Abstract:
The invention relates generally to the field of warning signs intended to alert one of presence of an animal and intruder deterrence. More specifically, the invention integrates an adjustable motion detector, a warning sign, a light source aimed at the warning sign, an audio announcement and a replica of an animal or other image with another light source for its illumination. The motion detector senses the presence of a person and sends an activation signals to the audio and light sources. The first light source illuminates the warning sign, while the second light source illuminates the replica of an animal or other warning image, adding a sense of a realistic warning to a casual passer-by and a threat to the intruder.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/413,945, filed Sep. 26, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to “beware of” alerting signs commonly used on gates and fences of homes, buildings and other properties and alarm devices intended to warn of presence of a guard dog, or to deter an intruder and warn a property owner of presence of an intruder. More specifically, this invention relates to an alerting sign that is aesthetically more appealing, pronounced, realistic and forceful than the existing art, thus improving its effectiveness and encouraging the usage.  
           [0003]    Devices warning of a presence of a guard animal, such as a dog, have been widely utilized around the world for a very long time. The most common beware of dog signs are plastic sheets with “Beware of Dog” printed on them. The usage of these signs is limited by their unattractive appearance which makes their acquisition less likely. Moreover, the effectiveness of such signs is compromised by wear due to poor quality of the materials employed in their construction and poor visibility under inadequate lighting conditions. The visibility problem is worsened in case of children who cannot read or others with impaired eyesight. Finally, such signs are not visible at night time at all. Their effectiveness in actually deterring an intruder is even lower, especially at night or under conditions of poor visibility.  
           [0004]    Other means of warning, typically employing audio warnings and lighting fixtures have been employed to discourage intruders form entering the areas sought to be protected. The inherent limitation that all these devices have is their limited effectiveness as their threat is limited to the audio message or lighting up of a physical space. Similarly, visual information only, such as warning sign, is also inadequate as the amount of visual information in environment around us has reached the level of visual “pollution”, making such devices alone easy to ignore, as the people likely to encounter them become accustomed and oblivious to excessive amount of visual information.  
           [0005]    The inventions disclosed in following patents attempt to address these problem, but each has its limitations as it fails to integrate all the components of the warning into one forceful message.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,912,457 and 5,726,629 produce audio and visual warnings upon detecting a person, the &#39;457 patent being used in industry to remind a machine operator about pertinent safeguards and the &#39;629 patent discloses a home security application whereby the sound of a dog barking can be delivered to the intruder whose presence is detected.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,686 discloses a device that warns workers in a roadway work zone of an errant vehicle by the use of motion detectors targeting the perimeter of the zone and a strobe light array.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,773 discloses an alerting audio device based on the motion detector technology that also illuminates a sign to remind the persons of the nearby danger.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,726,629 discloses an invention combining heat seeking infrared sensors that, upon detecting heat radiation by the moving object, sends an electronic signal that activates a lighting fixture and an audio source to warn an intruder entering the area monitored by the motion detector.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,446 employees the approach similar to the U.S. Pat. No. 5,726,629 to detect the presence of an animal and to frighten it from the protected area.  
           [0011]    There are other commercially available products that attempt to serve the same warning function. One of such products, Electronic Watch Dog by Pentagon Defense Products utilizes microwave technology to detect movement and activate a German Shepherd bark. Again, this is an audio warning only that lacks the visual reinforcement that a warning sign would provide and falls far short of the forceful effect of a warning replica of a guard dog.  
           [0012]    The device of this invention eliminates the deficiencies described above, improves the warning sign visibility and combines an audio alarm with an illuminated replica of an animal or other suitable object for an enhanced effect.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    The present invention overcomes the problems associated with the prior art by greatly enhancing the aesthetic appeal, visibility, durability and uniqueness of warning signs. An authentic life-like warning replica of a guard dog face gives realism to the present invention&#39;s look and feel. Popular dogs associated with a preventive look could include a German Sheppard, Rottwieler, Doberman, etc. Life-like they present a much greater aesthetic appeal than the prior art, as they are more interesting and so easier to notice.  
