WO1992010820A1

WO1992010820A1 - Portable smoke alarm

Info

Publication number: WO1992010820A1
Application number: PCT/NO1991/000153
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tom SØMBORG
Original assignee: Nordic Technology A.S.
Priority date: 1990-12-07
Filing date: 1991-12-05
Publication date: 1992-06-25
Also published as: NO172268B; NO905316L; AU9023691A; NO905316D0; NO172268C

Abstract

Portable smoke alarm device comprising a smoke sensor and a battery powered alarm clock, the alarm device comprising a main unit to which a sensor unit may be releasably secured, the sensor unit thereby comprising a smoke detector, a signal transmitter for wireless transmission of signals to the main unit when detecting smoke, the sensor unit being designed for easy detachment near the ceiling of a room such as to a curtain, the main unit comprising an alarm clock, an alarm transmitter or buzzer, a receiver for the receipt of signals from the sensor unit and a battery powering the alarm clock and the buzzer, the main unit furthermore comprising a sensor or switch responsive to whether or not the main unit rests on a surface and a further sensor or switch or switch responsive to whether or not the sensor unit is secured to the main unit, the alarm clock buzzer thereby being activated if the main unit is lifted from the surface without the sensor unit being secured to it.

Description

Portable smoke alarm

The present invention is related to a portable smoke alarm according to the preamble of the claims.

Portable smoke alarms, especially indented for use when travelling, are commercially available in an number of different designs. One of the problems connected with such smoke alarms, however, is that travelling persons often leave the alarm behind them when leaving a place. The alarm as such is part of a number of subjects to be packed before leaving, often in a hurry.

Another problem with such portable alarms, an more serious, is that they usually are placed on a bed side table or such, approximately at the same elevation as the user's head. The smoke alarm therefore does not detect smoke where it first is collected in the room, namely near the ceiling. A danger therefore exists that the alarm is activated too late as the person already may be unconscious as the area around the user may have had smoke for a period of time.

For portable smoke alarms it is essential, as is also for stationary ones, that the battery continuously is checked out and possibly replaced. Known portable smoke alarms do have no build in incentive to control the battery each time the alarm is taken into use.

The above mentioned disadvantages in connection with known portable smoke alarms limit their reliability which may be one reason why they are not seen more commonly in use.

It therefore is an object for the present invention to provide a portable smoke alarm without the above mentioned disadvantages, which ensures that the sensor registers smoke where the smoke first will be collected, namely near the ceiling, which furthermore ensures that the battery continuously is controlled and possibly replaced and above all which ensures that the user does not forget the smoke alarm when leaving the place.

These objects are achieved with the portable smoke alarm according to the present invention as described by the features stated of the claims.

The portable smoke alarm according to the present invention comprises one main unit and one sensor unit. The two units are arranged separately during use, however connected to each other to one unit when not in use. The main unit comprises a battery powered alarm clock and suitably also is designed to be used as a flash light. It furthermore comprises a receiver for wireless transmission of signals from the sensor unit. The main unit further comprises an alarm unit connected with the receiver which, when receiving signals from the receiver unit, activates an alarm which may be the buzzer of the alarm clock. The flash light which is build into the main unit, the alarm clock and the receiver unit are all connected with the battery in the main unit which the user will ensure to be intact to be able to use the alarm clock.

The sensor unit comprises a smoke sensor, a battery and a transmitter, preferably for transmitting infrared beams to the main unit when detecting smoke. Preferably an optical sensor is used. The sensor unit may further comprise a buzzer to be activated shortly when the sensor unit is removed from the main unit in case the battery is still intact. The sensor unit is provided with a clamp, a hook, lock or such, thereby making it easy to secure the unit as close to the sealing as possible, such as on curtains or other places.

The sensor unit is to be secured to the main unit after use, by snapping, clamping, by means of a magnet or such. When the sensor unit is removed from the main unit, the buzzer is activated a short moment to indicate that the battery in the sensor unit is intact. In this way it is ensured that the user, before use of the alarm, has controlled that the battery is intact and he may possibly replace the battery with a new battery if the buzzer is not activated.

It further is of importance to ensure that the user is leaving the place without both the main unit and the sensor unit. Therefore the main unit is such designed that the buzzer is activated in case the main unit is lifted from a table or such without having the sensor unit secured to it. This may be achieved for example by arranging in the main unit a sensor or micro switch registration that the main unit is resting on a surface and a further sensor or micro switch registration whether or not the sensor unit is secured to the main unit. When lifting the main unit without the sensor unit from a table or such, the buzzer in the main unit is activated until the sensor unit is secured to the main unit or the main unit is placed on a surface.

Claims

P a t e n t C l a i m s

1. Portable smoke alarm device comprising a smoke sensor and a battery powered alarm clock, CHARACTERIZED BY the alarm device comprising a main unit to which a sensor unit may be releasably secured, the sensor unit thereby comprising a smoke detector, a signal transmitter for wireless transmission of signals to the main unit when detecting smoke, the sensor unit being designed for easy detachment near the sealing of a room such as to a curtain, the main unit comprising an alarm clock, an alarm transmitter or buzzer, a receiver for the receipt of signals from the sensor unit and a battery powering the alarm clock and the buzzer, the main unit furthermore comprising a sensor or switch responsive to whether or not the main unit rests on a surface and a further sensor or switch responsive to whether or not the sensor unit is secured to the main unit, the alarm clock buzzer thereby being activated if the main unit is lifted from the surface without the sensor unit being secured to it.

2. Smoke alarm device according to claim 1, CHARAC¬ TERIZED IN the sensor unit being releasably connected with the main unit by means of clamping connections, magnets or such.

3. Smoke alarm device according to claims 1-2, CHARAC- TERIZED IN the sensor unit being releasably connectable to subjects such as curtains, curtain rods or such by means of for example a lock, a hook, clamp, magnet or such arranged on the sensor unit.

4. Smoke alarm device according to claims 1-3, CHARAC- TERIZED IN a buzzer being arranged in the sensor unit and being activated for a short period of time when the sensor unit is removed from the main unit, thereby to signal that the battery still in intact.

5. Smoke alarm device according to claims 1-4, CHARAC- TERIZED IN the main unit also comprising a flash light powered by the main unit battery.