US3383674A - Burglar alarm system - Google Patents

Description

May 14, 1968 H. 1. soLTAu ET Al. 3,383,674

BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM #6h/2r J.' Sura@ BY fau/@P0 kan? May M, 1968 H. .1. SOLTAU ET AL 3,383,674

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BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM Filed July 29, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5. 3% .E12-E2 S INV/Nm/s flea/ky .I $04740 in" fau/Me Minas/P 2 rro ll-gb E 25 l /3 United States Patent O 3,383,674 BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM Henry J. Soltau, 4020 Stinson Blvd. NE. 55421, and Edward Werder, 4639 France Ave. N. 55422, both of Minneapolis, Minn.

Filed July 29, 1965, Ser. No. 475,788 1 Claim. (Cl. 340-276) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLSURE This invention relates to improvement in a burglaru alarm system.

It is an object of this invention to provide a very simple alarm system having control means remote from and independent of the means used to energize and actuate the alarm means.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an alarm system embodying the use of portable control means which may be variously positioned.

More specically, it is an object of this invention to provide a relatively small housing containing the triggering and energizing elements of the alarm system, said housing being arranged to be readily removably connected to a source of current.

It is also an object of the invention herein to provide low voltage alarm elements.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. l is a view in perspective of the housing in connection with the invention herein;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section taken on line 2 2 of FIG. l as indicated;

FIG. 3 is a View similar to that of FIG. 2 showing a modication thereof with a detail thereof being shown in alternate position in dotted line;

FIG. 4 is a wiring diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 with some portions of the apparatus in broken view being shown in connection therewith;

FIG. 5 is a broken view in vertical section taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a broken view in vertical section taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 5 as indicated; and

FIG. 7 is a wiring diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 3 with some portions of the apparatus being shown in connection therewith.

With reference to FIGS. l, 2 and 4-6, a preferred embodiment of the invention herein is shown.

A housing l0 is provided comprising a base plate 12 substantially rectangular in plan having a small depending ice peripheral flange i3 and an upstanding cover 14 substantially parallelepiped in form having an open bottom to receive said base plate with said cover being adapted in a manner known in the art to irictionally engage said ilange portion of said base plate.

Mounted as by screws onto said base plate is a solenoid of known design here adapted to operate on a voltage such as of 24 volts and carrying a plunger t6 biased to extended position by the coil spring 17 carried thereon and bearing against a collar t8 on the adjacent side wall 15a of said solenoid. Said plunger has a reduced terminal portion 16a.

Upstanding from said base plate l2 in spaced facing relation and shown here as being of inverted T-shape in cross section are a pair of identical support and contact members 22 and 22. Comprising said member 22 is its base portion 25 suitably secured as by screws to said base plate l2 and its upstanding wall portion 27, said wall portion being disposed in a p'lane at right angles to the plane of the adjacent side of said solenoid. Said wall portion has extending substantially centrally transversely therethrough an aperture 2S here indicated as being circular in cross section.

Carried on said wall and extending therethrough at either side of said aperture are electrical contacts and 31 respectively comprising conductive bolts 36a and 31a threaded into plate-like conducting nuts 30h and Sib, as shown.

Said member 22 has portions corresponding to those of said member 22 indicated by like characters with a prime added. The respective apertures 23 and 2S are in axial alignment.

Carried between said support members 22 and 22 and having axial movement through said apertures 28 and 28 is a cylindrical rod 35 forming a drop switch member and is hereinafter referred to as a switch member. Said switch member 35 is of sufiicient length to have its end portion 35a extend outwardly of the adjacent end wall 14a of said cover 14 through the aperture 14h therein.

Carried on said switch member 35 are electrical contacts shown as conductive coil springs 38 and 39. Pins 40 and 4l are disposed through said switch member 35 to retain said springs in a spaced relation. Said pins serve as stop members `for the adjacent ends of said springs. Said switch member is positioned to be engaged by the free end portion of the plunger lo and is adapted to be retained in a given axial position by said plunger by means of a suitably positioned recess 35i) therein here shown as an annular groove. Said recess 35h is so positioned axially of said switch member 35 that when said plunger is received within said recess, said coil spring 38 will bear against and connect said contacts 30 and 3l. With said switch member 35 so positioned, said coil spring 39 will be free of engagement with said contacts 30 and 3l'. When said plunger is withdrawn by said solenoid, said switch member will move axially to break contact with the contacts 30 and 3l and in the alternate engage the contacts 30' and 31.

The `alarm lor signal means used may take on various forms. With reference to FIG. 4, a bell alarm 46 and a lighting means 48 `are shown being used in connection with the embodiment of the invention here presented. Said -bell alarm tis shown provided with la switch 46a.

An actuating switch 43- is shown located in the jam-b 44 of a door frame 45. Said switch is here shown com- Patented May I4, 1968 prising a spring biased button 43a. which will engage the hinged edge of a door and will close the switch when the door is opened. A door 47 is indicated. Said switch includes electrical contacts 43]) and 43C.

Circuits With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a supply circuit 5@ is provided comprising lines 51 and 52 respectively running to the contacts 2de and 20d of said transformer 20. Said supply circuit terminates in a connector in the form of fa plug 56 which may be connected readily to a convenient receptacle in communication with a source or supply of current.

