HK1116903B - Plug-in speaker for emergency notification and voice evacuation - Google Patents

Description

Plug-in speaker for emergency notification and voice evacuation

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an alarm notification device and/or a visual alarm indicator that may output audible information. More particularly, the invention relates to a device that can be mounted to a wall-mounted loudspeaker or speaker/flashlight unit or releasably engage a base that is hard-wired to an alarm or broadcast system.

Background

The power and/or signal lines for the fire notification devices are typically connected directly to the products. The product is then coupled to the mounting base. The product is wired directly, which makes it difficult to replace the faulty unit. In addition, twelve and eight standard lines can be used to power the product. Direct wiring of so many large gauge wires makes it more difficult to couple the product to the mounting base. In addition, testing and debugging of the system will be more difficult. It is difficult to determine if the system problem is product or related to wiring.

Accordingly, structures are needed to facilitate such attachment and detachment. In addition, it is desirable to be able to inspect the wiring more easily than before.

Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a multi-element apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a loudspeaker or horn unit usable with the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a flash unit usable with the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing elements of the apparatus of FIG. 1 disposed in contact with one another;

FIG. 5A shows a pin configuration of an electrical unit according to the present invention;

FIG. 5B shows a different pin configuration of an electrical unit according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows the control loop and other elements of the unit of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 7 shows one of the elements of FIG. 1 mounted on and coupled to an electrical enclosure using wires;

FIGS. 8A, 8B are enlarged partial views of a short circuit terminal and an open circuit terminal of an electrical unit, such as the electrical unit of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one of the terminals that may be used in the electrical unit of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another electrical terminal that may be used with the unit of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 shows a detail of an embodiment of the invention comprising a loudspeaker and a flashlight;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing details of the embodiment of FIG. 11 mounted on an electrical enclosure; and

fig. 13A, 13B are exploded views of the embodiment of fig. 11 in two different orientations.

Detailed Description

There are shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, specific embodiments of the present invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention, as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated.

One embodiment includes a fire notification device including a speaker that generates verbal information and a mounting base. The mounting base carries a wire terminal. Another embodiment includes a speaker and a flashlight.

The base may be mounted to an electrical junction box. The alarm system wires are connected to the terminals of the base. After the product is mounted to the base, the notification device is brought into contact with the connection terminal. The contacts may be implemented by a variety of structures, including pins, pads, etc., all without limitation.

If the device needs to be replaced, it can be removed from the base and another device can be placed in its place without having to remove the power line. The base may also include a shorting contact spring connection, such as a positive terminal when "in" and a positive terminal when "out". This structure enables an installer to check the continuity of the wiring before installing the product, thereby simplifying the installation process.

In one aspect of the invention, the shorting spring may have a locking feature that keeps the contacts open when the product is removed. This will then cause an open fault condition at the fire panel for alerting appropriate personnel that the fire notification unit has been removed.

Finally, the wires can be neatly entered into the box, leaving ample space inside the box and unhindered from the installation of the product.

The mounting base can have several embodiments. First, the mounting base may be formed as an injection molded plastic part with metal terminals that are pressed into position to align with power pins or tabs that are drawn from the product. Another embodiment may include a metal plate having insulated terminal areas, the rows of insulated terminals being coupled such that they are aligned with the power pins.

The product may include a printed circuit board to which power connection pins or tabs, respectively or as pin header assemblies, are soldered. The pins or tabs will protrude through the rear protective cover of the device and extend far enough to make contact with the terminals on the base. The contacting may be accomplished in a variety of ways, including a socket and plug approach, or a pressure/friction contact approach, among others. The contact provides power to the device.

In the disclosed construction, the device can be moved into releasable engagement with the base along a line generally perpendicular to the base or along a line generally parallel to the base. In either embodiment, the device opens the shorting spring.

In another aspect of the invention, removing the device allows the spring to be in an open circuit state. The spring can be shorted to check the system wiring.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 includes a mounting plate, generally indicated at 12, and an associated electrical unit, generally indicated at 14. The mounting plate 12 is of the type that can be releasably coupled to an electrical box into which electrical wiring has been drawn. Such wires may be associated with alarm monitoring systems, wherein the wires are specifically associated with activating and controlling alarm indication output devices, such as horns, flashlights, horn/flashlight combinations, microphones, and the like, all without limitation.

The electrical unit 14 is representative of the respective device. The cells 14 may be elongated, square, cylindrical, or any other suitable shape without limitation.

The mounting plate 12 is generally planar in shape and has a central portion 16a, which central portion 16a may be formed of molded plastic and have various openings, such as 16b formed therein to facilitate coupling of the plate 12 to a corresponding electrical box.

The plate 12 also delimits an internal opening 16c through which the above-mentioned electric wires can be drawn and subsequently connected to a power supply terminal generally designated 18.

