GB2387470A

GB2387470A - Alarm system having an optional external cover and different sounds to indicate type of emergency detected

Info

Publication number: GB2387470A
Application number: GB0308556A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Noel Peter Roberts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-04-13
Filing date: 2003-04-14
Publication date: 2003-10-15
Also published as: GB0308556D0; GB0208553D0

Abstract

The alarm system has a housing comprising a first cover 6, suitable for use indoors and an additional optional second cover 8 for use when the alarm system is used outdoors. The first indoor cover is preferably translucent. The housing contains sound generating means 2,3 and control means 4 so that in dependance on the nature of received external signals, the sound-generator is activated. Preferable, the signals represent fire or intruder alarm conditions, and the sound-generator can produce different sounds to indicate which emergency condition is present. The system may have battery reserve power supply.

Description

ALARM SYSTEMS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to alarm systems.

Many different types of alarm systems are currently available. In the security and fire alarm markets, sirens or sounders are available as dedicated units as either external sounders or internal sounders. Emergency lighting systems are also available as separate dedicated units.

Thus, when fitting fire alarms, intruder alarms and emergency lighting to commercial premises, such as factories and offices, and to domestic property, three sets of equipment have to be purchased and installed, at consequent substantial expense.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of alarm system.

Current alarm systems are designed either for internal use or for external use with the resultant that the installer of such systems has to have adequate stock for both types of usage. It is accordingly a further object of the present invention to reduce the

number of components which an installer of alarm systems has to keep in stock.

Summarv of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided an alarm system which includes a housing containing a soundgenerating device and a control module which is responsive to external signals and which causes operation of the sound-generating device in dependence on the nature of the signal(s) which it receives. The soundgenerating device is preferably designed to produce different sounds for indicating fire emergencies and intruders and the control module will identify the nature of the signal(s) which it receives and will operate the sound-generating device accordingly.

The control module preferably includes, or is equipped with, a reserve power supply which is available to operate the sound-

generating device in the event of a failure of the mains supply.

The reserve power supply is conveniently in the form of a back-up battery and the reserve power supply is preferably arranged to be switched on automatically in the event of a loss of the mains supply by means of, for example, a sensing relay or a transistor.

The control module preferably also controls operation of an emergency light which is activated in the event of a failure of the mains supply or the receipt of an alarm signal.

The housing preferably includes anti-tampering means whereby the soundgenerating device is caused to operate if an unauthorized person tampers with the housing or the contents thereof. The housing preferably includes a mounting or base plate and a translucent or transparent cover and the arrangement is preferably such that, if the alarm system is for internal installation, no additional external cover is required whereas, if the alarm system is for external installation, an additional external cover is fitted on top of the translucent or transparent cover.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts for use in fitting either an internal or external alarm, said kit of parts comprising: a) a mounting or base plate, b) a soundgenerating device, c) a control module which is responsive to external signals and which causes operation of the sound-generating device in dependence on the nature of the signal(s) which it receives, d) a transparent or translucent cover, and e) an optional external cover which is only utilised when the alarm system is for external use.

Brief Descrintion of the Drawing The single figure of the accompanying drawing is an exploded perspective view of an alarm system.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The alarm system shown in the drawing includes a back plate or base plate 1 which is intended to be fixed to a wall or other suitable location. A sound-generating device 2, 3, in the form of a piezo disc or loudspeaker, is mounted in a support carried by the plate 1 and its operation is controlled by means of a control module 4 on which is mounted appropriate electronic circuitry for receiving and identifying incoming alarm or emergency signals and for initiating operation of the sound-generating device 2, 3 to produce a sound which is indicative of whether an alarm (intruder) or emergency (fire) signal has been received.

The control module 4 is equipped with a back-up battery, for example, a battery pack, and an emergency light which is switched on automatically, via a sensing relay or transistor, in the event of a failure of the mains supply. An anti-tamper device 5, 7 is mounted on the control module 4 and is arranged to operate the alarm if an unauthorized person attempts to tamper with any part of the alarm system.

A cover 6 made of a translucent material fits over the control module 4 and is secured to the base plate or back plate 1 by means of a bolt 9. An external cover 8 can be fitted over the top of the cover 6 by means of the bolt 9, but is only used when the alarm system is being mounted on an external wall or other outside location. The external cover 8 makes the alarm more prominent and affords weather protection when the alarm system is for external use. The bolt 9 is connected to the anti-tamper device 5, 7 so that unauthorized tampering with the bolt 9 will operate the alarm.

The unit described above thus combines an intruder alarm with a fire alarm and an emergency light. It can be used as an internal unit but, with the external cover 8 fitted, it can also be fitted to an outside wall for external use. It will accordingly be appreciated that the amount of stock which an installer has to keep is reduced substantially as compared with existing alarm systems.

Claims

Claims:

1. An alarm system which includes a housing containing a sound-generating device and a control module which is responsive to external signals and which causes operation of the sound-

generating device in dependence on the nature of the signal(s) which it receives.

2. An alarm system as claimed in Claim 1, in which the sound-generating device is designed to produce different sounds for indicating fire emergencies and intruders and the control module includes means for identifying the nature of the signal(s) which it receives and for operating the sound-generating device accordingly.

3. An alarm system as claimed in either of the preceding claims, in which the control module includes, or is equipped with, a reserve power supply that is available to operate the sound-

generating device in the event of a failure of the mains supply.

4. An alarm system as claimed in Claim 3, in which the reserve power supply is in the form of a back-up battery and is arranged to be switched on automatically in the event of a loss of the mains supply by means of a sensing relay or a transistor.

5. An alarm system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control module also controls operation of an

emergency light which is activated in the event of a failure of the mains supply or the receipt of an alarm signal.

6. An alarm system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the housing includes anti-tampering means whereby the sound- generating device is caused to operate if an unauthorized person tampers with the housing or the contents thereof.

7. An alarm system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the housing includes a mounting or base plate and a translucent or transparent cover and in which the arrangement is such that, if the alarm system is for internal installation, no additional external cover is required whereas, if the alarm system is for external installation, an additional external cover is fitted on top of the translucent or transparent cover.

8. An alarm system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

9. A kit of parts for use in fitting either an internal or external alarm, said kit of parts comprising: f) a mounting or base plate, g) a soundgenerating device, h) a control module which is responsive to external signals and which causes operation of the sound-generating device in dependence on the nature of the signal(s) which it receives,

i) a transparent or translucent cover, and an optional external cover which is only utilised when the alarm system is for external use.

10. A kit of parts as claimed in Claim 9 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

+' INvr STOR rat PEOPLE O\ Applications No: GB 0308556.0 Examiner: Gareth Lewis Claims searched: 1 and 9 at least Date of search: 4 August 2003 Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17 Documents considered to be relevant: Category Relevant Identity of document and passage or figure of particulal- relevance to claims X I lit least Us 4264892 (ZONN) See abstract and figures X at least Us 4321591 (VIEWEG) See figures 3, 4 and column 5 lines 48-52 A GB 2091922 A (MARSH) See abstract arid figures A US 5689304 (PHILIPS) See abstract and figures A US 5589824 (LYNCH) See abstract and figures Categories: X Document Indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Docurncilt indici,titig technological b.lokground angler SlatC ol tile.rt.

Y Document i ndicting lack, ['ins en live step i f combined P I)ocuncnt Published on or aher the declared pronto date Lou t be tore the vithoneorm,reotherd<,cunentsofsamecategory. Iilingdite.,ftlisinvcntion. & Membel ot the same patent Tinily E l'alent clocamenl pahlishd <,n or atler, bitt with Snooty claic earlier than, the tiling date ol'this application.

Field of Search:

Search of GB. EP, WO oDc US patent documents classifcd in tile following areas ofthe UKCV: G4N G5J

Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC7: I G08B I

The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search report: I WPI JAPIO EPODOC l An Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry