USRE42991E1 - Door suicide alarm - Google Patents

Abstract

A door alarm system is provided which activates an alarm when a door (such as the door to the patient's room, a bathroom door within the patient room, etc.) is closed with something (such as a sheet, cord or the like) over the top of door.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to door alarms, and, in particular to a door alarm which will notify personnel, for example, of a psychiatric hospital, that a patient is attempting to commit suicide.

It is not uncommon for patients in, for example, psychiatric hospitals, to attempt to commit suicide. In order to prevent patients from committing suicide, patient rooms are cleared of most things with which patients can commit suicide. For example, patients do not wear belts. One way in which patients do attempt to commit suicide is to tie a knot in the end of a bed sheet, drape the bed sheet over the top of a door (either the door to the patient's room or the bathroom door in the patient's room), and close the door. The knot on the end of the door will prevent the sheet from sliding through the closed door, and the patient can then hang him or herself with the sheet.

Currently, there is no known device that is available to notify hospital personnel when patient is attempting to commit suicide by hanging.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, a door alarm system is provided which activates an alarm when a patient door (such as the door to the patient's room, a bathroom door within the room, etc.) is closed with something (such as a sheet, cord or the like) over the top of the door.

The door, as is known, is mounted in a door opening defined by a door frame. The door frame is comprised of opposed side jambs and a header extending between the jambs. The door is mounted to one of the jambs by a hinge assembly so that it can move between an open position and a closed position. The door, itself, has a top, bottom and sides. When the door is closed, a gap is formed between the door top and the bottom of the header.

The alarm system comprises a pressure sensitive switch mounted to the door near the top of the door and the alarm. The alarm can be a visual and/or an audible alarm, and can be positioned outside the patient's room (i.e., on the wall outside the room) or in a central location, such as a nurses station. The switch is an elongate switch and extends substantially the full side-to-side width of the door. The switch extends into the gap when the door is closed. The switch is in communication with the alarm. Thus, when the switch detects pressure anywhere along its length, the switch will transmit a signal to activate the alarm.

In one embodiment, the door includes an elongate channel in the top of the door, and the switch is mounted in the channel. Depending on the size of the channel relative to the switch, a spacer can be provided to raise the switch, or to otherwise position the switch within the channel. In another embodiment, the switch is mounted to a door beam, which in turn is mounted to the door. The system, in this embodiment, includes a header beam mounted to the wall or header above the door bear, such that a gap is formed between the switch and the header beam.

In a preferred embodiment, a bracket mounted to the door (either in the channel or to the door beam) and the switch is held by the bracket. The bracket has a base and opposed side members extending upwardly from the base; the side members being shaped to receive the switch and hold the switch in the bracket. The bracket can be an elongate bracket which extends substantially the full length of the door.

In one embodiment, the switch is hardwired to the alarm, and the switch includes a lead wire to electrically connecting the switch and the alarm. The lead wire extends along at least a portion of the height of the door proximate the hinge. The wire then passes into or through the wall to be electrically connected to the alarm. To facilitate hiding of the wire, the hinge is a continuous or piano-type hinge and extends downwardly from near the top of the door. Preferably, the hinge extends the full length of the door. The wire is either secured to the outside of the hinge or is positioned behind the hinge. A hinge cover can be provided to cover up any exposed wire, if necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a door in which an alarm of the present invention has been installed;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are examples of illustrative diagrams of an alarm system circuit of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and B are cross-sectional and plan views of an illustrative switch used in conjunction with the alarm system;

FIGS. 4A and B are cross-sectional views showing a first illustrative manner of mounting an alarm switch for on a door;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a second illustrative manner of mounting the alarm switch on a door;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a wire lead extending along a door hinge;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the switch wire extending along a hinge member;

FIG. 8 shows an alternative passage of an alarm lead through the door; and

FIG. 9 is a view of a hinge cover applied over the door hinge;

Corresponding reference numerals will be used throughout the several figures of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what I presently believe is the best mode of carrying out the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Adoor10 is positioned in adoor opening12 inwall14. The door has atop surface10a andside surfaces10b extending between the door's front andback surfaces10c. The door opening12 is defined by opposeddoor jams16 which extend upwardly from the floor and aheader18 which extends between thejambs16 at the top of the door opening12. As is known, the door is mounted in the door opening12 by ahinge17. Agap20 exists between thetop10a of thedoor10 and theheader18.

