Emergency guidance system

• US 6,472,994 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2000
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reed Tator
• Original Assignee: Reed Tator
• Inventors: Tator, Reed
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US09/576,495
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/815.78, 340/332, 340/693.2, 405/95, 405/94, 405/84
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 3/00 Devices or single parts for facilitating escape from buildings or the like, e.g. protection shields, protection screens; Portable devices for preventing smoke penetrating into distinct parts of buildings A62B1/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/24 of ribbon or tape form, e.g. LED tapes
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits

Abstract

A line of illuminated electrically powered exit indicators, each having a power backup is mounted on one surface of a non-conductive tape-like support which is flexible enough to be formed into a roll and bend around corners. The exit indicators and the electric circuits are mounted on one surface of the support. A strong adhesive is applied to the opposite surface of the support so that the exit indicators can be easily attached by the adhesive to surfaces of corridors. The tape-like support is provided with a device which permits the tape-like support to be easily unrolled without stressing the electric circuits on the surface of the tape-like support roll.

Claims

1. An emergency guidance system comprising a support formed from a non-conductive material flexible enough to be formed into a roll so that the support can bend around the walls of corridors or follow a flight of stairs, said support having opposed surfaces, a plurality of electric circuits electrically connected to each other mounted on one surface of said support in spaced relationship to each other, the opposite surface of said support covered by an adhesive, each electric circuit including a light source, means adapted to connect the light source in each circuit to a main power source whereby the light source in each electric circuit is energized, back up power sources connected to and powered by said main power source, each back up power source mounted on said one surface and connected to each light source so that each light source in each electric circuit is independent of the main power source in the event of a failure in the main power source.

2. The emergency guidance system described in claim 1 including means associated with said adhesive for permitting the support roll to be easily unrolled without stressing the electric surfaces on the surface opposite said adhesive.