GB2306731A - Security systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A system enables interrogation of openable elements (doors,windows) in a building including a plurality of openable elements having closure locking means associated therewith, to ascertain the locking condition thereof. Whether they are closed can also be ascertained. The locks can be controlled from a central panel.

Description

SECURITY SYSTEMS This invention is concerned with security systems and more particularly, but not exclusively, to security systems suitable for application to buildings, private, commercial or otherwise.

Most buildings incorporate a plurality of external and/or internal doors and windows. In practice, such doors and/or windows are provided with individually: operable closure devices, and where considered appropriate locking devices for enhancing the security of the closure of the associated door or window.

As will be appreciated the simple fact that each door/window has an individually operable locking arrangement requires that, in order to effect a locking operation, the locking of each door and/or window has to be individually checked.

In the case of a building with, for example, thirty openable doors and windows on a ground floor and quite possibly at least ten first floor openable windows it will be appreciated that the checking of whether or not a window/door is correctly closed and locked can be an inconvenient time comsuming task.

In relation to many properties it is important to bear in mind that many window strutures not only include main opening members but additionally relatively small vent providing openable members which historically have proved to be often overlooked in relation to the ensuring of a locked condition and which, additionally, in spite of their relatively seemingly small size as compared with the size of a person have afforded a relatively convenient access route for an intruder.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method of and means for facilitating the establishment of the condition of the security of buildings.

Broadly, according to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a system for enabling interrogation of the openable elements in a building, which building includes a plurality of openable elements having closure locking means associated therewith, to ascertain the locking condition thereof.

Broadly, according to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a system for interogating the operational setting of locking arrangements provided in a building for locking the elements into a closed condition whereby it is possible for the condition of locking of any locking arrangement associated with the central locking facility to be separately ascertainable as desired.

Conveniently, where the locking and unlocking of the openable elements are controllable by means of a central locking facility, the central facility incorporates means at a control location for the locking facility for providing an indication as to whether or not any element associated with the facility is in its correctly locked condition or otherwise.

Preferably, each element of a building structure that is required to be locked has associated therewith means for detecting whether or not the element is in its closed condition.

Conveniently, also in accordance with the concepts of the invention means are included for providing indication d5 to whether or not a closed element is in a closed and locked condition thereby to provide a user of the facility with an indication as to which element has not been closed and or locked.

In a further arrangement each element can be provided with means for displacing the elements between an open/closed condition to a closed/open condition prior to initiating the locking.

In a preferred arrangement where a building incorporates a considerable number of openable elements, the building is conveniently controlwise separated into zones each incorporating a convenient number of elements and the central locking facility is established in such manner that each such zone can be separately controllable. This separation of the facility into zones provides various advantages from the point of view of user convenience, i.e., from the maintenance aspects, and that a technical breakdown of a locking unit within a zone does not cause breakdown of the other zones of the faclity and thus a complete system breakdown.

A further aspect of the central locking facility is that the system can also provide for intruder detection in that following establishment of the locked condition the opening of any element can, by way of the central locking facility, provide an alarm signal the source of which can be immediately noted from the control.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram setting out the principles of the proposals of the invention, and Figure 2 very diagramatically illustrates a highly simplified paractical arrangement.

As is indicated by the content of Figure 1 it is supposed that the proposals of the invention are applied to a building which can be industrial, commercial, private such as houses of what ever the type, i.e., detached, semi-detached, flat etc.

The Figure illustrates a basic system including door closure and window closure condition detectors 1 and 2 which are individually operationally connected to a central indicator display panel 3.

The operational connections as indicated in the Figure can be made by any convenient means or arrangement. vouch operational connection can be by way of wires, mains bourne, infra-red signals, ultrasonic signals, radio transmissions etc.

At the central indicator display panel 3 the operational condition of each openable element associated with the system is individually displayable. That is to say the panal can be arranged to indicate which element or elements is/are are open or closed, closed and unlocked and those which are correctly closed and locked.

It will be appreciated that arrangements can be provided for serially scanning through the elements associated with the system or for examining the condition of all of the elements simultaneously.

A convenient location for the indicator panal is adjacent the front exit from the property.

The Figure 1 additionally indicates the extension of the proposals of the invention to a system involving a central window and/or door locking facility, and to a system which additionally includes facilities for effecting the opening and closure of the windows and doors associated with the system.

In the Figure 1, such extensions are indicated by door and window locking arrangements 4 and 5 together with door and window closure arrangements 6 and 7. As may be seen these various arrangements are operationally associated with an appropriate central locking and closure control arrangement 8 which latter could involve a master key operable locking facility.

