GB2103084A - Fire blanket - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fire blanket 1 for use in smothering a fire, said blanket comprising a sheet of a flexible substantially inert and substantially fire resistant material 2 and elongate handle means 3 having at least two first end portions 5 secured to said sheet at respective spaced apart locations 7 so as to extend outwardly from said sheet 2 in a generally similar direction and at least one second end portion spaced substantially from said first end portions 5 for gripping by a user of the blanket 1. The handle means 3 are of a substantially inert, substantially rigid and heat stable material having a low thermal conductivity. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fire blanket This invention relates to a fire blanket for use in smothering a fire, which blanket comprises a sheet of a flexible substantially inert and substantially fire resistant material.

Although the use of such blankets is well known their effectiveness and safety is limited to some extent in that in order to apply them to a fire to be smothered, the user has to bring at least his hands into close proximity to the fire area to be covered by the blanket thereby exposing himself to the danger of burns and limiting the precision with which the blanket can be applied to the fire area. This in turn may result in the fire being incompletely smothered and extinguishing of the fire delayed. These problems are accentuated in the case of persons with limited mobility, such as disabled or elderly people and also in the case of restricted visibility due for example to smoke created by the fire as it is then more difficult to determine the closest safe approach to the fire area.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid one or more of the above disadvantages.

The present invention provides a fire blanket for use in smothering a fire, said blanket comprising a sheet of a flexible substantially inert and substantially fire resistant material and elongate handle means having at least two first end portions secured to said sheet at respective spaced apart locations so as to extend outwardly from said sheet in a generally similar direction and at least one second end portion spaced substantially from said first end portions for gripping by a user of the blanket, said handle means being of a substantially inert, substantially rigid and heat stable material having a low thermal conductivity.

With a fire blanket of the present invention the user is able to maintain a safe distance from the fire area whilst being able to manipulate and accurately position the blanket over the fire area through the handle means.

Further preferred features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description given by way of example of two preferred embodiments illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a first fire blanket; Fig. 2 is a side view of the blanket of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a rear view of a second fire blanket particularly suitable for use on a seat fire; and Fig. 4 is a sectional side view of the second blanket in use on a seat fire.

Fig. 1 shows a fire blanket 1 comprising a generally rectangular sheet 2 of flexible material provided with two handles 3 close to opposed side edges 4 on a rear face (user side) of the sheet 2.

The handles 3 are preferably made of hardwood as this has very low thermal conductivity whilst having an acceptable degree of resistance to burning and maintains its rigidity even when exposed to high temperatures. The latter property is important in enabling a user to retain accurate control when positioning the blanket.

Each handle 3 has a first end portion 5 in which is mounted a D-ring 6, conveniently of high melting point metal e.g. steel. A flexible loop 7 of fire resistant fabric is threaded through the D-ring 6 and anchored to the sheet 2 for example by stitching or riveting thereto. The above described connections of the handles 3 to the sheet 2 function as universal joints which permit free movement of the handles through 3600 thereby facilitating maximum ease of manipulation.

As shown in Fig. 2 the sheet comprises two layers of an inert fire resistant fabric 8 between which is sandwiched a thin flexible metallic membrane 9. The membrane serves as a reflector thereby affording the user a degree of protection against radiant heat from the fire area. In addition the membrane makes the blanket substantially gas impermeable thereby preventing escape of flammable gases and/or-toxic gaseous combustion products e.g. nitrogen oxides, through the blanket from the fire area.

The fabric layers may be of any conventional material used for fire blankets but are preferably of texturised glass e.g. woven fibreglass. The fabric is substantially non-fiammable, and heat stable and also provides a degree of-thermal insulation between the fire area and the metal membrane as well as mechanically supporting and protecting the latter, and also a degree of thermal insulation between the fire area and the user.

Naturally various modifications can be made to the above embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus the sheet may comprise only a single layer of suitable fabric, e.g. asbestos fabric, without a metallic reflector or alternatively may be a single sheet of fabric; preferably fibreglass, with a metal membrane laminated onto one side of the fabric.

The handles may be made longer or shorter according to the type of fire hazard to be catered fro but preferably are not less than 30 cm in length, most preferably at least 60 cm in length.

More than two handles may be provided, especially for larger blanket sizes to facilitate manipulation of different parts of the blanket and/or simultaneous control by more than one user. Also the handle means may be in the form of a single member e.g. a U- or V-shaped member connected at its free, spaced apart, ends to the blanket.

Conveniently the blanket is also provided with conventional stowage means for facilitating compact stowage of the blanket whilst at the same time permitting quick and easy deployment of the blanket.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a second blanket which is particularly suited for use with seat fires which are a particular hazard in areas such as aircraft, ship, train or bus cabins/compartments. In the drawings like reference numbers are used for like parts for convenience.

The second blanket is generally similar to the first except that the sheet 2 is tailored so as to form a generally sack-like structure which can be dropped over a burning seat 10 so as to totally enclose it, fitting loosely but more or less closely around the seat 10.

Also the user side is provided with a built in trunk or sleeve 11 provided with draw strings 1 2 at its free end. The sleeve 11 permits limited access to the fire area to permit injection therethrough of fire extinguisher fluid E to speed up extinguishing of the fire. If no fire extinguishers are available then the sleeve 11 can be closed with the draw strings 1 2 and the fire simply smothered and allowed to burn out whilst at the same time preventing spreading of the fire and the escape of dangerous toxic fumes to the surrounding area.

Claims (7)

1. A fire blanket for use in smothering a fire, said blanket comprising a sheet of a flexible substantially inert and substantially fire resistant material and elongate handle means having at least two first end portions secured to said sheet at respective spaced apart locations so as to extend outwardly from said sheet in a generally similar direction and at least one second end portion spaced substantially from said first end portions for gripping by a user of the blanket, said handle means being of a substantially inert, substantially rigid and heat stable material having a low thermal conductivity.

2. A fire blanket according to Claim 1 wherein the handle means is in the form of a single member with free, spaced apart, ends connected to the blanket.

3. A fire blanket according to Claim 2 wherein said member is generally U- or V-shaped.

4. A fire blanket according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the blanket has a generally sacklike form for substantially enveloping a seat whilst fitting loosely but more or less closely around it.

5. A fire blanket according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein is provided a trunk or sleeve extending from the same side as said handle means for permitting injection of fire extinguisher fluid through said trunk or sleeve to a fire behind said blanket in use thereof.

6. A fire blanket according to Claim 5 wherein said trunk or sleeve is provided with draw string means at its free end.

7. A fire blanket substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.