Openable Architectural Fitting With Alarm

Abstract

An openable architectural structure or fitting, such as a window or door assembly, having a stationary framework of a non-magnetic material with an aperture and a movable member adapted to close the aperture at one position thereof and to open the same at another position thereof. An approach detecting means, such as a reed type switch means, a limit switch means, an impedance bridge means, etc., is concealed within the stationary framework, so as to actuate a suitably mounted alarm means when the movable member is moved to the other position without authorization.

Parent Case Text

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 738,679, filed June 20, 1968 and now abandoned.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an openable architectural fitting or assembly with alarm, and more particularly to a window or a door assembly with concealed electric alarm means mounted thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an extruded non-ferrous or non-magnetic fitting for a building opening, such as a window sash assembly or a door assembly, having an electric alarm device concealed therein, which alarm means includes a magnetically actuable reed type switch means, a magnet means movable relative to the switch means, and an alarm means actuable in response to unauthorized opening of the door or window.

Known burglar alarm systems have the shortcoming that the components of the systems are visible from the outside, and they are easily susceptible to damage by burglars. Most architectural fittings for modern buildings are manufactured by extruding non-magnetic materials, such as aluminum and synthetic resins, and the constituent members of the fittings usually have a complicated sectional configuration for achieving a high mechanical strength while minimizing the amount of material used therefor. The present invention seeks to take advantage of such complicated configuration of the extruded members of the architectural fittings for concealably mounting alarm means within the fitting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an openable architectural fitting or assembly consisting of a framework made of non-magnetic material having an approach detecting means invisibly mounted in the non-magnetic framework, and an alarm buzzer means, wherein the approach-detecting means includes a magnetically operable reed switch and a magnet means operably associated with the reed switch. The reed switch is normally held open without being influenced by the magnetic field of the magnet means, but the reed switch is closed when it is in a magnetic field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 to 3 are schematic views showing a window assembly reed switch mounted on the stationary part of the window assembly and having a pair of elongated permanent magnets secured to the top rails of a movable member thereof;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a window assembly having a pair of reed type switches mounted on the head member of a stationary framework;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an extruded heading structure used in the framework of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the heading structure of FIG. 5, as mounted on a building.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is an important feature of the present invention that the reed switch is normally held open and is closed upon application of a magnetic field thereto. When a burglar, who is aware of the presence of an alarm system of magnetic actuation type, tries to intrude the building equipped with such alarm system, he may apply an extra magnetic field to a reed type switch or the like by using a magnet from the outside of the building with an intention of disabling the switch by the extra magnetic field. With the assembly according to the present invention, the application of the magnetic field results in an actuation of the alarm circuit, so that it is impossible for a burglar to disable the alarm from the outside of the building by the aforesaid method of using a magnet from the outside of the building.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of elongated magnets 8 and 9 are secured to the top rails of sliding window members 18, in such a manner that when the window assembly W is closed with meeting stiles 2, 3 of the sliding window members 18, 18' abutting with each other, the permanent magnets are moved away from the reed type switch 6, so as to maintain it open. As soon as either of the sliding window members 18 is moved away from the closed position, at least a part of the elongated permanent magnet 8 or 9 is brought into proximity with the reed type switch 6, so as to close the latter. In this manner, a buzzer assembly 13 connected to the reed type switch can be energized to give an alarm sound indicating the unauthorized opening of the window assembly W. In practice, it is preferable to provide a terminal block 7 on the head member 1 to facilitate the electrical connection between the reed type switch 6 and the buzzer assembly 13.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, only one reed type switch 6 is used, but it is also possible to use a pair of reed type switches, in order to replace the elongated permanent magnets 8 and 9 with short permanent magnets mounted on the head member, as shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, a pair of reed type switches 6 are secured to the head member 1 of a stationary framework, so as to be symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal middle point thereof. Short permanent magnets 8 and 9 are secured to sliding window members 18, 18', in such a manner that, when a window assembly W is closed with meeting stiles 2 and 3 of the sliding window members 18, 18' abutting with each other, the permanent magnets 8 and 9 come to the closest position with respect to cooperating reed type switches 6, as shown by positions A in FIG. 4. Each reed type switch 6 is connected to a buzzer assembly 13, which includes a relay 40. With the permanent magnets 8 and 9 secured to the sliding window members 18 and 18' at positions A, each reed type switch 6 is to be closed as soon as the sliding window member 18 or 18' slides away from the closed position to move the permanent magnet 8 or 9 away from the reed type switch 6, and the relay 40 is adapted to actuate a buzzer 17 by completing a circuit leading to a power source 15, so that any unauthorized opening of the window assembly can be detected and an alarm sounded.

