Emergency warning escape system

• US 5,594,410 A
• Filed: 05/16/1995
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank Farfan, Hall S. Warren, James M. Klotz, Michael Lucas
• Original Assignee: Frank Farfan, Hall S. Warren, James M. Klotz, Michael Lucas
• Inventors: Lucas, Michael, Klotz, James M., Farfan, Frank, Hall, S. Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US08/442,474
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 340/628, 340/691, 340/692, 340/693, 340/331, 340/332, 340/329, 340/328
• US Class Current: 340/332
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits

Abstract

An enhanced emergency warning and escape system is taught. The system can advantageously be combined with existing smoke or fir detector technology to share detection technology and activate additional electrical equipment for improving or simplifying the escape or emergency condition. As part of the system, an electrical switch, which is used under normal circumstances for an electrical device (such as a light fixture), is automatically activated when a detection occurs. A remote control device also allows user activated alarm conditions where, preferably, a smoke detector produces an alarm which can be distinguished from a fire alarm.

Claims

1. An emergency warning and escape system comprising in combination a detector/alarm arrangement that produces a first audible alarm signal upon detection of smoke or a combustion condition and means for receiving a separate signal from a remote control unit and producing an audible second alarm signal upon reception of the signal from said remote control unit;

said second signal being easily distinguished from said first signal;

said remote control unit includes a manually activated signal generating and transmitting arrangement to activate said detector/alarm arrangement causing the same to produce said audible distinct second alarm signal, and including an electrical switch which can be operated in a normal mode or an emergency mode, said electrical switch activates and deactivates current flow to a light fixture arrangement associated therewith, said electrical switch includes means for sensing when the first alarm signal or the audible distinct second alarm signal of the detector has been activated and upon sensing of this condition the switch operates in an emergency mode and automatically moves or remains in the activated condition causing current to flow to the light fixture for powering thereof.

2. An emergency warning and escape system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch in said emergency mode includes a current pulsing arrangement which pulses the current to the light fixture whereby the light fixture produces pulsed illumination.

3. An emergency warning and escape system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical switch includes a manual arrangement for causing said switch to operate in the emergency mode.

4. An emergency warning and escape system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said electrical switch includes a manual adjustment for varying the start time or the frequency of the pulsed current.

5. An emergency warning and escape system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the electrical switch includes a manual adjustment for controlling the current pulsing arrangement to allow a non pulsed current flow or a pulsed current flow.

6. An emergency warning and escape system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said system includes more than one said electrical switch, with said switch having its said manual adjustment differently adjusted whereby the lights associated with said switches can be differentiated from each other to define an exit direction from the premises.

7. An emergency warning and escape system for premises having electrical power distributed by electrical wiring comprising in combination:

a detector arrangement that produces a remote, activation signal and an audible alarm upon detection of smoke or combustion conditions,

an electrical wall mount-type switch which can be operated in a normal mode or in an emergency mode and is connected to the electrical wiring of the premises and activates and deactivates current flow to a light fixture through said electrical wiring, wherein said electrical switch is located remote from said detector and said light fixture and said light fixture is located remote from said detector,

means for communicating said activation signal to the electrical switch,

and wherein said electrical switch includes means for sensing said activation signal and upon sensing said signal the switch operates in an emergency mode and automatically moves or remains in the activated condition causing electrical current to flow to said light fixture.

8. An emergency warning and escape system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said activation signal comprises an electromagnetic signal.

9. An emergency warning and escape system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said electromagnetic signal is a radio frequency signal.

10. An emergency warning and escape system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said radio frequency signal is a frequency modulated radio frequency signal coded to uniquely identify said detector arrangement.