alarm

Abstract

To obtain an alarm system with improved operability. [Solution] The device comprises a main body 140, a main body cover 130 having a horizontal hole 135 and attached to the main body 140 to form a space for movement between the main body 140 and the main body 140, and a circuit board 150 provided inside the main body 140 and having a circuit board switch 152 that instructs sound stop, inspection to be performed, etc., and the entire bottom surface portion 132 of the main body cover 130 facing the main body 140 is a bottom button 137 that presses the circuit board switch 152.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an alarm device. In particular, it relates to the switch of the alarm device.

Background Art

[0002] There is an alarm device that senses heat and smoke generated in a monitoring space such as indoors (hereinafter referred to as indoors) and gives an alarm. The alarm device detects the temperature of the air around the installed position, the concentration of smoke, gas, etc. in the air, determines the occurrence of a fire, etc., and notifies by sound, etc. Here, the alarm device is provided with a push button or the like for performing a test or stopping the notification (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Here, the alarm device is basically a device that is often installed at a high position in a room such as on the ceiling. Therefore, if the button is small, it is difficult to press the button, and it is often inconvenient and difficult to operate.

[0005] Therefore, an object of this invention is to obtain an alarm device with higher operability.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The alarm device according to this invention comprises a main body, a main body cover having a through-hole for the main body and attached to the main body to form a space for movement between the main body and the cover, and a circuit board provided inside the main body that has a switch into which instructions such as sound stop and inspection can be input, wherein the entire bottom surface of the main body cover facing the main body is a bottom button for pressing the switch. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this invention, the entire bottom surface of the main body cover facing the main body becomes a button, increasing the area for the user to press the button, making it easier to press and improving operability. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This diagram shows the configuration of the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] This figure shows the external appearance of the main unit 100 of the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This figure illustrates an example of the configuration inside the housing 121 of the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] This is a side view of the main body 100 of the device, cut along the BB line in Figure 3. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the internal configuration of the housing 121 in the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 6] This figure illustrates another example of the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 7] This is a diagram illustrating the bottom surface portion 132 of the cover of the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 3. [Figure 8] This diagram illustrates the configuration of the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 3. [Figure 9] This figure illustrates another example of the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 3. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following description of the alarm device according to the embodiment will be made with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, parts with the same reference numerals are the same or equivalent and are common to the entire text of the embodiment described below. Also, the size relationships of each component in the drawings may differ from those of the actual components. Furthermore, the forms of the components shown in the entire specification are merely examples and are not limited to the forms described in the specification. In particular, the combinations of components are not limited to the combinations in each embodiment, and components described in other embodiments can be applied to other embodiments. Also, when there is no need to distinguish or specify multiple similar devices that are distinguished by subscripts, the subscripts may be omitted. Here, the alarm device is assumed to be installed indoors. The upper wall in the room is the ceiling, the lower wall is the floor, and the side wall is the side wall.

[0010] Embodiment 1. Figure 1 shows the configuration of the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2 shows the external appearance of the main unit 100 of the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2 shows the main unit 100 as viewed from the bottom of the page in Figure 1, along the direction of arrow Z in Figure 1.

[0011] In Embodiment 1, the alarm 10 is installed in a monitoring space, such as the interior of a house. The alarm 10 is a smoke detector that, upon detecting smoke, emits an alarm by sound or the like to notify of a fire. However, it is not limited to a smoke detector; a heat detector that detects fire by monitoring the temperature around the installation location, a gas detector that detects gas, etc., may also be used. In Embodiment 1, the alarm 10 is described as being installed on the ceiling. In the following, the arrow X represents the width direction of the alarm 10, the arrow Y represents the depth direction, and the arrow Z represents the height direction. In addition, the ceiling side of the alarm 10 is described as the top side, and the floor side as the bottom side.

[0012] The main unit 100 of the device comprises a base 110 and a detection unit 120. The base 110 serves as a base material for mounting the detection unit 120 to a wall surface. The detection unit 120 has a main body cover 130 and a main body 140. The housing 121 of the detection unit 120 is formed by attaching the main body cover 130 to the main body 140. The housing 121 is detachably attached to the base 110.

[0013] The main body cover 130 protects the equipment installed inside the housing 121 together with the main body 140. In Embodiment 1, the main body cover 130 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. The main body cover 130 has a cylindrical cover side portion 131, a disc-shaped cover bottom portion 132, and a slit portion 133 provided between the cover side portion 131 and the cover bottom portion 132. The cover side portion 131 surrounds the outer circumference of the main body 140.

[0014] The bottom surface portion 132 of the cover is positioned opposite the lower surface 141 (see Figure 3) of the main body 140. In Embodiment 1, the bottom surface portion 132 of the cover is not integrally formed with the slit portion 133, which will be described later, but is made of a separate component and functions as a bottom button 137. Therefore, the bottom button 137 becomes part of the main body cover 130. The bottom button 137 is a button for the user to turn on and off the circuit board switch 152 inside the device body 100, which will be described later. Here, the bottom button 137 occupies the entire bottom surface portion 132 of the cover, but for example, the area excluding the edge of the bottom surface portion 132 of the cover may be considered the bottom button 137. In this case, the edge of the bottom surface portion 132 of the cover may be integrally formed with the slit portion 133.

[0015] The slit portion 133 has a plurality of support columns 134 extending in the direction of arrow Z. The spaces between the support columns 134 form horizontal holes 135, which are through-holes in the main body cover 130 that extend in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment 1, the horizontal holes 135 are divided into two stages by a partition member 136. The horizontal holes 135 serve as sensing windows through which airflow flows into the space inside the alarm device 10.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration inside the housing 121 of the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 1. Further, FIG. 4 is a view of the device main body 100 cut along the line B-B in FIG. 3 as seen from the side. Here, in FIG. 3, members related to the middle plate 190 and the like are shown by solid lines, and other members and the like are shown by dotted lines. As shown in FIG. 3, the alarm device 10 includes a speaker 170, a battery 180 serving as a power source of the alarm device 10, and a middle plate 190 inside the housing 121. The main body 140 is provided below the base 110 and forms part of the housing 121. The main body 140 is formed in a disc shape, and a circuit board 150 on which various electronic components are mounted is provided. The space inside the housing 121 surrounded by the main body 140 and the main body cover 130 becomes a flow space through which the airflow from the horizontal hole 135 flows. In the alarm device 10 of Embodiment 1, when the bottom button 137 described above is pressed, the bottom pressing portion 137A of the bottom button 137 turns on and off the substrate switch 152 installed on the substrate 150. In order not to block the bottom pressing portion 137A from turning on and off the substrate switch 152, the middle plate 190 is formed with a through hole 191 serving as a punched hole at a portion corresponding to the lower part of the substrate switch 152. The middle plate 190 is arranged to face the cover bottom surface portion 132 and is a member on a flat plate fixed inside the housing 121. Further, in the alarm device 10 of Embodiment 1, a spring 138 is installed on the middle plate 190. One end of the spring 138 is attached to the middle plate 190, and it is connected to the bottom button 137 serving as the cover bottom surface portion 132 via the spring 138. The spring 138 serves as a restoring means for pushing back the bottom button 137 pressed by the user to its original position and supporting the bottom button 137. For example, in the alarm device 10 in FIG. 3, the spring 138 is installed at two positions on the middle plate 190 that are point-symmetric about the through hole 191 corresponding to the substrate switch 152. However, the number and installation positions of the springs 138 are not limited to this. Further, the member and structure for returning the bottom button 137 to its original position are not limited to the spring 138. The force for restoring the pressed portion of the substrate switch 152 may also be used.

[0017] A battery 180 that powers the alarm 10 is housed between the base 110 and the main body 140. Also, a substrate 150 and a speaker 170 are provided on the floor side of the main body 140, and the aforementioned middle plate 190 is disposed below the substrate 150 and the speaker 170. The speaker 170 serves as notification means for emitting sound based on a signal sent from a control circuit 151 included in the substrate 150 and performing notification such as an alarm, as will be described later.

[0018] The main body 140 has a substrate installation portion 142 that forms a space for housing the substrate 150 and a battery housing portion 143 that forms a space for housing the battery 180. The substrate installation portion 142 is a wall portion formed along the shape of the substrate 150 so as to protrude toward the cover bottom surface portion 132 side, and the substrate 150 is housed such that the edge of the substrate 150 faces the substrate installation portion 142. Also, the battery housing portion 143 houses, for example, a cylindrical battery 180. A terminal 144 is installed in the battery housing portion 143.

[0019] The substrate 150 has a control circuit 151. The control circuit 151 operates with power supplied from the battery 180. When the control circuit 151 determines that scattered light is generated based on a smoke signal related to the detection by a smoke detection unit 160 described later, the control circuit 151 outputs a fire signal to the speaker 170. Also, the substrate 150 has a substrate switch 152. The substrate switch 152 is a switch for a user to perform functions such as stopping the sound from the speaker 170 and instructing the start of the function inspection of the alarm 10. The control circuit 151 performs processing based on, for example, the number of times the substrate switch 152 is turned on and off within a set time. Here, it is assumed that the substrate switch 152 is a tactile switch that mechanically switches. The substrate switch 152 is turned on and off by being pressed via a bottom surface button 137. However, the type of the switch is not limited. For example, the substrate switch 152 may be a capacitance switch that switches on and off based on a change in capacitance.

