MOBILE SECURITY SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to security systems and particularly mobile security systems that can be easily transported from location to location and be set up to monitor and secure a predetermined area. The alarm system of the present invention can be used on a construction site, residence, boat, cabin, office or practically any other structure or external area.

BACKGROUND ART

Alarm systems of various types have been in existence for many years. Conventional alarm systems are usually hardwired throughout a building structure and the wiring usually terminates at a control panel located somewhere within the building. One of the chief drawbacks of having such an alarm system that is permanently installed in a building is that it cannot easy be temporarily installed for relatively short periods of time. Also, once the alarm system has been installed, it cannot be easily moved to another location. In other words, conventional alarm systems cannot easily be set up to be used for temporary installations for short periods of time. The installation of such conventional alarms is labour intensive, and therefore, incurs significant expenses in relation to the installation costs.

For monitoring and securing an area such as a construction site, an alarm system is required that is not permanently installed because building structures may not have been built as yet. The security system may prevent the builder's materials and supplies from being stolen from the construction site during the construction. It would also be useful if the

temporary security system was able to be transported to another building site once construction is finished.

A portable security system is described in WO 98/12068 (Hess). A portable alarm system is disclosed in which the alarm functions are contained within a portable enclosure, communication is maintained between the alarm system and wireless security contacts placed at points of entry, and the alarm is capable of initiating a telephone call to a security monitoring station either by conventional hard-wired telephone lines within a building or by cellular transmission.

The portable alarm system of WO 98/12068 is designed to be discrete and be placed on a shelf, bench, table or the like so that an unauthorised person(s) does not see it and will trigger the alarm when they attempt to enter the building. The portable alarm of WO 98/12068 has remote wireless security contacts that can be placed at points of entry to a building structure, such as doors and windows. These security contacts are designed to be triggered by an unauthorized person(s) entering a building.

A similar portable alarm system is described in WO 96/07995 (Hess).

The main difference is that the exterior of the portable enclosure of WO 96/07995 is shaped to resemble a CD player in order to make it even less distinctive and to be indistinguishable from common household items when placed in a residence. The mechanism of how the portable alarm system works is identical to that described in WO 98/12068.

A problem encountered with the portable alarm systems of WO 98/12068 and WO 96/07995 is that they may not effectively deter an unauthorized person(s) from attempting to enter an area that is being monitored by the portable alarm systems because an unauthorized person(s) may not see that the area is under alarm surveillance. This is because the portable alarm systems are designed to blend into its

surroundings. This may result in unnecessary damage being done to a building when an unauthorised person(s) attempt to force entry.

A further problem with the prior art portable alarm systems is that although they are portable, due to the weight of the components contained therein, the portable alarm systems may not be easily transported from one location to another. It is also necessary to place the prior art portable alarm systems on a raised surface such as a shelf, table, bench or the like, so that the sensor can effectively monitor an area. Therefore, in scenarios where there is no suitable raised surface, which may be common during construction of a building, then the prior art portable alarm systems may not be able to effectively monitor and secure a predetermined area.

Another problem with the prior art portable alarm systems is that it is not easy to change the type and/or number of sensors that are contained within the portable enclosure to suit a particular location or type of area that the alarm is to monitor. If the prior art portable enclosure is configured to have only wireless sensors, such as radio frequency devices installed within the enclosure, then the effectiveness of using these prior art portable alarm systems may be reduced given certain environmental conditions.

For example, radio frequencies are very susceptible to being blocked by metal sheets that may be installed on a buildings wall or roof. Metal reinforcing is also commonly installed in thick concrete. Where prior art portable alarm systems are installed in a building with these metal sheets and/or metal reinforcings, the radio frequencies emitted by the portable alarm system may be blocked before the alarm is triggered in the event of an intrusion. Given this, it is desirable to be able to easily and readily change the number and/or type of sensors to suit the prevalent environmental conditions.

A further problem with the prior art portable alarm systems is that they are not substantially weatherproof and thus cannot be placed outside.

