Wall supported fire and smoke alarm having laser light

• US 20050174251A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Terry III
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Terry III
• Inventors: Terry, Robert L. III
• Application Number:
  US11/046,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20050174251A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/691.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/113 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits

Abstract

A fire and smoke alarm device having a device body is removably supported on a wall by a fire resistant support loop and has a battery powered electronic circuit including a sensor for detection of a predetermined level of combustion emissions and emitting a shrill pulsating audible alarm. The device repetitively emits a pre-recorded voice alert in alternating relation with the pulsating audible alarm to alert persons who might not be easily alerted by horn or siren signals. The device incorporates a laser and/or LED light that is energized by the electronic circuitry and project a light beam from an adjustable arm or appendage of the device body. A light diffusing member is located remotely from the device body and is positionable to diffuse the light beam and to guide emergency personnel to the area being monitored.

Claims

1. A method for providing audio and visual alarm and direction indicating signals upon detection of a condition of fire and/or smoke in an area being monitored by a fire and smoke alarm system, comprising:

positioning a fire and smoke alarm apparatus on a structural surface in a room in direct view of a potential fire exit;

aligning a smoke penetrating light beam integral to said apparatus toward said fire exit;

locking said light beam in the direction established in the prior step;

continuously detecting fire emissions in said room;

upon detecting fire emissions in said room, actuating said light beam toward said potential fire exit; and

upon detecting fire emissions in said room, actuating a voice recording to enhance escape potential.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

positioning a light diffusion means for contact by said light beam upon energization thereof; and

contacting said optical diffusion means to spread said light beam and define a light pattern notifying emergency personnel of the likely location of potential fire victim.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said light beam is a laser light beam, said method comprising:

positioning a laser light diffusion means at a location for contact by said laser beam upon energization thereof; and

contacting said optical diffusion means with said laser beam to fragment said laser light beam and define a laser light pattern notifying emergency personnel of the likely location of potential fire victim.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said light beam is a laser light beam, said method comprising:

positioning a laser light diffusion prism on a window exposed to the exterior of a building and in position for contact by said laser light beam upon energization thereof; and

contacting said laser light diffusion prism with said laser light beam to diffuse said laser light beam and develop a laser pattern on the window notifying emergency personnel of the likely location of potential fire victim.

5. A method for providing audio and visual alarm and direction indicating signals in a building upon detection of a condition of fire and/or smoke in an area being monitored by a fire and smoke alarm system having an adjustably moveable appendage supporting a light source creating a light beam, comprising:

positioning a fire and smoke alarm apparatus on a structural surface in a room in direct view of a selected part of the building;

adjustably orienting a smoke penetrating light beam of said adjustably moveable appendage for causing said smoke penetrating light beam to strike the selected part of the building;

locking said adjustably moveable appendage and maintaining said light beam in the direction established in the prior step;

continuously detecting fire emissions in said room;

positioning a light diffusing member on the selected part of the building and in position for contact thereof by said light beam

upon detecting fire emissions in said room, actuating said light beam toward the selected part of the building and striking said light diffusing member; and

diffusing said light beam with said light diffusing member and developing a light pattern notifying emergency personnel of the likely location of potential fire victim.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said selected part of the building being a window being exposed to the exterior of a building and in position to be contacted by a light beam, said method comprising:

said positioning step being mounting said light diffusing member so that diffused light therefrom defines a light pattern that is visible through the window and provides a visible light pattern notifying emergency personnel of the likely location of potential fire victim.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said selected part of the building being a window being exposed to the exterior of a building and in position to be contacted by a light beam, said method comprising:

said positioning step being mounting said light diffusing member on the window and aligned with said light beam so that striking said light diffusing member with said light beam causes diffused light to be projected from said light diffusing member onto the window and defining a light pattern on the window that is visible by emergency personnel externally of the building and notifying the emergency personnel of the likely location of potential fire victim.

8. A fire and smoke alarm device comprising:

a device body having means for releasable support of said device body from a support device on a wall of a building structure;

a fire and smoke detector and alarm being mounted to said device body and having a combustions emissions sensor activating said fire and smoke emissions detector upon sensing a predetermined concentration of combustion emissions;

light emitting means projecting a light beam in a selected direction;

means adjustably supporting said light emitting means and being selectively adjustable for positioning said light emitting means to project a light beam in a selected direction;

means locking said adjustably supporting means at the selected position and maintaining the selected direction of said light beam; and

means energizing said light emitting means responsive to energization of said fire and smoke detector and alarm upon activation thereof by said fire emissions sensor.

