Patent US3986184A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3986184A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for deterring false alarms
Assignee: FALSE ALARM DETERRENT CORP
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Filing: 1975-06-17
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Granted: 1976-10-12
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Expires: 1995-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of finger operated button switches are employed in conjunction with a logic circuit to control the mechanical activation of a conventional alarm box mechanism. When the finger button switches are pressed to activate the alarm, the user's fingerprints are retained on the switch buttons. Upon actuation of the alarm, the fingerprint bearing button switches are retracted to a position in which they are inaccessible to the alarm user. An electrical "flesh" sensor is provided on at least one finger button to prevent actuation of the alarm by means other than a human finger. In the event of a power failure, the conventional alarm mechanism can be actuated by mechanical pressure on a thumb button switch. In the preferred embodiment, the finger actuated button switches are located within a housing that can be retrofitted to existing alarms such as, fire alarm telegraph boxes.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph J. Castanino
- 👤 John W. Lotus
- 👤 Alfred J. Meade
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:06
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B25/00; G08B25/12; G08B29/00; G08B29/02; G08B29/04; G08B29/046; G08B29/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A false alarm deterring actuator for an alarm comprising: 1. a housing; 2. fingerprint receiving means movably mounted with respect to said housing, said fingerprint receiving means having a plurality of movable finger button means each having a fingerprint receiving surface thereon; 3. means for moving said fingerprint receiving means from an operative position in which the fingerprint receiving means is accessible to an alarm sender to a retracted position within the housing in which the fingerprint receiving means is inaccessible to the alarm sender; and, 4. means responsive to pressure exerted on said fingerprint receiving means for (i) causing said moving means to move the fingerprint receiving means from the operative position to the retracted position and, (ii) actuating the alarm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A false alarm deterring actuator for an alarm comprising: 1. a housing; 2. fingerprint receiving means movably mounted with respect to said housing, said fingerprint receiving means having a plurality of movable finger button means each having a fingerprint receiving surface thereon; 3. means for moving said fingerprint receiving means from an operative position in which the fingerprint receiving means is accessible to an alarm sender to a retracted position within the housing in which the fingerprint receiving means is inaccessible to the alarm sender; and, 4. means responsive to pressure exerted on said fingerprint receiving means for (i) causing said moving means to move the fingerprint receiving means from the operative position to the retracted position and, (ii) actuating the alarm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The alarm actuator of claim 1 wherein said pressure responsive means includes logic means, said logic means preventing said pressure responsive means from operating unless pressure is exerted on all of said movable finger button means at the same time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The alarm actuator of claim 2 wherein said pressure responsive means is responsive to pressure exerted by a human finger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The alarm actuator of claim 2 wherein said pressure responsive means includes at least one pair of spaced electrical contacts on one of said movable finger button means and electrical means responsive to a bridging resistance between said contacts in the range of 20K-40 megohms for permitting said pressure response means to actuate the alarm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The alarm actuator of claim 4 wherein said pressure responsive means includes a thumb button actuated gear train means, brake means for braking said gear train, means responsive to a predetermined initial movement of the gear train means for actuating said gear train braking means, and brake release means responsive to said bridging resistance responsive means whereby the gear train brake means is released when a bridging resistance within said resistance range bridges said electrical contacts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The alarm actuator of claim 5 wherin said brake means is electrically actuated and is in the disengaged position in the absence of electrical power.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The alarm actuator of claim 5 wherein the thumb button of the gear train means and the movable finger button means are positioned in spaced relation corresponding respectively to the thumb and at least one of the following fingers of a human hand: index, middle and ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
The alarm actuator of claim 7 wherein said movable finger button means and the thumb button of the gear train means are located substantially within a plane and a spacer means is positioned between the thumb button and the finger buttons, said spacer means having a generally triangular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said thumb button and finger button means with the apex of the triangular cross-section facing towards the hand of the alarm user when the user presses the thumb button and the finger button means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The alarm actuator of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the finger button means is covered by a cover which extends outwardly from the plane of said thumb button and finger button means toward the user of the alarm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
