Abstract:
A reed switch device connects to a door facing of a door. The reed switch device includes an impact unit, adapted to stop movement of the door, and a reed switch. In one configuration, the reed switch device replace a pre-existing part on the door facing. In another configuration, the reed switch device is an adaptation of a pre-existing part on the door facing. Additional configurations include an impact unit, which receives a reed switch, and a kit which enables connection of the reed switch to the impact unit. Additionally, methods of installing a reed switch device to a door facing are disclosed in a first method, an impact unit with a reed switch is mounted to the door. In a second method a pre-existing part of the door is utilized. In a third method, a pre-existing part of the door of the door is adapted.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not Applicable.  
       STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
       [0003]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0005]     The present invention relates generally to reed switches and methods of use, and more specifically to mounting arrangements and configurations.  
         [0006]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0007]     Reed switches are magnetically operated switches, which are generally formed by a pair of spaced ferromagnetic contacts or blades, hermetically sealed in a glass capsule. In a typical application and use of a reed switch, the blades are connected to outside leads—each outside lead being part of a circuit. The exposure of the blades to a magnetic field—coming from either a permanent magnetic or electromagnetic generation—forces the blades to move, either contacting one another or moving a way from one another. In what is known as a normally closed reed switch (“Normal” in this sense and as will be used herein means a state where the reed switch is exposed to a magnetic field), the blades touch when exposed to a magnetic field. By removing the magnetic field, the normally closed reed switch opens and the contacts will no longer touch. Contrariwise, in a normally open reed switch, the contacts touch in the absence of a magnet. By exposing the normally open reed switch to the magnetic field, the contacts move apart and the circuit is opened. After the magnetic field has been removed from these reed switches, the blades will return to their original position.  
         [0008]     Reed switches have been used in everything from computers and copying machines to automobiles and security systems. The general concept applied in the majority of these devices is the ability to activate a switch (that is, causing the ferromagnetic blade to move, be it closing the circuit or opening the circuit) via the use of a magnetic field. The activating of these switches allows communication to be established with systems or devices. In some instances the communication may be the lack of a signal or electrical energy being returned when the switch opens the circuit, while in other instances, the communication may be the circuit being completed. Examples include using a reed switch to automatically communicate with lights, air conditioning systems, power controlled devices and the like. As a specific use in security systems, reed switches have been used to monitor the “change of state” of something. For example, a reed switch can cause a circuit to be completed or broken when a window or door opens or closes. This change of condition (opening or closing of the circuit) can automatically be detected by a central alarm system or the like, indicating whether or not an unauthorized “change of state” has occurred. A typical security use of such a reed switch may be, for example, on a window or door of a house or on a roll-up door of a storage shed.  
         [0009]     With the use of reed switches, several design considerations must be taken into account. Reed switches are by their very nature fragile—that is, the glass capsules can break. An exacerbation of their fragile nature is likelihood that forces may be imparted thereon. Therefore, in the design and installation of reed switches, the general trend is to place the reed switches in various locations that will not experience an impact or force. For example, on roll-up doors, the placement of reed switches (generally alarming the door) in these various locations (e.g., floor, door track, latch) has lead to an inconsistent placement of the reed switches. Additionally, many door manufacturers will not and have not provided a consistent location on their doors for the placement of a reed switch.  
         [0010]     There have been various attempts by alarm installers to come up with a way to attach a reed switch and magnet to a roll-up door that will not degrade the normal functionality of the door. The prominent means of reed switch and magnet attachment has been drilling holes into the door facing (door track) and door curtain—then attaching screws. However, the door manufacturers did not design their doors for additional holes or screws (pop-rivets, bolts, etc.) to attach a reed switch. As such, side-effects of these invasive modifications to the door facing and door curtain have included a compromise to the normal opening and closing operation of the door and a greatly diminished cosmetic appeal of the door facing. The only other option of reed switch attachment has been with clamping devices that clamp to the roll-up door facing. With such an option, the magnet is also lined up adjacent to the clamping reed switch holder and screwed to the roll-up door curtain. However, clamping reed switch devices almost always move, get misaligned with the magnet, or completely fall off the door. The magnet is also very invasive to the door curtain and dangerous because of the sharp screws protruding through the door curtain.  
         [0011]     Typically, the roll-up door is installed by the door installers. Then, the alarm company installs the reed switch. The roll-up door installer routinely returns to the job to repair the door after the alarm installer has installed the reed switch. Oftentimes, the door installers have to cut protruding reed switch mounting screws in an effort to obtain the normal function of the roll-up door. Alternatively, they have to readjust the door to attempt to get around the problems that the attachment of the reed switch imposed on the normal opening and closing operation of the door.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     In a first embodiment of the invention, a reed switch device is adapted to couple to a portion of a door facing of a door. The reed switch device comprises an impact unit, adapted to stop movement of the door, and a reed switch. In a first configuration of the first embodiment, the reed switch device can utilize a pre-existing part on the door facing. In a second configuration of the first embodiment, the reed switch device is an adaptation of a pre-existing part on the door facing. A second embodiment of the invention includes a reed switch device, having an impact unit, adapted to stop the movement of the door, wherein a portion of the impact unit is adapted to couple with at least one reed switch. A third embodiment of the invention includes a kit, which utilizes a coupling apparatus to enable coupling of the reed switch to the impact unit. A fourth embodiment of the invention includes methods of installing a reed switch device. A first method of the fourth embodiment, comprises mounting an impact unit to the door facing with the impact unit adapted to stop the movement of the door and the impact unit having a reed switch coupled thereto. A second method of the fourth embodiment includes utilizing a pre-existing part of the door. A third method of the fourth embodiment includes adapting a pre-existing part of the door. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the reed switch device, having a reed switch internally imbedded inside an impact unit;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of the invention, having a reed switch coupled to an impact unit;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of the invention, having a reed switch coupled to an impact unit;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of the invention, having a reed switch coupled to an impact unit;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 7-15  shows several embodiments of the impact unit;  
         [0021]      FIG. 16  is a view taken along line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 17  is a configuration in which the reed switch device can be utilized;  
         [0023]      FIG. 18  is another view of the configuration of  FIG. 17 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 19  shows an illustrative embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 20  is a view taken along line  20 - 20  of  FIG. 19 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]     Several different embodiments, not drawn to scale, are shown in  FIGS. 1-16 , illustrating some of the concepts of the invention.  FIG. 1  is a first embodiment of the invention, and generally shows a reed switch device  100  including an impact unit  40 A and at least one reed switch  50  (shown in phantom view).  
         [0027]     The impact unit  40 A is preferably arranged and designed to stop the movement of another object—e.g., a door. The use of an impact unit  40 A should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the impact unit  40 A can be a door stop mounted to a door track of a roll-up door, with the impact unit  40 A being generally arranged and designed to prevent the roll-up door from rolling up too far. Or, the impact unit  40 A can be a gate stop (with the door being a gate), arranged and designed to prevent a swinging gate from moving beyond a specified swing location. Additionally, the impact unit  40 A can be a door stop in a house, arranged and designed to prevent a door from swinging past a predetermined location. To the extent foreseeable, other uses of an impact unit should become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0028]     The impact unit  40 A can be coupled to the door facing, using a coupling facilitator  60 A, which should become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, in  FIG. 1 , the coupling facilitator  60 A are attachment holes—enabling connection via a screw, bolt, rivet or other connector. In other embodiments, the coupling can be accomplished using welding, soldering, nailing, or the like.  
         [0029]     Internally mounted inside the impact unit  40 A of this embodiment is at least one reed switch  50 . Such a reed switch  50 , as discussed in the background of the invention, should become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. While only one reed switch  50  is shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , it is to be understood that other embodiments can include one or more reed switches.  
         [0030]     The choice of material for the impact unit  40 A can vary with design and intended use. As the reed switch  50  activates upon exposure to a magnetic field, in some embodiments, the material for the impact unit  40 A can be of such a nature that it minimizes interference with the exposure of the reed switch  50 —yet strong and rigid enough to stop the above mentioned moving object (e.g., the door).  
         [0031]     In some embodiments, the reed switch  50  can include a buffer surrounding and facilitating the protection of the reed switch  50 . One such buffer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,723,835, issued to Gilmore, which is owned by the applicant of the current application and is herein incorporated in its entirety. In such embodiments, the buffer can include resilient material, made of any material known for its ability to absorb mechanical energy, namely poly-foam, polystyrene, silicone, polymers and the like. In other embodiments, the buffer can include a gas blend placed inside the resilient material, which fluidly isolates the reed switch. Such a gas blend can help suspend the reed switches to help prevent breakage of the reed switch. One such gas blend is an ammonia methanol by-product produced from curing of silicone, when silicone is used as the resilient material. In still other embodiments the buffering of the reed switch can include a material, which can absorb mechanical energy, placed on the outside of the reed switches. Such materials can include shrink-wrapped plastic, a rubber coating, or the like.  
         [0032]      FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate another embodiment of the invention, generally showing a reed switch device  100  with an impact unit  40 B and a reed switch  50  coupled thereto (shown in phantom view). In this embodiment, the impact unit  40 B can, but need not necessarily be designed to support a reed switch  50 . For example, some impact units  40 B can purely be designed to stop the moving object (for example, a door) mentioned with reference to  FIG. 1 . Other impact units  40 B can be arranged and designed to have a reed switch  40 B mounted, thereto. In either of these impact units  40 B, a coupling apparatus  70 B can be utilized to facilitate the coupling of the reed switch housing  90 B (housing one or more reed switches  50 ) to the impact unit  40 B.  
         [0033]     The coupling apparatus  70 B, in this embodiment, includes a mounting device  80 B and the reed switch housing  90 B. In other embodiments, the coupling apparatus can only include a mounting device  80 B, while in yet still other embodiments, the coupling apparatus  70 B can include only the switch housing  90 B. The ultimate arrangement and design can depend upon the impact unit  40 B and/or the reed switch housing  90 B, including the reed switch(es)  50 . Similar to the embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 1 , the reed switch housing  90 B can include a buffer and/or buffers to absorb some of the impact and force, imparted on the impact unit  40 B. Additionally, the buffer and/or buffers can be placed on the impact unit  40 B.  
         [0034]     The mounting device  80 B in this embodiment includes a clamp  82 B and one ore more attachment screws  86 B. The switch housing  90 B in this embodiment is arranged and designed to receive the attachment screw  86 B of the mounting device  80 B. As can be seen with this embodiment, the coupling apparatus need not be invasive to the impact unit  40 B.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 4 and 5 , illustrative of another embodiment of the invention, shows an alternative coupling apparatus  70 C. This embodiment can function in a similar manner to the embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , except that the coupling apparatus  70 C in this embodiment includes a clip  82 C, which can include teeth  86 C. The clip  82 C, as shown in this embodiment, can surround both the switch housing  90 C and the impact unit  40 C, utilizing the teeth  86 C to hold the switch housing  90 C and impact unit  40 C in place. Once again the reed switch  50  is shown in phantom view.  
         [0036]      FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of the invention with the reed switch  50  (shown in phantom view) coupled to the impact unit  40 D. In this embodiment, the switch housing  90 D, surrounding the reed switch  50 , is coupled to the impact unit  40 D via attachment holes  42 D. In other embodiments, the reed switch  50  can be coupled to the impact unit  40 D without the housing  90 D. The general coupling of the switch housing  90 D, including reed switch  50 , to the impact unit  40 D can include one of many techniques, which should become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art—for example, including but not limited to utilizing rivets, bolts, nuts, screws, and the like. In some embodiments, a coupling apparatus  70  can be utilized. In others, a coupling apparatus need not be utilized. Similar to the embodiments described herein, the switch housing can include a buffer.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 7-16  generally show some of the other embodiments for the impact unit  40  e.g.,  40 E,  40 F,  40 C,  40 H,  40 I,  40 J,  40 K,  40 L, and  40 M, generally having attachment holes  42 E,  42 F,  42 G,  42 H,  421 ,  42 J,  42 K,  42 L, and  42 M and coupling facilitators  60 E,  60 F,  60 G,  60 H,  60 I,  60 J,  60 K,  60 L, and  60 M. These embodiments are only illustrative of some of the several configurations which can be utilized for the impact unit  40  as others should become apparent, to the extent foreseeable, to one of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0038]     With regard to the embodiments, described herein—in general—as well as other embodiments which should become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, some embodiments of the impact unit  40  can initially be arranged and designed to couple with a reed switch  50  (that is, during fabrication of the coupling apparatus), while other embodiments of the impact unit  40  that are not initially designed to couple with a reed switch  50  can be adapted so they can couple with a reed switch  50 . With either of these types of embodiments, a kit can be utilized enabling the coupling of the reed switch  50  to the impact unit  40 . This kit can include among other things, the above-mentioned coupling apparatus  70  and a buffer.  
         [0039]      FIGS. 17 and 18  generally show one of many configurations in which some of the embodiments can be utilized. A door  500  of the roll-up type is shown. Enabling movement of this door  500  is a portion of a door facing  410 , which generally has a door track upon which the door  500  slidably moves. The door  500  in this embodiment is flexible enough to move from a vertically closed position to its rolled-up position at the top of the door facing  410 . Furthermore, the door  500  is corrugated permitting it to coil up on a rotatable support rod  300 . A disc  310  is mounted on each end of the rotatable support rod  300  for retaining each end of the door  500  as it is wound up by spring tension on the spring  320 . Items typically used in such roll-up doors are also shown, including a door stop  200  (which serves as the impact unit  40  referenced in the embodiments of the invention), which prevents the door  500  from further rotation around support rod  300  when a door plate  220  on the bottom of the door  500  comes in contact with a contact edge  202  of the door stop  200 . The door stop  200  includes two contact edges  202 , which as known in the art, allows the door stop  200  to be mounted on the door facing  410  at either the left or right side of the door  500 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 18  shows the door  500  being stopped by the door stop  200 . The bottom portion of the door  500  is shown partially in phantom view through the door facing  410 . The above-mentioned door plate  220  is typically coupled to the bottom portion of the door  500  via a bolt and screw configuration  240 . The door stop  200 , as mentioned above, is typically mounted to the door facing  410  via another bolt and screw configuration  210 . The bottom contact edge  202  of the door stop  200  extends from the door facing  410  and contacts the door plate  220 —as shown here—preventing the door  500  from further rolling up and around the above-mentioned support rod  300  (shown in  FIG. 17 ).  
         [0041]      FIGS. 19 and 20  show an illustrative embodiment of one use of the reed switch device  100  in a configuration such as that described in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . The illustrated use is intended to only be explanatory thereof and is not intended to preclude other uses, which are available to the extent foreseeable by one of ordinary skill in the art. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 19 and 20 , the preferred design is to mount the reed switch  50  via utilization of an existing part or parts of the roll-up door  500 —e.g., the parts identified with reference to  FIGS. 17 and 18 . In this pre-existing part selection, the door stop  200  ( FIGS. 17 and 18 ) is a particularly viable candidate as it is not only on the correct side of the door  500  (for security system installation purposes), but it also falls within the travel path of the door curtain—something of interest when placing a magnet, arranged and designed to interact with the reed switch  50 , on the door  500 . Furthermore, the majority—if not all—roll-up doors  500  (of the type which a door curtain rolling into a coil) have a door stop  200 . Additionally, while these rollup-up doors  500  may be in different configurations and have different door stops  200 , the door stop  200  is typically mounted in a consistent location via a bolt and screw configuration  240  ( FIG. 18 ) or the like. As such, the utilization of the door stop  200  (and/or mounting) can allow a consistent location for all roll-up doors to hold or house the reed switch  50 . For example, if the reed switch  50  is to be mounted to a configuration such as that shown in  FIG. 18 , the mounting holes used to mount door stop  200  or the door stop  200  itself, can be utilized. By utilizing these existing parts, there is no need for invasive attachment hardware on the door facing  410  for mounting the reed switch  50 . Additionally, with this preferred embodiment, a roll-up door manufacturer will not and need not make any design or installation procedure changes to accommodate a reed switch  50 , while still have a smooth functioning door  500 —that is, a door  500  free from interruption which could be imparted by additionally added hardware or the like.  
         [0042]     The embodiment of the reed switch device  100  in  FIGS. 19 and 20  applies the above-mentioned concept of utilizing of pre-existing part or parts of the roll-up door  500 . In this embodiment, the reed switch device  100  is coupled to a portion of the door facing  410  and generally includes an impact unit  40 N and at least one reed switch  50 . Other items facilitating this coupling can include attachment holes  42 N, coupling facilitators  60 N, and a housing  90 N. While the reed switch device  100  is shown coupled to a particular location of the door facing  410 , it is to be understood that the impact unit  40 , as described herein with reference to several embodiments as well as embodiments which should become apparent, to the extent foreseeable by one of ordinary skill in the art, can couple at several different locations on the door facing, depending on design and configuration. In this embodiment, and as described above, the reed switch device  100  is generally shown mounted in the roughly the same location of where the door stop  200  of  FIG. 17  is located. As such, the reed switch device  100  can utilize the impact unit  40  to serve in a similar manner to the door stop  200 —that is, stopping the upward movement of the door  500 . For example, the impact unit  40 N can include contact edges  202 ′, similar to contact edges  202 , discussed with reference to  FIG. 17 . Furthermore, the utilization of the reed switch device  100  should not interrupt the normal movement of the door  500  in rolling up and down.  
         [0043]     The utilization of the reed switch device  100  (including the reed switch  50 ) can eliminate intrusiveness on the door facing  410 . For example, the reed switch device  100  in some embodiments can replace a door stop  200 , not generally designed to hold a reed switch  50 . Thus, instead of the door facing  410  having both a reed switch  50  and a door stop  200  (see  FIG. 17 ) mounted thereto, each at different locations, only one reed switch device  100  can be utilized. In other embodiments, a door stop  200  (see e.g.,  FIG. 17 ) can be utilized as the mounted apparatus  40  with a reed switch  50  coupled thereto—some configurations using a coupling apparatus  70  and other configurations not utilizing a coupling apparatus  70 .  
         [0044]     With the discussion of this one specific configuration of a door facing  410 , it should be expressly understood that the door facing  410  can generally include a structure in communication with a door. For example, where the door is a gate hingeably connected to a fence, the door facing can be the portion of the fence opposite the hinge, of which the gate becomes flush therewith when the gate is closed. Furthermore, as discussed above, the door  500  in other embodiments can be other configurations—e.g., a swing gate, a hingeable door or the like.  
         [0045]     As an example of the use of the reed switch device  100 , intended for illustrative purposes only, the reed switch device  100  as mentioned above can stop the door  500  from moving. As the reed switch device  100  also includes at least one coupled reed switch  50 , the reed switch device  100  can facilitate the communication of the door with systems indicating when the door has “changed its state”—for example, opened or closed. For example, when the door  500  is completely closed, a magnetic field generator  520  (in this embodiment, shown as a permanent magnet glued to the door) is within close proximity to the reed switch  50  of the reed switch device  100  (seen in FIGS.  717 - 18 )—thus exposing a magnetic field on the reed switch  50 . This magnetic field generator  520 , forces the reed switch  50  to either close a circuit or opened a circuit (depending on whether each of the reed switches  50  is a normally open reed switch or a normally closed reed switch  40 ). The opening or closing of the circuit initiates communication with an outside system by either shutting off a signal being communicated or enabling a signal to be communicated.  
         [0046]      FIG. 20  is a cross section of  FIG. 19  cut across lines  20 - 20 , showing in a different view how the reed switch device  100  can come in close proximity with the magnetic field generator  520 . In this view, as an example, the reed switch  50  in the reed switch device  100  would be active or in a “normal” state as the magnetic field generator  520  is within close proximity to the reed switch  50 . As the door  500  rolls up and around disc  310 , the magnetic field generator  520  moves out of close proximity and the reed switch  50  is no longer activated.  
         [0047]     The installation of the reed switch device  100 , as briefly mentioned above can be accomplished in a variety of manners, depending on the type of impact unit  40  and the type of reed switch  50  being utilized. If the impact unit  40  is not specifically designed to couple with a reed switch  50 , then in one embodiment the coupling apparatus can be adapted for coupling. For example, mounting holes  42  can be attached thereto. Alternatively, or in addition to such adaptation of the reed switch  50 , the reed switch  50  can be coupled to the impact unit  40  via one of many techniques, which should become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art—for example, including but not limited to utilizing rivets, bolts, nuts, screws, and the like. Additionally, in some embodiments, a coupling apparatus  70  can be utilized—including the utilization of items, including but not limited to the reed switch housing  90  and a mounting device  80 . Furthermore, in some embodiments to facilitate the protection of the reed switch  50 , a buffer (as described above) can be utilized.  
         [0048]     The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are only illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated apparatus and construction and method of operation and installation may be made to the extent foreseeable without departing from the spirit of the invention.