WO2004040087A1

WO2004040087A1 - A lock system, preferably provided with a radio-code for controlling safety devices, particularly safety devices of a house

Info

Publication number: WO2004040087A1
Application number: PCT/IT2003/000657
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luciano Liberati
Original assignee: Luciano Liberati
Priority date: 2002-10-30
Filing date: 2003-10-23
Publication date: 2004-05-13
Also published as: ITRM20020546A0; AU2003283808A1; ITRM20020546A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a lock system (3), for controlling safety devices (6, 10), particularly safety devices of a house, characerised in that it is comprised of at least a transmission device (1), applied to at least a lock (3), and at least a receiving device to control at least a safety means (6 and/or 10), said at least a transmitting device controlling said at least a receiver by a signal, to activate said at least a safety means (6 and/or 10).

Description

A LOCK SYSTEM, PREFERABLY PROVIDED WITH A RADIO- CODE FOR CONTROLLING SAFETY DEVICES, PARTICULARLY SAFETY DEVICES OF A HOUSE

The present invention relates to a lock system, preferably provided with a radio-code for controlling safety devices, particularly safety devices of a house.

More particularly, the invention relates to a system of the above kind, particularly suitable to activate systems for insulating or excluding the electric power supply of gas methane supply, or to insulate white goods, water supply, or any other kind of system that could cause a dangerous situation.

In the following, the specification will be addressed to the use of the invention in a private house, but it is well evident that the same must not be considered limited to this specific use. STATE OF THE ART

As it is well known, in the recent years a new technological field developed, known as "domotic".

Domotic represents the application of electronic and of remote controls within the domestic walls. Particularly, this new trade perspective of the technology aims to simplify and to make safer the life within a house, exploiting the electronic and informatics.

In this context, during the years, different safety devices for the house have been suggested to avoid, particularly, that within the domestic walls dangerous accidents could occur. It is in fact known how high are risks of accidents due to electric power or, for example, or accidental gas leaks.

In view of the above, different signalling systems of possible leaks are always more used, e.g. based on suitable sensors. To make these system efficient, it is necessary that they are activated by the user.

A problem arising for safety is the fact that sometimes, exiting from the house, it is possible to forget to close the gas valve, or in case one leaves for some days, it is possible to forget to insulate some white goods, such as water pumps or television set, the latter being subject to firing due to accidental causes or to thunderbolts, creating serious damages to the house.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, it is well evident the need of having a system allowing to insulate or activate possible protection or safety systems for the house as soon as out of the house, as proposed by the present invention. Still better would be to have available a radio system allowing to insulate set systems by the use of solenoid valves or electrical switches.

In this context it is included the solution suggested according to the present invention.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION Therefore, object of the present invention is that of relieving a person exiting from a house, or from another king of environment, such as an office, e.g. from the burden of having to-remember to have activated all the safety systems or to have de-activated all the systems that could be dangerous, providing a system automatically exploiting this operation, following the execution of a compulsory operation by the user (e.g. the closure of the door lock).

Another object of the present invention is that of allowing the activation of these system through an automatic system, and possibly a remote control. Further object of the present invention is that being able to apply a system of the above kind either to existing houses or buildings and to those under construction.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION It is therefore specific object of the present invention a lock system, for controlling safety devices, particularly safety devices of a house, characterised in that it is comprised of at least a transmission device, applied to at least a lock, and at least a receiving device to control at least a safety means, said at least a transmitting device controlling said at least a receiver by a signal, to activate said at least a safety means. Always according to the invention, coupling between said at least a transmission device and said at least a receiving device can be realised by connection wires.

Furthermore, according to the invention, connection between said at least a transmission device and said at least a receiving device can be realised by radio waves.

Preferably, signal between said at least a transmission device and said at least a receiving device is coded. Furthermore, according to the invention, said at least a safety means is an solenoid valve, controlling, for example, the gas system.

Still according to the invention, said at least a safety means is comprised of a relay, controlling for example a gas system, or applied to an electric line.

Further, according to the invention, said at least a receiving device is provided with de-activation means, preferably comprised of a button.

Still according to the invention, said at least a transmission device is a receiver - transmitter device.

Furthermore, according to the invention, said transmission device is provided with at least a signalling system, preferably comprised of a buzzer.

Always according to the invention, said at least a receiver - transmitter device, when in the transmission mode, sends a plurality of different signals to a corresponding number of said receiver - transmitter devices in the receiving mode.

Furthermore, according to the invention, it is possible to program the receiver - transmitter device when in the transmission mode to select receiver - transmitter devices in the receiving mode to be activated.

Always according to the invention, the system carries out the following steps:

A. Closure of the lock by the user; -,. B. Said transmitter sends a coded signal to said at least a receiving device;

C. Said at least a receiving device decoding the signal;

D. Said at least a receiver activates said at least a safety device. Furthermore, according to the invention, the system can carry out the following steps:

A. Closure of the lock by the user;

B. Said receiver - transmitter device in the transmission mode sends at least a closure signal to said at least a receiver - transmitter device in the receiving mode;

C. Said at least a receiver - transmitter device in the receiving mode codifies the signal; D. Said at least a receiver - transmitter device in the receiving mode activates said at least a safety device;

E. Said at least a receiver - transmitter device in the receiving mode sends a signal to said receiver - transmitter device in the transmission mode to confirm that the operation was successfully carried out;

F. In case of lack of receipt of the signal confirming that the operation was successfully carried out, said receiver - transmitter device in the transmission mode sands a warning signal to the user.

The present invention will be now described, for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its- preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein: figure 1 schematically shows a system according to the invention provided on a door; and figure 2 is a block diagram summarising the principle operation of the system according to the invention.

Making first reference to figure 1 , it can be observed the system according to the invention, acting on house safety devices. Particularly, it can be noted the transmitter 1 , provided with an antenna 2, and placed on the lock 3 of a door 4. Particularly, lock 3 can be an electric or mechanic lock. Further, transmitter must have such a range to cover all the house surface. Transmitter sends a codified radio signal that is received by a receiving device. Particularly, in the figure it can be observed the application of the device to the closure of the methane gas valve within a house. In fact, it is possible to provide a device 6 on the gas tube 5 of the system of a house, comprised of an solenoid valve and a receiver that, as soon as receives a suitable signal from the transmitter 1 , activates the solenoid valve in order to interrupt the gas flow. A button 7 is provided in the device 6, in order to deactivate the receiving device, for example for maintenance of the line.

In figure 1 it is also shown the application of the solution according to the present invention to the control of an electric line 8. Particularly, it can be observed that from electric panelboard 9 it is possible to control a particular line by a device 10, comprising a coded receiver that, by a suitable signal from the transmitter 1 , controls a relay interrupting said electric line 8. In this case too it is provided a de- activation button 11 for the receiving device. It must be added that in case of differentiate switches it is possible to apply a device 10 in correspondence of each deviation of the system, in such a way to control some parts of the system and to leave others independent. In fact, it can for example exist the needing of leaving operative some white goods suitable to the preservation of food, such as the refrigerator.

It must be noted that transmitter 1 and receiving devices included within the devices 6 and 10 must be coded, in order to avoid that they are in conflict with other similar systems that could be installed in other houses.

Figure 2 shows a block diagram summarising the principle operation of the system. Particularly, it can -be observed that when the lock 3, that can be of the mechanical, electromechanical or electronic type, when closed sends a signal, transmitter 1 sends a set coded signal to the antenna 2 transmitting the same in the surrounding space. After this, antenna 11 of the receiving systems comprised within the various devices to be controlled receives the signal and sends the same to the receiving device. From the latter, the signal is transferred to a decoder, in such a way to activate the control arriving from an univocally defined transmitter. Finally, if the code corresponds, solenoid valve or relay 14 is activated.

