GB2467922A

GB2467922A - Wireless distress alarm for the elderly or infirm

Info

Publication number: GB2467922A
Application number: GB0902802A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robin William Shapero
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-19
Filing date: 2009-02-19
Publication date: 2010-08-25
Also published as: GB0902802D0

Abstract

An audio visual alarm system is provided comprising a transmitter which can be activated by a user. The transmitter is arranged to transmit a signal to a receiver. The receiver has a visual and/or audible alarm which is arranged to be seen and/or heard from the exterior of a building. The receiver is arranged to be releasably secured to the exterior of the building by, for example, hook and loop fasteners. The transmitter may be arranged to transmit two different types of signals to the receiver, a first signal being arranged to activate the visual alarm only, and a second signal being arranged to activate both the visual and audible alarms. The system may further comprise a smoke alarm which when activated may transmit a signal to the receiver.

Description

AUDIO VISUAL ALARM SYSTEM

This invention relates to an audio visual alarm system.

Many alarm systems are known, such as burglar alarms and smoke alarms, but what is needed is an audio visual alarm system which may be used by an elderly or infirm user to be activated in times of distress or to act as a homing beacon.

According to this invention there is provided an audio visual alarm system including transmitter means comprising user activatable means, said transmitter means being arranged to produce a transmitted signal to a receiving means, said receiving means comprising a visual and/or an audio/visual alarm means which is arranged to be visible and/or heard from the exterior of a building, wherein said receiving means is releasably secured to the exterior of said building.

Preferably, the receiving means is arranged to be releasably secured to the exterior of said building by hook and loop fastening means.

Advantageously, a power source is provided for each of said transmitter means and said receiving means.

Conveniently, the power source for the receiving means is either a battery source and/or a mains supply source.

Conveniently, the power source for said transmitting means is a battery.

Conveniently, the transmitter means is arranged to be worn by a user.

Preferably, the transmitter means is arranged to transmit two different types of signal to said receiving means, a first signal being arranged to activate the visible alarm means only and a second signal being arranged to activate both the visible and audio alarms.

Conveniently, a separate electronic switch is provided at the transmitter means for each of said first and second signals.

Alternatively, a single switch is provided at the transmitter means, the length of time the switch is activated depending upon whether the first or the second signal is transmitted.

Preferably, smoke alarm means is included in said system, whereby if said smoke alarm means is activated for in excess of a predetermined time, a signal is transmitted therefrom to activate said receiving means audio/visual alarm.

An advantage of the present system is that it may be installed without any electrical expertise or without drilling holes into the fabric of a building.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of 2 designs of receivers, either of which may be used in the system of this invention, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a transmitter used in the system of this invention, Figure 3 shows an alternative transmitter used in the system of this invention, Figure 4 shows another alternative transmitter used in the system of this invention, Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a smoke alarm which may be used in the system of this invention.

In the figures like reference numerals denote like parts.

A receiver 1 shown in Figure 1 is arranged to receive electro-magnetic signals transmitted from a transmitter 20 shown in Figure 2. The receiver 1 includes an audible device (not shown) for transmitting a siren signal of, for example, 110dB, which, when activated, may be heard from the exterior of a building. The receiver 1 also includes a visual alarm 2 which may be a strobe lamp for signalling a visual alarm from the exterior of a building. The receiver 1 is housed in a waterproof housing which may be made of, for example, plastics material. Secured to a rear face of the receiver housing is one part 3 of a hook and loop material, the other part of the hook and loop material 4 having a backing 5 arranged to be adhesively secured to the fabric of a building, such as a wall or window. The hook and loop material may be that known under the name of VelcroTM. The receiver 1 may be battery powered and/or connected to a mains supply by a flat three-core cable 6 which may be fed through a window or door seal.

The transmitter 20 has a push button 21 for activating the transmitter to transmit a signal to the receiver 1. The transmitter may be arranged so that a short push on the button by a user may activate the visual alarm only and a longer push on the button 21 activates both the audible and visual alarms of the receiver 1.

Alternatively, two separate buttons (not shown) may be used, one of the buttons being used to generate a first signal to activate the visual alarm only and the other button being used to generate a second signal to activate both the visual and audio alarms. To the rear of the transmitter is secured one part of a hook and loop device 23 and the other part 24 of the hook and loop device is secured to an inner wall of a building. Activation of the button 21 by a user is able to trigger the receiver to act either as a homing beacon, which can be seen externally by, for example, a tradesperson making a delivery or a medical practitioner, or the button 21 may be activated to cause the receiver to produce both audible and visual alarms.

Alternative forms of transmitter are shown in Figures 3 and 4. In figure 3 the transmitter is in the form of a pendant 30 having a button 31 for activating the transmitter and a housing 32 to which is secured a loop 33 for mounting a chain 34 to be worn around a user's neck.

The transmitter 40 shown in Figure 4 is in the form of a wrist watch having a button 41 within a casing 42. A strap 43 is secured to the casing 42 by loops 44 secured to the casing 42.

The transmitters of Figures 3 and 4 are activated in the same manner as the transmitter of Figure 2.

Referring to the figure 5, there is shown a smoke alarm 51 within which is located a transmitter 50. The transmitter 50 is arranged to transmit a signal if the smoke alarm is activated for in excess of a predetermined time. By arranging the transmitter not to be activated unless a predetermined time is exceeded, so it is possible to test the smoke alarm without false activation of the receiver 1.

Activation of the transmitter 50 is arranged to transmit a signal to the receiver 1 so that. preferably, both audio and visual alarms of the receiver are enabled.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An audio visual alarm system including transmitter means comprising user activatable means, said transmitter means being arranged to produce a transmitted signal to a receiving means, said receiving means comprising a visual and/or an ai'dio/visual alarm means which is arranged to be visible and/or heard from the exterior of a building, wherein said receiving means is releasably secured to the exterior of said building.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving means is arranged to be releasably secured to the exterior of said building by hook and loop fastening means.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a power source is provided for each of said transmitter means and said receiving means.
4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the power source for the transmitter means is a battery.
5., A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the power source for said receiving means is either a battery source and/or a mains supply source
6. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the transmitter means is arranged to be worn by a user.
7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the transmitter means is arranged to transmit two different types of signal to said receiving means, a first signal being arranged to activate the visible alarm means only and a second signal being arranged to activate both the visible and audio alarms.
8. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein a separate electronic switch is provided at the transmitter means for each of said first and second signals.
9. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein a single switch is provided at the transmitter means, the length of time the switch is activated depending upon whether the first and/or the second signal is transmitted.
10. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein smoke alarm means is included in said system, whereby if said smoke alarm means is activated for in excess of a predetermined time, a signal is transmitted therefrom to activate said receiving means for both the audio and visual alarm.
11. An audio visual alarm system substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in each of the embodiments of the accompanying drawings.