Integrated fire exit alert system

• US 7,528,700 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sargent Mfg Co (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Sargent Mfg Co (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Hulse, Jon, Picard, Daniel J., Krajewski, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Toan N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunnings; Travis R
• Application Number:
  US11/754,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20070222626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286.05, 340/628, 340/627, 340/577, 340/578, 340/579, 340/332, 340/699.6
• US Class Current: 340/286.05
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits

Abstract

A fire exit alert system, preferably integrated into an exit device or automatic fire exit door closer, uses sound and light to signal the location of a fire exit in darkness and smoke-obscured rooms. The alert system includes a voice signal, such as “EXIT LOCATED HERE,” to signal that the location of the voice is also the location of the exit. A white noise signal generator is used to supplement the voice signal and produces a sound that is particularly localizable by the human ear. A strobe light and a laser are used to produce a visual guide to the location of the exit. The strobe light is flashed when the word “HERE” is used in the voice signal. The laser is used to produce a cone of light that points towards the fire exit alert system.

Claims

1. A fire exit alert system for operating a fire door, alerting members of the general public during a fire and assisting members of the general public in visually and audibly locating the fire exit door during a fire emergency, the fire exit alert system comprising:

fire exit door hardware for operating, locking, latching, unlocking, unlatching, opening, or closing the fire exit door, the fire exit door hardware being mounted in contact with the fire exit door to operate the fire exit door, the fire exit door hardware including a case;

a control circuit mounted in the fire exit door hardware case, the control circuit including;

a voice storage element for storing a pre-recorded voice signal co-located with the fire exit door hardware, the voice signal to be audibly broadcast from a location corresponding to the fire exit door hardware, the voice signal including words indicating to members of the general public who have not previously used the fire exit door that an exit is located at the location from which the voice signal is being broadcast;

a trigger input adapted for receiving a fire detection signal from a fire detection system;

a speaker output; and

a light source output;

a speaker connected to the speaker output of the control circuit for broadcasting an audibly locatable signal, the audibly locatable signal comprising at least the pre-recorded voice signal, to indicate that the pre-recorded voice signal is being audibly broadcast from the location of an exit, the pre-recorded voice signal assisting members of the general public who have not previously used the fire exit door to determine that a safe exit is located at the source of the audibly locatable signal; and

a light source connected to the light source output for providing a visually locatable indication of the location of the fire exit door to members of the general public;

the control circuit turning on the light source, retrieving the voice signal from the voice storage element and repeatedly sending the voice signal to the speaker output upon receipt of the fire detection signal indicating a fire emergency;

the fire exit door hardware acting to operate, lock, latch, unlock, unlatch, open, or close the fire exit door in the absence of a fire emergency.

2. The fire exit alert system of claim 1 wherein the control circuit coordinates the repeated voice signal and the light source by flashing the light source when the voice signal is indicating in words that the voice signal is being broadcast from the location of an exit.

3. The fire exit alert system of claim 1 wherein the voice signal includes the word “

HERE”

to indicate that the source of the voice signal is an exit, and the control circuit coordinates the repeated voice signal and the light source by flashing the light source when the word “

HERE”

is sent to the speaker output.

4. The fire exit alert system of claim 1 wherein the light source is a strobe light and wherein the control circuit coordinates the repeated voice signal and the light source by flashing the strobe light at the moment the voice signal is indicating that the source of the voice signal is an exit.

5. The fire exit alert system of claim 1 wherein the light source is a laser.

6. The fire exit alert system of claim 5 wherein the laser produces a cone having an apex at the fire exit alert system to provide a visual direction guide towards the fire exit alert system.

7. The fire exit alert system of claim 1 wherein the light source is a strobe light and the fire exit alert system further includes a second light source comprising a laser.

8. The fire exit alert system of claim 7 wherein the control circuit coordinates the repeated voice signal and at least one of the light sources by activating at least one of the light sources when the voice signal is indicating that the source of the voice signal is an exit.

9. The fire exit alert system of claim 7 wherein the control circuit coordinates the repeated voice signal and the strobe light by flashing the strobe light when the voice signal is indicating that the source of the voice signal is an exit.

10. The fire exit alert system of claim 1 wherein the control circuit further includes an audio signal generator for generating an audible signal previously determined to be easily directionally and audibly locatable, the audio signal generator comprising a white noise signal generator producing a white noise signal, the control circuit sending the white noise signal to the speaker output to produce an additional audibly locatable signal.

11. The fire exit alert system of claim 10 wherein the control circuit alternately sends the white noise signal and the voice signal to the speaker output.

12. The fire exit alert system of claim 1 wherein the fire exit door hardware comprises an exit device having a latch for engaging a door frame of a fire exit door.

13. The fire exit alert system of claim 1 wherein the fire exit door hardware comprises an automatic door closer.

14. The fire exit alert system of claim 1 wherein the control circuit further includes a reset input for receiving a reset signal, the control circuit turning off the light source and the speaker output upon receipt of the reset signal.

15. The fire exit alert system of claim 1 further including a backup battery for powering the fire exit alert system during a power failure.

16. The fire exit alert system of claim 1 further including a smoke detector connected to the trigger input of the control circuit.

17. The fire exit alert system of claim 1 further including a heat detector connected to the trigger input of the control circuit.

18. The fire exit alert system of claim 1 further including an illuminated exit sign.

19. The fire exit alert system of claim 18 where in the illuminated exit sign comprises an electroluminescent illuminated exit sign.

20. A fire exit alert system for operating a fire door, alerting members of the general public during a fire and assisting members of the general public in visually and audibly locating the fire exit door during a fire emergency, the fire exit alert system comprising:

an exit device for a fire exit door, the exit device being mounted on the fire door and engaging a door frame of the fire door, the exit device having a case;

a control circuit mounted in the exit device case, the control circuit including;

a voice storage element for storing a pre-recorded voice signal co-located with the fire exit door hardware, the voice signal to be audibly broadcast from a location corresponding to the fire exit door hardware, the voice signal including words indicating to members of the general public who have not previously used the fire exit door that an exit is located at the location from which the voice signal is being broadcast;

a trigger input adapted for receiving a fire detection signal from a fire detection system;

a white noise signal generator for producing a white noise signal having audible frequencies previously determined to be audibly locatable by members of the general public;

a speaker output; and

first and second light source outputs;

a speaker connected to the speaker output of the control circuit for repeatedly broadcasting the pre-recorded voice signal and the white noise signal to provide an audible direction guide towards the fire exit alert system;

a strobe light connected to the first light source output; and

a laser connected to the second light source output, the laser producing a cone having an apex at the fire exit alert system to provide a visual direction guide towards the fire exit alert system;

the control circuit flashing the strobe light in coordination with the voice signal.

21. A fire exit alert system for operating a fire door, alerting members of the general public during a fire and assisting members of the general public in visually and audibly locating the fire exit door during a fire emergency, the fire exit alert system comprising:

an automatic door closer for a fire exit door, the automatic door closer being mounted above the fire exit door and having an arm extending into contact with the fire exit door for closing the fire exit door, the automatic door closer having a case;

a control circuit mounted in the automatic door closer case, the control circuit including;

a voice storage element for storing a pre-recorded voice signal co-located with the fire exit door hardware, the voice signal to be audibly broadcast from a location corresponding to the fire exit door hardware, the voice signal including words indicating to members of the general public who have not previously used the fire exit door that an exit is located at the location from which the voice signal is being broadcast;

a trigger input adapted for receiving a fire detection signal from a fire detection system;

a white noise signal generator for producing a white noise signal having audible frequencies previously determined to be audibly locatable by members of the general public;

a speaker output; and

first and second light source outputs;

a speaker connected to the speaker output of the control circuit for repeatedly broadcasting the voice signal and the white noise signal to provide an audible direction guide towards the fire exit alert system;

a strobe light connected to the first light source output; and

a laser connected to the second light source output, the laser producing a cone having an apex at the fire exit alert system to provide a visual direction guide towards the fire exit alert system;

the control circuit flashing the strobe light in coordination with the voice signal.

22. A method of operating a fire door, alerting members of the general public during a fire and assisting members of the general public in visually and audibly locating the fire exit door during a fire emergency, the method comprising the steps of:

providing fire exit door hardware for operating, locking, latching, unlocking, unlatching, opening, or closing the fire exit door, the fire exit door hardware being adapted for mounting in contact with the fire exit door to operate the fire exit door, the fire exit door hardware including a case;

providing a control circuit mounted in the fire exit door hardware case, the control circuit including;

a voice storage element for storing a pre-recorded voice signal co-located with the fire exit door hardware, the voice signal to be audibly broadcast from a location corresponding to the fire exit door hardware, the voice signal including words indicating to members of the general public who have not previously used the fire exit door that an exit is located at the location from which the voice signal is being broadcast;

a trigger input adapted for receiving a fire detection signal from a fire detection system;

a speaker output; and

a light source output;

providing a speaker connected to the speaker output of the control circuit for broadcasting an audibly locatable signal, the audibly locatable signal comprising at least the pre-recorded voice signal, to indicate to members of the general public that the prerecorded voice signal is being audibly broadcast from the location of an exit, the pre-recorded voice signal assisting members of the general public who have not previously used the fire exit door to determine that a safe exit is located at the source of the audibly locatable signal;

providing a light source connected to the light source output for providing a visually locatable indication of the location of the fire exit door to members of the general public;

responsive to receipt of the fire detection signal indicating a fire emergency, performing the steps of;

turning on the light source,

retrieving the voice signal from the voice storage element; and

repeatedly sending the voice signal to the speaker output to broadcast the audibly locatable signal from the speaker and advise members of the general public that the source of the audibly locatable signal is a fire exit.