Patent Abstract:
A mounting kit and smoke detecting apparatus releasably mountable to a distant support surface, including a smoke detector weighing W, a support plate securable to the support surface and releasably securable to the smoke detector by a separating force of Y, and a longitudinal member having a proximate end graspable by a user and a distal end releasably securable to the smoke detector. A selectable first connector on the distal end is releasably securable to the smoke detector for mounting the smoke detector to the support plate and a selectable second connector is securable to the smoke detector for detaching the smoke detector from the support plate. The first connector is secured to the smoke detector by a separating force no greater than X and the second connector is secured to the smoke detector by a separating force no less than Z. At least one of X&lt;(Y−W) and X&lt;Y is true, and at least one of Y&lt;Z and (Y−W)&lt;Z is true.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 60/371,780, filed Apr. 11, 2002 by Laura Lynn McGreal and Timothy Richard McGreal entitled “Smoke Alarm Mounting/Installation/Removal From a Distance System and Method”. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention is directed toward securing devices and more particularly toward mounting smoke alarms to support surfaces which are difficult to reach.  
           [0003]    The use of various structures to secure devices at desired locations is, of course, well known in the prior art. Known prior art securing devices include, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,038; U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,452; U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,653; U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,332; U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,567; U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,766, U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,696 and U.S. Pat. No. Design 246,635.  
           [0004]    While these devices fulfill their respective objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents have limited utility in allowing for smoke alarms to be mounted to support surfaces which are difficult to reach, particularly where the smoke alarms must be accessed from time to time for servicing, as to replace a battery, or for regular cleaning per all smoke detector manufacturer instructions, or to replace defective units, or upgrade an entire system by replacing all units. It should also be noted that for all embodiments of the present invention, the system can be installed without the use of a ladder, with the exception of hard-wired systems which require an electrical connection to the mounting plate.  
           [0005]    The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In one aspect of the present invention, a smoke detecting apparatus which is releasably securable to a support surface from a distance is provided, including a smoke detector, a support plate securable to the support surface, a longitudinal member having a proximate end graspable by a user and a distal end releasably securable to the smoke detector, a first releasable connection requiring a force of R on the smoke detector to connect the support plate and the smoke detector, and a second releasable connection between the smoke detector and the longitudinal member distal end.  
           [0007]    In one form of this aspect of the invention, the support plate and the smoke detector are connectable at different relative angular orientations about a center, with a first electrical contact provided on one of the support plate and smoke detector and a second electrical contact provided on the other of the support plate and smoke detector. The first electrical contact is annular with a selected radius about the center and the second electrical contact is spaced the selected radius from the center whereby the first and second electrical contacts are in contact in all of the different relative angular orientations.  
           [0008]    In another form of this aspect of the present invention, the first and second releasable connections are threaded engagements and the second releasable connection is releasable by a force of S, where R and S are torques and S&gt;R. In one form of this aspect of the invention, the second releasable connection includes a snap releasable with a relative torque of S between the smoke detector and the longitudinal member distal end. In another form, the first and second releasable connections include matching threaded connections whereby a torque applied to the longitudinal member by a user unscrews one of the connections and screws together the other of the connections. In this form, a snap connection may also be provided between the smoke detector and the longitudinal member distal end, where the snap connection requires a torque of S to disconnect and a torque of R screws together the first releasable connection until the smoke detector threaded connection is seated in the support plate threaded connection.  
           [0009]    In other forms of this aspect of the present invention, the first and second releasable connections are releasable snap connectors. The second releasable connection may include first and second selectable connectors on the longitudinal member distal end, where the first and second selectable connectors are releasably connectable to the smoke detector. In another form, the first connection has a separating force of Y, the first selectable connector is secured to the smoke detector by a separating force no greater than X, the second selectable connector is secured to the smoke detector by a separating force no less than Z, at least one of X&lt;(Y−W) and X&lt;Y is true, and at least one of Y&lt;Z and (Y−W)&lt;Z is true, where W is the weight of the smoke detector. X&lt;(Y−W)&lt;Z when the support surface is a ceiling, and X&lt;Y&lt;Z when the support surface is a wall. In a further form, the first and second connectors may be slotted balls receivable in a socket in the smoke detector, with the first connector slotted ball having wider slots than the second connector slotted ball, and the selected one of the first and second connectors, the smoke detector socket, and the detector plate are aligned along the axis.  
           [0010]    In still another form of this aspect of the present invention, the support plate includes a first magnet releasably securable by a magnetic force greater than W to the smoke detector. In another form, the smoke detector includes a second magnet, the first and second magnets being circular. In still another form, the first releasable connection has a separating force of Y, the longitudinal member distal end includes a third magnet magnetically attracted to the smoke detector, a selectable spacing member is adapted to space the third magnet from the smoke detector by a distance A, wherein the magnetic attraction between the second magnet and the smoke detector is Z when adjacent and X when spaced apart a distance A, and at least one of X&lt;(Y−W) and X&lt;Y is true and at least one of Y&lt;Z and (Y−W)&lt;Z is true, where W is the weight of the smoke detector.  
           [0011]    In another aspect of the present invention, a smoke detecting apparatus releasably securable to a support surface from a distance is provided, including a smoke detector weighing W with a detector plate, a support plate securable to the support surface and releasably securable to the detector plate where the support plate and detector plate release from one another with a separating force of Y, and a longitudinal member having a proximate end graspable by a user and a distal end releasably securable to the smoke detector. The distal end includes a selectable first connector releasably securable to the smoke detector for mounting the smoke detector to the support plate and a selectable second connector securable to the smoke detector for detaching the smoke detector from the support plate. The first connector is secured to the smoke detector by a separating force no greater than X and the second connector is secured to the smoke detector by a separating force no less than Z, where Y&gt;W, at least one of X&lt;(Y−W) and X&lt;Y is true, and at least one of Y&lt;Z and (Y−W)&lt;Z is true.  
           [0012]    In one form of this aspect of the invention, the support plate and the detector plate are releasably securable at different relative angular orientations about a center, with a first electrical contact provided on one of the support plate and detector plate and a second electrical contact provided on the other of the support plate and detector plate. The first electrical contact is annular with a selected radius about the center and the second electrical contact is spaced the selected radius from the center whereby the first and second electrical contacts are in contact in all of the different relative angular orientations.  
           [0013]    In another form of this aspect of the invention, the releasable securing of the support plate and the detector plate comprises a releasable snap connector, and/or the first and second connectors comprise snap connectors. In further forms, the first and second connectors comprise slotted balls or two balls of differing diameters receivable in a socket in the smoke detector, the first connector slotted ball having wider slots than the second connector slotted ball.  
           [0014]    In a further form, the selected one of the first and second connectors, the smoke detector socket, and the detector plate are aligned along the longitudinal member axis.  
           [0015]    In still another form of this aspect of the invention, the support plate includes a first magnet releasably securable to the detector plate, wherein the detector plate and first magnet are securable together by a magnetic attraction force greater than W. In a further form, the detector plate is a magnet and both the first magnet and the detector plate are circular.  
           [0016]    In yet another form of this aspect of the invention, the longitudinal member distal end includes a second magnet magnetically attracted to the smoke detector, and a selectable spacing member is adapted to space the second magnet from the smoke detector by a distance A, wherein the magnetic attraction between the second magnet and the smoke detector is Z when adjacent and X when spaced apart a distance A.  
           [0017]    In another form, the support plate has a concave conical mating surface, and the detector plate has a convex conical mating surface.  
           [0018]    In still another aspect of the present invention, a kit for releasably securing a smoke detector to a support surface from a distance is provided, including a support plate securable to the support surface, a longitudinal member having a proximate end graspable by a user and a distal end releasably securable to the smoke detector, and first and second releasable connecting members. The first releasable connecting member is adapted to connect the support plate and the smoke detector, with the first connecting member securing a connected support plate and smoke detector against disconnecting when subjected to a separating force up to Y. The second releasable connecting member is adapted to connect the smoke detector and the longitudinal member distal end, and includes selectable first and second connectors. The first connector is secured to the smoke detector by a separating force no greater than X and the second connector is secured to the smoke detector by a separating force no less than Z, where at least one of X&lt;(Y−W) and X&lt;Y is true, where W is the weight of the smoke detector, and at least one of Y&lt;Z and (Y−W)&lt;Z is true.  
