Abstract:
The present invention is a tamper indicating kit for use with a smoke detector having a base plate for mounting to a mounting surface such as a ceiling or wall, and said smoke detector also including an openable cover connected to said base plate; the tamper indicating kit includes: a thing planar adapter flange including a horizontal top section adapted to be sandwiched between a base plate and a mounting surface, a side section extending vertically downwardly from a distal end of said top section; a horizontal relief section extending horizontally inwardly from a distal end of said side section, and a flexible leg extending angularly downwardly from a distal end of said horizontal relief section, said flexible leg adapted to flex from an unmounted position to a mounted position adjacent to a cover outer wall; and adhesive tape producing an irreversible indication upon opening or tampering with a cover taping together at least a portion of said side element to a cover.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to detecting tampering of smoke detectors and in particular relates to detecting unauthorized opening of hinged type smoke detectors.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Statistics indicate that three quarters of American homes have at least one smoke detector. However, the National Fire Protection Agency estimates that ⅓ of those detectors do not work, often because of dead or missing batteries. The industry is aware of the problems associated with smoke detectors and has responded with several safety features that are effective, but no flawless as evidence in the above statistics. Modern smoke detectors warn a person when a smoke detectors battery is low by producing a chirping sound, one a minute. This chirp continues for approximately a month when the battery goes dead or until someone either replaces or removes the battery. Often users will remove the battery in order to silence the disruptive chirping rather than replace it with a new battery.  
           [0003]    Dead batteries probably reflect the lack of regular testing and maintenance and the problem may be compounded by some individuals unfamiliarity with the meaning of the sounds and signals now used to indicate low battery power.  
           [0004]    A prevalent smoke detector on the market today includes a hinged cover that is attached to the detectors base plate in which the base plate houses the battery and the electrical components. The hinge cover is designed to that it cannot be closed unless the battery is present. However, the hinged cover can easily be forced into position when no battery is present. Furthermore, when the hinge cover is not in the closed position, there is no visual warning indicating a missing battery, just exposed electronic circuitry. Again a person may assume that the detector to falter and remove it completely.  
           [0005]    Another smoke detector designed includes a battery drawer that slides in and out from the smoke detector on a horizontal motion. The compartment door cannot be repositioned into the smoke detector unless the battery is present. The door however is slightly bigger than the battery and therefore offers no effective visual warning that the battery is missing.  
           [0006]    Furthermore, if the smoke detectors battery has been repositioned so that the batteries terminals are reversed or are not in contact with the battery, the hinged covered battery compartment may still be able to be closed, since the battery is actually present. In the case of the external battery compartment, the detector can still be mounted since the battery is in the compartment.  
           [0007]    Furthermore, landlords are responsible for defective and/or non-operative smoke detectors which are located inside residential apartment units. There is no way for a landlord to assure or prove that he has placed a fresh battery inside the smoke detector and/or be able to conclusively give evidence that the tenant has not removed and/or otherwise tampered with the detector.  
           [0008]    Therefore, there is a need for a tamper indicator for smoke detectors which would allow a landlord of apartment buildings and/or official of the Fire Department to be able to determine that in fact a battery has been installed on a certain date and has not been tampered with since.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The present invention a tamper indicating kit for use with a smoke detector having a base plate for mounting to a mounting surface such as a ceiling or wall, and said smoke detector also including an openable cover pivotally connected to said base plate; the tamper indicating kit including:  
           [0010]    (a) a thin planar adapter flange including a top element adapted to be fastened to a base plate, and  
           [0011]    (b) said adapter flange further including a side element adapted to extend proximate a cover;  
           [0012]    (c) a means for securing at least a portion of said side element to a cover such that opening a cover produces an irreversible indication of opening or tampering.  
           [0013]    Preferably wherein said top element and said side element are pivotally connected.  
           [0014]    Preferably wherein said top element includes an aperture defined therein for passage there through of a fastener.  
           [0015]    The invention a tamper indicating kit for use with a smoke detector having a base plate for mounting to a mounting surface such as a ceiling or wall, and said smoke detector also including an openable cover pivotally connected to said base plate; the tamper indicating kit also including:  
           [0016]    (a) a thing planar adapter flange including a horizontal top section adapted to be fastened to a base plate, a side section extending vertically downwardly from a distal end of said top section; a horizontal relief section extending horizontally inwardly from a distal end of said side section, and a vertical section extending vertically downwardly from a distal end of said horizontal relief section, said vertical section adapted to extend parallel and adjacent to a portion of a cover;  
           [0017]    (b) a means for securing at least a portion of said side element to a cover such that opening a cover produces an irreversible indication of opening or tampering.  
           [0018]    The present invention a tamper indicating assembly comprising in combination a tamper indicator and a smoke detector, said tamper indicating assembly comprising:  
           [0019]    (a) a smoke detector including a base plate for mounting to a mounting surface such as a ceiling or wall and said smoke detector also including an openable cover pivotally connected to said base plate; parallel and adjacent to a portion of;  
           [0020]    (b) an adapter flange rigidly connected to said base plate and extending said cover; and  
           [0021]    (c) a means for securing at least a portion of said adapter flange to said cover such that opening said cover produces an irreversible indication of opening or tampering.  
           [0022]    Preferably wherein said adapter flange includes a top element for connecting to said base plate and a side element extending parallel and adjacent to a portion of said cover, wherein said top element and said side element are pivotally connected.  
           [0023]    Preferably wherein said top element includes an aperture for passage there through of a fastener.  
           [0024]    Preferably wherein said top element of said adapter flange being thinly dimensioned for sandwiching between the base plate and mounting surface, such that said base plate remains substantially flush with said mounting surface.  
           [0025]    Preferably wherein said side element pivoted and dimensioned to extend substantially parallel and adjacent to a cover vertical wall of said cover. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded assembly view of an adapter flange together with a conventional smoke detector.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevational view of adapter flange mounted onto a smoke detector.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is a schematic front elevational view of a smoke detector together with an adapter flange.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is a schematic partial cut away view of a smoke detector together with an adapter flange shown mounted thereon.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the adapter flange.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional cut away view of the adapter flange mounted onto a smoke detector.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of an adapter flange shown in situ and mounted onto a smoke detector with a tape.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 8 is a top partial cut away view of the adapter flange shown mounted onto the top surface of a smoke detector base plate.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a smoke detector with a tape shown attached to the base plate as well as the cover.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a smoke detector showing the tape attached to the base plate as well as the cover.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 11 is a schematic front elevational view of the tape shown in the tape as tampered condition, showing the tampered indication, mainly the word void.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 12 shows a smoke detector together with the tape in the sealed position prior to any tampering.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of a smoke detector together with the base plate and a cover showing cover and base plate flanges.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 14 is a side elevational schematic view of a smoke detector together with the tape shown in the tape sealed position.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 15 is a top elevational view of a smoke detector together with the tape shown in the tape sealed position.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 16 is a top schematic view of a presently preferred embodiment of the adapter flange.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 17 is a schematic side elevational view of the adapter flange.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 18 is a schematic front elevational view of the adapter flange.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 19 is a schematic representation of the deployment of the adapter flange onto a smoke detector having a base plate and a cover in the initial installation position.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 20 is a schematic illustration of deployment of the adapter flange onto a smoke detector in the partially mounted position.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 21 is a schematic representation of the adapter flange diploid onto a smoke detector together with a tape all combined together providing a tamper indicator adapter kit. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0047]    Definition:  
         [0048]    In this patent smoke detector and/or smoked alarm and/or smoke alarm detector all refer to a battery operated detection device for smoke, or carbon monoxide which are normally used in residential homes and apartments.  
         [0049]    The present invention shown generally as a tamper indicator adapter kit  30  shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and  3  shows a tamper indicator adapter kit which consists of a adapter flange  40  and tamper evidence tape  44  which is shown deployed together with a conventional smoke detector  47  having a base plate  31 , hinge cover  32 , fastening apertures  34  and screw fasteners  36  for holding said base plate  31  to a ceiling or wall.  