Australian Innovation Patent No. 2006100798 in the names of Alex Henderson and Anthony Wilson describes a self contained mobile security platform with cameras mounted on a 5m mast. The mobile security platform is adapted to be deployed externally on a construction site outside of any buildings and can secure a pre-determined outdoor area. The security system is housed within a lockable strong box, which is in-turn housed within an enclosed trailer. The trailer is adapted to be towed by a vehicle so that the security platform can be transported from site to site.

A problem with the security platform described in Australian

Innovation Patent No. 2006100798 is that the size and weight of the trailer within which the security system is housed is prohibitive for a single person to easily move the security platform both around a site in which it is deployed and from one site to the next. In other words, the security platform of 2006100798 is not easily transported or moved by a single unassisted person.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mobile alarm system which goes at least some way towards overcoming or at least minimizing the prior art problems or limitations outlined above or providing a suitable alternative to known systems.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is provided an alarm system for notifying a significant event. The alarm system includes a vertical section, an interface allowing a user to control the alarm system and communication means for initiating communication to a remote location upon alarm activation. The vertical section has at least one sensor for sending a notification signal of the significant event to the communication means. The sensor can also send a notification signal to an alarm to signal the occurrence of the significant event. Preferably, the alarm

system also includes a base plate, which is adapted to be secured to the floor and is further adapted to engage with the vertical section. The base plate includes a plurality of spigots that extend in a direction away from the floor and are adapted to engage with an underside portion of the vertical section.

Preferably, the vertical section is manufactured from a robust lightweight material. The lightweight material is preferably mild steel. The vertical section is substantially of a readily identifiable colour, so that the alarm system may be readily identified.

Preferably, when the vertical section is engaged with the base plate, the vertical section extends vertically from the base plate to support the sensor at a distance above the base plate to maximize the area monitored by the sensor. To assist in the monitoring of the area, the sensor preferably monitors an area between 90° and 360°. The sensor preferably measures an area of approximately 90°. The height of the vertical section is also adjustable to facilitate effective monitoring of the area.

The vertical section further includes a battery to power the alarm system. This battery can be replaced and is preferably rechargeable.

The battery in the vertical section of a first mobile security system is adapted to be electrically connected to a battery in the vertical section of another alarm system, thereby forming a bank of batteries. The vertical section can also be connected to an external power source to power the alarm system and/or recharge the battery. This external power source can be either be mains power or a portable electric generator.

The mobile security system also comprises a communication module that is adapted to initiate a transmission to a remote location. This transmission is a cellular transmission sent via one or more of the following GPRS interface technology, GSM interface technology, PSTN land-line

technology, Securitel ^® interface technology which is an "always-on" supervised alarm transmission system, DSL or ADSL broadband Internet, Wide Area Network (WAN), Local Area Network (LAN) or a (local) stand alone transmission.

The at least one sensor of the mobile security system is selected from one or more of the following: bi-metal strips, mercury sensors, photoelectric beams, single technology passive infrared sensors, single technology microwave sensors, dual technology combinations of passive infrared and microwave sensors, proximity sensor access technology, card swipe access technology, radio frequency technology, biometric fingerprint technology, iris recognition access technology.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention there is provided an alarm system for notifying a significant event. The alarm system has at least one base unit and a stem removably engageable with the base unit. The base unit comprises an interface allowing a user to control the alarm system and communication means for initiating communication to a remote location upon alarm activation. The stem has at least one sensor for sending a notification signal of the significant event to the communication means and/or an alarm to signal the occurrence of the significant event. Both the base unit and the stem are manufactured from a robust lightweight material.

The stem extends vertically above the base unit to support the sensor at a distance above the base unit to maximize the area monitored by the sensor. The alarm system comprises a single base unit. The base unit additionally has a handle to allow a user to carry the base unit when the stem is not engaged.

