Emergency warning means

Abstract

 Emergency warning means is provided comprising alarm means (1) for mounting in a window and comprising one or more visual displays (2, 5, 7, 8) and/or an audible alarm. The alarm means (1) incorporates switch means (16, 17) for actuating said alarm means in response to signals transmitted by manually operable portable remote transmitter means (9).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to emergency warning means.

[0002] Doctors or emergency services such as ambulances, fire brigade and the police frequently have difficulty in locating a particular address, especially after dark. The number or name of a particular house or building is frequently on or adjacent the front door, is frequently in an inconspicuous position and/or is frequently at the end of a path or drive, making it extremely difficult to identify the house or premises from the road, particularly when the road is unlit or badly lit.

[0003] Another situation which frequently occurs is that of an elderly or infirm person living alone who may suffer illness or injury which prevents them from reaching a telephone or a neighbour to summon assistance.

[0004] Yet another situation which is arising with ever more frequency is that of attacks upon people, particularly elderly people or women on their own, in their own homes.

[0005] The present invention has as its object to provide emergency warning means which will be useful in some or all of the aforesaid situations.

[0006] The present invention provides emergency warning means comprising alarm means for mounting in a window, switch means for actuating said alarm means, operating means for operating said switch means in response to received radiated signals and manually operable portable remote transmitter means for transmitting signals to said operating means.

[0007] Said alarm means may comprise a visual and/or audible alarm.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the alarm means comprises a visual display which includes the number or name of the premises in which the emergency warning means is located. Such a visual display in the window of a dwelling house or other premises immediately enables the premises to be readily identified by a doctor or any of the emergency services, particularly after dark.

[0009] The alarm means may comprise a red flashing visual display, e.g., which comprises the word "HELP", the letters "SOS" or other written legend, for attracting attention, e.g., of passers-by in the event of an emergency.

[0010] Preferably, said number or name can be displayed both independently of and in conjunction with said red flashing visual display. In this way, a person who is simply expecting a visit from the doctor or one of the emergency services can simply display the number or name of the premises whereas a person requiring assistance can display both the number or name of the premises and said red flashing visual display. If desired, a flashing visual display coloured green or any other colour other than red may be provided and may be actuated when said number or name is displayed independently of said red flashing visual display simply to attract the attention of a doctor or other person trying to locate the premises.

[0011] The or each said visual display may comprise one or more LED's (light emitting diodes) and/or LCD's (liquid crystal displays). Thus, for example, the or each visual display may comprise a translucent or other suitable panel having a plurality of LED's located therebehind for providing illumination thereof. A suitable mask or masks may be provided between the translucent or like panel and the LED's for providing the name or number of premises or a legend such as "HELP". Alternatively, the name or number of the premises and/or a legend such as the word "HELP" may be provided by a suitably arranged array of LCD's.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the alarm means comprises at least one electronic sounder. Such at least one electronic sounder may be actuated only when said red flashing visual display is actuated and is preferably designed to provide sound of a frequency and volume which will attract attention and/or act as a deterrent to an intruder in a persons home. Such a sounder or sounders once actuated will discourage an intruder or intruders from starting or continuing an attack upon a person in their own home.

[0013] Said manually operable portable remote transmitter means preferably comprises a transmitter operable by a simple button or switch and which can readily be carried or worn upon the person, e.g., in a pocket or on a wrist strap, on a cord or chain around the neck, on a belt or the like. The important thing is that the transmitter will be readily to hand should it be required in an emergency, e.g., in the event of a sudden illness or injury or in the event of a sudden attack by an intruder or intruders.

[0014] Said switch means may comprise an electronic switch and said operating means comprise a receiver for receiving radiated signals from said remote transmitter means and means for amplifying the received signals. A latching circuit and manual reset may be provided for maintaining said switch means closed once actuated until manually reset. To this end a suitable reset button may be provided. The transmitter means may be adapted to transmit signals at two or more different frequencies and said operating means may comprise two or more frequency discriminator circuits. In this way, the visual display comprising said number or name can be displayed either independently of or in conjunction with said red flashing visual display.

[0015] The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of emergency warning means according to the present invention,

Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the emergency warning means of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of manually operable transmitter means forming part of the emergency warning means of the invention,

Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of a receiver forming part of the emergency warning means of the invention, and

Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of a bandpass filter used in the emergency warning means of the invention.

[0016] Referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the emergency warning means comprises alarm means 1 for mounting in a window. To this end the alarm means may be adapted for standing upon a window sill or the like or may comprise suitable means, such as suitable hook means, suction means, adhesive pads or the like whereby the alarm means can be mounted within or upon a window.

[0017] The alarm means comprises a visual display 2 comprising the number or name of the premises in which the alarm means is located as indicated at 3 and a plurality of LED's 4 for illuminating the number or name 3. The LED's 4 may emit white or yellow light and may be arranged for the continuous emission of light once the alarm means has been actuated.

[0018] The alarm means further comprises a red flashing visual display 5 which in the embodiment illustrated comprises the word "HELP" as shown at 6. The red flashing visual display 5 may comprise an array of LED's similar to the visual display 2.

[0019] Two further visual displays are provided, namely a plain red flashing visual display 7 and a plain green flashing visual display 8.

[0020] The arrangement is such that the visual display 2 can be actuated with the green flashing visual display 8 when the warning means is simply being used to guide a doctor or one of the emergency services to a particular location or in conjunction with the red flashing visual displays 5 and 7 in the case of an emergency, e.g., in the event that a person is ill, has suffered injury or has suffered or is under threat of attack as by an intruder.

[0021] Additionally, although not shown, the alarm means comprises at least one electronic sounder which will be actuated only when the red flashing visual displays 5 and 7 are actuated in conjunction with the visual display 2. The at least one electronic sounder is of a pitch and volume both to attract attention and to distract, and hopefully deter, an intruder.

[0022] Referring now to Figure 2 it will be seen that the emergency warning means of the invention comprises a manually operable portable remote transmitter means 9 having a first transmitter circuit means 10 for transmitting signals on a first frequency, e.g., 4 khz, and a second transmitter circuit means 11 for transmitting signals on a second frequency, e.g., of say 5 khz. Each of the transmitter circuits 10 and 11 is as shown in Figure 3 and each comprises a manually operable push button 12.

[0023] The alarm means comprises a receiver 13 for receiving radiated signals from the transmitters 10 or 11, frequency discriminator circuits 14 and 15 for discriminating between the signals received from the circuits 10 and 11, and electronic switch and latching circuits 16 and 17 one of which actuates the visual displays 2 and 8 and the other of which actuates the visual displays 2, 5 and 7 and the electronic sounders. The electronic switch and latching circuits 16, 17 ensure that the selected elements of the alarm means remain activated until manually reset by the manual reset 18.

[0024] The receiver circuit, which is of the super regenerative variety, is illustrated in Figure 4 and may be tuned to any suitable frequency.

[0025] The transmitter 9 is preferably adapted to be worn or carried on the person, e.g., in a pocket or on a wrist strap, around the neck on a chain or cord or on a belt.

Claims

1. Emergency warning means comprising alarm means (1) for mounting in a window, switch means (16 or 17) for actuating said alarm means, operating means (13) for operating said switch means (16 or 17) in response to received radiated signals and manually operable portable remote transmitter means (9) for transmitting signals to said operating means (13), characterised in said alarm means (1) comprising a visual alarm (7) and a visual display (2) which can be operated either alone or with the visual alarm (7).

2. Emergency warning means according to claim 1, wherein said alarm means (1) further comprises an audible alarm.

3. Emergency warning means according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said visual display (2) includes the number (3) or name of the premises in which the emergency warning means is located.

4. Emergency warning means according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said visual alarm (7) comprises a red flashing visual display.

5. Emergency warning means according to claim 4, wherein said red flashing visual display (7) comprises the word "HELP", the letters "SOS" or other written legend.

6. Emergency warning means according to claim 4 or 5, comprising a flashing visual display (8) coloured green or another colour other than red and which is actuated when said number (3) or name is displayed independently of said red flashing visual display (7).

7. Emergency warning means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each said visual display comprises one or more LED's (4) and/or LCD's.

8. Emergency warning means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said alarm means (1) comprises at least one electronic sounder.

9. Emergency warning means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said switch means comprises an electronic switch (16 or 17).

10. Emergency warning means according to claim 9, wherein said operating means comprises a receiver (13) for receiving radiated signals from said remote transmitter means (9) and means for amplifying the received signals.

11. Emergency warning means according to claim 9 or 10, comprising a latching circuit (16 or 17) and manual reset (18) for maintaining said switch means closed once actuated until manually reset.

12. Emergency warning means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said remote transmitter means (9) is adapted to transmit signals at two or more different frequencies and said operating means comprises two or more frequency discriminater circuits (14, 15).

13. Emergency warning means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said transmitter means (9) comprises at least one manually operable button or switch (12) for initiating the transmission of said signals.

Drawing