Emergency detector door illumination escape system

• US 6,249,221 B1
• Filed: 07/28/1999
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyce J. Reed
• Original Assignee: Joyce J. Reed
• Inventors: Reed, Joyce J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/362,529
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/531, 340/331, 340/332, 340/540, 340/691.1, 340/691.6, 340/286.05, 340/307, 340/308, 340/815.73, 340/628
• US Class Current: 340/539.14
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits

Abstract

An escape system for aiding a person in finding an exit door in the event of an emergency situation of limited visibility. The escape system can includes at least one heat detector and at least one smoke detector, an audible alarm circuitry, a dynamic pulsating door base light, and an optional continuous door base light. Upon detection of a threshold amount of heat or smoke by detectors, an audible detection signal is received by a remotely located microphone, and a alarm signal is generated for transmission by radio frequency (RF) by a RF transmitter. The alarm signal is received by a RF receiver located in an exit door alert unit, having associated circuitry for activating dynamic pulsating LED lights within the door alert unit. The illuminating and flashing LED lights attract the attention of a person in distress who may be crawling along the floor in a smoke-filled room, therefor assisting people to locate and exit a smoke filled and burning enclosure.

Claims

1. An escape system for alerting and aiding people in finding an exit door in a building in the event of an emergency situation of low visibility and/or fire within a building, said escape system comprising:

at least one detector for detecting the occurrence of the emergency situation;

detection signals broadcasted by said at least one detector after detecting the emergency situation;

an alarm receiver unit located proximate the site of the emergency situation, having an audible alarm receiver for detecting said broadcasted detection signals;

threshold detection circuitry associated with said alarm receiver unit, said circuitry analyzes said detection signal for false detection signals, and said circuitry digitizes said detection signal in radio frequency coded format;

at least one alarm signal generated by said threshold detection circuitry, said alarm signal generated in radio frequency coded format by said threshold detection circuitry;

a radio frequency transmission unit associated with said alarm receiver unit, said transmission unit transmits said at least one alarm signal;

a door alert unit releasably positionable on the exit door;

a radio frequency receiver unit associated with said door alert unit, said radio frequency receiver receives said alarm signal;

decoding circuitry associated with said door alert unit, said decoding circuitry decodes said at least one alarm signal; and

at least one light source positioned in said door alert unit, said at least one light source emits a high intensity light when said at least one alarm signal is decoded by said decoding circuitry;

whereby people in the immediate vicinity of the emergency situation are guided to the exit door.

2. The escape system of claim 1, wherein said door alert unit is releasably positionable proximate the base of the exit door.

3. The escape system of claim 2, wherein said threshold detection circuitry further comprises delay circuitry, said delay circuitry receives said detection signals from said alarm receiver unit and delays generation of said alarm signal for a preselected amount of time.

4. The escape system of claim 3, wherein said at least one light source further comprises a plurality of LED lights positionable in said door alert unit, said plurality of LED lights are capable of emitting pulsating light signals upon receipt of said alarm signal.

5. The escape system of claim 4, wherein said at least one light source further comprises a second light positionable in said door alert unit, said second light source is capable of emitting continuous light signals upon receipt of said alarm signal.

6. The escape system of claim 5, wherein said audible alarm receiver further comprises a microphone for receipt of said detection signals.

7. The escape system of claim 6, wherein said radio frequency receiver unit further comprises a second door alert unit including a second radio frequency receiver unit disposed proximate the base of another exit door for receiving said at least one alarm signal, said second radio frequency receiver unit having decoding circuitry for decoding of said at least one alarm signal, said decoding circuitry sending said alarm signal to at least one light source of said second door alert.