The base unit further includes a battery to power the alarm system. The battery has a substantial weight so as to serve as a counterweight and stabilize the alarm system when the stem is engaged with the base unit.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of securing an area comprising the steps of positioning at least one alarm system according to the invention in an area to be monitored, activating the alarm system and monitoring for an alarm notification or an alarm signal from the alarm system. Preferably, a plurality of the alarm systems to monitor a perimeter of a predetermined area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order to facilitate a better understanding of the nature of the present invention, a preferred embodiment of a mobile alarm system will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG 1 depicts a front perspective view of a mobile security system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention showing the sensor covers in a closed position.

FIG 2 depicts a front perspective view of the mobile security system shown in FIG 1 with the sensor covers in an open position.

FIG 3 depicts a rear perspective view of the mobile security system shown in FIG 1 with the access door removed from the vertical section.

FIG 4 depicts a perspective view of a base plate of the mobile security system shown in FIG 1.

FIG 5 depicts a perspective view of a mobile security system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention showing the detachable stem engaged with the base unit.

FIG 6 depicts an enlarged partial perspective view of the lower end of the stem of the mobile security system shown in FIG 5.

FIG 7 depicts a perspective view of the base portion of the mobile security system shown in FIG 5 showing the access door in an open configuration.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIGS 1 to 4 depict a mobile security system in accordance with the present invention. The mobile security system 1 is capable of monitoring and securing a predetermined area and may be easily transported from one location to another.

The mobile security system 1 has a vertical section 3 and a separate base plate 20. The vertical section 3 contains therein at least one sensor 12 to monitor and secure an area. The base plate 20 is made from steel and has a cross-sectional area that is larger than the cross-sectional area of the "footprint" of the vertical section 3. To minimise the weight of the base plate 20, the centre portion 23 of the base plate is cut out and removed.

Best shown in FIG 4, the base plate 20 is adapted to be secured to the floor by way of bolts that are inserted into each of the apertures 21 and further includes a plurality of spigots 22, which are adapted to engage with the underside portion of the vertical section 3. The underside section of the vertical section 3 includes an aperture that the spigots 22 pass through and engage with the side edges thereof. Each of the spigots 22 is threaded so that a wing-nut or the like can be screwed onto the exposed spigot when the vertical section is engaged with the base plate. In order to do this, the access door 5 is opened, which allows a person to screw the wing-nuts (or other suitable fasteners) onto each of the exposed spigots 22.

The vertical section 3 can be made of a variety of robust and lightweight materials. In other words, the vertical section 3 should be strong but remain lightweight so that the mobile security system 1 can be easily transported. Examples of suitable materials for the stem 3 are mild steel, aluminium or stainless steel that can resist attempts to destroy it by throwing it, kicking it or jumping on it. When the alarm signal sounds upon activation by entry of an unauthorised person(s) into a secured area being monitored by the mobile security system 1, the unauthorised person(s) may attempt to disable the mobile alarm system 1. With the vertical section 3 made of a material that resists impacts and therefore make it difficult for the unauthorised person(s) to disable the mobile security system 1, the alarm may continue to sound and eventually cause the unauthorised person(s) to abandon their efforts to disable the alarm system 1. With the components securely mounted in the vertical section 3, an unauthorised person(s) would have trouble breaking through the vertical section 3 to disarm the alarm or deactivate the sensors 12. Components within the vertical section 3 may be suspended or cushioned in such a way that they are able to withstand shocks and impacts to the alarm system 1.

The vertical section 3 also includes a set of sensor covers 18 that can be opened and closed by a horizontal hinge to reveal the sensors 12. The sensor covers 18 are made from the same material as the vertical section 3 and are closed when the mobile security system 1 is being transported from one location to another. As best shown in Fig 1, the sensor covers 18 can be locked when in a closed position by locking mechanism 24. Once the mobile security system 1 has been set up at the desired location, the locking mechanism 24 is unlocked and the sensor covers 18 are lowered to reveal the sensors 12 and the security system is armed. The sensor covers 18 can also be closed on one particular sensor if monitoring of a particular area is not desired. For example, a mobile security system 1 may be set up at a location to monitor a particular area whilst there is still construction work being done at another area of the building site. So that the movement of the builders does not trigger the alarms, some of the sensor covers 18 may

be closed, so as to stop the sensors 12 monitoring the area where the builders are working.

