US3885236A

US3885236A - Fire alarm box

Info

Publication number: US3885236A
Application number: US402873A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Bruce Mcnair; Raymond J Gallagher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-10-02
Filing date: 1973-10-02
Publication date: 1975-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 1992-05-20

Abstract

An improved alarm box for signaling an alarm at a fire station or other remote location is disclosed. Such alarm boxes generally have a lever actuated signaling mechanism enclosed within the box, an inner door enclosing the signaling mechanism except for the lever, and a generally locked outer door enclosing the lever but allowing access thereto by way of a breakable glass plate. The present invention provides improved means for actuating the lever which employs a card having a magnetic pattern formed therein, the card identifying the user. The card fits through a slot in the outer door to engage a magnetic lock interior thereof. The lock has a card receptacle which is fully engageable only by the card having the preselected magnetic pattern. Upon such full engagement of the card, means are provided for activating the lever to activate the signaling mechanism. The card is then captured by apparatus located within the outer door so that the card cannot be removed until the firemen arrive.

Description

United States Patent McNair et a1.

1 1 May 20, 1975 Primary Examiner-John W. Caldwell Assistant ExaminerWilliam M. Wannisky Attorney, Agent, or Ft'rm-Townsend and Townsend [57] ABSTRACT An improved alarm box for signaling an alarm at a tire station or other remote location is disclosed. Such alarm boxes generally have a lever actuated signaling mechanism enclosed within the box, an inner door enclosing the signaling mechanism except for the lever, and a generally locked outer door enclosing the lever but allowing access thereto by way of a breakable glass plate. The present invention provides improved means for actuating the lever which employs a card having a magnetic pattern formed therein, the card identifying the user. The card fits through a slot in the outer door to engage a magnetic lock interior thereof. The lock has a card receptacle which is fully engageable only by the card having the preselected magnetic pattern. Upon such full engagement of the card, means are provided for activating the lever to activate the signaling mechanism. The card is then captured by apparatus located within the outer door so that the card cannot be removed until the firemen arrive.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 1 FIRE ALARM BOX [76] Inventors: Robert Bruce McNair, 42 Hayward Ave.; Raymond J. Gallagher, 731 Oregon Ave., both of San Mateo, Calif. 94401 [22] Filed: Oct. 2, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 402,873

[52] US. Cl. 340/304; 340/301; 340/149 A; 317/134; 235/617 B; ZOO/61.59; 200/42 R; 194/4 R [51] Int. Cl. G08b 25/00 [58] Field of Search 340/301, 304, 149 A; 194/4 F, 17', 317/134; 235/617 B; 200/42 R, 61.59

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 388,631 8/1888 Chase 340/301 472,983 4/1892 Chase 340/301 X 2,914,746 11/1959 James 340/149 A 3,154,761 10/1964 O'Gorman 340/149 A 3,215,903 11/1965 Barney 317/134 3,262,124 7/1966 Albiani 235/6l.7 B 3,353,006 11/1967 Pollock et a1 340/149 A X 3,629,834 12/1971 Randall et a1 340/149 A Ill SHEET 1 U? 3 FIRE ALARM INSERT CARD AR ROW SIDE UP ,/12

FATENTED ancrzoms 7%. 88 5 236 sum 2 BF 3 PATENTEBHAYZOiU/S SHEH 3 Of- JOHN JONE$ FIRE ALARM Box BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved fire alarm box designed to reduce the frequency of false alarms.

In urban locations a large number of fire alarm boxes are generally provided both on street corners and in public buildings, apartment buildings and similar locations. These alarm boxes generally contain mechanical mechanisms for sending a telegraphic or radio code to the fire station which identifies the box which has been activated. It has long been thought that it was essential to provide unrestricted access to these alarm boxes, and as a result such boxes usually have either an exposed lever, or a lever covered with a glass barrier which can be broken to activate the alarm.

The problem with such alarm boxes is that by making the devices easily accessible so that fires can be rapidly reported by anyone, the alarm box has become an open invitation to pranksters, and a substantial portion of the fire departments time is taken up in responding to false alarms. Such a situation results in a substantial economic waste, and greatly decreases the efficiency of the fire department when a real emergency occurs. Also, the morale of the fire department is substantially reduced by knowledge that a large portion of the alarms are the result of pranksters, and that in exposing themselves to the substantial hazards of rapidly responding to an alarm, the alarm is quite likely false.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a mechanism which will reduce the frequency of false alarms in certain situation The present invention provides a means for operating a standard alarm box by a card having a preselected magnetic pattern formed therein. Such boxes can be placed on the floors of apartment buildings, in specific sections of a neighborhood, and other similar locations, and the residents thereof can be provided with the necessary cards. These cards will have the identification of the holder thereon, and when the card is used to activate the alarm, it will be captured and cannot be removed until the firemen arrives.

One object of the present invention is to provide an alarm box which can only be operated by an appropriate card or other specialized key. This restricts use of the box to residents of the particular neighborhood or occupants of a single apartment building. Since the card is captured by the alarm box, and identifies the user, it is highly unlikely that false alarms will be reported. As a result, it will be known to the fire department that any alarm coming from that particular box is almost certainly a true alarm. The fire department will thus be given added incentive to reply promptly to that alarm giving much greater security to occupiers of a building or neighborhood provided with the alarm system of the present invention.

An object of the preferred embodiment of the pres ent invention is to provide an alarm box which can be activated by a card as opposed to a key. Such a card can easily be carried in the holders wallet along with credit cards and the like so that the holder will ordinarily have the card on his person. Hence, the card will be available for use when it is required even in an emergency situation. Another advantage of the use of the card over the key is that the flat surface of the card will generally retain the finger prints of the last user. In this manner, even if the card is lost or stolen, a means will be provided for identifying the person activating the alarm.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism which can be simply added to existing fire alarm equipment. The present invention is designed to operate in connection with standard lever-actuated equipment, providing only an improved mechanism for operating the lever which is already a part of the alarm box.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the alarm box of the present invention with the outer door closed;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the alarm box of FIG. 1 illustrating the outer door open and the inner door partially cut away to illustrate the signaling mech anism;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the alarm box of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the outer door open to illustrate the slide bar mechanism on the inner door;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the inner door illustrating the means for releasing the slide bar;

FIG. 5 is a top fragmentary view of the magnetic lock assembly;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view illustrating the movement of the slide bar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The exterior configuration of the alarm box of the present invention is illustrated by way of reference to FIG. 1. Fire alarm box 10 has the conventional roofed configuration illustrated with an outer door 12 at the front. The alarm box 10 illustrated is mounted on a post 14, but can be mounted in any traditional manner. Conventional fire boxes are provided with either a glass portion at the front which can be broken to expose a lever, or with a lever which merely projects through the outer door. However, with the present invention, outer door 12 is solid with the exception of a narrow slot 16. A card 18 similar to a credit card is adapted to project through slot 16 to a position partially interior of the outer door 12 to activate the alarm. Card 18 is preferably provided with an identification 20 of the holder of the card.

The interior of fire alarm box 10 is illustrated by way of reference to FIG. 2 wherein outer door 12 is open and inner door 30 is partially cut away. A signaling mechanism 32 is contained within the fire box 10, and is adapted to send a telegraphic signal to a fire station or other remote location when lever 34 is depressed. This type of signaling mechanism is illustrated in US. Pat. Nos. 1,294,053 and l,999,859, and is well known in the art. Normally, lever 34 projects through inner door 30 and is disposed behind a glass plate in outer door 14. Some alarm boxes known in the art allow lever 34 to project completely through outer door 14. How ever, lever 34 in the present invention is fully enclosed by outer door 14, and the actuation of the lever is accomplished by the insertion of card 18 into magnetic lock 36. This type of magnetic lock is illustrated in US Pat. No. 3,611,763. A key operated lock 38 is provided on outer door 14 so that lever 34 cannot be directly operated other than by a fireman who has the proper key, or by insertion of the proper magnetic card 18.

The mechanism by which card 18 operates lever 34 is illustrated by viewing FIGS. 3 and 4 in combination. A slide bar 40 is slideable along and supported by a downwardly opening sleeve 42 mounted on the outer surface of inner door 30. Prior to activation (as illustrated in FIG. 3), lever 34 is inset in a recess in the lower lateral edge of slide bar 40. A rotatable cam fol lower 44 is mounted on the end of lever 34 and is in engagement with the lower lateral ledge of slidebar 40. A spring 46 is extended prior to actuation of slidebar 40 to bias the slidebar into sliding motion relative to lever 34.

Magnetic lock 36, which is fully engageable only by the magnetic card 18 which has the proper magnetic pattern formed therein, projects through inner door 30 and is aligned with slot 16 in outer door 14. The proper magnetic pattern for the card is determined by a re placeable master card 48 insertable in the upper por tion of magnetic lock 36. The lock is designed so that any card not having the proper magnetic pattern is blocked by lock 36, and only the proper card will fully engage the card receptacle portion 37 of the lock. Card 18 passes completely through the card receptacle portion 37 of magnetic lock 36 when fully engaged to contact and move L-shaped member 50. L-shaped member 50 is internally connected to a pin 52 so that full engagement of card 18 moves pin 52 to the left as illustrated in H0. 4. Pin 52 fits into a slot 54 in horizontal member 56 (see FIG. so that full engagement of card 18 moves horizontal member 56 to the left (FIG. 4). Horizontal member 56 is attached to the lower end of an elongate member 58 which depends from attachment 60 on the interior of inner door 30.

A pin 62, mounted near the center of member 58, projects through an aperture 64 in inner wall to engage slidebar 40. Pin 62 is adapted to project through the aperture in slidebar to normally prevent sliding of the slidebar relative to lever 34. Pin 62 is transversely moveable and has a flange 66 in abutment with solid piece 68 connected to depending member 58 so that movement of the depending member responsively to insertion of card 18 disengages pin 62 from slidebar 40 to allow sliding of the slidebar. When slidebar 40 is being replaced for resetting the alarm box, pin 62 will be biased by spring 70 into re'engagement with the aperture in the slidebar for easy resetting of the device. Also, depending member 58 is normally biased by spring 72 and pin 52 by spring 74 to maintain pin 62 in engagement with the aperture in slidebar 40.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the impaler assembly 80 of the present invention is illustrated in the retracted position prior to activation of the alarm by card 18. Impaler 80 has two upwardly directed members 82 mounted on a horizontal platform 84. Platform 84 is confined to vertical motion by means of posts 86 which pass through apertures in the horizontal platform Springs 88 are mounted circumferentially over posts 86 and are compressed between platform 84 and a horizontal plate 90 to bias the horizontal platform upwardly.

Upward motion of horizontal platform 84 is normally prevented by rotatable catch 92 which engages horizontal platform 84. A pivot member 94 is pivotably attached to catch 92 at one end and a vertical arm 96 at the other end. Member 96 is confined to vertical motion by bracket 98. Vertical member 96 has a cam portion 100 at its upper end in abutment with cam follower 44 on the end of lever 34. Prior to actuation of lever 34 by magnetically coded card 18, vertical member 96 is biased upwardly by spring I02 to maintain catch 92 in position over horizontal platform 84.

The operation of the slidebar 40 in activating lever 34 is illustrated by way of reference to FIG. 6. The position of the slidebar prior to actuation is illustrated in phantom by 40, the position of the slidebar after actuation being denoted as 40. Slidebar 40 is moved from position 40' to position 40 along downwardly opening sleeve 42 by spring 46 when the pin is disengaged from aperture 64 in the slidebar. Disengagement of the pin from aperture 64 is accomplished by insertion of the proper card 18 into magnetic lock 36 as heretofore il lustrated.

The lower lateral edge of slidebar 40 is formed in the shape of a cam surface 110. Cam surface is inclined downwardly to depress cam follower 44 at the end of lever 34 as slidebar 40 moves from position 40 to position 40, thereby depressing the lever.

Depression of cam follower 44 also depresses the cam follower portion 100 of vertical member 96, thereby urging the member downwardly. This downward movement causes catch 92 to slide off horizontal platform 84 by the pivotal connection with member 94. Platform 84 is forced upwardly by compressed springs 88 along posts 86. Springs 88 are sufficiently strong so that pointed members 82 are projected through fully engaged card 18 to impale the card on the pointed members. The impaler assembly 80 is located interior of the outer door of the tire alarm box so that card 18 cannot be removed by other than the fireman having the proper key to unlock the outer door.

In operation, the alarm box is preset in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 3. Slidebar 40 is moved to the right against spring 46 until spring loaded pin 62 en gages aperture 64 in the slidebar. Lever 34 is then moved upwardly into the cocked position with cam follower 44 in abutment with the lower cam surface 110 of slidebar 40. The alarm box is then ready for use, and outer door 12 is closed and locked.

