System for presence detection in a door assembly

• US 8,646,206 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Door Controls USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Door Control Services Incorporated (DH Pace Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Gilchrist, Jimmy Don
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): MASSAD, ABE L
• Application Number:
  US13/355,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20130186000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 49/13, 49/14, 49 26- 28, 491/97, 491/99, 49/25, 340/545.1, 340/666, 340/573.1, 200/61.43
• US Class Current: 49/13
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/436 the beam being parallel to the wing edge
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/528 with ducts for cables or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/70 Door leaves wing frames E06B3/04
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 5/00 Doors, windows, or like closures for special purposes insulated compound frames specially adapted for sliding doors or windows E06B3/26347; Border constructions therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/28 Other arrangements on doors or windows, e.g. door-plates, windows adapted to carry plants, hooks for window cleaners edge protecting devices for door leaves E06B3/88; special glazing; emergency glazing; double glazing E06B3/66
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system of presence detection in a door assembly for the prevention of patient/detainee suicide, comprising: a door frame, wherein the door frame defines an opening; a door mounted in said opening, wherein the door is allowed to operate from open to closed position with respect to the door frame; a presence sensing arrangement, which allows detection of the presence of an object near the surfaces of the door, door frame, and the upper and lower surfaces of the door or door frame from open to closed position. Placement of presence sensors on the upper or lower surfaces of the door allows presence detection when a patient/detainee attempts to drape a ligature object across or underneath said surfaces. A control system may monitor the system, and can activate an alarm system for early detection and prevention.

Claims

1. A system of presence detection in a door assembly, comprising:

a door frame, wherein said door frame defines an opening;

a door mounted in said opening, wherein said door is allowed to operate from open to closed position with respect to said door frame;

a hinge system located between said door frame and said door;

a presence sensing arrangement comprising a first sensor pair, a second sensor pair, and a third sensor pair which allows detection of the presence of an object along surfaces of said door, door frame, hinge system;

or the upper and lower surfaces of said door and door frame in either an open or closed position of said door, and during the movement of the door from open to closed position of said door, and irrespective of the pressure said object exerts against said door, hinge system, or said door frame;

wherein said first sensor pair is located on an outer surface of said door;

wherein said second sensor pair is located on said door frame, and said third sensor pair located on a bottom surface of said door in a gap between the ground and the door;

wherein said first sensor pair comprises a first transmitter and a first receiver located a distance apart and forming a first sensing path between said first transmitter and said first receiver;

wherein said second sensor pair comprises a second transmitter and a second receiver located a distance apart and forming a second sensing path between said second transmitter and said second receiver, said sensing path aligned with a space between said upper surface of said door and said door frame, approximately parallel with said upper surface of said door;

wherein said third sensor pair comprises a third transmitter and a third receiver located a distance apart and forming a third sensing path between said third transmitter and said third receiver, said third sensing path aligned approximately parallel with said bottom surface of said door;

wherein each of said first transmitter, said second transmitter, said third transmitter, said first receiver, said second receiver, and said third receiver are placed in a protective sheath housing member;

wherein said protective sheath housing member has an outer body shape forming a non-ligature surface defined by one or more acute angles along said outer body shape, said protective sheath housing member comprising an aperture; and

wherein said second transmitter and said second receiver are placed on said door frame such that said second sensing path is uninterrupted by said hinge system, said door, said first sensor pair, or movement of said door in a direction towards either of said second transmitter or said second receiver.

2. The system of presence detection of claim 1, wherein either of said first sensor pair, said second sensor pair, or said third sensor pair utilizes photoelectric sensors for presence detection.

3. The system of presence detection of claim 2, wherein said first sensor pair, said second sensor pair, and said third sensor pair utilize photoelectric sensors for presence detection.

4. The system of presence detection of claim 3, wherein said first sensor pair is placed on the pull surface of said door, near the top of said door;

and wherein said second sensor pair is placed on said door frame, near the top of said door; and

wherein a third sensor pair of said photoelectric sensors is placed on the bottom surface of said door, for detection of the presence of an object in a gap between said door and the floor.

5. The system of presence detection of claim 2, wherein said first sensor pair, said second sensor pair, or said third sensor are either of:

side sensing thru-beam sensors;

side sensing retroreflective sensors;

side sensing diffuse reflective sensors;

front sensing diffused beam type convergent reflective sensors;

side sensing small spot beam type convergent reflective sensors;

side sensing large distance spot beam type narrow-view reflective sensors;

sensors employing “

thru beam”

technology;

sensors employing diffused technologies;

multi-pixel sensors;

laser sensors;

fiber-optic sensors;

ultra-sonic sensors;

functional equivalents;

or permutations thereof.

6. The system of presence detection of claim 2, wherein said first sensor pair are placed on either of:

the pull surface of said door;

or the push surface of said door.

7. The system of presence detection of claim 1, wherein said hinge system allows said door to be movable from open to closed position, with respect to said door frame.

8. The system of presence detection of claim 7, wherein said hinge system is either of:

a full mortise hinge;

a half mortise hinge;

a full surface hinge;

or a pivot hinge.

9. The system of presence detection of claim 7, wherein said presence sensing arrangement is placed at said hinge system.

10. The system of presence detection of claim 1, further comprising a control system.

11. The system of presence detection of claim 10, wherein said control system is an input and output device allowing an end user to selectively engage and monitor said presence detection arrangement.

12. The system of presence detection of claim 11, wherein said presence sensing arrangement and said control system are interconnected using wireless technology.

13. The system of presence detection of claim 12, wherein said control system monitors selectively identified and maintained status information including:

the operating condition of said presence detecting sensors;

the presence of an object near said presence detecting sensors; and

wherein said controls system allows the logging and download of such information via a computer.

14. The system of presence detection of claim 1, further comprising an alarm system.

15. The system of presence detection of claim 14, wherein said alarm system may be either of:

an audio alarm;

a visual alarm;

a visual display;

a manually or electronically operated switch;

an electrical power source;

or a sensor configuration control interface and said control system may trigger said alarm system upon the detection of presence of an object near the surfaces of said door, door frame, and the upper and lower surfaces of said door and door frame from open to closed position of said door.

16. The system of presence detection of claim 1, further comprising a reset switch and a junction box.

17. The system of presence detection of claim 1, wherein said door frame further comprises:

a header;

a lock jamb;

a hinge jamb;

a door frame face;

a door frame stop;

a door frame soffit; and

a door frame rabbet; and

said door comprises a top surface;

a bottom surface;

a hinge side surface;

an opening side surface;

a pull surface; and

a push surface; and

said presence sensing arrangement is placed to detect the presence of an object near the surfaces of either of;

said door frame;

said opening;

said header;

said lock jamb;

said hinge jamb;

said door frame face;

said door frame stop;

said door frame soffit;

said door frame rabbet;

said door;

said top surface;

said bottom surface;

said hinge side surface;

said opening side surface;

said pull surface;

or said push surface.

18. The system of presence detection of claim 1, wherein said presence detection arrangement is placed on a plurality of said doors.

19. The system of presence detection of claim 18, wherein said presence detection arrangement further comprises at least one control system.