System and method for protecting a building

• US 6,892,751 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Sanders
• Original Assignee: Mark Sanders
• Inventors: Sanders, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US10/085,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20030159732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 137/79, 137/312, 307/118, 361/178, 700/282, 702/51, 340/604, 340/605
• US Class Current: 137/312
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/10 Devices preventing bursting of pipes by freezing devices preventing bursting of pipes in general F16L55/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1963 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting

Abstract

A building protection system includes a switch, a transmitter, a receiver and a controllable shut-off valve disposed within the inlet line of a utility, such as water or gas, provided to a building. The switch is used to close or open the shut-off valve to stop the flow of the utility into the building. The receiver is proximate the valve, while the transmitter and switch are remote from the valve. In one embodiment, the switch is a manual switch that can be used to generate a valve open or a valve closed signal. The switch and transmitter can be wall-mounted, such as in a garage, or can be integrated into a hand-held device, such as a remote control. In other embodiments, the switch is associated with a condition sensor, such as for sensing a utilities leak or for sensing a temperature outside a certain pre-determined limit value. In still further embodiments, the building protection system includes an auto-dialer for automatically dialing a pre-determined list of phone numbers in response to a sensed condition or in response to closing the utility shut-off valve.

Claims

1. A building protection system for controlling the flow of a utility, such as water or gas, through an inlet line into a building, comprising:

a valve disposed in the inlet line and having an open position permitting flow of the utility into the building and a closed position preventing flow of the utility into the building, said valve responsive to an electrical signal to move between said open and said closed positions;

a manual switch having a first state corresponding to said open position of said valve and a second state corresponding to said closed position of said valve, said switch operable to generate a state signal corresponding to the state of said switch;

a wireless transmitter connected to said manual switch and configured to receive said state signal and to generate a transmitted signal corresponding to said state signal, said transmitter being positioned remote from said valve; and

a wireless receiver operably associated with said valve and configured to receive said transmitted signal and to generate said electrical signal in relation to said transmitted signal.

2. The building protection system according to claim 1, wherein said switch and said transmitter is mounted in a hand-held remote control unit.

3. The building protection system according to claim 1, wherein said switch is a wall-mounted switch.

4. The building protection system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless receiver is disposed proximate said valve.

5. The building protection system according to claim 1, wherein said valve is a latching valve.

6. The building protection system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensing switch connected to said transmitter and operable to generate a sensing signal in response to sensing a leak of the utility in the building; and

said transmitter is configured to generate said transmitted signal in response to said sensing signal.

7. The building protection system according to claim 6, wherein said sensing switch is a water sensing switch.

8. The building protection system according to claim 6, wherein said sensing switch is a gas sensing switch.

9. The building protection system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of sensing switches connected to said transmitter and operable to generate a plurality of sensing signals in response to sensing a leak of the utility in proximity of the switch; and

said transmitter is configured to generate said transmitted signal in response to receipt of one of said plurality of said sensing signals.

10. The building protection system according to claim 1, further comprising an auto-dialer associated with said receiver and connected to a phone system, said auto-dialer configured to automatically dial a stored phone number in response to receipt of said transmitted signal by said receiver.

11. The building protection system according to claim 10, wherein said auto-dialer is operable to convey a pre-determined message through the phone system.

12. A building protection system for controlling the flow of a utility, such as water or gas, through an inlet line into a building, comprising:

a valve disposed in the inlet line and having an open position permitting flow of the utility into the building and a closed position preventing flow of the utility into the building, said valve responsive to an electrical signal to move between said open and said closed positions;

a sensing switch operable to generate a sensing signal in response to sensing a leak of the utility in the building;

a temperature sensing switch operable to generate a temperature sensing signal when the sensed temperature falls outside a pre-determined limit value;

a wireless transmitter connected to said sensing switch and said temperature sensing switch and configured to generate a transmitted signal corresponding to said sensing signal and said temperature sensing signal, said transmitter being positioned remote from said valve; and

a wireless receiver operably associated with said valve and configured to receive said transmitted signal and to generate said electrical signal in relation to said transmitted signal; and

an auto-dialer associated with said receiver and connected to a phone system, said auto-dialer configured to automatically dial a stored phone number in response to receipt of said transmitted signal by said receiver.

13. The building protection system according to claim 12, wherein said sensing switch is a water sensing switch.

14. The building protection system according to claim 12, wherein said sensing switch is a gas sensing switch.

15. The building protection system according to claim 12, comprising:

a plurality of sensing switches connected to said transmitter and operable to generate a plurality of sensing signals in response to sensing a leak of the utility in proximity of the switch; and

said transmitter is configured to generate said transmitted signal in response to receipt of one of said plurality of said sensing signals.

16. The building protection system according to claim 12, wherein said auto-dialer is operable to convey a pre-determined message through the phone system.