Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02287028 1999-10-21
Fire Safety Doorknob Device
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a safety doorknob device. More specifically, the
invention is directed to a fire safety doorknob device which sounds an alarm
in the
case of a fire and also indicates the exit route in a fire situation and in
addition, detect
the danger of fire on the other side of the door. The device can also be used
to detect
the danger of carbon monoxide.
to
Background of the Invention
Fire is the number one killer in the home. Careless smoking, cooking
mishaps, faulty wiring and children playing with matches are unfortunately
occurances that happen in the home and which lead to fires. Oftentimes the
result of
15 such fires is the death of persons. To avoid or to minimize the number of
deaths,
smoke detectors have been developed in order to detect fires as soon as
possible.
Smoke detectors are typically installed on ceilings in areas close to where
fires can
occur such as in hallways adjourning a kitchen or in bedroom hallways.
While smoke detectors are useful in indicating the presence of smoke
2o suggesting that a fire is present somewhere in the home, they only indicate
the
presence of smoke via an audible alarm sounding. Oftentimes smoke detectors do
not
sound until the amount of smoke in the room is already sufficient to blind a
person.
Thus one has a difficult time escaping because they cannot see how to exit the
room.
In addition, they do not indicate the location of the fire.
25 Doorknob alarm devices are also known as for example that described in U.S.
Patent 5,712,623 and U.S. Patent 4,287,513. Such alarm devices are hung from a
doorknob and emit an alarm sound upon detecting that a human body contacts or
approaches the doorknob. An alarm that is incorporated into a doorknob is also
known and described in U.S. Patent 5,783,995.
3o While such doorknob alarms are useful for personal safety they do not
provide
any safety with respect to detecting or escaping from a fire.
U.S. Patent 4,540,980 discloses a portable room security alarm mounted to a
top of a door which includes a smoke detector alarm, a motion sensing
intrusion
alarm, a temperature sensing alarm and a digital display alarm clock. This
device
CA 02287028 1999-10-21
warns of a fire outside of the door. U.S. Patent 4,442,427 discloses a
portable door
lock and smoke and intrusion alarm which is actuatable by inward movement and
pressure on the door and also by an electrically controlled smoke alarm
mounted
adjacent it. While both of these devices function to indicate the presence of
a fire,
they are bulky and require some sort of mounting to a door which is not
permanent,
nor stable. Furthermore, they provide no clear means to help a person locate
the exit
and thus get to safety.
There is therefore a need to develop a fire safety device that obviates the
deficiencies of the prior art devices and provides a safe and effective means
for
to detecting and escaping a fire situation.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a novel fire safety
doorknob device that detects smoke and indicates the presence of smoke with an
audible alarm. In addition, the device of the present invention is readily
visible in a
smoke filled room such that one can visually see the doorknob device in thick
smoke
and therefore readily find the location of the door to exit the room.
Moreover, the
device of the present invention also provides a means to indicate the presence
of a fire
on the other side of the door with the provision of a heat sensor in the
device.
2o The device of the present invention is provided as a doorknob which is
readily
installed to any type of door. Alternatively, the device can be simply mounted
to a
door as a doorknob alone or separately adjacent an existing doorknob. As a
doorknob,
the device can be provided with or without a key hole or other type of typical
door
locking mechanism as is known to one skilled in the art.
The device functions to detect smoke and heat and thus the presence of a fire
and in response, sound an audible and visual alarm. The visual alarm provides
a clear
light visible in thick smoke indicating the means of exiting the room. The
audible
alarm is of such intensity such to alarm a person that a fire is occurnng and
can also
aid to guide a person to the device and thus the means of escape.
3o The device is designed such that it can be activated from any remote device
within a receiving range such as a smoke alarm, heat sensor or carbon monoxide
detector or any such combination smoke/carbon monoxide/heat detector. As
detected
to a carbon monoxide detector the device can be activated in the presence of
carbon
CA 02287028 1999-10-21
monoxide. Alternatively, the device can be activated independent of any such
remote
device. The device in any form can simply be powered using standard batteries.
In accordance with an object of the present invention is a fire safety
doorknob
device comprising;
- an audible alarm;
- a visual alarm;
- a temperature sensing means; and
- receiver means to receive a signal from a remote signaling device, wherein
said
receiver means activates the audible and visual alarms.
to The signalling devices are selected from heat detectors, smoke detectors
and
carbon monoxide detectors.
In accordance with a further object of the present invention is a fire safety
doorknob device comprising;
- an audible alarm;
- a visual alarm; and
- a temperature sensing means.
In accordance with a further object of the present invention is a fire safety
doorknob device kit, said kit comprising a doorknob having an audible alarm, a
visual
alarm and a temperature sensing means; instructions for the installation of
the device
2o to a door and for use. Such a kit can optionally include batteries.
