List of unproduced patents
| US4554531A | |
| |
| Company | Alerting Communicators of America |
|---|---|
| Type | Hybrid Rotational/Omnidirectional Electromechanical |
| Horsepower | 15 hp? |
US4554531A (U.S. patent #4,554,531), or "Omnidirectional siren", was an unused patent filed by James Biersach, the president of Alerting Communicators of America, on December 27th, 1982, and officially published on November 19th, 1985. The patent described a unique rotational/omnidirectional hybrid siren, with a focus on being weatherproof. Likely due to the production cost, the siren was never manufactured and only exists on paper.
History and design
The siren was designed by James Biersach likely sometime in late 1982, who filed an application for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on December 27th, 1982.[1] The patent describes a 9/12-port siren using ACA's directional rotor and stator design, driven by a (possibly 15 hp) motor on top of the assembly. The siren's intake is located beneath the stator. The assembly is held up by 4 legs which attach to a small pole.
The pole's base is rectangular and has 4 holes on each corner, allowing for the siren to be mounted. The siren's upper half is covered by a trapezoidal shroud, which is bolted to an outwards facing horn. A system of rollers located on top of the assembly is driven by the siren's motor, allowing for the horn and shroud to rotate and direct the siren's sound 360°. The purpose of the shape of the siren's housing is essentially to make it as impervious to precipitation as possible, reducing the chance of it freezing.[1]
The patent was granted on November 19th, 1985, and published on the same day.[1] It is unknown if any units were ever produced, though it is unlikely. The siren was likely intended to compete with Federal's RSH-10, as US4554531A was designed shortly after the RSH-10's introduction. The siren likely never entered production due to manufacturing costs, as well as its extremely unconventional design.[2] On November 15th, 1993, the patent was assigned to BNCO Acquisition Corp.[1] It expired on December 27th, 2002, and has not been renewed since.[1]