AU2010100382A4

AU2010100382A4 - Dual Press Panic Buttons

Info

Publication number: AU2010100382A4
Application number: AU2010100382A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jim Guo Qiu
Original assignee: Dfm Int Pty Ltd
Current assignee: DFM INTERNATIONAL Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-04-27
Filing date: 2010-04-27
Publication date: 2010-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2018-04-27

Description

P/00/009 Regulation 3.20 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: DUAL PRESS PANIC BUTTONS The invention is described in the following statement together with the best method of performing it known to us: Our Reference: 106003 DUAL PRESS PANIC BUTTONS The present invention relates to alarm systems and, in particular, to the devices for activating an alarm system 5 by a user confronted by an emergency situation. BACKGROUND Typically, panic buttons are placed in locations where a person, for example in a bank or other known risk 10 location, may trigger an alarm system. The triggered alarm may have local effect only, but in the case of banks particularly, the alarm may be transmitted off-site to police or other security operatives. In some installations, the alarm, once triggered cannot be cancelled at the panic 15 button until an authorized person disables the button by means of a key retained by that person for that purpose. Typically also, the button is a single button which may be inadvertently pressed. The inadvertent triggering of an alarm signal may thus have serious inconvenient 20 consequences, causing unnecessary alarm and confusion as well as wasting important resources and time. Dual press panic buttons are known in which both buttons must be pressed substantially simultaneously, (or at least sequentially until full depression of both 25 buttons), usually by two fingers of the user's hand. The mechanisms of such systems can be unduly complicated and - 3 awkward to assemble. Also significant differences are required if the mechanism is to be one which maintains an alarm condition until deactivated by specified means, or if it is to act only for the duration of the depression of the 5 two buttons. It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages. Notes 10 1. The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of". 2. The above discussion of the prior art in the Background 15 of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country. 20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in a broad form of the invention, there is provided a dual press panic button system; said system comprising an alarm transmitting circuit activated from a passive standby state to an active alarm generating state 25 by simultaneous or sequential depressing of two adjoining pushbuttons; activation of said system restricted to said - 4 simultaneous or sequential depression by a requirement that at least one of cooperating portions of said buttons being restricted from entering a confining channel of a switch element. 5 Preferably, said cooperating portions comprise a semi-rigid extending element of each of said two adjoining pushbuttons; an outer end of each said extending element provided with a generally wedge-shaped portion; said generally wedge-shaped portions located side by side in 10 close proximity one to another when said system is in said passive standby state. Preferably, said confining channel of said switch element includes a widened opening proximate said wedge-shaped portions when said system is in said default standby state; 15 said channel narrowing to generally parallel sides spaced apart at a separation narrower than the combined maximum width of said wedge-shaped portions; entry of said wedge shaped portions into said confining channel forcing at least one of said wedge-shaped portions against a 20 corresponding narrowing side of said channel; said switch element urged from a default non-activated standby state into linear motion to close an electric circuit of said dual press panic buttons system.

- 5 Preferably, said switch element is returned to said default non-activated state by application of a security key. Preferably, said switch element is returned to said default non-activated state by urging of a return spring. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying enlarged drawings wherein: 10 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dual press panic button system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a partly sectioned view of the dual press panic button system of Figure 1 with the cover removed 15 showing the mechanism when in a default standby position, Figure 3 shows the operation of the mechanism when only one pushbutton of the device is depressed, Figure 4 shows the operation of the mechanism when both pushbuttons are depressed substantially 20 simultaneously, Figure 5 shows one preferred method of resetting the switch element of the mechanism to the default standby position, Figure 6 is a partly sectioned side view of the 25 mechanism in the state as shown in Figure 4, - 6 Figure 7 is a partly sectioned side view of the mechanism in the state as shown in Figure 2, showing an alternative preferred method of resetting the switch element to the default standby position. 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRFRRED EMBODIbENTS With reference to Figure 1, the dual press panic buttons device 10 of the present invention, comprises a casing 12 with openings 11 and 13 which provide access to 10 two buttons 16 and 18, so mounted as to be substantially flush with, or located slightly recessed relative to, the outer surface 20 of the casing 12. Two further apertures 22 and 24 may be provided, the function of which will be explained below. 15 Turning now to Figure 2 in which the cover of casing 12 has been removed and Figure 6 which is a partly sectioned cross section taken over the line "6 & 7" shown in Figure 2. The mechanism 30 of the invention is mounted either to the base 31 or to the inside of the casing 12. 20 Also mounted to the base 31 is a small printed circuit board 33 to which in turn are mounted dip switch blocks 35, terminal block 37 and micro switches 39, 41 and, as can be seen on Figure 6, micro switch 43. Of these, micro switches 41 and 43 are tamper and removal alarm switches 25 respectively, while micro switch 39 is the switch activated by the depression of the two buttons 16 and 18.

