Patent US4258359A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4258359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable protective device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1978-11-14
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Granted: 1981-03-24
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Expires: 1998-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A portable, self-contained protection device includes a battery operated combustion product sensor and intrusion switch, providing energization to an audible warning device, all contained in a casing adapted to be mounted, for example, such as on a door. A spring biased retainer maintains the warning device in its mounted condition. Two forms of intrusion switch are disclosed, both of which have opened and closed conditions. When the warning device is mounted on the door, and the door is closed, the intrusion switch is maintained open, however when the door is opened, the intrusion switch closes, providing energy to the audible warning device. The combustion product sensor, likewise, provides energy to the audible warning device, upon sensing products of combustion. Auxiliary devices include an optical indicator issuing a light signal whenever the audible warning device is actuated. An external actuator may also be employed to actuate the warning device.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip McLamb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:57
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/02; G08B13/08; G08B19/00; G08B19/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
373 words
An adaptable, self-contained protection device for providing a warning upon detection of combustion products, and optionally a warning of intrusion, which can be installed on a temporary basis in a variety of locations, and removed without leaving evidence of its installation, or can be permanently installed, said device comprising: a casing with plural surfaces, a circuit installed within said casing including a battery, and connected thereto a series circuit including a combustion products sensor, an electrically operated audible warning device and at least a further switch connected across said combustion products sensor, and on ON-OFF switch in series with said combustion products sensor, said further switch having a spring-biased operating lever mounted on said casing, said lever having at least operative, operated, and reset positions, with said spring biasing said lever to said operated position, said further switch operated to a closed position when said operating lever is in its operated position, and a lever retaining means mounted on said casing to maintain said lever in said reset position when said lever is engaged with said retaining means against said spring-bias, said further switch having an open condition when said operating lever is in either said operative or reset positions, a power ON indicator with visible output connected in parallel across said combustion product sensor and said electrically operated audible warning device, mounting means for said casing adjacent one of said surfaces including a retaining means having an arm and a generally perpendicular lip portion adapted to mount said device to a support by engaging said lip portion over an edge of said support, said mounting means including a recess in said casing in which said arm portion is slidably received, and spring biasing means biasing said retaining means lip portion toward a surface of said casing, said casing surfaces including a plurality of openings communicating with said combustion products sensor and said audible warning device by providing an air draft to said combustion product sensor and for conducting audible warning signals produced by said audible warning device through said casing surface, said casing surface including an additional opening through which at least a portion of said ON-OFF switch extends, and another opening through which a visible signal from said indicator is viewable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
373 words
An adaptable, self-contained protection device for providing a warning upon detection of combustion products, and optionally a warning of intrusion, which can be installed on a temporary basis in a variety of locations, and removed without leaving evidence of its installation, or can be permanently installed, said device comprising: a casing with plural surfaces, a circuit installed within said casing including a battery, and connected thereto a series circuit including a combustion products sensor, an electrically operated audible warning device and at least a further switch connected across said combustion products sensor, and on ON-OFF switch in series with said combustion products sensor, said further switch having a spring-biased operating lever mounted on said casing, said lever having at least operative, operated, and reset positions, with said spring biasing said lever to said operated position, said further switch operated to a closed position when said operating lever is in its operated position, and a lever retaining means mounted on said casing to maintain said lever in said reset position when said lever is engaged with said retaining means against said spring-bias, said further switch having an open condition when said operating lever is in either said operative or reset positions, a power ON indicator with visible output connected in parallel across said combustion product sensor and said electrically operated audible warning device, mounting means for said casing adjacent one of said surfaces including a retaining means having an arm and a generally perpendicular lip portion adapted to mount said device to a support by engaging said lip portion over an edge of said support, said mounting means including a recess in said casing in which said arm portion is slidably received, and spring biasing means biasing said retaining means lip portion toward a surface of said casing, said casing surfaces including a plurality of openings communicating with said combustion products sensor and said audible warning device by providing an air draft to said combustion product sensor and for conducting audible warning signals produced by said audible warning device through said casing surface, said casing surface including an additional opening through which at least a portion of said ON-OFF switch extends, and another opening through which a visible signal from said indicator is viewable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a thin and sheet-like retainer with a generally Z-shaped cross-section, with said arm portion connecting said lip portion with a second lip portion parallel to said lip portion and extending from said arm portion in a direction opposite a direction said lip portion extends away from said arm portion, said spring biasing means bearing against said second lip portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a thin and sheet-like retainer with U-shaped cross-section, with said arm portion connecting said lip portion with a second lip portion parallel to said lip portion and extending from said arm portion in a direction the same as the direction said lip portion extends from said arm portion, said sring biasing means bearing against said second portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said circuit further includes a connector coupled in parallel to said audible warning device and in which said casing includes a hole mounting said connector, an optical warning device including an electrically energized light-emitting means electrically connected to a plug mounted in said connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said circuit includes an electrical connector coupled in parallel to said further switch and opening in said casing in which said connector is mounted, and an external event resonsive means electrically connected to said connector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 5 in which said external event sensor comprises a heat sensor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
364 words
An adaptable, self-contained personal protection device for providing a warning on detection of combustion products, and optionally a warning of intrusion, which can be installed on a temporary basis in a variety of locations, and removed without leaving evidence of its installation, or can be permanently installed, said device comprising: a casing with plural surfaces, a circuit installed within said casing including a battery, and connected thereto a series circuit including an on-off switch, combustion products sensor and electrically operated audible warning device, an electrically energized indicator with visible output connected in parallel across said combustion products sensor and said electrically operated audible warning device, and at least a further switch connected across said combustion products sensor, said further switch comprising a flexible strip and a contact mounted at a free end thereof, a mating contact, said contact and mating contacts connected across said combustion products sensor, mounting means for said casing adjacent one of said surfaces including a retainer having an arm and a generally perpendicular lip portion adapted to mount said device to a support by engaging said lip portion over an edge of said support, a recess in said casing in which said arm portion is slidably received, spring biasing means biasing said retainer lip portion toward a surface of said casing, said flexible strip mounted to said lip, a pivot fixedly mounted with respect to said contact and adjacent said mating contact, said strip fashioned to bring said contacts into electrical engagement in an unrestrained condition and when compressed to disengage said contacts by pivoting movement about said pivot, said recess, said retainer and said flexible strip arranged to produce compression of said strip and opening of said contacts when said retainer is withdrawn into said recess, said casing surfaces including a plurality of openings, one through at least which a portion of said on-off switch extends, a second communicating with said combustion products sensor and said audible warning device by providing an air draft to said combustion products sensor and for conducting audible warning signals produced by said audible warning device through said casing surfaces, and a third opening through which a visible signal from said indicator is viewable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
364 words
An adaptable, self-contained personal protection device for providing a warning on detection of combustion products, and optionally a warning of intrusion, which can be installed on a temporary basis in a variety of locations, and removed without leaving evidence of its installation, or can be permanently installed, said device comprising: a casing with plural surfaces, a circuit installed within said casing including a battery, and connected thereto a series circuit including an on-off switch, combustion products sensor and electrically operated audible warning device, an electrically energized indicator with visible output connected in parallel across said combustion products sensor and said electrically operated audible warning device, and at least a further switch connected across said combustion products sensor, said further switch comprising a flexible strip and a contact mounted at a free end thereof, a mating contact, said contact and mating contacts connected across said combustion products sensor, mounting means for said casing adjacent one of said surfaces including a retainer having an arm and a generally perpendicular lip portion adapted to mount said device to a support by engaging said lip portion over an edge of said support, a recess in said casing in which said arm portion is slidably received, spring biasing means biasing said retainer lip portion toward a surface of said casing, said flexible strip mounted to said lip, a pivot fixedly mounted with respect to said contact and adjacent said mating contact, said strip fashioned to bring said contacts into electrical engagement in an unrestrained condition and when compressed to disengage said contacts by pivoting movement about said pivot, said recess, said retainer and said flexible strip arranged to produce compression of said strip and opening of said contacts when said retainer is withdrawn into said recess, said casing surfaces including a plurality of openings, one through at least which a portion of said on-off switch extends, a second communicating with said combustion products sensor and said audible warning device by providing an air draft to said combustion products sensor and for conducting audible warning signals produced by said audible warning device through said casing surfaces, and a third opening through which a visible signal from said indicator is viewable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said retainer is thin and sheet-like with U-shaped cross-section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which said circuit further includes a connector coupled in parallel to said audible warning device and in which said casing includes a hole mounting said connector, an optical warning device including an electrically energized light-emitting means electrically connected to a plug mounted in said connector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which said circuit includes an electrical connector coupled in parallel to said further switch and opening in said casing in which said connector is mounted, and an external event responsive means electrically connected to said connector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said external event sensor comprises a heat sensor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said mounting means is adjacent a top surface of said casing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which said retainer has a U-shaped cross-section, a first lip to which said strip is mounted, a second lip supporting said pivot and said mating contact, and, said arm of said retainer having a slot extending parallel to the direction of motion of said retainer through which said strip extends.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 13 in which said second lip includes three portions, a center portion separated by a slots from two end portions and said casing includes, guides fixed to said casing extending into said slots for supporting and guiding said retainer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 14 in which said spring means includes a pair of springs, each supported adjacent a one of said guides.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-23 | 1984-09-22 | 1985-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-23 | 1988-09-22 | 1989-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-23 | 1992-09-22 | 1993-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |