Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-19
2001-07-17
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S574000, C340S693500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06262665
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OF DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Introduction:
An ordinary alarm switch is an electric switch which—when pressed—closes a circuit to operate a siren, a camera or any other warning device. The alarm circuit could also be connected to any security office or police station. Wireless sets carried by policemen, guards and other people who work in dangerous places may be looked at as an alarm switch when used to call for help. Even the pressing of a telephone's buttons can be likened to the use of an alarm switch when someone rings the police or the ambulance to call for help.
Problems encountered in the operation of ordinary alarm switches:
All the above types of alarm switches have various deficiencies. Following are some examples:
1-Using the switch at the critical time:
The victim is required to actuate the switch just before, or while being assaulted. He is supposed to do so at the very precious time he needs to defend himself or to escape. He may be in a situation that does not enable him to reach the alarm switch. Due to confusion, his attempt may further endanger his life.
2-Situations in which the use of the alarm switch is impossible:
It is sometimes impossible for the victim to actuate the switch if he is closely threatened, injured or actually assaulted. In situations such as unconsciousness, a telephone or an ordinary alarm switch becomes useless.
3-Ordinary alarm switches do not tell the difference between “suspicion” and “actual danger” states:
Many people are deterred from actuating the alarm switch when they suspect a stranger, for fear of embarrassment if nothing happens. A patient may likewise hesitate before calling for help for the same reason, although this may be dangerous. Alarm signals made for falsely suspecting a danger, may be very disturbing.
4-Signals transmitted to call for help are usually late:
In most cases no alarm signals are transmitted to a security office or a police station before an actual assault. Therefore, it is hard to provide assistance at the proper time. Late signals do not allow the monitoring of events on a TV circuit. To overcome such a problem, security guards need to be employed for 24 hrs/day, to guard houses or private premises; which is very costly. Late signals may cause problems in case of providing help or medical advice to a sick or injured person.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has many advantages; for it tackles the aforementioned problems associated with the use of ordinary alarm switches:
Advantages:
1. Through this device, the user can transmit an initial signal to express his/her suspicion towards a stranger; or on feeling that he/she may suffer from a coma. This initial “suspicion signal”, is a valuable tool to police or security officers; for it puts them on the alert to act promptly if another “warning signal” is received. The “suspicion signal” can be cancelled by the user when he feels safe.
2. When a “suspicion signal” is transmitted, a video camera or a tape recorder operates automatically to allow for clear monitoring and judging the situation by a security guard.
3. Through this device, a “warning signal” is automatically transmitted while a victim is under assault. It is also transmitted if he falls down, gets injured or becomes unconscious.
4. However, a “warning signal” can still be transmitted manually by the user. A siren and/or other warning devices operates.
5. The “suspicion” and the “warning” signals can both be cancelled independently.
Mechanical Description:
The device comprises a hollow housing, inside which are enclosed, two switches and an actuating cylinder element. The two switches are fixed to the inner wall surface of the housing. The actuating cylinder is pivoted to the housing from one end; while extends outside the housing from the other end of the cylinder.
Inside the actuating cylinder, a third switch is enclosed, “the suspicion switch”, which is fixed on the opposite end to a piston. A pressure spring is fitted inside the cylinder between the “suspicion switch” and the piston. When the user presses the device's handle—against the spring—, a rod affixed to the piston actuates the “suspicion switch”. The piston reverts to its first position when the pressure is released from the handle. Because it is pivoted to the housing from one end, the actuating cylinder element can move to the right or to the left—inside the housing—, while the handle moves—outside the housing—, with its bar guided by a slot in the housing. The cylinder can actuate one switch, of those fixed to the housing—“the reaction warning switch”—when moved to the right. It can actuate the other switch—“the direct warning switch”—when moved to the left.
Electrical Description:
The present invention is a four-states warning switch. The four states are: The “idle state”, the “suspicion state”, the “reaction warning state” and the “direct warning state”. The four-states warning switch is a device used to control two different circuits: “The suspicion circuit” and “The warning circuit”. Through these two circuits distinct signals are transmitted, to be received by a police station, a security office or an ambulance. The control is achieved by three push-button switches. Any of the three switches is “ON” when pressed and “OFF” when the pressure is released. The following is the circuit control table in the four states:
Circuit Control Table
Switches Position
State
Sus-
Reaction
Direct
Sus-
of the
picion
Warning
Warning
picion
Warning
Device
Switch
Switch
Switch
Circuit
Circuit
1
Idle State
OFF
OFF
OFF
*OPEN
OPEN
2
Suspicion
ON
OFF
OFF
CLOSED
OPEN
State
3
Reaction
OFF
ON
OFF
OPEN
CLOSED
Warning
State
4
Direct
OFF
OFF
ON
OPEN
CLOSED
Warning
State
*OPEN = no signals are transmitted
Reaction and Direct warning switches are connected in parallel
Design Alternatives:
1. A pressure spring can be fitted between the inner surface of the housing and the actuating cylinder element's outer surface. The spring's function is to facilitate the actuating cylinder's movement to the right direction as shown in FIG.
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2. The “direct warning switch” can be fixed to the outer surface of the housing.
3. Additional switches can be fitted to serve extra warning functions.
4. A pair of terminal lugs can replace any of the switches.
5. The simplified design of the device as shown in FIGS.
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: In this design the device comprises only the cylinder element and two switches fitted inside it. A piston is used to actuate the “suspicion switch” when it is moved in one direction or the “warning switch” when it is moved in the other direction. The piston's movement is controlled by the device's handle; which can be shifted with its bar guided by a slot in the cylinder's surface. The warning switch in this design does the functions of both the “reaction warning switch” and the “direct warning switch”. In this simplified design, any of the two switches can be replaced by a pair of terminal lugs.
6. The pivot connection between the actuating cylinder element and the housing can be altered to a longitudinal slide movement design of the actuating cylinder as shown in FIG.
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REFERENCES:
patent: 4667188 (1987-05-01), Schwartz
patent: 5365217 (1994-11-01), Toner
patent: 5455566 (1995-10-01), Conway
patent: 5541579 (1996-07-01), Kiernan
patent: 5589818 (1996-12-01), Queen
patent: 5629679 (1997-05-01), Cranford et al.
patent: 5635908 (1997-06-01), Soper
patent: 5774051 (1998-06-01), Kostusiak
Eskander Nader Nessem
Huang Sihong
Wu Daniel J.
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