           [0014]    The unique nature of the present invention allows for furthering the authenticity and forcefulness of the sign by using a motion detector to activate a sound, such as a dog growl, in conjunction with the eyes and other facial features being illuminated and animal jaw and ears moving at the same time. The motion detector is adjustable to activate upon a person approaching within certain distance of the property and will also include a manual on and off switch. This will enable the owner to have the flexibility to turn it off as needed. The word “Beware” or similar would be displayed near the life-like warning replica of an animal. Alternatively, the written warning could be located apart from the depiction. The illuminating eyes would allow for good visibility at night, while the auditory sound would warn visually impaired persons.  
           [0015]    While providing a good warning, the present invention would be created out of a weather resistant material thus increasing the lifespan over the prior art. The animal face would protrude from the plaque design background. The plaque may be any shape, possibly circular, oval or square. The attractive appearance of the invention would make for a suitable decoration apart from its deterrent value.  
           [0016]    In view of the above, the invention is advantageous in that it provides an improved device for warning of presence of a dangerous animal and to deter intruders.  
           [0017]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it integrates audio and light alarm warnings with a life-like replica of a dangerous animal such as a guard dog.  
           [0018]    A further advantage of the present invention is that it employees a manual on and off switch, thus enabling the owner to disable it as needed.  
           [0019]    Still another advantage of the present invention is that it enables simultaneous or sequential activation of audio and light warnings.  
           [0020]    It is also another advantage of the present invention to display life-like warning replicas of various vicious animals, thus further increasing an impact on the intruder.  
           [0021]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it enables the warning sign and the warning replica to be positioned next to each other or apart from each other, thus creating two separate warnings and so further increasing the effect on the passer-by or the intruder.  
           [0022]    The invention is also advantageous in that it may display a jaw of an animal in opening and closing motion, thus communicating an even more forceful warning.  
           [0023]    Still another advantage of the present invention is that it lights up the eyes of the warning replica, making this a particularly effective warning at night time.  
           [0024]    An added advantage of the present invention is that the warning sign may warn of one type of danger and the warning replica of an additional danger, thus further increasing the deterring effect.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 shows the Beware of Dog sign with a life-like dog head.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is side view of the life-like dog head of FIG. 2. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]    The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptions and drawings.  
         [0029]    Referring first to FIG. 1, a block diagram of the present invention, the alerting device  20  has a motion detector  26 , a sending unit or a switch  22 , announcement device with prerecorded message  30 , a warning sign  24  with a light emitting device and the warning replica  28  with a light emitting device. The motion detector  26 , the announcement device  30  and the light emitting devices and their associated power supplies are all commercially available off-the shelf items. The motion detector  26 , the switch  22 , the announcement device  30 , the warning sign  24 , the warning replica  28  may all be integrated in one unit, such as the device  60  in FIG. 2 or they may be only partially integrated or each unit may be a stand-alone unit. The motion detector  26  preferably has a manual on and off switch enabling to select operating time periods. The motion detector  26  may be a light beam motion detector, such as an infrared sensor motion detector or it may be an ultrasonic motion detector. An infrared detector is preferred as it does not send false alarms due to background noise as an ultrasonic motion detector may do. Preferably, the motion detector is adjustable to respond to varying lighting conditions. An infrared sensor of the motion detector  26  detects infrared thermal energy reflected by a person within its area of reach, converts the thermal energy into an electronic signal and sends the electronic signal to the switch  22 .  
         [0030]    The switch  22  transmits electronic signals to the announcement device  30  with a speaker connected thereto, the warning sign  24  and the warning replica  28 . The announcement device  30  may be similar to a device employed in a telephone answering system or other recording devices. The announcement device  30  then plays a prerecorded message. The prerecorded message may be a siren sound, a buzzing sound, a bell, horn, a gun shot, a shriek, a yell, a shout, a scream, musical notes, an animal sound, words of warning, a dog growl, a dog bark, a specific announcement regarding the danger, or any other sound or combination of sounds that are likely to draw attention.  
         [0031]    The switch  22  also transmits an electronic signal to the light source positioned to illuminate the warning sign  24 . The warning sign  24  may simply state “Beware of Dog” or employ other words of caution or warning. The lighting source associated with the warning sign  24  would illuminate the warning sign  24 . The lighting source may be integrated with the warning sign  24  or it may be separate form the warning sign  24 .  
         [0032]    Another portion of electronic signal generated by the motion detector  26  is transmitted by the switch  22  to the warning replica  28  and the light source associated therewith. The warning replica  28  may be of any desired size so long as it is visible under the circumstances. The warning replica  28  may be integrated with the warning sign  24  so that the words of warning and the warning replica  28  are one device or it may be at some distance from the warning sign  24 , thus providing two separate warning sources. The warning replica  28  may be a replica of an animal face, an animal profile, animal jaws, a partial animal body, a complete animal body, a human skull, bones, skeleton, flashing police car lights, a police car, and any subject likely to draw attention. Preferably, the warning replica is chosen from the group of aggressive animals, such as: a dog, wolf, tiger, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena. More preferably, the warning replica is chosen from a group of dogs such as any watch dog, German Shepard, Doberman, Rottweiler or similar. Preferably, the motion detector  26  is equipped with a timer that would shut off the motion detector  26  after a period of time.  
         [0033]    The signal transmission between the motion detector  26  and other components of the invention may be accomplished by hard wiring, a fiber optic connection, or a wireless method.  
         [0034]    The embodiment of FIG. 2 shows an integrated version of warning sign  24  and warning replica  28  as an illustration of a multiplicity of types of warning replicas  28  that may be utilized. Shown here in a way of illustration only and not as a limitation replica  28  is chosen to represent a dog, more specifically, the dog head  64 . The device  60  shows the housing  62  that accommodates “Beware of Dog” words  66 , dog head  64 , dog jaw  70 , dog eyes  68 , dog ears  74  and fastening points  72  for the housing  62 . More than one dog head  64  may be employed, or the dog head  64  may be combined with another replica, Alternatively, any combination of replicas may be employed. A lighting source would preferably be positioned inside the dog head  64  so that it illuminates dog yes  68  and dog jaw  70 . Any color light may be chosen, but red light would be preferred. Illuminating the dog head  64  from inside would have a very dramatic effect on a passer-by who inadvertently approached the alerting device or upon an intruder who did not expect presence of a guard animal or other warnings.  
         [0035]    It is not essential that the words of warning  66  warn of the presence of the same type of animal as the warning replica shows, i.e., “Beware of Dog” sign may accompany a replica of a head of a tiger or a police car with flashing lights. In a case where only a warning of a presence of a dog is being communicated, the words of warning  66  will preferably describe the dog just as the warning replica does. Preferably, the illumination source is capable of an “on and off” operation adding a dimension of life to the warning replica. The illumination source may also be positioned externally to the device  60  and therefore the words of warning  66  and the entire warning replica would be illuminated externally. Also, the words of warning  66  may appear in a separate location from dog head  64  or another warning replica, thus creating two distinct warnings.  
         [0036]    Shown in FIG. 3 is a side view of dog head  64 , showing dog jaw  70 , dog eyes  68 , dog ears  74 , dog teeth and tongue  72 . Preferably, dog jaw  70  is capable of opening and closing and dog ears are capable of moving between folded down and more vertical positions. Opening the dog jaw  70  would expose the dog teeth  72  and further increase the degree of apprehension in those approaching the area guarded by the alerting device. A person skilled in the art could easily choose a set of mechanical drive gears driven by small electric motors to accomplish these tasks. Preferably, the movement of dog jaw  70  can be contemporaneous with the playing of the prerecorded message or it can take place after the prerecorded message has been played.  
         [0037]    In another embodiment, a warning replica may be separated from the movable portions of the animal, i.e., the movable portion such as dog jaw  70  may appear in a position apart form the warning replica which would be a stationary object. In such case the warning replica would include the dog head  64  with eyes  68  and ears  74 . The dog jaw  70  with moving capability could be positioned elsewhere or totally omitted.  
         [0038]    Preferably the device  60  is made by a molding process utilizing high density plastic material such as Teflon for improved wear resistance.  
         [0039]    Similarly, the alerting device  20  is preferably made portable for ease of relocation from one part of property to another.  
         [0040]    A person skilled in the art will be able to select suitable devices and power supplies according to the electrical and optical specifications for each device. The power supply chosen may be a battery, solar or household current. A battery or solar power supplies are preferred as they&#39;re independent of the household current that may become disrupted.  
         [0041]    A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the claims should not b limited to the description of the version contained herein.