Optically efficient notification device for use in life safety wall strobe applications

• US 8,113,694 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Rong, Wei, Kosich, Joseph, Pierz, Crystal
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gyllstrom, Bryon T
• Application Number:
  US12/558,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20110063852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 362/147, 362/516, 362/346, 362/297, 362/349, 362/343
• US Class Current: 362/349
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/09 with a combination of different curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/14 Arrangements of reflectors therein

Abstract

A wall notification device described herein can draw a lower current by providing a more efficient reflector configuration. The reflector is designed to be positioned on a wall and provide sufficient light output in each of the requisite directions, as required by the UL 1971 standard. The notification device has a reflector unit having a base having a curved portion centered on the vertical axis and a flat portion extending from the curved portion; a reflective flange extending from a location near a top side of the base; a first and second specular protrusion extending from the curved portion of the base; a third and fourth specular protrusion extending from the base; a fifth and sixth specular protrusion extending from the curved portion of the base; and a sixth and seventh specular protrusion extending form the flat portion of the base.

Claims

1. A notification device comprising:

a housing configured to be installed on a wall;

a reflector unit mounted to the housing and symmetrical about a vertical axis, the reflector unit comprising;

a base comprising;

a curved portion centered on the vertical axis;

a flat portion extending from the curved portion on a first side of the vertical axis and a second side of the vertical axis;

a reflective flange extending from a location near a top side of the base and along a plane perpendicular to the wall, the reflective flange having a lower surface that tapers from the vertical axis toward the top side of the base;

a first specular protrusion and a second specular protrusion extending from the curved portion of the base, wherein the first specular protrusion is positioned on the first side of the vertical axis and the second specular protrusion is positioned on the second side of the vertical axis, the first specular protrusion and the second specular protrusion each comprising a surface substantially directed toward a lower edge of the base near the vertical axis;

a third specular protrusion and a fourth specular protrusion extending from the base, wherein the third specular protrusion is positioned on the first side of the vertical axis and the fourth specular protrusion is positioned on the second side of the vertical axis, the third specular protrusion and the fourth specular protrusion each extending from a lower edge of the base and tapering in a direction parallel to the vertical axis;

a fifth specular protrusion and a sixth specular protrusion extending from the curved portion of the base, wherein the fifth specular protrusion is positioned on the first side of the vertical axis and the sixth specular protrusion is positioned on the second side of the vertical axis, and wherein the fifth specular protrusion is proximate to the third specular protrusion on a side of the third specular protrusion nearest the vertical axis and the sixth specular protrusion is proximate to the fourth specular protrusion on a side of the fourth specular protrusion nearest the vertical axis, the fifth specular protrusion and the sixth specular protrusion each having a curved surface substantially directed toward a central point of the curved portion of the base; and

a seventh specular protrusion and a eighth specular protrusion extending from the flat portion of the base, wherein the seventh specular protrusion is positioned on the first side of the vertical axis and the eighth specular protrusion is positioned on the second side of the vertical axis, and wherein the seventh specular protrusion and the eighth specular protrusion each taper toward the vertical axis;

a lens coupled to the housing and positioned over the reflector unit; and

a lamp positioned in the center of the curved portion of the base.

2. The notification device according to claim 1, wherein the curved portion of the base comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion each have a different curvature, and wherein the upper portion is proximate to the flat portion of the base.

3. The notification device according to claim 2, wherein the lower portion comprises a keyhole for receiving the lamp.

4. The notification device according to claim 1, wherein the third and fourth specular protrusions have a first portion extending from the flat portion of the base and a second portion extending from the curved portion of the base.

5. The notification device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective flange has a width approximately equal to the diameter of the curved portion of the base.

6. The notification device according to claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the reflective flange comprises a recess positioned at the vertical axis.

7. The notification device according to claim 6, wherein the lower surface further comprises a first and second surface portion, wherein each of the first and second portions extend from the recess on the first side and the second side of the vertical axis, and wherein the first and second portions are substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis.

8. The notification device according to claim 1, wherein the lamp is a 2.5 J flashtube.

9. The notification device according to claim 1, wherein the notification device is configured to provide a 185 candela output with a 2.5 J lamp.

10. The notification device according to claim 1, wherein the lens extends to a perimeter of the housing.

11. The notification device according to claim 10, further comprising a horn element, wherein the lens has at least one aperture positioned substantially over the horn element.

12. The notification device according to claim 10, further comprising a horn element, wherein the lens does not extend over the horn element and wherein the horn element is positioned behind a plurality of louvers.

