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

• US 8,939,615 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2013
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• 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: Kosich, Joseph, Pierz, Crystal, Rong, Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gyllstrom, Bryon T
• Application Number:
  US13/953,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20130308322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 362/147, 362/343, 362/516, 362/346, 362/297, 362/349
• 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, wherein the housing is disposed around an outer perimeter of the base, wherein the base comprises;

a curved portion; and

a reflective 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 reflective flat portion surrounds at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the curved portion; and

a first specular protrusion and a second specular protrusion that extend from within a curved interior surface of the curved portion of the base, wherein the first specular protrusion and the second specular protrusion are positioned on the curved surface of the curved portion away from the outer perimeter of the curved portion, wherein a surface of the first specular protrusion and a surface of the second specular protrusion are substantially directed toward a lower edge of the base near the vertical axis, wherein the surface of the first specular protrusion and the surface of the second specular protrusion extend from the curved surface of the curved portion in a substantially orthogonal direction relative to a front surface of the reflective flat portion.

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 reflective 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 tapers 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 1, further comprising 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.

7. The notification device of claim 6, 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, wherein the lens extends to a perimeter of the housing.

10. The notification device of claim 1, further comprising a lens and a horn element, wherein the lens is coupled to the housing and disposed over at least a portion of the reflector unit and wherein the lens has at least one aperture positioned substantially over the horn element.

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

12. 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 first specular protrusion and a second specular protrusion that extend from within a curved interior surface of the curved portion of the base in a substantially orthogonal direction relative to a front surface of the flat portion, wherein the first specular protrusion and the second specular protrusion are positioned on the curved interior surface of the curved portion away from the outer perimeter of the curved portion; and

a third specular protrusion and a fourth specular protrusion extending from the flat portion and from the curved interior surface of the curved portion, 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 a surface of the third specular protrusion is oriented to reflect light reflected by the first protrusion and wherein a surface of the fourth specular protrusion is oriented to reflect light reflected by the second protrusion.

13. The reflector unit of claim 12, 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.

14. The reflector unit of claim 12, 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.

15. The reflector unit of claim 14, wherein the lower portion comprises a keyhole for receiving a lamp.

16. The reflector unit of claim 12, wherein each of the third and fourth specular protrusions has a first portion extending from the flat portion of the base and a second portion extending from the curved portion of the base.

17. The reflector unit of claim 12, 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.

18. 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 first specular protrusion and a second specular protrusion that extend from within a curved interior surface of the curved portion of the base in a substantially orthogonal direction relative to a front surface of the flat portion, wherein the first specular protrusion and the second specular protrusion are positioned on the curved interior surface of the curved portion away from the outer perimeter of the curved portion; and

a third specular protrusion and a fourth specular protrusion extending from the flat portion of the base and from the curved interior surface of 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, and wherein the third specular protrusion and the fourth specular protrusion each taper toward the vertical axis, wherein a surface of the third specular protrusion is oriented to reflect light reflected by the first protrusion and wherein a surface of the fourth specular protrusion is oriented to reflect light reflected by the second protrusion; and

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

19. The notification device of claim 18, 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.

20. The notification device of claim 18, further comprising 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.