WO1995016497A1 - Fire suppression apparatus - Google Patents

Fire suppression apparatus Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1995016497A1
WO1995016497A1 PCT/GB1994/002360 GB9402360W WO9516497A1 WO 1995016497 A1 WO1995016497 A1 WO 1995016497A1 GB 9402360 W GB9402360 W GB 9402360W WO 9516497 A1 WO9516497 A1 WO 9516497A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
glass
breaching
suppression apparatus
fire suppression
fire
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1994/002360
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Michael Decker
Original Assignee
Michael Decker
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Michael Decker filed Critical Michael Decker
Priority to AU80641/94A priority Critical patent/AU8064194A/en
Publication of WO1995016497A1 publication Critical patent/WO1995016497A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C13/00—Portable extinguishers which are permanently pressurised or pressurised immediately before use
    • A62C13/76—Details or accessories
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
    • A62B3/00—Devices or single parts for facilitating escape from buildings or the like, e.g. protection shields, protection screens; Portable devices for preventing smoke penetrating into distinct parts of buildings
    • A62B3/005—Rescue tools with forcing action

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a fire suppression apparatus, preferably, though not exclusively, a fire extinguisher.
  • Resilient glazing such as toughened, laminated, double- glazing, or other types of "safety" or strengthened glass is rightly required in many situations, for example in vehicular glass, and patio windows, and regulations exist mandating their use in situations where normal glazing would be potentially hazardous.
  • the provision of resilient glazing does in itself give rise to death or injury by preventing easy egress through the opening covered by the glazing in an emergency. This is particularly true in fires.
  • Road traffic.accidents often result in damage to doors that prevent exit and therefore dictate the use of windows for escape.
  • Office windows frequently feature sealed resilient glazing because of air conditioning and other considerations.
  • Private homes increasingly feature double glazing, and, despite recommendations to the contrary, windows are often non- opening on upper levels.
  • a glazing escape hammer is such a tool which can be used to breach resilient glazing.
  • Glazing escape hammers are well known and usually resemble a small hammer with the striking face forming a sharp point. Such hammers are commonly found in Public Service Vehicles or within buildings, adjacent to resilient glazing. Such tools probably represent the currently most effective, convenient and cost efficient means of causing catastrophic failure to most types of resilient glazing. The hammers achieve this by concentrating an applied load onto a very small area i.e the sharp, usually metal, point.
  • Glazing escape hammers have a number of problems associated with their use. Such hammers are usually quite small due to cost and aesthetic constraints, and typically have a handle less than ten centimetres long, which makes location and use more difficult. Additionally, in a fire, with the associated smoke and low light, they may be difficult to locate even if provided near to the resilient glazing. A more effective glazing hammer would more resemble a professional fire ⁇ fighters tool. Often, in Public Service Vehicles, for example, glazing hammers are located out of normal reach or may be located adjacent the driver or operator. Often they are stored behind a "breakglass" panel to mitigate the effects of vandalism or pilferage, which is clearly a safety compromise. Glazing hammers are almost never found in private vehicles.
  • a high proportion of the population are unaware of the need to use a specialist tool to breach resilient glazing, and, in an emergency situation, even if they are aware of the fact, are less likely to recall such information. Often, they will seek to use any heavy object located thereby, which will in most cases be ineffective. Particularly, in an emergency situation in which a fire is involved, a person may seek to breach the resilient glazing using a fire extinguisher with which he is already fighting the fire. However, even the use of a heavy extinguisher to batter resilient glazing is usually ineffective. An additional problem is created in this sort of situation where a person has to carry both a fire extinguisher and a glazing hammer and, therefore, has no free hand with which to make safer progress.
  • Fire extinguishers and other fire-suppression apparatus', such as fire blankets, are already well known.
  • a fire suppression apparatus comprising a body for containing a quantity of fire suppressing material therein, and glass-breaching means provided on the body for breaching glass when the glass-breaching means is placed against the glass and force applied thereto.