Turning toFIG. 2, analarm system22 of the present invention includes aswitch24 which is mounted at the top of thedoor10. The switch is preferably normally open a ribbon or bumper switch which extends substantially the full width of the door. The ribbon switch can be a switch, such as is supplied by Recora Company under the name Sensi-Switch. An illustrative example of theswitch24 is shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B. Theswitch24 comprises asensing element24a, such as an electrode which is molded or otherwise contained in ahousing24b. Thehousing24b can be made of a plastic, or any other material which can withstand the environment into which the switch will be placed. The ribbon switch is flexible. A lead24c, which is operatively connected to the electrode within thehousing24b exits thehousing24b to place the switch in communication with thealarm28. As seen, asecond lead24d can exit the housing at the opposite end of the switch. In a two wire system (which would includeleads24c and24d), thesecond lead24d can contain an in-line resistor to monitor for breaks in the circuit. Hence, the integrity of the system is continuously monitored. Should the integrity of the system be compromised, the switch can issue an alarm to alert personnel that the system needs attention.

Thesensing element24a is pressure sensitive and is activated to transmit a signal when it detects a pressure being applied to the housing. Preferably, the pressure needed to activate the sensing element is fairly low, for example, the switch can have an activation pressure in the range of 3-5 psi. The housing, as seen inFIG. 3A is semi-circular in cross-section. As will be explained more fully below, theswitch24 extends into thedoor gap20, and can even extend so far as to contact the bottom of thedoor header18, so long as such contact does not close theswitch24. Although thesensing element24a is shown to be an electrode, the sensing element can be a pair of elongate contacts which are spaced apart by compressible insulating members. In this example, when the elongate housing is compressed at any point along the housing, the contacts will be pushed into electrical contact with each other at the point of compression, thereby closing the switch.

Thecircuit22 additionally includes a source ofpower26 and analarm28. The alarm system can be hard-wired into the electrical system of a building, and hence, thepower source26 would be the power source for the building. Alternatively, the power source could be a battery or the alarm system could include a plug, and the door alarm would then be plugged into an outlet proximate the door. Should a patient place a sheet over the top of the door and then close the door (in an attempt to use the sheet to hang him or herself), the thickness of the sheet in thegap20 will exert pressure on theswitch24 when the door is closed, thereby closing the switch. Closing of theswitch24 will, in turn, cause thealarm28 to be activated, thereby notifying hospital personnel of a suicide attempt.

Thealarm28 can take several forms. It can be an audible and/or visual alarm. The alarm can be mounted by the patient's door (on the outside of the patient's room) so that the alarm can be easily seen by hospital personnel when it is activated. Alternatively, thealarm28 can be at a central location (such as a nurse's station) so that hospital staff manning the nurse's station will be notified at the nurse's station of the suicide attempt. In this case, the alarm at the nurse's station would include an indication of the room from which the alarm originates. The alarm (whether at the nurse's station or on the wall outside the patient's room) can be hard wired as shown inFIG. 3A or wireless as shown inFIG. 3B. If wireless, then the alarm system would include a transmitter in conjunction with the switch which is activated when the switch is closed. Thealarm28 would then include a receiver. Thealarm28 would then be activated by the receiver upon detection of a signal from the transmitter. Additionally, the alarm system, if wireless, can send a signal to staff beepers, personally informing staff of a suicide attempt. Again, a beeper notification would include an indication of the room from which the alarm originated.

A first illustrative manner of mounting theswitch24 to a door is shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B. In each of these figures, thedoor10 includes achannel30 in thetop surface10a of the door. Thedoor10 ofFIG. 3A is a steel door, and thechannel30 is formed in thetop surface10a during manufacturing of the door. Thedoor10 ofFIG. 3B, on the other hand, is a wooden door. In this door, thechannel30 can be original (i.e., placed in the door top surface during manufacturing of the door), or it can be routed into the doortop surface10a during installation of thealarm system22. Thechannel30 extends substantially the full length of thedoor10.

