SECURITY APPARATUS
Technical Field
This invention relates to security apparatus and in particular to apparatus for use with gates, doors or other passage closing devices to indicate unauthorised opening thereof. The present invention in a further aspect relates to security apparatus for indicating unauthorised entry through an opening or along a passage.
Background Art
The use of pool fences has become mandatory in many locations with the aim of preventing or minimising the risks of children obtaining access to the pool and possible drowning. Such fencing normally incorporates a gate which can only be opened by means of a latching system which is not accessible to the child. Such gates are normally also required to be self closing, so as to shut automatically after opening. Whilst such fencing systems and associated gates are suitable for securing a swimming pool, often situations arise where the gate is either forced open or is not properly closed and latched in a closed position. In such situations children can often enter the pool area without being detected.
Gates and doors such as swing doors or garage doors, as used in or near dwellings or other buildings, are often provided with a locking device for security purposes.
In some cases, the locks are actuated remotely, for example from a switch within the dwelling. Some alarm systems are known for use with gates and doors of the above type, however, generally the known alarm systems lack a degree of security.
Summarv of the Invention
The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages by providing security apparatus which in one particular aspect may be associated with a gate of a swimming pool fenced enclosure so as to indicate unauthorised entry into the enclosure. In a further preferred aspect, the present invention aims to provide security apparatus which may be associated with a gate or door, such as a hinged gate, door or garage door and which serves to indicate unauthorised entry through the gate or door. The present invention, in yet a further preferred aspect aims to provide security apparatus for use with gates or doors of the above type which will indicate that a gate or door has been left open.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.
The present invention thus provides in one preferred aspect, security apparatus for use with a passage closing device, such as a gate or door, said security apparatus including alarm means, means for sensing movement of said passage closing device from a first position, means for activating said alarm means when movement of said passage closing device from said first position is sensed, and override means for overriding operation of said alarm means to permit said passage closing device to be moved from said first position without activation of said alarm means.
Preferably the means for activating the alarm means causes activation of the alarm means unless the device is moved back to its first position within a predetermined time after movement away from its first position.
The alarm means may comprise an audible and/or visual alarm. The audible alarm may comprise a siren or any other means for generating an audible alarm signal.
The visual alarm means may comprise a device which is illuminated to indicate an alarm, such as a flashing light emitting diode.
The alarm means may be located adjacent the passage closing device or alternatively the alarm means may be located in a remote position, for example within a house or building. For this purpose transmitting means may be provided to transmit an alarm signal to receiving means which receives the alarm signal and causes actuation of the alarm means.
In one aspect, the override means comprises a pair of switches both of which must be simultaneously operated so as to deactivate the alarm actuating means and allow movement of the passage closing device from its first position without causing alarm actuation. Alternatively, the override means may comprise magnetically actuable switch means, for example reed switch means which may be moved to a position to be actuated, and thereby act as an override device. The reed switch suitably is actuated by magnet means adjacent to which the reed switch means may be positioned to cause actuation thereof. In yet a further form, the override means may comprise a pair of terminals which are required to be bridged by the fingers of one hand to complete a circuit, the resistance between the fingers serving to override the alarm means.
The override means, however, may be of any other form such as a key operated switch or alternatively a keypad which will only override the alarm means when a correct code is keyed into the keypad.
The sensing means for sensing movement of the passage closing device from its first position may comprise magnetically actuable switch means which, for example may be mounted in a fixed position, whilst a magnet is mounted on the passage closing device and movable with the passage closing device from a position adjacent the switch means to a position away from the switch means. Alternatively, the sensing means may comprise a limit switch or a light actuable switch.
The security apparatus in one preferred form is such that the alarm means will not stop operating in the event that the passage closing device is not moved back to its first position within a predetermined time, unless overridden.
The passage closing device may be lockable by releasable locking means which in one form may comprise solenoid actuable locking means which is releasable upon operation of the override means. The solenoid may either serve to actuate the locking means or serve to latch the locking means in a locked position.
In yet a further aspect, the present invention provides a swimming pool enclosure, said security apparatus including alarm means, means for sensing movement of said gate from a closed position, means for activating said alarm means when movement of said gate from said closed position is sensed, and override means for overriding operation of said alarm means to permit said gate to be moved from said closed position without activation of said alarm means.
Latching means are provided for latching the gate in a normally closed position and the sensing means is operable to sense movement of the gate, either from a latched closed position or an unlatched closed position.
In a further preferred aspect, the present invention provides security apparatus for sensing movement through an opening or passage, said apparatus including alarm means, means for sensing movement through said passage or opening, means for activating said alarm means when said movement is sensed and override means for overriding operation of said alarm means. The sensing means may comprise a light beam which when intercepted indicates that a person is moving along the passage or through the opening. The override means may comprise switches or keypads as previously described.
Brief DescriPtion of the Drawings
In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:
Fig. 1 illustrates the security apparatus of the
invention as applied to a gate for a swimming pool;
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the circuit for the
apparatus of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 3 illustrates the swimming pool gate of Fig.
1 opened.
Detailed Description of the Embodiments
Referring to the drawings and firstly to Fig. 1 there is illustrated a security fence 10 for a swimming pool for preventing entry to a swimming pool area and including a gate 11. The fence 10 and gate 11 may be of many different designs to suit requirements of security as prescribed by the appropriate authorities. In this embodiment, the gate 11 is hingedly mounted to one post 12 of the fence 10 and releasable latch means 13 are provided on the opposite post 14 to latch the gate 11 in a closed position by say co-operation with a tongue on the gate 11.
The gate 11 is normally provided with spring loaded hinges or a separate spring element which will cause the gate 11 to move to its closed position of Fig. 1, after being opened and released. The latch means 13 in this embodiment includes an upstanding releasing member 15 which may be raised to release the latch means 13 to permit the gate 11 to be opened. The latch releasing member 15 is positioned at a height, so as to be inaccessible to small children.
The security apparatus 16 of the invention includes in this embodiment, a housing 17 which may be mounted on, or adjacent the post 14 or remotely therefrom and may incorporate an alarm, such as a siren 18 and/or a visual alarm 19 which may comprise, for example, one or more light emitting diodes. In this embodiment, the housing 17 incorporates control circuitry which as shown schematically in Fig. 2 includes a programmable microcontroller circuit 20 and a switch 21 which senses when the gate 11 is opened. In the embodiment illustrated, the switch 21 comprises a magnetically actuable reed switch and is mounted on the post 14. The gate 11 supports a magnetic element 22 for example a permanent magnet which is located in close proximity to the reed switch 21 to act on the reed switch 21 when the gate 11 is closed.
In this embodiment, the reed switch 21 is normally closed when located adjacent the magnetic element 22, and is opened when the gate 11 is moved away from the closed position of
Fig. 1 which moves the magnetic element 22 away from the switch 21.
The security apparatus 16 additionally incorporates on an externally exposed part of the housing 17, a pair of override switches 23 located in a position not easily accessible to children and which, in this embodiment are located on a top wall of the housing 17.
The switches 23 are normally open switches which are placed in series with each other.
In an alternative arrangement, the switches 21 may be replaced by a further magnetically actuable reed switch 24 coupled through a pair of wires 25 to the microcontroller circuit 20 within the housing 17. The housing 17, in this arrangement carries a magnetic element 26 whereby when the switch 24 is moved by hand to a position adjacent to the magnetic element 26, the switch 24 will be actuated.
In use, if the gate 11 is pivoted open by releasing the latch means 13 using the releasing member 15, the magnetic element 22 carried by the gate 11 will be moved away from the switch 21. This will actuate the switch 21 from a normally closed to a normally opened position. This change of state of the switch 24 will be sensed by the micro-controller circuit 20 which will cause the audible alarm 18 and/or visual alarm 19 to be activated.
If, however, the override switches 23 are actuated simultaneously prior to unlatching the latch means 13 and pivoting the gate 11 to an open position, actuation of the switches 23 will be sensed by the micro-controller circuit 20. In this situation, the micro-controller circuit 20, upon sensing actuation of the switch 21 consequent upon the magnetic element 22 on the gate 11 being moved away from the switch 21, will not cause operation of the alarms 18 and/or 19. Operation of the switches 23 thus overrides the actuation of the switch 21.
The gate 11, thus may be opened in a normal manner without causing alarm actuation.
The micro-controller circuit 20 is also programmed to sense the time that the gate 11 remains open.
For this purpose, the micro-controller circuit 20 senses when the two override switches 23 are simultaneously actuated and if the gate 11 is not closed within a predetermined time, as programmed into the controller circuit 20, after actuation of the switches 23, the microcontroller circuit 20 will cause the alarm 18 and/or 19 to be operated. If the gate 11 is closed within that predetermined time, the micro-controller circuit 20 upon sensing that the gate 11 is closed, which corresponds to a switching of the switch 21 when it is moved to a position in proximity to the magnetic element 22, operation of the alarm 18 and/or 19 will be prevented.
