AU2006100771A4

AU2006100771A4 - Relocatable Smoke Alarm & Light Device

Info

Publication number: AU2006100771A4
Application number: AU2006100771A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Gollop
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-11
Filing date: 2006-09-11
Publication date: 2006-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-11
Also published as: AU2006100771B4

Description

11. Sep. 2006 23:19 No. 0549 P. 3

C)

Co P/00/009 Regulation 3.2B

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: RELOCATABLE SMOKE ALARM AND LIGHT DEVICE The invention is described in the following statement together with the best method of performing it known to us: Our Reference: 066009 COMS ID No: SBMI-04722359 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:23 Date 2006-09-11 11. Sep. 2006 23:19 No. 0549 P. 4 2

\O

o RELOCATABLE SMOKE ALARM AND LIGHT DEVICE The present invention relates to smoke alarms and, more

C)

Vj) particularly to relocatable smoke alarms with additional functionality.

BACKGROUND

0 o In many jurisdictions smoke alarms, either wired into oNC the mains power supply or battery powered have become a Cil mandatory fixture in dwellings. Even where a dwelling complies with mandatory installation of smoke alarms, not every room will have an alarm. A fire breaking out in a room with a closed door may be cut off sufficiently for an alarm in another part of the dwelling not to register before a life threatening fire has developed.

Furthermore, there are many situations where such smoke alarms are not mandated and not present, yet in which an outbreak of fire may result in death or serious injury.

Thus for example in cheap accommodation such as backpacker hostels, or caravans and cabins, alarms may be -absent or may be of unknown reliability. In camping situations also, fire in a tent is a danger and in the dark and confusion occupants may well succumb to smoke inhalation and injury.

Another problem with most smoke alarms, is that while the alarm signal will alert occupants within air shot of a possible outbreak of fire, in some cases that fire may already have rendered the power supply inoperative. There COMS ID No: SBMI-04722359 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:23 Date 2006-09-11 11, Sep. 2006 23:20 No. 3549 P. -3-

IND

o already have rendered the power supply inoperative. There (N is then a real danger that panicking occupants, especially if they are staying as guests in some f orm of accommodation, may not find a way out of danger- In cases even where the power supply is not affected, a panicked person in unaccustomed surroundings, may not be able to o find a light switch.

IND It is an object of the present invention to address or o at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

Notes 1. The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only oft.

2. The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly in one broad from of the invention there is provided a relocatable battery powered smoke alarm and light device; said smoke alarm comprising a power source, smoke detecting components and an audio alarm signal COMS ID No: SBMI-04722359 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:23 Date 2006-09-11 11. Sep. 2006 23:20 No. 0549 P. 6 4

IO

o generator; said device further provided with a light 0 C emitting module; said light emitting module switching to an C) active state when said alarm signal is activated.

Preferably said device is provided with suspension means adapted to suspend said device from a hook or like supporting projection.

\O Preferably said light emitting module is provided with an Soverride switch: said override switch adapted to activate ci said module regardless of said state of said alarm signal.

Preferably said device is adapted to act as a night light in a child's room; said device adapted for adhesive attachment to a supporting surface, and wherein said device is incorporated in a decorative housing adapted to appeal to children.

Preferably said device is further provided with a built-in clock radio.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; COMS ID No: SBMI-04722359 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:23 Date 2006-09-11 11, Sep. 2006 23:20 No, 0549 P. 7 5

VO

o Figure I is a view of an example of a relocatable C' smoke alarm and light device according to a first preferred Sembodiment of the invention, SFigure 2 is a view of an example of a second preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 3 is a view of an example of a further O preferred embodiment of the invention.

VO

SDETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Preferred Embodiment With reference to Fig. 1 a relocatable smoke alarm and light device 10 according to this first embodiment, comprises a decorative housing 12 such as might appeal to a child occupant of a room, and a light emitting module 14.

Apart from the housing 12, the working components of the smoke detector incorporated in the device are of conventional arrangement. Housing 12 incorporates grill 16 for ingress of smoke and is provided with an alarm reset button 18.

