GB2223531A

GB2223531A - Security system; remote actuation of window locks

Info

Publication number: GB2223531A
Application number: GB8823645A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Sacks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-10-07
Filing date: 1988-10-07
Publication date: 1990-04-11
Also published as: GB8823645D0

Abstract

The locks of the windows of a premises are remotely controlled from a central location. The control centre has means for indicating the state of the windows eg whether open or closed, locked or unlocked, and the means for actuating the locks may be for example via an electrical circuit or via RF, ultrasonic or IR transmission. The windows may also have opening/closing actuators which may also be remotely operable from the remote station, and the system may also have an intruder alarm associated with sensors on each window. The system may also be applied to the doors of the premises.

Description

SECURITY SYSTEM This invention relates to a security system for windows of premises, particularly although not exclusively domestic premises.

Where domestic residences have windows with security locks, the problem arises that it can be inconvenient or impractical regularly to check to ensure that all windows are locked.

An object of the present invention is to provide means whereby this problem can be overcome or at least minimised.

According to one aspect of the invention therefore there is provided a security system for use with windows of premises, said system comprising a central control device arranged to be connected to said windows so as to be operable to effect locking and/or closure thereof from a single, central location remote from the windows.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a security system for use with windows of premises, said system comprising a central control device arranged to be connected to said windows so as to be operable to give an indication as to whether each window is locked and/or closed at a single, central location remote from said windows.

With the system of the invention, at an appropriate time, for example, at night time, when it is desired to ensure that all windows are secured, this can be achieved by appropriate operation of the control device and without requiring personal attendance on all of the windows. With the first aspect of the invention the windows are automatically closed and/or locked (if not already closed or locked) With the second aspect of the invention an indication is given as to which windows are open or unlocked from the central control location and these windows can then be selectively visited and closed or locked as desired.

It is visualised that the invention will find particular application in the context of domestic premises although the invention is not intended to be restricted to this and the security locking system may be used in any suitable premises. Moreover, although primarily intended for use with windows it is to be understood that the system may be used additionally with doors. Further, the control device may form part of, or may be used in conjunction with a control system which performs other functions such as a burglar alarm function.

The interconnection between the windows and the control device may be by way of installed electrical leads. Alternatively the connection may be by way of a radiation link (infra-red or ultrasonics or radio frequency) or via an existing link used for a different purpose (e.g.

a ring mains circuit or a burglar alarm circuit).

The first and second aspects of the invention may apply independently or in combination as desired.

With regard to the first aspect of the invention, in the case of locks, these may comprise solenoid-operated slide bolts or may be of any other suitable form capable of remote electrical operation. In the case of closable windows, appropriate solenoid or hydraulic or other actuators may be provided to close the window in the sense of moving same across the window opening or in the sense of moving a security blind or mesh or shutter or the like into secure position across the window or the opening.

With regard to the second aspect of the invention, the windows may incorporate or have associated therewith any suitable kind of monitoring device capable to producing an electrical output representative of the status of the windows. Thus, a monitoring device comprising a reed switch, a microswitch, a pair of bridgeable electrical contacts, a capacitive or inductive proximity detector or any other suitable device may be used. The control device may incorporate any suitable visual or audible indicator to indicate that a window is unlocked and the identity of the window may be signalled by an illuminated lamp or otherwise.

The control device may be arranged to operate automatically or it may arrange to operate only when initiated for example by closure of a switch or the like.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of a system in accordance with one embodiment of the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of a system in accordance with one embodiment of a second aspect of the invention; and Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of an alternative embodiment of a system in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention With reference to Figure 1, opening windows in different rooms of a domestic house are provided with locks automatic closure devices in the form of hydraulic mechanisms controlled by solenoid actuators 1. The windows also have locks in the form of slide bolts operated by the same solenoid actuators 1.

Respective groups of windows (e.g. the windows of respective rooms) have their closure solenoids 1 connected to respective common control units 2a, 2b etc. Each such control unit 2 comprises a plurality of electronic switches 3 (one for each solenoid 1), a sequential control element 4 which is connected to the switches 3 and is operable to switch the switches 3 on and off in sequence, a decoder 5 which is connected to the control element 4 to cause the element 4 to operate the switches 3 when triggered by an appropriate code signal, and a step-down transformer 6 connected to the solenoids 1 via the switches 3.

The step-down transformer 6 and the decoder 5 are connected to a.c. mains supply and the control unit 2 is located unobtrusively near to the respective group of windows. For example, the control unit 2 may be mounted in a ceiling or floor space with leads running from such space to the solenoids 1 and mains supply being obtained from leads within the ceiling or floor space. It is also possible for the unit 2 to be mounted on a plug inserted into a mains socket in the same room as the windows with leads running from the unit to the solenoids 1. Alternatively, the unit 2 may be located in a corner of the room, or in a similar unobtrusive position, and connected to mains supply via a lead and plug inserted into a mains socket in the room.

At a convenient central location in the house there is mounted a main control box 7. This box 7 contains a coding device 8 and a power supply circuit 9 which are both connected to mains supply. A press button 10 is provided on the box 7 and is connected to the coding device 8.

In use, when it is desired to ensure that all windows are closed and locked, the press button 10 is operated. This causes the coding device 8 to draw power from the power supply 9 and to produce a low power short duration coded signal (e.g. a series of pulses or a high frequency 'tone' or the like). This signal is fed to the mains supply (via appropriate isolating components).