13. A notification device comprising:

a housing configured to be installed on a wall;

a reflector unit mounted to the housing and symmetrical about a vertical axis, the reflector unit comprising;

a base comprising;

a curved portion;

a flat portion extending from the curved portion on a first side of the vertical axis and a second side of the vertical axis;

a reflective flange extending from a location near a top side of the base, the reflective flange having a lower surface that tapers from the vertical axis toward the top side of the base;

a first specular protrusion and a second specular protrusion extending from the curved portion of the base, wherein the first specular protrusion is positioned on the first side of the vertical axis and the second specular protrusion is positioned on the second side of the vertical axis, the first specular protrusion and the second specular protrusion each comprising a surface substantially directed toward a lower edge of the base near the vertical axis;

a third specular protrusion and a fourth specular protrusion extending from the base, wherein the third specular protrusion is positioned on the first side of the vertical axis and the fourth specular protrusion is positioned on the second side of the vertical axis, the third specular protrusion and the fourth specular protrusion each extending from a lower edge of the base and tapering in a direction parallel to the vertical axis;

a lens coupled to the housing and positioned over the reflector unit; and

a lamp positioned in the center of the curved portion of the base.

14. The notification device of claim 13, further comprising a fifth specular protrusion and a sixth specular protrusion extending from the curved portion of the base, wherein the fifth specular protrusion is positioned on the first side of the vertical axis and the sixth specular protrusion is positioned on the second side of the vertical axis, and wherein the fifth specular protrusion is proximate to the third specular protrusion on a side of the third specular protrusion nearest the vertical axis and the sixth specular protrusion is proximate to the fourth specular protrusion on a side of the fourth specular protrusion nearest the vertical axis, the fifth specular protrusion and the sixth specular protrusion each having a curved surface substantially directed toward a central point of the curved portion of the base.

15. The notification device of claim 13, further comprising a third specular protrusion and a fourth specular protrusion extending from the curved portion of the base, wherein the third specular protrusion is positioned on the first side of the vertical axis and the fourth specular protrusion is positioned on the second side of the vertical axis, the third specular protrusion and the fourth specular protrusion each having a curved surface substantially directed toward a central point of the curved portion of the base.

16. The notification device of claim 13, further comprising a third specular protrusion and a fourth specular protrusion extending from the flat portion of the base, wherein the third specular protrusion is positioned on the first side of the vertical axis and the fourth specular protrusion is positioned on the second side of the vertical axis, and wherein the third specular protrusion and the fourth specular protrusion each taper toward the vertical axis.

17. A notification device comprising:

a housing;

a reflector unit mounted to the housing and comprising;

a base comprising;

a curved portion positioned along the vertical axis;

a flat portion extending from the curved portion on a first side of the vertical axis and a second side of the vertical axis;

a reflective flange extending from the base and along a plane perpendicular to the wall;

a first specular protrusion and a second specular protrusion extending from the base, the first specular protrusion and the second specular protrusion each extending from a lower edge of the base and tapering in a direction parallel to the vertical axis; and

a third specular protrusion and a fourth specular protrusion extending from the curved portion of the base, wherein the third specular protrusion is proximate to the first specular protrusion on a side of the first specular protrusion nearest the vertical axis and the fourth specular protrusion is proximate to the second specular protrusion on a side of the second specular protrusion nearest the vertical axis, the third specular protrusion and the fourth specular protrusion each having a curved surface substantially directed toward a central point of the curved portion of the base;

a lens coupled to the housing and positioned over the reflector unit; and

a lamp positioned in the curved portion of the base.

18. The notification device of claim 17, further comprising a fifth specular protrusion and a sixth specular protrusion extending from the curved portion of the base, the fifth specular protrusion and the sixth specular protrusion each comprising a surface substantially directed toward a lower edge of the base near the vertical axis.

19. The notification device of claim 17, further comprising a fifth specular protrusion and a sixth specular protrusion extending from the flat portion of the base, wherein the fifth specular protrusion and the sixth specular protrusion each taper toward the vertical axis.

20. A notification device comprising:

a housing configured to be installed on a wall;

a reflector unit mounted to the housing and symmetrical about a vertical axis, the reflector unit comprising;

a base comprising;

a curved portion;

a flat portion extending from the curved portion on a first side of the vertical axis and a second side of the vertical axis;

a reflective flange extending from a location near a top side of the base, the reflective flange having a lower surface that tapers from the vertical axis toward the top side of the base;

a first specular protrusion and a second specular protrusion extending from the curved portion of the base, wherein the first specular protrusion is positioned on the first side of the vertical axis and the second specular protrusion is positioned on the second side of the vertical axis, the first specular protrusion and the second specular protrusion each comprising a surface substantially directed toward a lower edge of the base near the vertical axis;

a third specular protrusion and a fourth specular protrusion extending from the flat portion of the base, wherein the third specular protrusion is positioned on the first side of the vertical axis and the fourth specular protrusion is positioned on the second side of the vertical axis, and wherein the third specular protrusion and the fourth specular protrusion each taper toward the vertical axis;

a lens coupled to the housing and positioned over the reflector unit; and

a lamp positioned in the center of the curved portion of the base.