Flood light lamp removal misorientation alarm

• US 6,741,176 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2001
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph Ferraro
• Original Assignee: Joseph Ferraro
• Inventors: Ferraro, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/911,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20020014971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/567, 340/521, 340/691, 340/686.1, 340/687, 340/689, 340/541, 340/568.4
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0492 the sensor detecting a change in orientation, a movement or an acceleration of the lighting device, e.g. a tilt switch
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• 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 the motion detector or any of the flood light lamps and sockets are moved out of position, either prior to a burglary or during the attempt to disable the flood light assembly.

Claims

1. A tilt-switch tampering alarm system for determining unauthorized movement of premises security equipment, comprising:

at least one electrical tilt switch rigidly mounted to at least one piece of premises security equipment;

said at least one piece of premises security equipment comprising at least one floodlight housing, said at least one floodlight housing having attached thereto at least one electrical floodlight lamp receptacle;

said at least one tilt switch being tiltably moveable between alternate electrical on-and-off positions,

wherein said at least one tilt switch detects unauthorized movement of said at least one electrical floodlight lamp receptacle and communicates a perceptible alarm when said premises security equipment is moved in unauthorized manner.

2. The tilt switch tampering alarm system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one tilt switch comprises two switches,

said at least two tilt switches being mounted at right angles relative to one another so as to tilt at right angles relative to each other.

3. The tilt-switch tampering alarm of claim 1 wherein said at least tilt switch mounted to said one piece of premises security equipment is mounted within a housing connected to said at least one piece of premises security equipment.

4. The tilt-switch tampering alarm of claim 3, wherein said at least one housing of said at least one piece of premises security equipment further has at least one motion detector housing within said at least one security equipment housing;

and

said at least two electrical tilt switches are rigidly mounted at right angles relative to one another within said at least one motion detector housing.

5. The tilt-switch tampering alarm of claim 4, wherein said at least one motion detector housing is movably adjustable within a range of adjustment positions.

6. The tilt switch tampering alarm of claim 1 wherein said at least one tilt switch comprises a mercury-type switch.

7. The tilt-switch tampering alarm of claim 1, wherein said at least one tilt switch comprises a non-mercury-type tilt switch.

8. A tilt-switch tampering alarm system for premises security equipment comprising at least one floodlight housing, said at least one floodlight housing having attached thereto at least one electrical floodlight lamp receptacle;

said system comprising;

at least one motion detector housing disposed within said at least one floodlight housing;

said at least one electrical floodlight lamp receptacle having rigidly mounted therein at least one electrical tilt switch rigidly mounted therewithin wherein

said at least one tilt switch is tiltably movable between alternate electrical on-and-off positions; and

said at least one tilt switch detects unauthorized movement of said at least one electrical flood light lamp receptacle away from an authorized predetermined placement by orientation.

9. The tilt-switch tampering alarm system of claim 8 wherein said at least one tilt switch comprises a mercury-type switch.

10. The tilt-switch tampering alarm system of claim 8 wherein said at least one tilt switch comprises a non-mercury-type switch.

11. A tilt-switch tampering alarm system for premises security equipment comprising at least one floodlight housing comprising at least one electrical floodlight lamp receptacle, said at least one floodlight housing having attached thereto at least one motion detector, said system comprising:

said at least one electrical floodlight lamp receptacle having rigidly mounted therein at least one electrical tilt switch rigidly mounted therewithin wherein

said at least one tilt switch is tiltably moveable between alternate electrical on-and-off positions and responsive to movement of said at least one electrical floodlight lamp receptacle;

said alarm system comprising a hardware implementation system comprising logic modules capable of detecting a transition in state from an open state to a closed state or vice versa in said at least one tilt switch;

wherein

said hardware implementation system comprises storage means for storing said transition in state and thereby turning on an alarm condition.

12. The tilt-switch tampering alarm system as in claim 11 wherein said at least one tilt switch is a pair of tilt switches.

13. A tilt-switch tampering alarm system for premises security equipment comprising at least one floodlight housing, said at least one floodlight housing having attached thereto at least one electrical floodlight lamp receptacle;

said system comprising;

said at least floodlight lamp receptacle having rigidly mounted thereto at least one electrical tilt switch;

wherein

said at least one tilt switch is tiltably movable between alternate electrical on-and-off positions;

said alarm system comprising a hardware implementation system comprising logic modules capable of detecting a transition in state from an open state to a closed state or vice versa in said at least one tilt switch;

wherein

said hardware implementation system comprises storage means for storing said transition in state and thereby turning on an alarm condition.

14. The tilt-switch tampering alarm system as in claim 13 wherein said at least one tilt switch is a pair of tilt switches.

15. A tilt-switch tampering alarm system for premises security equipment comprising at least one floodlight housing comprising at least one electrical floodlight lamp receptacle, said at least one floodlight housing having attached thereto at least one motion detector, said system comprising:

said at least one electrical floodlight lamp receptacle having rigidly mounted therein at least one electrical tilt switch rigidly mounted therewithin;

wherein

said at least one tilt switch is tiltably moveable between alternate electrical on-and-off positions and responsive to movement of said at least one electrical floodlight lamp receptacle;

said alarm system comprising a software implementation system wherein a microprocessor uses an endless monitoring loop capable of detecting a transition in state from an open state to a closed state or vice versa in said at least one tilt switch;

wherein

said software implementation system then turns on an alarm condition.

16. The tilt-switch tampering alarm system as in claim 15 wherein said at least one tilt switch is a pair of tilt switches.

17. A tilt-switch tampering alarm system for premises security equipment comprising at least one floodlight housing, said at least one floodlight housing having attached thereto at least one electrical floodlight lamp receptacle;

said system comprising;

said at least one floodlight lamp receptacle having rigidly mounted thereto at least one electrical tilt switch rigidly mounted therewithin;

wherein

said at least one tilt switch is tiltably movable between alternate electrical on-and-off positions;

said alarm system comprising a software implementation system wherein a microprocessor uses an endless monitoring loop capable of detecting a transition in state from an open state to a closed state or vice versa in said at least one tilt switch;

wherein

said computer processing then turns on an alarm condition.

18. The tilt-switch tampering alarm system as in claim 17 wherein said at least one tilt switch is a pair of tilt switches.