Carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system and associated method

• US 8,669,878 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2010
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas L. Vantilburg
• Original Assignee: Thomas L. Vantilburg
• Inventors: Vantilburg, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Knox, Kaleria
• Application Number:
  US12/720,478
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 340/632, 340/506, 422/98, 318/282, 307/116
• US Class Current: 340/632
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 5/00 Other devices for rescuing from fire ladders E06C
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/42 Devices or arrangements peculiar to garages, not covered elsewhere, e.g. securing devices, safety devices , monitoring and operating schemes; centering devices
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/72 responsive to emergency conditions, e.g. fire
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/00 Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6818 using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/72 Carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system including a garage door opening system connected to an existing garage door and a user interface communicatively coupled to the garage door opening system for toggling the garage door between open and closed positions based upon receiving a corresponding user input at the user interface. Such a user interface preferably has a first carbon monoxide detector located therein for detecting an initial carbon monoxide level in the ambient air surrounding the user interface. A second carbon monoxide detector is attached to a rear side of the user interface for confirming whether the initial carbon monoxide level is an unsafe carbon monoxide level. In this manner, upon validating the unsafe carbon monoxide level, the user interface is adapted to automatically override the user input and thereby open the garage door.

Claims

1. A carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system for preventing exposure to lethal levels of carbon monoxide inside a garage, said carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system comprising:

a garage door opening system adapted to be connected to an existing garage door;

a user interface communicatively coupled to said garage door opening system for toggling said garage door between open and closed positions based upon receiving a corresponding user input at said user interface, said user interface having a first carbon monoxide detector located therein for detecting an initial carbon monoxide level in the ambient air surrounding said user interface; and

a second carbon monoxide detector attached to a rear side of said user interface for confirming whether said initial carbon monoxide level is an unsafe carbon monoxide level;

wherein, upon validating said unsafe carbon monoxide level, said user interface is adapted to automatically override said user input and thereby open the garage door.

2. The carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system of claim 1, wherein said second carbon monoxide detector is communicatively coupled to said user interface in such a manner that said second carbon monoxide detector overrides said user input upon verifying said unsafe carbon monoxide level.

3. The carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system of claim 2, wherein said user interface comprises:

a portable housing having a plurality of vents formed along an outer surface thereof, said housing containing said first carbon monoxide detector therein;

a plurality of control buttons formed on said outer surface of said housing for receiving said user input;

an interior plate directly affixed to a rear side of said housing; and

a back plate directly affixed to said housing such that said interior plate is intercalated between said back plate and said rear side of said housing while remaining positioned exterior of said housing;

wherein said second carbon monoxide detector is connected to said interior plate and faces said rear side of said housing.

4. The carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system of claim 3, wherein said second housing further comprises:

an internal power supply source and a switch connected thereto, said first carbon monoxide detectors being communicatively mated to said internal power supply source and said switch respectively, said second carbon monoxide detector being connected to said switch; and

a logic gate connected to said first and second carbon monoxide detectors;

wherein, upon detecting said first carbon monoxide level, said first carbon monoxide detector generates and transmits first and second true signals to said logic gate and said switch respectively and thereby causing said switch to close.

5. The carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system of claim 4, wherein power is transmitted to said second carbon monoxide detector upon closure of said switch such that said second carbon monoxide detector measure a second carbon monoxide level in the ambient air;

wherein said first carbon monoxide level is unsafe if said second carbon monoxide level is at least as high as said first carbon monoxide level and if the first carbon monoxide level is above a predetermined carbon monoxide threshold level.

6. The carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system of claim 5, wherein, upon validating said unsafe carbon monoxide level, said second carbon monoxide detector generates and transmits third and fourth true signals to said logic gate and said switch respectively and thereby maintains said switch at a closed position;

wherein, upon receiving said first and third true signals, said logic gate generates and transmits an true output override signal to said user interface thereby instructing said user interface to adapt the garage door to an open position.

