Adapter bracket for notification appliance

Abstract

A notification appliance is disclosed. The notification appliance may be a strobe notification appliance, such as an LED strobe notification appliance. The notification appliance may be wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted. Further, the notification appliance may include an optic that is configured to shape the light output from the notification appliance. For example, in a wall-mount, the optic may be mounted off-axis of a plane defined by a back plate of the notification appliance. Further, the notification appliance may be composed of a back plate, a driver board, and a front housing, with the front housing being attached to one or both of the back plate and the driver board. Moreover, the notification appliance may be used with an adapter bracket, which may be used to connect the notification appliance with one or more types of junction boxes.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An adapter bracket, comprising:
 a substantially rectangular member defining an opening, the substantially rectangular member including four sides with a first set of opposing sides and a second set of opposing sides, the second set of opposing sides comprises a top of the adapter bracket and a bottom of the adapter bracket; 
 a first connector comprising an adapter bracket screw receptacle configured to engage a screw traversing through a first hole of a notification appliance, the first connector on the bottom of the adapter bracket; 
 a second connector configured to engage a second hole of the notification appliance, the second connector on the top of the adapter bracket; 
 a first hole of a first side of the first set of opposing sides configured to align with a first junction box screw receptacle of a first type of junction box; 
 a second hole of a second side of the first set of opposing sides configured to align with a second junction box screw receptacle of the first type of junction box; 
 a first sidebar connected to a first inner side of the substantially rectangular member defining the opening; and 
 a second sidebar discrete from the first sidebar, the second sidebar connected to a second inner side of the substantially rectangular member defining the opening; 
 the second connector is a different type of connector than the adapter bracket screw receptacle and is configured to engage the second hole of the notification appliance by sliding the second hole onto the second connector without a tool. 
 
     
     
       2. The adapter bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first hole of the first side of the first set of opposing sides and the second hole of the second side of the first set of opposing sides go through the adapter bracket from a first side to a second side of the adapter bracket;
 wherein a first screw traverses the first hole of the first side of the first set of opposing sides from the first side to the second side of the adapter bracket and engages the first junction box screw receptacle; 
 wherein a second screw traverses the second hole of the second side of the first set of opposing sides from the first side to the second side of the adapter bracket and engages the second junction box screw receptacle; 
 wherein the adapter bracket screw receptacle comprises a threaded standoff positioned on the first side of the adapter bracket; and 
 wherein the threaded standoff is raised from the first side of the adapter bracket and configured such that an adapter bracket screw does not exit the second side of the adapter bracket. 
 
     
     
       3. The adapter bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter bracket is configured to mount the notification appliance to multiple types of junction boxes. 
     
     
       4. The adapter bracket of  claim 3 , further comprising a third junction box connector. 
     
     
       5. The adapter bracket of  claim 4 , wherein the adapter bracket includes a second set of holes configured to mate with screw receptacles of the third junction box; and
 wherein the second set of holes include a third hole and a fourth hole, the third hole and the fourth hole on opposing sides of the adapter bracket. 
 
     
     
       6. The adapter bracket of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the first hole of the first side of the first set of opposing sides and the second hole of the second side of the first set of opposing sides are positioned at 270° and 90° relative to a center of the opening; and 
 wherein the third hole and the fourth hole are positioned at 240° and 60° relative to the center of the opening. 
 
     
     
       7. The adapter bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first hole of the first side of the first set of opposing sides comprises a keyhole. 
     
     
       8. The adapter bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the second connector comprises a hook connector. 
     
     
       9. The adapter bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector comprises a raised connector that is raised from the first side of the adapter bracket and configured to engage the second hole of the notification appliance. 
     
     
       10. An adapter bracket configured to connect a notification appliance to a first type of junction box, the notification appliance comprising a first hole and a second hole configured to attach the notification appliance to a second type of junction box, the first type of junction box including a first junction box screw receptacle and a second junction box screw receptacle, the adapter bracket comprising:
 a first connector comprising an adapter bracket screw receptacle configured to engage a screw traversing through the first hole of the notification appliance; 
 a second connector configured to engage the second hole of the notification appliance; 
 a first hole configured to align with the first junction box screw receptacle of the first type of junction box; 
 a second hole configured to align with the second junction box screw receptacle of the first type of junction box; 
 a substantially rectangular member defining an opening, the substantially rectangular member including four sides with a first set of opposing sides and a second set of opposing sides, wherein one of the first set of opposing sides includes the first hole and another of the first set of opposing sides includes the second hole, wherein one of the second set of opposing sides includes the first connector and another of the second set of opposing sides includes the second connector, and wherein the second connector is a different type of connector than the adapter bracket screw receptacle; 
 a first sidebar connected to a first inner side of the substantially rectangular member defining the opening; and 
 a second sidebar discrete from the first sidebar, the second sidebar connected to a second inner side of the substantially rectangular member defining the opening;  
 wherein the second connector is configured to enter the second hole of the notification appliance; 
 wherein the second connector comprises a curved portion configured to hook into the second hole of the notification appliance; 
 wherein the curved portion is S-shaped and comprises two end sections, a first end section connected to the opening and a second end section, the second end section not bent toward the opening; and 
 wherein the curved portion, when engaged in the second hole of the notification appliance, is at least partly within the notification appliance. 
 
     
     
       11. The adapter bracket of  claim 10 , wherein the opening defines a first plane; and
 wherein the second end section defines a second plane, the second plane being parallel to the first plane. 
 
     
     
       12. An adapter bracket configured to connect a notification appliance to a first type of junction box, the notification appliance comprising a first hole and a second hole configured to attached the notification appliance to a second type of junction box, the first type of junction box including a first junction box screw receptacle and a second junction box screw receptacle, the adapter bracket comprising:
 a first connector comprising an adapter bracket screw receptacle configured to engage a screw traversing through the first hole of the notification appliance; 
 a second connector configured to engage the second hole of the notification appliance; 
 a first hole configured to align with the first junction box screw receptacle of the first type of junction box; 
 a second hole configured to align with the second junction box screw receptacle of the first type of junction box; 
 an opening defined by a plurality of inner sides of the adapter bracket, wherein the plurality of inner sides comprises a first set of inner sides facing one another and a second set of inner sides facing one another; and 
 one or more sidebars, wherein one of the first set of inner sides includes the first hole and another of the first set of inner sides includes the second hole, wherein one of the second set of inner sides includes the first connector and another of the second set of inner sides includes the second connector, wherein a first of the one or more sidebars is connected to the one of the first set of inner sides, and wherein a second of the one or more sidebars is discrete from the first of the one or more sidebars and is connected to the another of the first set of inner sides. 
 
     
     
       13. The adapter bracket of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more sidebars consist of the first of the one or more sidebars and the second of the one or more sidebars. 
     
     
       14. The adapter bracket of  claim 12 , wherein a length of the first of the one or more sidebars is shorter than a length of the one of the first set of inner sides. 
     
     
       15. The adapter bracket of  claim 12 , wherein the second connector is a different type of connector than the adapter bracket screw receptacle and engages the second hole of the notification appliance by sliding the second hole onto the second connector without a tool. 
     
     
       16. A junction box and adapter bracket combination comprising:
 the junction box comprising:
 a recess that defines a junction box opening; 
 a first screw receptacle connected to a first part of the junction box; and 
 a second screw receptacle connected to a second part of the junction box; 
 
 the adapter bracket comprising:
 a flat portion rectangular in shape that defines an adapter bracket opening, the flat portion comprising a first set of opposing sides and a second set of opposing sides, the second set of opposing sides comprises a top of the adapter bracket and a bottom of the adapter bracket, a size of the adapter bracket opening greater than a size of the junction box opening; 
 a first sidebar connected to a first inner side of the flat portion defining the adapter bracket opening; 
 a second sidebar discrete from the first sidebar, the second sidebar connected to a second inner side of the flat portion defining the adapter bracket opening;  
 a first hole in the flat portion configured to receive a first screw therethrough for receipt in the first screw receptacle; 
 a second hole in the flat portion configured to receive a second screw therethrough for receipt in the second screw receptacle, wherein the first hole and the second hole are on opposite sides of the first set of opposing sides; 
 a hook on the top of the adapter bracket and configured to engage an opening from a notification appliance for a first connection point to the notification appliance; and 
 an adapter bracket screw receptacle on the bottom of the adapter bracket and configured to receive a screw from the notification appliance for a second connection point to the notification appliance. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The junction box and adapter combination of  claim 16 , wherein the adapter bracket screw receptacle comprises a raised connector that is raised from the first side of the adapter bracket and configured to engage the screw from the notification appliance. 
     