It will be understood that this central contral arrangement can be associated with intruder detection security arrangements both internal and extenal, and perhaps also with the monitoring of the operational condition of safety devices such as fire alarms.

Figure 2 as mentioned very schematically illustrates a very simplified practical installation associated with a building having a window 9 and a door 10 which the detectors 2 and 1 are respectively associated.

In the Figure 2 the control panel 3 is shown connected to the various detectors by wires 11 in the case of the window 9 and wires 12 in the case of the door 10.

For convenience the Figure 2 includes schematic representations of door and window locking and closing arrangements 4,5 6 and 7.

The Figure illustrates schematically a central locking control unit 13.

Furthermore, for the puposes of illustration intruder de:tection devices 14 are indicated in association with the door and window. These devices 14 are connected in any convenient way i.e., by wires 15 to an associated alarm 16.

It will be appreciated that the above discussed system of the invention lends itself to a wide variety of possible modes/operational levels of use and applicaion.

For example, in relation to an property such as a house which is to be left unattended for a period of time the following represents some possible modes of usage: First mode/level. This can be regarded as providing totally passive indication only and serves to indicate which doors and windows are open or unlocked. The user/operator can manually effect the closure and/or locking of the windows and doors that the system indicates as not being closed/locked prior to leaving the property.

Second mode/level. This can be regarded as being similar to that of the first mode/level plus the ability to lock doors and windows which are already closed but unlocked and still be able to identify any open windows and/or doors.

Third mode/level. This can be regarded as being similar to that of the first and second modes/levels together with the additional facility of being able to close doors or windows that are open from a central point.

In the case of an attended house the system of the invention can be utilised to lock doors and windows in specific rooms to maintain security whilst the occupier is engaged in some activity such as, for example, watching television etc. In practice, the presence of occupation can be monitored using security alarm types of passive infra-red detectors. Also the system could be utilised to enable windows etc., to be left open whilst others are closed.

In addition, a variety of additional features could if desired be incorporated. The following paragraphs identify several possible features and additionally indicates a system mode/level with which the additional feature is suggested as being appropriate.

A. Zoned locking controlled by switch or passive infra-red detectors (standard feature second level).

B. Unlockable manually or by local battery operated switch in the event of an emergency such as a fire (standard feature second level).

C. Ability to interface the system of the invention with third party security alarms and smoke detectors (optional all levels).

D. Facility to lock entire property by way of a single door lock or other actuation system (optional second level).

E. Ability to operate check status or lock doors and/or windows by way of remotely operable means from the inside or the outside the property (optional at all levels).

F. Control of internal and external lighting either by external or internal controller to make a property appear occupied (optional second level) H. Control of heating system to optimise efficient use of energy i.e., by automatic reduction of temperature in unoccupied property or room(s) In a preferred construction of the locking facility, provision can be made for over-riding the system in the event of power failure and any other pre-defined emergency. i.e., the outbreak of fire.

Conveniently, alarm devices otherwise provided within a building can make use of the central locking facility as a back-up in the event that the an intruder has cut control connection wires or the like associated with such other alarm devices.

Claims (8)

1. A system for enabling interrogation of the openable elements in a building which building includes a plurality of openable elements having closure locking means associated therewith to ascertain the locking condition thereof.

2. A system for interogating the operational setting of locking arrangemnts provided in a building, for locking the elements in a closed condition whereby it is possible for the condition of locking of any locking arrangement associated with the locking arrangements to be separately ascertainable as desired.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, and wherein where the locking and unlocking of the openable elements are controllable by means of a central locking facility, the central locking facility is associated with means at a control location for the locking facility for providing an indication as to whether or not any element associated with the facility is in its correctly locked condition or otherwise.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, and wherein each element of a building structure that is required to be locked has associated therewith means for detecting whether or not the element is in its closed condition.

5. A system as claimed in claim 2,3 or 4, and wherein means are included for providing indication as to whether or not a closed element is in a closed and locked condition thereby to provide a user of the facility with an indication as to which element has not been closed and or locked.

6. A system as claimed in claim 2,3,4 or 5, and wherein each element can be provided with means for displacing the elements between an open/closed condition to a closed/open condition prior to initiating the locking.

7. A system as claimed in claim 2,3,4,5, or 6, and wherein where a building incorporates a considerable number of openable elements, the building is conveniently controlwise separated into zones each incorporating a convenient number of elements and wherein the central locking facility is established in such manner that each such zone can be separately controllable.

8. A system for enabling interogation of the openable elements in a building, including a plurality of openable elements having closure locking means associated therewith, to ascertain the locking condition thereof, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.