- 7 The mechanism 30 provides for guided sliding movement of the two buttons 16 and 18, between upper and lower guide elements 32A/32B and 34A/34B respectively, as best seen in Figure 6. The buttons 16 and 18 are provided with springs 5 36 and 38 respectively, such that when pressure applied to depress the buttons is removed, the buttons revert to their default standby position shown in Figures 2 and 6. Each button 16 and 18 is provided with a semi-rigid extending element, 38 and 40 respectively, at the ends of 10 which are wedge-shaped portions 42 and 44. These portions 42 and 44, which resemble arrow heads, are located side by side adjacent the widened opening 46 of a channel 48 in a sliding switch element 50. This widened opening 46 is preferably chamfered and leads into a generally parallel 15 sided, narrower channel 48. It can be seen in Figure 2, that the width of the parallel sided part of channel 48 is wide enough to accommodate one of the wedge-shaped portions 42 or 44 but not both together side by side. Nor is it possible, once 20 one of the wedge-shaped portions 42 of 44 has entered the channel 48, for the other wedge-shaped portion to pass through the widened opening 46 and enter the channel 48. With reference now to Figure 3, when only one of the two buttons, for example button 18 is depressed, the wedge 25 shaped portion 44 is deflected by the chamfered shoulder 52, facilitated by the flexibility of the extending element - 8 40, to slide into the channel 48. There is sufficient friction between the sliding switch element 50, support plate 51 and its guide elements 54, for the element 50 to remain in its default standby position, unaffected by the 5 movement of button 18. The depressing of button 16 will of course have the analogous result with the wedge-shaped portion 42 sliding into channel 48. Figure 4 shows the operation of the mechanism when both buttons 16 and 18 are depressed substantially 10 simultaneously. In this case both wedge-shaped portions 42 and 44 are driven against the chamfered sides 52 and 53 of the opening of channel 48. Because the two wedge-shaped portions 42 and 44 side by side are wider than the parallel sided section of channel 48, sliding switch element 50 is 15 forced into linear displacement, driving a switch activating extension 54 into contact with the leaf 56 of the micro switch 39. It is not essential for the buttons to be depressed substantially simultaneously however, and activation will 20 occur if the buttons are depressed sequentially. If one of the wedge-shaped portions 42 or 44 has already entered the channel 48, the subsequent depressing of the other button will force it into contact with the adjacent chamfered side, being obstructed by the extending element of the 25 first wedge-shaped element already in the channel. Thus entry of the second wedge-shaped element into the channel - 9 is restricted and the switch element 50 forced into the alarm activating state. The switch activating extension 54 is preferably provided with a coloured portion 55 so arranged that when 5 sliding switch element 50 is driven into the alarm activating position shown in Figure 4, the coloured portion 55, initially visible through aperture 24 in the casing 12, disappears from view, bringing the colour (preferably red) of the switch activating extension 54 into view. 10 The device 10 and the mechanism 30 so far described is common to two preferred embodiments of the invention which will now be described. First Preferred Embodiment In a first preferred embodiment, the springs 36 and 38 15 drive the buttons 16 and 18, back to their default standby positions shown in Figure 2, immediately pressure is removed from the two buttons. However, in this embodiment, there is no automatic reversal of the sliding switch element 50 so that micro switch 39 remains closed and the 20 alarm remains activated. As shown in Figure 5, a key 60 may be inserted through the keyhole aperture 22 shown in Figure 1 and, by rotation of the key, the sliding switch element 50 is driven back to its default standby position. In this arrangement, the 25 alarm activated status is maintained until such time as the key holder has established that the alarm can be cancelled.

- 10 Second Preferred Embodiment In the second of the preferred embodiments and with reference now to Figure 7, the sliding switch element 50 is provided with a small return spring 62 attached to a lug 64 5 at the underside of the mechanism support plate 51. In this arrangement the alarm is immediately deactivated when pressure on buttons 16 and 18 is removed. By these means the present invention provides a single mechanism with relatively few components which may be used 10 for either the continuous, key deactivating system of the first embodiment and, simply by the addition of a spring, for an automatically deactivating system. 15 The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dual press panic button system; said system comprising an alarm transmitting circuit activated from a passive standby state to an active alarm 5 generating state by simultaneous or sequential depressing of two adjoining pushbuttons; activation of said system restricted to said simultaneous or sequential depression by a requirement that at least one of cooperating portions of said buttons being 10 restricted from entering a confining channel of a switch element.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said cooperating portions comprise a semi-rigid extending element of each of said two adjoining pushbuttons; an outer end 15 of each said extending element provided with a generally wedge-shaped portion; said generally wedge shaped portions located side by side in close proximity one to another when said system is in said passive standby state. 20

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said confining channel of said switch element includes a widened opening proximate said wedge-shaped portions when said system is in said default standby state; said channel narrowing to generally parallel sides spaced apart at - 12 a separation narrower than the combined maximum width of said wedge-shaped portions; entry of said wedge shaped portions into said confining channel forcing at least one of said wedge-shaped portions against a 5 corresponding narrowing side& of said channel; said switch element urged from a default non-activated standby state into linear motion to close an electric circuit of said dual press panic buttons system.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said switch element is 10 returned to said default non-activated state by application of a security key.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said switch element is returned to said default non-activated state by urging of a return spring.