LIGHT SOCKET ADAPTED SMOKE DETECTOR

DETECTEUR DE FUMEE ADAPTE A UNE DOUILLE

English Abstract

A smoke detector is provided with a threaded member
which is adapted to be inserted into a conventional
light bulb socket whereby the smoke detector is
energized by standard AC power. A battery is
incorporated on the smoke detector to provide standby
power in the event of AC power failure. A battery
charger is also incorporated on the smoke detector and
is electrically connected to the AC power source and
the battery for providing constant charging for the
battery during normal operation.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A smoke detector comprising:
a saucer shaped member having a front surface and
a rear surface;
an elongate member having a f first end attached to
said rear surface of said saucer shaped member, said
elongate member containing circuitry means for
detecting excessive smoke in a closed environment;
screw threads disposed on a second end of said
elongate member, said screw threads adapted to fit a
conventional light bulb socket whereby said circuitry
means is energized by standard AC power;
a battery attached to said rear surface of said
saucer shaped member and electrically connected to
said circuitry means for providing standby power for
said circuitry means;
a battery charger attached to said rear surface
of said saucer shaped member and electrically
connected in series with said circuitry means and said
battery whereby said circuitry means provides
recharging energy for said battery via said battery
charger.
2. A smoke detector as defined in claim 2, wherein
said front surface of said saucer shaped member is
provided with a socket for receiving a light bulb.
3. A smoke detector as defined in claim 2, wherein
said elongate member houses a second circuitry means
for providing power to said socket for receiving a
light bulb.

Description

CA 02274998 1999-06-15
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LIGHT SOCKET ADAPTED SMOKE DETECTOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to safety
alarm devices. More specifically, the present
invention is a smoke detector designed to utilize
standard AC household power during normal conditions.
The invention incorporates a nine volt battery and a
charger therefor to provide a backup power source in
the event of standard AC power failure.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
It seems that almost daily the public is made
aware of deaths, injuries, and property damage caused
by accidental fires. The extent of the deaths,
injuries, and property damage could have been
mitigated, in most instances, if a reliable early
warning system had been in place. For this reason
federal, state, and municipal governments are now
requiring the installation of early warning devices in
domestic dwellings, hotels, hospitals and many
commercial establishments. The early warning device
usually required is that of a smoke detector and
alarm.
One type of smoke detector, of the low cost
variety, is powered by a self contained battery which
requires yearly replacement. Should the battery
become disconnected, the smoke detector would become
inoperative. U.S. Patents Numbers 4,139,846
(Conforti), 4,251,811 (Wittlinger), and 5,105,371
(Shaw et al . ) exemplify smoke detector systems powered
by batteries.
Another type of smoke detector is powered by
standard household AC voltage and employs a battery as

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a backup power source. Systems of this type require
complex circuitry to periodically test the backup
battery. Furthermore, these systems are relatively
expensive and complicated to install. Types of these
systems are disclosed in U.S. Patents Numbers
4,088,986 (Boucher), 4,138,670 (Schneider et al.),
4,290,057 (Knight), 4,380,760 (Kornblit), 4,972,181
(Fiene), 5,621,394 (Garrick et al.) and in Japanese
Patent Abstracts 52075298 and 52075299.
None of the above inventions and patents,
taken either singly or in combination, is seen to
disclose a smoke detector powered by standard AC
household voltage having ease of installation combined
with a constant backup battery recharging system as
described and claimed in the instant invention.
SUI~IARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a smoke detector alarm
device powered, in normal operation, by standard
household AC. The detector is designed to be mounted
in a conventional AC light bulb socket. A nine volt
battery provides standby power in the event of AC
power failure. A charger, for keeping the battery
fully charged during normal operation, is incorporated
in the detector circuitry.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the
invention to provide an improved smoke detector
utilizing standard household AC power as a main power
source.
It is another object of the invention to provide
an improved smoke detector utilizing a rechargeable DC
power source as a backup to the main power source.
It is a further object of the invention to provide
an improved smoke detector wherein the backup power
source is recharged by the main power source during
normal operation.

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Still another object of the invention is to provide
an improved smoke detector that may be quickly and
easily installed.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements therepf in an apparatus for
the purposes described which are inexpensive,
dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their
intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention
will become readily apparent upon further review of
the following specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a largely diagrammatic, top perspective
view of a smoke detector for use with a standard light
bulb socket.
Fig. 2 is a largely diagrammatic, bottom
perspective view of a second embodiment of the present
invention having features as otherwise shown in Fig.
1.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding
features consistently throughout the attached
drawings.
DETAINED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 of the present invention illustrates a smoke
detector at 10. Smoke detector 10 comprises an
elongate member 12 having one end integrally attached
to a saucer-shaped member 14. A second end of member
12 is provided with screw threads 16 so that member 12
may be engaged with a standard AC light bulb socket.
Conventional smoke detection and alarm circuitry is
enclosed within member 12 and is normally powered by
standard AC. Saucer shaped member 14 is formed with
a bottom portion 18 having plural smoke access
openings 19 (see Fig. 2) therein.
A nine volt battery 20 and a battery charger 22
are attached on an inside surface of member 14. As
depicted by line 24, battery charger 22 is

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electrically in circuit with the AC power source, via
member 12, and with battery 20 so as to provide
constant recharging power for battery 20 in normal
operation. The recharging circuitry is conventional.
In use, the smoke detector 10 is simply screwed
into a live standard AC light bulb socket. Smoke
detector 10 is immediately operational and battery 20
begins to recharge if needed. If AC power is
subsequently interrupted, battery 20 will function as
an emergency source to power smoke detector 10 and
insure uninterrupted protection. Upon restoration of
AC power, detector 10 will automatically revert to
normal operation.
Fig. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the
present invention which is identical to the first
embodiment but with the addition of a light bulb
socket at 30. The socket 30 employs a conventional
circuit housed within member 14 to provide standard AC
thereto. The circuit for socket 30 may be provided
with a standard switch for on/off operation. The
circuit for socket 30 is separate and independent from
the circuit of the smoke detector. The instant
embodiment allows the retention of a light source at
the point of use of the smoke detector.
It is to be understood that the present invention is
not limited to the sole embodiments described above,
but encompasses any and all embodiments within the
scope of the following claims.

Representative Drawing