8. An escape system to be used in conjunction with an exit door for aiding people in finding the exit door in a building in the event of an emergency situation, the exit door having an associated exit door base, said escape system comprising:

at least one detector for detecting the occurrence of the emergency situation;

detection signals broadcasted by said at least one detector after detecting the emergency situation;

an alarm receiver unit located proximate the site of the emergency situation, having an audible alarm receiver for detecting said broadcasted detection signals;

threshold detection circuitry associated with said alarm receiver unit, said circuitry analyzes said detection signal for false detection signals, and said circuitry digitizes said detection signal in radio frequency coded format;

at least one alarm signal generated by said threshold detection circuitry, said alarm signal generated in radio frequency coded format by said threshold detection circuitry;

a radio frequency transmission unit associated with said alarm receiver unit, said transmission unit transmits said at least one alarm signal;

a door alert unit releasably positionable on the exit door;

a radio frequency receiver unit associated with said door alert unit, said radio frequency receiver receives said alarm signal;

decoding circuitry associated with said door alert unit, said decoding circuitry decodes said at least one alarm signal;

at least one first light source in said door alert unit, said first light source emits pulses of high intensity light when said alarm signal is decoded by said decoding circuitry; and

at least one second light source in said door alert unit, said second light source emitting continuous light when said alarm signal is decoded by said decoding circuitry;

whereby people in the immediate vicinity of the emergency situation are guided to the exit door.

9. The escape system of claim 8, wherein said door alert unit is releasably positionable proximate the base of the exit door.

10. The escape system of claim 9, wherein said threshold detection circuitry further comprises delay circuitry, said delay circuitry receives said detection signals from said alarm receiver unit and delays generation of said alarm signal for a preselected amount of time.

11. The escape system of claim 10, wherein said at least one first light source further comprises a plurality of LED lights positionable in said door alert unit, said plurality of LED lights are capable of emitting pulsating light signals upon receipt of said alarm signal.

12. The escape system of claim 10, wherein said at least one second light source further comprises said continuous light emits visible light in the red wavelength.

13. An escape system to be used in conjunction with an exit door for aiding people in finding the exit door in a building in the event of an emergency situation, the exit door having an associated exit door base, said escape system comprising:

at least one detector for detecting the occurrence of the emergency situation;

detection signals broadcasted by said at least one detector after detecting the emergency situation;

a plurality of alarm receiver units, each located proximate the site of the emergency situation, each having an audible alarm receiver for detecting said broadcasted detection signals;

threshold detection circuitry associated with each of said alarm receiver units, said circuitry analyzes said detection signal for false detection signals, and said circuitry digitizes said detection signal in radio frequency coded format;

at least one alarm signal generated by said threshold detection circuitry, said alarm signal generated in radio frequency coded format by said threshold detection circuitry;

a radio frequency transmission unit associated with each of said alarm receiver units, said transmission unit transmits said at least one alarm signal;

a plurality of door alert units, each door alert units releasably positionable respectively on multiple exit doors;

a radio frequency receiver unit associated with each of said door alert units, said radio frequency receiver receives said alarm signal;

decoding circuitry associated with each of said door alert units, said decoding circuitry decodes said at least one alarm signal;

at least one first light source in each of said door alert units, said first light source emits pulses of high intensity light when said alarm signal is decoded by said decoding circuitry; and

at least one second light source in each of said door alert units, said second light source emitting continuous light when said alarm signal is decoded by said decoding circuitry;

whereby people in the immediate vicinity of the emergency situation are guided to the exit door.

14. The escape system of claim 13, wherein each of said door alert units is releasably positionable proximate the base of the exit door.

15. The escape system of claim 14, wherein said threshold detection circuitry further comprises delay circuitry, said delay circuitry receives said detection signals from said alarm receiver unit and delays generation of said alarm signal for a preselected amount of time.

16. The escape system of claim 15, wherein each of said at least one first light source further comprises a plurality of LED lights positionable in each of said door alert units, said plurality of LED lights are capable of emitting pulsating light signals upon receipt of said alarm signal.

17. The escape system of claim 16, wherein each of said at least one second light source further comprises said continuous light emits visible light in the red wavelength.