A false alarm deterring actuator for an alarm comprising: 1. a housing; 2. fingerprint receiving means movably mounted with respect to said housing; 3. means for moving said fingerprint receiving means from an operative position in which the fingerprint receiving means is accessible to an alarm sender to a retracted position within the housing in which the fingerprint receiving means is inaccessible to the alarm sender; 4. a thumb button actuated gear train means for actuating the alarm after a predetermined movement of the gear train; 5. means responsive to the movement of said gear train for causing said moving means to move the fingerprint receiving means from the operative position to the retracted position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
115 words
A false alarm deterring actuator for an alarm comprising: 1. a housing; 2. fingerprint receiving means movably mounted with respect to said housing; 3. means for moving said fingerprint receiving means from an operative position in which the fingerprint receiving means is accessible to an alarm sender to a retracted position within the housing in which the fingerprint receiving means is inaccessible to the alarm sender; 4. a thumb button actuated gear train means for actuating the alarm after a predetermined movement of the gear train; 5. means responsive to the movement of said gear train for causing said moving means to move the fingerprint receiving means from the operative position to the retracted position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The alarm actuator of claim 10 further comprising brake means for braking said gear train, means responsive to a predetermined initial movement of the gear train means for actuating said gear train braking means, and brake release means responsive to pressure exerted on said fingerprint receiving means for releasing said gear train brake.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The alarm actuator of claim 11 wherein said predetermined initial movement of the gear train is less than the predetermined movement of the gear train which activates the alarm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The alarm actuator of claim 11 wherein said fingerprint receiving means includes a plurality of movable finger button means each having a fingerprint receiving surface thereon, and wherein the brake release means includes logic means to prevent the brake release means from operating unless pressure is exerted on all of said movable finger buttons at the same time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The alarm actuator of claim 13 wherein said brake release means includes at least one pair of spaced electrical contacts on one of said movable finger button means and electrical means responsive to a bridging resistance between said contacts in the range of 20K-40 megohms for permitting said brake release means to release the gear train brake means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for deterring false alarms comprising the steps of: 1. positioning a plurality of movable fingerprint receiving finger button switches at an alarm actuator so that the finger button switches are accessible to an alarm sender, said finger button switches all having to be pressed in order to actuate an alarm; and after the fingerprint button switches have been pressed by the alarm sender; 2. moving the finger button switches to a position at the alarm actuator in which the finger button switches are inaccessible to the alarm sender.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for deterring false alarms comprising the steps of: 1. positioning a plurality of movable fingerprint receiving finger button switches at an alarm actuator so that the finger button switches are accessible to an alarm sender, said finger button switches all having to be pressed in order to actuate an alarm; and after the fingerprint button switches have been pressed by the alarm sender; 2. moving the finger button switches to a position at the alarm actuator in which the finger button switches are inaccessible to the alarm sender.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
126 words
A false alarm deterring actuator for an alarm comprising: 1. a housing; 2. fingerprint receiving means movably mounted with respect to said housing, said fingerprint receiving means having a plurality of movable finger button means each having a fingerprint receiving surface thereon; 3. means for moving said fingerprint receiving means from an operative position in which the fingerprint receiving means is accessible to an alarm sender to a retracted position within the housing in which the fingerprint receiving means is inaccessible to the alarm sender; and, 4. means responsive to pressure exerted by a human finger on said fingerprint receiving means for (i) causing said moving means to move the fingerprint receiving means from the operative position to the retracted position and, (ii) actuating the alarm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
126 words
A false alarm deterring actuator for an alarm comprising: 1. a housing; 2. fingerprint receiving means movably mounted with respect to said housing, said fingerprint receiving means having a plurality of movable finger button means each having a fingerprint receiving surface thereon; 3. means for moving said fingerprint receiving means from an operative position in which the fingerprint receiving means is accessible to an alarm sender to a retracted position within the housing in which the fingerprint receiving means is inaccessible to the alarm sender; and, 4. means responsive to pressure exerted by a human finger on said fingerprint receiving means for (i) causing said moving means to move the fingerprint receiving means from the operative position to the retracted position and, (ii) actuating the alarm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The alarm actuator of claim 16 wherein said pressure responsive means includes a movable thumb button and controllable means responsive to a predetermined movement of the thumb button for actuating the alarm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The alarm actuator of claim 17 further comprising means responsive to a predetermined initial movement of the thumb button for preventing said controllable means from actuating the alarm, and means responsive to pressure exerted on said fingerprint receiving means for permitting said controllable means to actuate the alarm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