Aswitch bracket32 is secured in thechannel30 to hold theswitch24 in place. Thebracket32 comprises abase32a and a pair ofside members32b. Thebracket32 extends substantially the length of thechannel30, and hence, substantially the length of thedoor10. Thebracket base32a has a width approximately equal to the width of theswitch24, and thebracket side members32b are shaped to hold the switch in the bracket. To this end, theside members32b can be shaped correspondingly to the switch and theswitch24 can be pressed or slid into the bracket. Thebracket32 can be provided with screw holes34 in itsbase32a through which screws, bolts, or other fasteners can extend to secure thebracket32 in thedoor channel30. Thebracket32 can also be secured in the channel by other means. For example, adhesives can be used to secure the bracket. The adhesive could be a liquid adhesive, such as a glue or epoxy; or the adhesive can, for example, be a pressure or heat activated adhesive which is supplied in a strip or sheet format, and is then applied either to the bottom of the bracket or to the channel, and is ultimately positioned between the bottom of the channel.

Theswitch24 is received in thebracket32. As seen inFIGS. 4A and 4B, the top of theswitch24 is above the top10a of thedoor10. If thechannel30 is too deep,spacers35 can be provided along the channel bottom to raise the switch. However, theswitch24 should not be so high, such that it will be activated when the door is closed under normal use conditions. Spacers can also be positioned between thebracket side members32b and the channel wall if the channel is wider than the bracket.

FIG. 5 shows an alternate mounting method of theswitch24. This alternate method can be used, for example, when thegap20 between the door top10a and thedoor header18 is too small to accommodate theswitch24, and the door does not include achannel30 or thechannel30 cannot be formed in the door top surface. In this instance, adoor beam36 is mounted to thedoor10, and aheader beam38 is mounted to thedoor header18 or to thewall14 above thedoor opening12. Thebeams36 and38 can be mounted to thedoor10 andheader18, respectively, in any conventional manner. Thedoor beam36 is shown to be mounted by means of a bolt/bolt sleeve set40 and theheader beam38 is shown to be mounted to theheader18 by means of an adhesive. Theswitch bracket32 is mounted to the top of thedoor beam36. Thedoor beam36 has a width such that thebracket fastener openings34 will be over the door beam so that the bracket can be fixed to the top of thedoor beam36. Theheader beam38 is mounted to the header at a position and is sized (i.e., has a front-to-back depth) such that there will be aslight gap20a between the top of theswitch24 and the bottom of theheader beam38 when the door is closed. Thisgap20a replaces thegap20 in operation of the alarm system. Thegap20a is sized, such that a bunched-up sheet or the like, when placed over the door, will press down on theswitch24 to activate the alarm when the door is closed.

As noted above, theribbon switch24 extends substantially the full length of the door. Further, thesensing element24a of theswitch24 also extends substantially the full length of the door. Thus, the switch is not be position sensitive. That is, the switch will be activated no matter where a patient should place a sheet relative to the door length.

An illustrative example of the wiring of the alarm system is shown further inFIGS. 6-9. InFIG. 6, theswitch lead24c can be seen exiting theswitch housing24b through a bottom or side of the housing spaced inwardly from the end of the housing. Theswitch lead24 is positioned near the hinge side of the door. Inasmuch as theribbon switch24 extends substantially the full length of the door, having the lead24c exit the housing inwardly slightly from the end of the housing will reduce the possibility of the lead from getting squeezed between thedoor edge10b and the door jamb16 when the door is closed.

As seen inFIGS. 7 and 8, thehinge17 is preferably a continuous hinge, such as a piano hinge, which extends substantially the full height of the door. Thehinge17 includes adoor plate17a andjamb plate17b which have knuckles, as is known, through which a pin extends to connect the door and jamb flaps. As seen inFIG. 7, theswitch lead24c passes through anopening17c near the top of thehinge17. The wiring then extends down along one of thehinge plates17a. The wire extends substantially the full height of the door hinge (and hence, substantially the full height of the door opening).

InFIG. 8, thealarm lead24c passes between the front and back surfaces10c of the door and exit the door along thedoor edge10b. Thealarm lead24c then passes down the inside of thehinge17 and exits thehinge17 at the bottom thereof, as seen inFIG. 6.

Whether thealarm lead24c extends down the outside or inside of thehinge17, the wire is directed through an opening42 (FIG. 6) either in thewall14 or in thehinge plate17b. Thewire24c will then pass through the wall to be connected to thealarm28. So that the wiring will not be accessible (or visible) acover44 is applied over thehinge17. Thecover44, as seen inFIG. 6 includes anelongate channel member44a which covers hinge knuckles andside flaps44b,c which extend from opposite sides of the channel member to cover thehinge plates17a and17b. The hinge cover side flaps44b,c are secured to the door and the door jamb, respectively. The cover flaps44b and44c can be secured in place using any conventional means. For example fasteners or adhesive can be used to secure thecover44 in place. The cover encloses the wire along the full height of the door. The wall/jamb hole42, through which the wire passes to be electrically connected to the alarm, is positioned so as to be covered by thehinge cover44. Hence, substantially no portion of the wire will be exposed.

FIGS. 6-9 show the door with the switch mounted in accordance withFIG. 4a or4b. It will be appreciated that in a surface mounting of theswitch24, as shown inFIG. 5, that thealarm lead24 will be handled in much the same manner so that the wire will not be visible or accessible to a patient.

I have described an alarm system which will notify hospital staff in the event a patient drapes a sheet or the like over the top of a door and closes the door to hold the sheet in place as a warning that the patient might be attempting to commit suicide. I have also shown two methods of handling the wires for a hard wired system. It will be appreciated that the alarm wires can be handled or treated in other ways as well. However, what is important is that the wires be well hidden and protected so that a patient cannot get access to the alarm system wires.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. For example, although the switch is described to be a normally open switch, the switch could be a normally closed switch. In this instance, when the circuit is opened, the alarm is activated. Thehinge17 could be a hinge provided with a wire tube, and the alarm lead could then be passed through the wire tube. This might eliminate that need for the hinge cover. Although thebracket32 is disclosed to be an elongate bracket which extends substantially the full length of the door, and hence substantially the full length of theswitch24, the bracket could be comprised of discrete portions which secure the switch to the door at discrete locations along the length of the switch. Theswitch lead wire24c need not extend the full height of the door. Rather, the switch could be passed into the wall at any convenient point along the height of the door. Thus, where the alarm is mounted outside the patient room, the wire could pass through the wall at a point generally aligned with the height of the alarm. These examples are merely illustrative.

Claims (37)

1. A door alarm system comprising:

a door frame having opposed side jambs and a header extending between said jambs, said door frame defining an opening;

a door mounted in said door frame by a hinge assembly to be movable between an open position and a closed position; said door having a top, bottom and sides; said door top and said header defining a gap when said door is closed;

a pressure sensitive switch mounted to the door proximate the door top; the switch extending substantially the full length of the door between the sides of said door; said switch having a height such that said switch extends into said gap when said door is closed; and

an alarm;

said switch being in communication with said alarm; whereby, when said switch detects pressure anywhere along its length, said switch will transmit a signal to activate said alarm.

2. The door alarm system ofclaim 1 further including a bracket mounted to said door; said bracket mounting said switch to said door.

3. The door alarm system ofclaim 2 wherein said bracket has a base and opposed side members extending upwardly from said base; said side members being shaped to receive said switch and hold said switch in said bracket.

4. The door alarm system ofclaim 2 wherein said bracket is an elongate bracket and extends substantially the full length of said door.

5. The door alarm system ofclaim 1 wherein said door includes a channel in said door top; said switch being received in said channel; the switch extending out a top of said channel.

6. The door alarm system ofclaim 5 comprising a spacer in said channel below said switch.

7. The door alarm system ofclaim 1 including a door beam mounted to said door and a head beam mounted to said header; said door beam having a length substantially the width length of said door; and said header beam having a length substantially equal to the length of said door frame header; said header beam being spaced above said door beam; said gap being defined by said door beam and header beam; said switch being mounted to said door beam to extend into said gap.

8. The door alarm system ofclaim 1 wherein said alarm is a visual and/or an audible alarm.

9. The door alarm system ofclaim 1 wherein said alarm is positioned on an outside of a wall in which said door is mounted.

10. The door alarm system ofclaim 1 wherein said alarm is positioned in a central location of a facility.

11. The door alarm system ofclaim 1 wherein said switch includes a lead wire to electrically connecting said switch and said alarm; said lead wire extending along at least a portion of the height of the door proximate the hinge; said wire passing into said wall to be electrically connected to said alarm.

12. The door alarm system ofclaim 11 wherein said hinge is a piano hinge and extends downwardly from near the top of said door.

13. The door alarm system ofclaim 12 wherein said piano hinge extends substantially the a full length of said door from the top of the door to the bottom of the door.

14. The door alarm system ofclaim 12 wherein said switch lead wire extends down one of an inside surface and an outside surface of said piano hinge.

15. The door alarm system ofclaim 12 further including a hinge cover applied over said hinge; said hinge cover being sized and shaped to cover any exposed portion of said switch lead wire.

16. A method for notifying hospital personnel of a suicide attempt by a patient, said method comprising:

providing a door alarm system for a door to or in a patient's room;

said door alarm system comprising an elongate pressure sensitive switch proximate the top of a door, said switch extending into a gap above said door; said switch being in communication with said door alarm system to activate an alarm when said door is closed with said item hanging over the top of the door.

17. A door alarm system comprising:

a door frame having opposed side jambs and a header extending between said jambs, said door frame defining an opening;

a door mounted to said door frame and movable between an open position and a closed position; said door having a top, bottom and sides;

a sensing element disposed proximate to the top of or on the top of the door, said sensing element extending substantially a full width of the door; and

an alarm coupled to the sensing element to receive a signal from the sensing element;

wherein the alarm is configured to be active when said door is in the closed position and the sensing element detects an item hanging over the top of said door.

18. The door alarm system of claim 17, wherein the sensing element is mounted on the door.

19. The door alarm system of claim 17, further comprising a switch including said sensing element.

20. The door alarm system of claim 19, wherein the switch is a pressure sensitive switch.

21. The door alarm system of claim 20, wherein the switch is operable to be activated by a pressure of between 3 and 5 pounds per square inch.

22. The door alarm system of claim 19, wherein the switch is disposed to extend into a gap defined between the door and the door frame when the door is disposed in the closed position.

23. The door alarm system of claim 19, wherein the switch is wired to the alarm.

24. The door alarm system of claim 19, wherein the alarm is configured to be active when the switch is open.

25. The door alarm system of claim 19, wherein the alarm is configured to be active when the switch is closed.

26. The door alarm system of claim 17, further comprising a first lead wire extending from one end of the sensing element and a second lead wire extending from an opposite end of the sensing element.

27. The door alarm system of claim 17, wherein the alarm is configured to indicate a room from which an alarm originates.

28. The door alarm system of claim 17, wherein the alarm includes an audible alarm.

29. A method for notifying personnel, via a door alarm system, of a suicide attempt by a patient, the door alarm system including a sensing element disposed proximate to the top of or on top of a door and extending substantially a full width of the door and an alarm coupled to the sensing device, said method comprising:

detecting a pressure applied to the sensing element by an item hanging over the top of the door; and

activating the alarm of the door alarm system to notify personnel of a suicide attempt.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein detecting pressure applied to the sensing element includes detecting pressure generated by the item hanging over the door when the door is disposed in a closed position.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said sensing device is in communication with said alarm to transmit a signal to activate said alarm.

32. A door alarm system for use with a door flame having opposed side jambs and a header extending between said jambs and a door mounted to said door flame and movable between an open position and a closed position, the door alarm system comprising:

a switch adapted to mount proximate to a top of a door or on the top of the door and having a length substantially equal to a width of the door; and

an alarm configured to couple to the switch and to activate when the switch detects an item hanging over the top of the door when the door is closed.

33. The door alarm system of claim 32, further comprising an alarm lead wire connectable between the switch and the alarm.

34. The door alarm system of claim 32, wherein the door alarm system is configured to activate the alarm when the switch is closed.

35. The door alarm system of claim 17, wherein the full width of the door extends between lateral sides of the door.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the full width of the door extends between lateral sides of the door.

37. The door alarm system of claim 32, wherein the width of the door extends between lateral sides of the door.

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