In this embodiment, light emitting module 14 is a low powered night light in the form of an LED for example and shares its power source with that of the smoke alarm.

Preferably, the on/off state of the night light is controlled by a light sensitive sensor (not shown) so that the LED is switched on when the ambient light in the room where the device is installed falls below a certain level.

COMS ID No: SBMI-04722359 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:23 Date 2006-09-11 11. Sep. 2006 23:20 No, 0549 P. 8 -6o However in at least in somne forms of the device, the night light may additionally be controlled by an override switch or by a switch only.

By means of the smoke detector component and the light emitting module sharing the same battery power source, the night light acts as a battery low indicator and may be o arranged to flash intermittently to indicate a battery low V.Q situation., o The device 10 of this embodiment is adapted to be supported on a wall of a room by means of an adhesive strip (not visible in Figure 1) affixed to the rear 22 of the housing 12 of the device. Additionally, the device is provided with hanger 24 so that it may be supported by a picture hook for example.

Second Preferred Embodiment In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figure 2, device 100 again comprises a combination of smoke alarm 110 and a light emitting module 112. However in this embodiment, the default state of the light emitting module 112 is off and is activated automatically when smoke is detected by the smoke detector component and the smoke alarm is activated. In addition, the light emitting module 112 is provided with a switch 114 for operating the light source independently.

The light source of this embodiment is considerably stronger than that of the night light of the first OOMS ID No: SBMI-04722359 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:23 Date 2006-09-il 1 1. Sep. 2006 23:20 No. 0549 P. 9 7 \o o embodiment above, so that the device of this embodiment may C be used as a flashlight, either independent of any smoke

C)

Salarm condition or, in an emergency when the smoke alarm and light source have been activated.

The housing 120 of this embodiment of the device is preferably provided with a hanging strap 122 so that the Sdevice may be suspended from any convenient projection in a N0 room, caravan or tent for example. As well, the housing is 0 adapted to be shaped with a handle portion 124 so as to allow grasping by a user when the device is used as a flashlight.

Battery low condition may again be indicated by intermittent flashing of the light source or preferably in this embodiment by a separate small LED 126 for example- Third Preferred Embodiment In this third embodiment of the invention, the device 200 is additionally provided with a built-in clock radio 210. The clock radio component is provided with and LCD display 212 and controls 214 for setting time and alarm functions as commonly found on such devices.

In this form the device of the present invention combines the safety features of the smoke alarm 216 and the light emitting module 218 with the convenience of having a clock radio within a single compact item.

In Use COMS ID No: SBMI-04722359 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:23 Date 2006-09-11 11 Sep. 2006 23:21 No, 0549 P. 8 o All three embodiments offer the advantage of C relocatability in addition to the advantage of added safety Sprovided by the light emitting module when an emergency situation due to detected smoke occurs.

The devices of the second and third embodiments particularly are adapted for portability and use in a Svariety of accommodations where no smoke alarm exists or 0 ID where they may be of unknown reliability.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

COMS ID No: SBMI-04722359 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:23 Date 2006-09-11

Claims

11. Sep. 2006 23:21 No. 0549 P. 11 9 VN ci e I. A relocatable battery powered smoke alarm and light CD) device; said smoke alarm comprising a power source, smoke detecting components and an audio alarm signal generator; said device further provided with a light o" emitting module; said light emitting module switching to an active state when said alarm signal is VO activated. 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is provided with suspension means adapted to suspend said device from a hook or like supporting projection. 3. The device of claim 1 or 2 wherein said light emitting module is provided with an override switch; said override switch adapted to activate said module regardless of said state of said alarm signal. 4. The device of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said device is adapted to act as a night light in a child's room; said device adapted for adhesive attachment to a supporting surface, and wherein said device is incorporated in a decorative housing adapted to appeal to children. The device of claim 3 wherein said device is further provided with a built-in clock radio. COMS ID No: SBMI-04722359 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:23 Date 2006-09-11