Patent Publication Number: US-6339379-B1

Title: Carbon monoxide detector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to carbon monoxide detectors and more particularly pertains to a new carbon monoxide detector for detecting the level of carbon monoxide in a furnace supply duct. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of carbon monoxide detectors is known in the prior art. More specifically, carbon monoxide detectors heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,089; U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,384; U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,739; U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,026; U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,980; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 350,300. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new carbon monoxide detector. The inventive device includes a carbon monoxide detector that has a housing. The housing is coupled to an exterior surface of a furnace supply duct of a furnace. The carbon monoxide detector also has a probe assembly that extends outward from the housing into the furnace supply duct for detecting a level of carbon monoxide in the furnace supply duct. The carbon monoxide detector further has a control unit. The control unit is operationally coupled with a limiting switch of the furnace. The control unit provides a signal to the limiting switch upon detection of a carbon monoxide level above a pre-determined level whereby the limiting switch is activated to shut off the furnace. 
     In these respects, the carbon monoxide detector according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of detecting the level of carbon monoxide in a furnace supply duct. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of carbon monoxide detectors now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new carbon monoxide detector construction wherein the same can be utilized for detecting the level of carbon monoxide in a furnace supply duct. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new carbon monoxide detector apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the carbon monoxide detectors mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new carbon monoxide detector which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art carbon monoxide detectors, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a carbon monoxide detector that has a housing. The housing is coupled to an exterior surface of a furnace supply duct of a furnace. The carbon monoxide detector also has a probe assembly that extends outward from the housing into the furnace supply duct for detecting a level of carbon monoxide in the furnace supply duct. The carbon monoxide detector further has a control unit. The control unit is operationally coupled with a limiting switch of the furnace. The control unit provides a signal to the limiting switch upon detection of a carbon monoxide level above a pre-determined level whereby the limiting switch is activated to shut off the furnace. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new carbon monoxide detector apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the carbon monoxide detectors mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new carbon monoxide detector which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art carbon monoxide detectors, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new carbon monoxide detector that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new carbon monoxide detector that is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new carbon monoxide detector which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such carbon monoxide detector economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new carbon monoxide detector which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new carbon monoxide detector for detecting the level of carbon monoxide in a furnace supply duct. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new carbon monoxide detector which includes a carbon monoxide detector that has a housing. The housing is coupled to an exterior surface of a furnace supply duct of a furnace. The carbon monoxide detector also has a probe assembly that extends outward from the housing into the furnace supply duct for detecting a level of carbon monoxide in the furnace supply duct. The carbon monoxide detector further has a control unit. The control unit is operationally coupled with a limiting switch of the furnace. The control unit provides a signal to the limiting switch upon detection of a carbon monoxide level above a pre-determined level whereby the limiting switch is activated to shut off the furnace. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new carbon monoxide detector that will deactivate a furnace if carbon monoxide levels above a pre-determined level are detected in the furnace supply duct until a furnace technician is called to repair the furnace. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new carbon monoxide detector that decrease the amount of deaths attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a new carbon monoxide detector coupled to a furnace according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the remote receiving unit of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the housing of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the carbon monoxide detector of the present invention, illustrating how it is associated with the furnace supply duct. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new carbon monoxide detector embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the carbon monoxide detector  10  generally comprises a carbon monoxide detector  18 , a probe assembly  19  and a control unit  20 . The carbon monoxide detector  18  , probe assembly  19  and control unit  20  are coupled to a furnace  11  that has a gas valve coupled  13  to a gas inlet line  12  and a limiting switch  14 . The limiting switch  14  is operationally coupled to the gas valve  13  in such a manner that the limiting switch  14  shuts off the gas valve  13  upon detection of a heat level above a pre-determined temperature. When the gas valve  13  is shut off, the furnace  11  is deactivated. 
     The furnace  11  also has a fresh air return duct  15  that supplies air to a blower compartment  16 . A furnace supply duct  17  extends away from the blower compartment  16  of the furnace  11 . 
     The blower compartment  16  provides heated air through the furnace supply duct  17 . 
     The carbon monoxide detector  18  has a housing  21  that is coupled to an exterior surface of the furnace supply duct  17  of the furnace  11 . The probe assembly  19  extends outward from the housing  21  through a wall of the furnace supply duct  17  into the furnace supply duct  17 . The probe assembly  19  detects the level of carbon monoxide in the furnace supply duct  17 . 
     The carbon monoxide detector  18  has a control unit  20  that is positioned inside the housing  21 . The control unit  20  is operationally coupled in series with the limiting switch  14  of the furnace  11 . The control unit  20  provides a signal to the limiting switch  14  upon detection of a carbon monoxide level above a pre-determined level. Thus the limiting switch  14  is activated to deactivate the furnace  11 . 
     The probe assembly  19  has an elongated tube  26  that extends into the furnace supply duct  17 . The elongated tube  26  has a plurality of holes  27  for collecting air passing by the elongated tube  26  into an interior duct  28  of the elongated tube  26 . The control unit  18  is operationally coupled to the probe assembly  19  for measuring an air flow into the interior duct  28  of the elongated tube  26  and a level of carbon monoxide of the air collected into the interior duct  28 . The control unit  20  activates the limiting switch  14  upon detection of a level of carbon monoxide over a pre-determined value associated with the measured air flow into the interior duct  28  of the elongated tube  26 . 
     The control unit  20  is designed to provide a continuous signal to the limiting switch  14  upon detection of a level of carbon monoxide over the pre-determined value. Accordingly, the limiting switch  14  is activated continuously while the control unit  20  sends the signal. The carbon monoxide detector  18  also includes a reset control  29  that is operationally coupled to the control unit  20 . The reset control  29  discontinues the signal thereby deactivating the limiting switch  14  to permit activation of the furnace  11 . 
     The carbon monoxide detector  18  also includes a transmitter  23  for sending a reset warning signal upon detection of the carbon monoxide level above the pre-determined level. A receiver  25  in a remote receiving unit  24  is designed to receive the reset warning signal from the transmitter  23 . When the receiver  25  in the remote receiving unit  24  receives the reset warning signal, a warning light  22  is illuminated to indicate that the carbon monoxide detector  18  has activated the limiting switch  14 . The remote receiving unit  24  may be positioned at a remote location relative to the furnace  11  to facilitate its viewing. 
     The remote receiving unit  24  has indicia  32  positioned on an exterior surface of the remote receiving unit  24 . The indicia  32  is positioned proximate the warning light  22 . Thus illumination of the warning light  22  draws attention to the indicia  32 . The indicia  32  directs a user to call to get the furnace  11  serviced. 
     The housing  21  has a main wall  30  and a perimeter wall  31  that extends outward from the main wall  30 . Thus the housing  21  fully covers the control unit  20  and the reset control  29 . The housing  21  prevents a user from manipulating the reset control  29  to circumvent the carbon monoxide detector  1   8  without correcting the cause of the measured carbon monoxide level being above the pre-determined level. 
     A plurality of connection members  33  extends outward from the housing  21 . The connection members facilitate the connection of the housing  21  to the exterior wall of the furnace supply duct  17 . The housing  21  may be connected to the furnace supply duct with sheet metal screws. 
     In use, if the carbon monoxide detector  18  detects a carbon monoxide level above the pre-determined level, the control unit  20  sends a continuous signal to the limiting switch  14 . The limiting switch  14  is then activated thereby shutting off the gas valve  13  and deactivating the furnace  11 . At the same time, the transmitter  23  of carbon monoxide detector  18  sends a reset warning signal to the receiver  25  of the remote receiving unit  24 . The warning light  22  on the receiving unit  24  is then illuminated to inform the user that an unsafe level of carbon monoxide has been detected and the furnace  11  has been deactivated. The user must then call a furnace technician to fix the carbon monoxide problem before the reset control  29  can be accessed and the furnace  11  activated. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.