US3599201A - Selectively controlled alarm - Google Patents

Abstract

Switch means selectively energizes one of two parallel circuit branches. The first branch includes a lighting lamp and photocell switch connected in series and housed within a lamp post for providing general illumination when ambient light conditions are lowered to a predetermined range. Upon actuation of the switch means, the first branch is opened and the second branch is closed to operate an emergency colored lamp, an audio alarm and a flasher.

Description

I J n ited States Patent Inventors Lewis l.. (lard Montgomery:

Joe Stuhhlefield. deceased. late of \lontgomer lb Lois M. Stubblefield) all of Ala. Appl. No. 723.440 Filed Apr. 23, I968 Patented Aug. 10, I971 Assignee Leon L. Clardy, a.li.a. Lewis L. Clardy SELECTIVELY CONTROLLED ALARM 6 Claims, 1 Drawing Figs.

U.S. c1 340/326. 340/331. 340/332 Int. Cl G08b 23/00 Field of Search. 340/326.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,007.135 10/1961 Marr Mum 1x; 3,142.833 7/1964 Bosleyet-aL. 340/326x 3.207.948 9/1965 Beguin 740/332x 3.325.950 6/1967 Pfaff lrw 1. 340/84X Primary Examiner--John W. Caldwell Assistant Examiner-Michael Slobasky AllorneysClarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: Switch means selectively energizes one of two parallel circuit branches/The first branch includes a lighting lamp and photocell switch connected in series and housed within a lamp post for providing general illumination when ambient light conditions are lowered to a predetermined range. Upon actuation of the switch means, the firstbranch 1s opened and the second branch is closed to operate an emergency colored lamp, an audio alarm and a flasher.

PATENTEU ms 1 0 I971 and SELECTIVELY CONTROLLED ALARM- The present invention relates to alarms and more particularly to an audiovisual alarm housed within a lamp post which normally serves a lighting function.

The prior art includes a large number of diversified alarm apparatus. Certain of these constructions include lamp means which becomeactuated when detection of fire or intrusion occurs. Certain other devices couple an audio alarm means with a visual-signalling means thereby emphasizing an emergency situation. Generally, these special purpose devices are unesthetic to a viewers eyes so that they are not well received in a residential environment.

The present'in-vention includes audio and visual alarm components arranged in=a novel and useful circuit which is housed within an exterior lamp post structure normally adapted to light a surrounding area. Actuating. controls are disposed within an adjacent house and in preset to automatically establish illumination when ambient lighting conditions fall below a predetermined level. To signify an emergency situation, the control located within the house is actuated so that the aforementioned. lighting: lamp turns off and audio visual alarms are generated. Therefore, the present invention incorporates an electrical alarm system in a lamp post structure which decoratively conceals the electricalalarm components from view. Thus, the. present invention satisfies a long felt need for homeowners-and others in providing a combination utilitarianstructure and. remotely actuated alarm signalling means.

These togethen with other objects-and advantages whichwill become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction-andoperation as more fully. hereinafter described and claimed; reference being had to the accompanying drawings .formi ngsa partrhereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, .and-in' which:

FIG. 1 isaview in=-perspective illustrating a lamp post'for housingzelectrical components of thepresent' invention.

FIG. 2 isan electricalschematic.representation of a circuit including electricalalarm components.

Referringspecifically tothe drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, the preferred'embodiment of the present invention includes a lamp post for housingv electrical alarm components. therein.v The lamp post structure includes a glass dome l'=2 e'nclosingaa lighting lamp 14 and a colored emergency signallarnp'lfi-A lamp post shade or cover 17 is disposed in T overlying relations to'the'glass dome thereby protecting the interior thereof from the-elements of weather. The lamp post inc'ludesacylindrical collar section 18. disposed underneath and coaxial .with:.the2glass dome. 12. for enclosing a photoelectric cell-switchifl including'a light sensor which'is exposed to ambient lightconditions. A main-vertical post section 22 supports the collar. 18 and is firmly. anchored into the ground. Theupperportionz the post. section 22 includes circumferentially spacedaperturesor slits .24 therein through which audio signals-are:emitted from a suitable audio'alarmmeans 26'containedzw-ithin the lamp post section 22. The audio alarm means 26 maybeasiren,-bell=onthesliker An -intermediateseotionofithedamp:post includes a rodlike signrcarrierportionzdenotedsby28i This-includes a first carrier section 30appendingg-perpendiculariy from the'lamppost section 22,..and' suitably attached-thereto: For rigidification, a suitable decorative bracket 32 is connected between thedirst carrier:seotion ao and the-post section' 2-2I A secondlonger carrier section'flit similarlyattachedto the post section 22- is rigidified-by a decorative bracket 36 suitably connected betweewthexupper surface of. thesecond carrier section 34 and the.section..-22l.T-hedower:surface of the second'carrier' section .343-includes two laterally-spaced hoolt and eye fastenersflfl'orsthe like for properly attaching asign 40'denotingan address orname.

The. electrical-components are controlled. by a suitable switch locatedwithina residence as-explained hereinafter. Electrical cables are connected therebetween.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawing, the electric circuit for actuating the aforementioned electrical components is denoted by reference numeral 42. Control of this circuit is accomplished by a ganged dual section single pole, double-throw switch denoted by 44, the switch being located within a residence Electrical power is provided to the circuit through input leads 46 and 48. in the normal switch position, contacts 50 of a first pole of the switch are shorted thereby applying power through lead 46 to serially connected photocell switch means 20 which is of a conventional type utilized in electric eye applications. A lighting lamp 14 is serially connected with the photocell switch means and then returned to input terminal 48. it is noted that switch 44 is normally positioned to energize the lamp 14 upon closing of photocell switch means 20 which occurs during low light conditions. The second pole contacts 52 of switch 44 include one contact thereof which is jumped to the input terminal 46. The other contact thereof is connected to the aforementioned audio alarm 26. The latter is in turn serially connected to an emergency lamp 16 through a conventional lamp flasher 54 which causes the emergency lamp to flash when energized. The series audiovisual alarm circuit is completed by connecting the emergency lamp 16 back to input terminal 48.

In operation of the device, the switch- 44 is positioned to cause automatic lighting of the regular lighting lamp 14 when a predetermined level of darkness occurs. Should an em'ergenwill be appreciated, the present invention permits a resident to alert outsiders to an emergency situation occurring within the house by merely flipping switch44. Although the la'mpl4 operates duringdarkened light conditions, the audiovisual alarm circuit may be actuated at anytime during the day because the input terminals thereof are connected'across the power input terminals 46 and.

The'foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction'and operation shown and'described.

What-l claim as new is as follows:

l. A combined illuminating and emergency signalling device comprising a tubular post anchoredin the groundhaving'upper end portion provided with circumferentiallyspaced openings, light sensing control means mounted onthe post above said openings, a transparent enclosure mounted on the post above said openings, a transparent enclosure mounted-on the post above the light sensing means, a pair of lamps mounted within the transparent enclosure, audio alarms means mounted within' the post for emitting -.audio*signals through saidopenings, circuit means operatively interconnecting thelamps and alann means for simultaneous energization of thealarm means with-one of'thelamps, and=remote" control means connected to the light sensing-mea-nsand the circuitmeans for selectively rendering the other of theflarnps operative under control of the light sensing means while said one ofthe lamps and the alarm means is held'inoperative.

2. A selective audiovisual alarmapparatus having a tirst-series branch comprising first and-second input terminals, first switch means, photocell switch means for monitoringambient light, first lamp means energized in response to a predetermined ambient light and closing of saidfirst switch means, said apparatus further having a second'series' circuit connected" across said'first and second input terminals andincluding second switch means, audio alarm means,.flasher means and secondary emergency lampmeans, said audio" alarm and emergency lamp means being energized'in response't'o closing of said second switch means, a tubularpost being anchored in being mounted-to the'postfor exposure to ambient light.

area and said second lamp means emits a colored signal light signifying an emergency.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said audio alarm means includes a siren.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said audio alarm means includes a bell.

Claims (6)

1. A combined illuminating and emergency signalling device comprising a tubular post anchored in the ground having an upper end portion provided with circumferentially spaced openings, light sensing control meaNs mounted on the post above said openings, a transparent enclosure mounted on the post above the light sensing means, a pair of lamps mounted within the transparent enclosure, audio alarm means mounted within the post for emitting audio signals through said openings, circuit means operatively interconnecting the lamps and alarm means for simultaneous energization of the alarm means with one of the lamps and remote control means connected to the light sensing means and the circuit means for selectively rendering the other of the lamps operative under control of the light sensing means while said one of the lamps and the alarm means is held inoperative.

2. A selective audiovisual alarm apparatus having a first series branch comprising first and second input terminals, first switch means, photocell switch means for monitoring ambient light, first lamp means energized in response to a predetermined ambient light and closing of said first switch means, said apparatus further having a second series circuit connected across said first and second input terminals and including second switch means, audio alarm means, flasher means and secondary emergency lamp means, said audio alarm and emergency lamp means being energized in response to closing of said second switch means, a tubular post being anchored in the ground, an upper end of the post having openings formed therein adapted to allow passage of an alarm signal therethrough, said signal being generated by the alarm means, and a transparent enclosure mounted on the post for enclosing the first and second lamp means, the photocell switch means being mounted to the post for exposure to ambient light.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said first and second switch means are oppositely ganged for simultaneous closing of said first switch means and opening of said second switch means, said first and second switch means operating in reverse upon manual actuation thereof.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said first lamp means emits substantially white light for lighting a surrounding area and said second lamp means emits a colored signal light signifying an emergency.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said audio alarm means includes a siren.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said audio alarm means includes a bell.

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