With the reed type switches 6 secured at the positions as illustrated in FIG. 4, the permanent magnets 8 and 9 can be mounted on the sliding window members 18 and 18' at positions near the top end of the non-meeting stile 2', 3' thereof, respectively, as shown by positions B of the figure. Thus when the sliding window members 18, 18' are moved away from the closed position, the permanent magnets move into proximity with cooperating reed type switch 6. In this case, the reed type switch 6 is closed upon opening of the window assembly W, and the relay 40 is adapted so as to actuate the buzzer 17 as soon as the reed type switch 6 is closed.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, a manual switch 16 is connected to a first actuating coil 40b of the relay 40, while each reed type switch 6 is connected to a second actuating coil 40c. The actuating circuit of the buzzer 17 traces from one terminal of the power source 15, through a relay contact 40a and the buzzer 17, back to the opposite terminal of the power source 15. The relay contact 40a can be closed only by the coordinated effect of currents through the first and the second coils 40b and 40c. If the manual switch 16 is opened, the relay contact 40a will never be closed, and the buzzer will never be actuated. Accordingly, when it is not desired to actuate the buzzer, for instance because there is an occupant staying indoors of the window assembly W, the manual switch 16 may be turned off to prevent the buzzer from producing an annoying alarm sound.

The architectural fitting or assembly, according to the present invention, has been described with respect to the foregoing embodiments as referring to window assemblies, including sliding window members. However, the present invention is not limited to such window assemblies alone, but door assemblies, and the like may also be included in the architectural fittings of the present invention, by suitably mounting alarm devices thereon. It is an important feature of the present invention that the reed switch is normally held open and is closed upon application of a magnetic field thereto. When a burglar, who is aware of the presence of an alarm system of magnetic actuation type, tries to intrude the building equipped with such alarm system, he may apply an extra magnetic field to a reed type switch or the like by using a magnet from the outside of the building with an intention of disabling the switch by the extra magnetic field. With the assembly according to the present invention, the application of the magnetic field results in an actuation of the alarm circuit, so that it is impossible for a burglar to disable the alarm from the outside of the building by the aforesaid method of using a magnet from the outside of the building.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention, which is suitable for providing a factory assembled burglar alarm system to be incorporated in window sashes and the like. In this embodiment, a head member 1 comprises a body portion 1A and a guide portion 1B, which are formed by extruding a suitable non-magnetic material, such as aluminum or plastics. The body portion 1A has a generally H-shaped cross-section, which consists of an outer vertical side plate 102, an inner vertical side plate 104, a horizontal web 105 connecting the two side plates 102, 104 so as to provide suitable spacing therebetween, and an exterior edge 106 for supporting a screen or other replaceable covering member. A linear ridge 111 extends along the inner surface of the outer vertical side plate 102 at a close spacing with the web 105.

The guide portion 1B consists of an intermediate guide plate 107 which extends substantially along the center line between the two vertical side plates 102, 104 so as to bisect the spacing therebetween, and a generally U-shaped connecting portion having a horizontal plate 108 integrally connected to the upper end of the intermediate guide plate 107, an outer vertical side wall 109, and an inner vertical side wall 110. The two spaces defined on the opposite sides of the intermediate guide plate 107 act to guide the movement of a pair of movable closing members (18 FIG. 1), respectively.