The board 12 may support various numbers of power supply terminals, with the three terminals 18a, 18b and 18c shown in FIG. 1 being representative only. Other numbers of terminals, such as five terminals or six terminals, may also be supported by mounting plate 12. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the number of terminals does not constitute a limitation of the present invention.

The terminals are shown in the embodiment of fig. 1 as screw terminals. Further, it should be understood that other types of terminal structures, such as plug-in terminals that do not require a screw, are also within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The terminals 18 are metallic as is conventional.

The electrical unit 14 includes a hollow outer housing 22a having a generally planar surface 22b, the surface 22b closing the open side of the housing 22 a. The exemplary electrical unit 14 shown in fig. 1 is a flash unit. The member 22b may be used with a variety of different shaped housings 22a, such as elongate, square, cylindrical, all without limitation.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the cells 14 may be located on the plate 12 and connected to the plate 12. The plate 12 provides a suitable and advantageous structure in which the electrical wiring associated with the alarm system is loaded into the box and then passed through the opening 16c and connected to the terminal 18. Some of the terminals 18 may provide electrical signals or power to the cell 14, all without limitation.

The unit 14 carries a plurality of contact pins 24, which contact pins 24 extend through openings in the cover 22b of the housing 22 a. The pins 24 are coupled to circuitry carried in the housing 22a, which may, for example, periodically energize a corresponding flashlight, if further needed, may activate a horn or microphone, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary speaker or horn unit 14a that may be coupled to the board 12 and shut off power to the terminals 18. Fig. 3 shows an exemplary flash 14b, which may also be coupled to a board, such as board 12, and shut off power to a power supply terminal, such as terminal 18.

As shown in fig. 4, contact pins 24 of unit 14 (as in fig. 1) may contact terminals 18 of board 12 by rotating unit 14 in a direction generally indicated at 28. Direction 28, although arcuate, is not a limitation of the present invention. The plate 12 may be configured such that the unit 14 moves linearly into contact with the plate 12. In the configuration of fig. 4, the unit 14 moves in a direction along a line intersecting the plate 12.

Alternatively to the fig. 4 configuration, the skilled person will appreciate that the unit 14 may be laterally displaced relative to the plate 12 generally along a line parallel to the plate 12. The unit 14 may also be rotatably coupled to the plate 12, if desired.

Fig. 4 shows the plate 12 coupled to the box B, with the wires W extending into the box B. The wire W extends through the opening 16c and may be coupled to a terminal 18, which is more clearly shown in fig. 7.

Fig. 5A shows a configuration of a pin 24 having a plurality of pins (such as three pins) extending from the surface 22b of the close housing 22 a. The contact member 24a abuts the connection pin 24. It should be understood that the particular shape of the pins 24 is not a limitation of the present invention. Although the pin 24 is shown as cylindrical, other contact shapes and numbers of contacts are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Fig. 5B shows an alternative configuration of a contact element or pin 24B that includes a plurality of contact members (e.g., six contact members). The five contact members 24b may be coupled to circuitry located within the unit 14' that may carry a flashlight and an audio output device such as a horn or loudspeaker. Audio output regulating element 22b-2 may be provided on member 22 b-1.

Fig. 6 shows the unit 14 with the cover or housing 22a removed. As shown, a plurality of contact pins 24 extend from the planar member 22 b. The member 22b also carries a reflector 30a, a flash lamp 30b and an associated control circuit 30 c. The control circuit 30c, which may include a power source, may receive electrical energy via the electrical wire W and at least one of the plurality of members 24.

Fig. 7 shows the plate 12 coupled to the box B with the electric wire W passing through the opening 16 c. As shown in fig. 7, the plate 12 may be coupled to the box B by screws such as screws S1, S2.

As best shown in fig. 8A and 8B, terminals 18A and 18c are substantially identical with respect to terminal 18. Terminal 18b is different from terminals 18a, 18 c. Terminals 18a, 18c each include a contact member, such as 18a-1, 18c-1, extending laterally from terminals 18a, 18 c. The terminal 18b carries a multi-element structure 18 b-1.

The elements 18a-1, 18c-1 are clearly shown in fig. 9. Element 18b-1 is best shown in fig. 10.

As shown in fig. 9, terminals such as 18a, 18c carry integrally formed laterally extending contact members 18a-1, 18 c-1. The terminals also carry respective screw-threaded terminals such as 18a-2, 18 c-2. Slidable contacts 18a-3, 18c-3 are disposed between a screw terminal such as 18a-2 and laterally extending contacts 18 a-1. The contacts 18a-3, 18c-3 receive the plurality of members 24 in a sliding manner.

