AU2018100764A4 - Flush fit smoke alarm - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a method and apparatus for installing a flush fit smoke alarm. The flush fit smoke alarm comprising a front portion including inlets for receiving air therethrough to monitor the presence of smoke, a rear portion extending 5 rearwardly from the front portion, adjacent a circumferential shoulder, and at least two arms hingedly connected to the rear portion and biased by respective biasing members, such that a free end of each arm is urged toward or against said circumferential shoulder. Wherein the arms are movable against said bias, whereby the rear portion is insertable in through a hole in said panel, whereupon the arms are 10 pivotable under the influence of the biasing members such that the free ends of the arms bear against a rear surface of the panel to thereby clamp said panel between the circumferential shoulder and said free ends of the arms. Figure 8c 26 30 12 28 24 14 I-) 14 Figure 8d

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to smoke alarms and in particular to an apparatus and method of installing a flush fit smoke alarm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Smoke alarm are used in domestic and commercial buildings to alert occupants to the presence of a fire or smoke, to thereby enable them to escape a fire before succumbing to smoke inhalation or burns. Smoke alarms may be attached to the ceiling or internal walls in various locations throughout the building to provide adequate monitoring.

Some battery-operated smoke alarms comprise a mounting plate that is fixed to a ceiling or wall surface using screws. A smoke alarm housing including the monitoring apparatus is then reversibly attached to the mounting plate. These types of smoke alarms however may tend to protrude excessively into the room, which may detract from the appearance. For this reason, flush mounted alarms with a lower profile, have become common in the market.

Many smoke alarms are now hard wired to the mains power source of the building and may also be interconnected so that if one smoke alarm detects the presence of smoke, all interconnected alarms are activated. These hard-wired smoke alarms also typically include a backup battery such as a 9VDC battery, so that the smoke alarms can still operate when the main power is cut, such as during a blackout.

There are a number of smoke alarms on the market that are referred to as ‘flush fit smoke alarm’. These types of smoke alarms have a lower profile than conventional smoke alarms and typically engage through a hole is a ceiling or wall panel. A rear portion of the smoke alarm is held rearwardly of the panel and a front portion having an inlet or inlets, extends into the room space.

One of these low profile or recessed design smoke alarms sold under the

CLIPSAL® Trade Mark, is configured to be inserted in through a 90mm cut out in a panel. Threaded shafts on opposite sides of the smoke alarm, which are accessible

2018100764 07 Jun 2018 from within the room, can be turned to thereby cause respective arm members to rotate outwardly and be drawn down onto a rear surface of the panel. In this way the smoke alarm can be held in place through the hole. The installer however needs to use a screwdriver or Allen key to turn the shaft which can be time consuming.

It should be appreciated that any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification is included solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention and should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art was widely known or formed part of the common general knowledge in the field as it existed before the priority date of the application. The reader will appreciate that the phrase flush fit does not mean that the lower part of the smoke alarm is flush with the panel, rather it will be understood to refer to smoke alarms having a lower profile. Furthermore, the present invention could be used on hard wired or solely batteryoperated smoke alarm systems.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an easily mounted flush fit smoke alarm. It is another object of the present invention to overcomes at least some of the aforementioned problems or provide the public with a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, but not necessarily the broadest or only aspect, there is proposed a flush fit smoke alarm for a ceiling or wall panel, comprising:

a front portion including an inlet or inlets for receiving air therethrough to monitor the presence of smoke;

a rear portion extending rearwardly from said front portion and adjacent a circumferential shoulder thereof; and at least two arms hingedly connected to the rear portion and biased by respective biasing members, such that a free end of each arm is urged toward or against said circumferential shoulder;

wherein the arms are movable against said bias, such that the arms are foldable back against or adjacent sides of the rear portion, whereby the rear portion and folded arms being insertable in through a hole in said panel, whereupon the arms are pivotable under the influence of the respective biasing member such that the free ends of the arms bear against a rear surface of the panel to thereby clamp said panel between the circumferential shoulder and said arms.

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The present invention therefore provides a method of installing a flush fit smoke alarm through a hole in a ceiling or wall panel that can be undertaken without the necessity for tools, such as a screw driver or Allen key.

The installer is able to fold back the arms prior to insertion of the rear portion 5 through the hole in the panel and then once the arms are rearwardly clear of the edge of the hole the biasing members then urge the arms to pivot such that the free ends thereof bear against or abut the rear surface of the panel.

Preferably, the rear portion includes respective mounts for the arms and biasing members. In one form each mount comprises two spaced apart protrusions that include coaxially aligned apertures therethrough.

Each arm may be generally planar and include flanges on opposite sides thereof. The flanges include coaxially aligned apertures, for alignment with the apertures in the protrusions of said mount, whereby a locating pin can be inserted therethrough to provide a pivot for the arm relative to the rear portion.

The biasing member in one form is a spring having a first locating end and a second elongate end that is configured to extend outwardly toward the free end of the arm. A mid helical portion of the spring being configured to be engaged therethrough by the locating pin.

When assembled each arm is connected to the rear portion by a respective locating pin, which also engages through a helical portion of a respective spring such that the spring is held between the spaced apart flanges of the arm.

Preferably, the free end of each of the arms is generally broad and may include an edge that is rearwardly curved to inhibit damage to, or incision of, the rear of the panel.

The mounts are located inwardly of the edge of the circumferential shoulder, wherein the arms are biased against said shoulder or an edge thereof.

The smoke alarm is thereby held in place by the arms that bear against the rear of the panel and such that the circumferential shoulder is held against at front surface of the panel.

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To remove the smoke alarm from within the hole in the panel, for repair or replacement, the front portion can be grasped and pulled down against the influence of the biasing members. The arms are thereby caused to pivot rearwardly which allows the rear portion to be retracted through the hole in the panel.

In another aspect of the invention there is proposed a method of installing a flush fit smoke alarm through a hole in a panel, including the steps of: providing a smoke alarm, comprising a front portion, a rear portion adjoining the front portion adjacent a circumferential shoulder and at least two arms hingedly connected to the rear portion and biased by respective biasing members, such that a free end of each arm is urged toward or against said circumferential shoulder;

moving said arms against the bias of respective biasing members, such that the arms are folded back against or adjacent respective sides of the rear portion;

inserting the rear portion and arms in through said hole in the panel;

permitting the arms to pivot under the influence of the biasing members such that the free ends of the arms bear against a rear surface of said panel to thereby clamp said panel between the circumferential shoulder and said free ends of the arms.

The above method wherein the flush fit smoke alarm can be removed from within the hole in the panel by grasping the front portion and pulled down against the influence of the biasing members, wherein the arms are caused to pivot rearwardly to thereby allow the rear portion to be retracted through said hole in the panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of the invention and, together with the description and claims, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the flush fit smoke alarm of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the flush fit smoke alarm of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is another side view of the flush fit smoke alarm of Figure 1, illustrating an end view of an arm and respective biasing member;

Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the flush fit smoke alarm of Figure 1;

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Figure 5 is a front view of the flush fit smoke alarm of Figure 1, illustrating the respective free ends of the arms extending outwardly from sides of the front portion;

Figure 6 is a rear exploded view of the flush fit smoke alarm of Figure 1, illustrating the components of the biased arms;

Figure 7 is a side exploded schematic view of the flush fit smoke alarm of Figure 1, illustrating the components of the biased arms;

Figure 8a is a side view of the flush fit smoke alarm of Figure 1, illustrating the arms biased against the circumferential shoulder;

Figure 8b is a side view of the flush fit smoke alarm of Figure 8a, illustrating the arms held rearwardly against the bias and the rear portion being inserted in through a hole in a panel;

Figure 8c is a side view of the flush fit smoke alarm of Figure 8b, illustrating the circumferential shoulder bearing against a front surface of the panel and the arms pivoting under the influence of the biasing members;

and

Figure 8d is a side view of the flush fit smoke alarm of Figure 8c, illustrating the free ends of the arms bearing against the rear surface of the panel, whereby the panel is held between the circumferential shoulder and arms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED AND EXEMPLIFIED EMBODIMENTS

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description, there is illustrated a smoke alarm 10, demonstrating by way of an example, an arrangement in which the principles of the present invention may be employed. The smoke alarm 10 is configured for attachment through a hole 12 in a ceiling or wall panel 14, as will be explained with respect to Figures 8a to 8d. The internal components of the smoke alarm, such as the alarm bell, printed circuit board, sensing chamber or reference chamber, will not be described as they would be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

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Turning to Figures 1 to 7, there is illustrated one embodiment of the smoke alarm 10 including, a front portion 16 having inlets 18 for receiving air therethrough to monitor the presence of smoke. A rear portion 20 extends rearwardly from the front portion 16, adjacent a circumferential shoulder 22, as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Arms 24, 26 are attached to opposite sides of the rear portion 20 and extend outwardly therefrom. The arms 24, 26 are hingedly connected to the rear portion 20 and biased by respective biasing members 28, 30, such that respective free ends 32 of each arm 24, 26 are urged against the circumferential shoulder 22, as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4.

As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the rear portion 20 includes respective mounts 34 for the arms 24, 26. The mounts 34 comprise two spaced apart protrusions 36, 38, each including an aperture 40 that coaxially the aperture 40 on an adjacent protrusion 36 or 38. The reader will appreciate that since the mounts 34 are located inwardly of the edge of the circumferential shoulder 22, the arms 24, 26 are biased against a rear edge of the shoulder 22, as illustrated in Figure 4.

Each arm 24, 26 is generally planar and includes flanges 42, 44 on opposite sides. The flanges 42, 44 include coaxially aligned apertures 46, for alignment with the apertures 40 in the protrusions 36, 38.

A locating pin 48 is inserted through the aligned apertures 40, 46, to provide a pivot for the arm 24 or 26 relative to the rear portion 20.

The biasing members 28, 30 are wire springs having a first locating end 50, a second elongate end 52 that is configured to extend outwardly toward the free end 32 of the arm 24 or 26, and a helical portion 54 being configured to be engaged therethrough by a respective locating pin 48.

As illustrated in Figure 3 and 4, when assembled each arm 24, 26 is connected to the rear portion 20 by a respective locating pin 48, which also engages through the helical portion 54 of a respective spring 28 or 30, such that the spring is held between the spaced apart flanges 42, 44 of a respective arms 24 or 26.

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As further illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the free end 32 of each of the arms 24, 26 is generally broad and includes an edge 56 that is rearwardly curved to inhibit damaging or incision of the rear of the panel 14.

In use, as illustrated in Figures 8a to 8d, a hole 12 is cut through a panel, such as a ceiling panel 14. The installer then aligns the rear portion 20 of the smoke alarm 10 with the hole 12 or a pre-existing hole in the panel 14. As illustrated in Figure 8b, the installer then folds back the arms 24, 26 rearwardly against the bias of springs 28, 30, such that they are held adjacent respective sides of the rear portion 20 and do not substantially extend sidewardly therefrom.

The rear portion 20 and folded arms 24, 26 can then be insertion in through the hole 12 in the direction of the solid arrow, as illustrated in Figure 8b.

Once the arms 24, 26 are rearwardly clear of the edge of the hole 12 and the circumferential shoulder 22 is bearing against the front surface of the panel 14 the biasing members 28, 30 urge the arms 24, 26 to pivot, as indicated by the solid curved arrows in Figure 8c.

The arms 24, 26 continue to pivot until the free ends 32, of the arms 24, 26 bear against or abut the rear surface of the panel 14, as illustrated in Figure 8d. The smoke alarm 10 is thereby held in place by the biased arms 24, 26 that bear against the rear of the panel 14 which causes the circumferential shoulder to be held against the front surface of the panel 14.

The skilled addressee will appreciate that to remove the smoke alarm 10 from within the hole 12 in the panel 14 the front portion 16 can be grasped and pulled down against the influence of the biasing members 28, 30, such that the arms 24, 26 pivot rearwardly which allows the rear portion 20 to be retracted through the hole 12.

The skilled addressee will now appreciate the advantages of the illustrated invention over the prior art. In one form the invention provides a simplified apparatus and method for installing a smoke alarm through an existing hole in a panel that can be undertaken without the requirement for specialised tools, such as a screw driver spanner or Allen key.

Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the exemplified embodiments of the invention, however it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate the invention and it is not limited thereto. Accordingly, the invention can include various modifications, which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

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2018100764 07 Jun 2018

Claims (5)

1. A flush fit smoke alarm for a ceiling or wall panel, comprising:

a front portion including an inlet or inlets for receiving air therethrough to monitor the presence of smoke;

5 a rear portion extending rearwardly from the front portion, adjacent a circumferential shoulder; and at least two arms hingedly connected to the rear portion and biased by respective biasing members, such that a free end of each arm is urged toward or against said circumferential shoulder;

10 wherein the arms are movable against said bias, such that the arms are foldable back against sides of the rear portion, whereby the rear portion being insertable in through a hole in said panel, whereupon the arms are pivotable under the influence of the respective biasing member such that the free ends of the arms bear against a rear surface of the panel to thereby clamp said

15 panel between the circumferential shoulder and said arms.

2. The flush fit smoke alarm in accordance with claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a wire spring having a first locating end, a second elongate end that is configured to extend outwardly toward the free end of the arm, and a helical portion.

20 3. The flush fit smoke alarm in accordance with claim 2, wherein the rear portion includes mounts for engagement with a respective arm and biasing member, each mount comprising two spaced apart protrusions that include coaxially aligned apertures therethrough, wherein the mounts are located inwardly of an edge of the circumferential shoulder.

25 4. The flush fit smoke alarm in accordance with claim 3, wherein each arm includes flanges on opposite sides thereof, the flanges including coaxially aligned apertures, for alignment with the apertures in the protrusions and a helical portion of a respective wire spring, whereby a locating pin can be inserted therethrough to provide a pivot for the arm relative to the rear portion

30 5. A method of installing a flush fit smoke alarm through a hole in a panel, including the steps of:

providing a smoke alarm, comprising a front portion, a rear portion adjoining

2018100764 07 Jun 2018 the front portion adjacent a circumferential shoulder, and at least two arms hingedly connected to the rear portion and biased by respective biasing members, such that a free end of each arm is urged toward or against said circumferential shoulder;

5 moving said arms against the bias of respective biasing members, such that the arms are folded back against or adjacent respective sides of the rear portion;

inserting the rear portion and folded arms in through said hole in the panel; and

10 permitting the arms to pivot under the influence of the respective biasing member such that the free ends of the arms bear against a rear surface of said panel to thereby clamp said panel between the circumferential shoulder and said arms.

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Figure 2

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Figure 4

Figure 5

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Figure 7

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Figure 8a

Figure 8b

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Figure 8d