GB2335295A - Alarm control system - Google Patents

Abstract

A control system for an alarm comprises a housing (2), at least one button member (4) mounted in the housing (2) and movable relative to the housing (2) on the application of a manual operating force along a line of action to actuate an associated alarm, and a thin sheet of material (8) secured to the housing (2) to extend across said line of action whereby, on manual movement of the button member (4), the thin sheet of material (8) is irreversibly distorted to provide a positive visual indication of said movement.

Description

1 ALARM CONTROL SYSTEM 2335295 This invention relates to alarm control

systems, and more particularly to so-called panic buttons depression of which actuates an associated alarm system.

It is established practice to provide panic buttons in a variety of locations in which potential users may find themselves under threat or under attack and need to seek assistance. A typical example of such a location would be beneath a counter in a shop, bank or the like.

Such buttons are commonly interconnected with a central station whereby depression of a button triggers an alarm in the station indicative of the location of the associated button and that a personal attack is imminent or occurring. The central station then pass the information on to a police station for appropriate action to be taken.

Such signals received by the police take precedence over other calls such as burglary, and can result in armed response by the police.

It is a fact that false alarms generated by the misuse of panic buttons account for a large percentage of calls received by the police. In view of the armed response to such calls, it will be appreciated that a great deal of time and money is therefore wasted as a result of false alarms.

The very nature and purpose of panic buttons are such that they must be located in positions which make them 2 readily available to, and easily operated by, staff. Although such buttons can be accidentally pushed, a great number of false alarms are triggered by inquisitive staff who push the button merely to see what happens. It is often the case that no audible or visible warning is given locally on depression of the button, and all staff, including the perpetrator, remain unaware of the consequences until police arrive at the site, sometimes armed.

once activation of an alarm by depression of an associated panic button has occurred for whatever reason, false or otherwise, the call is logged with the relevant police force. If a number of false calls are received, response can be downgraded or removed all together, with the obvious consequences that, if a genuine call is received, no police response will be given.

In the event of a false alarm being triggered by inquisitive depression of a panic button, it is not unusual for the perpetrator to deny that he pressed the button - and there is usually little that can be done to prove the actual circumstances.

After depression of a panic button, whether deliberately, accidentally or maliciously, it is necessary to reset the associated alarm system. In the event of other than deliberate actuation, this can result in a significant call-out charge to the proprietor. Clearly, therefore, it is in the proprietor's interests to minimise, and ideally eliminate, other than genuine 3 actuation of alarms under the control of a panic button.

It would be desirable to be able to provide, for a panic button, means for deterring other than deliberate actuation thereof and, in the event of actuation, means for positively confirming that actuation has taken place.

According to the present invention'there is provided a control system for an alarm, the control system comprising a housing, at least one button member mounted in the housing and movable relative to the housing on the application thereto, along a line of action, of a manual operating force, said movement of the button member creating a signal indicative of said movement having occurred for actuating an associated alarm, characterised by, secured to said housing to extend across said line of action, a thin sheet of material which, on said manual movement of the button member, is irreversibly distorted to provide a positive visual indication of said movement.

Thus it will be appreciated that, in such a system, a button member cannot be depressed within the housing without the user first of all contacting and displacing the associated thin sheet of material from a normal rest position to a displaced position, the characteristics of the material being such that, on said displacement, it is irreversibly distorted, deformed or impaired whereby it is immediately apparent that the button member has been depressed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention a printed warning, to the effect that depression of the associated 4 button member will result in actuation of an alarm, is provided on the sheet material. Such a warning serves to deter inquisitive potential users from depressing the button member other than in genuine circumstances.

Preferably the thin sheet of material is adhered or otherwise secured to the housing and includes an extent overlying the or each button member.

Conveniently said extent of the thin sheet of material overlying the or each button member is parallel with but displaced from the adjacent face of the button member whereby, prior to depression of the button member on the application of said manual operating force, the material is torn by the user.

The thin sheet of material may be adhered to the housing externally thereof, or may be mounted within the housing.

Preferably the thin sheet of material comprises a strip of paper.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which Figs. 1 to 3 are, respectively, views of an alarm control system according to the invention prior to applying the thin sheet of material to the housing, with the thin sheet of material applied to the housing, and after depression of the button members.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated alarm control system comprises a housing 2 in which are located a pair of button members 4 depression of which, relative to the housing 2, creates a signal arranged to activate an alarm at a remote location such as a central station for onward transmission to a police station, all in a conventional manner.

The front faces of the button members 4 are recessed within the housing 2 and are accessible through open windows in the associated front face 6 of the housing 2.

As mentioned heretofore, the control system may be located, for example, under the counter of a shop, bank or like premises.

The novel feature of the system of the invention is the provision of a strip 8 of paper one side of which is adhesive, the strip 6 extending across the face 6 of the housing 2 containing the button members 4 to close the windows therein, and down each adjacent side face 10 of the housing 2. The strip 8 thus has a normal rest position as shown in Fig. 2 in which it is retained by virtue of the adhesion of the strip 8 to the side faces 10 of the housing 2. Clearly direct access to the button members 4 is now prevented by virtue of the paper strip extending across the windows in the front face 6 of the housing 2.

The button members 4 are intended for depression in the event of an alarm situation arising, and the strip of paper 8 has a notice to this effect printed thereon to deter depression by inquisitive or malicious users. Such a notice may read PANIC BUTTON - ONLY TO BE USED IN AN 6 EMERGENCY.

In the event of an emergency and when it is required to depress the button members 4 to actuate the alarm, a user applies a force to the button members 4 along a line of action which includes the strip 8. This force serves to tear the paper strip 8 immediately prior to the button members 4 being depressed, this tearing being emphasised as the button members 4 are depressed.

It is thus immediately apparent from a visual inspection of the housing 2 and the presence of the torn strip 8 that the alarm control system has been activated.

The precise location and configuration of the strip 8 may vary from that shown, for example by being within the housing 2 instead of externally thereof, while the material of the strip 8 may be other than paper, for example plastic film, providing the application of a force thereto results in permanent or irreversible distortion, damage, tearing or impairing thereof, or permanent alteration of other visual characteristics thereof, such as colour. The housing 2 may incorporate a single button member 4 instead of two such members. other modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

7

Claims (8)

1. A control system for an alarm comprising a housing, at least one button member mounted in the housing and movable relative to the housing on the application thereto, along a line of action, of a manual operating force, said movement of the button member creating a signal indicative of said movement having occurred for actuating an associated alarm, characterised by, secured to said housing to extend across said line of action, a thin sheet of material which, on said manual movement of the button member, is irreversibly distorted to provide a positive visual indication of said movement.

2. A control system as claimed in claim i in which a printed warning, to the effect that depression of the associated button member will result in actuation of an alarm, is provided on the sheet material.

3. A control system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the thin sheet of material is adhered or otherwise secured to the housing and includes an extent overlying the or each button member.

4. A control system as claimed in claim 3 in which said extent of the thin sheet of material overlying the or each button member is parallel with but displaced from the adjacent face of the button member whereby, prior to 8 depression of the button member on the application of said manual operating force, the material is torn by the user.

5. A control system as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 in which the thin sheet of material is adhered to the housing externally thereof.

6. A control system as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 in which the thin sheet of material is mounted within the housing.

7. A control system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the thin sheet of material comprises a strip of paper.

8. A control system for an alarm substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.