GB2212721A

GB2212721A - Fire extinguishing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2212721A
Application number: GB8728212A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Patrick Burns
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-12-02
Filing date: 1987-12-02
Publication date: 1989-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-02
Also published as: GB2212721B; GB8728212D0

Abstract

A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising a housing which contains a fire blanket 25 which can be removed from the housing, and which supports a fire extinguisher of the type which expels fire extinguishing material by means of compressed gas. <IMAGE>

Description

Description of Invention "Improvements in or relating to a fire extinguishing arrangement" The present invention relates to a fire extinguishing arrangement.

It is known, at the present time, to provide a fire extinguisher adapted to emit carbon dioxide or adapted to emit a fire extinguishing powder with a charge of compressed gas contained within a canister. Such fire extinguishers may be of particular benefit in connection with fires of a specific type. However, fire extinguishers of this type are not ideal for use in a situation where a flamable liquid is on fire, for example where a chip-pan is ablaze.

According to this invention there is provided a fire extinguishing apparatus, said apparatus comprising a housing, said housing containing a fire blanket which can be removed from the housing, said housing having releasably mounted thereon a fire extinguisher comprising means containing a charge of fire extinguishing material adapted to be expelled from the extinguisher by means of compressed gas.

Preferably the fire extinguisher comprises a cylindrical hollow housing, said cylindrical housing being contained within a recess formed on the hollow housing of the fire extinguishing apparatus.

Conveniently the said fire extinguisher is provided with a resilient clip adapted to engage an aperture formed in the housing of the fire extinguishing apparatus.

Advantageously the hollow housing has a portion which covers an opening in the housing and which may be moved from an initial closed position to an open position to enable the fire blanket within the hollow housing to be withdrawn from the hollow housing.

Preferably said portion is the base of the housing which is hingedly mounted to be moved to said open position.

Conveniently the hinge is frangible so that, when the base is moved to the open position the base becomes separated from the housing.

Preferably said hollow housing is adapted to be wall mounted.

Advantageously the hollow housing is formed of a moulding of plastics material.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a view of a fire extinguisher which forms part of a fire extinguishing apparatus in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of a retaining clip forming part of the fire extinguisher of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a housing which forms part of a fire extinguishing apparatus in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 4 is a view of the housing of Figure 3 together with a fire extinguisher, and FIGURE 5 is a sectional view through the apparatus of Figure 4.

Figure 1 illustrates a fire extinguisher 1,the extinguisher comprising a substantially cylindrical hollow housing 2 containing a charge of fire extinguishing material adapted to be expelled from the container by means of compressed gas.

The fire extinguisher includes an outlet nozzle 3 and an appropriate control trigger arrangement 4 of conventional design. Mounted, between the nozzle 3 and the cylinder 2 is a ring-shaped element 5 which forms part of a retaining clip 6 which can be seen more clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The clip 6 is integrally moulded of a plastics material. The ring-shaped element 5 merges into a downwardly and inwardly inclined resilient finger 7 which, when assembled with the container 2 is resiliently biased into contact with the container.

The finger 7 can thus be utilised to clip the fluid dispenser in a desired position.

Referring now to Figures 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings a housing 8 is provided to be utilised in conjunction with the fire extinguisher of Figure 1 to form a fire extinguishing apparatus of the invention.

The housing 8 is moulded of a plastics material. The housing 8 comprises two opposed vertical side walls 9,10, an upstanding front wall 11 and an upstanding rear wall 12, which together form a substantially hollow housing. The housing is closed, at the top, by a top wall 13.

The base of the housing 14, as can be seen in Figure 5, is constituted by a separate member which is connected, by means of a hinge 15 to a tab 16, the tab being secured to the inside of the front wall 11 such that the base 14 may hinge downwardly about the hinge 15 to provide access to the hollow interior 17 of the housing 8. The base 14 may be provided with a handle 18 of the ring-pull" type. The edge 19 of the base 14 remote from hinge 15 is a friction fit against the rear wall 12 of the housing 8.

The front wall 11 of the housing 8 defines, in its upper portion, a recess 20 which is of substantially semi-circular cross-section in plan. Thus the rear of the recess is defined by an arcuate wall portion 2l.and the base of the recess is defined by a semi-circular horizontal wall portion 22. The top wall 13 of the housing thus has the same shape as the base 14 but with an arcuate cut-out towards the front of the housing.

The arcuate wall 21 defining the recess 20 is provided, adjacent its upper edge, with an aperture 23 of substantially rectangular form.

Formed in the rear wall 12 of the housing are two screw holes 24 substantially aligned with the aperture 23. Access can be gained to the screw holes 24 through the aperture 23 to enable screws to be inserted through the screw holes to secure the housing to an appropriate vertical surface, such as, for example, a kitchen wall.

Contained within the hollow interior 17 of the housing is a fire blanket 25. At its lower end the fire blanket 25 is provided with a loop 26 which can be grasped to pull the fire blanket from its position within the housing.

The fire extinguisher 1 may be mounted in position on the housing by locating the cylindrical hollow housing 2 in the recess 20 with the base of the cylinder 2 resting on the wall 22 defining the base of the recess 20. The clip 6 may be engaged with the aperture 23, with the resilient finger 7 being inserted through the aperture 23 into the interior 17 of the housing 8.

In use of the described fire extinguishing apparatus, in the event that a fire arises a person using the apparatus will be able to select whether to use the fire extinguisher 1, or whether to use the fire blanket 25. If the fire extinguisher 1 is to be utilised the fire extinguisher is merely removed from the housing and is activated in the conventional manner. If, for example, a chip-pan is on fire and the fire blanket 25 is to be utilised, then the handle 18 is pulled, thus causing the base 14 to hinge downwardly. The hinge 15 may be designed to fracture when operated in this way so that the base 14 is removed entirely from the housing 8.

In either event the loop 26 at the bottom of the fire blanket will then be readily accessible, and a sharp pull on the loop 26 will release the fire blanket from the housing 17. The fire blanket may then be utilised to fight a fire.

Of course, in certain circumstances, it may be necessary to use both the fire extinguisher and the fire blanket.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to an embodiment in which the base of the housing is opened to enable the fire blanket to be removed, in other embodiments of the invention the fire blanket may be removed from the housing through the side, or through the front of the housing.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to an embodiment in which the clip on the fire extinguisher is made of plastic, and the housing containing the fire blanket is also made of plastic, it is to be understood that the clip may be formed of another resilient material, such as spring metal, and the housing may be formed of any appropriate material, and may thus also be formed of metal.

With reference to the fire extinguisher illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 reference is made to my copending Patent Application, filed on the same day as this Application under Agents Reference P4897GB.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A fire extinguishing apparatus, said apparatus comprising a housing, said housing containing a fire blanket which can be removed from the housing, said housing having releasably mounted thereon a fire extinguisher comprising means containing a charge of fire extinguishing material adapted to be expelled from the extinguisher by means of compressed gas.

2. A fire extinguishing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the fire extinguisher comprises a cylindrical hollow housing, said cylindrical housing being contained within a recess formed on the hollow housing of the fire extinguishing apparatus.

3. A fire extinguishing apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the said fire extinguisher is provided with a resilient clip adapted to engage an aperture formed in the housing of the fire extinguishing apparatus.

4. A fire extinguishing apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the hollow housing has a portion which covers an opening in the housing and which may be moved from an initial closed position to an open position to enable the fire blanket within the hollow housing to be withdrawn from the hollow housing.

5. A fire extinguishing apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein said portion is the base of the hoiusing which is hingedly mounted to be moved to said open position.

6. A fire extinguishing apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein the hinge is frangible so that, when the base is moved to the open position the base becomes separated from the housing.

7. A fire extinguishing apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein said hollow housing is adapted to be wall mounted.

8. A fire extinguishing apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the hollow housing is formed of a moulding of plastics material.

9. A fire extinguishing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.