Automatic garage door closing device

• US 7,515,063 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven Nigel Dario Brundula
• Original Assignee: Steven Nigel Dario Brundula
• Inventors: Brundula, Steven Nigel Dario
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US11/294,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.71, 340/5.7, 340/539.1, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 341/76, 341/176, 318/280, 318/286, 318/383, 318/445, 49/17, 49/25, 49/28
• US Class Current: 340/6.11
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/79 using time control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages

Abstract

A detector that resides inside of a garage with a working wireless electric garage door opener, the detector detects when the garage door is open for too long and when the garage door is open too long the detector sends out warnings, then after the appropriate conditions occur the detector can close the garage door. The detector additionally requires no special installation of sensors or wires.

Claims

1. A detector for controlling a provided garage door opener, wherein the garage door opener moves a garage door between an open position and a closed position responsive to wirelessly receiving a code, the detector comprising:

a body;

a sensor that detects the open position of the garage door;

a controller that provides a plurality of signals responsive to the sensor and in accordance with at least one setting of a plurality of settings;

a wireless transmitter that responsive to a first signal of the plurality of signals transmits the code to close the garage door; and

a battery that provides a power to operate the detector;

wherein;

no wire external to the body couples to the body;

the sensor, the controller, the transmitter, and the battery are mounted inside the body; and

the body is mounted to a portion of the garage door.

2. The detector of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a tilt sensor.

3. The detector of claim 1 wherein the sensor detects a distance that a bottom portion of the garage door is above a floor.

4. The detector of claim 1 further comprising a wireless device, wherein responsive to a second signal of the plurality of signals and in accordance with at least one setting of the plurality of settings, the wireless device dials a phone number.

5. The detector of claim 1 further comprising a wireless device, wherein responsive to a second signal of the plurality of signals and in accordance with at least one setting of the plurality of settings, the wireless device sends a first text message to notify a user.

6. The detector of claim 5 wherein:

the wireless device receives a confirmation from the user; and

responsive to the confirmation, the controller provides the first signal of the plurality of signals.

7. The detector of claim 5 wherein the wireless device comprises at least one of a mobile phone and a pager.

8. The detector of claim 1 further comprising a device coupled to a wired phone line that responsive to a second signal of the plurality of signals and in accordance with at least one setting of the plurality of settings dials a phone number to notify a user.

9. The detector of claim 8 wherein:

the device coupled to a wired phone line receives a confirmation from the user; and

responsive to the confirmation, the controller provides the first signal of the plurality of signals.

10. The detector of claim 1 further comprising an email device that responsive to a second signal of the plurality of signals and in accordance with at least one setting of the plurality of settings sends an email to notify the user.

11. The detector of claim 10 wherein:

the email device receives a confirmation from the user; and

responsive to the confirmation, the controller provides the first signal of the plurality of signals.

12. The detector of claim 1 wherein the controller provides an alarm responsive to the sensor and in accordance with at least one setting of the plurality of settings.

13. The detector of claim 12 wherein the alarm comprises at least one of an audible sound and a flashing light.

14. The detector of claim 1 further comprising at least one input control for receiving the plurality of settings from a user.

15. The detector of claim 1 wherein the plurality of settings comprises a phone number, a text message, a email address, an email message, a duration of time to wait before providing the first signal, a duration of time to wait before providing an alarm, and a specific garage door opener type.

16. The detector of claim 1 further comprising a display for presenting a presentation of the plurality of settings.

17. The detector of claim 1 wherein the code comprises a code for controlling a specific garage door opener type.

18. A detector for controlling a provided garage door opener, wherein the garage door opener moves a garage door between an open position and a closed position responsive to pressing a button, the detector comprising:

a body comprising;

a sensor that detects the open position of the garage door;

a controller that provides a plurality of signals responsive to the sensor and in accordance with at least one setting of a plurality of settings; and

a wireless transmitter that responsive to a first signal of the plurality of signals transmits an RF signal; and

an actuator that responsive to receiving the RF signal pushes the button;

wherein;

no wire external to the body couples to the body; and

the body is mounted to a portion of the garage door.

19. A detector for controlling a provided garage door opener, wherein the garage door opener moves a garage door between an open position and a closed position responsive to receiving a code, the detector comprising:

a first unit mounted to a portion of the garage door, the first unit comprising;

a sensor that detects the open position of the garage door; and

an RF transmitter that responsive to the sensor transmits an RF signal; and

a second unit comprising;

an RF receiver that receives the RF signal;

a controller that provides a plurality of signals responsive to the RF receiver and in accordance with at least one setting of a plurality of settings;

a module that responsive to a first signal of the plurality of signals calls a number; and

a wireless transmitter that responsive to a second signal of the plurality of signals transmits the code to close the garage door;

wherein;

no wire external to the first unit couples to the first unit.

20. A method performed by a detector for closing a garage door, wherein a garage door opener moves the garage door between an open position and a closed position responsive to wirelessly receiving a code, the method comprising:

detecting the open position of the garage door;

after expiration of a first period, providing a warning to a user that the garage door is in the open position; and

after at least one of receiving a confirmation from the user and an expiration of a second period, wirelessly transmitting a code to the opener to close the garage door;

wherein;

the detector is mounted to a portion of the garage door; and

no wire external to the detector couples to the detector.