This present invention relates to barriers, and more particularly, to a universal tamper-resistant shelter-in-place system including a locking device, with total control by users, and an advanced responder notification system.
Currently analysis from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and from the National Threat Assessment Center at the Department of Homeland Security indicate a continuous rise in active shooter and workplace violence events. This fact mandates the need for personnel to be able to defend/secure in a particular room at a moment's notice has. While there are an abundant number of current ways to “close”, “lock” and/or “lock” a door, it is the “how” that is of prime concern.
The industry offerings include mechanical and electrical devices that can be operated individually or remotely and include:
Traditional approach devices:
The following scenario depicts the use of one proposed traditional locking device to mitigate the threat of perpetrators on the premises but demonstrates several areas of failure with today's current solutions.
In any town U.S.A. there is a middle-school gymnasium with occupancy load of 180 and having 3 main double door exits to the main corridor and 2 single door exits to a courtyard. All doors are outswing. It is halftime at a girls basketball game and the gymnasium is near capacity with students, teachers, friends and family members.
The middle-school's protocols for credential general access to students and faculty is via key-fob or card access. Every lock has an additional key override. Key access is limited to responders and senior-trained leadership. During a lockdown event, an unrestricted panic button in the inside of the room/area is depressed. This in turn sends an alarm to the proprietary software which will then inhibit the lock's card access. As a general rule, this system once triggered will inhibit card access to all other associated doors, thereby locking out all other individuals. However, such an action violates the ANSI Knowing Act because it takes away the occupants' ability to decide whether to Run, Hide or Fight.
The general premise of this proposed system is to limit the number of individuals that are authorized entry during an alarm event. This system does not physically lock the door to the floor or frame. The system is predicated on implemented credentialed access, where each individual entering the facility has an issued swipe-card that he/she keeps on their personage throughout the day. It will only work on doors that lock from one or both sides of the door each time it is closed. However, it cannot work on a passage or general entry/exit doors since it has no additional locking/securing provisions.
In view of this, the following scenario plays out:
Workplace violence, active shooter, student pranksters and standalone perpetrator acts of aggression are on a rise. This affects all facility types ranging from schools, hospitals, airports, shopping malls, theaters, nightclubs, houses of worship or other venues. The individuals who commit these atrocities can be anyone from a troubled student, disgruntled employee, family member with a vengeance or other individual looking for “popularity” and/or radical “fame”. Workers and visitors to these venues require the ability to mitigate the threat by denying access to specific locations within the venue.
The Run, Hide, Fight strategy has been standardized and is implemented in many of the facilities mentioned. Tactical training exercises include building occupants utilizing a variety of approaches for impromptu shelter-in-place drills. The standard operation procedure (SOP) for these drills is to utilize furniture or “anything-on-hand” to gain an advantage and allow any given door to remain closed in an effort to deter the assailant.
There is an abundance of scenarios that would cause an occupant to “take command” of a door to ensure their safety. These include hiding in a patient room, office or classroom that is not normally locked during the day. It can also include an improvised emergency area of refuge like a gymnasium or other larger area, such as conference room.
The key fundamental goal is to allow the occupant total control of their life-saving decision to barricade when running is not an option. The second goal is to let the appropriate Responders and senior staff know of their decision that has taken place so that others can be alerted and Emergency Responders notified.
While there are a variety of barricade systems on the market, these systems fall into two general categories:
1. Stand-alone locking devices.
2. Remote control applications and/or devices
Another proposed solution are multi-point locking systems which comprise installing a locking system to the door body for bolting the door into the frame and locking it at a plurality of locations. However, the problem with such multi-point locking systems is that if any of the deadbolt members fails to align with its respective lock bore, none of them can extend into their respective lock bores and the end result is that the door cannot be secured. Furthermore, such bolts only extend a fixed amount so if the door frame is misaligned, which generally occurs as infrastructure ages, there will only be partial engagement of the deadbolt but, again, the door cannot be secured.
See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,435,147 (Giandomenico, Jr., et al.) and 11,649,661 (Fischer).
Thus, there remains a need for an apparatus and method that can address all of the foregoing. The present invention solves these problems.
All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
A shelter-in-place door locking apparatus that can be releasably coupled to a door of a room on a floor at a moment's notice by persons sheltering in place and which accommodates for varying door undercuts (e.g., 0.25 inches-1.5 inches, etc.) and wherein the apparatus is in total control by those persons sheltering in place in the room is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a locking pin carrier comprising a plurality (e.g., four) of locking pins whose lower ends are configured to be positioned in a floor strike located in the floor, wherein the locking pin carrier is slideable on support rods fixed between an upper flange and a lower flange both of which are fixedly secured to a body plate that is configured for releasable coupling to the door, wherein the locking pin carrier comprises a projection, and wherein the locking pin carrier is biased in an unlocked position when the locking pin carrier is in contact with the upper flange; a releaseable brake is positioned between the upper flange and the lower flange, wherein the releasable brake comprises a plurality of teeth over which the projection slides when the locking pin carrier slides on the support rods away from the upper flange against the bias and towards the lower flange, wherein the teeth form a plurality of locked positions to accommodate the varying door undercuts, wherein the projection releasably locks into one of the plurality of teeth when the locking pin carrier stops sliding; the locking pin carrier comprises an upper member and a lower member, each of the locking pins is slideable through the lower member and the lower flange and wherein an upper end of each locking pin is biased against the lower member by a spring positioned between the upper member and the upper end of the locking pin, wherein the upper end of each locking pin is prevented from passing through the lower member; and a release member movably coupled to the locking pin carrier that can be activated by the persons to release the locking pin carrier from the one of the plurality of locking positions to automatically return the locking pin carrier to the unlocked position.