           [0019]    In one form of this aspect of the invention, the second releasable connection includes first and second selectable connectors on the longitudinal member distal end, where the first and second selectable connectors releasably connectable to the smoke detector. In a further form, the first releasable connection and the second releasable connection comprise snap connectors. In a still further form, the first and second connectors comprise slotted balls receivable in a socket in the smoke detector, with the first connector slotted ball having wider slots than the second connector slotted ball.  
           [0020]    In another form of this aspect of the invention, the smoke detector weighs W, the first releasable connection has a separating force of Y, and the second releasable connection includes a magnet on the longitudinal member distal end which is magnetically attracted to the smoke detector and a selectable spacing member adapted to space the magnet from the smoke detector by a distance A, where the magnetic attraction between the second magnet and the smoke detector is Z when adjacent and X when spaced apart a distance A, where X&lt;(Y−W)&lt;Z.  
           [0021]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, a kit for releasably securing a smoke detector to a support surface from a distance is provided, including a support plate securable to the support surface, a longitudinal member having a proximate end graspable by a user and a distal end releasably securable to the smoke detector, a first releasable connection requiring a force of R on the smoke detector to connect the support plate and the smoke detector, and a second releasable connection between the smoke detector and the longitudinal member distal end. The first releasable connection and the second releasable connection are threaded engagements and the second releasable connection is releasable by a force of S, where R and S are torques and S&gt;R.  
           [0022]    In one form of this aspect of the invention, the second releasable connection includes a snap releasable with a relative torque of S between the smoke detector and the longitudinal member distal end.  
           [0023]    In another form of this aspect of the invention, the first releasable connection and the second releasable connection comprise matching threaded connections whereby a torque applied to the longitudinal member by a user unscrews one of the first releasable connection and the second releasable connection and screws together the other of the first releasable connection and the second releasable connection. In a further form, a snap connection is provided between the smoke detector and the longitudinal member distal end, where the snap connection requires a torque of S to disconnect and a torque of R screws together the first releasable connection until the smoke detector threaded connection is seated in the support plate threaded connection. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a perspective, cross-sectional view illustrating the imminent removal of a smoke detector from a supporting surface using the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate support plate usable with the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate pole attachment structure usable with the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the FIG. 4 pole attachment structure;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 is a perspective, cross-sectional view illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 8 is an enlarged, exploded partial view of the lower connection of a smoke detector and pole according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the lower screw plate and lower nut plate of the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 10 is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  11 - 11  of FIG. 10;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 12 is a side, partial cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the third embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the pole attachment structure of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0038]    In accordance with the present invention, a smoke detector can be selectively decoupled from a remote support surface to permit an individual to service or silence the smoke detector from a distance or for regular cleaning per all smoke detector manufacturer instructions, or to replace defective units, or upgrade an entire system by replacing all units. It should also be noted that for all embodiments of the present invention, the system can be installed without the use of a ladder, with the exception of hard-wired systems which require an electrical connection to the mounting plate.  
         [0039]    One embodiment of the mounting structure for a smoke alarm or smoke detector  30  according to the present invention is shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 . This embodiment uses magnetic couplings between the smoke detector  30  and the support surface  32 , and between the smoke detector  30  and the longitudinal member  34 , such as a pole, which may be used during installation and/or servicing to reach the smoke detector  30  mounted in a hard to reach location, such as a ceiling or high on a wall. For simplicity of illustration, only the smoke detector housing is illustrated in the figures, with the internal operating components thereof omitted.  
         [0040]    In accordance with this embodiment, a support plate  36  may be suitably secured to a desired location on a support surface  32 , such as a ceiling or a wall. The support plate  36  may be secured to the support surface  32  by any suitable support means, including means such as adhesive or a self-drilling fastener which may allow installation without requiring that the installer us a ladder, step stool, or the like. To accommodate a suitable fastener such as a screw or a self-drilling fastener, one or more mounting apertures  38  may be provided in the plate  36 .  
         [0041]    A magnet  40  is suitably secured to the support plate  36 , as by a mechanical fastener or an adhesive. Alternatively, the support plate magnet  40  may include a mounting aperture directed therethrough as shown in the drawings permitting selective securement of the magnet  40  directly to the support surface  32  if so desired. The support plate  36  may also include suitable contacts or terminals  44  which may be connected as desired (e.g., for hard wired power or remote communication of the smoke detector  30 ). The terminals  44  are connected to downwardly facing ring connectors  45  (see FIG. 3) which may be connected at any point around their lengths to smoke detector contacts  46  to provide a detachable electrical connection between the support plate  36  and the smoke detector  30  in any angular orientation between the two.  
