IL277532B2

IL277532B2 - Automated safe room window

Info

Publication number: IL277532B2
Application number: IL277532A
Authority: IL
Inventors: Iziaev Michael
Original assignee: Iziaev Michael
Priority date: 2020-09-23
Filing date: 2020-09-23
Publication date: 2023-09-01
Also published as: IL277532A; IL277532B1

Description

40782/20 27 75 32/3 - 1 - AUTOMATED SAFE ROOM WINDOW Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of safe rooms. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and system for automatically closing a safe room reinforced window.

Background of the Invention A safe room, also known as a protected or fortified space, may commonly refer to an area within a residential or working place that is adapted to be used when people need to move quickly to a sheltered space, often during the night, to provide a safe shelter in the event of a bomb attack or other threat. Usually, the walls, ceiling, window and door of the safe room should withstand collateral damage that might occur due to nearby explosions. As such, a safe room window usually includes a slideable steel plate or other elements suitable to ensure maximum protection for the people that use that room in an emergency case. For example, in Israel, each new building was required to have a safe room, or "mamad ", the acronym for merhav mugan dirati, built from reinforced concrete with a steel vault-like door and with a heavy, sealed window that is equipped with a reinforced element such as a slidable steel plate that can protect those inside from the blast of rockets. However, such reinforced elements of the window are relatively heavy, and hence make the closing of the safe room window a challenging task, in particular in terms of applying the force required for such task (e.g., sliding the steel plate to entirely cover the window), mostly for a population with special needs, like children and elders. Such a task may become much more challenging, when one is required to close the window 40782/20 27 75 32/3 - 2 - during an emergency situation (e.g., due to a missiles attack while a loud alarm sound is being heard in the background, and a person needs to close the heavy window under such a stressful situation).

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and a method for automatically closing a safe room reinforced window upon detection of an emergency situation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a system capable of indicating when it is safe or allowed to open a closed safe room window.

Other advantages and objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for automatically operating a safe room window in an emergency situation, comprising the steps of: - providing a motorized slideable element that is sized and configured to close the safe room window or cover at least part of the window’s frame; and - upon receiving an indication of an emergency situation, operating an electrically powered actuator of said motorized slideable element to move the motorized slidable element to a closed position.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the indication of the emergency situation is received by a trigger receiving unit, which generates signals related to the emergency situation and sends said signals to a controller of the motorized slideable element that accordingly operates the actuator. 40782/20 27 75 32/3 - 3 - According to an embodiment of the invention, the controller operates the actuator to move the slideable element either upon receiving an indication due to an emergency situation or on demand via an activation device that enables to move the slideable element between an open position and a closed position.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the activation device is selected from the group consisting of a control switch, a remote control, a mobile device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the indication is received from a remote device, directly or indirectly, in a wired or wireless manner.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the remote device is an early-warning radar system or other system configured to allow defenses to be alerted as early as possible before an intruder / missile reaches its target.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the remote device is a smartphone, a computer system, a server or a cloud server that runs a software program, an application or a website that is configured to receive data relative to emergency situation from an early-warning radar system or other system configured to allow defenses to be alerted as early as possible before an intruder / missile reaches its target.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the motorized slideable element is a reinforced plate, in particular that is made of steel.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises detecting audible sounds indicating of an emergency situation and accordingly sending the indication to the trigger receiving unit. For example, the audible sounds 40782/20 27 75 32/3 - 4 - can be generated by an outdoor alarm siren that is operatively connected to an early-warning radar system. Thus, one or more microphones or other suitable sound recording elements can be used by the system of the present invention as a sensing element that may indirectly indicate of an emergency situation originated from the early-warning radar system.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a system for automatically operating a safe room window in an emergency situation, comprising: - an electrically powered actuator configured to move a slidable element of the window between an open position and a closed position; - a trigger receiving unit that generates signals related to an emergency situation upon receiving an indication regarding the occurrence of an emergency situation; - a controller adapted to receive signals from the trigger receiving unit and operate said actuator to move the slidable element to a closed position.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises an activation device that enables to move the slideable element between an open position and a closed position.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises a communication module for enabling the trigger receiving unit to communicate with a remote device in order to receive from said remote device the indication regarding the occurrence of an emergency situation, in a wired or wireless manner. 40782/20 27 75 32/3 - 5 - According to an embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises an alarm detection module for detecting audible sounds indicating of an emergency situation and accordingly sending the indication to the trigger receiving unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings: - Fig. 1 schematically illustrates, in a block diagram form, a system for automatically operating a safe room window in an emergency situation, according to an embodiment of the invention; - Fig. 2 schematically illustrates elements of a practical design of a motorized sliding element of a safe room window, according to an embodiment of the invention; - Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a safe room window provided with the motorized sliding element of Fig. 2, according to an embodiment of the invention; and - Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a system for automatically operating a safe room window by utilizing alarm sounds generated by speakers or sirens of an outdoor warning system that is used to alert people of a pending severe event, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention An automated safe room window mechanism is disclosed. The automated safe room window mechanism includes an electrically powered actuator configured to move a slidable element of the safe room window (e.g., a slideable reinforced plate or other 40782/20 27 75 32/3 - 6 - horizontal sliding steel plate that is adapted to cover the window in case of an emergency situation) between an open position and a closed position, a power source, and a trigger receiving unit. The trigger receiving unit generates signals related to an emergency situation upon receiving an indication regarding the occurrence of an emergency situation (e.g., such as a missiles attack alert). The mechanism also includes a controller adapted to receive signals from the trigger receiving unit and operate the actuator to move the slidable steel plate of the window to a closed position. According to an embodiment of the invention, the controller may operate the actuator to move the slideable steel plate either in case of an emergency situation or on demand by a user (e.g., by activating a control switch, a remote control, or by sending an open/close wireless commands via a mobile device, such as by using a smartphone application that runs on the mobile device).

Reference will now be made to several embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. Wherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may be used in the figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. The figures depict embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates, in a block diagram form, a system 10 for automatically operating a safe room window in an emergency situation, according to an 40782/20 27 75 32/3 - 7 - embodiment of the invention. System 10 comprises a communication module 11, a trigger receiving unit 12, a controller 13 and an electrically powered actuator 14.

Communication module 11 is configured to communicate with a remote device via a data network 15 (e.g., via the Internet) in order to receive data indicative of an emergency situation. For example, remote device 16 can be an early-warning radar system or any other system used for the long-range detection of its targets, e.g., allowing civilians under missile attack to be alerted as early as possible before an intruder (e.g., a missile) reaches its target, giving the civilians the maximum time to enter a safe room. According to an embodiment of the invention, communication module 11 can be part of trigger receiving unit 12.

Trigger receiving unit 12 generates signals related to an emergency situation upon receiving an indication regarding the occurrence of an emergency situation by communication unit 11. Controller 13 adapted to receive signals from trigger receiving unit 12 and operate the electrically powered actuator 14 to move a slidable element of the window (e.g., a slideable steel/reinforced plate) to a closed position.

According to an embodiment of the invention, system 10 comprises at least one activation device 17 that enables to move the slideable element between an open position and a closed position regardless the receiving of an indication from the remote device 16. Activation device 17 may communicate directly with controller (e.g., via a control switch that is electrically connected to controller 13 or via a remote control that emits Infrared light), or wirelessly with communication module 11 (e.g., via a mobile device that runs a dedicated software application suitable for controlling the operation of the slideable element of the window. 40782/20 27 75 32/3 - 8 - According to an embodiment of the invention, the system may comprise an alarm detection module (as indicated by numeral 42 in Fig. 4) for detecting audible sounds indicating of an emergency situation, and accordingly sending the indication to the trigger receiving unit 12. The alarm detection module may comprise one or more microphones (as indicated by numeral 41 in Fig. 4) capable of capturing/recording alarm or siren sound. The captured/recorded alarm/siren sound is being processed in real-time in order to determine whether a captured sound pattern is indicative of an actual alarm of an emergency situation. An embodiment of utilizing an existing outdoor warning system to automatically close a safe room window is disclosed in further details hereinafter with respect to Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 shows a motorized slideable element that can be used in conjunction with the invention. The motorized slideable element illustrated in this figure is particularly convenient because it can be applied as an add-on device to existing safe room windows without the need to carry out major alterations in the structure. The motorized slideable element generally indicated by numeral 20 in the figure comprises a slidable element 21 (e.g., a steel plate with wheels 24), a rail 22, which extends along a major portion of the length of the window. The rail 22 is coupled in this embodiment of the invention with a pinion 231, which advances in a regular manner incorporation with notches 232 in rail 22 (as partially shown along rail 22 in the figure). Pinion 231 is coupled with a motor element, the motor assembly 23 of which is seen in the figure. In this embodiment, motor assembly 23, that drives slidable element 21 along rail 22, acts as the electrically powered actuator 14. 40782/20 27 75 32/3 - 9 - In this embodiment, motor assembly 23 is installed adjacent to rail 22 and is coupled by pinion 231 to rail 22. Rail 22 can be attached to one of the horizontal members of the window’s frame (e.g., as indicated by numeral 312 in Fig. 3). Motor assembly may walk pinion 231 along rail 22, causing the sliding element 21 to move from open to closed and back again, as schematically indicated by the dual head arrow in the figure. Wheels 24 may facilitate the movement of element 21. According to an embodiment of the invention, motor assembly 23 comprises the controller 13 of Fig. 1 (e.g., a motor with built-in control).

Referring now to Fig. 3, shows a perspective view of a motorized sliding element mounted slidably in a frame 31 of a safe room window 30 that may be used in the described system and method. Trigger receiving unit 12 is electronically coupled to controller 13 of the motor assembly 23. Trigger receiving unit 12 may be located adjacent to the controller 13, inside a casing of motor assembly 23, inside a room on a wall, or may be located elsewhere in the building.

The frame 31 may be a window frame. The frame 31 includes a top horizontal member 312, a bottom horizontal member 313, left vertical member 314, and right vertical member 315. The track 22 for the sliding element 21 is offset from the horizontal members 312 or 313 so that the sliding element 21 can open and close. It is appreciated that before the addition of any motor assemblies, the sliding element 21 can be manually operated. Section 316 of window 30 is usually installed in such a way that section 316 is concealed within the safe room wall, and is commonly used to store the sliding element 21 when the window is in an open position. 40782/20 27 75 32/3 - 10 - One or more motor assemblies 23 are affixed to the top and/or bottom of the right of the sliding element 21. Although one motor assembly 23 is shown in Fig. 2, any number of motor assemblies 23 may be used. While the right side is identified, it is appreciated that a motor assembly 23 may be affixed to any location on a sliding segment of the safe room window without departing from the scope of the present invention. Motor assemblies 23 may contain a motor, and one or more: gears; gearbox; transmission; worm drive; a rack and pinion or combinations thereof, as commonly used in the art to obtain a sliding motion. For example, the gears mesh with the teeth of a corresponding gear track. The motors turn the gears in a first direction, causing the gears to walk along the gear tracks, causing the slidable element to slide towards a vertical member of the window (e.g., member 314).

Rotation in the opposite direction walks the gears in the other direction, pulling the slidable element 21 in the other direction (e.g., away from member 314). In the present embodiment, track 22 is designed to retrofit already installed windows. In this embodiment, the track 22 is designed to be applied directly to the horizontal members 312 or 313 of the frame 31. There are a variety of methods for applying the track 22 that include but are not limited to; adhesive applied to the side of the track without gear teeth, (a peel and stick option), fastening devices such as nails or screws, or slide on a track that rests on the horizontal member with the teeth on one side and the other side being smooth. In another embodiment, the gear track is molded into the horizontal member. In one embodiment, the motors are powered by batteries, in certain embodiments, they are rechargeable batteries, and are powered by a power grid (i.e., alternating-current (AC) electric power supply). 40782/20 27 75 32/3 - 11 - Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a system 40 for automatically operating a motorized safe room window by utilizing alarm sounds generated by speakers or sirens of an outdoor warning system 46 that is used to alert people of a pending severe event, according to an embodiment of the invention. For example, the audible sounds can be generated by outdoor warning system 46 that is operatively connected to remote device 16 (e.g., to an early-warning radar system) via data network 15. Thus, one or more microphones 41 or other suitable sound recording elements can be used by system 40 as a sensing element that may indirectly indicate of an emergency situation originated from the early-warning radar system. According to an embodiment of the invention, a calibration process of the alarm detection module 42 is applied based on the location of one or more microphones 41 of alarm detection module 42 with respect to the location of at least one outdoor warning system 46. For example, the calibration process may involve calculating expected parameters of captured sound patterns based on the distance between the one or more microphones 41 and the least one outdoor warning system 46, as well as the expected captured intensity of the generated warning signal by each outdoor warning system 46. The calibration ensures that the system will operate in an accurate manner regardless the actual location of each installed safe room window.