[0020] The smoke detection unit 160 has a light-emitting element (not shown) that irradiates the incoming airflow with infrared light and a light-receiving element (not shown). The light-receiving element sends a smoke signal based on the amount of light it receives to the control circuit 151. If smoke particles are present in the airflow, the infrared light irradiated by the light-emitting element is scattered by the particles, and the amount of light received by the light-receiving element changes. If the change in light intensity exceeds a defined reference range, the alarm 10 issues a fire alarm and continues the alarm until the circuit board switch 152 is operated or the change in light intensity returns to within the reference range.

[0021] As described above, in the first embodiment, the alarm device 10 has a bottom button 137 on the bottom surface 132 of the cover, and the entire area of ​​the bottom surface 132 of the cover is a button that presses the circuit board switch 152. Therefore, the area that the user presses the button is widened, making it easier to press the button, and thus an alarm device 10 with high operability can be obtained.

[0022] Embodiment 2. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the housing 121 in the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 2. The alarm device 10 in Embodiment 2 is provided with a bottom button 137 that can be pressed in the direction of arrow Z, as well as a button that can be pressed in the direction of arrow X. For this reason, the alarm device 10 in Embodiment 2 has a circuit board switch 152A on the middle plate 190, and a side button 137B with an on / off side pressing portion 137C is provided on a part of the side portion 131 of the cover. In this case, the bottom pressing portion 137A and the spring 138 around it are configured to move in the X direction, and the side pressing portion 137C and the spring 138A around it are configured to move in the Z direction. Therefore, the side button 137B is part of the main body cover 130. Although not particularly limited, the side button 137B may be formed not only on the side portion 131 of the cover, but also including the slit portion 133. Furthermore, the alarm device 10 has a spring 138A and a circuit board switch 152A corresponding to the side button 137B. Here, the type of switch for the circuit board switch 152A is not limited to a tactile switch or an electrostatic switch. In addition, a switch with a structure that can sense operation regardless of whether the force is received from the X or Z direction may be used.

[0023] The control circuit 151 performs processing based on the number of times the board switches 152 and 152A are switched on and off within a set time, without distinguishing between them. However, it is not limited to this. The control circuit 151 may also change the processing content based on which switches are switched on and off.

[0024] As described above, the alarm device 10 in Embodiment 2 is provided with a side button 137B on the side of the cover 131, in addition to the bottom button 137. Therefore, the user can also operate the alarm device 10 by pressing the circuit board switch 152A from the side. For example, the alarm device 10 may be installed on a side wall. When installed on a side wall, the side of the cover 131 of the alarm device 10 is located on the floor side of the room. Therefore, the side of the cover 131 of the alarm device 10 installed on a side wall is the bottom surface when viewed from the user. Thus, whether the alarm device 10 is installed on the ceiling or a side wall, the user can press the button from the direction that is easiest to press, resulting in an alarm device 10 with high operability.

[0025] Figure 6 illustrates another example of the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 2. In Figure 5, an alarm device 10 equipped with both a bottom button 137 and a side button 137B was described, but the invention is not limited to this. An alarm device 10 without a bottom button 137 but with a side button 137B is also possible. For example, even if the alarm device 10 is installed on the side wall of a room with the side button 137B facing the floor, the user will be able to easily press the button, resulting in an alarm device 10 with high operability.

[0026] Embodiment 3. In the alarm device 10 of Embodiments 1 and 2 described above, a part of the main body cover 130 is made into a button, increasing the area on which the user can press a button. However, even in general alarm devices, there is often a small button on the bottom of the main body cover 130 of the alarm device 10. Therefore, the alarm device 10 of Embodiment 3 is equipped with a component that allows the user to press a button on the bottom of the main body cover 130.

[0027] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the bottom cover portion 132 of the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 3. Here, the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 3 is configured to have a push button 139 in the center of the bottom cover portion 132 for turning on and off the circuit board switch 152 inside the main body portion 100, as shown in Figure 7.

[0028] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 3. As shown in Figure 8, the alarm device 10 in Embodiment 3 has a button-pressing cover 200. The button-pressing cover 200 is a cover that is placed over the main body 100 of the device for the user to press the push button 139. The button-pressing cover 200 has a claw portion 210. Here, in order to form a gap between the main body 100 of the device and the bottom surface of the button-pressing cover 200, the height from the bottom surface of the button-pressing cover 200 to the claw portion 210 is higher than the main body 100 of the device. For this reason, by hooking the claw portion 210 onto the main body 140, the button-pressing cover 200 can be suspended from the main body 100 of the alarm device 10 installed on the ceiling.

[0029] Furthermore, the button-pressing cover 200 has a projection 220 provided on its bottom surface. The projection 220 presses the push button 139 when the user presses the button-pressing cover 200. Here, in order to ensure that the push button 139 is pressed when pressed by the user, the height of the projection 220 is set to be lower than the gap between the main body of the device 100 and the bottom surface of the button-pressing cover 200. In addition, the button-pressing cover 200 has a cover hole 230. The cover hole 230 is a cover through-hole that opens to allow airflow into the horizontal hole 135 of the main body of the device 100.

[0030] When the user presses the button-pressing cover 200 in the direction of the ceiling (arrow Z direction), the protrusion 220 of the button-pressing cover 200 presses the push button 139. For example, when the user's hand is removed from the button-pressing cover 200, the button-pressing cover 200 returns to its position before being pressed by the user due to its own weight. However, this is not the only option, and as described in Embodiment 1, the button-pressing cover 200 may be provided with a restoring mechanism to return it to its position before being pressed.

[0031] Figure 9 illustrates another example of the alarm device 10 according to Embodiment 3. As shown in Figure 9, the claw portion 210 of the button press cover 200 may be hooked into the horizontal hole 135.

[0032] As described above, in Embodiment 3, a button-pressing cover 200 is attached to the main body 100 of the alarm device 10, and by pressing the button-pressing cover 200, the user can press the push button 139 and turn the circuit board switch 152 on or off. Therefore, in an alarm device 10 equipped with a push button 139, for example, by attaching the button-pressing cover 200 to the alarm device 10, the area that the user presses during operation can be increased even if the push button 139 is small. Furthermore, the button-pressing cover 200 can be made as a detachable optional component and can be attached to an existing alarm device 10 for use.

[0033] Embodiment 4. Although not specifically described in the above-described embodiment 1, for example, the bottom button 137 and the side button 137B may be made of a light-guiding material such as acrylic resin, which is highly transparent and transmits visible light. A light-emitting means (not shown), such as an LED, may be installed on the substrate 150, and the light emitted by the light-emitting means may be reflected and guided inside the light guide by the instruction of the control circuit 151 to illuminate the entire button. In this way, the bottom button 137 and the side button 137B can function as notification means that notify alarms and the like by displaying a color, lighting, or flashing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 10 Alarm unit, 100 Main unit, 110 Base, 120 Detection unit, 121 Housing, 130 Main unit cover, 131 Side of cover, 132 Bottom of cover, 133 Slit, 134 Support column, 135 Horizontal hole, 136 Partition member, 137 Bottom button, 137A Bottom pressing part, 137B Side button, 137C Side pressing part, 138,138A Spring, 139 Push button, 140 Main unit, 141 Bottom surface, 142 Circuit board mounting part, 143 Battery housing, 144 Terminal, 150 Circuit board, 151 Control circuit, 152,152A Circuit board switch, 160 Smoke detection unit, 170 Speaker, 180 Battery, 190 Middle plate, 191 Through hole, 200 Button press cover, 210 claw portion, 220 protrusion, 230 cover hole.

Claims

1. The main unit and A body cover having a through hole in the main body and attached to the main body to form a space for movement between itself and the main body, The main body includes a circuit board having a switch that indicates at least one of stopping the sound and performing an inspection, An alarm device in which the entire bottom surface of the main body cover, which faces the main body, is a bottom button that presses the switch.

2. The alarm device according to claim 1, wherein a part of the side surface of the main body cover is a side button for pressing the switch.

3. The main unit and A body cover having a through hole in the main body and attached to the main body to form a space for movement between itself and the main body, A circuit board provided within the main body, having a switch that indicates at least one of stopping sound and performing inspection, A push button for pressing the switch is provided on the bottom surface of the main body cover, A button pressing cover is provided, which covers the entire bottom surface of the main body cover and has a projection on the surface facing the push button that presses the push button. An alarm system equipped with the following features.

4. The alarm device according to claim 3, wherein the button pressing cover has a cover hole that penetrates the inside and outside of the button pressing cover, corresponding to the through hole of the main body.

Images