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US 5,525,963 AGranted
Apparatus for actuating a safety device
OwnerNeil K. W. Pursseyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for actuating a safety device comprises an acoustic sensor and apparatus coupled to the sensor for actuating the safety device in response to sound of a predetermined character. Apparatus for releasing or closing a closure is also disclosed. Three embodiments of the apparatus are disclosed.
Claims36
Apparatus for retaining and releasing a closure, said apparatus comprising:
- retaining means actuable between a retaining state in which it can retain the closure open and a release state in which it ceases to retain the closure and hence releases it,
- a sensor for sensing from the ambient medium an alarm signal transmitted into the ambient medium, and
- means coupled to the sensor for actuating the retaining means to release the closure in response to the alarm signal.
Apparatus for retaining and releasing a closure, said apparatus comprising:
- retaining means actuable between a retaining state in which it can retain the closure open and a release state in which it ceases to retain the closure and hence releases it,
- a sensor for sensing from the ambient medium an alarm signal transmitted into the ambient medium,
- means coupled to the sensor for actuating the retaining means to release the closure in response to the alarm signal, and
- means for overriding the actuating means to permit actuation of the retaining means at will,
- wherein the retaining means includes an engagement formation, for retaining the closure open, which is actuable by the actuating means to release the closure, and the override means is adapted to permit actuation of the retaining means in response to force applied to the engagement formation,
- wherein the override means is adapted to permit actuation of the retaining means both in response to an opening force and in response to a closing force applied to the engagement formation in respective mutually opposed directions.
3 more elements
A closure in combination with apparatus for retaining and releasing the closure, said apparatus comprising:
- retaining means actuable between a retaining state in which it can retain the closure open and a release state in which it ceases to retain the closure and hence releases it,
- a sensor for sensing from the ambient medium an alarm signal transmitted into the ambient medium, and
- means coupled to the sensor for actuating the retaining means to release the closure in response to the alarm signal,
- wherein the actuating means can be overridden either by opening or closing the closure.
1 more element
Valve apparatus comprising:
- a valve,
- a sensor for sensing from the ambient medium an alarm signal transmitted into the ambient medium, and
- actuating means coupled to the sensor for closing the valve in response to the alarm signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.