US3128049A - Surveillance aiding illumination system - Google Patents

Description

April 7, 1964 J. R. MAXIM 5URVEILLANCE AIDING ILLUMINATION SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30. 1962 INVENTOR. JOHN R. MAXI M April 7, 1964 J. R. MAXIM 3,123,049

SURVEILLANCE AID'I'NG ILLUMINATION SYSTEM Filed April 50, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN TOR. JOHN R. MAX

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,128,049 SURVEILLANCE AIDKNG ILLUMINATION SYSTEM John R. Maxim, 630 Briar Hill Park, Riverdale 71, New Yorir, N.Y. Filed Apr. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 190,925 1 Claim. (Cl. 240-9) This invention pertains to surveillance and detection systems generally, and in particular to electric circuitry including switch means which is key-operated by a surveillant, situated exteriorly of the premises under surveillance, so that the permises can be interiorly illuminated from the outside. Advantageously, a surveillant (for example, a policeman, night watchman, or fireman) when the premises is illuminated may visually inspect the premises without entering the premises.

Accordingly, an important object of the invention is the provision of remotely-contollable illumination circuitry so that a surveillant can, with a great degree of personal safety, inspect the interiors of premises from a position exterior to the premises.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of surveillance-aiding illumination arranged for casting a shadow of a person concealing himself behind a counter, display case, or the like; the shadow being visible to a surveillant (e.g., a policeman) outside the premises.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a key operable switch mechanism for controlling the surveillance-aiding illumination.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a switch mechanism which may easily and economically be incorporated within a conventional lock.

The aforementioned objects, among others, are achieved in accordance with the invention by providing a surveillance-aiding illumination system for the periodic surveillance of premises including a door and window area. According to one exemplary embodiment of the system there is provided a plurality of light sources which are distributed in the interior of the premises; some light sources being situated on the ceiling; some on the walls; and some at, or near, floor level. The light sources on the ceiling provide, when turned on, general illumination for surveillance. In addition to providing general illumination, the light sources on the walls and near the floor can provide shadowgraphs of intruders concealed behind counters, display cases, etc. Conductors are provided for connecting the light sources, through a key-operated switch mechanism at the exterior of the premises, to a source of electric potential. Advantageously, a policeman can, with a master key, exterior to the premises, s electively control the general illumination as well as the shadowgraph illumination.

An important feature of the invention is the use of shadowgraph-providing illumination which is controllable at a location exterior of the premises; the shadowgraphs being observable from the exterior of the premises.

Another important feature of the invention is the use of a key-operable switch mechanism, exterior of the premises, for controlling the illumination.

For further comprehension of the invention,.and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part 3,128,049 Patented Apr. 7., 1964 for example, a drug store, embodying the invention, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of part of the premises shown in the plan view in FIG. 2, taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partly sectioned, of a conventional cylinder lock modified with fixed contacts and a movable contact, said modified lock being the key: operated selector switch for controlling the surveillance lights.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the lock shown in FIG. 4, as seen from the line 5--5.

FIG. 6 is an electrical schematic diagram of the electrical connection of the surveillance light sources shown in FIG. 2.

As is illustrated in FIG. 1, a policeman 20, on a routine street patrol, is at the entranceway of a business premises. In line with his duties, he will try to turn the doorknob 22 in order to make sure the door 21 is locked and has not been tampered with. According to his routine, he will look through the window portion 23 of the door '21, and he will look through windows 24 and 25 at the front of the premises. Checking the doorknob 22, looking through the windows 23, 24 and 25, as well as listening for noises, are done for the purpose of making certain that the premises are secure and safe, i.e., that there are no intruders within the premises, no small flames appear, etc. Should there be suspicious circumstances, such as noises or moving shadows, the policeman may enter the premises by using a master key to unlock the door 21, the lock 26 being openable by the key.

Entry into darkened premises, even dimly lighted premises, under suspicious circumstance is, to say the least, dangerous. Sometimes the policeman 20' runs the risk of confronting a felon. All too often, unfortunately, the confrontation results in bodily harm to the policeman, occasionally his death.

As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the premises has a front room designated generally by the reference numeral 27, and a back room designated by the numeral 28. As shown, the front and back rooms are within the enclosure defined by the ceiling-high walls 29, the front windows 24 and 25, and the front door 21.

In the front room 27 are the glass-enclosed counters 30 and 31. For example, the display counters 30 and 31 may be waist-high, or higher. Moreover, situated at about the center of the room 27 is a self-service counter 32, which contains various items of merchandise.

In the back room 28 there is located an array of wall cabinets 33. Also, there is located a waist-high, or higher, service counter 34, the service counter 34, in part, separating the rooms 27 and 28. Included, also, in the room 28 is a work bench and sink 35. Thus, illustrated in FIG. 2 there is a layout which, for example, is a drug store, or it could Well bea camera shop, etc.

For surveillance-aiding purposes, a plurality of light sources are located Within the premises. As is illustrated in FIG. 2, two light sources 36 situated on, or in, the ceiling are provided. The light sources 36, controlled as hereinafter described, are purposeful for providing general illumination for surveillance.

In addition, in the room 27 there is provided shadowgraph-providing illumination. Mounted near floor level, under the display counter 31, there is a light source 37 which will, when turned on, provide shadowgraph lighting. In like manner, in the room 28 there is provided on the wall beneath the wall cabinets 33 another light source 38, the light source 38 also providing shadowgraph illumination.

For purposes of showing the light sources 37 and 38 more clearly, the display counter 31 and the wall cabinet array 33 are partly cut away, as shown in FIG. 2.