More specifically, calibrating the alarm detection module 42 is based on the geographical location of each outdoor warning system 46 (that generates a warning signal) in combination with the intensity of the audible sounds captured by one or more microphones 41 of the alarm detection module 42. This can be achieved by calculating the expected parameters of captured sound patterns based on the 18/10/2001/01/2023

Claims

40782/20 277532/ 5 - 13 - Claims

1. A method for automatically operating a safe room window in an emergency situation, comprising the steps of: a) providing a motorized slideable element that is configured to close the safe room window or cover at least part of the window’s frame; b) calibrating an alarm detection module based on the geographical location of each outdoor warning system that generates a warning signal in combination with the intensity of the audible sounds captured by one or more microphones of said alarm detection module, by calculating expected parameters of captured sound patterns based on the geographic location of the one or more microphones and each outdoor warning system in combination with the expected captured intensity of the generated warning signal by each of the outdoor warning system; c) capturing/recording audible sounds by the one or more microphones of the alarm detection module, wherein the calibration enables filtering parameters of captured sound patterns that do not match said calculated expected parameters; d) processing, in real-time, said captured/recorded audible sounds to determine whether a captured sound pattern is indicative of an actual alarm of an emergency situation according to the calculation of expected parameters of captured sound patterns; 40782/20 277532/ 5 - 14 - e) upon detecting audible sounds indicating an emergency situation, operating an electrically powered actuator of said motorized slideable element to move the motorized slideable element to a closed position.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the indication of the emergency situation is received by a trigger receiving unit which generates signals related to the emergency situation and sends said signals to a controller of the motorized slideable element that accordingly operates the actuator.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the controller operates the actuator to move the slideable element either upon receiving an indication due to an emergency situation or on demand via an activation device that enables to move the slideable element between an open position and a closed position.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the activation device is selected from the group consisting of a control switch, a remote control, a mobile device.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the indication is received from a remote device, in a wired or wireless manner.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the remote device is an early-warning radar system or other system configured to allow defenses to be alerted as early as possible before an intruder / missile reaches its target.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the remote device is a smartphone, a computer system, a server or a cloud server that runs a software program, an application or a website that is configured to receive data relative to an emergency situation from an early-warning radar system or other system 40782/20 277532/ 5 - 15 - configured to allow defenses to be alerted as early as possible before an intruder / missile reaches its target.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the motorized slideable element is a reinforced plate, in particular, that is made of steel.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the audible sounds indicating an emergency situation are generated by speakers or sirens of the at least one outdoor warning system.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the calibration comprising calculating expected parameters of captured sound patterns based on the distance between the one or more microphones and the least one outdoor warning system.

11. A system for automatically operating a safe room window in an emergency situation, comprising: a) an electrically powered actuator configured to move a slidable element of the window between an open position and a closed position; b) a trigger receiving unit that generates signals related to an emergency situation upon receiving an indication regarding the occurrence of an emergency situation; c) an alarm detection module configured for detecting audible sounds indicating an emergency situation and sending the indication to the trigger receiving unit, by capturing/recording alarm/siren sound and processing in real-time said captured/recorded alarm/siren sound to determine whether a captured sound pattern indicative of an actual alarm of an emergency 40782/20 277532/ 5 - 16 - situation, wherein said alarm detection module is calibrated based on geographical location of each outdoor warning system that generates warning signal in combination with the intensity of the audible sounds captured by one or more microphones of said alarm detection module, wherein the calibration comprising calculating expected parameters of captured sound patterns based on the geographic location of the one or more microphones and the geographic location of each outdoor warning system in combination with the expected captured intensity of the generated warning signal by each of the outdoor warning system; d) a controller adapted to receive signals from the trigger receiving unit and operate said actuator to move the slidable element to a closed position.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising an activation device that enables to move the slideable element between an open position and a closed position.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the activation device is selected from the group consisting of a control switch, a remote control, a mobile device.

14. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a communication module for enabling the trigger receiving unit to communicate with a remote device in order to receive from said remote device the indication regarding the occurrence of an emergency situation, in a wired or wireless manner.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the remote device is an early-warning radar system or other system configured to allow defenses to be alerted as early as possible before an intruder / missile reaches its target. 40782/20 277532/ 5 - 17 -

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the remote device is a smartphone, a computer system, a server or a cloud server that runs a software program, an application or a website that is configured to receive data relative to an emergency situation from an early-warning radar system or other system configured to allow defenses to be alerted as early as possible before an intruder / missile reaches its target.

17. A system according to claim 11, wherein the one or more microphones are capable of capturing/recording alarm or siren sounds originating from the at least one outdoor warning system.