US3916404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Detecting, alerting and directing system
Assignee: Thomas Industries Inc
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Filing: 1972-12-04
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1992-12-04
Abstract
Abstract This is a system for the protection of personnel in an enclosed space. It comprises a danger detecting system such as a thermally operated electronic controller covering the area under protection, a distinctive audible alarm system which produces a recognizable sound or sound pattern audible throughout the area or enclosure to be protected, and visual directing means indicating the location of one or more exits and/or the direction in which a suitable exit lies. This visual directing system employs, preferably, a sign animated as by the flashing on and off of so-called strobe lights located at an exit, and the audible alarm signal is produced at the same exit. An auxiliary electric power supply system stands in reserve to take over the duty of providing electric power at any required time and, particularly, to be available for operating the detector circuits and the flashing light and warning sound circuits at low voltage from a storage battery which is constantly under recharge. The low voltage battery system can operate the protective and directing system for a reasonable time, such as 1 hour, in the event of failure of the commercial A.C. supply system.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul J Gouge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:26
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B7/00; G08B7/06; G08B7/062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
In a system of the class described for use with an enclosure having one or more exits for personnel, a detection system having sensors disposed throughout the enclosure, said sensors being responsive to the development of conditions deleterious to the occupants of the enclosure, a visual warning device comprising a housing having a front wall including a transparency adapted to be normally illuminated for continuously indicating the location of an exit, a lamp for illuminating said transparency, auditory alarm means activated by response of said sensors to said deleterious conditions to sound a distinctive warning signal audible throughout said enclosure warning the occupants to go to and out through an exit, means also activated by response of said sensors to cause flashing of said lamp, said visual device and said auditory alarm means being juxtaposed adjacent an exit whereby the occupants of the enclosure may be guided by sight and/or sound toward an exit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a system of the class described for use with an enclosure having one or more exits for personnel, a detection system having sensors disposed throughout the enclosure, said sensors being responsive to the development of conditions deleterious to the occupants of the enclosure, a visual warning device comprising a housing having a front wall including a transparency adapted to be normally illuminated for continuously indicating the location of an exit, a lamp for illuminating said transparency, auditory alarm means activated by response of said sensors to said deleterious conditions to sound a distinctive warning signal audible throughout said enclosure warning the occupants to go to and out through an exit, means also activated by response of said sensors to cause flashing of said lamp, said visual device and said auditory alarm means being juxtaposed adjacent an exit whereby the occupants of the enclosure may be guided by sight and/or sound toward an exit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
157 words
For use in an alarm system for warning the occupants of an enclosure to vacate the same, an alarm signaling device comprising a housing adapted to be supported at the upper end of an exit from said enclosure, said housing having a front face comprising a transparency with warning characters which, when illuminated, indicate the presence of said exit, lighting means in said housing adapted to be illuminated to make said characters conspicuous, means for emitting a warning sound signal of loud and distinctive character, said sound emitting means being disposed in said housing and being arranged to emit said warning sound signal in the general direction towards which said warning characters are faced, and means responsive to predetermined conditions in said enclosure for illuminating said warning characters and for activating said auditory warning signal to give the occupant who receives either signal the direction in which the exit from the enclosure lies with respect to him.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
157 words
For use in an alarm system for warning the occupants of an enclosure to vacate the same, an alarm signaling device comprising a housing adapted to be supported at the upper end of an exit from said enclosure, said housing having a front face comprising a transparency with warning characters which, when illuminated, indicate the presence of said exit, lighting means in said housing adapted to be illuminated to make said characters conspicuous, means for emitting a warning sound signal of loud and distinctive character, said sound emitting means being disposed in said housing and being arranged to emit said warning sound signal in the general direction towards which said warning characters are faced, and means responsive to predetermined conditions in said enclosure for illuminating said warning characters and for activating said auditory warning signal to give the occupant who receives either signal the direction in which the exit from the enclosure lies with respect to him.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
148 words
An alarm system for use in connection with an enclosure having an exit, said system comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on the inside of the enclosure adjacent the upper end of the exit, said housing having a face with visual indicaTions facing towards the inside of the enclosure, said housing face comprising a transparency including characters signifying the presence of an exit, and additional characters consisting of one or more arrows which when intermittently illuminated suggest motion toward the exit, an audible alarm device adapted to emit in a direction away from said exit a loud and distinctive warning sound said device being supported adjacent said illuminated indicators, and danger sensing means distributed throughout the enclosure to detect a condition for which evacuation is desirable, the illumination of said transparency and sounding of said audible alarm device being activated by response of said danger sensing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
148 words
An alarm system for use in connection with an enclosure having an exit, said system comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on the inside of the enclosure adjacent the upper end of the exit, said housing having a face with visual indicaTions facing towards the inside of the enclosure, said housing face comprising a transparency including characters signifying the presence of an exit, and additional characters consisting of one or more arrows which when intermittently illuminated suggest motion toward the exit, an audible alarm device adapted to emit in a direction away from said exit a loud and distinctive warning sound said device being supported adjacent said illuminated indicators, and danger sensing means distributed throughout the enclosure to detect a condition for which evacuation is desirable, the illumination of said transparency and sounding of said audible alarm device being activated by response of said danger sensing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a system of the class described for warning the occupants of an enclosure having an exit, to evacuate the same through said exit which comprises a detector circuit having sensors responsive to an inimical condition in the enclosure dispersed throughout the enclosure, an auditory warning device for producing a warning of loud and distinctive character, said device being located adjacent the exit and being audible throughout the enclosure, a visual exit indicator sign located adjacent the exit of the enclosure and adjacent to the auditory warning device and means activated by response of the detector circuit for causing the auditory warning to be sounded and said visual exit indicator sign to be flashed simultaneously, thereby providing the occupants of the enclosure with independently receivable auditory and visual indications of the direction in which the exit lies from an observer in the enclosure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a system of the class described for warning the occupants of an enclosure having an exit, to evacuate the same through said exit which comprises a detector circuit having sensors responsive to an inimical condition in the enclosure dispersed throughout the enclosure, an auditory warning device for producing a warning of loud and distinctive character, said device being located adjacent the exit and being audible throughout the enclosure, a visual exit indicator sign located adjacent the exit of the enclosure and adjacent to the auditory warning device and means activated by response of the detector circuit for causing the auditory warning to be sounded and said visual exit indicator sign to be flashed simultaneously, thereby providing the occupants of the enclosure with independently receivable auditory and visual indications of the direction in which the exit lies from an observer in the enclosure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |