Multipurpose alert system for smoke, fire, natural gas, and/or carbon monoxide

The present invention relates to a multipurpose alert system for smoke, fire, natural gas, and/or carbon monoxide specially designed for elderly and hard-of-hearing individuals. The multipurpose alert system of the present invention is capable of sending emergency alerts notifying a user, a user's family, emergency medical services, and other individuals of the presence of smoke, natural gas leaks, fire, and/or carbon monoxide leaks. In addition, the multipurpose alert system may notify as user via a plurality of flashing displays, a wearable vibration device, an audible alarm, a SMS/text message, an email, or a phone call. Finally, the multipurpose alert system may be used as a standalone detector, be comprised of a plurality of additional detectors, or be used in conjunction with existing detectors of fire/smoke/natural gas/carbon monoxide.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of smoke, natural gas, carbon monoxide and fire detection systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a multipurpose alert system for smoke, fire, natural gas, and/or carbon monoxide that is specifically designed for use by elderly and hard-of-hearing individuals. The alert system of the present invention is capable of sending emergency alerts to one or more of a user, the user's family, emergency medical services, and other individuals upon detecting the presence of smoke, natural gas, fire and/or carbon monoxide. Additionally, the alert system may notify a user via a plurality of flashing displays, a wearable vibration device, an audible alarm, an SMS/text message, an email, or a phone call. The alert system may be used as a standalone detector or may be comprised of a plurality of detectors. It may also be used in conjunction with existing fire, smoke, natural gas and/or carbon monoxide detectors. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

Various emergency detection devices, such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire detectors and other hazard detectors, are widely used by individuals in residences and in commercial buildings to rapidly detect emergency situations such as fires, smoke, carbon monoxide and natural gas leaks, or the like. By way of background, existing smoke detectors detect smoke, oftentimes from a fire, and alert the individual the a possible fire incident within the home or other commercial building or structure. By comparison, a carbon monoxide detector detects the presence of harmful carbon monoxide (CO) gas to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, which is otherwise undetectable by an individual. Still other emergency hazard detection devices may be used to detect the presence of harmful substances in the air and/or to detect the occurrence of any hazardous chemical or material present, for example, as the result of a spill. Each of these hazard detection systems then typically inform a user or other folks present in the vicinity by triggering an audible alarm such that the user and others present may take the necessary steps to evacuate the structure and/or reduce the loss and damage that could be caused by smoke/fire to their belongings. The sound of such devices and their characteristics, such as volume, pitch and alarm sound pattern among other settings, are oftentimes predefined by the user in order to easily distinguish the hazard or emergency indicative alarm sound from other common household or alarm sounds.

Unfortunately, not all sound-based alarms can be heard by elderly individuals or those individuals who have suffered hearing loss or are deaf. As such, these individuals may have difficulty in determining when a smoke/fire, emergency and/or carbon monoxide alarm has been activated and signals an emergency via an audible alarm. Without a further type of notification or notifying means, these hard-of-hearing individuals may be unaware that the alarm has even been activated or the occurrence or of an emergency. As a result, these individuals and their respective property are placed at substantial risk because of their inability to hear an audible alarm.

Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for a smoke, fire, natural gas, and/or carbon monoxide detector and alarm system which effectively notifies the elderly and those individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing of a potential emergency. There is also a long felt need in the art for a smoke, fire, natural gas, and/or carbon monoxide detector and alarm system which generates both an audible alarm and at least one additional notification that can further warn an individual of the current emergency. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a smoke, fire, natural gas, and/or carbon monoxide detector and alarm system which rapidly detects the occurrence of fire, smoke, natural gas, or carbon monoxide in a home or commercial building and informs the user and others (e.g. family members and emergency medical personal) of the emergency to prevent the loss of property and lives of individuals, wherein the individual notified does not need to be physically present in front of the device to view the visual alarm mechanism of the device. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a smoke, fire, natural gas, and/or carbon monoxide detector and alarm system which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and that is both safe and easy to use.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a multipurpose alert system for smoke, fire, natural gas, and/or carbon monoxide leaks. The alert system is comprised of a notification device having a plurality of sensors that detect when hazards such as smoke, heat (e.g. fire), carbon monoxide, and/or natural gas are present above an established threshold value, and then provide a redundant notification to the user of the potentially dangerous condition. Alternatively, the alert system may be in electrical communication with an existing smoke, fire, carbon monoxide and/or natural gas detector via a wired or wireless connection, and notifies the user of events detected by said existing detectors. In a further embodiment, the device may also be in electrical communication with a smart device, telephone, computer, router, modem, etc. to send and receive alerts to users, family members of users, and emergency services via an SMS/text message, a pre-recorded phone call, an email or a mobile application.

