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
  • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C13/00—Portable extinguishers which are permanently pressurised or pressurised immediately before use
  • A62C13/76—Details or accessories
  • A62C13/78—Suspending or supporting devices

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a fire extinguisher.
• Fires continue to destroy the possessions and lives of everyday people.
• Fire extinguishers contain various materials, for example, water, carbon dioxide, powder or halon to combat fires of different types.
• the different materials contained within each fire extinguisher cylinder are generally characterised by a prominent colour on the fire extinguisher.
• Fire extinguishers by law, should be kept in a prominent place near to each fire exit of the building. They need to be easily accessible to anyone should they need to use the fire extinguisher in an emergency.
• the particular problem with fire extinguishers on the market relates to the ability to locate the fire extinguisher in the event of a fire.
• every person in the building should be aware of the location of the fire extinguisher on a day-to-day basis, thick smoke produced by a fire prevents the location to be found easily and quickly.
• the ensuing panic of a person not trained in fire situations commonly results in severe disorientation to the extent that the person is unable to work out where they are in the building in relation to the fire extinguisher.
• the present invention seeks to alleviate the problem described above by providing a fire extinguisher which has a visual or oral indicator to allow the location fire extinguisher to be easily assessed in an emergency situation. Furthermore, as, by law, fire extinguishers must be located in the vicinity of a fire exit of a building, locating the position of the fire extinguishers will also aid the location of the fire exit.
• fire extinguisher is intended to embrace any apparatus capable of extinguishing fire, including a fire hose.
• a fire extinguisher comprising a cylindrical body, a handle and a pin, the extinguisher having at least one indicating device mounted thereon to provide a clear indication as to the location of the fire extinguisher.
• the indicating device provides a visual indication of the location of the fire extinguisher.
• the indication device comprises an audio indication, or a combination of visual and audio indication.
• the, or at least one indication device is an LED.
• the or each LED provides a colour that corresponds with a representative colour of the material contained within the extinguisher cylinder.
• the or one indication device is mounted on, or in the immediate vicinity of, the pin.
• an indication device is mounted either side of the pin.
• At least one indication device is mounted on a side surface of the extinguisher, preferably near the base thereof.
• the or each indication device is an LED that is preferably in a position whereupon light is transmitted from the LED to a person in the vicinity of the extinguisher without obstruction.
• the or each indication device is an LED mounted on a strip.
• the strip includes means to power the or each LED.
• the strip also, preferably, includes means to attach the strip to a fire extinguisher.
• the attachment means takes the form of a suitable adhesive, alternatively the attachment means may take the form of a male/female linking mechanism.
• a stand for a fire extinguisher having a surface not obstructed by the fire extinguisher located on the stand in use, the surface having at least one indicating device mounted thereon to provide a clear indication as to the location of the fire extinguisher stand.
• Figure 1 is a side view of a fire extinguisher constructed in accordance with the present invention.
• Figure 2 is a side view of a further embodiment of a fire extinguisher constructed in accordance with the present invention
• Figure 3 is a side view of a handle and pin of the fire extinguisher of Figure 1 or 2;
• Figure 4 is a view from the other side of the handle and pin of the fire extinguisher of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 is a plan view of an indicating device constructed in accordance with the present invention.
• Figure 6 is a side view of a stand constructed in accordance with the present invention.
• a fire extinguisher comprises a cylinder 10, a handle 12 and a pin 14.
• the handle 12 comprises two arms 16 which provide the activation means when the pin 14 is removed.
• a side surface of the cylinder 10 has a plurality of indicating devices in the form of LEDs 18 mounted thereon.
• a line of LEDs 18 extends around the entire circumference of the cylinder 10.
• the LEDs 18 may be individually mounted on the cylinder 10 or, alternatively, may be embedded within, or formed integral with, the outer surface of the cylinder 10.
• the LEDs 18 may be chosen to transmit the colour which is associated to the material contained within the cylinder 10 of the fire extinguisher. Consequently, a person is able to tell the type of each fire extinguisher, and therefore choose the correct extinguisher to be used in the circumstances, by the colour transmitted by the LEDs 18.