         [0042]    A mating top magnet  50  is also suitably attached to the smoke detector  30 , as by adhesive or mechanical fasteners, which magnet  50  may be selectively coupled to the support plate magnet  40  as described hereafter. When positioned adjacent one another, the magnets  40 ,  50  provide an attractive force therebetween whereby they may only be separated by a separating force of Y. It should be appreciated, therefore, that so long as Y is greater than the weight (W) of the smoke detector  30 , the smoke detector  30  may be detachably or releasably secured via the support plate  36  to the support surface  32  which is horizontal (such as a ceiling).  
         [0043]    Further, it should be appreciated that the illustrated cylindrical geometry of the magnets  40 ,  50  will enable the smoke detector  30  to be reliably connected to the support plate  36  no matter the annular orientation relative to each other. Further, it should be recognized that by selecting magnets  40 ,  50  which have opposite poles which extend laterally relative to the smoke detector  30  (i.e., not vertically in a ceiling mounted smoke detector  30 ), the magnets  40 ,  50  may be used to bias the smoke detector  30  about its central axis to a specific rotational position. This may therefore assist in ensuring, for example, that contacts will be suitably self-aligned during mounting where such alignment is desired or necessary.  
         [0044]    Another releasable magnetic connection is also provided between the opposite (bottom) side of the smoke detector  30  and a mounting pole  34 .  
         [0045]    Specifically, a lower smoke detector magnet  56  is suitably attached to the bottom of the smoke detector  30  (e.g., by adhesives or mechanical fasteners). A mating pole magnet  60  is suitably secured to the end of the pole  34  in a retainer  62  which has a gap cap  64  which may be selectively capped onto the retainer  62  whereby the magnet  60  may be used to provide two different releasable connectors to the smoke detector  30  as described below. In an alternate embodiment, the pole magnet  60  may be an electromagnet suitably powered, as by a battery mounted in the pole.  
         [0046]    Specifically, when installing a smoke detector  30 , the cap  64  may be snapped over the magnet  60  whereby the upper surface of the cap  64  is a selected distance (A) from the upper surface of the magnet  60 . The smoke detector  30  may then be placed with its lower magnet  56  adjacent the cap  64 , whereby the magnetic force therebetween having a separating force X will securely hold the smoke detector  30  on the end of the pole  34 . As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pole  34  may be provided with an adjustable elbow  66  as well as a resilient member  68  to reduce the sensitivity of the system to planar misalignments and to facilitate handling of the pole  34  and attached smoke detector  30 .  
         [0047]    The installer may then use the pole  34  to position the smoke detector  30  adjacent the support plate  36  mounted to the support surface  32  as previously described, with the support plate magnet  40  and upper smoke detector magnet  50  adjacent each other whereby their attractive magnetic force will secure them together in the desired position as previously noted. It should be appreciated that the magnetic force securing the smoke detector  30  to the pole  34  is selectively less than the magnetic force securing the smoke detector to the supporting plate  36 , so that when the installer pulls the pole  34  away from the smoke detector  30 , the smoke detector  30  will remain secured to the support plate  36  due to its greater securing force. In the case of a conventional horizontal ceiling mount, this would require that X&lt;(Y−W), where the separating force (Y) of the support plate connection should be sufficient to overcome both the separating force (X) of the pole  34  when it is pulled down and the weight (W) of the smoke detector.  
         [0048]    Alternatively, where the smoke detector is to be mounted to a horizontal wall, the magnets could be selected whereby X&lt;Y, since the support plate magnetic connection need not also support the weight of the smoke detector  30 . For example, the smoke detector  30  may be received within a cup portion of a support plate where there is a mechanical interference between the side of the cup portion and the smoke detector  30  which supports the smoke detector  30 , with the magnetic attraction (X) required only to be enough to prevent the smoke detector  30  from tipping out of the cup portion. If the wall connection does not have such a mechanical interference supporting the smoke detector  30 , then the friction forces between the vertical surfaces must be sufficient to support the smoke detector. Of course, the friction forces in such a case would be a function of the magnetic attraction force between the magnets  40 ,  50  and the coefficient of friction.  
         [0049]    When it is later desired to remove the smoke detector  30  from the support surface  32 , such as for servicing (e.g., replacing batteries), the cap  64  may be removed from the top of the retainer  62  (a suitable snap may be provided along the side of the pole  34  to hold the cap  64  clear of the retainer  62 ), whereby the service person may reach up with the pole  34  and position the magnet  60  adjacent the bottom smoke detector magnet  56 , without the spacing (A) therebetween caused by the cap  64 . It will be appreciated that the magnetic attraction force, and the force required to separate the magnets, is a function, inter alia, of the proximity of the magnets  56 ,  60 . In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, the separating force (Z) of the magnets  56 ,  60  when directly adjacent one another (i.e., without the spacing A provided by the cap  64 ) is sufficient to overcome the separating force between the magnets  40 ,  50  holding the smoke detector  30  to the support plate  36 . Thus, in the case of a conventional horizontal ceiling mount, X&lt;(Y−W)&lt;Z, and in the case of a vertical wall mount, X&lt;Y&lt;Z. Of course, if other forces also secure the smoke detector  30  to the support plate  36  (e.g., friction between the electrical contacts  44 ,  46 ), those forces may also be taken into account.  
         [0050]    It should be appreciated that the above illustrated embodiment advantageously uses pairs of magnets to provide the magnet connections. As previously mentioned, the polarity of the magnet pairs assists may be used to ensure a desired rotational orientation. Further, the polarity of the magnet pairs on opposite sides of the smoke detector  30  may be used to ensure that the smoke detector  30  is not accidentally installed upside down. That is, the magnets may be installed so that an attempted connection between the pole  34  and the top magnet  50  of the smoke detector  30  would impossibly attempt to connect magnets at their same north or south poles. The same may be used to prevent connection of the bottom of the smoke detector  30  to the support plate  36 . It should also be appreciated, however, that it would still be well within the scope of the invention to provide a single magnet with each connection, with a suitable magnetically attracted (but not itself magnetic) component, such as a steel plate, secured to the other of the components to be secured together.  
         [0051]    It should be appreciated that any suitable selectable spacer, permitting selected different spacing such as provided by the cap  64  in the above described embodiment, may also be used in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0052]    For example, FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment for a tool which may be secured to the end of the pole  34  to create two differing gaps, and hence two different magnetic forces using the same magnet type within the assembly. Specifically, a yoke  70  includes a suitable attachment portion  72  for securing to a selected pole  34 . A housing  74  includes interior supports on opposite ends for supporting magnets  76 ,  78  at different spacings relative to the ends  80 ,  82  of the housing  74 . Alternatively, to facilitate alignment, the magnets as described above may be designed of the “floating” type, similar to those that may commonly be found on kitchen cabinet doors.  
         [0053]    Therefore, it will be appreciated that substantially identical magnets  76 ,  78  may be used at opposite ends  80 ,  82  of the housing  74  to provide different selectable connectors at each end having different magnetic attractive forces when the different housing ends are positioned adjacent the smoke detector lower magnet  56 . Further, the housing  74  includes lateral cylindrical projections  84  which may be suitably connected to the yoke  70 , as by a snap-fit, for pivoting between selected positions.  
         [0054]    Detents  86  are provided yoke  70  and are receivable in selected slots in the housing cylindrical projections to allow the housing to be selectively secured in a position relative to the yoke  70  and pole  34 , enabling the user to position the appropriate housing end  80 ,  84  (with selected separating force depending on the usage as previously described) in engagement with the smoke detector lower magnet  56  at a convenient position for reaching the support plate  36 . For example, positioning the housing  74  at an angle (e.g., 45 degree angle) relative to the axis of the pole  34  can facilitate the installation of a smoke detector assembly on a non-horizontal, non-vertical surface such as a “cathedral” type ceiling. Of course, still other structures allowing positioning of different magnets/different magnetic forces relative to a selected smoke detector  30  may also be used within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0055]    An alternative embodiment is shown in FIGS.  6 - 11  in which threaded connections are used instead of magnetic connections such as described above.  
