Safety apparatus for providing information to a fire fighter

• US 6,114,948 A
• Filed: 02/12/1999
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Benjamin F. Astell
• Original Assignee: Benjamin F. Astell
• Inventors: Astell, Benjamin F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US09/249,026
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 340/332, 340/539, 340/531, 340/287, 340/331, 340/286.05-286.06, 340/525, 340/825.28, 340/577, 340/628
• US Class Current: 340/332
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A safety apparatus is disclosed for providing information to a fire fighter concerning the number of occupants of each room of a dwelling in the event of a fire. The apparatus includes an activator disposed externally relative to the dwelling, the activator being activated by the fire fighter in the event of a fire. A transmitter is electrically connected to the activator such that when the activator is activated, a signal is sent to the transmitter, the signal triggering a secondary signal which is transmitted by the transmitter. A receiver is located in each room of the dwelling, each receiver receiving the secondary signal from the transmitter, the receiver generating a pulse corresponding to the secondary signal. A strobe light is located within the same room of the dwelling as the receiver, the strobe light being electrically connected to the receiver so that the strobe light is energized by the pulse from the receiver. The strobe light is positioned such that the strobe light is visible from outside the dwelling, the strobe light emitting a visible signal corresponding with the number of occupants within the room for indicating to the fire fighter how many persons occupy each room of the dwelling.

Claims

1. A safety apparatus for providing information to a fire fighter concerning the number of occupants of each room of a dwelling in the event of a fire, said apparatus comprising:

an activator disposed externally relative to the dwelling, said activator being activated by the fire fighter in the event of a fire;

a transmitter electrically connected to said activator such that when said activator is activated, a signal is sent to said transmitter, said signal triggering a secondary signal which is transmitted by said transmitter;

a receiver located in each room of the dwelling, each receiver receiving said secondary signal from said transmitter, said receiver generating a pulse corresponding to said secondary signal; and

a strobe light located within the same room of the dwelling as said receiver, said strobe light being electrically connected to said receiver so that said strobe light is energized by said pulse from said receiver, said strobe light being positioned such that said strobe light is visible from outside the dwelling, said strobe light emitting a visible signal corresponding with the number of occupants within the room for indicating to the fire fighter how many persons occupy each room of the dwelling.

2. A safety apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

said activator includes:

a switch which is accessible to the fire fighter so that in the event of a fire, when the fire fighter closes said switch, said visible signal is emitted from each strobe light associated with each room of the dwelling thereby indicating the occupancy of each room.

3. A safety apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

said activator includes:

a bracket for mounting said activator above a doorway of the dwelling such that said activator is out of reach of unauthorized individuals but is readily accessible to the fire fighter in the event of a fire.

4. A safety apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

said transmitter includes:

an electronic trigger circuit which is triggered by said signal from said activator;

a transmitter circuit for transmitting said secondary signal.

5. A safety apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

said secondary signal is a radio frequency signal.

6. A safety apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

said receiver includes:

an electronic receiving circuit capable of receiving said secondary signal from said transmitter.

7. A safety apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

said receiver includes:

an amplifier circuit for amplifying said secondary signal received by said receiver from said transmitter, said amplifier circuit generating an electrical pulse corresponding to said secondary signal received from said transmitter.

8. A safety apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

said strobe light is disposed integrally with said receiver.

9. A safety apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

said strobe light includes:

a fastener for fastening said strobe light to a window of the room of the dwelling such that said strobe light is readily visible to the fire fighter in the event of a fire when said activator has been activated.

10. A safety apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

said strobe light is preset to emit a visible signal in response to said pulse received from said receiver.

11. A safety apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

said strobe light is preset to emit a visible signal which will inform the fire fighter as to how many persons occupy a particular room of the dwelling.

12. A safety apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein

said visible signal is color coded, the arrangement being such that a particular color corresponds to a particular number of occupants of the room.

13. A safety apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein

said visible signal is color coded such that a particular color corresponds to a child occupying the room.

14. A safety apparatus for providing information to a fire fighter concerning the number of occupants of each room of a dwelling in the event of a fire, said apparatus comprising:

an activator disposed externally relative to the dwelling, said activator being activated in the event of a fire;

a transmitter electrically connected to said activator such that when said activator is activated, a signal is sent to said transmitter, said signal triggering a secondary signal which is transmitted by said transmitter;

a receiver located in a room of the dwelling, said receiver receiving said secondary signal from said transmitter, said receiver generating a pulse corresponding to said secondary signal;

a strobe light located within the room of the dwelling, said strobe light being electrically connected to said receiver so that said strobe light is energized by said pulse from said receiver, said strobe light being positioned such that said strobe light is visible from outside the dwelling, said strobe light emitting a visible signal corresponding with the number of occupants within the room for indicating to the fire fighter how many persons occupy the room of the dwelling; and

said strobe light being preset to emit a visible signal when activated to inform the fire fighter as to how many persons occupy the room of the dwelling.

15. A safety apparatus for providing information to a fire fighter concerning the number of occupants of each room of a dwelling in the event of a fire, said apparatus comprising:

an activator disposed externally relative to the dwelling, said activator being activated by the fire fighter in the event of a fire;

a transmitter electrically connected to said activator such that when said activator is activated, a signal is sent to said transmitter, said signal triggering a secondary signal which is transmitted by said transmitter;

a receiver located in each room of the dwelling, each receiver receiving said secondary signal from said transmitter, said receiver generating a pulse corresponding to said secondary signal;

a strobe light located within the same room of the dwelling as said receiver, said strobe light being electrically connected to said receiver so that said strobe light is energized by said pulse from said receiver, said strobe light being positioned such that said strobe light is visible from outside the dwelling, said strobe light emitting a visible signal corresponding with the number of occupants within the room for indicating to the fire fighter how many persons occupy each room of the dwelling; and

said strobe light being preset to emit a visible signal when activated to inform the fire fighter as to how many persons occupy a particular room of the dwelling, said visible signal being color coded to correspond with a particular number of occupants of the room and to indicate whether a child occupies the room.