# US 9,454,890 B2 · Lockdown apparatus for initiation of lockdown procedures at a facility during an emergency

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- Number: US 9,454,890 B2
- Document ID: US9454890B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/015,625
- Filed: 2016-02-04
- Published: 2016-06-09
- Granted: 2016-09-27
- Earliest claimed: 2014-05-23
- Assignees: Emergency Alert Solutions Group, LLC
- Applicants: Emergency Alert Solutions Group, LLC
- Inventors: Brian M. Lyman; Kevin G. Cherven
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9454890B2

## CPC

- G08B 17/02: Mechanical actuation of the alarm, e.g. by the breaking of a wire
- G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations}
- G07C 9/00: Individual registration on entry or exit
- G07C 9/00182: {operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks}
- G08B 3/10: using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
- G08B 5/38: using flashing light
- G08B 7/06: using electric transmission {, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources}
- G08B 19/005: {combined burglary and fire alarm systems}
- G08B 25/001: {Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation}
- G08B 25/008: {Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system}
- G08B 25/10: using wireless transmission systems {(G08B25/009 takes precedence)}
- G08B 25/12: Manually actuated calamity alarm transmitting arrangements {emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm, activators, e.g. details of alarm push buttons mounted on an infrastructure}
- G09B 5/04: with audible presentation of the material to be studied (sound recording or reproducing G11B)
- H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
- H04M 1/0202: {Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03)}
- H04W 4/90: Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
- G07C 2009/00269: {opening and locking of all locks at the same time}
- H04W 4/14: Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

Some embodiments are directed to a lockdown apparatus for facilitating initiation of lockdown procedures at a facility. The lockdown apparatus can include a manually operated actuator disposed at the facility and configured to transmit a lockdown initiation signal upon being manually actuated. The actuator can be configured to be recognizably distinguishable from a fire alarm actuator. The lockdown apparatus can also include a lockdown communicator configured to produce a lockdown communication for communicating initiation of lockdown procedures to the facility occupants and individuals not disposed proximate the facility upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the lockdown communication being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication. The lockdown communicator can include an annunciator that communicates an audible annunciation to facility occupants upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, and that ceases to communicate the audible annunciation subsequent to a predetermined number of alarm cycles.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lockdown apparatus for facilitating initiation of lockdown procedures at a facility that is configured for occupation by facility occupants and that includes a fire alarm, the fire alarm including a fire alarm actuator and a fire alarm communicator configured to produce a fire alarm communication for communicating actuation of the fire alarm actuator, the lockdown apparatus comprising:
a manually operated lockdown actuator disposed at the facility and configured to transmit a lockdown initiation signal upon being manually actuated, the manually operated actuator being configured to be recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm actuator, the actuator including:
a mounting base configured for mounting to a static surface of the facility, and
a depressible button disposed at the mounting base; and
a lockdown communicator configured to produce a lockdown communication for communicating initiation of lockdown procedures to the facility occupants and individuals not disposed proximate the facility upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the lockdown communication being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication, the lockdown communicator including:
an annunciator that communicates an audible annunciation to facility occupants upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the audible annunciation being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication and continuing for a predetermined number of alarm cycles subsequent to transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the annunciator automatically ceasing to communicate the audible annunciation subsequent to the predetermined number of alarm cycles, and
a visual indicator that communicates a visual indication to facility occupants upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the visual indication being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication, the visual indicator continuing to communicate the visual indication to facility occupants subsequent to the predetermined number of alarm cycles, the visual indicator ceasing communication of the visual indication upon receipt of a manually initiated override signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting base and the button of the manually operated lockdown actuator each define a front exterior surface that is circular, the diameter of the circle of the button being smaller than the diameter of the circle of the mounting base.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circular front exterior surfaces of the mounting base and button are coaxial, and one of the front exterior surfaces is labelled with indicia including “LOCKDOWN”.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 1, wherein the depressible button of the actuator defines a front exterior surface, the actuator transmitting the lockdown initiation signal upon application of a force between approximately 4.5 pounds and approximately 5.5 pounds to the button in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front exterior surface of the button.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a cover that covers at least a front exterior surface of the button, the cover being at least one of transparent and semi-transparent such that the button is viewable from an exterior of the actuator while the cover covers the button.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cover is formed of a resilient material and rotatably mounted to at least one of the mounting base and the button, the cover being rotatable between a covered position that covers at least the front exterior surface of the button, and an exposed position that exposes at least the front exterior surface of the button to enable manual application of pressure thereto.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cover defines a front exterior surface and is formed of a material that undergoes a change in shape upon application of a force between approximately 4.5 pounds and approximately 5.5 pounds to the cover in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front exterior surface of the of the cover, the change in shape exposing the front exterior surface of the button to manual application of pressure thereto.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cover is configured such that: 1) a portion of the cover exposed to the force deforms in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of application of the force, or 2) a portion of the cover exposed to the force breaks to form an aperture in the cover to expose the front exterior surface of the button to an exterior of the actuator.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 1, wherein the annunciator includes a casing that is configured for mounting to a static surface of the facility, and an audible generator disposed within the casing that generates the audible annunciation upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the casing defining a front wall with multiple openings extending therethrough, the front wall defining a circular exterior surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 9, wherein the audible generator generates at least a portion of the audible annunciation in a range between approximately 90 to 120 decibels.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The lockdown apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the audible annunciation of each alarm cycle includes an initial distinctive sound, followed by the word “lockdown”.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined number of alarm cycles includes three alarm cycles.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator includes a casing that is configured for mounting to a static surface of the facility, a light generator disposed at the casing that generates light upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, and a transparent cover attached to at least one of the casing and the light generator that covers at least a part of the light generator.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 13, wherein the casing of the visual indicator defines a front wall having a circular exterior surface that is labelled with indicia including “LOCKDOWN,” and the light generator generates at least one of blue light and green light.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 14, wherein the light generator is a strobe that generates light at an intensity of between approximately 75 candelas and approximately 200 candelas, and at a flash pattern of at least approximately 60 flashes per minute.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 1, further including a controller that is separate from the actuator and the lockdown communicator, the actuator transmitting the lockdown initiation signal to the controller upon being manually actuated, and the controller, upon receipt of the lockdown initiation signal, generating and transmitting an activation instruction signal to the lockdown communicator instructing the lockdown communicator to produce the lockdown communication for communicating initiation of lockdown procedures.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 1, further including an automatic lockdown actuator that is configured to detect a firearm discharge at the facility, and to transmit the lockdown initiation signal upon detecting the firearm discharge.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 17, wherein the automatic lockdown actuator includes a sensor that is configured to detect the firearm discharge based on at least one of acoustics, vibrations, and presence of predetermined gases.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 1, wherein the annunciator is configured to communicate to facility occupants information relevant to the lockdown procedures subsequent to the annunciator ceasing to communicate the audible annunciation after the predetermined number of alarm cycles.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The lockdown apparatus of claim 19, wherein the information relevant to the lockdown procedures includes anticipated time remaining until authorities tasked with addressing circumstances relevant to the initiation of lockdown procedures arrive at the facility.