Communications: electrical – Systems – Portable self-contained
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-28
2001-10-30
Mullen, Thomas (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Systems
Portable self-contained
C340S539230, C340S574000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06310539
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to alarm systems, and more particularly to an alarm system for use in the home.
The increased concern in recent years of many Americans regarding their safety while in their homes has led to the availability of numerous commercial systems designed to provide an alarm upon the sensing of an intruder, such as a burglar, in the vicinity of the home. In the majority of the known home alarm systems, the presence of an intruder is sensed by a heat or motion sensor. Many of the currently available home alarm systems, in addition to producing an alarm signal, also send a signal to a remote private security station from which a telephone call can be made to the local police station to advise the police of a possible burglary at the residence. The police can then send an officer to the residence to apprehend the burglar before he has had the opportunity to cause any damage to property or person.
In addition to the use of motion or heat sensors, many available alarm systems also include a panic button that is operated by hand when a person within the residence becomes aware of the presence of an intruder. The operation of the panic button typically activates an alarm system both in the residence and at the remote security station. The alarm signal produced by the operation of a panic button is preferably different than that produced by a heat or motion detector sensor so that the security personnel and police can recognize the greater urgency of the panic button signal and the need for them to respond more quickly to a potentially dangerous situation.
One drawback of conventional panic button alarm systems is the location of the panic button in a wall-mounted control unit so that an individual who feels threatened by the presence of an intruder must get up from where he or she is sitting and walk to the location in the house where the control unit is mounted. The additional time required for the individual to walk to and then activate the panic button may be critical in being able to activate an alarm signal before the intruder gains entry into the house. Moreover, if the intruder is able to observe the person in the act of walking to the location of the panic button, he may act more hastily in a manner that may well increase the danger to the person. The conventional panic button home security systems are also relatively complex to operate, particularly by young children, since they typically require the system to be periodically armed and disarmed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a panic button security system that can be more easily used even by a child to activate an alarm signal.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a panic button security system that provides an increased feeling of security and which can be moved readily to position close to the user at all times.
In accordance with the present invention, a panic button is embedded in, or affixed by suitable means to, a movable soft household item such as a toy animal or other soft toy or a pillow or cushion. The soft household item which contains the panic button can be conveniently held by the individual, such as a child, and taken with him or her wherever he or she is seated in the home so that the child is never far from the panic button. When the individual senses an intruder, he or she presses the soft item that includes the panic button, thereby to activate the panic button and energize the alarm system both in the home and in the remote security and police stations.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the panic button unit is housed in a wrist watch case or housing that is worn by the individual. When the individual senses the presence of an intruder, he or she presses on the transparent glass or plastic face of the watch, thereby to activate the panic button switch and activate the alarm.
Although not specifically considered to be a novel part of the present invention, the panic button is associated with an rf transmission source, which, when activated by the operation of the panic button, transmits a coded rf signal. That signal is received at a controller which, as is conventional, operates an alarm such as a siren or horn and connects the home system over a telephone line to a remote station from where a call can be made to the local police station to advise the authorities of the presence of an intruder at the home of the individual who operated the panic button.
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Rye David
Stevenson George
Gordon Marvin N.
Mullen Thomas
X - 10 Ltd.
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