The signaling mechanism 32 of alarm box 10 is activated by a person having a card 18 having the proper magnetic code formed therein. The proper code is determined by master card 48. Card 18 has a means 20 of identifying the user, and also provides a flat surface for easily picking up fingerprints if the card has been lost or stolen,

The card receptacle portion 37 of the magnetic lock 36 is fully engageable only by the proper card 18. Such full engagement moves L-shaped member 50 backwardly to move pin 52 against the tension of spring 74. Such movement of pin 52 moves horizontal member 56, therefore rotating depending member 58 away from the inner surface of inner wall 30. This movement of depending member 58 disengages pin 62 from the aperture 64 in slidebar 40, allowing sliding movement of the slidebar responsive to spring 46. When slidebar 40 moves, cam surface 110 on the lower edge thereof depresses cam follower 44 on the end of lever 34 to activate the lever which controls signaling mechanism 32.

Depression of cam follower 44 also depresses the cam follower portion 100 of vertical members 96 to re lease catch 92 retaining horizontal platform 84. Release of horizontal platform 84 allows pointed members 82 to be projected upwardly to impale fully engaged card 18 so that it cannot be removed.

After the fireman responds to the fire, outer door 14 can be unlocked and the impaling assembly 80 disen gaged from card 18. Card 18 can then be removed and examined to determine the person who activated the alarm. This procedure will ensure that only genuine alarms are sounded. greatly reducing the frequency of false alarms.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail, it is apparent that modifications and adaptations of that embodiment will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, it is quite likely that the mechanism disclosed herein could be used on other types of alarms, such as burglar alarms, police alarms and so forth. Also, it is apparent that alternative embodiments to the card mechanism, e.g., a key mechanism wherein the key is captured, could be employed. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. In an alarm box for signaling an alarm at a fire station or other remote location, said alarm box having a lever actuated signaling mechanism enclosed within the box, an inner door enclosing the signaling mechanism with the lever projecting through said inner door, and a generally locked outer door enclosing the lever, means for actuating the lever which comprises:

a card having a preselected magnetic pattern formed therein;

a slot formed through the outer door and adapted to allow passage of the card through said outer door;

a magnetic lock interior to the outer door and projecting through the inner door, said lock having a card receptacle designed to be solely fully engageable by the card having the preselected magnetic pattern;

means for actuating the lever to activate the signaling mechanism responsive to fully engagement of the card receptacle by the card; and

means for capturing the card upon full engagement of the card receptacle, said capture means being manually operable to release the captured card, said capture means located within the outer door to necessitate unlocking and opening of said outer door to manually release said card.

2. An alarm box as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for actuating the lever to activate the signaling mechanism comprises a cam follower on the free end of the lever, a slideable bar mounted on the inner door, one lateral edge of said slidebar providing an elongate cam surface adapted to abut the cam follower, said cam surface adapted to depress the cam follower to actuate the lever upon sliding of the bar. means biasing the bar into sliding movement in one direction. means releasably retaining said slideable bar in a fixed position to prevent sliding of said slideable bar responsively to said bias means, and means for disengaging said retaining means responsive to full engagement of the card receptacle by the card to allow sliding of said slide-able bar to activate the lever.

3. An alarm box as recited in claim 2 wherein the slideable bar has a small aperture formed thereth rough, and wherein the means releasably retaining said slideable bar comprises a pin adapted to project through and engage the aperture in the slideable bar, and wherein the means for disengaging said retaining means comprises an arm depending from the interior of the inner door, said arm having a first end attached to the inner door and a second end intermediate the card re ceptacle so that insertion of the card having the preselected magnetic pattern formed therein into full en gagement with the card receptacle forces said second end of the arm away from the inner door, said pin being mounted intermediate the first and second ends of said arm so that movement of the second end of said arm away from the inner door moves said pin out of engagement with the aperture in the slideable bar to release said slideable barv 4. In an alarm box for signaling an alarm at a fire station or other remote location, said alarm box having a signaling mechanism within the box for transmitting a coded signal to the remote location which identifies the alarm box location when said mechanism is activated, and a door enclosing the signaling mechanism, improved means for actuating the signaling mechanism, which comprises:

a card having a preselected magnetic pattern formed therein;

a slot formed through the door and adapted to allow passage of the card through said door;

a magnetic lock mounted interior to the door, said lock having a card receptacle designed to be fully engaged solely by the card having the preselected magnetic pattern;

means for activating the signaling mechanism responsive to full engagement of the card receptacle by the card;

means for capturing the card upon full engagement of the card receptacle to prevent disengagement of said card from said receptacle; and

means for releasing the captured card, said releasing means located interior to the door to necessitate opening of said door to remove said card.