Assume that two intruders 39 and 49 are concealed within the premises when the policeman arrives at the entranceway of the premises. The intruder 39 is crouched behind the self-service counter 32, concealed from the policemans view. Another intruder 40, a cohort, is behind the wall 29 in room 28. Both intruders are, thus, concealing themselves from view until the policeman 20 passes on.

In accordance with the circuitry hereinafter described, the policeman can, selectively, illuminate the premises generally by turning on the ceiling lights 36. An unconcealed intruder would, of course, be readily detected by general illumination. With the selective switching means hereinafter described, the policeman 20 can extinguish the ceiling lights 36 and turn on the floor light 37 or the wall-mounted light 38.

Having extinguished the ceiling lights 36 and turned on the floor-situated light source 37, only, the intruder 39 can be detected. FIG. 2, and especially FIG. 3, illustrate the way and means in which the detection is accomplished. The light source 37, having a suitable lens, directs a light beam along the line 41, the lens being for the purpose of collimating light rays into a relatively small light-cone distribution. Since the intruder 39 is between the light source 3'7 and the surface of the wall 29 opposite, the shadow 42 of the intruder 39 is left on the wall surface, the shadow 42 being very clearly illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, as is illustrated in FIG. 2, the policeman 20, while outside the premises, can detect the shadow 42, the policemans line-of-sight 44 being directed toward the shadow 42.

Similarly, the policeman 20 can, by means of the circuit means hereinafter described, selectively turn on the wall-mounted light source 38 only. As a consequence, the intruder will be detected by the policeman. A shadow of the intruder 40 is cast on the wall surface 29 in the same way as the shadow of the intruder 39 is made to appear on the wall 29, as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings. The light source 38 also has a collimating lens for directing a relatively small cone of light rays along the line 43.

It is to be understood that the arrangement of the surveillance-aiding light sources 36, 37 and 38 shown in FIG. 2 is but one example, suitable for the illustrated premises, of how such light sources can be arranged. Other surveillance-aiding arrangements of such lightsources, suitable for premises having differently arranged rooms, counters and shelving, may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

In FIG. 4 there is illustrated a key-operable selectorswitch mechanism, which is designated generally by'the reference numeral 45. As illustrated, the switch mechanism comprises a conventional cylinder lock to which there are afiixed the stationary contacts 53, 54, 55 and the movable contact 56.

A momentary reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 will show that the switch mechanism is mounted near the front door 21 of the premises so that the policeman 20 can, from without the premises, operate the switch mechanism with a master key. Advantageously, the same master key which is used for turning the door lock 26 can be used for operating the switch mechanism 45. Thus, the policeman 20 need carry only one master key. Further, as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is advantageous to mount the lock-like switch mechanism 4-5 so that it protrudes through the frame member 46, the frame member 46 being, for example, part of the supporting frame for the window glass 24. Although the switch mechanism 45 may be mounted in the door 21, it is preferable to mount it in the frame member 46 because to do so will eliminate the need for flexible electrical connections which would otherwise be needed because of door movement.

Returning again to FIG. 4, the switch mechanism 45 is received for mounting in a hole provided in the frame member 46. As seen in FIG. 4 (which is partly sectioned for purposes of clarity), there is a conventional cylindertype lock comprising a suitably flanged hollow cylinder 50 having longitudinally therethrough a bore which receives a key-turntable cylinder 51. A key 52, which is preferably a master key for turning the door lock 26 also, is used for turning the cylinder 51.

As is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the conventional cylinder lock, comprising the stationary cylinder 50 and the key-turnable cylinder 51, has afiixed to the end flange 50 three stationary electrical contacts 53, 54 and 55. To the end flange 51 of the turnable cylinder 51, there is aflixed the movable contact 56. Moreover, as is shown, the insulating discs 53 54 55 and 56 electrically insulate these contacts from the metallic end flanges 50 and 51 of the cylinder lock. As suggested in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the electrical conductors 57, 58 and 59 respectively connect the light sources 36, 37 and 38 with the contacts 53, 54 and 55, the contacts being formed with suitable thinned center terminals, like 56", so that the conductors may be looped thereabout and soldered in place. If desired, screw-fastenable terminal contacts may be used. Similarly, the conductor 60 is connected between the terminal portion 56 and the source of alternating potential 61.

As may be appreciated by one skilled in the art, from FIG. 6, when the cylinder 51 is rotated, the movable contact 56 will sequentially turn on, then off, the light sources 36, 37 and 38. In the preferred embodiment of the keyoperated switch mechanism 45, the movable and fixed contacts should be protected by a cover (not illustrated). An easy way of affixing the insulators and contacts to the conventional lock would be by gluing them to the end flanges. Of course, suitable fasteners such as screws (insulated from the metallic end flanges by a hardenable liquid epoxy) may be used.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1s:

An illuminating system for a room having a ceiling, side walls, and a floor with fixtures on the floor, a door in one of the side walls, windows in the side walls, door locking mechanism supported on the door with a portion of the mechanism outside the door, said locking mechanism including a movable cylinder, lights on the ceiling directing light rays downwardly to illuminate the interior of the room, a light on one of the side walls directing light rays horizontally and parallel to the floor onto an opposite side wall, a light on a fixture on the floor directing light rays horizontally and parallel to the fioor onto a side wall, said lights being connected in parallel in an electrical circuit, switch mechanism having a movable switch contact connected in circuit with said lights, said cylinder carrying the movable switch contact of said switch mechanism, and spaced stationary electrical contacts disposed in the path of movement of said movable switch contact, and a key removably inserted into the locking mechanism outwardly of the door for actuating said movable cylinder for selectively closing the circuit through either the ceiling lights or the other lights, the windows being positioned to afford a view of the interior of the room.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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