GB2372128A

GB2372128A - Alarm housing for an alarm having a visual warning device

Info

Publication number: GB2372128A
Application number: GB0026504A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Mark Sims
Original assignee: GARDINER TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Current assignee: GARDINER TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Priority date: 2000-10-30
Filing date: 2000-10-30
Publication date: 2002-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-30
Also published as: GB2372128B; GB0026504D0

Abstract

Housing for an alarm having a visual warning where a first section of the housing allows some light to be emitted by the visible warning device and a second section of the housing restricts some of the light emitted by the visual warning device. The housing is formed from a single piece of translucent material, a mask is applied to a first section leaving an exposed second section which is coated to restrict the light emitted through it, the mask is then removed leaving the first section uncoated allowing light to be emitted through it.

Description

HOUSING FOR ALARM DEVICE

This invention relates to housings for alarm devices, more particularly to housings for alarm devices having visible alarm means.

For the security of all types of buildings, alarm devices are provided. These may be in the form of a burglar alarm located on an outside wall of a building to indicate the presence of an intruder or alternatively, they may be in the form of a fire alarm located inside a building to warn occupants of the outbreak of fire.

Many of these alarm devices are provided with visible alarm means e. g. a strobe light often in combination with audible alarm means e. g. a bell or sounder.

It is desirable to enclose these security alarm devices inside a housing sometimes referred to as a bell box.

Traditionally, these housings or bell boxes were simple boxes made of metal and later, made of polycarbonate or polypropylene. A strobe light unit was traditionally fixed to the external surface of the bell box. However, these bell boxes were not ideal as it was found that potential intruders attempted to lasso a rope around the protruding strobe light unit in an attempt to pull the

device from the wall.

In an attempt to overcome this problem, translucent plastic housings were developed. These were designed in, what appeared to the naked eye to be, material of a solid colour but the material was sufficiently translucent to allow strobe light to be emitted in the event that the strobe was activated. The problem with the translucent plastic housings was that it was difficult to achieve a housing with a vibrant solid colour as desired by the industry and users and which adequately concealed the internal workings of the device whilst still ensuring that the housing was sufficiently translucent to allow the strobe light to be seen. Secondly, unless the strobe was activated, there was no indication that visible warning means were fitted to the device, and the perception was that the alarm device was of a lower quality.

Indeed, some devices having a strobe light unit situated within a translucent plastic housing actually had a dummy strobe light unit stuck onto the outer surface of the housing to indicate that the device had a strobe capability. These devices were similarly susceptible to attempts to removal from a wall.

It is also known to provide a housing consisting of two parts that are fastened together in situ. One part

consists of an opaque section in a solid colour to conceal the alarm bell or sounder. The second part consists of a translucent part to allow strobe light to be visible in the event that the strobe light unit is activated.

However, the disadvantage of this housing is that the two parts must be securely fastened together to prevent an intruder from gaining access to the internal workings of the box, and to prevent water ingress at the join of the two parts.

This invention aims to provide a housing for an alarm device and a method of forming a housing for an alarm device which ameliorates the above problems.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, there is provided a housing for an alarm device having visible alarm means, the housing having at least one first section and a second section, whereby in use, the at least one first section permits the passage of at least some of the light emitted by the visible alarm means and the second section prevents the passage of at least some of the light emitted by the visible alarm means, the housing characterised in that the first and second sections are formed of a single piece of material.

The housing provided by the invention has no joins presenting weaker areas leaving the alarm device

susceptible to attack by an intruder or by ingress of water.

Preferably, the alarm device additionally includes audible alarm means. The audible alarm means is preferably an alarm bell or sounder which rings or sounds when activated but it may be any component capable of making a noise.

The visible alarm means is preferably a strobe light but it may be some other component capable of emitting light such as an LED.

The housing may be formed of any material which permits the passage of at least some of the light emitted by the visible alarm means. Preferably, the housing is formed of translucent plastics material. A particularly preferred material is polycarbonate.

The translucent plastics material can be of any colour but the preferred colours are opal, dark blue, red, green and amber.

Preferably, the at least one first section of the housing, when in use, is positioned adjacent to the visible alarm means. However, the at least one first section may be positioned at any point on the housing providing that, on activation of the visible alarm means, light can be

emitted from the housing.

At least part of the second section is preferably at least partially, substantially opaque and, preferably, conceals the internal workings of the alarm device.

The housing may be of any shape and size providing that it adequately encloses the alarm device. The preferred shape of the housing is cuboid.

