Technical Field The present invention relates to an extender for smoke detectors. More particularly, the invention relates to an extension device adapted for connecting electrically a smoke detector mounted against the ceiling to a battery positioned' remotely therefrom and mounted in a location on the side wall easily accessible from the floor level.

Background and Prior Art As is well known, commercially available battery-powered smoke detectors perform a highly useful function of alerting occupants of a house in the event of smoke caused by fire to enable them to vacate their residence quickly and safely.

However, problems and difficulties have been encountered in con¬ nection with removal and replacement of a defective battery located in the interior of a smoke detector mounted against the ceiling. In order to reach the battery, a person has to climb a ladder or a chair, detach the bottom cover from the body of the detector, remove and replace the battery and replace the cover on the detector. Such procedure is not only rather difficult for any physically able person, but virtually impossible to carry out by handicapped, disabled or even elderly people. While various types of smoke detectors have been described in the patent literature, none of the patentees have attempted to obviate the disadvantage mentioned hereinabove associated with the battery re¬ placement procedure when it becomes necessary. For example, U. S. Pat. No. 3-»15^ _> 773 describes a fire alarm system comprising means for filter¬ ing, out foreign particles present in air. U. S. Pat. No. 3 _t 9 8,957 dis¬ closes an ionization type fire sensor of an improved design to prevent contamination by dirt and dust _* U. S. Pat. No. 3»978,397 covers a smoke detector and smoke measuring apparatus having an ionization chamber. U. S. Pat. No. ^,168,^9 describes a fire and smoke sensing alarm system in which two ionization type sensors are combined; and U. S. Pat. No. ^,176,311 discloses a smoke detection device comprising a heated metal wire in combination with a collector electrode.

In view of the foregoing, the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by providing a novel device of the present in¬ vention which features a new approach to the structure of known smoke detectors.

Summary of Invention and Advantages Accordingly, it is the primary object of the invention to provide an improved smoke detector assembly comprising an extender which connects the detector electrically with a battery located remotely therefrom. Another object of the invention is to provide an extender for coup- ling a smoke detector mounted against the ceiling with a battery moun¬ ted on a side wall at a point readily accessible from the floor level.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an electrical extension including conductors and a power source in combination with a smoke detecting device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an electrical extender means adapted specifically for connection of a smoke detector with a battery situated at some distance therefrom which is inexpensive to manufacture in large quantities from readily available materials. These and other objects of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In accordance with the invention there is provided an extender for a smoke detector characterized in that it comprises an electrical con- ductor means connecting said detector with a battery situated remotely therefrom in a location easily accessible from the floor level.

Brief Description of the Drawing The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the extender of this invention connected to a smoke detector and coupled with a battery positioned remotely therefrom;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional side elevational view of a battery-containing box in a closed position secured to an upright wall; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the same box in an open position showing the battery connected to electrical conductors.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring now to the drawing, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding elements, ixtender 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is connected to smoke detector 12 mounted against ceiling 13 by elec¬ trical conductor menas 1* coupled with a power source in the form of a

battery 16 enclosed Ln box 18 secured to upright side wall 20 in a location easily accessible to any person from the level of floor 21, The smoke detector itself is of any battery-powered type comprising essentially a sensing chamber, a test switch, an energizahle audible electronic alarm horn and other necessary electrically connected cir¬ cuit components, all the elements being supported in the interior of a suitable housing.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 in greater detail, electric conductor means Λ comprises a pair of flexible, insulated electric conductors 22 and 24, preferably of about 22 to 2h gauge, connected together along their outer insulating material thereby forming a single unit. Conductor means 1 includes two ends, one of which being provided with first ter¬ minal contact element (not shown) and the other end being provided with second terminal contact element 26. Each of said contact elements is in the form of a pair of conventional male and female snaps spaced some- •what from each other, connected to the conductors and embedded in a resilient plastic material. The snaps of the second contact element 26 are adapted for a firm, detachable contact with matching male and female terminal elements 28 and 30 of battery 16, whereas those of the first contact element are adapted to contact the power sipply terminals affixed in a suitable manner inside smoke detector 12 for receiving the standard positive and negative battery terminals. As the structure of smoke de¬ tectors includes openings in their housing for air flow therein, elect¬ rical conductors connected to the detector may be passed through one of such openings in the direction of the ceiling surface. Optionally, a small aperture may be drilled in the wall of the detector for passage of the conductor therethrough.