In this manner, the novel multipurpose alert system for smoke, fire, natural gas, and/or carbon monoxide of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives, and provides a relatively safe, easy, convenient and effective solution to notify the elderly, the hard of hearing, or deaf people of the occurrence of emergency situations, such as fire, smoke, natural gas and carbon monoxide leaks. The multipurpose alert system for smoke, fire, natural gas, and/or carbon monoxide of the present invention is also user friendly, inasmuch as it does not require the user to be present in front of the notification device to be alerted of the potential emergency. The device may also provide remote notifications to users, family members of users and emergency personal in an automated fashion.

SUMMARY

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a multipurpose alert system for smoke, fire, natural gas, and/or carbon monoxide. The device is preferably comprised of a relatively lightweight and fireproof body or housing and a plurality of internal sensors that include, but are not limited to, a carbon monoxide sensor, heat sensor, natural gas sensor and a smoke sensor that are each configured with a threshold value by the user, wherein the values can be observed in real time via a display positioned on the housing or body. Once the threshold value of smoke, heat, carbon monoxide or natural gas has been exceeded by one or more of the sensors, the device may automatically alert a user, local emergency services, and other specified users (e.g. family members, building owners, friends, etc.) via an SMS, text message and/or a phone call. The device will also issue a second or redundant alert to the user that the threshold has been reached or exceeded via an audible alarm, a rapid flashing of the device display, a wearable vibration device or a plurality of additional display devices.

The alert system may be used as a standalone detector device, or can be used in conjunction with one or more of an existing smoke, carbon monoxide, natural gas and/or fire detector. For example, in one embodiment the alert system may be comprised of the device and at least one additional smoke, carbon monoxide, natural gas and/or fire detector that is in electrical communication with the device via a wired or wireless connection means. The alert system may also further connect to an internet providing device (e.g., a computer, telephone, router, modem, smart device, etc.) via an ethernet/LAN cable, an existing detector or a separate detector via, for example, a 3.5 mm or other suitable cable. In addition, the device of the system may also be comprised of an adhesive bottom surface, mounting bracket or hook that allows the device to be positioned on a surface such as a table, or mounted to a wall or other location.

In summary, the multipurpose emergency alert system provides audio, visual, and wearable notifications to elderly, deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in a manner that is not present by any devices known in the art. Further, the alert system ensures that other important individuals, such as emergency medical personal, family members, building and property owners and the like are promptly notified of any impending or occurring fire, carbon monoxide leak, natural gas leak, etc. In addition, the alert system can easily be used with existing carbon monoxide, natural gas, smoke and fire detectors for easy installation, or can be used on its own as a standalone device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As noted above, there exists a long felt need in the art for a smoke, fire, natural gas and/or carbon monoxide detector and alarm system that effectively notifies elderly, hard-of-hearing or deaf individuals of the presence of a fire, smoke, or a natural gas/carbon monoxide leak via a sound alarm, as well as an additional redundant notification means in the event that the sound alarm does not alert the individual. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a smoke, fire, natural gas and/or carbon monoxide detector and alarm system that rapidly detects the occurrence of a fire or the presence of smoke, natural gas or carbon monoxide in a home or commercial building, and that informs not only the user but others (e.g., friends, neighbors, family members, emergency medical personal and the like) to prevent the loss of life and/or property damage, wherein the individuals are remotely notified in a manner that does not require the individual to be physically present in front of the device to view the notification.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a smoke, fire, natural gas, and carbon monoxide detector and alert system. The device is comprised of a body or housing having a plurality of internal sensors that include, but are not limited to: a carbon monoxide sensor, heat sensor, natural gas sensor and smoke detector. Each of said sensors and detectors may be programmed by the user with a threshold value, and observed in real time via a display screen on the exterior of the device body or housing. Once the threshold value of smoke, heat, carbon monoxide or natural gas has been detected, the alert system will automatically alert a user, local emergency services (e.g. fire, police, medical), and other specified users (e.g. family members, friends, neighbors, caretakers, building owners, etc.) via an SMS, text message, and/or automated phone call. The alert system may also alert a user that the threshold was reached via an audible alarm, a rapid flashing of at least one device display or a wearable vibration device. The alert system may be used as a standalone device or may be comprised of at least one additional accompanying smoke, fire, carbon monoxide, natural gas detector that can be elsewhere mounted in a house or other building and linked to the alert system via a wired or wireless means.

Referring initially to the drawings,FIG. 1illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a multipurpose alert system100for smoke, fire, natural gas, and/or carbon monoxide of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. More specifically, the system100is preferably comprised of a generally square or rectangular body or housing110having a front surface116with a display screen117thereon, a plurality of buttons118used to control various functions of the system100, two generally parallel and spaced apart side surfaces114that may be further comprised of a 3.5 mm audio jack1140and a LAN/Ethernet port1142, a top surface112, a bottom surface120and rear surface (not shown).

The housing or body110is preferably comprised of a durable, relatively lightweight and fire-proof material and is preferably square or rectangular in shape. However, in differing embodiments of the system100, the body110may be comprised of any other non-geometric or geometric shape including, but not limited to, a rectangle, circle, oval, trapezoid, triangle, diamond-shape, etc.

FIG. 2illustrates a block diagram showing the various components present in one potential embodiment of the multipurpose alert system100for smoke, fire, natural gas and/or carbon monoxide of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. More specifically, the components may include a memory130, an alarm131, a processor/controller132, a wireless communication module133, one or more lights/light emitters134, a natural gas leak sensor135, a heat sensor136, a carbon monoxide sensor137, a smoke detector138and a battery139.

The memory130allows a user to store his or her settings, preferences and the threshold values for each of the sensors and detectors, wherein the alarm131will be triggered if one or more of the sensors/detectors detect a value in excess of the threshold value. The processor/controller/circuit board132serves as the “brains” of the system100and allows the differing functions of the system100to be controlled by the user and to function as intended. The wireless communication module133allows the system100to communicate via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, NFC, cellular data, etc. with a smart device such as a user or loved one's phone170, or a separate smoke, fire, natural gas and/or carbon monoxide detector160that may be used in conjunction with the alert system100, as will be explained more fully below.

Each of the natural gas leak sensor135, heat sensor136, carbon monoxide sensor137and smoke detector138are used to detect a potential emergency and are in electrical communication with one or more of the memory130, alarm131, processor132and/or the wireless communication module133. Each sensor/detector135,136,137,138may further be pre-programmed or configured by the user to contain a threshold value (or may pull it from the memory130) of carbon monoxide in parts per million, a smoke threshold that is measured by a photoelectric sensor, a heat sensor that is measured in degrees Fahrenheit/Celsius, and natural gas sensor that measures the amount of natural gas present in the surrounding air, such that when a detected value exceeds one or more threshold values, the alarm131notification means of the system100is triggered to alert a user and others, as discussed more fully below.

As previously stated, the front surface116of the body portion is comprised of a display screen117and a plurality of control buttons118. In differing embodiments of the system100, the display screen117may be comprised of a full color, partial color or black and white screen, wherein the screen may be any of a touch screen, an LCD screen, an OLED screen, an ELD screen, an LED backlit LCD screen, an LED screen, a PDP screen, etc. The display117also preferably displays the selected mode, battery status and detected values of each of the carbon monoxide, smoke, heat and natural gas detected by the various sensors135,136,137,138.

Each of the sensors135,136,137,138may further correspond to a particular mode of the system100, wherein the system100may be adjusted to detect for only a specified element (e.g. heat, natural gas, smoke or carbon monoxide), more than one element or all elements. The various modes may be selected via a user pressing one of a plurality of buttons118positioned along the front surface116. The buttons118may include, but are not limited to, a smoke sensor button1161, a battery button1162, a carbon monoxide sensor button1163, a heat sensor button1164, a natural gas sensor button1165, a mode selection button1166and a back button1167. Each of the smoke sensor button1161, carbon monoxide sensor button1163, heat sensor button1164and natural gas sensor button1165allows the user to select which sensor or sensors are activated at any given time within the system100. Further, the mode selection button1166allows the user to select and create a combination of active sensors135,136,137,138that can be recorded in the memory130, such that switching the mode of the system100automatically activates or deactivates all or a partial amount of the sensors135,136,137,138. Further, the mode button1166also allows the user to input a plurality of threshold values for each of sensors135,136,137,138as noted above, which will then trigger the alarm131when a particular threshold value assigned to a particular sensor135,136,137,138is reached or exceeded. The back button1167allows the user to navigate back to the previous mode selected, or navigate within an internal menu which can be viewed via the display117to allow, for example, the system100to connect to a plurality of other devices, as described more fully below.