  • this apparatus will increase the likelihood of successful egress from an emergency situation, particularly one that involves both fire-fighting, and the need to breach resilient glazing. Because many private vehicles now carry a fire extinguisher, an apparatus in accordance with the present invention would mean the increased likelihood of there being a glass-breaching means being provided in private vehicles.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention, and is a side view of the lower section of a fire extinguisher
  • Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, and is a side view of the lower section of a fire extinguisher
  • Figure 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention, and is a view of the bottom of a round-bottomed fire extinguisher
  • Figure 4" is a perspective view of a cover for a glass- breaching attachment of the invention.
  • Figure 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention, and is a view of the bottom of a flat-bottomed fire extinguisher having multiple glass-breaching attachments fixed thereon.
  • a fire suppression apparatus 1 comprises a fire extinguisher 2 to the base 6 of which is attached a glass-breaching attachment 3.
  • the glass-breaching attachment 3 comprises a substantially circular metal plate 4 which has a sharp point 5 provided substantially centrally thereon as illustrated in Figure 3.
  • the plate 4 is either permanently fixed to the base 6 using a layer 7 of a suitable adhesive, for example, in the form of an adhesive patch or strip, as illustrated in Figure 1, or is removably attached to the fire extinguisher 2 by means of a screw threaded protrusion 8 provided on the base 6 of the fire extinguisher 2 and a matching threaded recess 9 provided on the plate 4, as illustrated in Figure 2.
  • a clamping mechanism may also be used.
  • the glass-breaching attachment may be provided with a cover 10, illustrated in Figure 4.
  • This cover 10 would serve to provide protection against contact with the sharp point 5 when the fire suppression apparatus 1 is not in use, thereby preventing injury to persons or # damage to property.
  • the cover 10 is dimensioned to fit snugly over the glass-breaching attachment 3 and is held in place by means of an inwardly extending lip 11 which clips around the edge of the glass-breaching attachment 3.
  • a tab 12 is provided to facilitate removal of the cover 10, and instructions may be printed thereon to instruct the user.
  • the cover may also be used as a support and in this case shaped in such a way as to provide a flat surface on which it can stand.
  • each glass-breaching attachment 15,16,17 is substantially hemi-spherical in shape with the respective sharp points 18,19,20 being located adjacent the straight edges of the glass-breaching attachments 15,16,17.
  • the attachments 15,16,17 are then fixed to the base 14 at regular intervals around the periphery of the base 14 so that the sharp points 18,19,20 are located as close as possible against the edge of the extinguisher base 14.
  • the glass-breaching attachments 15,16,17 may be attached to the extinguisher base 14 by means of adhesive or a screw thread attachment.
  • the fire extinguishers are, in themselves, well known to persons skilled in the art, and their construction and use therefore need be described in further detail herein.
  • the fire extinguishers would be used as normal, but should circumstances arise where resilient glazing needs to be breached, then the base of the extinguisher, and ,therefore, the sharp points are placed against the glass and force applied, for example using a banging action.
  • the extra grip and higher mass afforded by the extinguisher body provides a much better escape tool than the commonly found lightweight glazing hammers discussed above in the preamble. This is particularly relevant where, for example, a person is trapped in a submerged vehicle and extra mass is necessary to breach resilient glass.
  • the glass-breaching devices described above are made of any suitable metal or other material, for example a hard plastic.
  • a sharp point can be provided integral with the fire extinguisher body, either as a single centrally-locat.ed point or as a multiplicity of points.
  • the sharp points would be dimensioned so that it would be unlikely to cause injury if, for example, it were to drop on someone's foot without a cover being provided thereon.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Fire-Extinguishing By Fire Departments, And Fire-Extinguishing Equipment And Control Thereof (AREA)
  • Joining Of Glass To Other Materials (AREA)

Abstract

A fire suppression apparatus (1), for example, a fire extinguisher, is provided with one or more sharp points (5) on its base (6) as glass-breaching attachments to enable resilient glazing to be breached in the event of an emergency. The points can be formed integral with the fire extinguisher body, or as separate components (4) permanently or removably fixed to the body, for example, using adhesive (7) or a screw thread attachment (8, 9), respectively. A safety cover may be provided for the sharp point. By providing a glass-breaching means on the fire suppression apparatus, glass breaching means are both easily accessible and do not require two separate tools to be carried.

Description

FIRE SUPPRESSION APPARATUS
This invention relates to a fire suppression apparatus, preferably, though not exclusively, a fire extinguisher.
Resilient glazing such as toughened, laminated, double- glazing, or other types of "safety" or strengthened glass is rightly required in many situations, for example in vehicular glass, and patio windows, and regulations exist mandating their use in situations where normal glazing would be potentially hazardous. Unfortunately, the provision of resilient glazing does in itself give rise to death or injury by preventing easy egress through the opening covered by the glazing in an emergency. This is particularly true in fires. Road traffic.accidents often result in damage to doors that prevent exit and therefore dictate the use of windows for escape. Office windows frequently feature sealed resilient glazing because of air conditioning and other considerations. Private homes increasingly feature double glazing, and, despite recommendations to the contrary, windows are often non- opening on upper levels.
As a consequence of this, in order that the resilient glazing be breachable in an emergency specialist tools need to be provided, and these tools need to be easily accessible. A glazing escape hammer is such a tool which can be used to breach resilient glazing. Glazing escape hammers are well known and usually resemble a small hammer with the striking face forming a sharp point. Such hammers are commonly found in Public Service Vehicles or within buildings, adjacent to resilient glazing. Such tools probably represent the currently most effective, convenient and cost efficient means of causing catastrophic failure to most types of resilient glazing. The hammers achieve this by concentrating an applied load onto a very small area i.e the sharp, usually metal, point.
Glazing escape hammers have a number of problems associated with their use. Such hammers are usually quite small due to cost and aesthetic constraints, and typically have a handle less than ten centimetres long, which makes location and use more difficult. Additionally, in a fire, with the associated smoke and low light, they may be difficult to locate even if provided near to the resilient glazing. A more effective glazing hammer would more resemble a professional fire¬ fighters tool. Often, in Public Service Vehicles, for example, glazing hammers are located out of normal reach or may be located adjacent the driver or operator. Often they are stored behind a "breakglass" panel to mitigate the effects of vandalism or pilferage, which is clearly a safety compromise. Glazing hammers are almost never found in private vehicles.
A high proportion of the population are unaware of the need to use a specialist tool to breach resilient glazing, and, in an emergency situation, even if they are aware of the fact, are less likely to recall such information. Often, they will seek to use any heavy object located thereby, which will in most cases be ineffective. Particularly, in an emergency situation in which a fire is involved, a person may seek to breach the resilient glazing using a fire extinguisher with which he is already fighting the fire. However, even the use of a heavy extinguisher to batter resilient glazing is usually ineffective. An additional problem is created in this sort of situation where a person has to carry both a fire extinguisher and a glazing hammer and, therefore, has no free hand with which to make safer progress.
Fire extinguishers, and other fire-suppression apparatus', such as fire blankets, are already well known.
According to the present invention, there is provided a fire suppression apparatus comprising a body for containing a quantity of fire suppressing material therein, and glass-breaching means provided on the body for breaching glass when the glass-breaching means is placed against the glass and force applied thereto. This has the advantage that, by providing a glass-breaching means on a fire suppression apparatus, the glass- breaching means is more readily to hand and is more likely to be located, and, in addition, the combination of the fire suppression apparatus and the glass-breaching means obviates the need to carry two separate tools for these tasks, thus leaving one hand free to allow the user to make safer or faster progress. The added mass of the fire suppression apparatus also ensures more effective breaching of the resilient glass. All-in-all, this apparatus will increase the likelihood of successful egress from an emergency situation, particularly one that involves both fire-fighting, and the need to breach resilient glazing. Because many private vehicles now carry a fire extinguisher, an apparatus in accordance with the present invention would mean the increased likelihood of there being a glass-breaching means being provided in private vehicles.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention, and is a side view of the lower section of a fire extinguisher;
Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, and is a side view of the lower section of a fire extinguisher;
Figure 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention, and is a view of the bottom of a round-bottomed fire extinguisher;
Figure 4" is a perspective view of a cover for a glass- breaching attachment of the invention; and
Figure 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention, and is a view of the bottom of a flat-bottomed fire extinguisher having multiple glass-breaching attachments fixed thereon.
A fire suppression apparatus 1 comprises a fire extinguisher 2 to the base 6 of which is attached a glass-breaching attachment 3. The glass-breaching attachment 3 comprises a substantially circular metal plate 4 which has a sharp point 5 provided substantially centrally thereon as illustrated in Figure 3. The plate 4 is either permanently fixed to the base 6 using a layer 7 of a suitable adhesive, for example, in the form of an adhesive patch or strip, as illustrated in Figure 1, or is removably attached to the fire extinguisher 2 by means of a screw threaded protrusion 8 provided on the base 6 of the fire extinguisher 2 and a matching threaded recess 9 provided on the plate 4, as illustrated in Figure 2. A clamping mechanism may also be used.
The glass-breaching attachment may be provided with a cover 10, illustrated in Figure 4. This cover 10 would serve to provide protection against contact with the sharp point 5 when the fire suppression apparatus 1 is not in use, thereby preventing injury to persons or# damage to property. The cover 10 is dimensioned to fit snugly over the glass-breaching attachment 3 and is held in place by means of an inwardly extending lip 11 which clips around the edge of the glass-breaching attachment 3. A tab 12 is provided to facilitate removal of the cover 10, and instructions may be printed thereon to instruct the user. The cover may also be used as a support and in this case shaped in such a way as to provide a flat surface on which it can stand.
Instead of a single glass-breaching attachment, a number of such attachments may be provided, as is illustrated in Figure 5 which shows a flat-bottomed fire extinguisher 13, to the base 14 of which has been affixed three glass- breaching attachments 15,16,17. In this embodiment, each glass-breaching attachment 15,16,17 is substantially hemi-spherical in shape with the respective sharp points 18,19,20 being located adjacent the straight edges of the glass-breaching attachments 15,16,17. The attachments 15,16,17 are then fixed to the base 14 at regular intervals around the periphery of the base 14 so that the sharp points 18,19,20 are located as close as possible against the edge of the extinguisher base 14.
As with the embodiments described above with respect to Figures 1 and 2, the glass-breaching attachments 15,16,17 may be attached to the extinguisher base 14 by means of adhesive or a screw thread attachment.
The fire extinguishers are, in themselves, well known to persons skilled in the art, and their construction and use therefore need be described in further detail herein. In use the fire extinguishers would be used as normal, but should circumstances arise where resilient glazing needs to be breached, then the base of the extinguisher, and ,therefore, the sharp points are placed against the glass and force applied, for example using a banging action. The extra grip and higher mass afforded by the extinguisher body provides a much better escape tool than the commonly found lightweight glazing hammers discussed above in the preamble. This is particularly relevant where, for example, a person is trapped in a submerged vehicle and extra mass is necessary to breach resilient glass.
The glass-breaching devices described above are made of any suitable metal or other material, for example a hard plastic.
Instead of a separate glass-breaching device, a sharp point can be provided integral with the fire extinguisher body, either as a single centrally-locat.ed point or as a multiplicity of points.
Preferably, the sharp points would be dimensioned so that it would be unlikely to cause injury if, for example, it were to drop on someone's foot without a cover being provided thereon.
As will be understood by persons skilled in the art, various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, other shapes and locations of the glass-breaching attachments are possible, and they can be provided on any other suitable fire suppression apparatus or other suitable objects which provide the added mass and support for the glass- breaching attachment(s) to allow the resilient glazing to be breached.

Claims

1. A fire suppression apparatus comprising a body for containing a quantity of fire suppressing material therein, and glass-breaching means provided on the body for breaching glass when the glass-breaching means is placed against the glass and force applied thereto.
2. A fire suppression apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the glass-breaching means is permanently attached to the body.
3. A fire suppression apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the glass-breaching means is provided integral with the body.
4. A fire suppression apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the glass-breaching means is attached to the body by means of adhesive.
5. A fire suppression apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the glass-breaching means is removably attached to the body.
6. A fire suppression apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the glass-breaching means is removably attached to the body by means of a screw thread attachment.
7. A fire suppression apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the glass-breaching means is removably attached to the body by means of clamping means.
8. A fire suppression apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the glass-breaching means comprises at least one projection coupled to the body.
9. A fire suppression apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the glass-breaching means comprises a multiplicity of projections.
10. A fire suppression apparatus according to any of Claims 8 or 9, wherein the projection is provided on a plate coupled to the body.
11. A fire suppression apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the container body comprises a base portion, and the glass-breaching means is provided on the base of the container.
12. A fire suppression apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the glass-breaching means is provided with a detachable cover means.
12. A glass-breaching device for coupling to a body for providing added load to the device to enable the device to breach the glass when placed against the glass with force applied thereto, the glass breaching device having coupling means for coupling the device to the body.
13. A glass-breaching device as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the coupling means is an adhesive layer.
14. A glass-breaching device according to Claim 12, wherein 'the coupling means is a screw thread attachment.
15. A glass-breaching device as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the coupling means is a clamp.
16. A glass-breaching device as claimed in Claim 12 comprising a projection coupled to a plate, the coupling means being provided on the plate.
17. A glass-breaching device according to claim 16, wherein the glass-breaching device is provided with cover means for the projection.
18. A fire suppression apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
PCT/GB1994/002360 1993-12-15 1994-10-27 Fire suppression apparatus WO1995016497A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU80641/94A AU8064194A (en) 1993-12-15 1994-10-27 Fire suppression apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9325663A GB2284759A (en) 1993-12-15 1993-12-15 A fire punch
GB9325663.4 1993-12-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1995016497A1 true WO1995016497A1 (en) 1995-06-22

Family

ID=10746655

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1994/002360 WO1995016497A1 (en) 1993-12-15 1994-10-27 Fire suppression apparatus

Country Status (4)

Country Link
AU (1) AU8064194A (en)
GB (1) GB2284759A (en)
WO (1) WO1995016497A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA949462B (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5148623B2 (en) * 2007-10-19 2013-02-20 英夫 吉田 Fire extinguishing gas jetting equipment

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2253648A (en) * 1992-02-19 1992-09-16 Stevens Daryl Double glazing window breaker
DE9217527U1 (en) * 1992-12-22 1993-02-18 Gloria-Werke H. Schulte-Frankenfeld Gmbh & Co, 4724 Wadersloh Foot studs for hand-held fire extinguishers with hose line holder
GB2263930A (en) * 1992-02-08 1993-08-11 Young Jayne Window safety device
GB2264324A (en) * 1992-02-19 1993-08-25 Jeremy Frank Ellis Window-breaking device

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9201863D0 (en) * 1992-01-29 1992-03-18 Dunn Kenneth R Multi glazing air cushion release unit
GB2265406A (en) * 1992-03-16 1993-09-29 Colin Albert Smith Glass breaker

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2263930A (en) * 1992-02-08 1993-08-11 Young Jayne Window safety device
GB2253648A (en) * 1992-02-19 1992-09-16 Stevens Daryl Double glazing window breaker
GB2264324A (en) * 1992-02-19 1993-08-25 Jeremy Frank Ellis Window-breaking device
DE9217527U1 (en) * 1992-12-22 1993-02-18 Gloria-Werke H. Schulte-Frankenfeld Gmbh & Co, 4724 Wadersloh Foot studs for hand-held fire extinguishers with hose line holder

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA949462B (en) 1995-08-11
GB2284759A (en) 1995-06-21
AU8064194A (en) 1995-07-03
GB9325663D0 (en) 1994-02-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4437568A (en) Emergency fire and smoke safety kit
US4521831A (en) Protective helmet with dual adjustment illumination means
US5153567A (en) Alarm kit apparatus
US20010049909A1 (en) Jamb protection system
US4680861A (en) Seatbelt cutter
US7181798B2 (en) Escape hammer
EP0624223B1 (en) Release device for multi-glazing air cushion
EP1101569B1 (en) Glass-breaking device / axe
US5483917A (en) Light reflecting traffic direction wand
WO1995016497A1 (en) Fire suppression apparatus
US5679417A (en) Easily breakable glass pane for emergency exits or the like
US4949966A (en) Multiple purpose baton
CA2044678C (en) Plastic fencing with reflective tape
GB2253648A (en) Double glazing window breaker
KR101784311B1 (en) Emergency escape multi-function hammer for easy portability
JP2697623B2 (en) Fire hydrant box
KR20180045851A (en) Hammer for emergency escape
US20030057247A1 (en) Window glass remover
KR100200268B1 (en) Escape from an emergency for hammer
KR20040042215A (en) Emergency hammer
GB2265406A (en) Glass breaker
JPH10314327A (en) Flame cylinder for car emergency safety with function of breaking reinforced glass
CN214318908U (en) Fire control unit suitable for underground garage
CN218652763U (en) Fire hammer with wrench and blade
JP3051665U (en) Hammer for car window glass splitting

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref country code: US

Ref document number: 1995 464846

Date of ref document: 19950607

Kind code of ref document: A

Format of ref document f/p: F

AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AM AU BB BG BR BY CA CN CZ FI GE HU JP KG KP KR KZ LK LT LV MD MG MN NO NZ PL RO RU SI SK TJ TT UA US UZ VN

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): KE MW SD SZ AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN ML MR NE SN TD TG

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: CA