Abstract: A system and method for providing assistance to emergency personnel that includes the apparatus and method for detecting the presence of personnel within a protected premises, apparatus for detecting an imminent threat selected from the group consisting of a fire, seismological and terrorist events and apparatus, responsive to the means for detecting, for displaying the location of personnel within protected premises. The apparatus for detecting an imminent threat may include an ionization-type detector or a photoelectric detector or temperature sensing and may utilize fuzzy logic or Boolean logic. The temperature sensing apparatus may utilize one or more thermistors. The apparatus for detecting the presence of personnel may include ultrasonic apparatus, microwave apparatus, or infrared sensing.

Abstract: A system and method to facilitate escape from a building in an emergency which includes apparatus for monitoring at least a part of a building for a life threatening conditions selected from the group consisting of fire, seismological and terrorist threats. The system also includes a fire ladder having a compact position and a deployed position. The fire ladder in the deployed position extends generally vertically. The system further includes apparatus for mounting the fire ladder proximate to the lower edge of an associated window in the building and apparatus for releasably retaining the fire ladder in the compact position. In addition the system further includes apparatus for releasing the fire ladder that is responsive to the apparatus for monitoring. The rungs of the ladder may have projections dimensioned and configured to rest against the side of the associated building when the ladder is deployed along the side of the associated building.

Abstract: A home or other building security system is interfaced with a vehicle control system, such as for an automobile. The vehicle control system includes a transceiver for receiving commands from the home security system for performing certain actions, such as arming or disarming an alarm system, unlocking or locking doors, opening or closing windows, and starting or stopping the engine. The vehicle control system also transmits status information regarding the vehicle to the home security system. The vehicle can be protected as a zone or partition of the home security system. Furthermore, a remote vehicle monitoring apparatus may be provided that triggers an alarm or annunciation based on its control mode when a change of status signal is received from the vehicle. The control mode is optionally tied to the status of a home security system.

Abstract: A safety light is activated by a wireless signal from a control panel in a home security system is response to detection of a fire by the system. The safety light alerts rescuers of rooms in a home in which children may be located. The light may be window, door or wall-mounted, and have a single, or dual opposing, backlit faces. The backlit face includes a logo and/or text that is quickly recognized by rescuers. For example, a logo of a firefighter carrying a baby may be used with the text “tot rescue”. The safety light may communicate status information to the control panel, such as a low battery condition or a tamper alert. A tamper alert switch detects tampering with the housing of the safety light or its installation. Additional safety lights provide ambient illumination and directional information to an exit.

Abstract: A battery terminal contactor for attachment to a battery housing is disclosed. The battery terminal contactor comprises a contactor portion and a base portion flexibly secured to the contactor portion. The base portion includes a fixed portion and a latch portion. The latch portion is resiliently connected to the fixed portion. The latch portion has a beveled hook portion for engaging an abutment on the battery housing as the battery terminal contactor is inserted in the housing, to bias the hook portion around the abutment to permit the hook portion to securely engage the abutment and secure the battery terminal contactor to the battery housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for connecting two circuit boards together. The device constitutes four side walls joined to define an aperture, a pin array disposed completely within the aperture, at least one resilient finger which acts to retain said pin array within the aperture, and a shoulder on at least one of the four side walls which prevents the pin array from passing through the aperture.

Abstract: A door latch assembly, such as for a battery compartment of an electronic device, is disclosed. The door latch assembly comprises a housing having a pair of opposed, spaced flattened pins defining an elongated surface having a depth and a generally perpendicular narrowed surface having a thickness. The door latch assembly further comprises a door having first and second clasps for receiving the respective first and second pins. Each of the clasps includes an aperture and a slot leading to the aperture. The aperture has a breadth substantially equal to the depth of the elongated surface, and the slot has a gap substantially equal to the thickness of the narrowed surface. When assembling the door to the housing, each of the slots slides over the respective elongated surface to receive and captures the respective pin in the respective aperture.

Abstract: A bathroom accessory including a rigid plastic container, such as a wastebasket or facial tissue holder, and a washable, pleated cloth bag having a shape substantially conforming to the container. The container is placed inside of the pleated bag, and a retaining element is secured around the opening of the bag for disposition inwardly of the rim of the container to retain the bag on the container.

Abstract: A bathroom accessory including a rigid plastic container, such as a wastebasket or facial tissue holder, and a washable, pleated cloth bag having a shape substantially conforming to the container. The container is placed inside of the pleated bag, and a retaining element is secured around the opening of the bag for disposition inwardly of the rim of the container to retain the bag on the container.

Abstract: A bathroom accessory including a rigid plastic container, such as a wastebasket or facial tissue holder, and a washable, pleated cloth bag having a shape substantially conforming to the container. The container is placed inside of the pleated bag, and a retaining element is secured around the opening of the bag for disposition inwardly of the rim of the container to retain the bag on the container.