FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention is a lighted fire-fighting access panel signage adapted to be secured onto a designated fire-fighting access panel. When connected to home automation devices, such lighted fire-fighting access panel signage can function as an alerting device by being programmed to blink or change colour to alert public or rescuers.

BACKGROUND

[002] To enable effective mounting of rescue and external fire-fighting operations, provision for external access to building for fire-fighting and accessibility of site to firefighting appliances are incorporated in the design of buildings. Such external access may be windows, balcony doors, glazed wall panels or solid wall panels that are openable from outside of the building. Fire fighters can gain access to a building externally via fire-fighting external access panels to rescue any occupant who is trapped in the building and to allow fire-fighting from the outside of building.

[003] Certain requirements to the fire-fighting access panels include, placement of such panels at habitable spaces and restriction not to be located at protected staircases or lobbies.

[004] In Singapore, to enable fire fighters to locate the designated fire-fighting access openings, fire-fighting access panels are to be marked with either a red or orange triangle of equal sides (minimum 150mm on each side), which can be upright or inverted, on the external side of the wall and with wordings "Fire Fighting Access - Do Not Obstruct" of at least 25 mm height on the internal side.

[005] T raditionally such signage is a simple, passive signage that is adhered to or printed onto the designated fire-fighting access panel. Without adequate ambient lighting or during times of power outage, the signage can require some time to locate. Locating the fire-fighting access panel quickly is crucial during emergencies. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[006] In the present invention, a novel fire-fighting access panel signage comprising a light element such as a signage embedded with LEDs or lighted tape is disclosed. The use of LEDs or lighted tape allows lighting up the signage at low power consumption. Where the fire-fighting access panel is made of glass, such as a window, glazed wall panel or balcony door, the signage may be secured in between a pair of spaced apart glass panels to secure it in position and for easy maintenance. Such lighted fire-fighting access panel signage may be connected to a power source via wires. The power source can be a battery, rechargeable battery or an AC/DC power supply source. Besides using a pair of wires, printed conductive line, copper tape or etched ITO (indium tin oxide) circuit on the glass panels can also be used to connect the signage to the power source to light up the signage. Such lighted fire-fighting access panel signage allows easy locating of the fire-fighting access panel when the external ambient light is low, such as at night or during bad weather conditions such a heavy rain or haze. Use of printed conductive line, etched ITO creates an uncluttered/clean appearance of the glass panel since no wires are seen extending from the lighted fire-fighting access panel signage.

[007] Where the fire-fighting access panel is made of a glass, the lighted fire-fighting access panel signage can also be secured on either surface of a single glass panel or external surface of a pair of spaced apart glass panels. Where the fire-fighting access panel is opaque, the lighted fire-fighting access panel signage can be secured on the surface of the panel external to the building.

[008] Independent power source is envisaged for the lighted fire-fighting access panel signage so that the signage can continue to function during power outage or when the supply to the mains is cut off during a fire. Power for the rechargeable battery can thus be provided from a solar panel embedded between the two glass panels, placed on an external surface of the glass panel or opaque wall panel, or located apart from the firefighting access panel to receive solar energy and then converted to electrical energy and stored in the rechargeable battery.

[009] The light of the present fire-fighting access panel signage can be controlled by external means to produce a warning signal upon a certain trigger, for example when a particular unit in the building catches fire. The light of the signage may be programmed to blink instead of being continuously lit or change colour, to alert the surrounding residents or in general, people that are within visual distance to the building.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] This invention will be described by way of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[001 1] FIG. 1 is a front and side view of a lighted fire-fighting access panel signage positioned between a pair of spaced apart glass panels with LEDs strip or lighted tape formed around its perimeter.

[0012] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are front and side views of lighted fire-fighting access panel signages secured on the either side of a glass panel in relation to a building.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a front and side view of a lighted fire-fighting access panel signage powered by a battery disposed between a pair of spaced apart glass panels. A solar panel located within the space between the pair of glass panels is used to harvest solar energy and stored in the battery.

[0014] FIG. 5 shows a lighted fire-fighting access panel signage where the battery is located external to the pair of glass panels. In addition, an external power source can also be used to charge the battery when there is insufficient light for the solar panel to produce power.

[0015] FIG.6 and FIG. 7 show embodiments of the invention whereby the solar panel and lighted fire-fighting access panel signage are secured on either side of a designated fighting access panel that is formed from a single glass panel.

[0016] FIG. 8 shows a lighted fire-fighting access signage secured onto an opaque wall panel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] One or more specific and alternative embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings. It shall be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that this invention may be practised without such specific details. Some of the details may not be described at length so as not to obscure the invention. For ease of reference, common reference numerals or series of numerals will be used throughout the figures when referring to the same or similar features common to the figures.

[0018] FIG 1 is a front and side view of a fully assembled lighted fire-fighting access panel signage 30 installed on a designated fire-fighting access window panel. The window panel is constructed out of a pair of spaced apart glass panels and the lighted fire-fighting access panel signage 30 is sandwiched between the pair of glass panels 10 and 20. The main body of the lighted fire-fighting access panel signage 30 may be formed from translucent non-conductive material such as acrylic, polycarbonate, plastic, PVC, glass and supported by a frame that may be coated with luminous paint. The colour and dimension of the signage 30 is adapted to comply with local regulations such as Section 4.2.3(d) of “Chapter 4, SITE PLANNING EXTERNAL FIRE FIGHTING PROVISION” from the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

[0019] The main body of signage 30 acts as a light diffuser to evenly diffuse light when light is passed through. A LEDs strip or lighted tape 40 is provided around the perimeter of the body of the lighted fire-fighting access panel signage 30 with a pair of wires 50 electrically connected to cathode and anode of the LEDs strip/lighted tape 40. The pair of wires 50 runs in between the gap of the pair of glass panels 10 and 20 and is connected to an external power source. The external power source can be controlled by automation devices to determine when the LEDs strip/lighted tape 40 is turned on. For this embodiment, a light sensor 60 is embedded between the pair of glass panels 10 and 20 to detect the surrounding light level conditions so as to initiate the lighting up of the LEDs strip/lighted tape 40 at a specified detected light intensity. Alternatively, a timer may be used to switch on the light of signage 30 during specified periods of the day. Light sensor 60 is connected via wire 61 to external control circuitry. Such lighted fire-fighting access panel signage 30 provides easy location of the fire-fighting access panels externally, and internally for non-opaque fire-fighting access panels during emergency. The frame of the lighted fire-fighting access panels signage 30 can be formed from opaque materials of any colour as required according to local requirements, or non-opaque material sprayed, painted with colour or covered with coloured tape.

[0020] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate a lighted fire-fighting access panel signage 30 placed on either side of a designated fire-fighting access window panel that is constructed with a single glass panel. Since the window panel allows light to pass through, the lighted firefighting access panel signage 30 can be installed on either side of the window and still be visible from outside the building.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a lighted fire-fighting access panel signage 30 that is powered by an external power source 270 or a rechargeable battery 200. A solar panel 100 placed between a pair of spaced apart glass panels 10 and 20 forming a border around the glass panels. Solar panel 100 is used to harvest solar energy for storage into the rechargeable battery 200. The solar panel 100 can be monocrystalline, polycrystalline, or even thin film amorphous solar panel. The rechargeable battery 200 is placed within the space between the pair of glass panels 10 and 20. One end of a pair of wires 250 is connected to the cathode and anode of the LEDs strip/lighted tape and the other end of the pair of wires 250 is connected to the rechargeable battery 200. Rechargeable battery 200 is used as a backup power source in case the external power supply source 270 is cut off for whatever reasons. Switching charger 280 may be located externally to the window pane to automatically switch power supply source between battery 200 and external power source 270. Solar panel may also be located on the external surface of the glass fire-fighting access panel or separate from the access panel on any part of the building that can receive sunlight.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows rechargeable battery 210 being located external to instead of embedded between the pair of glass panels 10 and 20. In normal conditions, the external power source 270 is connected to the end of the wires 250 via switching charger 280 to power on the LEDs strip/lighted tape 40. If the external power source 270 is cut off for whatever reasons, the switching charger 280 will be able to detect it and automatically switch to battery source 210 to power on the LEDs strip/lighted tape 40 via wire 251 instead. In addition, the battery 210 can also be charged by external source 270 via switching charger 280 when the solar panel produces inadequate power. [0023] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show solar panel 100 and lighted fire-fighting access panel signage 30 placed externally on either side of a fire-fighting access window panel that is constructed of one glass panel. The functionality and performance is the same as the assembly of FIG. 5 except for the lack of aesthetic appearance and maintenance issue.

[0024] FIG. 8 show a lighted fire-fighting access signage 30 placed externally on an opaque fire-fighting access panel 300.

While specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, it is understood that many changes, modifications, variations and combinations thereof could be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the wires extending from the lighted fire-fighting access signage may be embedded in the opaque fire-fighting access panel for a clean/uncluttered appearance and for ease of maintenance.