A system for providing at a moment's notice a universal tamper-evident, shelter-in-place door locking device at a door to a room on a floor for at least one user in the room and wherein the door locking device accommodates for varying door undercuts while providing the at least one user with total control of the device while automatically providing precise location notification to authorities is disclosed. The system comprises: a door assembly that comprises a first portion configured to mount to an inside surface of the door and a second portion configured to be positioned on an outside surface of the door, wherein the second portion includes a key cylinder comprising a lock cam; a floor strike, positioned within the floor underneath the door when the door is in a closed position; wherein the door locking device is portable to be moved from a first location within the room to the first portion and configured for coupling to the first portion, and wherein the door locking device comprises: a locking pin carrier comprising a plurality of locking pins whose lower ends are configured to be positioned in the floor strike, wherein the locking pin carrier is slideable on support rods fixed between an upper flange and a lower flange both of which are fixedly secured to a body plate that is configured for releasable coupling to the door, wherein the locking pin carrier comprises a projection, the locking pin carrier being biased in an unlocked position when the locking pin carrier is in contact with the upper flange; a releaseable brake positioned between the upper flange and the lower flange, wherein the releasable brake comprises a plurality of teeth over which the projection slides when the locking pin carrier slides on the support rods away from the upper flange against the bias and towards the lower flange, wherein the teeth form a plurality of locked positions to accommodate the varying door undercuts (e.g., 0.25 inches-1.5 inches, etc.), and wherein the projection releasably locks into one of the plurality of teeth when the locking pin carrier stops sliding; the locking pin carrier comprising an upper member and a lower member, each of the locking pins slideable through the lower member and the lower flange and wherein an upper end of each locking pin is biased against the lower member by a spring positioned between the upper member and the upper end of the locking pin, wherein the upper end of each locking pin is prevented from passing through the lower member; and a release member movably coupled to the locking pin carrier that can be activated by the persons to release the locking pin carrier from the one of the plurality of locked positions to automatically return the locking pin carrier to the unlocked position; and a storage unit at the first location, having a transmitter, that is secured in the room, wherein the storage unit contains the door locking device initially therein, wherein the transmitter is activated to alert authorities when the storage unit is opened to remove the locking device from the storage unit and automatically provides authorities with location data of the transmitter.
A method for providing at least one user in a room with the ability to shelter-in-place by installing on a door of the room on a floor, at a moment's notice, a portable door locking apparatus that accommodates for varying door undercuts (e.g., 0.25 inches-1.5 inches, etc.) and wherein the at least one user has total control of said door locking apparatus is disclosed. The method comprises: mounting a door assembly to the door that comprises a first portion mounted to an inside surface of the door and a second portion positioned on an outside surface of the door and wherein the second portion includes a key cylinder comprising a lock cam; forming a floor strike in the floor adjacent the inside surface of the door for receiving a free end of at least one of a plurality of locking pins from a portable door locking apparatus therein; closing the door;
A method for providing at a moment's notice a universal tamper-evident, shelter-in-place portable door locking device at a door to a room on a floor for at least one user in the room and wherein the door locking device accommodates for varying door undercuts while providing the at least one user with total control of the device while automatically providing precise location notification to authorities is disclosed. The method comprises: releasably stowing the portable door locking device within a storage unit secured in the room, wherein the storage unit comprises a transmitter associated with a releasable cover of the storage unit such that when the cover is opened or removed the transmitter generates an alert signal to authorities, and wherein the portable door locking device comprises: a locking pin carrier comprising a plurality of locking pins whose lower ends are configured to be positioned in a floor strike formed in the floor, wherein the locking pin carrier is slideable on support rods fixed between an upper flange and a lower flange both of which are fixedly secured to a body plate that is configured for releasable coupling to the door, wherein the locking pin carrier comprising a projection, and wherein the locking pin carrier is biased in an unlocked position when the locking pin carrier is in contact with the upper flange; a releaseable brake positioned between the upper flange and the lower flange, wherein the releasable brake comprises a plurality of teeth over which the projection slides when the locking pin carrier slides on the support rods away from the upper flange against the bias and towards the lower flange, wherein the teeth form a plurality of locked positions to accommodate the varying door undercuts, and wherein the projection releasably locks into one of the plurality of teeth when the locking pin carrier stops sliding; the locking pin carrier comprising an upper member and a lower member, each of the locking pins being slideable through the lower member and the lower flange and wherein an upper end of each locking pin is biased against the lower member by a spring positioned between the upper member and the upper end of the locking pin, wherein the upper end of each locking pin prevented from passing through the lower member; and a release member movably coupled to the locking pin carrier that can be activated by the at least one user to release the locking pin carrier from the one of the plurality of locked positions to automatically return the locking pin carrier to the unlocked position; and mounting a door assembly to the door that comprises a first portion mounted to an inside surface of the door and a second portion positioned on an outside surface of the door and wherein the second portion includes a key cylinder comprising a lock cam; forming the floor strike in the floor adjacent the inside surface of the door for receiving a free end of at least one of said plurality of locking pins from the portable door locking device therein; closing the door by the at least one user; opening up or removing the cover of the storage unit, by the at least one user, causing the transmitter to immediately emit the alert signal to authorities, and removing the portable door locking device from the storage unit by the at least one user; releasably coupling the portable door locking device to the first portion by the at least one user; and applying a downward force on the locking pin carrier to displace the carrier downward to releasably lock the locking pin carrier with the releasable brake while positioning lower ends of the plurality of locking pins within the floor strike to prevent the door from being opened.
Facilitator Technologies™ has invented the Occupant Preserver™, a system and method for sheltering-in-place and including a universal locking device, referred to as a “door shelter lock (DSL)” to secure virtually any door in place. This device is stored in a wall or door mounted tamper evident storage unit. The DSL is capable of withstanding several thousand pounds of impact force in a reliable and reusable fashion. Once the DSL is removed, the system is capable of sending a remote signal to alert personnel of its deployment. Depending on the level of infrastructure within the facility, the system can be integrated into various existing building systems including fire and card-access. As an option the system could work on its own independent Bluetooth, WiFi or other mesh network. In the event it is not feasible to have an overall system and/or the installation site/type is of a limited scale, the system has merit as a complete stand-alone with local and remote hard-wired audio/visual indicators.
The nature of this DSL is to be universal with flexible applications on doors that open in/out, pivot, rotate or slide. The DSL/approach does not require any type of interaction with preinstalled mechanical or electric locking hardware. The device can be used on general push/pull doors. The device can be used on fire compartmentation or privacy doors with locking hardware only. The device can be used to augment and provide additional event security on doors with one or more mechanical and/or electrical locking components.
The fundamental design criteria are to allow a single occupant to make those critical split second decisions to Run, Hide, Fight when confronted with an active assailant. The occupant must be able to secure his/her perimeter in an immediate and reliable fashion. One of the key tenets of the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) Codes is that an individual must be able to determine whether it's safer to shelter-in-place or evacuate. That said, if responders can't get in, the occupant can't get out. Accordingly, not only must the deployment of the DSL be known upon responder arrival to the scene, there must be provisions for responder override of the DSL device. The DSL device design is predicated upon its deployment during a violent event. Accordingly, the occupant must have the ultimate and final ability to remain sheltered.
The device is intended to be a component of a facility's Active-Shooter & Workplace Violence policy and must be incorporated into ongoing and continual staff training. Training models to be developed in concert with government agencies and industry specific organizations. A national network of trained installers, integrators and distributors shall ensure product availability and reliable consistent application.
Moreover, the Occupant Preserver™ was designed based on a request of the Chair of Emergency Management at Jacobi Medical Center as a result of a shooting event at the facility. Coming off that event, the Emergency Management Chair was looking for a product that would help enhance how staff felt both emotionally and physically in their work environment and quell safety fears. As such, the creation of the Occupant Preserver™ was purposely designed to meet those needs and has merit for any occupancy type.
The DSL of the Occupant Preserver™ system and method is not a secondary locking device and poses no impedance to daily ingress/egress. Rather, the present invention is an emergency event management system whereby the DSL is deployed at the sole discretion of the occupant(s).
Highlights of the Occupant Preserver™ System and Method
As mentioned previously, potential victims that shelter in place during an active shooter event are limited to barricading with chairs, furniture or other room contents. That said, if the door were to be “secured” in this manner there is no guarantee it would withstand the assailant's efforts to gain entry. Additionally, the occupant(s) may become entrapped. And responders may not be aware of potential sheltering occupants. In contrast, the Occupant Preserver™ system and method includes a DSL that provides the assurance to withstand forces associated with historical active shooter events and provides remote situational awareness and allows for authorized ready access.
Facility Requirements:
Active-shooter defend-in-place scenarios include relevant assumptions regarding the potential threat and describe the meaning of the assailant event in terms that can be understood by the facility owner.
Facility management shall provide for initial and annual inspection of each room designated for sheltering including the door, the DSL and the remote alarm. This includes maintaining the door in accordance with relevant codes and visual/physical inspection of the DSL. Remote alarms shall be triggered to validate system integrity.
Staff shall be trained in accordance with the Run-Hide-Fight model as well as the DSL itself.
The training shall be clear and understandable to all received. Part of the training shall include initial and periodic drills.
Since the required training shall both be provided as well as clearly displayed in the storage unit of the DSL, the occupant shall be deemed as fully informed and therefore no “special knowledge” required to engage or disengage the device. The DSL is not capable of being activated/engaged either remotely of from the outside so the device can never be locked without occupant knowledge. Designated staff and responders shall/will have “ready access” via a universal key.
Establishing “the need” for protection is determined by the occupant with his/her own initiation of the deployment and dynamic installation of the DSL.
Up until the occupants knowingly safeguard themselves, there is no impedance to egress due to the fact there is simply no locking device installed on the door.
Thus, in view of all of the foregoing, the DSL of the Occupant Preserver™ system and method is not a daily lock. The DSL is not permanently-mounted to the door. It is initially-housed in an easy-to-reach storage unit, typically mounted on the wall. It can only be placed onto the door and secured thereat by a trained occupant. The Occupant Preserver™ system and method automatically alerts authorized staff/responders of its deployment. Once the occupant(s) has installed the DSL, no “special knowledge” is required to egress the space. And the Occupant Preserver™ system and method is responder ready-access.
Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail. Throughout this description, various components may be identified having specific values, these values are provided as exemplary embodiments and should not be limiting of various concepts of the present invention as many comparable sizes and/or values may be implemented.
It should be understood that the “universal” feature of the present invention is that it can be used at any type of “access point” (e.g., a door, an inswing door, sliding door, a gate, etc.) for a room (e.g., an enclosure, a fenced-in courtyard, etc.). As such, the term “door” and “room” as used throughout this Specification is meant to cover any of access point and enclosure, respectively.
It should also be understood that for high security environments (e.g., diplomat agencies) or private residences, the door shelter lock (DSL) could be mounted such that the locking pins move horizontally, rather than vertically. In those situations the “strike” member would be located in the door jamb, rather than the floor.
The present invention, which is also referred to as Occupant Preserver™ system and method 20, addresses all of the concerns of the current state of the art by including the following features:
Design Criteria of the Present Invention
The challenges to creating a true shelter in place environment are among the following:
The present invention is a universal tamper-resistant shelter-in-place system including a door shelter lock (DSL) designed to allow the occupant total control in the Run-Hide-Fight response plan.
The present invention is designed for rapid deployment from tamper-evident wall-mounted storage unit. Once the storage unit is opened, it signals a remote alarm, alerting fire and security staff. Once slid into place and activated, the DSL has locking pins that “engage” the floor by over 1 inch and be capable of withstanding up to approximately 19,000 pounds of pressure with multiple impacts.
The DSL of the present invention can be mounted to any sliding, swinging, folding, hinged/pivoted or revolving door. The standard mounting kit will accommodate door thicknesses of 1⅜″-2¼″, additional options will be available for virtually any door thickness.