It is possible also to provide a dialer (not shown in the figures) on the transmitter 1 , allowing to select among some set house closure programs. Particularly, it could be possible to differentiate the codes of the various receiving devices and to make it possible that each program will activate some specific receiving devices and not the others. Really, leaving the house for a long time, it is different with respect to closing the house for some hours. Thus, it can be set beforehand this kind of intervention. In this case, it is necessary that the transmitter sends a different code for each receiving device. Therefore, when it is selected the program "Exit for some hours", it is possible to intervene in such a way that the transmitter sends signals to some receiving devices and not to others.

Finally, in order to have the system safe, it is possible to provide that both the transmitter and the receiving device are receiver - transmitter devices, in such a way that when the transmitter sends a closure signal to a receiving device controlling an solenoid valve, it immediately sends a response signal, to ensure that the valve has been closed. In case this signal is not received, within a set time, for example within some seconds, from receiver - transmitter device in the transmission mode on the lock, the latter interprets what happened as the presence of a failure on the receiving device or on the solenoid valve, thus said transmitter on the lock sends a warning, for example a sound alarm, to signal the failure of the system, warning the user before he leaves from the house.

Obviously, for this system it is possible to imagine more than a use. In fact said invention can be applied also within an office or a factory, for example to switch off all the systems, machinery or mechanical means. The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.

Claims

1. Lock system, for controlling safety devices, particularly safety devices of a house, characterised in that it is comprised of at least a transmission device, applied to at least a lock, and at least a receiving device to control at least a safety means, said at least a transmitting device controlling said at least a receiver by a signal, to activate said at least a safety means.

2. Lock system according to claim 1 , characterised in that coupling between said at least a transmission device and said at least a receiving device can be realised by connection wires.

3. Lock system according to claim 1 , characterised in that connection between said at least a transmission device and said at least a receiving device can be realised by radio waves. .

4. Lock system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that signal between said at least a transmission device and said at least a receiving device is coded.

5. Lock system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said at least a safety means is an solenoid valve.

6. Lock system according to claim 5, characterised in that said solenoid valve controls the gas system.

7. Lock system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said at least a safety means is comprised of a relay.

8. Lock system according to claim 7, characterised in that said relay controls a gas system.

9. Lock system according to claim 7, characterised in that said relay is applied to an electric line.

10. Lock system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said at least a receiving device is provided with de- activation means.

11. Lock system according to claim 10, characterised in that said de-activation means are comprised of a button.

12. Lock system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said at least a transmission device sends a plurality of different signals to a corresponding number of said receiver - transmitter device in the receiving mode.

13. Lock system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said at least a transmission device is a receiver - transmitter device.

14. Lock system according to claim 13, characterised in that said at least a receiving device is a receiver - transmitter device.

15. Lock system according to one of the preceding claims 13 - 14, characterised in that said at least a transmission device is provided with at least a signalling system.

16. Lock system according to claim 15, characterised in that said at least a signalling system is comprised of a buzzer.

17. Lock system according to one of the preceding claims 13 -

16, characterised in that said at least a receiver - transmitter device, when in the transmission mode, sends a plurality of different signals to a corresponding number of said receiver - transmitter devices in the receiving mode.

18. Lock system according to one of the preceding claims 13 -

17, characterised in that it is possible to program the receiver - transmitter device when in the transmission mode to select receiver - transmitter devices in the receiving mode to be activated.

19. Operative method for the lock system according to claims 1

- 12 characterised in that it carries out the following steps:

A. Closure of the lock by the user;

B. Said transmitter sends a coded signal to said at least a receiving device; C. Said at least a receiving device decoding the signal;

D. Said at least a receiver activates said at least a safety device.

20. Operative method for the lock system according to one of the claims 13 - 18, characterised in that it carries out the following steps: A. Closure ofthe lock by the user; B. Said receiver - transmitter device in the transmission mode sends at least a closure signal to said at least a receiver - transmitter device in the receiving mode;

C. Said at least a receiver - transmitter device in the receiving mode codifies the signal; D. Said at least a receiver - transmitter device in the receiving mode activates said at least a safety device; E. Said at least a receiver - transmitter device in the receiving mode sends a signal to said receiver - transmitter device in the transmission mode to confirm that the operation was successfully carried out;

21. Lock system according to each one of the preceding claims, substantially as illustrated and described.