Running from said transformer 20 is an alarm triggering circuit 60 comprising lines 61 and 62. Said iine 61 runs yfrom contact 20b of said transformer to the contact b `of said solenoid 15 and -line 63 runs from the contact 15e of said solenoid to the contact 31a. of said support member 22. A line 64 runs Vfrom the contact 30a of said support member 22 to the contact 43b of the switch 43, and running from the contact 43C thereof to the contact a of said transformer is said line 62. Said lines 62 and 64 are shown embodying the use of a separa-ble connector 65. Completing the triggering circuit is the coil spring 38 carried on said switch member 35, which spring connects the contacts 30h 'and 31b which are integral with the contacts 30u and 31a respectively.

A third circuit of the invention herein comprises an alarm circuit 70; A line '71 runs from the contact 20d of the trans-former 2t) taking off from the line 52 to the contact Sda of said support member 22. A line 'i2 runs from the contact 31a of said support member 22 to a separable connector '73 with a line 75 running Ifrom the other side of said connector to the contact 20c of said transformer and in circuit with said supply line 51.

The coil spring .39 when moved into operating position as will be described, will connect the contacts 30b and 31b to close the alarm circuit.

The alarm or signal means 46 and 48 are indicated as comprising a signal circuit S0 which includes the necessary wiring running to the connector 73 for removable connection with the alarm circuit 70. The details of such a circuit as circuit Si) are well understood and further description is not believed necessary.

It will be understood that where lines pass through the housing 10 that appropriate insulating grommets 85 will be used to protect said lines.

lt is seen that the portions of the circuits contained within said housing 10 are provided with connectors lfor readily detachable connection with the detection switch and its immediate wiring and with said signal circuit 80 and with a source or supply of current.

Opeation The alarm system comprising the invention herein is arranged to be triggered or energized by the opening of a door or window as in la building or by the opening of a door as of a safe, of a vehicle or other type of enclosure.

The housing 10 contains the major elements operating the alarm system and is portable and adapted to be removably connected to a source -of current, to a detection switch such las switch 43 located in la door jamb and to a signal means such as the audible alarm 46 and visual signal 48. Hence with the switch wired with an appropriate connector yand the signal means wired with appropriate connectors, the arrangement may be adapted very readily -for the housing to be plugged into the switch and signal circuits at various places.

The apparatus within the housing 10 is here shown connected to the switch 43, the signal circuit 80 and to ya source of current. With the detection switch 43 closed by the opening of a door, the triggering circuit 60 will be closed energizing the solenoid 15 to retract the plunger 16 from its normally extended position. With the plunger 16 retracted, the member 35 will be urged by the spring 38 or it Imay lfall by gravity in the direction of the member 22 for engagement between the spring 39 and the contacts 30-b and 31'b. The member 35 bearing again-st the coil spring 39 will provide good contact between said spring and said contacts. With the alarm circuit 7i) thus being closed, the signal circuit will become energized actuating the signal means.

It is seen that the alarm circuit is independent of the triggering circuit once it has become energized and the signal means will operate until the member 35 is manually reset to its inoperative position relative to the alarm circuit with the coil spring 38 in engagement with the contacts 30h and 31h. It is retained in this position by the plunger 16. It will be understood that while retained in this non-operative position, the switch 43 must be in inoperative or in open position either by use of a switch such as a toggle switch or the entrance or door must be closed. During non-use hours, if desired, the plug 56 may be disconnected from the current supply source. In FIG. 4, the member 35 is shown in inoperative position relative to the alarm circuit 70, and in FIG. 2 said member is shown in operative position closing said alarm circuit.

Modification With reference to FIGS. 3 and 7, a modification of the invention herein is shown in which portions identical with those of the previous embodiment described will bear like numerals for identification and will not be further described. The new or modified portions present ir. this embodiment are hereinafter described.

The changes in the moditied structure consist of the use of a second transformer in parallel With said transformer 20 by means of the lines 91 and 92 and is provided to reduce the voltage through the alarm circuit to 24 volts as here indicated. A line 93 runs from said trans` former 95 to the Contact 30a. The line 72 runs from the contact 31a to the alarm means indicated by the numeral 98 and said means are adapted to operate with said reduced voltage. The line 96 provides the return from the alarm means to said transformer 95.

In all other respects the modilied structure operates in the same manner as the embodiment first above described.

Thu-s it is seen that we have provided an efiicient simply constructed and simply installed burglar alarm system for operation with both full line voltage and reduced voltage and wherein the alarm system once actuated is independent of the alarm triggering or actuating means.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

1. An alarm system of the type indicated having in combination,

detection means,

electrically operated signal means,

a normally open triggering circuit including said detection means,

a normally open alarm circuit including said signal means,

a housing,

a `solenoid in said housing included in said triggering circuit, a plunger carriedby said solenoid spring biased to extended position,

a lpair of conductive upstanding support members spaced apart adjacent said solenoid, said support members having a pair of aligned apertures,

one of said support members being included in said triggering circuit, the other of `said support members being included in said alarm circuit,

a circuit closing member carried by said support members movable axially therebetween, said circuit closing member comprising a rod slidably disposed through said apertures,

a pair of spaced electrical contacts carried by said rod,

said rod having a, recess therein to receive the extended end portion of said plunger, said recess being positioned on said rod that when engaged by said plunger, said first one of said contacts is in circuit with said triggering circuit, and

said rod being axially self movable for engagement of said other Icontact to be in circuit with said alarm circuit when said plunger is withdrawn from said recess.

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 942,964 12/1909` Jurnick 348-276 1,066,731 7/1913 Jaynes.

FOREIGN PATENTS 435,973 10/1935 Great Britain.

JOHN W. CALDWELL, Primary Examiner. 10 THOMAS B. HABECKER, Examiner.

D. L. TRAFTON, Assistant Examiner.

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