• the line of LEDs 18 is preferably located near the bottom of the cylinder 10, due to the fact that smoke rises and, as such, it is more likely that the LEDs 18 will be visible at low level. Moreover, the fact that the LEDs 18 are provided low to the floor means that at least part of a pathway directed towards the fire exit is illuminated and, as such is visible in a fire situation.
• the LEDs 18 could be located anywhere on the outer surface of the cylinder 10 provided that they are visible from a good distance away from the cylinder 10. Moreover, the LEDs 18 may not be formed in a line, as is shown in Figure 1, the LEDs 18 may instead be individually located at various positions on the cylinder 10 surface.
• the LEDs 18 are mounted on a strip 20 which is, in turn, mounted on the cylinder 10.
• the strip 10 may be mounted on the cylinder 10 using a suitable adhesive or, alternatively, may be mounted via a male/female link mechanism, such as that which is marketed under the name VELCRO ® .
• one member of the link mechanism is mounted on the cylinder 10 which then engages with the other link member incorporated on the strip 20 to mount the LEDs 18 on the cylinder 10.
• the strip 20 may be a solar strip to provide solar power to the LEDs 18 mounted on the strip 20.
• the strip 20 may additionally hold a battery (not shown) to power the LEDs 18.
• the battery has a life of approximately one year. As such, it would be possible to synchronise the life of the battery with the annual service of the fire extinguisher on which the strip 20 and LEDs 18 are mounted in such a way that a powerless LED 18 indicates that the fire extinguisher is due for its annual service.
• FIGS 3 and 4 show the "working end" of the fire extinguisher.
• an LED 22 is provided directly above the location of the pin 14 on each side of the handle 12.
• the LEDs 22 are incorporated on a strip 20 as described above such that the strip 20 extends across the top of the handle and down each side towards the area of the pin 14.
• the strip 20 may be mounted on the fire extinguisher in a way already described.
• the LEDs 22 are embedded into, or formed integral with the outer surface of the cylinder 10 in the locations shown in Figure 3 and 4.
• a further LED may also be located on the pin 14 itself.
• the location of the LEDs 22 provides illumination to the area of the pin 14, while also relecting light to the hand of a person attempting to locate the pin 14, thus allowing the pin 14 to be found easily and quickly in order to activate the fire extinguisher in an emergency.
• Figure 6 shows a stand 24 that can be used in conjunction with such a fire extinguisher. It will be appreciated that the stand 24 is only illustrated and described in a basic form and that the invention can be applied to any type of stand suitable for holding a fire extinguisher.
• the stand 24 has an LED 26 formed or mounted in a top portion.
• the LED 26 should be located in a position sufficiently high that the LED 26 is not obstructed from view when a fire extinguisher is placed on the stand 26 and held thereto at a connection point 28.
• the LED 26 may be chosen to transmit the colour which is associated to the material contained within the cylinder 10 of the fire extinguisher held on the stand 24.
• the LED 24 may be embedded into, or formed integral with the top of the stand 24 or may be mounted on a strip 20 as already described.
• LEDs 28 are mounted on , or formed within a base 30 of the stand 24.
• the low position of the LEDs 28 provides the same advantages associated with the low position of the LEDs 18 located on the fire extinguisher cylinder 10. Again, the LEDs 28 may be mounted on a strip 20 as already described. associated with the low position of the LEDs 18 located on the fire extinguisher cylinder 10. Again, the LEDs 28 may be mounted on a strip 20 as already described.
• the indication devices being LEDs, it is clearly envisaged that they could be any form of light emitting devices.
• the indication devices provide some sort of audio signal so aid location of the fire extinguisher, or its associated stand, on which the devices are mounted.
• the indicators could, for example be in the form of speakers or the like.
• the outputted audio signal may be transmitted in response to a sensed audio signal, such as a whistle.
• the stand 26 may incorporate the indication device which provides a visible or audible signal when the fire extinguisher 10 is removed from the stand 24, the signal ceasing when the extinguisher is placed back on the stand 24 to encourage users to store the fire extinguisher back in its intended position after use and to notify users when the extinguisher is missing from its intended stored location.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Fire-Extinguishing By Fire Departments, And Fire-Extinguishing Equipment And Control Thereof (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34575750

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2004
  • 2004-10-08 JP JP2006536153A patent/JP2007508885A/ja active Pending
  • 2004-10-08 WO PCT/GB2004/004325 patent/WO2005044385A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2004-10-08 EP EP04768856A patent/EP1713548A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-10-08 US US10/576,713 patent/US20070147038A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (6)

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