The alarm actuator of claim 18 wherein said pressure responsive means includes at least one pair of spaced electrical contacts on one of said movable finger button means and electrical means responsive to a bridging resistance between said contacts in the range of 20K-40 megohms for permitting said pressure responsive means to actuate the alarm.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The alarm actuator of claim 17 wherein the thumb button and the movable finger button means are positioned in spaced relation corresponding respectively to the thumb and at least one of the following fingers of a human hand: index, middle and ring.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
86 words
The alarm actuator of claim 17 wherein said movable finger button means and said thumb button are located substantially within a plane and a spacer means is positioned between the thumb button and the finger buttons, said spacer means having a generally triangular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said thumb button and finger button means with the apex of the triangular cross-section facing towards the hand of the alarm user when the user presses the thumb button and the finger button means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The alarm actuator of claim 21 wherein at least a portion of the finger button means is covered by a cover which extends outwardly from the plane of said thumb button and finger button means toward the user of the alarm.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The alarm actuataor of claim 16 wherein said pressure responsive means includes logic means, said logic means preventing said pressure responsive means from operating unless pressure is exerted on all of said movable finger button means at the same time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
114 words
A false alarm deterring actuator for an alarm comprising: 1. a housing; 2. fingerprint receiving means movably mounted with respect to said housing; 3. means for moving said fingerprint receiving means from an operative position in which the fingerprint receiving means is accessible to an alarm sender to a retracted position within the housing in which the fingerprint receiving means is inaccessible to the alarm sender; 4. movable finger button means for actuating the alarm after a predetermined movement of the finger button means; 5. means responsive to the movement of said finger button means for causing said moving means to move the fingerprint receiving means from the operative position to the retracted position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
114 words
A false alarm deterring actuator for an alarm comprising: 1. a housing; 2. fingerprint receiving means movably mounted with respect to said housing; 3. means for moving said fingerprint receiving means from an operative position in which the fingerprint receiving means is accessible to an alarm sender to a retracted position within the housing in which the fingerprint receiving means is inaccessible to the alarm sender; 4. movable finger button means for actuating the alarm after a predetermined movement of the finger button means; 5. means responsive to the movement of said finger button means for causing said moving means to move the fingerprint receiving means from the operative position to the retracted position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The alarm actuator of claim 24 wherein said fingerprint receiving means includes at least one movable fingerprint button means having a fingerprint receiving surface thereon.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
The alarm actuator of claim 25 wherein the finger button and the movable fingerprint button means are positioned in spaced relation corresponding respectively to the thumb and at least one of the following fingers of a human hand: index, middle and ring.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
91 words
The alarm actuator of claim 25 wherein said movable fingerprint button means and said finger button are located substantially within a plane and a spacer means is positioned between the finger button means and the fingerprint button means, said spacer means having a generally triangular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said finger button means and said fingerprint button means with the apex of the triangular cross-section facing towards the hand of the alarm user when the user presses the finger button means and the fingerprint button means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
52 words
The alarm actuator of claim 24 further comprising brake means for braking said movable finger button means, means responsive to a predetermined initial movement of the finger button means for actuating said braking means, and brake release means responsive to pressure exerted on said fingerprint receiving means for releasing said brake means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The alarm actuator of claim 28 wherein said predetermined initial movement of the finger button means is less than the predetermined movement of the finger button means which activates the alarm.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
61 words
The alarm actuator of claim 28 wherein said brake release means includes at least one pair of spacer electrical contacts on said at least one movable fingerprint button means and electrical means responsive to a bridging resistance between said contacts in the range of 20 k- 40 megohms for permitting said brake release means to release the finger button brake means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
55 words
The alarm actuator of claim 30 further comprising a plurality of movable fingerprint button means each having a fingerprint receiving surface thereon and wherein said brake release means includes logic means to prevent the brake release means from operating unless pressure is exerted on all of said movable fingerprint button means at the same time.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
The alarm actuator of claim 28 wherein said brake means is electrically actuated and is in the disengaged position in the absence of electrical power.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-10-12 | 1980-04-12 | 1980-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-12 | 1984-04-12 | 1984-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-12 | 1988-04-12 | 1988-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |