AU597966B2 - Smoke detector - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA59 7 6 Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: ~7 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted; Published: 0 66 6 Priority 6 6 Related Art.

see APLCN'6E. o H53 Names of Applicant(s):, 0 Address(es) of Applicanit(s): Actual Inventor(s): sea* KURT SCHNEPF 20 The toulevard, Montrose, Victoria 3765, Australia Kurt Schnepf Address for Service is' PHIILLIPS, ORMOt.E AND FITZPATRiCK Patent and Trau4.Aark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne, Australia, 3000 .Complete Specification for the invention entitled: 'ISMOKE, DETECTOR" The following statemient Is ti fill! description of tils Invention, Including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): P19/3/84 This invention relates to smoke detectors as used in buildings to provide a warning as to the existence or beginning of a fire.

Smoke detectors of the foregoing kind are an important safety facilij in buildings such as hotels which may accommodate a large number of people. They are also important in establishments such as hospitals and old people's homes where the occupants may suffer a lack of mobility. Apart from such essential applications, smoke detectors can be usefully employed in domestic dwellings, for example.

A difficulty with existing smoke detectors is that they are generally of complex and expensive construction. Such detectors are usually of large construction, particularly as they are often combined with other safety devices, and require special wiring for connection into an electrical power supply.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and effective smoke detector which can be installed in San existing dwelling or structure with minimum difficulty.

According to the present invention, there is provided a smoke detector including, a device which is operable to be responsive to the presence of smoke, a battery connected to said device so as to cause said operation thereof, recharging means connected to said battery and being operable to automatically charge said battery as required, connecting means for connecting said recharging means to an external power source so as to cause said operation of said recharging means, and a light bulb socket, said device being connected to said light bulb socket and said connecting means is operable to connect both that bulb socket a\.S said recharging means to an external power source so that said recharging means is rendered operable when said external power source is connected to said bulb socket.

A smoke detector according to the invention is characterised in that it can be connected into the electrical supply circuitry of a building without requiring special wiring. In one form, the smoke detector is in the form of a plug-in device. For example, it can be plugged into an existing light socket and may have included another socket for 39,-..receiving a light bulb. Alternatively, the detector may be -2 i i 0 fi~ I installed as part of a light bulb socket.

It is a further characteristic of the invention that it is energised by an internal power source and the electrical circuit to which it is connected serves tc maintain that internal power source in an operative condition. For example, 6*

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I 'Z -Z I I if the detector is part of a light fitting, current will be caused to flow through the detector when the associated light bulb is energised through the connected electrical circuit.

That current can then serve to charge an internal battery of the detector which operates as the energising source for the detector.

An embodiment of the invention is described in detail in the following passages of the specificaton which refer to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, however, are merely illustrative of how the invention might be put into effect, so that the specific form and arrangement of the various features as shown is not to be understood as limiting on the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation view of an example embodiment of the invention, t r Figure 2 is a top plan view of the detector shown in L Figure 1 and showing, in semi-diagrammatic form, the internal components of that detector.

In the example form of the invention as shown, the detector has the dimensions, appearance and physical characteristics to function as a ceiling rose and light bulb holder. That is, it includes a main housing 1 having an t t external shape and size generally conrlistent with those of a W' conventional ceiling rose, and a light bulb socket 2 depending from that housing 1. The housing 1 can be formed of a plastics material or other suiable material, and the socket 2 can be formed in a known manner from known materials.

The housing 1 is hollow so as to contain operational components of the smoke detector and may have an open top to *c enable convenient access to those components. The bulb socket 2 depends from and is connected to a lower wall 3 of the housing 1, preferably at the approximate centre thereof, and it is preferred that the terminals 4 of that socket 2 to which electrical conductive wires are connected are accessible from within the housing 1. That is, those terminals 4 are either exposed above the lower wall 3 of the housing 1 or are accessible through an opening or openings in that wall 3.

Those terminals 4 can be of a conventional kind such as metal 39, tube'; 1 each having a fastening screw extending laterally -3r

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through a side wall.

Means is provided for enabling ingress of smoke to the interior of the housing 1 and in the construction shown that includes a series of openings 5 formed through at least one side wall 6 of the housing 1. If desired, there may be two orc more series of such openings 5 through the or each side wall 6, Assuming the housing 1 is of square or rectangular shape, it is preferred that such openings 5 are provided through each of two opposite side walls 6, but they may be provided through all four side walls 6 if desired.

A device 7 which responds to the presence of smoke in a known manner is located within the housing 1, preferably adjacent one of the side walls 6 havil ingress openings therein. That device 7 is electrically energised and for that purpose is connected to a suitable battery 8. That connection S, may be through a printed circuit board 9 which is also S contained within the housing 1. Preferably, tLe smoke t responsive device 7 and the circuit board 9 are slidable into preformed stations provided within the housing 1 so as to %0a enable convenient assembly and disassembly of the detector.

The same technique may be adopted for other components of the detector located within the housing 1.

It S, The battery 8 is of the rechargeable type and the normal t t AC power supply for the associated bulb socket 2 is utilised to charge the battery 8. For that purpose, a suitable transformer 10 may be provided within the housing 1 and connected to the battery 8 through the circuit board 9. The transformer 10 may be also connected, electrically, to the socket termiinals so as to receive AC current while a bulb tp- located in that socket 2 is energised. The battery 8 is thereby automatically charged during the time that the associated light bulb is energised.

An audible signal device such as a buzzer 11 may be also included within the housing 1 and is connected to the smoke responsive device 7 through the circuit board 9 so as to operate when the device 7 detects the presence of smoke. A visual signal device such as a globe (not shown) may be included in addition to or alternative to the audible signal 39 device.

-4- I-1 I i :f -i I i- ::rn-rn- Various control components of a known construction and manner of operation can be also connected to the circuit board 9.

Connection of the housing 1 to a ceiling can be effected by passing suitable fastening screws or the like through preformed holes 12 in the lower wall 3 of the housing 1, or some other appropriate part of the detector assembly.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that connection of the standard electrical wiring to the light socket 2 of the detector automatically connects the battery recharger 10 into the AC circuit. It will be further apparent that the detector as described is of compact construction and is therefore unobtrusive and indeed may have an ornamental appearance. Furthermore, there is a substantial advantage 4. resulting from the automatic charging of the detector battery 8 as a consequence of normal operation of a light switch.

A detector as described could be associated with I electrically energisable devices other than light bulbs and ""rt its form can be changed to suit such differing circumstances.

Furthermore, in the case of light bulb application, it may include a plug (not shown) for direct connection into an existing light bulb socket. In other applications, the S detector may have a standard three pin plug for direct connection into other types of power outlets.

Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

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Claims (8)

1. A smoke detector including, a device which is operable to be responsive to the presence of smoke, a battery connected to said device so as to cause said operation thereof, recharging means connected to said battery and being operable to automatically charge said battery as required, connecting means for connecting said recharging means to an external power source so as to cause said operation of said recharging means, and a light bulb socket, said device being connected to said light bulb socket and said connecting means is operable to connect both that bulb socket and said recharging means to an external power source so that said recharging means is rendered operable when said external power source is connected to said bulb socket.

2. A smoke detector according to claim I, wherein signal generating means is connected to said device and operates to generate a signal as a consequence of said device responding S:o i to the presence of smoke. *o

3. A smoke detector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said connecting means includes a plug whereby said detector can be connected into a cooperable socket forming part of an electrical circuit.

4, A smoke detector according to any preceding claim wherein said smoke responsive device and said battery are -ontained within a housing which is in the form of a ceiling rose, and a mounting facility is provided for mounting the S housing to a ceiling in use.

5, A smoke detector according to claim 4 wherein said 99 9 mounting facility comprises a male electrical connector yj :0oi adapted to connect into a light bulb socket. J|

6. A smoke detector according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said battery is connected to said smoke responsive device through a printed circuit board.

7. A smoke detector according to claim 6, wherein said printed circuit board is slidably located within a preformed station provided within said housing.

8. A smoke detector substantially as herein particularly described with reference to what is shown in the accompanying 3 /l H drawings. DATED: 6 December, 1989 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: KURT SCHMPF 13 3 74 9k I t C #f 4 C It I t~ 0 I C III I I 41 II I I It I I I II II I I I I I I~ IC 7