Decorative motion detector

• US 6,741,163 B1
• Filed: 08/13/1996
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Corinna A. Roberts
• Original Assignee: Corinna A. Roberts
• Inventors: Roberts, Corinna A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/689,654
• Time in Patent Office: 2,842 Days
• Field of Search: 340/330, 340/331, 340/332, 340/565, 340/567, 340/286.01, 340/326, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/691.1, 340/693.5, 340/693.9, 340/541
• US Class Current: 340/330
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19 using infrared-radiation detection systems G08B13/194 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/001 Concealed systems, e.g. disguised alarm systems to make covert systems

Abstract

A decorative motion detector, and a method for its use, that is preferably mounted in the interior of an occupied dwelling near an interior doorway area wall to a child'"'"'s room in an operative position to warn a parent or guardian when people leave or enter the child'"'"'s room through that doorway. The detector is mounted to an essentially planar base member having a rear wall, a decorative front wall, and a cavity therebetween so that its presence in a conspicuous position near the interior door is aesthetically pleasing and so that the decorative design on its true function of the present invention is disguised. When armed, the present invention generates a signal upon detection of movement within the doorway and the signal is transmitted to an alarm device that may generate an audible alarm, a visual alarm, or both. A low power light can be mounted on the base member so that it functions as a nightlight, as well as serve as a visual alarm when it is connected to the motion detector in a way that allows it to operate intermittently so as to flicker or blink when a person moves through the monitored doorway.

Claims

1. A monitoring device for identifying when a person passes through the entrance to a child'"'"'s room, said device being configured as an artistic wall decoration so as to not reveal its function to a casual observer and comprising

a essentially planar base member having a front wall and a rear wall, said base member being positioned within operable proximity of the entrance to a child'"'"'s room;

motion detection means mounted on said base member and exposed through said front wall in a position whereby a person passing through the room entrance will activate said motion detecting means;

a plurality of decorative designs on said front wall which blend in with and complement decor that would be typically used in a child'"'"'s room, said decorative designs having sufficient complexity and number to disguise said motion detecting means;

mounting means for attaching said base member to an object within operable proximity to the entrance to a child'"'"'s room;

alarm means also mounted on said base member and exposed through said front wall;

power supply means attached to said base member and electrically connected to both said motion detecting means and said alarm means;

said motion detection means being adapted to generate a signal upon detection of a person passing through the room entrance; and

said motion detection means being in electrical communication with said alarm means so that upon generation of a signal, said signal is immediately transmitted to and activates said alarm means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said base member has an aperture of sufficient dimension for housing both said motion detecting means and said alarm means.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said alarm means is selected from a group consisting of audio alarms, visual alarms, and tactile alarms.

4. The device of claim 3 further comprising a nightlight mounted on said front wall of said base member, said nightlight being in electrical communication with said power supply.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said nightlight is in electrical communication with said motion detecting means, and wherein said signal generated by said motion detector is operable to cause flashing of said nightlight.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said visual alarms are selected from a group consisting of incandescent lights adapted for creating a blinking signal, fluorescent lights adapted for creating a blinking signal, and lighted name plates adapted for creating a blinking signal.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said alarm means comprises a tactile alarm adapted to remotely vibrate a pillow.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said base member is luminescent.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said mounting means is selected from a group consisting of suction cups and peel-and-seal adhesive fasteners.

10. A method of using a motion detector for identifying movement of a person through the entrance to a child'"'"'s room, said method comprising the steps of

providing a base member, a motion detector, a plurality of camouflaging decorative designs, an alarm, a power supply, and a mounting device;

attaching said camouflaging decorative designs to the front of said base member;

attaching said motion detector to said base member in a position where said decorative designs conceal it to a casual observer;

attaching said alarm to said base member in a position where said decorative designs conceal it to a casual observer;

attaching said power supply to said base member in a position where it is hidden from a casual observer;

electrically connecting said power supply to said alarm and said motion detector;

electrically connecting said alarm to said motion detector; and

using said mounting device to position said base member near to the entrance to a child'"'"'s room where said motion detector would be in operable proximity to the room entrance to detect people passing through the room entrance and upon detecting movement of a person passing through the room entrance generate a signal that activate said alarm.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said steps of attaching said alarm to said base member and attaching said motion detector to said base member both involve attachment through a single aperture in said base member.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of providing said alarm comprises the step of providing an alarm selected from a group consisting of audio alarms, visual alarms, and tactile alarms.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of providing said visual alarms comprises the step of providing visual alarms selected from a group consisting of incandescent lights adapted for creating a blinking signal, fluorescent lights adapted for creating a blinking signal, and lighted name plates adapted for creating a blinking signal.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of providing a nightlight, attaching said nightlight to said base member, and electrically connecting said nightlight to said power supply.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of electrically connecting said nightlight to said motion detector so that said signal generated by said motion detector is operable to cause flashing of said nightlight.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of providing said alarm comprises the step of providing a tactile alarm adapted to remotely vibrate a pillow.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of providing said mounting device comprises the step of providing mounting devices selected from a group consisting of suction cups and peel-and-seal adhesive fasteners.