Emergency notification and directional signaling apparatus

• US 7,636,049 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Issued: 12/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ellul Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Joseph Ellul Jr
• Inventors: Ellul, Joseph Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/610,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20070132575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 340/531, 340/538, 340/539.1, 340/539.14, 340/539.17, 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 340/584, 340/586, 340/628, 340/633, 340/629, 700/83, 700/291
• US Class Current: 340/584
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/113 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip

Abstract

An emergency notification and directional signaling apparatus includes an alarm remotely mountable from and responsive to an emergency event detector and alarm. The remote alarm activates one of a supplementary visual and audible alarm which may include one or more different colored lights, one of which is a pulsed strobe, and an audible sound which may include a recorded voice message. A temperature sensor in the remote alarm housing activates a second notification and signaling event when the ambient temperature surrounding the remote alarm reaches a preset threshold. The remote alarm may be mounted in a portable housing, on a faceplate of an existing wall electrical junction box, or in an electrical duplex body mounted in a junction box.

Claims

1. An emergency notification and directional signaling escape indicator apparatus usable with an emergency event detector generating a first signal output upon detecting an emergency event, the apparatus usable with at least one escape exit and comprising:

a detector capable of generating a signal upon sensing an output signal from the emergency event detector;

a transmitter responsive to the detector signal from the detector for generating a first signal frequency;

at least one housing adapted to be mounted on a surface in proximity to an escape exit;

an alarm providing at least one of an audible alarm and a visual alarm;

a receiver generating an output signal in response to the first signal frequency activating the alarm upon receiving the first signal frequency

the alarm and the receiver carried in the housing; and

a temperature sensor, carried in the housing, for sensing the ambient temperature adjacent to the housing, the temperature sensor generating an output signal upon detecting a temperature above a predetermined threshold temperature, the output signal activating at least one of a second notification and directional signaling event.

2. An emergency notification and directional signaling escape indicator apparatus usable with a detector generating an output at a first signal frequency upon detecting an emergency event, the apparatus mountable adjacent at least one escape exit, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver remote from the emergency event detector and capable of generating an output signal upon sensing a first signal from the emergency event detector;

a transmitter responsive to the output signal of the receiver for transmitting a second signal frequency upon receiving the output signal from the receiver;

at least one distinct alarm carried in a housing remotely mounted from the transmitter and adapted to be mounted on a surface in close proximity to the escape exit, the alarm including a stored voice message;

a receiver, carried with the alarm and responsive to the second signal frequency from the transmitter, the receiver activating the alarm upon receiving the second signal frequency from the transmitter; and

a temperature sensor, carried with the housing, for sensing the ambient temperature adjacent to the housing, the temperature sensor generating an output signal upon detecting a temperature above a predetermined threshold temperature, the output signal activating at least one of a second notification and directional signaling event.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the alarm comprises:

at least one of a visible light from a first light source and an audible alarm.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the visible light comprises a pulsed strobe.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the pulsed strobe is a white light strobe.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

the receiver and the temperature sensor mounted in the housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the alarm comprises both a visible light and an audible alarm.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the receiver includes:

a sound detector generating an output upon receiving a signal frequency; and

a filter responsive to the sound detector output for passing only signal frequencies corresponding to the first signal frequency from the transmitter.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a first switch responsive to an output of the receiver for activating the alarm; and

a second switch, responsive to the output signal of the temperature sensor at a preset threshold temperature, for operating the first switch to deactivate the alarm.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a test transmitter generating a test signal frequency when activated; and

the receiver in the housing activating the alarm upon receiving the test signal frequency.

12. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the housing is mountable in an electrical power outlet box.

13. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the housing includes a plug insertable in an electrical power receptacle.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the electrical power receptacle provides 110V AC electrical power.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

electrical power storage backup mounted in the housing for supplying backup electric power to the alarm.

16. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

the housing is a portable housing adapted to be removably mounted in proximity with the escape exit.

17. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the receiver and the transmitter are disposed in one housing.

18. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

electric power for the receiver in the alarm in the housing is provided by storage batteries.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:

the plug is pivotally mounted on the housing for movement between a first, non-contact position substantially surrounded by a portion of the housing to a second electrically connectible position wherein the plug extends outward from the housing.

20. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the alarm is an audible alarm generating a warble sound.

21. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the voice message is at least one of a prerecorded message and a recordable message.

22. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the alarm comprises:

at least one flash tube.

23. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the housing has at least a portion allowing light to be emitted from a first visible alarm light source through the portion in a first color.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

a first lens mounted in the housing and disposed to allow emission of light from the first light source in the first color.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the alarm further comprises:

a second light source mounted in the housing; and

a second colored lens, formed of a second different color than the first lens, for converting the light emitted by the second light source to a different color light than the light emitted by the first light source through the first lens.

26. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the alarm further comprises:

a first and second light source;

a first surface disposed over the first light source for allowing light to be emitted from the first light source in a first color; and

a second surface disposed over the second light source for allowing light to be emitted from the second light source in a second color different from the first color.

27. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the alarm further comprises:

the at least one of the second emergency notification and directional signaling event activated by the temperature sensor output.

28. The apparatus or claim 27 wherein the second event comprises one of a second different color light and a second different audible sound.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the second audible sound is a stored voice message.

30. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the housing further comprises:

vents formed in the housing allowing airflow to the temperature sensor within the interior of the housing.

31. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

the receiver mounted in the housing adapted for detecting the sound frequency output of an emergency event detector alarm.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the housing further comprises:

an emergency event detector mounted in the housing for separately detecting an emergency event; and

the detector generating an output to activate the alarm in the housing.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein:

the housing is mounted on one location of an electrical duplex body; and

at least one of a switch and an electrical plug receptacle is mounted on another location of the electric duplex body.

34. An emergency notification and directional signaling escape indicator apparatus usable with a detector generating an output at a first signal frequency upon detecting an emergency event, the apparatus mountable adjacent at least one escape exit, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver remote from the emergency event detector and capable of generating an output signal upon sensing a first signal from the emergency event detector;

a transmitter responsive to the output signal of the receiver for transmitting a second signal frequency upon receiving the output signal from the receiver;

at least one distinct alarm carried in a housing remotely mounted from the transmitter and adapted to be mounted on a surface in close proximity to the escape exit;

the housing is adapted to be mounted inside an electrical junction box; and

a receiver, carried with the alarm and responsive to the second signal frequency from the transmitter, the receiver activating the alarm upon receiving the second signal frequency from the transmitter.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising:

the junction box further adapted for fixedly receiving at least one of an electrical plug receptacle and an electric switch.

36. An emergency notification and directional signaling escape indicator apparatus usable with an emergency event alarm activated upon detecting an emergency event comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted inside an electrical junction box;

a receiver capable of generating a signal upon sensing activation of the emergency event alarm;

an alarm, responsive to the receiver signal, providing at least one of an audible alarm and a visual alarm;

the alarm and the receiver carried in the housing; and

a temperature sensor, carried in the housing, for sensing the ambient temperature adjacent to the housing, the temperature sensor generating an output signal upon detecting a predetermined threshold temperature, the output signal activating at least one of a second notification and directional signaling event.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein:

the housing is mounted on one location of an electrical duplex body; and

at least one of a switch and an electrical plug receptacle is mounted on another location of the electric duplex body.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising:

the junction box adapted for fixedly receiving at least one of an electrical plug receptacle and an electric switch.

39. An emergency notification and directional signaling escape indicator apparatus usable with a detector generating an output at a first signal frequency upon detecting an emergency event, the apparatus mountable adjacent at least one escape exit, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver remote from the emergency event detector and capable of generating an output signal upon sensing a first signal from the emergency event detector;

a transmitter responsive to the output signal of the receiver for transmitting a second signal frequency upon receiving the output signal from the receiver;

at least one distinct alarm carried in a housing remotely mounted from the transmitter and adapted to be mounted on a surface in close proximity to the escape exit, the alarm including a stored voice message and at least one of an audible alarm and a visual alarm; and

a receiver, carried with the alarm and responsive to the second signal frequency from the transmitter, the receiver activating the alarm upon receiving the second signal frequency from the transmitter.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein:

the alarm is activatable by a distinct second one of an audible alarm, a visual alarm and a stored voice message as a second notification and directional signaling event.