Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
An alarm system for multiple floor buidlings having multiple dwellings on each floor and at least one central fire alarm box on each floor, the system comprising: an alarm condition detector in each dwelling connected such that an alarm detection in any one of the alarm condition detectors on one particular floor produces an alarm signal at a central location on that one floor; and means for activating the fire alarm box on the one floor in response to the production of the alarm signal at the central location by any one of the alarm condition detectors on the one floor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
An alarm system for multiple floor buidlings having multiple dwellings on each floor and at least one central fire alarm box on each floor, the system comprising: an alarm condition detector in each dwelling connected such that an alarm detection in any one of the alarm condition detectors on one particular floor produces an alarm signal at a central location on that one floor; and means for activating the fire alarm box on the one floor in response to the production of the alarm signal at the central location by any one of the alarm condition detectors on the one floor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The alarm system of claim 1 including means for connecting all of the alarm condition detectors on the one floor in parallel so that the detection of an alarm condition by any one of the detectors completes a circuit between two terminals at the central location on the one floor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The alarm system of claim 1 wherein a plurality of the detectors is powered by a central power supply and wherein the system include means for connecting each of the plurality of detectors to the central power supply in parallel and means at the central location for detecting an abnormal condition in any of the connecting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The alarm system of claim 1 wherein said activating means comprises: switching means at the central location on the one floor to be activated by the detection of an alarm condition by any of the detectors on the one floor; and means connecting the switching means to the fire alarm box to activate the alarm box in response to activation of the switching means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The alarm system of claim 4 wherein each fire alarm box in the building is connected to an annunicator that provides an indication of the location of an activated fire alarm, and wherein the switching means also includes means for activating the annunciator in response to the detection of an alarm condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
An alarm system for a building having multiple dwellings on a floor and at least one central fire alarm box on the floor, said system comprising: an alarm condition detector in at least one of the dwellings on the floor, the alarm condition detector producing an alarm signal at a central location on the floor upon detection of an alarm condition; means for activating the fire alarm box on the floor in response to production of the alarm signal at the central location; means for connecting said alarm condition detector and said means for activating; and means for detecting an abnormal condition in the connecting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
An alarm system for a building having multiple dwellings on a floor and at least one central fire alarm box on the floor, said system comprising: an alarm condition detector in at least one of the dwellings on the floor, the alarm condition detector producing an alarm signal at a central location on the floor upon detection of an alarm condition; means for activating the fire alarm box on the floor in response to production of the alarm signal at the central location; means for connecting said alarm condition detector and said means for activating; and means for detecting an abnormal condition in the connecting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The alarm system of claim 6 wherein said means for detecting includes an indicator which is activated upon detection of an abnormal condition, said indicator also being activated upon production of an alarm signal at the central location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The alarm system of claim 7, wherein said means for activating includes means to delay activation of the fire alarm box a predetermined time period after production of the alarm signal at the central location.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
A monitoring device for an alarm system having a plurality of alarm condition detectors, said device comprising: means at a central location for supplying power to each of the alarm condition detectors over a pair of power lines; means at the central location for transmitting an alarm signal received from any one of the alarm condition detectors said alarm signal being transmitted from the alarm condition detectors to the central location over a transmission line separate from said pair of power lines; means for connecting said transmission line in series with said power lines in each of said alarm condition detectors; and coil means at the central location for connecting the transmission line in series with the power lines, for detecting a fault in the transmission or power lines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
129 words
A monitoring device for an alarm system having a plurality of alarm condition detectors, said device comprising: means at a central location for supplying power to each of the alarm condition detectors over a pair of power lines; means at the central location for transmitting an alarm signal received from any one of the alarm condition detectors said alarm signal being transmitted from the alarm condition detectors to the central location over a transmission line separate from said pair of power lines; means for connecting said transmission line in series with said power lines in each of said alarm condition detectors; and coil means at the central location for connecting the transmission line in series with the power lines, for detecting a fault in the transmission or power lines.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for detecting an alarm condition in a multiple dwelling, multiple floor building and alerting all the occupants of the building to the existence of the alarm condition comprising the steps of: connecting a plurality of smoke detectors on at least one floor in parallel; operatively connecting the plurality of smoke detectors to a pre-existing fire alarm box on the floor; detecting an alarm condition in any one of the multiple dwellings on the floor by means of one of the plurality of smoke detectors and generating an alarm signal indicative of the detected alarm condition; transmitting the alarm signal to a central location on the floor on which the alarm condition is detected; and in response to receipt of the transmitted alarm signal at the central location, actuating the pre-existing fire alarm box to further actuate a central fire alarm system having interconnected audible alarms on each floor of the building to thereby alert the occupants on each floor of the building to the existence of the detected alarm condition in one of the multiple dwellings.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for detecting an alarm condition in a multiple dwelling, multiple floor building and alerting all the occupants of the building to the existence of the alarm condition comprising the steps of: connecting a plurality of smoke detectors on at least one floor in parallel; operatively connecting the plurality of smoke detectors to a pre-existing fire alarm box on the floor; detecting an alarm condition in any one of the multiple dwellings on the floor by means of one of the plurality of smoke detectors and generating an alarm signal indicative of the detected alarm condition; transmitting the alarm signal to a central location on the floor on which the alarm condition is detected; and in response to receipt of the transmitted alarm signal at the central location, actuating the pre-existing fire alarm box to further actuate a central fire alarm system having interconnected audible alarms on each floor of the building to thereby alert the occupants on each floor of the building to the existence of the detected alarm condition in one of the multiple dwellings.