Emergency door lock illumination apparatus

• US 10,669,740 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2018
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph Michael Szerszen
• Original Assignee: Joseph Michael Szerszen
• Inventors: Szerszen, Joseph Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snyder, Zachary J
• Application Number:
  US16/035,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20200018093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/10 Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/1066 the pivot axis being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bar
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/05 indicating exit way or orientation

Abstract

An emergency illumination apparatus is integrated into a door lock mechanism including a manual release member and a latch which is displaceable between an engaged position with the jamb of an associated exit door, and a disengaged position, enabling opening of the door. The apparatus includes an illumination device including a base member mounted to the door lock mechanism or a surface of the associated exit door and a spaced array of discrete illumination elements extending along at least one axis intersecting with or circumventing the manual release member. A sensor operates to detect an emergency condition such as the presence of excessive heat, smoke, carbon monoxide, noxious gas and the like, and generate an alarm signal in response thereto. An independent power supply is disposed within the emergency door lock illumination apparatus. A controller energized by the power supply activates the illumination device in response to the alarm signal.

Claims

1. A self-contained emergency door lock illumination apparatus adapted for retrofitting to an associated exit door lock mechanism of the type including an elongated tubular manual release member pivotally mounted to an exit door and a bolt, said manual release member operable to displace said bolt from an engaged position with a jamb of said associated exit door and a disengaged position with respect to said jamb enabling opening of said exit door, said emergency door lock illumination apparatus comprising;

a base member adapted for selective mounting to a portion of said manual release member closest to said bolt for displacement therewith;

a linear array of spaced apart discrete illumination elements, such as LEDs, extending along a line substantially parallel to an axis of elongation of said manual release member;

a sensor disposed within said base member operative to detect an emergency condition such as the presence of excessive heat, smoke, carbon monoxide, noxious gas, particulates and the like, and to generate an alarm signal in response thereto;

an independent power supply disposed within said base member; and

a controller disposed within said base member energized by said power supply and operative to activate said illumination device in response to said alarm signal to illuminate sequentially from a first illumination element furthest from said bolt, to subsequent intermediate illumination elements to a final illumination element closest to said bolt.

2. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller is operative to sequentially activate said illumination elements commencing with the illumination element distal from said bolt and progressing to the illumination element proximate said latch in response to detecting an emergency condition.

3. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller is operative to vary the intensity of each illumination element as a function of distance from said bolt.

4. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller, said power supply and said sensor means are integrally disposed within said base member.

5. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least some of said illumination elements are configured as an arrow suggestive of the direction toward a portion of said manual release member nearest said latch.

6. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said illumination elements comprise an elongated electroluminescent wire.

7. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller is operative to vary the flash rate of at least one illumination element as a function of said alarm signal.

8. The emergency door lock illumination, apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller is operative to vary the color of at least one illumination element as a function of said alarm signal.

9. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensor means is operative to detect a low voltage condition and to generate an alarm signal in response thereto.

10. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said illumination device further includes a tactile indicator integrally formed on an exposed outer surface of said base member.

11. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a radio frequency transceiver operable to receive remote control signals from a remote personal communication device.

12. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 11, wherein said remote control signals are operative to effect actuation of said emergency door lock illumination apparatus.

13. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 11, wherein said remote control signals are operative to effect resetting of predetermined operational features of said controller.

14. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said illumination elements has a color or illumination intensity differing from other of said illumination elements as an indication of a power supply fault condition.

15. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base member is formed of resilient electrically insulating material.

16. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said array of discrete illumination elements are insert molded within said base member.

17. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discrete illumination element closest to said bolt is illuminated with an operational dwell time exceeding operational dwell times of the remaining illumination elements.

18. The emergency door lock illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a radio frequency transceiver operable to transmit preprogrammed emergency notification signals to emergency response services such as 911, fire, police and the like.

19. A self-contained emergency door lock illumination apparatus adapted for retrofitting to an existing door lock mechanism type including an elongated tubular manual release member pivotally mounted on an exit door and a bolt, said manual release member operable to displace said bolt from an engaged position with a jamb of said associate exit door and a disengaged position with respect to said jamb enabling opening of said exit door, said emergency door lock illumination apparatus comprising;

a base member formed of resilient, electrically insulating material adapted for selective mounting to said manual release member for displacement therewith, said base member forming a first through passage receiving a portion of said manual release member closest to said bolt, and a second through passage;

a spaced apart linear array of discrete illumination elements carried on an outer surface of said base member and extending along a line substantially parallel to an axis of elongation of said manual release member;

a sensor operative to detect an emergency condition such as the presence of excessive heat, smoke, carbon monoxide, noxious gas, particulates and the like, and to generate an alarm signal in response thereto, said sensor disposed within a said second through passage of said base member;

an independent power supply disposed within the second through passage of said base member; and

a controller energized by said power supply disposed within the second through passage of said base member and operative to activate said illumination device in response to said alarm signal, whereby the controller sequentially activates said illumination elements commencing with the illumination element most distal from said bolt and progressing one at a time to the illumination element proximate said bolt in response to detecting an emergency condition to form an active visual target tending to draw a user'"'"'s focus toward the bolt,

wherein said array of discrete illumination elements are insert molded within said base member, and

wherein said illumination device further includes a tactile indicator integrally formed on an exposed outer surface of said base member.