COVER PLATE FOR A HAZARD DETECTOR HAVING IMPROVED AIR FLOW AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
First Claim
1. A hazard detector for use in a building or structure for detecting a hazard, the hazard detector comprising:
- a back plate that is couplable with a wall of the building or structure so as to secure the hazard detector relative thereto;
a front casing coupled with the back plate to define an interior region within which components of the hazard detector are contained;
a circuit board mounted on the back plate and having a plurality of components coupled therewith so as to support the components and electrically couple the components;
an alarm device mounted on the circuit board, the alarm device being activatable upon the detection of a hazard so as to warn an occupant of the building or structure of a potential danger;
a hazard sensor coupled with the circuit board and having one or more components configured to detect a potentially hazardous condition so as to trigger the alarm device;
one or more sensors mounted on the circuit board and electrically coupled therewith, the one or more sensors being configured to detect the presence and/or movement of objects and/or persons external to the hazard detector; and
a cover plate coupled with the front casing so as to face an occupant of a room or area in which the hazard detector is positioned, wherein the cover plate includes a relatively large population of relatively small openings, said openings being positioned, configured, and dimensioned such that (A) internal components are substantially hidden from view of the occupant, while (B) air is allowed to substantially freely flow to the one or more internal components through the cover plate in a relatively unimpeded manner, while (C) the one or more sensors are capable of so detecting the objects and/or persons from behind the cover plate, wherein a collective area of said openings is at least 30% of the cover plate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to one embodiment, a hazard detector may include a housing having a back plate and a front casing coupled therewith to define an interior space within which various components are contained. The components may include an alarm device and a hazard sensor that is configured to detect a potentially hazardous condition to trigger the alarm device. A cover plate may be coupled with the housing and may face an occupant of a room in which the hazard detector is positioned. The cover plate may include a relatively large population of relatively small openings that are positioned, configured, and dimensioned so that internal components are substantially hidden from view of the occupant while air is allowed to substantially freely flow through the cover plate. A collective area of the openings may be at least 30% of the total area of the cover plate.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A hazard detector for use in a building or structure for detecting a hazard, the hazard detector comprising:
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a back plate that is couplable with a wall of the building or structure so as to secure the hazard detector relative thereto; a front casing coupled with the back plate to define an interior region within which components of the hazard detector are contained; a circuit board mounted on the back plate and having a plurality of components coupled therewith so as to support the components and electrically couple the components; an alarm device mounted on the circuit board, the alarm device being activatable upon the detection of a hazard so as to warn an occupant of the building or structure of a potential danger; a hazard sensor coupled with the circuit board and having one or more components configured to detect a potentially hazardous condition so as to trigger the alarm device; one or more sensors mounted on the circuit board and electrically coupled therewith, the one or more sensors being configured to detect the presence and/or movement of objects and/or persons external to the hazard detector; and a cover plate coupled with the front casing so as to face an occupant of a room or area in which the hazard detector is positioned, wherein the cover plate includes a relatively large population of relatively small openings, said openings being positioned, configured, and dimensioned such that (A) internal components are substantially hidden from view of the occupant, while (B) air is allowed to substantially freely flow to the one or more internal components through the cover plate in a relatively unimpeded manner, while (C) the one or more sensors are capable of so detecting the objects and/or persons from behind the cover plate, wherein a collective area of said openings is at least 30% of the cover plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A hazard detector comprising:
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a housing including a back plate and a front casing coupled with the back plate so as to define an interior space within which components of the hazard detector are contained, the components including an alarm device that is activatable so as to audibly warn an occupant of a potential danger and a hazard sensor having a component configured to detect a potentially hazardous condition so as to trigger the alarm device; and a cover plate coupled with the housing so as to face an occupant of a room or area in which the hazard detector is positioned, the cover plate including a relatively large population of relatively small openings, said openings being positioned, configured, and dimensioned such that internal components are substantially hidden from view of the occupant, while air is allowed to substantially freely flow to the one or more internal components through the cover plate in a relatively unimpeded manner, wherein a collective area of said openings is at least 30% of the cover plate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of using a hazard detector comprising:
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providing a hazard detector, wherein the hazard detector comprises; a back plate that is couplable with a wall of the building or structure so as to secure the hazard detector relative thereto; a front casing coupled with the back plate to define an interior region within which components of the hazard detector are contained; a circuit board mounted on the back plate and having a plurality of components coupled therewith so as to support the components and electrically couple the components; an alarm device mounted on the circuit board, the alarm device being activatable upon the detection of a hazard so as to warn an occupant of the building or structure of a potential danger; a hazard sensor coupled with the circuit board and having one or more components configured to detect a potentially hazardous condition so as to trigger the alarm device; one or more sensors mounted on the circuit board and electrically coupled therewith, the one or more sensors being configured to detect the presence and/or movement of objects and/or persons external to the hazard detector; and a cover plate coupled with the front casing so as to face an occupant of a room or area in which the hazard detector is positioned, wherein the cover plate includes a relatively large population of relatively small openings, said openings being positioned, configured, and dimensioned such that (A) internal components are substantially hidden from view of the occupant, while (B) air is allowed to substantially freely flow to the one or more internal components through the cover plate in a relatively unimpeded manner, while (C) the one or more sensors are capable of so detecting the objects and/or persons from behind the cover plate, wherein a collective area of said openings is at least 30% of the cover plate; and operating the hazard detector to detect a potentially hazardous condition.
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21. A method for manufacturing a hazard detector comprising:
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providing a back plate, the back plate being couplable with a wall of a structure so as to secure the hazard detector to the structure; coupling a front casing with the back plate so as to define an interior region within which components of the hazard detector are contained; coupling a circuit board with the back plate; mounting a hazard sensor on the circuit board, the hazard sensor having one or more components configured to detect a potentially hazardous condition so as to trigger an alarm device; mounting one or more additional sensors on the circuit board, the one or more additional sensors being configured to detect the presence and/or movement of objects and/or persons external to the hazard detector; and coupling a cover plate with the front casing such that the cover plate faces an occupant of a room or area in which the hazard detector is positioned, wherein the cover plate includes a relatively large population of relatively small openings, said openings being positioned, configured, and dimensioned such that (A) internal components are substantially hidden from view of the occupant, while (B) air is allowed to substantially freely flow to the one or more internal components through the cover plate in a relatively unimpeded manner, while (C) the one or more additional sensors are capable of detecting the objects and/or persons from behind the cover plate, wherein a collective area of said openings is at least 30% of the cover plate.
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Specification