Remote alarm tester

• US 6,380,854 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eric Hagerman, Steve Carrick
• Original Assignee: Eric Hagerman, Steve Carrick
• Inventors: Hagerman, Eric, Carrick, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US09/584,681
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/628, 340/331, 340/332, 340/531, 340/532, 340/514, 340/515
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/145 of fire detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

Remote Alarm Tester with A graphic display panel having an attached electronic sound sensing device, the sound sensing device capable of activating an LED light when a sound of seventy five Db or greater has occurred within a ten foot distance of the device, and the graphic display card also displaying pictorial and language elements that communicate to passers by that an inspection is taking place and to not tamper with the sensing device. A preferred embodiment includes wherein said electronic sound sensing device is comprised of a housing, battery, indicating LED'"'"'s, Microphone, on/off switch, microprocessor chip and associated electronic components.

Claims

1. A remote alarm tester for indicating if an alarm has sounded, the remote alarm tester comprising:

a graphic display panel having an test light,

an electronic sound sensing device attached to said graphic display panel, said sound sensing device designed and configured to activate said test light when a sound of a selected decibel level or greater has occurred within a selected distance of said remote alarm tester,

wherein once said test light has been activated by said electronic sound sensing device said test light remains lit until said test light is reset by a user.

2. The remote alarm tester of claim 1, wherein said test light is an LED.

3. The remote alarm tester of claim 1, wherein said sound sensing device is designed and configured to activate said test light when a sound of seventy-five decibels or greater has occurred within a ten foot distance of said remote alarm tester.

4. The remote alarm tester of claim 1, wherein said graphic display panel also displays information that communicates to passerby that an inspection is taking place and to not temper with said remote alarm tester.

5. The remote alarm tester of claim 1, wherein said sound sensing device, said graphic display, a battery and a microprocessor chip are located within a housing having a switch.

6. The remote alarm tester of claim 4, wherein said switch turns the remote alarm tester on and off.

7. The remote alarm tester of claim 1, further comprising a visual detection device attached to said graphic display panel, said visual detection device designed to detect strobe warning lights, said graphic display also indicating if said strobe warning lights were detected, the indication continuing until said remote alarm tester is reset by the user.

8. A remote alarm tester for indicating if an alarm has sounded, the remote alarm tester comprising:

a graphic display panel having an LED light,

an electronic sound sensing device attached to said graphic display panel, said sound sensing device designed and configured to activate said LED light when a sound of seventy-five decibels or greater has occurred within a ten foot distance of said remote alarm tester,

and a switch connected with said LED light,

wherein once said LED light has been activated by said electronic sound sensing device said LED light remains lit until said LED light is reset by a user.

9. The remote alarm tester of claim 8, wherein said graphic display panel also displays information that communicates to passersby that an inspection is taking place and to not tamper with said remote alarm tester.

10. The remote alarm tester of claim 8, wherein said sound sensing device, said graphic display, a battery and a microprocessor chip are located within a housing having a switch.

11. The remote alarm tester of claim 8, further comprising a visual detection device attached to said graphic display panel, said visual detection device designed to detect strobe warning lights, said graphic display also indicating if said strobe warning lights were detected, the indication continuing until said remote alarm tester is reset by the user.

12. A remote alarm tester, comprising:

a graphic display panel having an attached electronic sound sensing device;

said sound sensing device being capable of activating an LED light when a sound of seventy-five Db or greater has occurred within a ten foot distance of said remote alarm tester;

said graphic display card also displaying pictorial and language elements that communicate to passersby that an inspection is taking place and to not tamper with the sensing device;

and a visual detection device attached to said graphic display panel, said visual detection device designed and configured to detect strobe warning lights for the hearing impaired.

13. A method of testing an alarm comprising the steps of:

(a) placing an alarm tester within range of an audible alarm,

(b) activating the audible alarm, thereby causing an indicator, which is attached to the alarm tester to indicate that the alarm has sounded,

(c) deactivating the audible alarm,

(d) and after step (c), checking the alarm tester to check if said indicator is active to determine if the audible alarm sounded.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein step (d) is accomplished by checking to see if a test light is lit.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of resetting alarm tester.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said audible alarm is used in conjunction with a visual alarm and said indicator also indicates if the visual alarm was activated.