SAFETY SHUT-OFF DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20130063848A1
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fire Avert, LLC
• Original Assignee: Active Fire Reprevention, LLC
• Inventors: Sanders, Michael, Thorpe, Peter, Roberts, Chase, Sanders, Kevin, Bomsta, Zack
• Granted Patent: US 8,836,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/63
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/242 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0753 Control by change of position or inertia of system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1819 Safety cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1915 Burner gas cutoff

Abstract

A safety shut-off system and method for eliminating power to a load in the event of smoke detection. The system may comprise a device located at the appliance for detecting a signal from a smoke detector, and cutting power to the appliance only when the appliance is in use. The device may be synchronized with any standard smoke alarm signal to reduce the number of false positive shut-offs. The system may also comprise a smoke alarm hard-wired to a circuit breaker, for shutting off power to all appliances on a particular breaker upon receipt of a signal from the smoke alarm, and only when the appliances on the breaker are in use. The system may also have the ability to shut off one breaker, multiple breakers, or all breakers at different time increments to actively prevent and reduce the damages caused by fires.

Claims

1. A safety shut-off system for controlling power supply, the shut-off system comprising:

a power route for providing power from an electrical system to an appliance;

an alarm sensor for detecting a predetermined signal from a smoke alarm and sending an input to a micro-controller;

a current sensor to determine whether current is being drawn by a load when the load is connected to the safety shut-off system;

a switch mechanism for terminating power supply along the power route to the appliance; and

the micro-controller disposed in communication with the alarm sensor, the current sensor, and the switch mechanism for terminating power supply in response to the input from the alarm sensor while the load is drawing current above a predetermined threshold.

2. The safety shut-off system of claim 1, wherein the alarm sensor is responsive to an audible signal from the smoke alarm.

3. The safety shut-off system of claim 2, wherein the alarm sensor is a microphone.

4. The safety shut-off system of claim 2, wherein the system further comprises a synchronization program for enabling a user to synchronize a smoke detector with the alarm sensor.

5. The safety shut-off system of claim 4, wherein the synchronization program enables a user to synchronize both the frequency and the cadence of a smoke detector'"'"'s signal with the alarm sensor.

6. The safety shut-off system of claim 1, wherein the power route includes a power plug to be received into a wall receptacle.

7. The safety shut-off system of claim 1, wherein the power route includes a socket configured to receive a power plug of an appliance power cord.

8. The safety shut-off system of claim 1, wherein the alarm sensor is responsive to a radio frequency signal.

9. The safety shut-off system of claim 1, further comprising a time delay for delaying activation of the switch mechanism for a predetermined amount of time.

10. The safety shut-off system of claim 1, wherein the current sensor is a Hall Effect Sensor.

11. The safety shut-off system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises:

a standard smoke detector with a power source;

a current sensor between the power source and the smoke detector for sensing current draw; and

a transmitter for transmitting a signal from the current sensor to alarm sensor.

12. The safety shut-off system of claim 11, wherein the current sensor is a Hall Effect sensor.

13. The safety shut-off system of claim 11, wherein the current sensor is a shunt resistor.

31. The safety shut-off system of claim 1, wherein the safety shut-off system is integral to a replacement power cord for an appliance to be shut-off.

32. The safety shut-off system of claim 1, wherein the safety shut-off system is integral to an appliance to be shut-off.

33. The safety shut-off system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a WiFi chip to provide communication means between the safety shut-off system and a remote device.

34. The safety shut-off system of claim 33, wherein the remote device may be used to provide an input on the micro-controller for terminating power supply while the load is drawing current above a predetermined threshold.

14. A safety shut-off system for cutting power to a load, the system comprising:

a smoke detector, the smoke detector having transmission member for communicating an electrical signal; and

a breaker in communication with a shut-off switch configured to trip the breaker when an electrical signal from the smoke detector is received.

15. The safety shut-off system of claim 14, further comprising a Hall Effect Sensor attached in communication with the breaker for determining whether current is flowing through the breaker.

16. A safety shut-off system according to claim 14, wherein the transmission member is a hard-wired connection between the smoke detector and the breaker.

17. A safety shut-off system according to claim 14, wherein the transmission member comprises a wireless transmitter.

18. The safety shut-off system of claim 15, wherein the shut-off switch is configured to trip the breaker only when the Hall Effect Sensor indicates current is flowing through the breaker.

19. The safety shut-off system of claim 18, wherein the shut-off switch is configured to trip the breaker after a predetermined time delay has occurred.

20. The safety shut-off system of claim 14, wherein the system further comprises a breaker panel, the breaker panel being comprised of multiple breakers each with a shut-off switch, at least one of the multiple breakers having a hard-wired connection to the smoke detector.

21. A system for terminating electrical power to an appliance, the system comprising:

a housing having an electrical route therethrough for passing power from a building electrical system to an appliance;

an alarm sensor configured for receiving an alarm signal from a smoke detector;

a synchronization program for allowing the alarm sensor to be synchronized to the alarm signal;

a switch mechanism for selectively terminating power flow through the electrical route in response to a signal indicating that the alarm sensor has detected an alarm signal from the smoke detector.

22. The system according to claim 21, further comprising a delay for delaying termination of power flow through the electrical route.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the system is configured to terminate actuation of the switch mechanism if an alarm signal is not received beyond a predetermined threshold.

24. The system according to claim 21, further comprising an indication generator for generating a human perceptible signal indicating that the alarm sensor has been synchronized with a smoke alarm.

36. The system for terminating electrical power to an appliance according to claim 21, the system further comprising a length of power cord with a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end of the power cord configured to plug into a power source, and the housing being located at the distal end of the power cord.

25. A method of cutting power from an appliance or an entire home, the method comprising:

installing a smoke detector in the home with the ability to send an electrical signal in the event the smoke detector detects smoke;

providing hard wiring in the home from the smoke detector to a main circuit breaker, and a circuit breaker for controlling an appliance;

providing the circuit breaker controlling an appliance with a Hall Effect Sensor to determine when the appliance is receiving current through the breaker; and

providing the circuit breaker controlling an appliance with a shut-off device configured to trip the breaker in the event it receives an input signal from the smoke detector when the Hall Effect Sensor indicates the appliance is receiving sufficient current through the breaker.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the shut-off device configured to trip the breaker does so by use of a shunt wire.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the shut-off device trips only the breaker controlling the appliance after a set time period has passed and input continues to be received from the smoke detector.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises providing the main circuit breaker with a shut-off device configured to trip the main circuit breaker in the event it receives an input signal from the smoke detector for a set time period.

29. A device for generating an alarm signal in response to actuation of a smoke alarm, the device comprising a Hall Effect sensor having inputs attachable between a smoke detector contacts and a battery, and a transmitter for transmitting a signal when the Hall Effect sensor detects a change in current draw above a predetermined threshold.

30. A safety shut-off system including the device for generating an alarm of claim 29, and further including a power termination mechanism disposable along an electrical route between a building electrical system and an appliance, the power termination mechanism including an alarm sensor for receiving the signal transmitted by the transmitter and a switch member for terminating electrical flow along the electrical route in response to the alarm sensor receiving the signal transmitted by the transmitter.

35. A safety shut-off system for cutting power to a load, the system comprising

a smoke detector, the smoke detector having a transmission member for communicating an electrical signal;

a home security system, the home security system having a receiving member for receiving an electrical signal from the smoke detector and a transmission member for relaying an electrical signal; and

a shut-off switch having a receiving member for receiving an electrical signal from the home security system, the shut-off switch configured to cut power to the load when an electrical signal from the home security system is received.