The remote indicator feature serves as a silent or audible panic alarm ensuring effective response by the building's security and/or police staff. This is especially significant when the present invention is triggered by a prankster or perpetrator during a localized event. During larger scale fire or violent events, the alarm will serve as an indicator-map showing exactly which rooms/areas are being utilized for shelter.
If an unauthorized individual were to attempt deployment of the present invention at any time, security and/or police would be notified immediately. This is a significant benefit to the response time to random acts of violence/individuals being accosted.
The DSL of the present invention can be opened via a high-security override key from the corridor side. This key will be utilized exclusively by police/security and fire responders. General building staff will not have access to the key.
If an occupant chose to remain “sheltered”, the individual could continue depressing the activator portion of the DSL (to be discussed in detail later) and negate the override. In all instances, the occupant is intimately involved in the decision making of his/her own destiny.
There are no electronic or remote activation signals for the DSL.
There are no specialized keys or activation methodologies that the occupant would use with the DSL.
On a door-by-door, case-by-case basis, each individual can determine their own ability to Run, Hide, Fight.
Present Invention Usage
The present invention can be utilized for either of the following scenarios:
1. Event initiated as a means to shelter the general populace due to one or more assailants entering the building or an internal situation including patient, staff or other individual.
2. Event initiated as a remote panic alarm from the unscheduled and/or unauthorized use of the present invention
Scenario examples:
1. Entrapment of one or more building occupants
2. Shelter-in-place one or more building occupants:
In view of the foregoing, the present invention, and as mentioned previously, also referred to as “Occupant Preserver™ ”, is a system and method 20 for sheltering in place with advanced responder notification and ready access. As shown most clearly in
As also will be discussed in detail later, when an emergency situation arises in the building or facility where an immediate lockdown is required, a user will remove the DSL 22 from the storage unit 24. This removal of the DSL 22 triggers the transmitter 26 to emit an alert signal 26A to alert authorities that the DSL 22 has been removed, as well informing the authorities of the exact location of the storage unit 24 from where the DSL 22 was removed. The user will then couple the DSL 22 to the inside mounting plate 28A at the bottom of the door 10 and then activate the DSL 22 by stepping or using his/her hands with a downward force (e.g., 5 lbs. of force) to depress an activator 22A (e.g., a foot pedal, or any other type of grip, handle, surface, etc.) on the DSL 22. The depression of the activator 22A positions the lower ends of a plurality (e.g., four) of locking pins 22B down into the floor strike 30. The door 10 is now unable to be opened except by the user or authorities, as will also be discussed in detail later. In fact, in view of all of the foregoing, it should be understood that the thrust of the DSL 22 design it to provide the user with full control of the DSL 22 and the user can never be “entrapped” within the room should he/she want to exit. As such, the DSL 22 provides the user with the “ultimate control”.
Activation of the transmitter 26 can be through the opening of the storage unit 24 in order to remove the DSL 22. The preferred method of activating the transmitter 26 is by opening the storage unit 24. Alternatively, or in addition, the actual removal, or even just movement, of the DSL 22 can be detected and that action can activate the transmitter 26. The transmitter 26 can emit a signal 26A on any conventional fire, security, meshed, WiFi or other conventional building management system (BMS). Thus, it should be understood that the wireless communication methodology, or a wired communication methodology (including a telephone system, etc.) should not form any limitation on the present invention 20. A critical feature of the present invention 20 is that removal of the DSL 22, whether by detecting the opening of the storage unit 24, or the movement of the DSL 22 itself from the storage unit 24, (or both) will immediately alert authorities of the exact location of this DSL 22/storage unit 24.
Storage Unit 24
As shown most clearly in
The support member 24B also comprises a left track 40A, a right track 40B and a bottom catch 40C into which the DSL lock body or backplate 22F is releasably secured. Since an emergency situation is not the norm, the DSL 22 typically is stowed in the storage unit support member 24B (
The opening of the cover/lid 24 immediately causes the transmitter 26 to transmit the alert signal 26A. Alternatively, the removal of the DSL 22 from the storage unit 24 could also activate the transmitter to immediately transmit the alert signal 26A. It is within the broadest scope of the present invention 20, that either of those actions can immediately transmit the alert signal 26A. As such, the following discussion on the detection scheme for these actions does not form any limitation whatsoever on the invention 20; the critical feature is detecting the opening of the storage unit 24 (and/or removal of the DSL 22) which immediately provides authorities (including building security) with the exact location of the storage unit 24 opened.
The following discussion are just examples of various detection schemes for generating the alert signal 26A and is not a limitation to those discussed; it is within the broadest scope of the present invention 20 to include a wide variety of detection schemes for detecting the opening of the storage unit lid 24A (or lid 124A as discussed below) and automatically alerting building security personnel, authorities (e.g., fire department, police department, etc.). For example, coupled to the support member 24B is a magnetic contact 100B (e.g., a reed switch). The magnetic contact 100B can be hard-wired 26B directly to the building's building management system (BMS), fire system, security system, or to a wireless transmitter 26 (as such, the hard-wired 26B can be considered an alternative to the wireless transmitter 26, or vice versa). The item 100A in the cover/lid 24A may be a magnet. Alternatively, item 100B could be a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader (e.g., Vulcan RFID Iron USB reader, HID Contactless multiclass SE R40 & Prox card reader, etc.) and item 100A can be an RFID label (storing a wide variety of data, including DSL identification, room location, the open or closed status of the cover 24A, etc.), with the RFID reader 100A being hard-wired 26B directly to the building's building management system (BMS), fire system, security system, or to a wireless transmitter 26.
It should be understood that the transmitter 26 identified in
Whichever detection scheme is implemented, once the cover/lid 24A is slid upward (or the DSL 22 removed from the storage unit 24), the transmitter 26 (or RFID reader 100B) immediately activates to emit the alert signal 26A.
In an emergency situation, as shown in
It should be noted that the DSL 22 can be installed in the door assembly 28 and activated to lock the door closed in under 10 seconds.
As mentioned previously, the option of wire harness 26B may provide power and/or communication cables for the transmitter 26/reader 100B. It should be understood that it is within the broadest scope of the present invention 20 that the transmitter 26/reader 100B can be battery-powered so that there is no need to provide power from the building and that any data from the transmitter 26/reader 100B can be accomplished via wireless communication.
It is also within the broadest scope of the present invention that the term “transmitter” as used throughout this Specification is meant to cover any device or devices or networks that generate an alert signal 26A/126A either wired or wirelessly that provides precise location data of the storage unit 24/124 and is activated whenever the storage unit 24/124 is opened. Alternatively, the trigger event may be the removal of the DSL 22 from the storage unit 24/124. In either case, the term “transmitter” includes any configuration for immediately generating the signal 26A/126A which may also access a database or global computer networks (e.g., Internet) or GPS (global positioning system) for precise location data and/or storage unit identification or DSL 22 identification. The signal 26A/126A can be electrical or optical and wherein the data conveyed within is automatically provided to “authorities.” As used throughout this Specification, the term “authorities” covers any entity that can quickly render assistance to save and rescue (e.g., security officers on site, fire department, police department, FBI, etc.) the users of the DSL 22 as well as apprehend or neutralize an assailant or perpetrator. The term “authorities” also covers entities that can communicate (e.g., building management systems, central stations of security monitoring entities, etc.) with entities that can save and rescue the users of the DSL 22. Besides precise location data, the signal 26A/126A can convey other information, e.g., on/off states, open/close states, location, identification, etc. and as such can even be a switch that operates with an on and off state.
It should be further noted that system and method 20 of the present invention have been designed with correlated motions, as will be seen later with the installation/removal of the DSL 22 at the bottom portion of the door 10. In particular, upward movement of the storage unit lid 24A permits for the upward removal of the DSL 22 from the storage unit 24. This corresponds to the upward movement of the DSL 22 from the door assembly mounting plate 28A, corresponding to an “unlocked” or “open” condition of the door 10, as will be discussed in detail below. Conversely, downward movement of the DSL 22 into the door assembly 28 is in preparation for DSL 22 activation into a “locked” or “closed” door condition, just as a downward movement of the DSL 22 in the support member 24B of the storage unit 24 and then downward movement of the storage unit cover/lid 24A is to secure the DSL 22 within the storage unit 24. Similarly, and as will be discussed later, the upward movement of the locking pin carrier (also referred to as the “main block”) 22C is an “unlocked” condition of the DSL 22 whereas a downward movement of the locking pin carrier 22C comprises a plurality of locked conditions of the DSL 22. As such, upward movement alludes to an “open” or “unlocked” condition whereas downward movement alludes to a “closed” or “locked” condition.
This is also shown in
Instead of using a cover 24A that can be slid upward to expose the DSL 22, an alternative storage unit 124 uses a hinged cover/lid 124A, which is shown in
All of the previous discussion pertinent to detecting the opening of the cover/lid 24A, and/or removing the DSL 22 from the storage unit 24, and immediately transmitting the alert signal 26A pertaining to the storage unit 24 also applies to the alternative storage unit 124 and is not repeated here.
An observation window (not shown) may be provided in the cover 24A/124A to allow a user to see or inspect the DSL 22 if the DSL 22 is present inside the storage unit 24/124 or not. Either storage unit 24 or 124 is typically mounted on the wall 15 at 30-42 inches above the floor 12.
Door Assembly 28
It should also be noted that there are no fasteners visible on the outdoor plate 28B to avoid giving a perpetrator any means of disengaging the door assembly 28 from the outside of the door 10. The key cylinder 28C is mounted through the door 10 and interacts with the DSL 22 as will be discussed later. The outdoor plate 28B is connected to the door assembly 28 through studs 28D (e.g., welded stainless steel ¼ 20 female threaded stand-off, etc.) that are also mounted through the door 10. Fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, etc., the heads of which most clearly shown in
It should be noted that holes need to be formed within the lower end of the door 10 prior to securing the door assembly 28 thereon. To that end,
The door assembly 28 construction distributes the load, compensates for potential existing distortions within the door 10, as well as for varying door thicknesses.
It should also be noted that the presence of the outdoor plate 28B having the key faceplate 28C″ therein provides first responders with a quick way to verify that is the room, in a corridor or rooms, where the shelter-in-place alert emanated. The unique appearance of the plate 28B/faceplate 28C″ can be easily seen at the base of the door 10 when first responders first appear on the scene. Moreover, the presence of the key faceplate 28C″ also reminds first responders of the NFFF national campaign of “try before you pry”, namely, they should not try to the force the door open using the conventional door knob/lock “. Instead, it reminds the first responders to use the key (e.g., the 1620 key, etc.) to unlock the DSL 22 installed on the inside of the door.
Door Shelter Lock Assembly-DSL 22
To discuss the details of the DSL 22, as shown most clearly in
A plurality (e.g., four) of locking pins 22B pass through apertures 35 in the lower flange 25 of the main block 22C and through apertures 37 in the bottom member 25 of the DSL 22. Locking pin nuts 39 (
It should be noted that to eliminate or minimize any obstructions or liquids (including floor wax) collecting within the floor strike 30 itself during non-use, a thin cap or cover 30A can be secured to the opening of the floor strike 30. Such a cover may be mandatory in hospital environments, in accordance with the American Hospital Association, which requires a seamless flooring where there are no gaps or seams within the floor 12.
When the DSL 22 is installed in the mounting plate 28A and activated, the locking pins 22B can easily penetrate the epoxy in oval openings 30A1, 30A2, 30A3 and 30A4. Once the dangerous situation is resolved and the DSL 22 restored to the storage unit 24, the used cap 30A can be removed and replaced with a new cap 30A having the hardened epoxy within the oval openings 30A1, 30A2, 30A3 and 30A4.
An alternative cap 30B is shown in
Furthermore, in certain environments, where there is no concern for the accumulation of foreign matter in the floor strike 30, the floor strike 30′ can be positioned in the aperture 14 in the floor 12 with no cap 30A or 30B as shown in
It should be further noted that when the DSL 22 is inserted into the vertically-oriented tracks 28E and 28F of the inside mounting plate 28A, and slid downward, stop cutouts 33 (
As for the activator 22A, it should be noted that it comprises a three-part construction, as best shown in
To accommodate the wide range of door undercuts UC (
The DSL 22 is also designed to operate should any locking pin 22D encounter an obstruction.
It should be further noted that as long as long as one locking pin 22B is present within the floor strike, the door 10 will remain locked and cannot be opened. Moreover, as long as the minimum length of just one locking pin 22D is able to be positioned within the floor strike 30, the door 10 is prevented from opening.
Another key distinction of the DSL 22 is that the incremental design of the sawtooth brake 22L and its interaction with the locking pin carrier 22C is that with minimal downward movement of the locking pin carrier 22C by the user, this will still position the plurality of the locking pins 22D, or just even one locking pin 22B, into the floor strike 30, thereby locking the door 10 closed. In contrast, if other conventional locks are only partially-engaged, they do not operate properly and the door is not locked closed.
The DSL 22 is also designed to accommodate the situation where the users install the DSL 22 on the door 10 when the door 10 is still open and not in a completely closed condition and then step on the activator 22A. This can happen when users may be panicked and forget to have the door 10 closed first, such that the floor strike 30 is not positioned under the installed DSL 22.
If a perpetrator somehow was cognizant of the presence of the plurality of locking pins 22B in the floor strike 30 (e.g., the door undercut UC was large enough that a portion of the pins would be visible) and got down on the floor 12 to tamper with them in an attempt to somehow lift or remove them, such a scenario would benefit first responders for several reasons. Firstly, by the perpetrator lying down on the floor 12, this will make him a perfect target for first responders to more easily apprehend or neutralize him. Secondly, trying to lift or remove one locking pin 22B is difficult enough, let alone a plurality (e.g., four) of them, since as mentioned previously, the presence of just one locking pin 22B within the floor strike 30 prevents the door 10 from being opened. Thirdly, if the perpetrator has some other tools with him to attempt to lift or remove the pins 22B, he will have had to put down his weapon (a gun or rifle, etc.) to use the tools, or at least place his focus on the locking pins 22B and not his weapon. Fourthly, the mere fact that he would take the time to attempt such a feat, would provide more time for first responders to arrive and apprehend or neutralize him.
Unlocking the DSL 22
In order to release the DSL 22 into an unlocked condition, it is necessary to move the sawtooth brake 22L towards the right (with reference to
It should be noted that the key cylinder 28C is designed so that the key can be turned in either direction, i.e., clockwise or counterclockwise, to disengage the sawtooth brake 22L quickly, and thereby save time in quickly unlocking of the DSL 22 by authorities.
The second way is by the user inside the room using a brake release 22Q (
It should be noted that because the main block (locking pin carrier) 22C can be depressed down in 3/16″ increments as discussed above (i.e., the sawtooth brake teeth) of downward travel, any downward movement will result in some portion of the lock pins 22B being positioned in the floor strike 30 (even if the main block 22C is not completely depressed downward) and thereby locking the door 10 in the locked condition. And because the slot 22P is elongated, the brake release 22Q is operable at any level of where the main block (locking pin carrier) 22C is locked.
It should be further noted, that the sawtooth brake 22L is a two-part construction, namely, a front portion 22L1 and a rear shim portion 22L2 (
There is also a third way to allow the door 10 to be free to open. With the DSL 22 in the locked condition (with the pins 22B positioned down within the floor strike 30), the user can simply slide the DSL 22 upward and out of the inside mounting plate 28A. The door 10 can now swing open. As the result, the user will then be holding the DSL 22 with the main block 22C still in a downward (“locked”) position and the pins 22B protruding.
It should also be noted that the user inside the room can still manually maintain the door 10 in a locked condition, even if the key is used to release projection 22M, or if the brake release 22Q is displaced (thus, keeping the projection 22M from contacting the teeth in the sawtooth brake 22L). The user accomplishes this by holding down the activator 22A, thereby forcing the locking pins 22B into the floor strike 30, even though the projection 22M is not engaged with the sawtooth brake 22L. As long as the user maintains this downward pressure (e.g., 5 pounds) on the activator 22A, the door 10 will remain locked. Thus, as mentioned earlier, the DSL 22 provides a significant mechanical advantage: the user maintaining a continuous downward pressure of 5 pounds can keep the door 10 locked and thereby withstand a significant force (e.g., 19,000 pounds) applied thereagainst.
Alternatively and as mentioned previously, if the user wishes to open the door to let a trusted person in, the user can simply lift the entire DSL 22 unit upward (e.g., using the grip portion 22A3 of the activator 22) out of the inside mounting plate 28A without having to release the sawtooth brake 22L. The springs 22D of the different pins 22B remain compressed so that once the person enters, the door can be reclosed and the DSL 22 re-installed into the inside mounting plate 28A, with the pins 22B being re-positioned in the floor strike 30. Some other advantages of simply lifting the DSL 22 upward, out of the inside mounting plate 28A are the following: If the perpetrator is able to gain access to the room through a different pathway (e.g., a window, another unlocked door, etc.) and the user(s) needs to exit the room quickly, and during the frenzy, he/she forgets to release the projection 22M, he/she can just lift the DSL 22 upward, out of the inside mounting plate 28A and open the door to escape. Not only that, but by simply lifting the DSL 22 out of the inside mounting plate 28A, the user is then holding the DSL 22 with the plurality of pins sticking out. He/she can use the DSL 22 as a weapon against the perpetrator, hitting him with the DSL 22 or stabbing him with the pins 22B. Thus, this demonstrates, once again, that the user has the ultimate control of the DSL 22.
Furthermore, it should further be noted that installation of the DSL 22 at the door is a downward movement while removal of the DSL 22 at the door is an upward movement. Thus, downward movement “locks” one in the room while upward movement allows one in the room to exit.
