is re-activated, ballistic fiberglass disposed within a hollow section of the aluminum frame members, floor contact pads with nitrogen disposed within the pads surrounding the metal plates formed therein, a floor contact pad having a plurality of induction coils therein to act as a metal detector for a weapon placed on the floor, a vibration sensor or seismic detector associated with the controls of the access control chamber system to unlock the doors in the event of an earthquake or a bomb explosion, and the lock box covering up the magnetic locks having bullet-resistant capabilities. The vibration sensor includes a magnet hanging from a thin wire, and in close proximity to a normally opened contact switch such that displacement of the magnet closes the contact switch.

Claims

1. An access control vestibule, comprising:

a metal frame including a side wall frame section;

the side wall frame section comprising a cutout section;

the side wall frame section comprising a first portion and a second portion;

an entrance door and an exit door mounted on opposite ends of the access control chamber to permit access into and exiting from the access control chamber;

lock means for locking both of the doors;

the metal frame defining an access control chamber;

a metal detector disposed to detect metal within the access control chamber;

a bullet resistant transparent glass mounted in the side wall frame section;

control means for preventing both doors from being opened at the same time;

said control means being operatively connected to said lock means to control locking and unlocking of both doors;

seismic detector means for determining if an earthquake or an explosion is occurring;

the seismic detector means being operatively connected to the control means; and

whereby upon the seismic detector means determining that an earthquake or an explosion is occurring, the control means unlocks both doors.

2. The access control vestibule according to claim 1, further comprising:

the metal frame including a plurality of hollow frame members; and

a ballistic fiberglass panel disposed essentially entirely within the hollow section of the metal frame members.

3. The access control vestibule according to claim 2, further comprising:

an insulated member secured in the cutout section to physically connect the first portion to the second portion, and to electrically insulate the first portion from the second portion; and

the side wall frame section and the insulated connecting member in combination being configured to form an open electrical loop in the side wall frame section.

4. The access control vestibule according to claim 3, further comprising:

the metal detector comprising at least one plurality of zoned coils arranged along a plane of the detector; and

each of the coils of the at least one plurality of zoned coils being configured and disposed to detect a magnetic field from a specified area within the access control chamber.

5. The access control vestibule according to claim 4, further comprising:

the entrance door and the exit door both being manually operated;

touch pad means located on the exit door;

unlock means for unlocking the lock means on the exit door;

the unlock means being operatively connected to the lock means and to the touch pad means, wherein the unlock means is configured to deactivate the lock means and unlock the exit door when the touch pad means is activated by a person; and

control means for providing a three second time delay from the time the touch pad on the exit door is initially activated until the lock means on the exit door is reactivated to lock the exit door.

6. A method of operating an entrance way, said entranceway comprising:

a metal frame;

at least one door to permit access through said entranceway;

lock means for locking said at least one door;

a bullet resistant glass mounted in said entranceway;

control means for preventing said at least one door from being opened;

said control means being operatively connected to said lock means to control locking and unlocking said at least one door;

vibration sensing means for determining if an earthquake or explosion is occurring;

said vibration sensing means being operatively connected to said control means; and

whereby upon said vibration sensing means determines that an earthquake or an explosion is occurring, said control means unlocks said at least one door; and

said method comprising the steps of;

preparing to sense, using said vibration sensing means, occurrence of an earthquake or explosion;

sensing, using said vibration sensing means, an earthquake or explosion upon occurrence of an earthquake or explosion;

unlocking said at least one door, using said control means, when said vibration sensing means determines that an earthquake or explosion is occurring; and

activating said control means for preventing said at least one door from being opened.

7. An entranceway, comprising:

a metal frame;

said metal frame defining at least one door;

said at least one door being configured to permit access through said entranceway;

a metal detector disposed to detect metal;

a bullet resistant transparent glass mounted in said entranceway;

lock means for locking said at least one door;

control means for preventing said at least one door from being opened;

said control means being operatively connected to said lock means to control locking and unlocking of said at least one door;

seismic detector means for determining if an earthquake or explosion is occurring;

said seismic detector means being operatively connected to said control means; and

whereby upon said seismic detector means determining that an earthquake or an explosion is occurring, said control means unlocks said at least one door.

8. The entranceway according to claim 7, further comprising:

said at least one door comprising an entrance door and an exit door;

an access control chamber formed between said at least one door;

the metal detector is located between the entrance door and the exit door;

the metal frame comprises a plurality of hollow metal frame members; and

a ballistic fiberglass panel disposed essentially entirely within the hollow section of the metal frame members.

9. The entranceway according to claim 8, further comprising:

said metal frame including a side wall frame section;

the side wall frame section comprising a cutout section;

the side wall frame section comprising a first portion and a second portion;

an insulated member secured in the cutout section to physically connect the first portion to the second portion, and to electrically insulate the first portion from the second portion; and

the side wall frame section and the insulated connecting member in combination being configured to form an open electrical loop in the side wall frame section.

10. The entranceway according to claim 9, further comprising:

the metal detector comprising at least one plurality of zoned coils arranged along a plane of the detector; and

each of the coils of the at least one plurality of zoned coils being configured and disposed to detect a magnetic field from a specified area within the access control chamber.

11. The entranceway according to claim 10, further comprising:

the entrance door and the exit door both being manually operated;

touch pad means located on the exit door;

unlock means for unlocking the lock means on the exit door;

the unlock means being operatively connected to the lock means and to the touch pad means, wherein the unlock means is configured to deactivate the lock means and unlock the exit door when the touch pad means is activated by a person; and

control means for providing a three second time delay from the time the touch pad on the exit door is initially activated until the lock means on the exit door is reactivated to lock the exit door.

12. The entranceway according to claim 11, further comprising:

a magnetic contact assembly associated with the entrance door, wherein the control means determines through the magnetic contact assembly if the entrance door is closed.

13. The entranceway according to claim 12, further comprising:

a floor contact pad located on the floor inside the access control chamber;

control means for detecting if a person is standing on the floor contact pad;

a sealed chamber within the floor contact pad;

a metal contact plate disposed inside the sealed chamber of the floor contact pad; and

an inert gas disposed to be sealed within the sealed chamber of the floor contact pad.

14. The entranceway according to claim 13, further comprising:

both doors having a metal frame structure;

said at least one door lock means comprising a magnetic lock associated with each door;

a bullet resistant cover for each of the magnetic locks, the cover comprising a thin outer cover member and a plurality of thicker metal plates, the plates being arranged between the outer cover member and the magnetic lock;

a metal exit door frame structure and a metal entrance door frame structure;

a corresponding closer member secured to each of the metal door frame structures;

a slot extending along a top portion of each of the metal door frame structures;

a rigid, arc-shaped bar;

the arc-shape extending over a substantial portion of the entire length of the bar; and

the arc-shaped bar having one end rotatably secured to the corresponding closer member and having another end with a sliding member means, the sliding member means engaging the slot of the corresponding metal door frame structure, whereby a pivoting of the arc-shaped bar produces a movement of the corresponding door.

15. The entranceway according to claim 14, further comprising:

at least one door frame for said at least one door;

at least one continuous door hinge having a length substantially equal to the height of said at least one door frame;

wherein said at least one door frame, along substantially its entire height, is swingably secured to the metal frame by the continuous door hinge; and

means for mounting the vibration sensing means onto the access control chamber.

16. The entranceway according to claim 15, further comprising:

control means for preventing both the entrance door and the exit door from being opened at the same time;

the vibration sensing means comprises;

a pendulum arrangement connected at one end to a fixed frame;

a magnet connected to the other end of the pendulum arrangement;

a contact switch having either a normally opened position or a normally closed position; and

wherein when the magnet is displaced, the switch reverses from its normal position; and

a metal box enclosing the vibration sensing means, the metal box forming the fixed frame.

17. The entranceway according to claim 16, further comprising:

the lock means being operatively connected to the control means;

a touch floor pad located on a floor of the access control chamber;

the touch floor pad comprising;

a plurality of induction coils; and

a rubber material disposed to at least substantially surround the plurality of coils;

means for mounting the vibration sensing means onto said at least one door;

control means for detecting if a magnetic field has been induced in at least one of the plurality of induction coils of the touch floor pad;

the detecting control means being operatively connected to the touch floor pad;

means for preventing the exit door lock from being unlocked when the detecting means detects a magnetic field;

a power supply box; and

mount means for mounting the vibration sensing means in the power supply box.

18. The entranceway according to claim 17, wherein the detecting control means is configured to detect if a magnetic field has been induced in at least one of the plurality of induction coils of the touch floor pad, by the presence of a weapon near the touch floor pad.

19. The entranceway according to claim 18, further comprising:

the entrance door and the exit door each comprising a door frame structure;

the entrance door structure and the exit door structures each being mounted to the metal frame;

nitrogen comprising the inert gas; and

wherein the metal frame comprises;

a left side outer corner post;

a left side inner corner post adjacent to the left side outer corner post;

a center post;

two side center posts adjacent to each side of the center post;

a right side outer corner post; and

a right side inner corner post adjacent to the right side outer corner post.

20. The entranceway according to claim 19, further comprising:

the outer corner posts and the center post each having a concave portion in which is received an edge of a glass panel;

the vibration sensing means comprising a seismic detector;

at least one of said at least one door frame structures is mounted to either the inner corner post or the side center post;

wherein the at least one door frame structure can swing with respect to at least one of the inner corner post and the side center post; and

the inner corner posts and the side center posts each having a projection extending into one of said at least one door frame structures, wherein the projection is configured to provide a stop for the swinging movement of said at least one door frame structure.