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

• US 8,496,363 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2012
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• 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:
  US13/372,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20120140488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 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; and

a reflector unit mounted to the housing, the reflector unit comprising;

a base comprising;

a curved portion; and

a flat portion extending from the curved portion on a first side of a vertical axis and a second side of the vertical axis, wherein the flat portion surrounds at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the curved portion;

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

a first specular protrusion and a second specular protrusion extending entirely from within an interior surface of the curved portion of the base in a substantially orthogonal direction relative to a front surface of the flat portion and to the vertical axis, wherein the first specular protrusion and the second specular protrusion are positioned on the curved portion away from the outer perimeter of the curved portion and extend beyond the front surface of the flat portion and the outer perimeter of the curved portion, wherein the first specular protrusion is positioned on the first side of the vertical axis, and wherein 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.

2. The notification device of 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 of claim 2, wherein the lower portion comprises a keyhole for receiving a light source.

4. The notification device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third specular protrusion extending from the base and positioned on the first side of the vertical axis; and

a fourth specular protrusion extending from the base and positioned on the second side of the vertical axis;

wherein each of the third specular protrusion and the fourth specular protrusion taper in a direction parallel to the vertical axis.

5. The notification device of claim 1, further comprising a light source.

6. The notification device of claim 5, wherein the light source is positioned in the center of the curved portion of the base.

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

8. The notification device of claim 7, wherein the lower surface further comprises:

a first surface portion extending from the recess on the first side of the vertical axis and substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis; and

a second surface portion extending from the recess on the second side of the vertical axis and substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis.

9. The notification device of claim 1, further comprising a lens coupled to the housing and disposed over at least a portion of the reflector unit.

10. The notification device of claim 9, wherein the lens extends to a perimeter of the housing.

11. The notification device of claim 9, 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 1, further comprising a horn element, wherein the horn element is positioned behind a plurality of louvers.

13. The notification device of claim 1, wherein the first specular protrusion and the second specular protrusion are wedge-shaped, each of the first specular protrusion and the second specular protrusion having a triangular side that is substantially parallel to the front surface of the flat portion.

14. The notification device of claim 1, wherein the curved portion completely surrounds the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

15. A reflector unit comprising:

a base comprising;

a curved portion centered on a vertical axis; and

a flat portion extending from the curved portion on a first side of the vertical axis and a second side of the vertical axis, wherein the flat portion surrounds at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the curved portion;

a reflective flange extending from a location near a top edge of the base and along a plane perpendicular to the flat portion, 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 entirely from within an interior surface of the curved portion of the base in a substantially orthogonal direction relative to a front surface of the flat portion and to the vertical axis, wherein the first specular protrusion and the second specular protrusion are positioned on the curved portion away from the outer perimeter of the curved portion and extend beyond the front surface of the flat portion and the outer perimeter of the curved portion, 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; and

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 outer edge of the base and tapering in a direction parallel to the vertical axis, wherein the third specular protrusion and the fourth specular protrusion extending from the lower outer edge of the base are positioned on the base opposite the reflective flange.

16. The reflector unit of claim 15, wherein the first specular protrusion and the second specular protrusion are wedge-shaped, each of the first specular protrusion and the second specular protrusion having a triangular side that is substantially parallel to the front surface of the flat portion, the first specular protrusion and the second specular protrusion each comprising a surface substantially directed toward the lower outer edge of the base near the vertical axis.

17. The reflector unit of claim 15, wherein the curved portion of the base comprises:

an upper portion positioned proximate to the flat portion of the base; and

a lower portion,

wherein the upper portion and the lower portion each have a different curvature.

18. The reflector unit of claim 17, wherein the lower portion comprises a keyhole for receiving the lamp.

19. The reflector unit of claim 15, 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.

20. The reflector unit of claim 15, wherein the lower surface of the reflective flange comprises a recess positioned at the vertical axis.

21. The reflector unit of claim 20, wherein the lower surface further comprises:

a first surface portion; and

a 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.

22. A notification device comprising:

a housing;

a reflector unit mounted to the housing, the reflector unit comprising;

a base comprising;

a curved portion; and

a flat portion extending from the curved portion on a first side of a vertical axis and a second side of the vertical axis, wherein the flat portion surrounds at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the curved portion;

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 entirely from within an interior surface of the curved portion of the base in a substantially orthogonal direction relative to a front surface of the flat portion and to the vertical axis, wherein the first specular protrusion and the second specular protrusion are positioned on the curved portion away from the outer perimeter of the curved portion and extend beyond the front surface of the flat portion and the outer perimeter of the curved portion, wherein the first specular protrusion is positioned on the first side of the vertical axis, and wherein the second specular protrusion is positioned on the second side of the vertical axis; and

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; and

a lens positioned over at least a portion of the reflector unit.