Box 18 for housing battery 16 is preferably of rectangular shape con¬ forming substantially to the configuration of a standard flat 9 volt battery which supplies power to detector 12. It comprises an open end portion 32, a cover >h therefor, a rear wall 38 adapted to contact the surface of side wall 20 and two pairs of relatively narrow ^' opposite side walls thereby forming a battery compartment. Cover >k may be attached to box 18 by a pair of hinges 36 with snap-on closures positioned on the opposite side of the box, by slidable insertion along the front edge thereof or in any other suitable manner as long as it is removably or detachably secured thereto for opening and. closing the open end portion 32.

Box 18 also includes means for releasably retaining battery 6 in a firm position, such as a pair of spaced battery holding brackets 4θ affixed to the inside surface of rear wall 8 thereof. To provide a passage of the electrical conductor into the interior of box 18, a hole is provided in the upper portion thereof. In addition, box 18 includes a pair of spaced apertures 2 in rear wall 38 for the passage of fasten¬ ing means, such as screws 44, therethrough in order to secure box 18 to a selected location on side wall 20 from about 4 to about 5 feet (120 to 150 cm.) above the floor level. The length of electrical conductors 22 and 24 should be sufficient to connect smoke detector 12 mounted against the ceiling 13 with battery 16 accomodated in box 18 secured in a desired point on wall 20 at a dis¬ tance from the point of attachment of detector 12. In general, the length of electrical conductors 22 and 24 ranging from about 4 feet to about 10 feet (120 to 300 cm.) is sufficient for most installations, although longer conductors nay be employed if necessary.

Box 18 is of a relatively small size, preferably somewhat larger than the overall size of battery 16 to be housed therein. It may be manufac¬ tured from a durable, rigid, non-conductive plastic material by any of the well known molding methods. Although the form or the structure of box 18 is not critical, it is essential thatit be adapted to securing to a wall by a suitable fastening means. For example, a pair of outwardly projecting tabs, each tab having a hole for the passage of a screw there¬ through on each side of the box is satisfactory. Likewise, an internally threaded round cover adapted for engagement with externally threaded matching round side wall of the box is suitable.

In another embodiment of the invention, a test switch required for occasional testing of the electronic horn sound may be mounted together with the horn and other circuit elements in the interior of the box 18 with the end portion of the button projecting outwardly from the box to permit depressing it from the from level. This type of the horn location requires separate conductor for its electrical connection to a smoke detector mounted against the ceiling thereby providing additionally an easy access to the push button which must be occasionally depressed in carrying out the test thus it will obviate again the necessity of climbing a ladder or a stool in order to reach it. It will be noted that when a horn together with its auxilliary components is to be housed

in the box adjacent the battery, a somewhat larger box will be required to accomodate both components.

The electrical conductors 22 and 24 connecting smoke detector 12 with battery 16 may conveniently be attached to the surfaces of ceiling 13 and of side wall 20 by any suitable fastening means, such as one or more standard staples 46 or the like, as shown in FIG. 1.

While the foregoing description is directed to an installation of the extender in an existing house, the electrical conductors can also be disposed in the dead space above the ceiling and behind the studded wall during construction of a new building or remodelling of an existing structure.

Industrial Applications It will be apparent from a consideration of the foregoing that I have devised a novel extender which is useful for connection with a smoke detector and comprises an electrical conductor means coupled with a battery disposed remotely from such detector usually affixed near the center of a ceiling in a hallway adjacent bedrooms in a residential home and requiring occasional replacement of the battery. Such replace¬ ment can be carried out quickly and simply from the floor level when the device of my invention is installed as described herein, thereby eliminating entirely the difficulties connected with reaching a battery- containing smoke detector mounted against the ceiling. The improved arrangement of my invention is of clear advantage not only to any per¬ son, but particularly to elderly or handicapped people who are unable to reach a conventionally ceiling-mounted smoke detector from the floor level without resorting to climbing a chair or the like implement. The device of my invention when connected to a separately disposed standard smoke detector at one end and coupled with a 9 volt battery at the other end is characterized by a new combination of electronic elements which is highly beneficial in achieving its basic function, i. e. an easy accessibility to a smoke detector requiring removal and replacement of a defective battery without any assistance. The extender of this inven¬ tion canreadily be installed in a position of use merely using a screw¬ driver and a hammer. Due to the simplicity of its construction, the ex- tender may be manufactured at a low cost in a large volume.

It will be understood that various modifications in the form or in the structural details of my invention as herein described may be made without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the claims which follow.