Local area warning system (laws)

• US 7,358,855 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2005
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxillis, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Maxillis, Ltd.
• Inventors: Willis, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US11/145,618
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/601, 340/539.17, 340/690, 340/539.22, 340/331, 340/539.26, 340/332, 340/539.28, 340/286.11, 340/384.1, 340/384.4, 405/73, 455/404.1, 702/3, 731/701.6
• US Class Current: 340/539.28
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

The present invention provides a local area warning system that is designed to alert the public of severe weather and technological alerts. The apparatus consists of red, amber, and blue warning lights and audio speakers that warn the public of the severe conditions. The speakers can be employed to produce a loud siren and/or coherent broadcasts describing the severe condition. An antenna on the apparatus captures the radio frequency broadcast signal from NWR. A receiver connected to the antenna decodes and presents the audio and visual messages of weather and technological conditions to the public through the warning lights and the speakers. The county code or the geographical location is entered into the receiver such that only severe alerts that correspond to the area of the device will be presented. All of these components are connected to a support structure.

Claims

1. A local area warning apparatus positioned in a public area for warning the public of actual or potential conditions, comprising:

a support structure;

at least one light secured to the support structure;

at least one speaker secured to the support structure;

a receiver/electronics package connected to the at least one light and the at least one speaker, which is located at the support structure and is at least configured to;

receive radio broadcasts pertaining to one or more geographical areas;

decode the radio broadcasts pertaining to a selected geographical area based on location codes in the radio broadcasts;

control the at least one light; and

control the at least one speaker;

wherein the receiver/electronics package is enclosed within a protective enclosure and comprises an interface with an input device wherein the input device is configured to allow a user to;

input the selected geographical area of the apparatus;

program the at least one speaker to a specific volume setting; and

program the at least one light to specific settings;

wherein in response to the decoded signals, the at least one light produces a visual message to the public relating to one or more actual or potential conditions associated with the selected geographical area; and

wherein in response to the decoded audio signals, the at least one speaker produces an audio message to the public relating to one or more actual or potential conditions associated with the selected geographical area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input device is further configured to allow a user to:

program the at least one speaker to time settings.

3. An apparatus for broadcasting visual and audible warning indicia to the public, comprising:

a support structure;

one or more lights secured to the support structure;

a speaker for broadcasting a verbal message, the speaker being secured to the support structure; and

a radio receiver connected to the one or more lights and the speaker that is located at the support structure, for receiving radio broadcasts, the receiver being configured to recognize the radio broadcasts as pertaining to a selected geographic location associated with placement of the support structure, based on signals indicating location in the radio broadcasts;

wherein the radio receiver comprises an antenna that is configured to receive the radio broadcasts and an interface with an input device and wherein the input device is configured to allow a user to;

input the selected geographical location of the apparatus;

program the speaker to specific volume and time settings; and

program the one or more lights to specific settings;

wherein the one or more lights actuate in response to the radio broadcast received by the radio receiver to visually broadcast an alert relating to one or more actual or potential conditions associated with the selected geographic location;

wherein the radio speaker broadcasts in response to the radio broadcast received by the radio receiver, one or more verbal messages relating to the one or more actual or potential conditions associated with the selected geographic location;

wherein the at least a portion of each of the receiver, light and speaker are enclosed in a substantially weather-proof enclosure; and

wherein the support structure, light and speaker are positioned in a public area.