9. The fire and smoke alarm device of claim 8, comprising:

said light emitting means being a laser light.

10. The fire and smoke alarm device of claim 8, comprising:

said light emitting means being a LED.

11. The fire and smoke alarm device of claim 8, comprising:

said light emitting means being a laser light and a LED.

12. The fire and smoke alarm device of claim 8, comprising:

said locking means being at least two ball and socket members establishing a ball and socket connection having sufficient frictional resistance to movement as to be manually articulatable to a desired position and to frictionally maintain said desired position.

13. The fire and smoke alarm device of claim 8, comprising:

said locking means being a universal joint connection having angularly offset connection members and permitting selective manual positioning movement for selected orientation of said light emitting means and having at least one locking member being manually manipulatable for locking said universal joint against inadvertent movement.

14. The fire and smoke alarm device of claim 8, comprising:

said means energizing said light emitting means being an electronic circuit having a microprocessor and a storage battery coupled with said microprocessor for DC electrical supply;

a combustion emissions sensor being coupled with said microprocessor for continuous power supply and combustion emissions monitoring and providing an electronic alarm signal upon sensing a predetermined minimum level of combustion emissions in the environment being monitored; and

audio and light circuit means being coupled for control and operation by said microprocessor and being simultaneously energized by said microprocessor and providing alternating pre-recorded voice alert signals and audible alarm signals and also energizing said light source and generating a light beam in a selected direction determined by adjustable positioning of said light emitting means.

15. The fire and smoke alarm device of claim 14, comprising:

test circuit means being electronically coupled for control and operation by said microprocessor and being energized for simultaneously testing said audio and light circuit means and said light emitting means; and

manually actuated normally open switch means being coupled in said test circuit means and being manually closed to active said test circuit means.

16. The fire and smoke alarm device of claim 15, comprising:

a timing circuit being incorporated within said test circuit means and determining a timing sequence for simultaneous testing of said audio and light circuit means and said light emitting means.

17. The fire and smoke alarm device of claim 8, comprising:

light diffusing means being located remotely from said light emitting means and in position to receive a light beam from said light emitting means, said light diffusing means diffusing the light beam and defining a light pattern that is visible to emergency personnel and provides location identification notifying the emergency personnel of the likely location of potential fire victim;

18. A fire and smoke alarm device comprising:

a device body having a mounting element for releasable support of said device body from a support on a wall of a building structure;

a fire and smoke detector and alarm being mounted to said device body and having a combustions emissions sensor activating said fire and smoke emissions detector upon sensing a predetermined concentration of fire emissions;

an adjustable pointing arm extending from said device body and being selectively manually moveable to selected positions and being lockable to maintain any selected position;

a laser device being mounted to said adjustable pointing arm and projecting a light beam in a selected direction determined by selective manual positioning of said arm; and

said laser device being energized by said fire and smoke detector and alarm upon activation thereof by said fire emissions sensor.

19. The fire and smoke alarm device of claim 18, comprising:

a light diffuser element being positioned remotely from said device body and upon being struck by said laser light causing diffusion of said laser light and serving as a beacon to guide emergency personnel to an area being monitored by said fire and smoke alarm device.

20. The fire and smoke alarm device of claim 18, comprising:

said fire and smoke detector and alarm having a speaker emitting audible alert signals responsive to activation of said fire and smoke detector; and

said audible alert signals being a shrill pulsating electronic signal and a prerecorded voice alert and instruction signal.

21. The fire and smoke alarm device of claim 20, comprising:

said shrill pulsating electronic signal and a prerecorded voice alert and instruction signal being alternated repetitively.

22. The fire and smoke alarm device of claim 18, comprising:

said device body having front and rear portions; and

a fire and heat resistant hanger element being fixed to said rear portion of said device body and providing for hanging support of said device body from a support device mounted to the wall of the building structure.

23. The fire and smoke alarm device of claim 18, comprising:

said fire and heat resistant hanger element being a wire loop having a lower portion thereof being connected with said rear portion of said device body.