FIG 2 and FIG 3 show the vertical section 3 having at least one sensor 12 therein. The vertical section 3 further includes a siren 13, a strobe light 11 and an antenna 16 to assist in a cellular telephone connection. The antenna 16 shown in Fig 2 is a patch antenna, although any suitable type of antenna can be utilised. The sensor 12 will send a triggering signal to the communication device 15 once it has been activated when an unauthorized person(s) enters into an area that is being monitored by the mobile alarm system 1. The types of sensors 12 that may be included in the vertical section 3 include, but are not limited to, bi-metal strips, mercury sensors, photoelectric beams, single technology passive infrared sensors, single technology microwave sensors, dual technology combinations of passive infrared and microwave sensors, proximity sensor access technology, card swipe access technology, radio frequency technology, biometric fingerprint technology, iris recognition access technology.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS 2 and 3, the vertical section 3 includes at least one sensor 12 of the type which is able to effectively monitor an area of between 90° and 360°. The at least one sensor 12 preferably effectively monitors an approximately 90° area. In this way, should a room need to be monitored, the stem 3 includes four of these sensors, which face in different directions. In this way, the effective coverage afforded by the mobile security system 1 is approximately 360°.

FIG 3 depicts the vertical section 3 further having an access door 5, which can be opened and closed along a vertical edge so that a user can gain access to the interface panel 8, a communication device 15, an alarm panel 25 and a battery 9. The interface panel 8 allows a user to control the mobile alarm system 1. The communication device 15 initiates communication to a remote location upon external triggering. The battery 9

provides power to the mobile alarm system 1 when it is unplugged from a power source, such as mains power or a generator.

The battery 9 is both rechargeable and replaceable, although non- rechargeable and non-replaceable batteries may also be utilised. The battery 9 is preferably of sufficient weight to act as a counterweight to stabilise the alarm system 1. The interface panel 8 allows a user to control the alarm system 1 to function much in the same way as a conventional hard-wired permanent building alarm system. The interface panel 8 preferably would enable a user to deactivate the audio siren 13, to program the telephone number of a security monitor station into the mobile alarm system 1 and to enter a user code that would allow a user to deactivate the mobile alarm system 1 within a predetermined time once the area being monitored has been entered. The interface control panel 8 may also be used to send a silent distress signal by pressing certain code numbers on the panel 8. The panel 8 may also include "panic buttons" that sound an alarm immediately upon being depressed.

The vertical section 3 also contains a communication module 26 for initiating communication to a remote location upon external triggering. The communication module 26 may be a cellular transceiver, which will initiate a cellular transmission to a remote location when it is externally triggered by a sensor 12. The cellular transmission may be sent to a remote location by one or more of the following, GPRS interface technology, GSM interface technology, PSTN land-line technology, Securitel ^® interface technology which is an "always-on" supervised alarm transmission system, DSL or

ADSL broadband Internet, Wide Area Network (WAN), Local Area Network

(LAN) or a (local) stand alone transmission.

Multiple mobile security systems 1 can be interconnected together so that each one of the batteries 9 in each of the vertical section 3 of the mobile security systems are in electrical connection. This creates a "bank" of batteries 9, which increases the time that the actively sensing and

monitoring mobile alarm system 1 may operate without being connected to a power source, such as mains power or a generator. Additional batteries 9 can also be connected to a mobile security system 1 to supply extra power.

The vertical section 3 has a rear outlet connection means 10 that is adapted to be connected to a power outlet such as mains power to provide power to the alarm system 1 and to also preferably recharge the battery 9.

The vertical section 3 is substantially weatherproof so that the mobile alarm system 1 can be used in outdoor environments. The vertical section

3 is a readily visually identifiable colour, so that the mobile alarm system 1 would be easily identified by an unauthorised person(s) attempting entry into an area being monitored by the mobile alarm system 1.