If the alarms 18 and/or 19 are activated, they can only then be deactivated if the switches 23 are actuated simultaneously. Simple closing of the gate 11, to cause switching of switch 21, will not serve to deactivate the alarms 18 and/or 19 in these circumstances.
If the gate 11 is moved towards the closed position of Fig. 1 but not properly latched in the closed position by the latch means 13, the security apparatus 16 will be "armed" because the switch actuating magnetic element 22 is moved to a position in proximity to the switch 21 to cause switching thereof. Thus, thereafter should the gate 11 be simply pushed open, the switch 21 will again be switched to immediately set off the alarms 18 and/or 19. The overriding switches 23 preferably are both push button operated switches, however, they may be switches having other types of actuators.
The overriding switches 23 as stated, may be replaced by the single magnetically actuable reed switch 24 which is required to be moved to a position adjacent the magnetic element 26 within the housing 16 to be actuated.
This procedure has the same effect as the simultaneous operation of the switches 23. The reed switches 21 and 24 may be normally opened or normally closed switches depending upon the circuit of the security apparatus 16.
Other forms of switches known in the art may also be substituted for the above switches. For example, the reed switch 21 and magnetic element 22 may be replaced by a limit switch which may be mounted on the post 14 in the position of the switch 21 and include an actuating element which is contacted by the gate 11 when the gate 11 is closed. When the gate 11 is opened however, the contact is broken thereby causing switch actuation.
In yet a further alternative arrangement, the switches 23 may be replaced by a pair of terminals 27 (see
Fig. 2) which are connected to the micro-controller circuit 20. The terminals 27 may be simply pin head screws which are insulated from the housing 17. In this instance, when the terminals 27 are spanned by the fingers of one hand, a circuit is made between the terminals 27, this circuit effecting an overriding operation as described above.
The override switches 23 alternatively may be replaced by an alternative form of override switch such as a key operated switch or a keypad 28. Where a keypad 28 is employed, a user is required to key in a correct coded number into the keypad 28 to effect an override operation as described.
In a modification of the circuit, as shown in
Fig. 2, the latch means 13 of the gate 11 may be a solenoid operated latch connected into the micro-controller circuit 20 of the security apparatus 15 and actuable to release the gate 11 for opening only upon operation of the override switches 23 or alternative overriding arrangement as described such as the keypad 28.
The system may also include a transmitter unit 29 which under the control of the micro-controller circuit 20 may transmit an alarm signal to a remote receiver 30 provided with an alarm 18 or 19 such as a visible or audible alarm within a house, a building or other remote location where the alarm 18 or 19 may be monitored.
In applications for swimming pool gates, the alarms 18 and/or 19 preferably operate continuously for a set period of time after which they may operate intermittently. Thus once activated, the alarm 18 will sound and the light emitter 19 will flash simultaneously.
After a preset period, the alarm 18 will cease operating, however the light emitter 19 will continue to flash until the reset or override is operated. Of course, the alarm signal may be considerably varied depending upon the application.
As stated above, the system of the invention may be applied to any door, window or gate where unauthorised entry through the door window or gate is required to be sensed. The doors, windows or gates may be hingedly movable or slidable movable. The housing 17 may be located adjacent to doors, windows or gates in a similar manner to that described with reference to the drawings and have a similar overriding system. For enhanced security however, a keypad is preferably provided as the override device which can only override the alarm upon entry of a predetermined code. Furthermore, in this situation, the alarm is preferably located within a building which may be remote from the door, gate or window and preferably in a position which may be easily monitored. Of course the alarm signal could be transmitted to a central monitoring station.
The apparatus in its basic form is housed in the housing 17 which is weatherproof and which may be fitted adjacent to the gate door or other window. The control circuit within the housing 17 is preferably battery operated. The housing 17 may also incorporate a transmitter for transmitting an alarm signal to a remote location or may be connected to a remote alarm through cables.
The apparatus described above is particularly suitable for use adjacent pool enclosures, but may also be used where secure environments for children are required, such as in childcare centres or playgrounds or in other areas where dangers may be encountered such as vehicular traffic areas. The use of a programmed micro-controller circuit 20 allows for variation in the time which will result in alarm actuation if the override system is not operated. Variation in this time may be simply achieved by keying in through the keypad 28. Of course the control circuit for the apparatus may also comprise a hardware circuit.
The switch 21 which senses movement of the gate or passage closing device is in a preferred form a magnetic actuable switch, however optically operable switches may be used as an alternative. In yet a further arrangement the gate 11 or other passage closing device may be replaced by a light barrier which when intercepted in the event of a person walking through the light barrier will be sensed to cause operation of the security apparatus and actuation of the alarm unless overridden.
Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.