         [0056]    In accordance with this embodiment, a support screw plate  100  having right-handed external screw threads  102  may be suitable secured on its upper surface to a support surface (e.g., by adhesives or mechanical fasteners, such as previously described). An upper nut plate  106  is also suitably secured to the top of the smoke detector  30 , such as by adhesives, fasteners, or the like. The support screw plate threads  102  can mate with the internal screw threads  108  of the upper nut plate  106 .  
         [0057]    A lower screw plate  110  with left-handed external screw threads  112  is suitably secured on the lower side of the smoke detector  30  (e.g., by adhesives, fasteners, or the like) and a lower nut plate  114  with left-handed internal screw threads  116  is suitably secured to the end of the pole  34 . The screw threads  112 ,  114  of the lower screw plate  110  and the lower nut plate  114  are designed to mate with each other.  
         [0058]    Cooperating snaps  120 ,  122  (see FIG. 8) are provided with the lower screw plate  110  and lower nut plate  114 , respectively to provide a two-way snap fit between the lower nut plate  114  and the lower screw plate  112  when the two are sufficiently threaded together, as shown in cross-section in FIG. 11. A similar set of snaps is provided on the support screw plate  100  and the upper nut plate  106 . The snaps may be chosen so that they may be “tuned” by a manufacturer to provide a connection having a fairly precise separating force, or may be more broadly selected with the separating force determined after manufacture by testing.  
         [0059]    As illustrated in FIG. 7, suitable mounting and spacing plates  124 ,  126 ,  128  may be used to facilitate use of the present invention with smoke detectors  30 , including retrofitting with smoke detectors  30  not specifically adapted for connection of such mounting components. For example, the plates  124 ,  126 ,  128  may include mounting holes and/or adhesives on both sides for mounting between suitable smoke detectors  30  and mounting components. Moreover, it should be appreciated that the present invention encompasses not only smoke detectors inclusive with the mounting components (including pole  34 ), but also includes kits which may be provided separately from smoke detectors  30  where the kits may then be used with a selected smoke detector  30  for mounting at a desired location. It is conceivable that components of the present invention could also be used to install/remove other items from inaccessible locations, such as video (spy) cameras, banners, curtains, etc.  
         [0060]    In accordance with this embodiment, an installer will first screw the lower screw plate  110  and lower nut plate  114  together until a pronounced “snap” of the cooperating snaps  120 ,  122  is heard, at which point the smoke detector  30  will be securely positioned on the pole  34 . The installer then uses the pole  34  to raises the assembly up to position the upper nut plate  106  in the support screw plate  100  secured to the support surface  32 , and then rotates the pole  34  clockwise (when looking up) until the upper nut plate  106  and support screw plate  100  “bottom out” and hence are rotatably locked together. At this point, the installer continues rotating the handle  34  clockwise (when looking up) and the left-handed threads of the lower screw plate  110  and lower nut plate  114  begin to unscrew. The process is complete when the lower screw plate  110  and lower nut plate  114  are completely disengaged, at which point the pole  34  is disconnected from the smoke detector  30  with the smoke detector  30  installed on the support surface  32 .  
         [0061]    Thereafter, when it is desirable to remove the smoke detector  30 , the service person may raise the pole  34  up to mate the lower nut plate  114  (on top of the pole  34 ) with the lower screw plate  110  (on the bottom of the smoke detector  30 ), and then rotates the pole counter-clockwise until the lower screw plate  110  and lower nut plate  114  “bottom out” and hence are rotatably locked together. The counter-clockwise rotation is then continued until the support screw plate  100  and upper nut plate  106  are completely disengaged, at which point the smoke detector  30  will be disconnected from the support surface  32  and securely supported on the pole  34  whereby the service person may lower the pole  34  to gain access to the smoke detector  30 .  
         [0062]    The snaps can be utilized to prevent a user from not tightening the components properly enough by creating an audible indication when the screw threads have attained a specific level of engagement. Further, the snaps can operate to create an additional force holding the threaded components together which is greater than the releasing force (R) of the other threaded components so that, for example, when twisting the pole  34  when mounting the smoke detector  30  the threads between the lower nut plate  114  (on top of the pole  34 ) and the lower screw plate  110  (on the bottom of the smoke detector  30 ) will not begin to unthread until the threaded connection of the smoke detector  30  to the support surface  32  bottoms out.  
         [0063]    FIGS.  12 - 14  illustrate yet another embodiment incorporating the present invention using snap-type connections.  
         [0064]    With this embodiment, a support snap plate  200  is suitably secured to a support surface  32  such as previously described, and a detector snap plate  202  is suitably secured to the top of the smoke detector  30 , as by a mounting and spacing plate  206  which may, for example, have adhesive on both sides. The support snap plate  200  includes a detent-type annular projection  210  which may be snap-fit into an annular groove  212  in the detector snap plate  202 . Similar to the magnetic-attraction embodiment, the snap connection has a separating force of Y. It should be appreciated that a snap connection may be used which may be separated by twisting, in which case the separating force would be required to be sufficient to allow twisting sufficient for such separation without separating the pole  34  from the smoke detector  30 .  
         [0065]    A socket-type receiver  220  is suitably secured to the lower side of the smoke detector  30 , for mating with a selected one of two connectors secured to the pole  34 . Specifically, a connecting member  226  includes two selectable connectors comprising a pair of slotted balls  230 ,  232 , where one ball  230  is configured (e.g., by use of larger slots permitting the fingers forming the ball  230  to be more easily bent) so as to have a lower separation force (X) from the socket-type receiver  220  than the separation force (Z) of the other ball  232 . The relationship of X, Y and Z such as previously stated with the magnetic-attraction embodiment may also be provided with this embodiment.  
         [0066]    Further, similarly to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the connecting member  226  is rotatably secured to a yoke  238  secured to the pole  34 , with a suitable detent between the connecting member pivot  240  and the yoke  238  to secure the selected slotted ball  230 ,  232  in the desired position for use.  
         [0067]    It should also be recognized that a magnetic coupling (including permanent magnets and electromagnets), screw-type fastener, hook-and loop, removable adhesive may be utilized instead of a snap-fit and vice versa. Any one may be exchanged with any other and still provide a fully functional invention. Moreover, as one example, a magnetic connection between the support surface  32  and smoke detector  30  such as described in connection with the FIGS.  1 - 5  embodiments could be used with the snap connection between the pole  34  and smoke detector  30  as described in connection with the FIGS.  12 - 14  embodiment, where the relative relationship of X, Y and Z is maintained. As yet another of many such examples, a magnetic connection could alternatively be provided between the pole  34  and the smoke detector  30 , with a snap connection provided between the support surface  32  and the smoke detector. At this stage in development, it appears that the snap-type embodiment is the best mode for coupling the topside of the smoke detector  30  to the support surface  32 , and a magnet mounted on the lower side of the detector  30  that can couple to a magnet on the pole  34  would be the best-mode for the lower coupling.  
         [0068]    It should also be appreciated that the use of conical connecting components may be advantageously used in connection with the present application to assist in properly positioning components being secured together. For example, it can be seen in FIGS.  6 - 7 , portions of upper nut plate  106  taper inward to facilitate entry into the annular opening of the support screw plate  100 , portions of the lower screw plate  110  and lower nut plate  114  taper to facilitate entry into each other (see FIGS.  6 - 9 ), and detector snap plate  202  tapers inward to facilitate entry into support snap plate  202  (see FIGS.  12 - 13 ). Particularly for the magnetic connections, this type geometry creates a go-no go situation where there is either a “full” magnetic coupling or there is no coupling.  
         [0069]    It should thus be appreciated that, in use, smoke alarms and mounting kits embodying the present invention can be easily utilized to effect removable coupling of a smoke detector  30  from a distance relative to a support surface  32  within a building structure or the like. The present invention allows an individual to install and selectively decouple the smoke detector  30  from a distance from the support surface  32  so as to effect servicing of the smoke detector  30  and/or silencing of the smoke detector  30  due to a false alarm such as can be caused by cigarette smoke or smoke generated from cooking appliances within the home. Additionally, the present invention will enable the physically disabled and/or elderly to remove and install their smoke detectors with relative ease, and reduce injuries/deaths from the increased use of smoke detectors due to ease of use/install, reduced number of smoke detectors with missing or discharged batteries, and decreased number of falls from ladders.  
         [0070]    Still other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the specification, the drawings, and the appended claims. It should be understood, however, that the present invention could be used in alternate forms where less than all of the objects and advantages of the present invention and preferred embodiment as described above would be obtained.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6