In other embodiments not shown in the drawings, the access door 5 may be adapted to be entirely removed from the vertical section 3 rather than only being able to be opened and closed about a set of vertical hinges as is shown in FIG 3. In further embodiments not shown in the drawings, the access door 5 may be slidably removed from the vertical section 3 or absent entirely, leaving the interface control panel 8, communication device 15 and the battery 9 exposed.

Whilst the embodiment shown in FIG 3 shows a mobile security system 1, which is turned off and on by the interface control panel 8, in other embodiments not shown in the drawings, the mobile security system 1 may be remotely armed by radio communication or the like. In these embodiments, the mobile security system 1 can be remotely programmed or activated to flash the strobe 11, chirp the siren 13 and the like.

In another embodiment not shown in the drawings, the base of the vertical section 3 can be secured to the floor directly, by bolting or the like, without the need to firstly secure the base plate 20 to the floor.

FIGS 5 to 7 depict a mobile security system 1 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention that comprises two separate sections that can be connected together. Given the similarities between the first and second embodiments of the present invention, similar elements in the two embodiments will be identified with the same numbers.

As best shown in FIG 5, the mobile security system 1 comprises a base unit 2 and a removable stem 3. The base unit 2 has a stem engagement port 6 that is adapted to receive an end of the stem 3 therein. The base unit 2 also has a set of wheels 4 and a handle 7. The handle 7 may be used to more easily carry and transport the base unit 2 when the stem 3 is not connected to the base unit 2. Of course, the handle 7 may also be used as an aid to transport the mobile security system 1 when the stem 3 is connected to the base unit 2.

As best shown in FIG 5, the stem 3 comprises a slotted area 17 which is adapted to assist a person to carry and transport the stem 3 when it is disconnected from the base unit 2. A user may insert this end of the stem 3 into the stem engagement port 6 and twist the stem 3 about its vertical axis in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction until the channel 14 locks into the stem engagement port 6, such that stem 3 is securely engaged with the base unit 2.

A number of different stems 3 may be engaged with the stem engagement port 6. Each of the different stems 3 may have a different array of sensors 12, sirens 13 and strobe lights 11. For example, a user may rent or purchase the base unit 2 and depending upon the requirements of the location in which the mobile alarm system 1 is to be used in, a user may then elect to rent or purchase an appropriate stem 3, containing sufficient sensors and alarms to effectively monitor and secure an area.

Accordingly, the stem 3 may be of variable length and may be adjusted by a user. Additionally, each of the different stems 3 may be of different fixed lengths to suit different applications.

To transport the mobile security system 1 when the stem 3 is connected to the base unit 2, a user tilts the stem 3 either towards themselves or away from themselves, such that the vertical axis of the stem 3 is no longer substantially perpendicular to the ground. A user may then either push or pull the mobile security system 1 using the stem 3 along the ground on its set of wheels 4 to transport the mobile alarm system 1 from one location to another.

Whilst the embodiment shown in FIG 5 has a single set of wheels 4, it should be understood that in other embodiments not shown in the drawings, the base unit 2 may have two or more sets of wheels 4. It is also within the scope of the invention that rather than having wheels 4, the base unit 2 may have 'caterpillar type tracks' or other suitable transportation means.

In other embodiments not shown in the drawings, the stem 3 may include a thread portion at one end adapted to connect with the stem engagement port 6 of the base unit 2. Alternatively, the stem 3 may simply fit into the stem engagement port 6 by way of frictional engagement. It should also be understood that any other suitable connection interface between the stem 3 and the base unit 2 may be utilised in this invention.

Unless the context indicates otherwise, the words "comprise" or "comprising" and the like terms should be construed in an inclusive sense, as contrasted to an exclusive or exhaustive sense. These words normally mean "including but not limited to".

The term "comprising" as used herein (and its grammatical variations) is used in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including" and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of".