Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-25
2001-10-09
Trieu, Van T. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S577000, C340S628000, C250S554000, C250S574000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06300876
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fire detector provided with an indication lamp.
2. Description of Related Art
According to a conventional fire detector, most of indication lamps for indicating the fire detector being under detection, are provided at one position on a surface of the fire detector, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication (Examined) No. Jitsuko-sho 61-1511 and Japanese Utility Model Application Publication (Unexamined) No. Jitsukai-sho 58-189954.
An example of such a type of conventional fire detector is shown in
FIGS. 14A and 14B
.
FIG. 14A
is a plan view of such a conventional fire detector.
FIG. 14B
is a side elevation view of the conventional fire detector. In
FIGS. 14A and 14B
, the reference numeral
1
denotes a fire detector for detecting a fire, and the reference numeral
2
denotes an indication lamp for indicating the fire detector being under detection by emitting a light.
As shown in the
FIGS. 14A and 14B
, when one indication lamp is provided at one position on the fire detector, an indicating state of the indication lamp cannot be observed from a specific direction. Therefore, there is a large possibility that the indicating state of the indication lamp cannot be observed from a direction in a range.
Accordingly, a situation such that it is not possible to observe whether the fire detector is operating or not, may occur. Further, in order to observe an operating state of the fire detector, people have to move to a position at which they can recognize the indication lamp. As a result, it is not convenient. Further, when the fire detector is attached to a ceiling, in order to set the indication lamp in a direction easiest to recognize the indication lamp, it is necessary to contrive an attachment direction of the fire detector. As a result, a work for attaching the fire detector to a ceiling has taken much time.
In order to solve such a problem concerning the attachment direction of the fire detector, at least either a detector base or a detector body case, of the fire detector, is made of opaque plate which can transmit a light, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication (Examined) No. Jitsuko-sho 57-47913. Therefore, it is possible to observe an operating state of the indication lamp which is disposed in an inside of the detector body case, from the whole circumference.
However, in order to realize such a type of indication lamp, it is not possible to arrange another part between a light source of the indication lamp and the opaque plate which can transmit a light. That is why, another part which is arranged between the light source of the indication lamp and the opaque plate, prevents the light from transmitting. Therefore, it is not possible to arrange another part between the light source of the indication lamp and the opaque plate so that it is difficult to realize such a type of indication lamp.
Further, when a technique of the Publication is realized and a fire detector using the technique is attached in a bedroom of a hotel or the like, the whole fire detector goes brightly on and off during the night so that the fire detector may give an anxiety to a person who is in a room. Further, the light of the fire detector is too bright so that the fire detector may prevent the person from sleeping.
Further, conventionally, various types of fire detectors such as a heat type detector, a smoke type detector, a multi-sensor, or the like, are known.
However, in a conventional fire detector, not only a detecting part but also every part incorporating a covering body, of the fire detector, have been designed and manufactured individually for each type. Therefore, it requires a higher production cost for the fire detector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was developed in view of the above-described problems.
An object of the present invention is to provide a fire detector provided with an indication lamp which can be observed whether emitting a light or not, from every direction and which can be controlled so as to be an appropriate state at a bedtime or the like. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fire detector which requires only a lower production cost as possible.
In the following explanation of the summary of the present invention, a corresponding element in the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be shown in a parenthesis, as an example. When the same term as one in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is used, only a reference numeral thereof will be indicated.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the fire detector (
10
) comprises: a circuit board (
32
) in which a circuit for detecting a fire is formed; a light source (LED
35
) which is connected with the circuit board; and an indication lamp for indicating the fire detector being under detection by emitting. a light emitted from the light source, wherein the indication lamp is formed in a predetermined shape (for example, in a ring shape) substantially centered on a central line which passes through a top portion (a portion which is faced to a floor surface when the fire detector is attached to a ceiling) of a covering body.
Herein, the indication lamp may be formed in the predetermined shape substantially centered on the central line, so as to incorporate the central line or to surround the central line.
According to the fire detector having such a structure, the indication lamp of the fire detector is formed in the predetermined shape substantially centered on the central line which passes through the top portion of the covering body. As a result, the indication lamp is formed in the predetermined shape hardly having a specific direction so that it is possible to observe whether the fire detector is operating or not from every direction.
Preferably, in the above-described fire detector, the predetermined shape of the indication lamp includes a ring shape, a plate-like shape, a cylindrical shape, and a shape having a pattern which is formed continuously and regularly along a circle.
Herein, the ring shape is not limited to a circle. The ring shape may be stripe-like or band-like so as to be approximately continuous. The plate-like shape may be one covering at least one portion of the top portion on the fire detector without having a specific direction. For example, the plate-like shape may be disc-like, a regular-polygonal, or the like. The cylindrical shape may be formed so as to cover only a side surface of the fire detector or may be one covering from the side surface to the top portion of the fire detector. Further, the pattern which is formed continuously and regularly along a circle, may be one, for example, a small groove or a bending portion having an arch-like shape or the like is formed along a circle.
Further, any one of the above-described shapes may have several cuts at several positions on the indication lamp.
According to the fire detector having such a structure, when the cover of the top portion on the covering body for covering the fire detector is only changed, it is possible to apply for various kinds of fire detectors easily. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the production cost for the fire detector.
Preferably, in the above-described fire detector, the indication lamp comprises a light guide member (
20
) for introducing the light emitted from the light source into the indication lamp with the predetermined shape.
According to the fire detector having such a structure, the light guide member introduces the light emitted from the light source to the indication lamp with the predetermined shape, to make an indication lamp. Accordingly, it is possible to observe whether the fire detector is operating or not from every direction. Further, it is possible to arrange internal parts thereof as well as one of earlier development. As a result, it is possible to preferably realize the fire detector of the present invention.
Preferably, in the above-described fire detector, the
Hamada Ichiro
Oya Yasunori
Sakurai Kazuyoshi
Nittan Company Limited
Staas & Halsey , LLP
Trieu Van T.
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