FIG. 3illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a multipurpose alert system100for smoke, fire, natural gas and/or carbon monoxide of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture, wherein the system100is capable of receiving a LAN cable140and/or an auxiliary cable150. For example, one of side surfaces114of the housing110may be comprised of a female 3.5 mm jack port1140and/or a female LAN/Ethernet port1142to allow the alert system100to connect to a standalone carbon monoxide/smoke detector160, a landline phone, an ethernet port of a router/modem/computer, a smart device, an existing natural gas detector, etc. via a male LAN cable140or 3.5 mm cable150, as will be discussed more fully below. Notwithstanding, it is also contemplated that both of side surfaces114, the top surface112, the front surface116, the bottom surface120or the rear surface may also be comprised of a female 3.5 mm jack1140or the female LAN port1142. Additionally, any surface112,114,116,118,120of the body portion110may further be comprised of an alternative means to connect the alert system100to an existing and standalone carbon monoxide, smoke/fire, natural gas detector, etc. or to a landline phone, an ethernet port of a router/modem/computer or a smart device in the form of a USB port (not shown) that may be comprised of, but not limited to, a USB-A port, USB-B port, Micro-B port, Micro-USB port, Mini-USB port or a USB-C port.

Further, the alert system100may be charged/powered via the same USB port, or by battery139. In differing embodiments of the alert system100, the battery139may be comprised of batteries such as, but not limited to, a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery in the form of an alkaline, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride battery, etc. such as any 3V-12 volt DC battery or other conventional battery such as A, AA, AAA, etc. or coin-battery that can be accessed via a removable cover (not shown) that may comprise a surface of the housing110. Throughout this specification the terms “battery”, “battery pack”, and “batteries” may be used interchangeably to refer to one or more wet or dry cells or batteries of cells in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of DC power. References to recharging or replacing batteries may refer to recharging or replacing individual cells, individual batteries of cells, or a package of multiple battery cells as is appropriate for any given battery technology that may be used. Further, in a differing embodiment, the alert system100may be powered by a continuous 9 v/12 v power supply that engages a charging port (not shown) on any surface of the body110.

FIG. 4illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the multipurpose alert system100for smoke, fire, natural gas, and/or carbon monoxide of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture, wherein the alert system100is hardwired to both an existing smoke detector160and a telephone170. As previously stated above, the alert system100may be used on its own as a natural gas, heat, smoke, and carbon monoxide detector via its internal sensors135,136,137,138. Alternatively, the alert system100may be used in conjunction with a phone/smart device10, a device such as a computer/router/modem (not shown), and/or at least one additional external smoke/carbon monoxide/fire/natural detector160. For example, using the 3.5 mm cable150, the alert system100can be attached to and placed in electrical communication with one or a plurality of existing smoke/carbon monoxide/fire/natural gas detectors, or any type of heat, fire, natural gas or other detector. Alternatively, the alert system100and the device160may communicate through a wireless communication module133. Similarly, the alert system100may also use an internet connection to communicate with a computer, router, modem or telephone170. In this manner, the alert system is able to automatically alert a user, emergency services (e.g. police, medical, and fire), and any other designated individuals (e.g. family members, friends, caregivers, neighbors, building owners, etc.) when one, some, or all of the sensors'135,136,137,138thresholds have been reached. The alert or notification may be in the form of an SMS/text message, email, or an automatically generated phone call with a pre-recorded message. Further, the alert may be audio-based in the form of a loud sound, siren, audible warning message, etc. that is broadcast via a speaker (not shown) that is also part of the alert system100.

As noted above, the alert system100also comprises a plurality of LED lights134that may rapidly flash to alert a user to an emergency. In addition, the display117may also flash rapidly as an alert. In a differing embodiment of the alert system100, the system100may also be comprised of a plurality of additional display panels/units117that are in electrical communication with the system100via a wired or wireless Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, or RFID connection, wherein the various displays117may be positioned or mounted in various places within a structure so that a user can further be alerted by the plurality of rapidly flashing displays117and/or LED lights134in the event that the user is not directly in front of the central display117mounted on the housing110.

As best shown inFIG. 3, in a further embodiment the alert system100may also comprise a vibrating bracelet180or necklace (not shown) that is in electrical communication with the device100via a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, or RFID connection and that vibrates when the threshold of one of the sensors135,136,137,138is triggered in order to alert the user to an emergency. In still a further embodiment, the alert system100may be paired with a mobile application on a phone170that automatically alerts a user, the user's designated friends and family members or emergency services via a notification once the threshold level of one or more of the sensors135,136,137,138is triggered. Finally, the alert system100may be comprised of a GPS transmitter190that automatically transmits the location of the housing110when the alert threshold has been reached.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the multipurpose alert system for smoke, fire, natural gas, and/or carbon monoxide100of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the multipurpose alert system100as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the multipurpose alert system100are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the multipurpose alert system100are important design parameters for user convenience, the multipurpose alert system100may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and that suits the user's needs and preferences.