Patent ID: 6160487
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: G08B

Abstract:
An electrical detector unit adapted to be powered by multiple batteries, comprising:a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to a surface;a detector base adapted to mount to the mounting bracket over a mating region;a cover connected to the detector base for enclosing electronic equipment between the base and the cover;a multiple battery compartment in the detector base having a bottom wall, and side and end walls upright relative to the bottom wall, the side walls extending transversely between end walls;an opening in one of the side walls;a plurality of battery receiving regions disposed between side walls of the battery compartment;a plurality of electrical terminals carried on the end walls, two terminals for each battery receiving region;a lockout actuator movably mounted on the base for movement between obstructing and non-obstructing positions, having a battery sensing portion and a lockout tab, the battery sensing portion projecting through the opening into one of the battery receiving regions and the lockout tab projecting into the mating region while in the obstructing position to prevent mounting of the base to the bracket, the battery sensing portion disposed adjacent said one of the battery receiving regions and the tab disposed adjacent the mating region while in the non-obstructing position to allow the base to be mounted to the bracket; anda spring supported by the detector base biasing the lockout actuator towards the obstructing position.