Brief Description of the Drawings
A detailed description of the preferred embodiments are provided herein
below with reference to the following drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fire safety doorknob device in
accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the internal workings of the device as
seen in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the fire safety doorknob device in
accordance
3o with a second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the internal workings of the device as
seen in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the use of the fire safety doorknob
device in magnetically held doorways; and
3
CA 02287028 1999-10-21
Figures 6A through 6F are perspective views of the different embodiments of
the fire safety doorknob device of the present invention.
In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way
of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings
are
only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are
not
intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
1o The present invention provides a fire safety doorknob device that indicates
the
presence of a fire and the route of exit to safety. This is done with the
provision of an
audible alarm which sounds and indicates the presence of smoke and/or a fire.
The
device also has a visual alarm that helps one to see the doorknob and thus the
escape
route to the door. The device also provides a heat sensor that indicates the
presence
of danger, i.e. a fire, both outside and on the inside of the door.
In one aspect, the device is operable to sound the visual and audible alarms
via
a receiver which receives signals from a transmitter of a remote device such
as a heat,
smoke or carbon monoxide detector. The heat sensor may also activate the
visual and
audible alarms. The device is preferably powered by batteries.
As seen in Figure 1, the device is shown in general as reference numeral 10.
The device comprises a doorknob 12 having a handle 14, a stem 16 and a door
mounting portion 18. The doorknob 12 holds a buzzer 20, an alarm indicator 22,
a
heat sensor 24 and a receiver 26 which receives signals from a remote device
28
having a transmitter 30. A battery insert 32 is provided within the stem 16.
The buzzer or audible alarm of the present invention can be of any type which
is readily known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, the alarm indicator
as shown is
a laser beam which would provide a beam of light visible through smoke,
however,
any similar type of light source can also be used.
Figure 2 shows the internal connections of the device as shown in Figure 1,
3o with the exception that a key hole 34 is provided. In this figure the
connections are
shown between the buzzer 20, the alarm indicator 22, the heat sensor 24, the
receiver
26 and the battery insert 32.
Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the present invention indicated by
reference numeral 100. In this embodiment there is no receiver in the doorknob
as the
4
CA 02287028 1999-10-21
device works independently of any remote device and requires no signal from a
transmitter. The device 100 comprises a doorknob 112 having a handle 114, a
stem
116 and a door mounting portion 118. The doorknob 112 holds a buzzer 120, an
alarm indicator 122 and a heat sensor 124. A battery insert 132 is provided
within the
stem 116. Also provided is a key hole 134.
Figure 4 shows the internal connections of the device as shown in Figure 3. In
this figure the connections are shown between the buzzer 120, the alarm
indicator
122, the heat sensor 124 and the battery insert 132. A relay 136 is also
provided to
relay the various signals.
to Figure 5 shows the use of the device of the present invention in conjuction
with a magnetically held open door. In (A) the door is magnetically held open
and the
device is not active. In (B) a remote unit sends a signal to activate the
device and
release the magnetically held door. In (C) the door closes and the device
sounds and
light luminates to indicate the device. As such the device of the present
invention can
be used on conventional magnetic doors as are present in the hallways of
hospitals,
hotels, office buildings and the like.
Figure 6A through 6F show different embodiments of the present device.
Figures 6A to 6C show the device of the present invention as a complete door
knob.
Figure 6A shows the device as seen in Figure 1. Figure 6B shows the device
having a
2o typical key hole therein. Figure 6C shows the device having a typical lock
mechanism therein. Figures 6D to 6F show the device of the present invention
as
simply the door handle. Figure 6D shows the device with a typical key hole
therein.
Figure 6E shows the handle device having a typical type of locking mechanism
therein. Figure 6F shows the device having a different type of door mounting.
It is understood by those skilled in the art that the device can be configured
in
several different manners as a single knob, or a complete door knob. It is
also
understood that the doorknob can be configured to be attached to a door using
any
known attachment means as is evident to one skilled in the art.
In use, the device of the present invention as encased within a doorknob or as
3o an attached doorknob indicates the presence of a fire. The heat detector in
the
apparatus and/or the remote smoke, heat or carbon monoxide detector activates
the
light and audible alarm in the device. When heat, smoke or carbon monoxide is
detected, the door apparatus emits a light and buzzing sound to indicate the
exit route
5
CA 02287028 1999-10-21
as well as warn of possible danger on the other side of the door by the
activation of
the heat sensor.
As attached to a magnetic door lock, the device receives a signal from a
remote device or heat sensor within the apparatus which then releases the
magnetic
lock thus closing the door. In this manner, the device can be used in any such
door
closures as found in hallways of apartment buildings, hospitals, hotels,
office
buildings and the like.
In summary, the present invention provides an easily operable and inexpensive
fire safety doorknob device that indicates the presence of a fire with the
sound of an
to audible alarm as well as indicates the presence of the exit to safety. The
device can be
used on doors in homes, apartment buildings, offices and institutions and can
be
readily provided within the door itself, as an attached doorknob or sold
separately as a
kit.
Although preferred embodiments have been described herein in detail, it is
understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto
without
departing from the scope of the invention.
6
