Smoke alarm with high and low pitched tones

• US 5,726,634 A
• Filed: 02/06/1996
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James L. Hess, Oneida V. Hess
• Original Assignee: James L. Hess, Oneida V. Hess
• Inventors: Hess, James L., Hess, Oneida V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US08/597,211
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 340/628-630, 340/328, 340/384.7, 340/384.73, 340/691, 340/692
• US Class Current: 340/628
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A smoke alarm with high and low pitched tones including a conventional smoke detector adapted to activate upon the detection of smoke associated with fire. A first high tone buzzer is included for emitting a high pitched tone upon activation of the smoke detector. A second low tone buzzer is included for emitting a low pitched tone upon the activation of the smoke detector. The first buzzer and second buzzers are adapted to allow the emitted tone thereof to be adjusted thus affording persons with hearing disabilities warning of the presence of fire.

Claims

1. A new and improved smoke alarm with high and low pitched tones, comprising, in combination:

an enclosure with a circular front face and a periphery formed therearound having a plurality of inhalation vents formed therein and an aperture formed on the front face, the enclosure adapted to be secured to a wall of a building;

a plug for connecting to a conventional alternating current receptacle;

a conventional smoke detector connected to the plug with a first activated orientation for allowing the transfer of current upon the detection of smoke and a second deactivated orientation for precluding the transfer of current upon the lack of detection of smoke;

a strobe situated within the aperture of the enclosure and connected in series with the smoke detector and adapted to intermittently actuate upon the receipt of current;

a strobe switch connected in series with the smoke detector and the strobe for selectively disengaging the strobe;

a adjustable timer controlled relay coil connected in parallel with the strobe and strobe switch, the timer controlled relay coil adapted to intermittently shift between an excited state and a relaxed state at a predetermined rate upon the receipt of current;

a first adjustable high tone buzzer connected in series with the timer controlled relay coil, the high tone buzzer adapted to emit a plurality of high pitched tones upon receipt of current;

a high tone relay contact connected in series between the high tone buzzer and the relay coil, the high tone relay contact having a first closed orientation for allowing the transmission of current therethrough upon the relaxation of the relay coil and a second open orientation for preventing the transmission thereof upon the excitation of the relay coil;

a second adjustable low tone buzzer connected in parallel with the high tone buzzer and high tone relay contact, the adjustable low tone buzzer adapted to emit a plurality of low pitched tones upon the receipt of current; and

a low tone relay contact connected in series with the low tone buzzer and further connected in parallel with the high tone buzzer and high tone relay contact, the low tone relay contact having a first closed orientation for allowing the transmission of current therethrough upon the excitation of the relay coil and a second open orientation for preventing the transmission thereof upon the relaxation of the relay coil.

2. A smoke alarm comprising:

a smoke detector having a closed state for allowing the transfer of current and an open state for precluding the transfer of current which changes from one state to the other upon the detection of smoke;

a first buzzer adapted to emit a high pitched tone upon receiving current and constructed to permit adjustment of the frequency of the high pitched tone by the end user;

a second buzzer adapted to emit a lower pitched tone than the first buzzer upon receiving current and constructed to permit adjustment of the frequency of the lower pitched tone by the end user; and

a relay downstream of the smoke detector which alternately changes between a de-energized state and an energized state upon receipt of current to alternately supply current to the first buzzer and second buzzer.

3. The smoke alarm of claim 2 wherein when the relay is in its de-energized state current is supplied to one of the first buzzer and the second buzzer and when the relay is in its energized state current is supplied to the other of the first buzzer and the second buzzer.

4. The smoke alarm of claim 3 wherein the relay is adjustable to change the rate at which the relay alternates between its de-energized state and energized state.

5. The smoke alarm of claim 2 wherein the relay also comprises a coil and first contacts having an open state and a closed state and disposed between the relay coil and the first buzzer, and second contacts having an open state and a closed state and disposed between the relay coil and the second buzzer wherein each of the first and second contacts change state upon the receipt of current to permit current to pass through the contacts when closed and prevent current therethrough when opened.

6. The smoke alarm of claim 5 wherein when the first contacts are open the second contacts are closed and when the first contacts are closed the second contacts are open.

7. A smoke alarm comprising:

a smoke detector having a closed state for allowing the transfer of current and an open state for precluding the transfer of current which changes from one state to the other upon the detection of smoke;

a first buzzer adapted to emit a high pitched tone upon receiving current;

a second buzzer adapted to emit a lower pitched tone than the first buzzer upon receiving current and at least one of said first and second buzzers is constructed to permit adjustment by the end user of the frequency of the tone emitted by such buzzer; and

a device actuated by the smoke detector which alternately changes state to alternately supply current to the first buzzer and the second buzzer to alternately produce a high pitched tone and a lower pitched tone.

8. The smoke alarm of claim 7 wherein the frequency of the tone emitted by the first buzzer is adjustable by the end user.

9. The smoke alarm of claim 7 wherein the frequency of the tone emitted by the second buzzer is adjustable by the end user.

10. A smoke alarm comprising:

a smoke detector having a closed state for allowing the transfer of current and an open state for precluding the transfer of current which changes from one state to the other upon the detection of smoke;

a first buzzer adapted to emit a high pitched tone upon receiving current;

a second buzzer adapted to emit a lower pitched tone than the first buzzer upon receiving current and at least one of said first and second buzzers is constructed to permit adjustment by the end user of the frequency of the tone emitted by such buzzer; and

a relay downstream of the smoke detector which alternately changes between a de-energized state and an energized state upon receipt of current to alternately supply current to the first buzzer and second buzzer.

11. The smoke alarm of claim 10 wherein when the relay is in its de-energized state current is supplied to one of the first buzzer and the second buzzer and when the relay is in its energized state current is supplied to the other of the first buzzer and the second buzzer.

12. The smoke alarm of claim 11 wherein the relay is adjustable to change the rate at which the relay alternates between its de-energized state and energized state.

13. The smoke alarm of claim 10 wherein the relay also comprises a coil, first contacts having an open state and a closed state and disposed between the relay coil and the first buzzer, and second contacts having an open state and a closed state and disposed between the relay coil and the second buzzer wherein each of the first and second contacts change state upon the receipt of current by the coil to permit current to pass through the contacts when closed and prevent current therethrough when opened.

14. The smoke alarm of claim 13 wherein when the first contacts are open the second contacts are closed and when the first contacts are closed the second contacts are open.