Environmental condition detector with remote fire extinguisher locator system

• US 6,768,424 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2000
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gary J. Morris Phd
• Original Assignee: Gary J. Morris Phd
• Inventors: Morris, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/487,064
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 340/628, 340/691.1, 340/693.6, 340/692, 340/539.1, 340/625, 340/584
• US Class Current: 340/628
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A system for identifying the location of a fire extinguisher includes a fire detector with a wireless transmitter. When the detector goes into alarm, it not only emits a local audible alarm, it also transmits wirelessly a signal receivable by a fire extinguisher locating unit. This unit includes a receiver and circuitry for detecting the received alarm indicating signal. It also includes audible output circuitry, for example, speech synthesis circuitry, and optionally, an optical indicator. Upon detection at the unit of the alarm indicating signal, the speech synthesizing circuitry can be activated to indicate verbally the location of the extinguisher. Simultaneously, if desired, the illuminatable output device, such as a light bulb or light emitting diode, can be energized to provide a visual indication of extinguisher location.

Claims

1. An apparatus to identify the location of a displaced fire extinguisher comprising:

a detector for detecting the presence of fire in a region, wherein the detector includes electronic circuitry including an audible alarm indicating output device and a wireless transmitter wherein the device and the transmitter are activated to emit respectively an audible alarm and a wireless signal for the duration of the condition detected by the detector; and

a displaced wireless signal receiver independently positionable relative to the detector capable of receiving and decoding the wireless signal from the detector wherein the wireless receiver includes circuitry to activate one of an audible alarm or a recorded verbal location identifier at the location of the fire extinguisher to facilitate location thereof the receiver is carried in a portable housing which also carries an emergency light.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter outputs one of a radio frequency signal, an acoustic signal and an optical signal.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the receiver includes speech synthesizing circuitry.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the synthesizing circuitry includes a pre-stored extinguisher identifying indicium which is audibly output by the synthesizing circuitry when activated.

5. An apparatus to activate a battery operated light in response to a detected condition comprising:

an environmental condition detector which includes a wireless transmitter activated to transmit a selected signal for the duration of the environmental condition detected by said detector;

a portable fire extinguisher, remotely located relative to the detector and movable relative thereto at least when the detector is in a quiescent state; and

a wireless signal receiver, adjacent to or coupled to the extinguisher and capable of receiving and decoding the selected signal from the detector, wherein the receiver includes an electric light and a pre-estabilshed verbal location identifier; and

circuitry to activate the light to facilitate location identification of the fire extinguisher and to provide an emergency flashlight separable from the extinguisher.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the receiver is carried in a housing located in the vicinity of the extinguisher.

7. An apparatus as in claim 5 whereby the receiver is attached to the extinguisher.

8. An alarm system comprising:

a fire detector which includes a housing which carries at least an audible alarm indicating output device and a wireless transmitter of alarm indicating indicia wherein both audible output device and the transmitter are activated in response to a detected fire; and

a non-electrified fire extinguisher positionable independently of and displaced from the detector wherein the extinguisher has associated therewith a wireless receiver of the transmitted alarm indicating indicia and an extinguisher location indicating output device whereby in response to received alarm indicating indicia the output device outputs at least one of a visible extinguisher location indicator and a pre-established verbal extinguisher location indicator.

9. A system as in claim 8 wherein the output device comprises at least one of a speech output circuit, a tonal output circuit and a visible light output circuit.

10. A system as in claim 8 wherein the wireless receiver is coupled to an extinguisher connection element the receiver carrying a portable electric light.

11. An apparatus comprising:

an ambient condition detector;

a portable non-electrified fire extinguisher, movably locatable apart from the detector, whereby the detector can be located at one position and the extinguisher can be separately located at a different position and subsequently moved relative thereto when both are in a quiescent state;

a self-contained voice output module located at one of, on or adjacent to the extinguisher, wherein the module includes a wireless receiver for receiving an alarm indicating signal directly from the detector and circuitry coupled thereto, responsive to the received signal for emitting a pre-established verbal extinguisher locating message.

12. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the module carries an attachment member for coupling the module to the extinguisher.

13. An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the attachment member removably couples the module to the extinguisher the module carries an emergency light.

14. An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the attachment member comprises a flexible strap.

15. A module attachable to a fire extinguisher comprising:

an attachment element, couplable to the extinguisher;

a housing carried by the attachment element, the housing is electrically isolated from the extinguisher;

a wireless receiver of remotely generated fire alarm indicating signals carried by the housing; and

circuitry coupled to the receiver, responsive only to received alarm indicating signals, for emitting at least one verbal extinguisher position locating message.

16. A module as in claim 15 wherein the attachment element is releasibly couplable to the extinguisher.

17. A module as in claim 15 wherein the circuitry includes digital storage for the verbal message.

18. A module as in claim 15 wherein the circuitry comprises speech synthesizer circuitry for continuously emitting at least one verbal, extinguisher locating message in response to received fire alarm indicating signals.

19. A module as in claim 18 which includes a visual output device and circuitry for energizing the output device in response to received fire alarm indicating signals.

20. A module as in claim 15 which includes a visual output device and circuitry for energizing the output device in response to received fire alarm indicating signals.

21. An alarm system comprising:

at least one fire detector which includes components for emitting an audible fire alarm and an inaudible fire alarm signal;

a displaced module, couplable to a fire extinguisher, wherein the module includes a wireless receiver of remotely generated, inaudible fire alarm indicating signals; and

circuitry coupled to the receiver responsive to received inaudible alarm indicating signals, for emitting a pre-established verbal extinguisher indicating indicium;

the module, the receiver and the circuitry are all electrically isolated from the extinguisher.

22. An alarm system as in claim 21 wherein the module includes a releasible attachment element for coupling to the extinguisher.

23. An alarm system as in claim 21 wherein the inaudible alarm signal comprises a wireless signal.

24. An alarm system as in claim 21 wherein the inaudible alarm signal comprises, at least in part, a wired signal coupled by AC electrical power wiring to the module.

25. An alarm system as in claim 24 wherein the module includes an AC line plug for engaging AC electrical power wiring.

26. An apparatus to identify the location of a displaced fire extinguisher comprising:

a detector for detecting the presence of fire in a region, wherein the detector includes electronic circuitry including an audible alarm indicating output device and a transmitter of an alarm indicating signal, wherein the device and the transmitter are activated to emit respectively an audible alarm and the alarm indicating signal for the duration of the condition detected by the detector; and

a displaced signal receiver independently positionable relative to the detector, capable of receiving and decoding the alarm indicating signal from the detector wherein the receiver is removably attachable to an extinguisher to be identified and electrically isolated therefrom, the receiver includes circuitry to activate one of an audible alarm or a recorded verbal location identifier at the location of the fire extinguisher to facilitate location thereof.

27. An apparatus as in claim 26 where the receiver covers less than fifty percent of the surface area of the extinguisher, when attached thereto.

28. An apparatus as in claim 27 where the receiver includes a battery powered light, the receiver and light can be separated from the extinguisher and used as a portable emergency flashlight, displayed from the extinguisher.

29. An alarm system comprising:

a fire detector which includes a housing which carries at least an audible alarm indicating output device and a transmitter of alarm indicating indicia wherein both audible output device and the transmitter are activated in response to a detected fire; and

a non-electrified fire extinguisher positionable independently of and displaced from the detector wherein the extinguisher has a housing removably attached thereto, the housing carries both a receiver of the transmitted alarm indicating indicia and an extinguisher location indicating output device whereby in response to received alarm indicating indicia the output device outputs at least one of a visible extinguisher location indicator and a pre-determined verbal extinguisher location indicator, the housing is small relative to the extinguisher and the extinguisher can be used in an emergency even with the housing attached.

30. A system as in claim 29 wherein the output device comprises at least one of a speech output circuit, a tonal output circuit and a visible light output circuit.