With respect to FIG. 10, the contact member 18b-1 has a U-shaped hook portion generally designated 18b-5 and a latchable contact portion 18 b-6. As shown in fig. 8A, the contact portion 18b-6 has a short-circuited state with respect to the contact member 18 c-1; and an open circuit condition in FIG. 8B where member 18B-6 does not contact member 18 c-1.

In the open state, the latch mechanism 18b-5 holds the contact portion 18b-6 in a retracted position relative to the contact 18c-1, thereby creating an open state. The member 18b-6 is spring biased and switches from an open circuit condition to a closed circuit condition by moving the latching member 18b-5 laterally relative to the contact member 18b-6, as shown in fig. 8. As shown in fig. 10, the contact member 18b-6 is in its short circuit position, see fig. 8.

The terminals 18b, 18c operate with the force applying member 24a of the electrical unit 14 shown in fig. 5a, 5 b. When the electrical unit 14 is engaged with the plate 12, the member 24a moves the contact member 18b-6, causing the contact member 18b-6 to move toward the latching member 18 b-5. The latching member engages the contact member 18b-6 and latches the contact member 18b-6 to the open state. In this state, the terminals 18b, 18c are open circuit relative to each other, and if desired, the power and control circuit 30c of the cell 14 can couple an electrical signal from one terminal to the other, thereby indicating that the cell 14 has been installed and is functioning properly.

When the cell 14 is removed from the base 12, the terminals 18b, 18c continue to remain open. This creates a discontinuity in the respective wire and can be detected as an indication of a fault condition due to a lost electrical unit. To conduct the test, the installer can manually release the contact member 18b-6 from the latching member 18b-5 to create a short circuit condition between the terminals 18b, 18 c. When the unit 14 is remounted on the base 12, an open circuit condition is created between the terminals 18b, 18 c.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram of a speaker/flashlight 14-1 of an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing the apparatus 14-1 mounted on the box B. Fig. 13A, 13B are exploded views of box B, wiring/mounting board 12-1 and equipment 14-1.

FIG. 12 illustrates the advantage of using pre-installed patch panels, such as panel 12-1, to show the manner in which the equipment 14-1 is housed in the enclosure B. The board 12-1 may be mounted on an electrical box B. The board 12-1 may carry a plurality of flashlight-related terminal contacts 12a and a plurality of wire terminal contacts 12B associated with the moving speaker. As described above, the output device 14-1 can thus be coupled to the mounting plate 12-1.

The device 14-1 includes a flash power contact 24-1 and a moving speaker power contact 24-2, both of which correspond to the contacts 24 described previously. These contacts 24-1 and 24-2 mate with terminals 12a, 12b when unit 14-1 is mounted on board 12-1 as described above. The flash power contact 24-1 is in turn coupled to a flash system 40, the flash system 40 including a flashable flash, a reflector 40a, both the flash and the reflector 40a mountable on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)40b and a PCB holder or support 40 c.

The speaker power contacts 24-2 are coupled to a speaker system 42, which speaker system 42 includes a microphone 42a that may be used to output verbal information into the monitored area. The speaker 42a may be mounted on the PCB42b as known to those skilled in the art. The PCB42b and speaker assembly 42a may be supported by a PCB holder or support 42 c.

The housing 44 may carry a lens 40d through which visible radiant energy from the flashlight may pass and a grille 42d through which the verbal information passes after being emitted by the speaker. As is clear from fig. 13B, manually operable adjustment means 50A, 50B may be provided, for example setting the flash output intensity or the loudspeaker output volume, all without any limitation. An optical output indicator 50 a' coupled to the adjustment member 50a is viewable from the front of the unit 14-1. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiment shown in fig. 11-13B may be implemented using only speaker 42a without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims (7)

1. An alarm notification apparatus includes:

a base having a plurality of wire receiving terminals and a plurality of unit engaging contacts, each terminal coupled to a respective contact;

an alarm unit releasably engaging the base and electrically coupled to at least some of the terminals through the contacts; the alarm unit is movable along an axis intersecting the base,

the alarm unit comprises at least a sound output transducer; and is

The base carries a spring that is adjustable to a short circuit orientation, wherein the spring shorts a pair of the plurality of terminals when in the short circuit orientation, and the spring is adjustable to an open circuit orientation, wherein in the open circuit orientation the pair of terminals appear open circuit relative to one another.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unit carries a plurality of conductive elements, each element engaging at least a respective contact when the unit engages the base.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the spring is lockable to the open circuit orientation.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the spring is in the open circuit orientation when the unit is removed from the base.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the cell carries a plurality of cell tips, at least some of which slidably engage respective engagement contacts.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the unit is selected from a category comprising a horn, a flashlight, a horn/flashlight combination, a voice output converter, or a voice output converter/flashlight combination.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the unit ends slide linearly or rotationally.