Key aspects of the DSL 22 is that it minimizes the number of moving parts. The DSL 22 weighs no more than five pounds. Furthermore, all of the components comprise hardened materials, e.g., aluminum (e.g., main block/locking pin carrier 22C) or stainless steel (e.g., slide rods 22G/22H, lock pins 22B, etc.) or naval bronze (e.g., lock cam 28G, locking pin nuts 39, etc.).
It should be appreciated that the system and method 20 of the present invention allows a singular event to contact two agencies, i.e., police department and the fire department. Currently, alert systems only alert one of these agencies. Moreover, as mentioned previously, a recommended tactical response plan allows only police department ESU (emergency service unit) personnel as being authorized to open any closed door.
Where an emergency occurs that results in more than one DSL 22 being installed at different doors in a facility, each of their respective storage units 24 will signal authorities at a different time. Such information can be used by authorities to provide a “linear track” showing how the perpetrator is moving from one location to another in the facility. As such, the system and method of the present invention 20 provides authorities with “real reconnaissance for responding with proportionate assets.”
In the same instance, the DSL 22 is removed from the wall-mounted storage unit 24/124, a fire alarm panel 200 (
The DSL 22 is capable of being unlocked/opened/removed with one hand even if it has received significant force from the corridor side of the door.
Now having location-specific knowledge, authorized and trained staff can utilize their standard building-wide key to enter the room.
As such, using the DSL 22 of the system and method 20 of the present invention, occupants are able to quickly and safely secure the room/space without placing themselves at the door for any length of time. In other words, once the occupant(s) installs the DSL 22 at the door, they may move quickly away from the door 10.
Thus, in view of the foregoing, the DSL 22 is not a standard lock, but rather a component of the system and method 20 of the present invention the latter of which can also be considered an overall event management system.
Installation Overview, By Way of Example Only
The DSL of the present invention 20 can be installed on any door with a bottom rail of 3″ or taller.
Installation Methodology, by way of example only.
A further alternative to the present invention 20 involves including a transmitter/reader 26 as part of the door assembly 28. Having a transmitter/reader 26 as part of the door assembly 28 can be used for high security locations to validate that the DSL 22 has been mounted on the door 10. The transmitter/reader 26 may be hard-wired or wireless with a door-mounted battery. In particular,
A provision 19 can be made on the inside of the door 10 to accommodate the presence of a second transmitter/reader (similar to the transmitter 26/126 discussed previously) therein. If this second transmitter is to be used, a cutout 19 (
It should be understood that it is within the broadest scope of the present invention 20 that a similar RFID reader can be installed in the storage unit backplate 24B/124B for detecting the presence (or absence) and identity of the DSL 22 within the storage unit 24/124. As such, where readers are used in the storage units 24/124 and at the door 10, DSL 22 mismatches can be detected. This is important in high security environments where “serialized” DSL 22 units can be tracked and prevent misuse of the DSL 22 (e.g., perpetrator using the DSL 22 to intentionally trap a victim within a room).
Communications Feature of the Present Invention 20
The key differentiator and most significant aspect to demonstrating compliance to the intent of the NFPA and other applicable codes and standards (see “Appendix-Portions of NFPA Code and NYC Building Code”) and the FDNY “Certificate of Approval” for all building occupancy types is the system's ability to provide remote indication of occupant presence and their potential for sheltering in place.
Firefighter and other responders must have knowledge of the specific locations where doors were secured by a locking system, which includes a “makeshift barricade” by room occupants. Without this strategic information event response efforts could be wasted and occupant extraction significantly delayed. The Department of Homeland Security states that a person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes, therefore it is important to quickly stop the blood loss.
The system and method 20 is designed to interact with any existing fire alarm and/or security system and must be integrated as per FDNY/DHS SafetyAct designation requirements.
As discussed in detail above, a shelter event is initiated when the wall-mounted storage unit cover 24A/124A is lifted/opened, simultaneously signaling a potential occupant sheltering as well as a potential assailant. That signal 26A is then transmitted into one of the existing building systems. Since there has never been a shelter device monitored, deployment of the DSL 22 must be listed as a new component. Accordingly, FDNY has designated the acronym “DSL” so that it may be standardized on for multi-agency response. See
By way of example only, there are approximately twenty approved Central Station Signaling Companies (also referred to as “security alarm businesses”) authorized to monitor Class 3 Fire Alarms in NYC. These companies receive alarms in the form of various codes such as “111” for smoke or “122” for panic/duress. That said, there are currently no codes designated for a “shelter event” and/or would a single alarm be transmitted to both Police Departments and Fire Departments.
As there is already a system in place to monitor smoke alarms, pull stations, fire dampers, etc. including their locational information, it is relatively easy to add addressable “nodes” on the existing system. This will allow for singular reporting of multiple alarm types with existing protocols. As such, with the integration of the system and method 20 of the present invention therein, there is now a code designated for a “shelter event” and a single alarm is now sent to both Police Departments and Fire Departments.
The primary goals of the integration of the system and method 20 of the present invention:
1. Storage unit 24/124 shall be monitored via magnetic contact and third-party system (UL Class 3 Fire Alarm Panel)
2. Opening of the storage unit 24/124 shall be a “recorded DSL”
3. The Central Station, shall notify both Police Department (PD) & Fire Department (FD) based upon preestablished coding implemented prior to system commissioning
1. The system 20 utilizes its storage unit 24/124 open/close state as a means to sense/validate a location being occupied:
2. The system 20 may use various means to detect the cover 24A/124A state including:
3. The system may monitor the location and locked state of the Door Shelter Lock Assembly (DSL 22)
4. Remote alarm interface types
5. Remote alarm locations
1. A universal locking system designed for use during a terrorist or other event
2. A system that alerts fire, police and authorized individuals of its removal from its housing
3. The DSL 22 has merit independent of a terrorist situation due to its unique design to compensate for misalignment and relatively few moving parts
4. An overall assembly that:
5. Door portion
6. A lock system mitigates and manages door gaps from .250″-1.500″ while maintaining the same amount of pin engagement.
7. A DSL 22 with 3 or more pins 22B that ensures strike engagement even if partially blocked
8. A lock system that clears itself of debris when it is unlocked/disengaged
9. An unlocking system that allows the lock to be disengaged from either side of the door with minimal moving parts, and:
10. Floor strike 30
11. Installation jig-allows a lay person to install the door assembly 28 with consistency
A typical patient room with an inswing door equipped with standard passage (nonlocking) hardware. Preinstalled the interior mount 28 and exterior emergency override key cylinder 28C as well as the wall mounted tamper-evident storage unit 24/124 of the system 20 of the Occupant Preserver™
Events
1. A universal door shelter lock (DSL) 22 that mounts to any type of construction door, clamping and reinforcing the door from both sides
2. A system designed to be compliant with the intent of NFPA, CMS and TJC (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and The Joint Commission) codes & standards (also see “Appendix-Portions of NFPA Code and NYC Building Code”)
3. A design to prevent unauthorized use
4. A design that distributes potential impacts across the door
5. A design comprised of four locking pins to mitigate misalignment and/or debris
6. An overall ratcheted locking system that will secure in 3/16-inch increments
7. A floating pin design that will allow for 1 or more of the pins to secure while the rest “overcome” debris
8. Intuitive foot pedal
9. A user-friendly key cylinder for authorized override/unlocking of the door
10. In the potential event of unauthorized override use, the occupant can choose to remain sheltered and utilize any available resource to apply a downwards force of 10 pounds
11. A keying system allowing each building its own unique keyway to inhibit unauthorized use of the override feature.
Other Scenario Examples
1. Entrapment of one or more building occupants
2. Shelter-in-place one or more building occupants
The Occupant Preserver™ system and method 20 provide for all of the following:
Thus, the invention 20 of the present application is a system and method for a universal locking system that mounts to any type of construction door, clamping and reinforcing the door from both sides. The system and method is compliant with the intent of CMS, NFPA, TJC codes & standards, allowing the occupant to participate in their own decision to run, hide or fight. Wall mounting the DSL 22 in a storage unit 24/124 and allowing the occupant to remove the DSL 22 and install it at the door complies with the ANSI “Knowing Act” and requires the occupant to activate the DSL 22. Removal of the DSL 22 from the wall mounting, immediately alerts first responders of potential sheltering-in-place while providing a remote audio/visual alarm, while identifying location of the device. Alert locations include nurse stations, staff locations, building securing desk/offices and fire command. A key override is provided so that responders/authorities can gain entry without requiring any special knowledge of the locking configuration. The system and method 20 provide security staff with an improved tool to better determine proportional event response plan, with isolated deployment possibly indicating an individual perpetrator. The system and method 20 provide the response team an element of surprise and can operate in large scale or building-wide event. And the system and method 20 also provide means for better extracting sheltered occupants.
The FDNY and NYPD have found the system and method 20 of the Occupant Preserver™ so profoundly unique so as to form a one hundred man complement to create a training video for all fire fighters and police department personnel. The FDNY, for the first time, and based on this invention's ability to prevent a potential assailant from using smoke or fire as a weapon, invited the Applicant to install the Occupant Preserver™ system 20 throughout their main training headquarters. After such installation, NYPD Shield, the FBI and CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, part of DHS-Department of Homeland Security), as well as others, have conducted training drills and have reenacted such unfortunate events as the Virginia Tech and Bronx Lebanon incidents. It was documented by these agencies that the communication provided by the Occupant Preserver™ system and method 20, along with the ease of installation of the DSL 22 by the occupants and the expedited response time for the agencies such as NYPD ESU, that this invention 20 would have had a significant and positive impact and would have saved lives in the Virginia Tech and Bronx Lebanon incidents. Based upon these results and the confidence of the training system associated with the Occupant Preserver™ system and method 20, this has resulted in agency adoption and training of all personnel so that they may integrate this system and method 20 into their tactical response plans for handling a violent event, or active assailant, in a building.
NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 101 Life Safety Code®-Chapter 7
7.2.1.5.1 Door leaves shall be arranged to be opened readily from the egress side whenever the building is occupied. (Normal Operation)
7.2.1.5.3 Locks, if provided, shall not require the use of a key, a tool, or special knowledge or effort for operation from the egress side.
Annex 7
A.7.2.1.5.10 Examples of devices that might be arranged to release latches include knobs, levers, and bars. This requirement is permitted to be satisfied by the use of conventional types of hardware, whereby the door is released by turning a lever, knob, or handle or by pushing against a bar, but not by unfamiliar methods of operation, such as a blow to break glass. It is also within the intent of this requirement that switches integral to traditional doorknobs, lever handles, or bars, and that interrupt the power supply to an electromagnetic lock, be permitted, provided that they are affixed to the door leaf. The operating devices should be capable of being operated with one hand and should not require tight grasping, tight pinching, or twisting of the wrist to operate.
A.7.2.1.5.10.3 Examples of devices that, when used with a latch, can be arranged to require not more than one additional releasing operation include night latches, dead bolts, and security chains.
NYC Building Code-Chapter 10
1010.1.9 Door operations, except as specifically permitted by this section, egress doors shall be readily openable from the egress side without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort. NYC Building Code: 1010.1.9.2 Hardware height, Door handles, pulls, latches, locks and other operating devices shall be installed 34 inches (863.4 mm) minimum and 48 inches (1220 mm) maximum above the finished floor. Locks used only for security purposes and not used for normal operation are permitted at any height.
While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
This non-provisional application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) of Application Ser. No. 63/528,503 filed on Jul. 24, 2023 entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A UNIVERSAL TAMPER-RESISTANT SHELTER-IN-PLACE BARRICADE LOCKING DEVICE and whose entire disclosure is incorporated by reference herein.
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