The outer vertical side wall 109 has a recess 112 (FIG. 6), which extends along the longitudinal direction of the head member 1, so as to fittingly engage the linear ridge 111 formed on the inner surface of the outer vertical side wall 102 of the body portion 1A. The engagement between the linear ridge 111 and the recess 112 ensures the proper registration of the guide portion 1B relative to the body portion 1A, and such engagement also acts to bear a part of the vertical load applied to the guide portion 1B. The upper end of the inner vertical wall 110 is outwardly bent at right angles to form an outwardly extending lug 113. A plurality of screw holes 116 are bored through the lug 113 at suitable intervals, and the web 105 of the body 1A are tapped at the portions 114 corresponding to the holes 116. Thus, the guide portion 1B can be connected to the body portion 1A by means of screws 118 which penetrate through the holes 116 of the guide portion 1B and threadedly engage the tapped portions 114 of the body portion 1A. The outwardly extending lug 113 also includes a plurality of notches 117 formed at suitable intervals, which notches 117 provide space for screws 119 for securing the body portion 1A to a beam 121 of building, as shown in FIG. 6. The fastening screws 119 penetrate through the notches 117 of the outwardly extending lug 113 and the holes 115 of the web 105, so as to threadedly engage the beam 121 of the building. In the illustrated embodiment, nails are also used to fasten the outer vertical side plate 102 to the beam 121 of the building. With this combination of the body portion 1A and the guide portion 1B, a concealed space is formed between the horizontal plate 108 of the guide portion 1B and the web 105 of the body portion 1A, in which a switching element 130, e.g., reed type switches 6, may be installed in a manner completely concealed from the outside.

In FIG. 5, lead wires 131 of the switching element 130 may be connected to an outgoing multi-conductor cable 134 by means of suitable connectors 132 within the concealed space between the web 105 and the horizontal plate 108. The cable connected in this manner penetrates through a cable opening 134, which is entirely concealed from the outside. Thus, the presence of both the switching element 130 and the wiring 131 and 133 can be completely concealed, and it is thereby prevented from being seen from the outside.

According to another feature of this embodiment, the switching element 130 and its wiring 132, 133 may easily be inspected and repaired, if necessary, simply by removing the guide portion 1B and then removing the screws 118. Such removal of the guide portion 1B does not affect the mounting or require any dismounting of the body portion 1A of the heading 1 or any other parts of the frame assembly.

It is another feature of the present invention that a factory assembled burglar alarm type door or window frame member is provided, which includes an inexpensive extruded guide member having a switching element with lead wires invisibly mounted thereon. Thus, the cost and labor necessary for installing such burglar alarm type window or door framework are greatly reduced.

While there has been shown what is considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious that modifications may be made which come within the scope of the disclosure of the specification.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An operable architectural assembly with an alarm for a building opening, said assembly comprising; a stationary framework including a hollow extruded peripheral member of non-magnetic material; a closing member of non-magnetic material movably supported by the framework for shutting the building opening at a closed position thereof and for varying the degree of opening thereof in an open position; a magnetically actuable switch means concealed within said stationary framework, said switch means having a pair of contact members which are normally separated from each other but brought into electric contact with each other when being placed in a magnetic field; a permanent magnet concealed in the closing member; an alarm connected to a power source; and wiring means concealed within said stationary framework for connecting the alarm to the power source through said switch means; the permanent magnet being disposed relative to said switch means in such a manner that when the closing member moves in the framework to open said building opening, the switch means closes to actuate the alarm.

2. An openable architectural assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said closing member includes two sliding doors, each sliding door having a concealed magnet, and said switch means includes a pair of reed type switches concealed in said framework and connected to said alarm means in parallel with each other in such position that when at least one of said sliding doors moves away from said closed position, the switch means closes to actuate the alarm.

3. An openable architectural assembly with an alarm for a building opening, said assembly comprising; an extruded stationary framework made of non-magnetic material; a closing member of non-magnetic material movably supported by the framework for shutting the building opening at a closed position thereof and for varying the degree of opening thereof in an open position; said stationary framework including a head member, said head member comprising an extruded H-shaped body portion and an extruded guide portion removably connectable to the web of the H-shaped body portion; a magnetically actuable switch means factory assembled within said guide portion in a concealed manner, said switch means having a pair of contact members which are normally separated from each other and magnetically actuable to be brought into electric contact with each other; a permanent magnet concealed in the closing member; an alarm connected to a power source; and wiring means concealed within said framework for connecting said alarm to the power source through said switch means; the permanent magnet being so positioned with respect to said switch means that when the closing member moves away from closed position to open said building opening, the permanent magnet closes the switch means so as to actuate the alarm.