7. The carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system of claim 6, wherein, upon invalidating said unsafe carbon monoxide level, said second carbon monoxide detector generates and transmits first and second false signals to said logic gate respectively and thereby toggles said switch to an open position;

wherein, upon receiving said third false signal, said logic gate generates and transmits a false output override signal to said user interface thereby instructing said user interface to take no action.

8. A carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system for preventing exposure to lethal levels of carbon monoxide inside a garage, said carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system comprising:

a garage door opening system adapted to be connected to an existing garage door;

a portable and manually operable user interface communicatively coupled to said garage door opening system for toggling said garage door between open and closed positions based upon receiving a corresponding user input at said user interface, said user interface having a first carbon monoxide detector located therein for detecting an initial carbon monoxide level in the ambient air surrounding said user interface; and

a second carbon monoxide detector attached to a rear side of said user interface for confirming whether said initial carbon monoxide level is an unsafe carbon monoxide level;

wherein, upon validating said unsafe carbon monoxide level, said user interface is adapted to automatically override said user input and thereby open the garage door.

9. The carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system of claim 8, wherein said second carbon monoxide detector is communicatively coupled to said user interface in such a manner that said second carbon monoxide detector overrides said user input upon verifying said unsafe carbon monoxide level.

10. The carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system of claim 9, wherein said user interface comprises:

a portable housing having a plurality of vents formed along an outer surface thereof, said housing containing said first carbon monoxide detector therein;

a plurality of control buttons formed on said outer surface of said housing for receiving said user input;

an interior plate directly affixed to a rear side of said housing; and

a back plate directly affixed to said housing such that said interior plate is intercalated between said back plate and said rear side of said housing while remaining positioned exterior of said housing;

wherein said second carbon monoxide detector is connected to said interior plate and faces said rear side of said housing.

11. The carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system of claim 10, wherein said second housing further comprises:

an internal power supply source and a switch connected thereto, said first carbon monoxide detectors being communicatively mated to said internal power supply source and said switch respectively, said second carbon monoxide detector being connected to said switch; and

a logic gate connected to said first and second carbon monoxide detectors;

wherein, upon detecting said first carbon monoxide level, said first carbon monoxide detector generates and transmits first and second true signals to said logic gate and said switch respectively and thereby causing said switch to close.

12. The carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system of claim 11, wherein power is transmitted to said second carbon monoxide detector upon closure of said switch such that said second carbon monoxide detector measure a second carbon monoxide level in the ambient air;

wherein said first carbon monoxide level is unsafe if said second carbon monoxide level is at least as high as said first carbon monoxide level and if the first carbon monoxide level is above a predetermined carbon monoxide threshold level.

13. The carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system of claim 12, wherein, upon validating said unsafe carbon monoxide level, said second carbon monoxide detector generates and transmits third and fourth true signals to said logic gate and said switch respectively and thereby maintains said switch at a closed position;

wherein, upon receiving said first and third true signals, said logic gate generates and transmits an true output override signal to said user interface thereby instructing said user interface to adapt the garage door to an open position.

14. The carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system of claim 13, wherein, upon invalidating said unsafe carbon monoxide level, said second carbon monoxide detector generates and transmits first and second false signals to said logic gate respectively and thereby toggles said switch to an open position;

wherein, upon receiving said third false signal, said logic gate generates and transmits a false output override signal to said user interface thereby instructing said user interface to take no action.

15. A method of utilizing a carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system for preventing exposure to lethal levels of carbon monoxide inside a garage, said method comprising the steps of:

providing and connecting a garage door opening system to an existing garage door;

providing and communicatively coupling a portable and manually operable user interface to said garage door opening system for toggling said garage door between open and closed positions based upon receiving a corresponding user input at said user interface;

providing and locating a first carbon monoxide detector in said user interface for detecting an initial carbon monoxide level in the ambient air surrounding said user interface;

providing and attaching a second carbon monoxide detector to a rear side of said user interface for confirming whether said initial carbon monoxide level is an unsafe carbon monoxide level; and

upon validating said unsafe carbon monoxide level, said user interface automatically overriding said user input and thereby opening the garage door.