LIGHT AND/OR ACOUSTIC SIGNALLING APPARATUS

Abstract

 The present invention refers to a light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus particularly but not exclusively able to be used in anti-theft alarm systems, where the signalling apparatus (10) comprises a box-shaped casing (11) inside which lighting means and/or acoustic means and electrical and/or electronic circuits are arranged, adapted to control the lighting means and/or acoustic means, the box-shaped casing (11) having a base plane wall (12) arranged to be anchored through first fixing means (13) to a plane support surface so as to substantially adhere thereto, the apparatus (10) being characterised in that it comprises an anchoring anti-removal elastic element (20) that has a first portion (21) arranged to be constrained to a coupling portion of the base plane wall (12) and a second portion (23) arranged to be constrained to the plane support surface through second fixing means (15), the anchoring anti-removal elastic element (20) being arranged to deform and exert on the box-shaped casing (11) an elastic return force towards the plane support surface when the apparatus (10) is assembled and mounted on the plane support surface and the box-shaped casing (11) is moved away from the plane support surface.

Description

[0001] The present invention refers to a light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus particularly but not exclusively able to be used in anti-theft alarm systems.

[0002] Light and/or acoustic signalling apparatuses are known, for example the alarms of anti-theft systems, normally positioned on the external walls of closed places such as sheds, places adapted as offices, hotels, warehouses and so on, adapted to signal intrusion and theft attempts drawing the attention to a break-in in progress.

[0003] Known signalling apparatuses generally comprise a box-shaped casing inside which there are at least one light source and/or at least one acoustic source and electric and/or electronic circuits adapted to control said sources. The aforementioned electrical and/or electronic control circuits can be powered through a dedicated low-voltage or mains-voltage electrical power line that runs in channels provided along the walls on which the apparatuses are positioned. In addition to the dedicated power line, it is generally provided for a rechargeable battery in the box-shaped casing in order to power the circuits of the signalling apparatus in case of electrical line cut and/or interruption.

[0004] In any case, known signalling apparatuses are fixed on walls at a few metres height from the ground through screws or other fixing means.

[0005] During break-in attempts, the signalling apparatuses can be subject to tampering aimed at preventing them from operating or deactivating them. The action of such apparatuses is, therefore, the more effective the more the tampering and the deactivation are difficult.

[0006] In general, during a break-in, the signalling apparatuses are dislodged from the wall through the action of tools like, for example, a crowbar and neutralised in different ways, for example dunking them in a bucket of water so as to short-circuit the control circuits of the light and/or acoustic sources.

[0007] The purpose of the present invention is to avoid the aforementioned drawbacks and in particular to devise a light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus that is more difficult to be removed from the anchoring to the wall where it is applied than the known apparatuses.

[0008] This and other purposes according to the present invention are accomplished by making a light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus as outlined in claim 1. Further characteristics of the light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus are the object of the dependent claims.

[0009] The characteristics and advantages of a light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus according to the present invention will become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

• figure 1 is a partially exploded schematic perspective view of a light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus according to the present invention;
• figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus of figure 1 in assembly configuration with an anchoring anti-removal elastic element in rest position;
• figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus of figure 1 in assembled configuration with an anchoring anti-removal elastic element in one of the possible work positions.

[0010] With reference to the figures, a light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus is shown, wholly indicated with 10.

[0011] Such a signalling apparatus 10 comprises a box-shaped casing 11 inside which lighting means and/or acoustic means (not illustrated) and electrical and/or electronic circuits (not illustrated) adapted to control such lighting means and/or acoustic means are arranged.

[0012] The lighting means can be one or more lamps, whereas the acoustic means can be one or more sound sources. The aforementioned electrical and/or electronic circuits can be powered by a battery also arranged inside the box-shaped casing and/or by a dedicated electrical line connected to the electrical energy distribution system of the room or of the building or of the warehouse where the alarm system is installed. The lighting means and the acoustic means are activated if a break-in is detected in a per se known way.

[0013] The box-shaped casing 11 has a base plane wall 12 arranged to be anchored through first fixing means 13 to a plane support surface so as to substantially adhere thereto.

[0014] The plane support surface can be the surface of a wall or that of an anchoring bracket that is applied to the wall and on which the signalling apparatus 10 is then constrained.

[0015] According to the present invention, the signalling apparatus 10 comprises an anchoring anti-removal elastic element 20 that has a first portion 21 arranged to be constrained to a coupling portion 14 of the base plane wall 12 and a second portion 22 arranged to be constrained to the plane support surface through second fixing means 15.

[0016] Advantageously, the anchoring anti-removal elastic element 20 is arranged to deform and exert on the box-shaped casing 11 an elastic return force towards the plane support surface when the apparatus 10 is assembled and mounted on the plane support surface and the box-shaped casing 11 is moved away from the plane support surface, for example during an attempt of forced removal of the apparatus 10.

[0017] The anchoring anti-removal elastic element 20, therefore, is able to pass reversibly from a rest position, in which it is not deformed and does not exert any elastic return force on the box-shaped casing 11, as it is shown as an example in figure 2, to multiple work positions, in which it is deformed and exerts an elastic return force on the box-shaped casing 11, as it is shown as an example in figure 3.

[0018] In order to understand the effect deriving from the return action of the anchoring anti-removal elastic element 20, let us consider the example case in which the apparatus 10 is fixed to a wall and it is attempted to remove it from its fixing position using a lever tool.

[0019] In this case, the first fixing means 13 oppose a first resistance and when such an anchoring yields, the box-shaped casing 11 is moved away from the wall. At this point, the anchoring anti-removal elastic element 20 deforms reducing the efficiency of the lever action of the tool and at the same time pulling the box-shaped casing 11 back towards the wall.

[0020] In addition, the apparatus 10 can be equipped with anti-tampering devices 19 that can be activated both on the front part, following the forced opening of the box-shaped casing, and on the rear part, following a forced detachment from the plane support surface; such anti-tampering devices are, in particular, configured to generate, following their activation, an alarm signal that is sent to an alarm station where it is suitably managed, for example by making a relative call to law and order forces.

[0021] Preferably, the anchoring anti-removal elastic element 20 is an elastic sheet, for example of metallic or plastic material, as illustrated in figures 1-3. Alternatively, the anchoring anti-removal elastic element 20 is an elastic cable.

[0022] According to a further alternative, the anchoring anti-removal elastic element 20 is a spring.

[0023] Preferably, the constraint between the first portion 21 of the anchoring anti-removal elastic element 20 and the coupling portion 14 of the base plane wall 12 is obtained through third fixing means 16.

[0024] The first 13, the second 15 and the third 16 fixing means 13 can, for example, be screws, nails or other equivalent means, even if they are shown in the attached figures as screws.

[0025] In case the third fixing means 16 are provided, the coupling portion 14 can have engagement seats 17 for such third fixing means 16.

[0026] In a corresponding manner, in the case in which the anchoring anti-removal elastic element 20 is a spring or an elastic cable, they can be provided at the ends with coupling means like, for example, metal rings that allow the fixing thereof on the plane support surface and on the base plane wall 12.

[0027] In case the anchoring anti-removal elastic element 20 is a metallic sheet, such a sheet can have openings 23 in the first and in the second portion for the passage of the second 15 and third 16 fixing means.

[0028] Preferably, as illustrated in figures 1-3, the elastic sheet 20 comprises at least one through-slot 23 for the third fixing means 16.

[0029] In this way, when the elastic sheet 20 is deformed, for example during an attempt to tamper with the apparatus 10, the through-slot 23 allows a slight sliding of the sheet 20 with respect to the third fixing means used, preventing the sheet 20 itself from breaking at the opening 23, i.e. at the fulcrum of the deformation. Preferably, the base plane wall 12 comprises a receiving seat 18 where the anchoring anti-removal elastic element is intended to be housed in rest position when the apparatus is assembled.

[0030] In this case, the coupling portion 14 is made in the receiving seat 18.

[0031] In case the anchoring anti-removal elastic element 20 is an elastic sheet that is substantially rectangular in plan, as shown in figures 1-3, the receiving seat 18 is a rectangular recess formed in the base plane wall 12.

