Residential signal beacon

• US 7,356,260 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Billie J.O. Seifert
• Original Assignee: Billie J.O. Seifert
• Inventors: Seifert, Billie Jo
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCAL, LESLIE C
• Application Number:
  US10/876,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20050012635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 398/106, 398/111, 398208-209, 398212-213, 398/172, 34042613-42632, 375/310, 455/352
• US Class Current: 398/106
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/064 indicating houses needing emergency help, e.g. with a flashing light or sound

Abstract

A residential signal beacon includes a prominent illuminated or reflective display for a resident'"'"'s address along with a selectively activatable beacon for drawing attention to the resident'"'"'s address. Beacon is operable by a remote control apparatus, so as to be selectively activatable and de-activatable. The residential signal beacon is preferably readily movable and secured by a weighted base or stakes driven into the ground.

Claims

1. A system for visual signaling and address identification, comprising:

a power supply;

a visible signal beacon operably connected to said power supply, the visible signal beacon being capable of emitting a visible signal highly visible to passersby;

a prominently visible multidirectional surface displaying indicia, the indicia each indicating a residential address, the indicia being visible to passersby from at least two directions;

a wireless controller/transmitter located within a residence that is located at the residential address operable by an operator, the wireless controller being capable of providing at least two commands;

a wireless receiver in operable communication with said wireless controller/transmitter and operably connected to the visible signal beacon so as to allow selective activation and deactivation of the visible signal beacon;

a supporting structure supporting the visible signal beacon, the multidirectional visible surface displaying indicia and the wireless receiver; and

in which the beacon is color coded in a predetermined color scheme to identify a residential location.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, in which the wireless controller is in communication with the wireless receiver via infrared signals.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, in which the wireless controller is in communication with the wireless receiver via radio frequency signals.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, in which the wireless controller includes two momentary contact switches.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, in which the signal beacon comprises a flashing light.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, in which the signal beacon comprises a rotating light beacon.

7. A method of visual signaling and address identification, the method comprising the steps of:

operably connecting a power supply to a visible signal beacon, the visible signal beacon being capable of emitting a visible signal highly visible to passersby;

operably connecting a prominently visible multidirectional surface displaying indicia indicating a residential address to the visible signal beacon, the indicia being visible to passersby from at least two directions;

operably connecting a wireless receiver to the signal beacon whereby the signal beacon maybe selectively activated and deactivated;

generating a command from a wireless controller located within a residence that is at the residential address;

transmitting the command to the wireless receiver whereby the wireless receiver commands the signal beacon to activate or deactivate; and

supporting the visible signal beacon, the multidirectional visible surface displaying indicia and the wireless receiver on a supporting structure in a location visible to passersby; and

in which the beacon is color coded in a predetermined color scheme to identify a residential location.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, in which the wireless controller is in communication with the wireless receiver via infrared signals.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, in which the wireless controller is in communication with the wireless receiver via radio frequency signals.

10. The system as claimed in claim 7, in which the signal beacon comprises a flashing light.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, in which the signal beacon comprises a rotating light beacon.

12. A device for visual signaling and address identification, comprising:

a power supply;

a visible signal beacon color coded in a predetermined color scheme to identify a residential location operably connected to said power supply, the visible signal beacon being capable of emitting a visible signal highly visible to passersby;

a prominently visible multidirectional surface displaying indicia indicating a residential address, the indicia being visible to passersby from at least two directions and displaying the residential address in the at least two directions;

a wireless controller/transmitter located within the residence operable by an operator, the wireless controller being capable of providing at least two commands;

a wireless receiver in operable communication with said wireless controller/transmitter and operably connected to the visible signal beacon so as to allow selective activation and deactivation of the visible signal beacon; and

a supporting structure supporting the visible signal beacon, the multidirectional visible surface displaying indicia and the wireless receiver, the supporting structure comprising a supporting tower and elongate members adapted to be engaged into the ground to fix the device in a desired location.