         [0050]    The tamper indicator adapter kit shown generally as  30  includes adapter flange  40  having an aperture  42 , a top element  46  having a top surface  48 , a hinged portion  50  connected to a side element  56  having an outer surface  52  and an inner surface  54 . Tape  44  is also part of adapter kit  30 .  
         [0051]    In use the present embodiment of the invention, a tamper indicator adapter kit shown generally as  30 , is installed onto a smoke detector having a base plate  31  and a cover  32  as follows. Top element  46  of adapter flange  40  is placed on the rear side  43  of face plate  31  as shown. One of fastening apertures  34  which are used to fasten base plate  31  onto a wall or ceiling, is aligned with aperture  42  in top element  46 . Screw fastener  36  passes through fastening aperture  34  as well as aperture  42  of adapter flange  40  and into the ceiling or wall thereby fastening base plate  31  together with adapter flange  40  to the wall or ceiling. In this manner top element  46  is sandwiched between base plate  31  and the wall or ceiling. Subsequently side element  56  which has an outer surface  52  and an inner surface  54  and a hinge point  50  is hinged to align vertically with the cover vertical wall  45  of cover  32  such that side element  56  lies parallel and adjacent to cover vertical wall  45  surface of cover  32 . Note that “cover vertical wall” is also referred to as “cover outer wall” in this patent and may or may not be vertical.  
         [0052]    Hinge  50  is of the type known in the plastic art including scoring or variation in thickness along the hinge line.  
         [0053]    Subsequently, tape  44  which for example can be a 3M type tape which is marketed under number 7930 is applied across the outer surface  52  of side element  56  and also onto cover vertical wall  45  thereby adhesively fastening adapter flange  40  to cover  32 . Once tape  44  is in place, should someone attempt to open cover  32 , tape  44  shatters or self destructs, thereby indicating that the smoke detector unit has been tampered with.  
         [0054]    3M type tape number 7930 is a destructible vinyl label material. Once this material has been applied to a surface, should any attempts be made to remove it in any manner, it destructs itself by shattering and/or tearing and thereby indicating that the tape has been tampered with and/or attempts have been made to remove the tape and/or move the tape. 3M claims that tape 7930 is made of a low shrinkage vinyl which produces a dimensionally stable label without adhesive ooze or dirty edges. It comes with an aggressive acrylic adhesive which provides high bond and excellent destructibility on most surfaces including metals, plastics, power coated surfaces and other including many low energy surface materials. 3M provides many other data in regard to this material 7930 which the inventor has found to be useful for this application.  
         [0055]    Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5,  6 ,  7  and  8 , a presently preferred embodiment shown generally as tamper indicator adapter kit  100  is useful when the smoke detector has geometries other than those shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 . For example, in FIG. 4, base plate  60  has a larger diameter than cover  62  thereby adapter flange  70  must be modified to fit over face plate  60  and onto cover  62 . FIG. 5 shows a proposed geometry for adapter flange  70  having a top section  72 , top surface  74 , side section  76 , horizontal relief section  78  and a vertical section  80 . One can see that adapter flange  70  in this case has a relief portion shown generally as  75  which allows for the greater diameter of base plate  60  than cover  62 . By providing relief portion  75 , one can bring vertical section  80  into close proximity with cover vertical wall  85  thereby assuring that vertical section  80  lies substantially parallel and adjacent to cover vertical wall  85  as shown in FIG. 4. This will then allow the user to apply tape  69  which is again preferably the 3M type 7930 onto cover  62  of smoke detector. Adapter flange  70  is mounted identically to adapter flange  40  described in the previous embodiment and shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 .  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 6 shows a smoke detector having geometry in which the base plate  90  is a smaller diameter than cover  92 . In this case, adapter flange  70  can also be used even though the relief portion  75  is not required in order for vertical section  80  to be aligned parallel and adjacent to cover vertical wall  85 . The reader will note that adapter flange  70  can used for smoke detectors having geometry shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 , FIG. 4 and/or in FIG. 6.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIGS. 7 and 8 show the tamper indicator adapter kit installed onto a smoke detector having geometry as shown in FIG. 4 wherein the base plate  60  has a larger diameter than the cover  62 . In FIG. 7 for example, the adapter flange  70  is shown in place with tape  69  adhering to vertical section  80  as well as cover vertical wall  85 . Thereby as soon as someone attempts to remove or open cover  62 , tape  69  will shatter thereby indicating that the unit has been tampered with.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 8 shows a top schematic view of the top section  72  of adapter flange  70  and slot  98  defined therein for passage there through of screw fastener  66 . By having slot  98  in top section  72  of adapter flange  70 , one is able to accommodate the different geometries as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 of various smoke detectors. In addition, by having slot  98 , the positioning of screw fastener  66  (being different for every manufacture of smoke detector) is so constructed that adapter flange  70  can be utilized with many types of smoke detectors on the market.  
         [0059]    Referring now to FIGS. 9, 10,  11  and  12  an alternate embodiment to the present invention, a tamper indicator method showing generally as  200  includes a smoke detector  220  having a base plate  222  and a hinge cover  224  which is shown in the open position  228  in FIG. 9. Preferably tape  226  is an equivalent to 3M tape number 7937 or 7384 which is a tamper indicating sheet label material having a high strength acrylic adhesive providing a high bond onto most surfaces and has a poly coated face stock to with stand harsh environments.  
         [0060]    Referring now to FIG. 11, tape  226  is preferably cut out in a capital I shape as shown in FIG. 11 and the top and bottom portions of the I are applied as shown in FIG. 10 to the base plate vertical wall  242  and the other end to the cover vertical wall  240 . Cover  224  has been hinged closed to mate with base plate  224  as shown in the closed position  230  of FIG. 12. Tape  226  is then firmly pressed and sealed together into the tape seal position  232  as shown in FIG. 12. Any attempt to open or hingeably move cover  224  away from base plate  22  results in tape  226  becoming unsealed from the tape sealed position  232 . Should cover  224  be hinged open from base plate  222 , tape  226  would look as shown in FIG. 9. Once tape  226  is forcibly unsealed after it has been in the tape sealed position  232 , “void” tamper indications  234  appear on the tape indicating that the tape has been sealed and subsequently unsealed.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 11 shows tape  226  in the as tampered condition  236  showing tamper indications  234  which in this case are the words “void” which visibly can be seen along the tape where it has been unsealed.  
         [0062]    Referring now to FIGS. 13, 14 and  15 , another alternate tamper indicator method shown generally as  300  which is similar to the tamper indicator method shown generally as  200 , however in this case base plate  322  is equipped with a base plate flange  328  and cover  324  is equipped with a cover flange  330 . Base plate flange  328  and cover flange  330  can be intregally moulded and part of base plate  322  and cover  324  respectively or can be subsequently attached via screws or other fastening methods.  
         [0063]    Tape  326  which is the same or similar as tape  226  is preferably 3M type tape known as number 7937 in white or 7384 in silver which is a tamper indicating sheet label material which is positioned as shown in FIG. 14, in the tape sealed position  352 . Similar to tamper indicator method  200 , should any attempts be made to move or hingeably urge cover  324  away from base plate  322 , tape  326  become unsealed and therefore tamper indications similar to those shown in FIG. 11 would appear on tape  326  indicating that the tape has been tampered with. This will also indicate that someone has attempted to open the cover and/or has opened the cover and moved it away from the base plate. By using either the tamper indicator method  300  or the tamper indicator method  200 , one can equally apply a tape  326  or  226  to an existing smoke detector in the case of tamper indicator method  200  or to a modified smoke detector as in the case of tamper indicator method  300  which will allow the installer of a battery to seal off a smoke detector thereby ensuring any tampering attempts to open the smoke detector can be positively identified.  
       DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0064]    Referring now to an alternate presently preferred embodiment shown in FIGS.  16  to  21  inclusively, the presently preferred embodiment of the invention namely, tamper indicator adaptor kit  402  is comprised of an adaptor flange shown generally as  400  depicted in FIGS. 16 through 18.  
         [0065]    The tamper indicator adapter kit  402  functions in an analogous manner as does the tamper indicator adapter kit  100  which is depicted in FIGS. 4, 5,  6 ,  7  and  8 . The major difference between the tamper indicator adapter kit  100  and the tamper indicator adapter kit  402  depicted in FIGS. 16 through 21 is the Geometrical difference between the adapter flange  400  and the adapter flange  70  of the previous embodiment. In particular adapter flange  400  has a flexible leg  480  rather than vertical section  80  of the previous embodiment. Flexible leg  480 , however hinges about hinge point  455  in a biasing fashion from unmounted position  420  to a mounted position  422  as shown particularly in FIG. 17.  
         [0066]    Adapter flange  400  is comprised of the following major components, namely top section  472 , slot  498 , side section  476 , horizontal relief section  478 , and flexible leg  480  which is moveable between unmounted position  420  and mounted position  422 . In addition adapter flange  400  also optionally can include an aperture  412 , notch  410  and a break away portion  424  of flexible leg  480 .  
         [0067]    Flexible leg  480  normally lies in the unmounted position  420  as shown in FIG. 17 and can be urged from the unmounted position  420  by applying pressure to flexible leg  480  in the deflection direction  430 , until flexible leg  480  is urged into the mounted position  422  which is very close to a vertical position. Flexible leg  480 , more or less flexes about hinge point  455 , however there may be some deflection of horizontal relief section  478  as shown in FIG. 21 as deflection of horizontal relief section  479 .  
         [0068]    In use as best shown in FIGS. 19, 20 and  21  which depicts the sequence of mounting adapter flange  400  onto a smoke detector base plate  60  and cover  62 . Adapter flange  400  -is urged in the installation direction  440  as shown by the arrow in FIG. 19. Flexible leg  480  makes contact with cover vertical wall  85  of cover  62  deflecting flexible leg  480  as adapter flange  400  is urged along the installation direction  440 . As flexible leg  480  is deflected into the deflection direction  430  it imparts a biasing force onto cover vertical wall  85 .  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 20 showing adapter flange  400  in a partially mounted condition as the user continues to urge adapter flange  400  in the installation direction  440 , flexible leg  480  is deflected more and more to the vertical position and imparts a greater amount of biasing force against cover vertical wall  85 .  
         [0070]    In FIG. 21, adapter flange  400  is shown in the installed position with a screw fastener  66  holding adapter flange  400  in place and flexible leg  480  aligned parallel and adjacent to cover vertical wall  85  and tape  69  placed over a portion of cover  62  and the flexible leg  480  of adapter flange  400 . In the installed position, there may be some deflection of horizontal section  478  as shown by a deflection of horizontal relief section  479  in FIG.  21 . Should the length of flexible leg  480  be such that a large portion of it extends beyond cover  62 , then a portion of flexible leg  480  can be broken away, namely break away portion  424  can be broken off at notch  410  of flexible leg  480  therefore shortening off flexible leg  480 . Although not shown in the drawings, it is possible that there may be one or more notches providing for a varying size of a break away portion  424  of flexible leg  480 .  
         [0071]    A person skilled in the art will realize that in this particular embodiment, pressure or biasing force will be imparted upon cover vertical wall  85  by flexible leg  480  when adapter flange  400  is in the installed position. In this manner, one will ensure that there are no forces on tape  69  attempting to tear it away from cover  62 . In addition, flexible leg  480  can also accommodate an angular cover vertical wall  85  and remain flat and adjacent to it and also ensure that there is continuos biasing against cover vertical wall  85 .  
         [0072]    It should be apparent to persons skilled in the arts that various modifications and adaptation of this structure described above are possible without departure from the spirit of the invention the scope of which defined in the appended claim.