In a second aspect there is provided a method of forming a housing for an alarm device having visible alarm means,

the method comprising the steps of I (1) forming a one-piece housing of a material which permits the passage of at least some of the light emitted by the visible alarm means; (2) applying a mask to at least one first section of the housing leaving an exposed second section; (3) coating the exposed second section such that, in use, the second section prevents the passage of at least some of the light emitted by the visible alarm means; (4) removing the mask thus leaving the at least one first section substantially uncoated.

The material used to form the housing is preferably translucent plastics material. The housing is preferably formed by moulding a translucent plastic material, most preferably polycarbonate.

The mask used to conceal the first section of the housing can be of any shape and/or material. Preferably, the mask is applied to the area of the housing which, in use, will be adjacent to the visible warning means. However, the mask can be applied to any area or indeed to more than one area to create a pattern. Preferably, a re-useable template is used in order to achieve a consistent pattern.

Different masks can be produced and used to allow different style units to be produced at a fraction of the cost normally associated with tooling.

After application of the mask, the exposed section of the housing is coated. Any coating material may be used although, preferably, the coating applied to the housing is of a solid, opaque colour. The preferred colours are red, white, blue and yellow.

The most preferred coating is paint which is preferably sprayed onto the housing allowing for a simple, quick method of coating the housing and also for even coverage of the coating.

An embodiment of the method of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Figure 1 shows a housing, 1, formed by moulding a single piece of translucent plastics material eg polycarbonate.

The plastic may be of any colour but is preferably dark blue or opal.

The housing shown in Figure 1 is of a cuboid shape but housing may be any shape.

As shown in Figure 2, a mask, 2, which may be of any material, is applied onto the face of the housing, 3. The mask may be of any shape and may be positioned at any location on the housing. Preferably, the mask is positioned such that, in use, the area covered by the mask will be positioned adjacent to the visible light means.

A coating, preferably paint, preferably of a solid, opaque colour is then applied to the exposed section of the housing preferably to render the exposed translucent material at least partially, substantially opaque. In particularly preferred embodiments, paint is sprayed onto the exposed housing.

The mask, is then removed to leave a translucent area, 4,

not covered by the coating as shown in Figure 3. Figure 4 shows an alternative housing having four first sections allowing the passage of at least some of the light from the visible alarm means.

As can be seen, this method provides a simple, cheap and versatile method of producing a one-piece bell box.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention has provided a bell box with the advantages of a two-piece

integral unit but without the associated disadvantages.

I This specific embodiment is merely by way of example and there are modifications which will be apparent to those skilled in the art which are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A housing for an alarm device having visible alarm means, the housing having at least one first section and a second section, whereby in use, the at least one first section permits the passage of at least some of the light emitted by the visible alarm means and the second section prevents the passage of at least some of the light emitted by the visible alarm means, the housing characterised in that the first and second sections are formed of a single piece of

material.

I
2. A housing according to claim 1 wherein at least part of the second section is substantially opaque.
3. A housing according to claim 2 wherein the second section is opaque red, blue, white or yellow.
4. A housing according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing is formed of translucent plastics material.
5. A housing according to claim 4 wherein the translucent plastic material is opal, dark blue, red green or amber.
6. A housing according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the visible alarm means is a strobe light.
7. A housing according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, in use, at least one first section is positioned substantially adjacent to the visible alarm means.
8. A housing according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the alarm device further includes audible alarm means.
9. A housing according to claim 8 wherein the audible alarm means is an alarm bell or sounder.
10. A housing according to any one of claims 8 or 9 wherein the second section is positioned substantially adjacent to the audible alarm means.
11. A housing according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said housing is a bell box.
12. A method of forming a housing for an alarm device having visible alarm means, the method comprising the steps of

(i) forming a one-piece housing of a material which permits the passage of at least some of the light emitted by the visible alarm means; (ii) applying a mask to at least one first section of the housing leaving an exposed second section; (iii) coating the exposed second section such that, in use, the second prevents the passage of at least some of the light emitted by the visible alarm means; (iv) removing the mask thereby leaving the at least one first section substantially uncoated.
13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the housing is I formed of translucent plastics material.
14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the housing is formed by moulding translucent plastics material.
15. A method according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the translucent plastics material is opal, dark blue, red, green or amber.
16. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein the mask is positioned such that, in use, the section covered by the mask, is positioned adjacent to the visible light means.
17. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein the housing is coated using paint.
18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the housing is coated by spraying paint onto the housing.
19. A method according to claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the paint is of an opaque solid colour.
20. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 19 wherein said housing is a bell box.