For each group of windows, the respective control unit 2 picks up the coded signal from the mains supply via the decoder 5 which filters out the signal from the mains supply and identifies the signal The decoder 5 then operates to trigger the switches 3 in turn. Each switch 3 switches on for a short period of time and connects a low voltage output of the transformer 6 to the respective solenoid 1.

This causes the solenoid 1 to operate to close and then lock the window.

With this arrangement, all windows can be locked simply by pressing the button 10 on the central control box.

Provision may be made for ensuring that the operation of each solenoid 1 does in fact close and lock the respective window. This may be achieved by incorporating a monitoring device (not shown) in each lock. For example, where the lock comprises a bolt which slides into a keeper the lock may incorporate electrical contacts or a reed switch or the like which is operated when the bolt is fully within the keeper e.g. to open the solenoid circuit or to take other action, and with this arrangement the control unit 2 may be adapted to monitor the status of the solenoid circuit whereby any solenoid circuit which is not open circuit after the switches 3 have been triggered gives rise to the production of an alarm signal.This alarm signal is applied to the mains supply and is detected by the control box 7 (by circuitry not shown) and gives rise to the actuation of a signalling device such as a lamp or the like. In this way an indication can be given that one or more windows are not properly locked (e.g. because the window was open when the lock was operated, because the lock has jammed or for any other reason).

Alternatively or additionally, the system may also be arranged to check to ensure that each control unit 2 is in fact operational. For example, a code signal may be transmitted back to the control box 7 from each control unit 2 after successful, correct operation of the unit 2 (e.g. after each switch has been operated) and the control box 7 gives an alarm indication if the correct code signal is not received from each unit 2.

With the arrangement of Figure 2, lockable windows of a domestic residence are provided with electrical sensors 11 which monitor the status of window locks. The sensors 11 may comprise electrical contacts or reed switches or the like which indicate whether or not a bolt of a window lock is properly inserted within a keeper.

The sensors 11 are connected by leads 12 to a central control box 13. The sensors 11 may be connected to the control box 13 in groups (e.g. all the sensors of windows of each room of a residence are connected in a respective series circuit).

The control box 13 contains a detection circuit and visual indicators 14 such as lamps, one for each group of sensors 11. The detection circuit may be continuously operable, or may automatically operate at regular intervals, or may be arranged to operate only when switched on e.g. by means of a push button 15 or the like on the control box 13.

When the detection circuit is operated, each indicator lamp 14 is illuminated to indicate that a respective series circuit is complete thereby indicating that the associated locks are correctly locked. In the event that any lock is not correctly locked the respective series circuit is not completed and the respective lamp 14 is not illuminated.

This embodiment may be used with manual locks or with electrically operated locks e.g. as described with reference to Figure 1.

With the embodiment of Figure 3, locks are provided with sensors 11 in like manner to Figure 2, and a control box 16 is provided at a central location to give a remote indication of the status of the locks.

Unlike the arrangement of Figure 2, the lock sensors 11 are not connected directly to the control box. Instead each group of lock sensors 11 is connected to a nearby transmission unit 17 and the control box 16 is provided with a transmission device 18. Thus, the transmission device may be a radio aerial and each transmission unit may be a transmitting/receiving unit whereby when actuated the control box 16 sends out successive different transmitted low power signals (e.g. different frequencies etc.) which respectively actuate the units 17 and cause the units 17 to transmit back a signal indicating the status of the sensors 11. Instead of a radio link it is possible to use an infra-red or ultrasonic link.

With this arrangement, the units need not be connected by leads to the control box 16. It may be possible to provide a receive/transmit unit 17 for each sensor e.g. incorporated in or mounted on the lock, such unit possibly being powered by the received signal so that it is not necessary to provide a separate power supply or connection to external power.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Thus, for example, with reference to the embodiment of Figure 1, the locks may have solenoid actuation separate to the window closure solenoids 1 and these separate actuators may be operated in like manner to the solenoids 1 by the same or different circuitry. It is also possible to omit the locks, relying instead on the locking effect of the hydraulic closure mechanism.

Additionally or alternatively to the central control device there may be a switch (e.g. a key switch) adjacent on external door of the premises whereby, for example, windows can be closed on leaving the premises.

The system may be arranged to fail safe so that for example all windows are closed if the power fails.

Claims

1. A security system for use with windows of premises, said system comprising a central control device arranged to be connected to said windows so as to be operable to effect locking and/or closure thereof from a single, central location remote from the windows.

2. A security system for use with windows of premises, said system comprising a central control device arranged to be connected to said windows so as to be operable to give an indication as to whether each window is locked and/or closed at a single, central location remote from said windows.

3. A security system according to claim 2 which is also a security system according to claim 1.

4. A security system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 when used additionally with doors of premises.

5. A security system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 when used in conjunction with a burglar alarm system.

6. A security system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the interconnection between the windows and the control device is by way of installed electrical leads.

7. A security system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the interconnection between the windows and the control device is by way of a radiation link.

8. A security system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the interconnection between the windows and the control device is by way of an existing link used for a different purpose.

9. A security system according to claim 1 or any claim dependent thereon wherein, in the case of locks, these comprise solenoid operated slide-bolts.

10. A security system according to claim 1 or any claim dependent thereon wherein, in the case of closeable windows, actuators are provided to close the window.

11. A security system according to claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon wherein the windows incorporate or have associated therewith a monitoring device capable of producing an electrical output representative of the status of the windows.

12. A security system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.