5. An alarm box as recited in claim 4 wherein the means for capturing the card comprises a rigid member interior of said door and having a sharply pointed portion directed at said card upon full engagement of said card receptacle by said card, means for biasing said pointed lever at said card, restraining means adapted to generally prevent movement of said pointed member toward said card, and means for disengaging said re straining means upon full engagement of said card receptacle by said card to allow the pointed portion of said rigid member to impale said card to prevent with drawal of said card,

Claims

1. In an alarm box for signaling an alarm at a fire station or other remote location, said alarm box having a lever actuated signaling mechanism enclosed within the box, an inner door enclosing the signaling mechanism with the lever projecting through said inner door, and a generally locked outer door enclosing the lever, means for actuating the lever which comprises: a card having a preselected magnetic pattern formed therein; a slot formed through the outer door and adapted to allow passage of the card through said outer door; a magnetic lock interior to the outer door and projecting through the inner door, said lock having a card receptacle designed to be solely fully engageable by the card having the preselected magnetic pattern; means for actuating the lever to activate the signaling mechanism responsive to fully engagement of the card receptacle by the card; and means for capturing the card upon full engagement of the card receptacle, said capture means being manually operable to release the captured card, said capture means located within the outer door to necessitate unlocking and opening of said outer door to manually release said card.

2. An alarm box as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for actuating the lever to activate the signaling mechanism comprises a cam follower on the free end of the lever, a slideable bar mounted on the inner door, one lateral edge of said slidebar providing an elongate cam surface adapted to abut the cam follower, said cam surface adapted to depress the cam follower to actuate the lever upon sliding of the bar, means biasing the bar into sliding movement in one direction, means releasably retaining said slideable bar in a fixed position to prevent sliding of said slideable bar responsively to said bias means, and means for disengaging said retaining means responsive to full engagement of the card receptacle by the card to allow sliding of said slideable bar to activate the lever.

3. An alarm box as recited in claim 2 wherein the slideable bar has a small aperture formed therethrough, and wherein the means releasably retaining said slideable bar comprises a pin adapted to project through and engage the aperture in the slideable bar, and wherein the means for disengaging said retaining means comprises an arm depending from the interior of the inner door, said arm having a first end attached to the inner door and a second end intermediate the card receptacle so that insertion of the card having the preselected magnetic pattern formed therein into full engagement with the card receptacle forces said second end of the arm away from the inner door, said pin being mounted intermediate the first and second ends of said arm so that movement of the second end of said arm away from the inner door moves said pin out of engagement with the aperture in the slideable bar to release said slideable bar.

4. In an alarm box for signaling an alarm at a fire station or other remote location, said alarm box having a signaling mecHanism within the box for transmitting a coded signal to the remote location which identifies the alarm box location when said mechanism is activated, and a door enclosing the signaling mechanism, improved means for actuating the signaling mechanism, which comprises: a card having a preselected magnetic pattern formed therein; a slot formed through the door and adapted to allow passage of the card through said door; a magnetic lock mounted interior to the door, said lock having a card receptacle designed to be fully engaged solely by the card having the preselected magnetic pattern; means for activating the signaling mechanism responsive to full engagement of the card receptacle by the card; means for capturing the card upon full engagement of the card receptacle to prevent disengagement of said card from said receptacle; and means for releasing the captured card, said releasing means located interior to the door to necessitate opening of said door to remove said card.

5. An alarm box as recited in claim 4 wherein the means for capturing the card comprises a rigid member interior of said door and having a sharply pointed portion directed at said card upon full engagement of said card receptacle by said card, means for biasing said pointed lever at said card, restraining means adapted to generally prevent movement of said pointed member toward said card, and means for disengaging said restraining means upon full engagement of said card receptacle by said card to allow the pointed portion of said rigid member to impale said card to prevent withdrawal of said card.