Patent ID: 8469556

Claim:
A safety unit for mounting in a wall defining a part of a building space, said safety unit activating responsive to electrical power, said safety unit comprising: a) a tubular housing having first and second ends, with an axis extending along the length of the housing, said tubular housing configured for mounting within a cavity of a wall, with the second end of the housing substantially flush with an outer surface of the wall; b) an emergency load sized to fit within the housing, said emergency load including a base and a light-emitting element; c) a guide within the housing and mechanically interacting with the base, and extending generally along the housing's axis, said guide's interaction with the base allowing translation of the base generally along the housing axis from a standby position adjacent to the housing's first end to a deployed position adjacent to the housing's second end when the base receives force, said base supporting the lighting element to place the lighting element within the housing when in the storage position and outside the housing when in the deployed position; d) an actuator mechanism carried on the housing to provide force to the base responsive to electrical power, said actuator mechanism comprising a motor mounted on the housing and rotating a shaft responsive to actuating power and a jackscrew extending along the housing's axis and receiving torque from the motor; e) a cover at the second end of the housing, mounted for rotation between first and second positions respectively closing and opening the second end of the housing; and f) a linkage within the housing transmitting force to the cover to rotate the cover between the first and second positions responsive to force received from the linkage, said linkage comprising i) a tab projecting from the base substantially transversely to the housing axis, said tab having a slot therein; and ii) an elongate strip having first and second ends mounted for rotation about its length within the housing and extending along the housing's axis with the first ends of the housing and strip adjacent and the second ends of the housing and strip adjacent, said strip passing through the tab's slot, and said cover attached to the second end of the strip, said strip having a twist therein.