TWI722591B - Lighted fire-fighting access panel signage - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a lighted fire-fighting access panel signage adapted to be secured onto a designated fire-fighting access panel. When connected to home automation devices, such lighted fire-fighting access panel signage can function as an alerting device by being programmed to blink or change colour to alert public or rescuers.

Description

Illuminated fire exit panel markings

The invention is a luminous fire-fighting passage panel sign, which is suitable for being fixed on a designated fire-fighting passage panel. When connected to a home automation device, this luminous fire exit panel sign can be programmed to flash or change color to warn the public or rescuers as an alarm device.

In order to be able to effectively carry out rescue and external fire fighting operations, the design of the building includes facilities for external access to the building for fire fighting and facilities for on-site access to fire fighting equipment. Such external passages can be windows that can be opened from the outside of the building, balcony doors, glass wall panels or solid wall panels. Firefighters can enter the building from the outside through the fire external passage panel to rescue anyone trapped in the building and allow firefighting work from outside the building.

The established requirements for fire access panels include: placing such panels in habitable spaces and restricting them not to be placed in protected stairs or halls.

In Singapore, in order for firefighters to find the designated fire exit, the fire exit panel should be marked with an equilateral red or orange triangle (minimum 150mm on each side), which can be set upright or upside down on the outside of the wall, on the inside The words "Fire Exit-Do Not Block" should be at least 25 mm in height.

Traditionally, such signs are simple passive signs, which are pasted or printed on designated fire exit panels. If there is not enough ambient lighting or during a power outage, it may take some time to find the sign. In an emergency, it is critical to find the fire exit panel quickly.

In the present invention, a novel fire exit panel sign is disclosed, which includes light-emitting elements such as signs embedded with LEDs or light-emitting strips. Use LED or strip lighting to light up signs with low power consumption. If the fire exit panel is made of glass, such as a window, glass wall panel, or balcony door, the sign can be fixed between a pair of spaced glass panels to hold it in place and easy to maintain. This luminous fire exit panel sign can be connected to a power source via a wire. The power source can be a battery, a rechargeable battery, or an AC/DC power source. In addition to using a pair of wires, printed wires on the glass panel, copper tape or etched ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) circuits can also be used to connect the sign to a power source to illuminate the sign. When the external ambient light is weak, such as at night or under severe weather conditions, such as heavy rain or haze, such illuminated fire exit panel markings can easily locate the fire exit panel. The use of printed wires and etched ITO can keep the glass panel in a neat/clean appearance, because no wires will be seen protruding from the illuminated fire exit panel markings.

In the case that the fire exit panel is made of glass, the luminous fire exit panel markings can also be fixed on any surface of a single glass panel or on the outer surface of a pair of spaced apart glass panels. If the fire exit panel is opaque, the luminous fire exit panel sign can be fixed on the surface of the panel outside the building.

It is envisaged to provide an independent power supply for the illuminated fire exit panel markings, so that the markings can continue to work during a power outage or when the power supply is cut off during a fire. Therefore, the power source of the rechargeable battery can be provided by a solar panel embedded between two glass panels, placed on the outer surface of the glass panel or opaque wall panel, or placed separately from the fire channel panel, and the solar panel is used to receive solar energy. It is then converted into electrical energy and stored in a rechargeable battery.

The lights marked on the fire exit panel of the present invention can be controlled by an external device, and a warning signal is generated when a specific trigger occurs, for example, when a specific unit in a building is on fire. The marked lights can be programmed to flash instead of continuously lit, or change the color to warn surrounding residents, or people who are generally within visual range from the building.

Hereinafter, one or more specific and alternative embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented without such specific details. In order to avoid obscuring the present invention, some details may not be described in detail. For ease of reference, when there are identical or similar features in the reference drawings, a common reference numeral or a series of numbers will be used in all the drawings.

Figure 1 shows the front view and side view of a fully assembled lighted fire-fighting access panel signage 30 installed on a designated fire-fighting access panel signage. The window panel is composed of a pair of spaced apart glass panels, and the luminous fire exit panel sign 30 is sandwiched between a pair of glass panels 10 and 20. The main body of the luminous fire exit panel sign 30 may be formed of a translucent non-conductive material (such as acrylic, polycarbonate, plastic, PVC, and glass) and supported by a frame coated with luminous paint. The color and size of marking 30 are applicable to local regulations, such as section 4.2.3(d) of "Chapter 4, SITE PLANNING EXTERNAL FIRE FIGHTING PROVISION" of the Singapore Civil Defence Force Regulations (Chapter 4, SITE PLANNING EXTERNAL FIRE FIGHTING PROVISION) .

The main body marked 30 serves as a light diffuser so as to evenly diffuse the light when the light passes through it. An LED light bar or luminous strip 40 is arranged around the main body of the luminous fire exit panel sign 30, and a pair of wires 50 are electrically connected to the cathode and the anode of the LED light bar/luminous strip 40. The pair of electric wires 50 extend between the gap between the pair of glass panels 10 and 20, and are connected to an external power source. The external power supply can be controlled by an automated device to determine when to turn on the LED light bar/lighting strip 40. For this embodiment, the light sensor 60 is embedded between the pair of glass panels 10 and 20 to detect the surrounding light level conditions, thereby igniting the LED lights at the specified detected light intensity Strip/lighting belt 40. Alternatively, a timer can be used to turn on the light marked 30 within a specified time period of the day. The light sensor 60 is connected to an external control circuit via a wire 61. Such a luminous fire exit panel marking 30 provides a convenient location for the exterior of the fire exit panel, and the interior is convenient to find an opaque fire access panel in an emergency. The frame of the luminous fire exit panel marking 30 can be made of opaque material of any color according to local requirements, or it can be made of opaque material that is sprayed, painted or covered with colored tape

Figures 2 and 3 show that the luminous fire exit panel signs 30 are placed on both sides of a designated fire exit window panel composed of a single glass panel. Since the window panel allows light to pass through, the luminous fire exit panel sign 30 can be installed on either side of the window panel and still be visible from the outside of the building.

FIG. 4 shows an illuminated fire exit panel sign 30 powered by an external power source 270 or a rechargeable battery 200. The solar cell panel 100 is placed between the pair of spaced apart glass panels 10 and 20, forming a boundary around the glass panels. The solar panel 100 is used to collect solar energy for storage in the rechargeable battery 200. The solar cell panel 100 can be a monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, or even a thin-film amorphous silicon solar cell panel. The rechargeable battery 200 is placed in the space between the pair of glass panels 10 and 20. One end of a pair of wires 250 is connected to the cathode and anode of the LED strip/light-emitting strip, and the other end of the pair of wires 250 is connected to the rechargeable battery 200. The rechargeable battery 200 is used as a backup power source to prevent the external power source 270 from being cut off for any reason. A switching charger 280 may be located outside the window panel to automatically switch the power source between the battery 200 and the external power source 270. Solar panels can also be located on the outer surface of the glass fire passage panel or separated from the passage panel, and located in any part of the building that can receive sunlight.

FIG. 5 shows that the rechargeable battery 210 is located outside instead of being embedded between the pair of glass panels 10 and 20. Under normal circumstances, the external power source 270 is connected to one end of the wire 250 via the exchange charger 280 to supply power to the LED light bar/lighting strip 40. If the external power source 270 is cut off for any reason, the exchange charger 280 can detect this and automatically switch to the battery 210 to provide power to the LED light bar/lighting strip 40 via the wire 251. In addition, when the power generated by the solar panel is insufficient, the battery 210 can also be charged by the external power source 270 through the exchange charger 280.

Figures 6 and 7 show a solar panel 100 and a luminous fire exit panel sign 30, which are placed on either side of a fire exit window panel made of a piece of glass from the outside. Its function and performance are the same as the components of Figure 5, but lack of aesthetics and maintenance problems.

FIG. 8 shows a luminous fire exit panel sign 30 placed on an opaque fire exit panel 300.

Although the above description and illustrations illustrate specific embodiments, it should be understood that various changes, modifications, changes, and combinations can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, wires extending from illuminated fire exit signs can be embedded in opaque fire exit panels to maintain a clean/tidy appearance and easy maintenance.

10: Glass panel 20: glass panel 30: Illuminated fire exit panel markings 40: LED light bar / luminous tape 50: wire 60: light sensor 61: Wire 100: solar panel 200: Rechargeable battery 210: Rechargeable battery 250: Wire 251: Wire 270: External power supply 280: Exchange charger 300: Fire exit panel

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and using non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, in which:

Figure 1 shows the front view and side view of the illuminated fire escape panel sign located between a pair of spaced apart glass panels, surrounded by LED light bars or strip lighting.

Figures 2 and 3 are a front view and a side view of the illuminated fire access panel markings fixed on either side of the glass panel relative to the building.

Figure 4 shows a front view and a side view of an illuminated fire escape panel sign powered by a battery disposed between a pair of spaced apart glass panels. The solar panel located in the space between the pair of glass panels is used to collect solar energy and store it in the battery.

Figure 5 shows the illuminated fire access panel markings, where the battery is located outside the pair of glass panels. In addition, when the light is not enough to make the solar panel generate electricity, you can also use an external power source to charge the battery.

Figures 6 and 7 show an embodiment of the present invention, in which solar panels and luminous fire access panel signs are fixed on either side of the designated fire access panel formed by a single glass panel.

Figure 8 shows a luminous fire exit sign fixed on an opaque wall panel.

10: Glass panel

20: glass panel

30: Illuminated fire exit panel markings

40: LED light bar / luminous tape

50: wire

60: light sensor

61: Wire

Claims (10)

A fire passage panel sign assembly, comprising: a fire passage panel sign formed by a pair of spaced glass panels, which has two opposite sides and one of the spaces formed between the pair of spaced glass panels Light-emitting element; wherein the light-emitting element is an LED, a light-emitting strip or a photoluminescent material; wherein the fire exit panel label is set to emit light on the two opposite sides when lit. The fire access panel marking assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery and a solar panel, the rechargeable battery is charged by the solar panel, and the light-emitting element is powered by the rechargeable battery. The fire access panel marking assembly according to claim 2, wherein the rechargeable battery is instead charged by an external power source. The fire exit panel marking assembly according to claim 2, wherein the rechargeable battery is contained in the space formed by the pair of spaced apart glass panels. The fire access panel marking assembly according to claim 3, wherein the external power source can be an AC/DC power source, a button battery, or a lithium battery. The fire access panel marking assembly according to claim 1, wherein the printed wire, copper tape or etched ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) circuit on the glass is used to supply power to the light-emitting element. The fire exit panel marking assembly as described in claim 1 further includes a controller for controlling the light-emitting element. The fire access panel marking assembly according to claim 7, wherein the controller is programmed to make the light-emitting element blink, change color, change intensity, or keep continuously lit. The fire access panel marking assembly according to claim 7, wherein the controller is activated by a sensor. The fire access panel marking assembly according to claim 9, wherein the sensor is a photocell sensor, a photoelectric crystal sensor, or a smoke detector.

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