Alarm device for indicating the removal of a fire extinguisher

• US 3,893,095 A
• Filed: 05/31/1974
• Issued: 07/01/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dennis E. Dejong
• Original Assignee: Dennis E. Dejong
• Inventors: DeJong, Dennis E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US05/474,884
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 340/272,280,289 169/23,51
• US Class Current: 169/23
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles

Abstract

The weight of a fire extinguisher depresses a first plunger which in turn maintains a second plunger retracted so as to hold open or deenergize an alarm. When the fire extinguisher is removed, the first plunger moves upwardly out of its obstructive or interfering relation with the second plunger so that the second plunger advances from its retracted position to energize or activate the alarm. Once the alarm is triggered into operation, a slidable drawer must be unlocked and pulled open to reset the alarm.

Claims

1. An alarm device for indicating the removal of a fire extinguisher therefrom comprising a casing having an opening at the front, a drawer slidably received in said casing having a front wall for blocking said casing opening, an electric alarm in said drawer, a switch in circuit with said alarm, a horizontally reciprocal plunger for opening said switch in a first position thereof to inactivate said alarm and closing said switch in a second position thereof to activate said alarm, means biasing said plunger into said second position, a vertically reciprocal plunger extending downwardly through the top of said casing to a first position to retain said horizontal plunger in its first position, means biasing said vertical plunger upwardly to a second position to permit said horizontal plunger to assume its second position, and means for locking said drawer in said casing, whereby when a fire extinguisher is supported on said casing said vertical plunger is depressed sufficiently by said fire extinguisher to keep said horizontal plunger in its said first position and when said fire extinguisher is removed said horizontal plunger moves to its said second position.

2. An alarm device in accordance with claim 1 in which said casing includes top, side, rear and bottom walls, and said drawer includes front, side and bottom walls, said drawer being open at the top and rear.

3. An alarm device in accordance with claim 2 in which the rear wall of said casing extends upwardly to provide an upstanding mounting wall, and means on said mounting wall for releasably holding a fire extinguisher in position on said top wall so as to depress said vertical plunger.

4. An alarm device in accordance with claim 3 including a sleeve secured at its upper end to said top wall and extending downwardly into said casing for guiding said vertical plunger, the lower end of said sleeve terminating at an elevation above the reciprocal path traversed by said horizontal plunger.

5. An alarm device in accordance with claim 3 in which the bottom wall of said drawer and the bottom wall of said casing each have slots therein which are in alignment when said drawer is wiThin said casing, and said lock means includes a latch member rotatable downwardly into said openings when aligned to effect the locking of said drawer within the casing.

6. An alarm device in accordance with claim 5 in which said alarm comprises an upwardly facing speaker, said top wall having a plurality of holes therein so that the sound from said speaker can pass through said casing when said alarm is actuated.

7. An alarm in accordance with claim 1 including means in said drawer for connecting a battery in circuit with said alarm and switch.

8. An alarm device for indicating the removal of a fire extinguisher comprising a casing including top, side, rear and bottom walls, said casing having a front opening a vertically reciprocal plunger extending downwardly through said top wall into said casing, said plunger being located near said rear wall, spring means normally biasing said plunger upwardly to raise the lower end of said plunger within said casing, a drawer slidably received in said casing having a front wall for blocking said casing opening, a horizontally reciprocal plunger carried in said drawer, spring means biasing said horizontally reciprocal plunger toward said vertically reciprocal plunger, said horizontal plunger engaging the lower end of said vertical plunger as said drawer is moved into said casing when said vertically reciprocal plunger is depressed by a fire extinguisher, a switch actuatable into closed position by said second biasing means when the lower end of said vertically reciprocal plunger rises under the influence of said first biasing means, an electric alarm means in circuit with said switch, said electric alarm means being energized when said switch is closed, and lock means for preventing removal of said drawer from said casing, whereby when the fire extinguisher is removed the vertical plunger rises sufficiently to permit said horizontal plunger to advance therebeneath and close said switch, said horizontal plunger then underlying said vertical plunger so that said vertical plunger cannot then be depressed again until said lock means is unlocked and said drawer pulled sufficiently open to permit said vertical plunger to move downwardly without interference from said horizontal plunger.

9. An alarm device in accordance with claim 8 in which said drawer has only bottom and side walls in addition to said front wall, said casing top wall having at least one hole therein, and said electric alarm means including a speaker disposed beneath said one hole when said drawer is received in said casing.

10. An alarm device in accordance with claim 9 in which said bottom walls have aligned slots when said drawer is received in said casing and said lock means includes a latch arm rotatable into said aligned slots to lock said drawer in said casing.