[0032] In this way, the assembled apparatus 10 can substantially adhere to the plane support surface. Preferably, the receiving seat 18 is made on the base plane wall 12 in intermediate position between two opposite lateral walls of the box-shaped casing 11. More preferably, the aforementioned intermediate position corresponds to a median position between the aforementioned two opposite lateral walls.

[0033] Preferably, the receiving seat 18 extends between two opposite perimeter portions of the base plane wall 12.

[0034] In case the anti-removal anchoring element 20 is an elastic sheet, as shown in figures 1-3, such an elastic sheet comprises a centring hole 25 adapted to cooperate with a corresponding centring pin 26 of the base plane wall in order to correctly position the elastic sheet during assembly.

[0035] Alternatively, the centring pin can be made on the elastic sheet and the corresponding centring hole on the base plane wall 12.

[0036] From the description that has been made the characteristics of the light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus object of the present invention are clear, just as the relative advantages are also clear.

[0037] The anchoring anti-removal elastic element, indeed, is able to hinder the removal of the box-shaped casing from its fixing position, for example on a wall. When the box-shaped casing is forcedly moved away from the wall through the effect of the action of a lever tool, the anchoring anti-removal elastic element deforms, removing the opposition necessary to make the lever action effective and pulling the casing itself towards the wall. Moreover, if the receiving seat of the base plane wall is located in median position between two opposite lateral walls of the box-shaped casing, then the fixing point of the second portion of the anchoring anti-removal elastic element is also difficult to access and, therefore, difficult to tamper with. Finally, it is clear that the light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the invention; moreover, all of the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the sizes, can be whatever according to the technical requirements.

Claims

1. Light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus (10) comprising a box-shaped casing (11) inside which lighting means and/or acoustic means and electrical and/or electronic circuits are arranged, said electrical and/or electronic circuits being adapted to control said lighting means and/or acoustic means, said box-shaped casing (11) having a base plane wall (12) arranged to be anchored through first fixing means (13) to a plane support surface so as to substantially adhere thereto, said lighting and/or acoustic signalling apparatus (10) being characterised in that it comprises an anchoring anti-removal elastic element (20) having a first portion (21) arranged to be constrained to a coupling portion of said base plane wall (12) and a second portion (23) arranged to be constrained to said plane support surface through second fixing means (15), said anchoring anti-removal elastic element (20) being arranged to deform and exert on said box-shaped casing (11) an elastic return force towards said plane support surface when said apparatus (10) is assembled and mounted on said plane support surface and said box-shaped casing (11) is moved away from said plane support surface.

2. Light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that said plane base wall (12) comprises a receiving seat (18) wherein said anchoring anti-removal elastic element (20) is intended to be housed when said apparatus (10) is assembled.

3. Light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus (10) according to claim 2 characterised in that said receiving seat (18) is obtained on said plane base wall (12) in an intermediate position between two opposite lateral walls of said box-shaped casing (11).

4. Light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus (10) according to claim 3 characterised in that said intermediate position corresponds to a median position between said two opposite lateral walls.

5. Light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus (10) according to one of claims 2 to 4 characterised in that said receiving seat (18) extends between two opposite perimeter portions of said plane base wall (12).

6. Light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the constraint between said first portion (21) of said anchoring anti-removal elastic element (20) and said coupling portion (14) of said plane base wall (12) is obtained through third fixing means (16).

7. Light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that said anchoring anti-removal elastic element (20) is an elastic sheet.

8. Light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus (10) according to claim 6 and 7 characterised in that said elastic sheet (20) comprises a through-slot (23) for said third fixing means (16).

9. Light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus (10) according to claim 8 characterised in that said elastic sheet (20) comprises a centring hole (25) adapted to cooperate with a corresponding pin (26) for centring said plane base wall (12) in order to correctly position said elastic sheet (20) during assembly.

10. Light and/or acoustic signalling apparatus (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterised in that said anchoring anti-removal elastic element (20) is an elastic cable.

Drawing