     
       18. An adapter bracket comprising:
 a rectangular member defining an opening, the rectangular member including four sides with a first set of opposing sides and a second set of opposing sides, the second set of opposing sides comprises a top of the adapter bracket and a bottom of the adapter bracket;   a first connector comprising an adapter bracket screw hole or a raised adapter bracket standoff, the first connector on the bottom of the adapter bracket;   a second connector on the top of the adapter bracket;   a first hole of a first side of the first set of opposing sides that aligns with a first junction box screw receptacle of a first type of junction box;   a second hole of a second side of the first set of opposing sides that aligns with a second junction box screw receptacle of the first type of junction box;   a first sidebar connected to a first inner side of the rectangular member defining the opening; and   a second sidebar discrete from the first sidebar, the second sidebar connected to a second inner side of the rectangular member defining the opening;   the second connector is a different type of connector than the adapter bracket screw hole or the raised adapter bracket standoff and engages a second hole of a notification appliance by sliding the second hole onto the second connector without a tool.    
     
     
       19. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 the adapter bracket standoff is threaded.    
     
     
       20. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 the second connector includes a curved portion; and   the curved portion, when engaged in the second hole of the notification appliance, is at least partly within the notification appliance.    
     
     
       21. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 the second connector is S-shaped.    
     
     
       22. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 the first sidebar and the second sidebar provide rigidity to the adapter bracket.    
     
     
       23. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 when the adapter bracket is installed in the first type of junction box, the first sidebar is proximate to or contacts the first junction box screw receptacle and the second sidebar is proximate to or contacts the second junction box screw receptacle.    
     
     
       24. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 the first sidebar is on an opposing side of the opening to the second sidebar.    
     
     
       25. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 a first dimension of the opening defined by the rectangular member is greater than a first dimension of an opening of the first type of junction box.    
     
     
       26. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 a first dimension of the opening defined by the rectangular member is greater than a first dimension of an opening of the first type of junction box; and   a second dimension of the opening defined by the rectangular member is less than a second dimension of the opening of the first type of junction box.    
     
     
       27. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 the adapter bracket is configured to mount the notification appliance to multiple types of junction boxes.    
     
     
       28. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 a third type junction box connector that mates with a screw receptacle of a third type of junction box.    
     
     
       29. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 a third type junction box connector that mates with a screw receptacle of a third type of junction box;   the first type of junction box is rectangular in shape; and   the third type of junction box is circular in shape.    
     
     
       30. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 a first set of holes that mate with screw receptacles of the first type of junction box, the first set of holes include the hole and a second hole, the hole and the second hole on opposing sides of the adapter bracket; and   a second set of holes that mate with screw receptacles of a third type of junction box, the second set of holes include a third hole and a fourth hole, the third hole and the fourth hole on opposing sides of the adapter bracket.    
     
     
       31. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 a first set of holes that mate with screw receptacles of the first type of junction box, the first set of holes include the hole and a second hole, the hole and the second hole on opposing sides of the adapter bracket; and   a second set of holes that mate with screw receptacles of a third type of junction box, the second set of holes include a third hole and a fourth hole, the third hole and the fourth hole on opposing sides of the adapter bracket, the hole and the second hole are positioned at 9:00 and 3:00, the third hole and the fourth hole are positioned at 8:00 and 2:00.    
     
     
       32. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 the hole includes a keyhole.    
     
     
       33. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 an area defined by the opening of the rectangular member is greater than an area of an opening of the first type of junction box.    
     
     
       34. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 the first connector extends in an opposite direction from the opening as the first and second sidebars.    
     
     
       35. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 the first connector includes a tab that hooks the first type of junction box.    
     
     
       36. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 a gasket that seals the notification appliance.    
     
     
       37. The adapter bracket of claim 18, comprising:
 the opening defined by the rectangular member is square in shape.