24. The fire and smoke alarm device of claim 18, comprising:

said device body being in the form of a toy having front and back portions; and

said fire and smoke detector and alarm being fixed to said front portion of said device body.

25. A fire and smoke detector and alarm device comprising:

a device body having adapted for releasable support from a wall of a building structure;

a fire and smoke detector being mounted to said device body and having a battery powered electronic circuit including a fire emissions sensor circuit and activating said battery powered electronic circuit upon sensing a predetermination of predetermined fire emissions;

an adjustable pointing arm extending from said device body and being selectively manually positionable and lockable;

a laser device being mounted to said adjustable pointing arm and projecting a laser beam to a selected location determined by selective manual positioning of said arm, said laser device being energized by said battery powered electronic circuit upon activation of battery powered electronic circuit by said fire emissions sensor circuit; and

a light diffuser element being positioned remotely from said device body and upon being struck by said laser light causing diffusion of said laser light and serving as a beacon to guide emergency personnel to an area being monitored by said fire and smoke alarm device.

26. The fire and smoke detector and alarm device of claim 25, comprising:

said fire and smoke detector and alarm having a speaker emitting audible alert signals responsive to activation of said fire and smoke detector; and

said audible alert signals being a shrill pulsating electronic signal and a prerecorded voice alert and instruction signal.

27. The fire and smoke detector and alarm device of claim 25, comprising:

said shrill pulsating electronic signal and a prerecorded voice alert and instruction signal being alternated repetitively.

28. The fire and smoke detector and alarm device of claim 25, comprising:

said device body and front and rear portions; and

a fire and heat resistant hanger element being fixed to said rear portion of said device body and providing for hanging support of said device body from a support device mounted to the wall of the building structure.

29. The fire and smoke detector and alarm device of claim 28, comprising:

said fire and heat resistant hanger element being a wire loop having a lower portion thereof being connected with said rear portion of said device body.

30. The fire and smoke detector and alarm device of claim 25, comprising:

said device body being in the form of a toy having front and rear portions; and

said fire and smoke detector and alarm being fixed to said front portion of said device body.

31. A fire and smoke detector and alarm device comprising:

a device body having adapted for releasable support from a wall of a building structure;

a fire and smoke detector being mounted to said device body and having a battery powered electronic circuit including a fire emissions sensor circuit and activating said battery powered electronic circuit upon sensing a predetermination of predetermined fire emissions;

an adjustable pointing arm extending from said device body and being selectively manually positionable and lockable;

a laser device being mounted to said adjustable pointing arm and projecting a laser beam to a selected location determined by selective manual positioning of said arm to guide persons of the room to a safe location and to identify the location of persons of the room to safety personnel;

said laser device being energized by said battery powered electronic circuit upon activation of battery powered electronic circuit by said fire emissions sensor circuit

said fire and smoke detector and alarm having a speaker emitting audible alert signals responsive to activation of said fire and smoke detector; and

said audible alert signals being a shrill pulsating electronic signal and a prerecorded voice alert and instruction signal being electronically alternated repetitively.

32. The fire and smoke detector and alarm device of claim 31, comprising:

said device body being in the form of a doll or toy having front and rear portions and having at least one appendage having a pointing end and being manually positionable to a variety of positions as desired;

said laser being mounted to said pointing end and being oriented to project a laser beam to a path to safety upon manual manipulation of said appendage; and

said fire and smoke detector being mounted to said front portion of said device body

33. The fire and smoke detector and alarm device of claim 31, comprising:

a light diffuser element being positioned remotely from said device body and upon being struck by said laser light causing diffusion of said laser light and serving as a beacon to guide emergency personnel to an area being monitored by said fire and smoke alarm device.

34. The fire and smoke detector and alarm device of claim 33, wherein the building structure defines a window located within view of said laser device and having a window glass, said device comprising:

said light diffuser element being positioned to receive a laser beam from said laser light and to diffuse the laser beam and present at the window a diffused laser pattern for recognition by emergency personnel of the likely location of a person in an area being monitored by said fire and smoke detector and alarm device.

35. The fire and smoke detector and alarm device of claim 34, comprising:

said light diffuser element being light transparent and defining a multiplicity of light diverting facets diffusing the laser beam and projecting the diffused laser pattern on the window glass of said window.