Patent US4194181A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4194181A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hotel room status monitor and power control system
Assignee: EFFICIENCY SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1977-11-28
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Granted: 1980-03-18
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Expires: 1997-11-28
Abstract
Abstract A system is provided for facilitating monitoring of the status of numerous rooms in a hotel or motel by the desk clerk and enabling control by the desk clerk of availability of electrical power to any specific room. This system includes a monitor and control panel located at the registration desk for control and observation by the desk clerk. This monitoring panel includes the control circuitry which is coupled with an indicator panel at the housekeeper station and an operating circuit associated with the electrical power system to the several rooms. Also included is a housekeeper operated switch mechanism located in each of the respective rooms and operatively coupled with the other components of the system and which switch mechanism is selectively operable by the person entering a room for purposes of cleaning to override the desk clerks control as to availability of electrical power in that room and signal the desk clerk as to that fact.
Inventors
- 👤 Bert W. Brundage
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:34
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B5/00; G08B5/22; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/27
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
A hotel room status monitor and power control system for a hotel having a desk clerk station and a plurality of guest room units with each room unit having an electrical power circuit; the system comprising room power switch means interposed in circuit with an electrical power circuit of each respective room unit and an electrical power source, said switch means responsive to application of a switch control signal thereto to alternatively effect connection or disconnection of said power circuit with respect to the electrical power source, respective room input signal means located within each room unit, each of said signal means selectively operable to provide a room input control signal, control circuit means connected with said room power switch means and said room input signal means for each respective room unit, said control circuit means including room status indicating means located at the desk clerk station for providing indications of a plurality of room status conditions and first and second electrical switch means which are each selectively operable to provide respective first and second input switch signals to said control circuit means, said control circuit means responsive to the application thereto of first and second input switch signals and room input control signals to effect operation of said room status indicating means in providing an indication of a selected one of the plurality of room status conditions and to provide a switch control signal to said room power switch means to effect either connection or disconnection of said power circuit in accordance with a predetermined relationship to the selected room status condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
263 words
A hotel room status monitor and power control system for a hotel having a desk clerk station and a plurality of guest room units with each room unit having an electrical power circuit; the system comprising room power switch means interposed in circuit with an electrical power circuit of each respective room unit and an electrical power source, said switch means responsive to application of a switch control signal thereto to alternatively effect connection or disconnection of said power circuit with respect to the electrical power source, respective room input signal means located within each room unit, each of said signal means selectively operable to provide a room input control signal, control circuit means connected with said room power switch means and said room input signal means for each respective room unit, said control circuit means including room status indicating means located at the desk clerk station for providing indications of a plurality of room status conditions and first and second electrical switch means which are each selectively operable to provide respective first and second input switch signals to said control circuit means, said control circuit means responsive to the application thereto of first and second input switch signals and room input control signals to effect operation of said room status indicating means in providing an indication of a selected one of the plurality of room status conditions and to provide a switch control signal to said room power switch means to effect either connection or disconnection of said power circuit in accordance with a predetermined relationship to the selected room status condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
136 words
A room status monitor and power control system according to claim 1 wherein said control circuit means responds to (1) a first input switch signal produced by operation of said first switch means to operate said room status indicating means to provide a first one of the room status indications and to provide a switch control signal to said room power switch means to effect connection of the room electrical power circuit to the electrical power source; or (2) a second input switch signal produced by operation of said second switch means to operate said room status indicating means to provide a second one of the room status indications and to provide a switch control signal to said room power switch means to effect disconnection of the room electrical power circuit from the electrical power source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
A room status monitor and power control system according to claim 1 wherein said control circuit means, having responded to a second input switch signals, responds to application of a room input control signal to operate said room status indicating means to provide a third one of the room status indications and to provide a switch control signal to said room power switch means to effect connection of the room electrical power circuit to the electrical power source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
A room status monitor and power control system according to claim 1 wherein said control circuit means, having responded to application of a room input control signal, responds to removal of a room input control signal to operate said room status indicating means to provide a fourth one of the room status indications and to provide a switch control signal to said room power switch means to effect disconnection of the room electrical power circuit from the electrical power source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A room status monitor and power control system according to claim 3 which includes at least one other indicating means disposed at a location relatively remote to the desk clerk station and operable to provide the third one of the room status indications at the remote location.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A room status monitor and power control system according to claim 1 wherein said room power switch means is an electrically operated relay switch which includes an electrical operating solenoid and an electrically isolating control switch connected in circuit with said solenoid, said isolating control switch responsive to the switch control signal provided by said control circuit means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A room status monitor and power control system according to claim 6 wherein said electrically isolating control switch is a magnetic field responsive reed switch including a magnetic field generating coil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A room status monitor and power control system according to claim 1 wherein said room input signal means is a magnetic field actuated switch located in a respective room and is selectively operable to provide an input control signal in the form of the presence or absence of electrical voltage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-03-18 | 1983-09-17 | 1984-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-03-18 | 1987-09-17 | 1988-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-03-18 | 1991-09-17 | 1992-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |