The present invention relates to improvements in water hoses and the like, particularly so called smoke diver hoses. The invention has been created in connection with smoke diver hoses and therefore, for simplicity, it will be disclosed below with reference to such hoses, however without being restricted to exactly such hoses.

A principal object of the invention has been to pro¬ vide a smoke diver hose which is able to afford an in¬ creased security to the smoke diver.

A second, but nonetheless important object of the invention has been to provide an identification possibi¬ lity with smoke divers hoses, either with respect to cer¬ tain quality properties or with respect to propriarity etc.

A further object of the invention has been to provide a support or storing means for smoke diver hoses, which support or storing means is deviced in a special manner to permit a rational utilization of smoke diver hoses accord¬ ing to the invention.

To the above recited ends a smoke diver hose accord¬ ing to the invention has been provided, which hose has marking or indication of luminous material, preferably a luminous paint, running essentially continuously longitu¬ dinally of the hose.

According to the invention it is preferred that the marking takes the shape of threads which are vowen into the hose material and which are colored by a luminous paint.

The marking make take the shape of individual points of luminous paint which are closely spaced longitudinally of the hose, if desired combined with straight or screw line shaped mark lines on the outer surface of the hose.

A support or storing means for smoke diver hoses according to the invention is preferably deviced to com¬ prise a hose basket with at least one light permeable wall and at least some means for separating the hose turns in such a manner that the hose becomes accessible for

activation of the luminous paint by means of light.

According to the invention it may be feasible to complete the device for storing of the smoke diver hose with means for automatic switch on of the activating light source with the switching on of the ignition system of the fire-fighting vehicle.

The invention will be disclosed in more details with reference had to the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a storing means, picked as an example, in the shape of a hose basket 10, in which a smoke diver hose according to the invention, gene¬ rally denoted 11, is stored in rest position. As is usual the hose has suitable couplings 12 at the ends thereof.

In the example shown the hose basket 10 comprises end walls 13, 14 and a bottom wall 15 of suitable aluminum profiles, and a cover 17 with a handle secured to one end wall 14 by means of a hinge 16. In the example the side walls 18, 19 of the hose basket consist of plexiglass or any similar material which is well light permeable. The hose lies in folds or vawes within the hose basket, and between the folds of vawes there are disposed a plurality of intermediate plates 20 which may be threaded on to a supporting bar 21. Preferably, according to the invention, also these intermediate plates 20 consist of plexiglass or any other similar material which is well light permeable.

According to the invention the hose basket 10 is adapted to be placed in a suitable hose box in a material space within the fire-fighting vehicle, if desired to¬ gether with one or more similar hose baskets. ithin the hose box there are disposed, close to the respective posi¬ tion of the hose basket or baskets, one or more light sources 22, which are adapted to throw light on the hose or hoses for an adequate period of time before each occa¬ sion of use.

As is shown in fig. 2 the hose 11 picked as an ex¬ ample is proved with a pattern of threads 23, which e.g. may be vowen in, and which are coloured by a so called luminous material, or which is provided with markings 24 which may be painted on or put on in any other way, e.g.

in the shape of points, small rectangles or the like, o combinations of lines and dots in any desired pattern. I is essential, according to the invention, that the mark or indications that have been put on in one or anothe manner, consists of or comprise a luminous print in one o more colours, preferably yellow-green and/or red, whic colours, after activation thereof, have been found to b particularly well visible in dark and smoky air.

It should be mentioned here with respect to the pain that, according to the invention, it is a question of paint which following an activation in light for a compa ratively short period of time - such of the order of dow to only a few tenths of seconds - and accumulation of th light energy posses the ability to emit for a comparati vely long period of time, e.g. 15 - 30 minutes, an often times surprisingly strong light which is well visible an thus may act as a lead-light. In this respect the luminou paint differs from the so called fluorescent materials, the light emission of which is comparatively bad per s and ceases completely after a rather short period of time, such as of the order of a few seconds.

The light source 22 may comprise e.g. an ordinar electric glow bulb or a fluorescent tube and the powe supply could ge either direct or through a transformer from the ordinary electric net of the fire-fighting vehic¬ le, or alternatively from the suitable accumulator. Fur¬ ther, the light source may be switched on either perma¬ nently with the switching on of the vehicle ignition sys¬ tem, or may it have a separate switch.

In use the hose basket with the luminous hose is placed in its hose box in the material space of the fire- fighting vehicle. The light source 22 is switched on with the switching on of the fire-fighting vehicle, or is it swithched on by means of its separate switch. Hereby the luminous hose becomes activated rather quickly. When the smoke divers are about to enter they grip the hose basket 10 with the luminous hose 11, which is coupled to the pump of the fire-fighting vehicle, whereupon the divers may advance into the building.

It will be realized that the some diver hose accord¬ ing to the invention increases the personal safety in that the smoke divers, in a hazardous moment, such as when all is in flames, on collapse of a building etc. , may quickly follow the luminous hose to get out. Similarly, if need arises to rescue the smoke divers, one may easily follow the way they have taken into a building, viz. by following the luminous hose.

A secondary advantage which is achieved by the smoke diver hose according to the invention is that the luminous marking may be used to identify the hose, such that a certain marking corresponds to e.g. a predtermined pres¬ sure class, length, dimension etc., and so that a certain marking defines the propriarity of the hose.

A plurality of modifications and alterations as to details may be carried out within the scope of the inven¬ tion.