SELF SERVICING FIRE EXTINGUISHER WITH INTERNAL MIXING AND EXTERNAL

C0 ₂ CHAMBER

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[Para 1] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Utility Application 12/851 ,169 filed August 8, 2011 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [Para 2] Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT [Para 3] Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC [Para 4] Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[Para 5] Field of the Invention:

[Para 6] This invention relates to improvements in portable fire extinguishers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fire extinguisher that allows for external mixing, fluffing, actuating or stirring of the powder within the chamber to provide anti- bridging of the powder to keep it in a liquefied state, a larger opening in the chamber to allow easier filling of the chamber and a CO2 canister that is located external to the extinguisher chamber.

[Para 7] Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1 .97 and 1 .98:

[Para 8] Most portable fire extinguishers are of a similar design where the fire

extinguishing powder is contained in a pressurized chamber. Fire extinguishers of this type require scheduled maintenance because the powder within the chamber can settle and cake preventing it from being dispensed when needed. The pressure within the chamber may also leak over time and be insufficient to propel the powder out of the dispensing nozzle. A further limitation, based upon this design is due to the pressurized condition of the chamber, powder is placed into the chamber in a small opening in the top of the

extinguisher. This scheduled maintenance allow moisture intrusion causing caking.

Current extinguishers can only be service by trained certified technicians, and the

certification is issued by the fire marshal for each state.

[Para 9] Current extinguishers are open to wear and tear because of the constant pressure and tear down process. When serviced they are fires into a recycling chamber and all the parts must be disassembled and cleaned. All the pressure rings must be replaced and every part must them be re-assembled with new powder being placed within the chamber prior to pressurizing the chamber. The servicing of current fire extinguishers often creates more wear and tear on the fire extinguisher than when it is used to extinguish a fire.

[Para 10] U.S. Patent Number 6, 1 89,624 issued to James on February 20, 2001 and Japan Patent Number JP 9,225 ,056 issued to Yamazaki Tomoki on September 2 , 1 997 discloses fire extinguishing mechanisms where the chamber is not continuously pressurized, and the pressurized chamber is a separate entity integrated within the chamber. While these patents disclose a separate pressurized canister, the canister is not located in a position that is easy to service, replace, or inspect. This minimizes the ability determine the charge level of the CO2 cartridge.

[Para 1 1 ] U.S. Patent Number 2 , 541 ,554 issued to C H Smith on February 1 3 1 951 and Russian Patent Number RU 2,209, 1 01 issued to Glavatski G. D. Et Al. November 2, 2002 discloses a fire extinguisher with external CO2 gas cartridge. In the case US ' 554 the CO2 gas cartridge sits on top of the fire extinguisher chamber and is not integrated within the handle of the fire extinguisher. In the case of RU Ί 01 the CO2 gas cartridge is external to the extinguisher and is connected to the extinguisher with a pipe or hose. While both of these patents disclose a CO2 cartridge that is external to the chamber, neither of them is placed in the handle to allow a configuration of the fire extinguisher that is simple to inspect and replace.

[Para 1 2] Due to the pressurized condition that exists with pressurized fire extinguishers, the opening where powder is placed into the extinguisher is limited due to the structural requirement to maintain pressure within the chamber at all times. The proposed

application eliminates this need by providing an external CO2 gas cartridge, thus allowing the chamber to exist in a normally un-pressurized condition. Because the chamber is not under pressure the top opening of the extinguisher can be enlarged to allow easier filling of the fire extinguisher with powder, or checking the amount and or condition of the powder within the chamber.

[Para 1 3] What is needed is a fire extinguisher with an external gas cartridge where the gas cartridge is located in the handle, a fluffer is accessible from outside the chamber, and the chamber has an enlarged top opening for filling the extinguisher. The proposed fire extinguisher provides this solution by providing a fire extinguisher with an external gas cartridge, external fluffer and large opening.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[Para 14] It is an object of the fire extinguisher to eliminate the need for service personnel to enter secure areas. The extinguisher can have a higher level of service. Can be operated automatically "self-service" and or manually services by the owner or end user. This eliminates the need for non-employees to enter the privacy of business and

government areas. This extinguisher can be operated, maintained, refilled and charged with no special training or equipment allowing for anyone who purchases it to have it function like any of the office equipment that is available to day like a copier, printer or water cooler. The proposed fire extinguisher is not required to be broken down when it has been fired.

[Para 1 5] The reduced outside servicing and maintenance of the fire extinguisher is ideal for placement of the fire extinguisher to be placement in secure areas. This will reduce or eliminate the possibility that a terrorist could utilize the fire extinguisher as a weapon, or use false identity as an extinguisher service person to gain access to a secure area.

[Para 16] It is an object of the fire extinguisher to provide a fire extinguisher with an external gas canister. The external canister allows the chamber to exist at or near ambient pressure that reduces the need to utilize a high strength chamber. The standard CO2 cartridge that is used in other applications can be easily adapted to operate with the fire extinguisher. Since the CO2 cartridge is external to the chamber it can be easily replaced or swapped without replacing the entire fire extinguisher. This provides a tremendous benefit when a large number of fire extinguishers need to be service at one time. The replaceable CO2 cartridge can also be supplied with a replaceable seal rupturing device that ensures the rupturing device is sharp with each replaceable CO2 cartridge. [Para 1 7] It is another object of the fire extinguisher to provide a fire extinguisher with an externally accessible fluffing mechanism. The externally accessible fluffing mechanism promotes anti-bridging of the powder within the chamber to keep it fluffed, agitated, stirred or disturbed to prevent caking of the powder and keep the powder in a liquefied state so it is easier to spray the powder onto a fire. The fluffing is accomplished with paddles, flapper, chains rods or other mixing mechanisms located within the chamber.

[Para 1 8] It is an object of the fire extinguisher to provide a fire extinguisher that can be quickly opened and closed using a variety of quick opening and closing mechanisms. Often the fire extinguishing media can embed in the threads of the fire extinguisher and make unscrewing difficult. Sliding, locking, bayonet and other forms of securing the top to the bottom housing minimize or eliminate this problem.

[Para 1 9] It is still another object of the fire extinguisher to provide a fire extinguisher with an enlarged filling opening. The enlarged filling opening makes it easier and faster to fill and or empty the chamber. The top can also be easily removed to visually inspect the condition of the powder within the chamber.

[Para 20] It is still another object of the fire extinguisher to provide a fire extinguisher with tapered side walls. The tapered side walls allows the fire extinguishing media to loose when the fire extinguisher is inverted thereby allowing the fire extinguishing media to expand into the tapered portion of the fire extinguisher. The tapered sides and or the ends of the fire extinguisher may further have fingers or other features that break-up the fire extinguishing media when the extinguisher is rotated or inverted.

[Para 21 ] It is still another object of the fire extinguisher to provide have a quick opening and closing top housing thereby allowing a user to quickly open and refill the fire

extinguisher. This also allows a fire fighter the load the desired fire extinguishing media based upon the type of fire. [Para 22] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention wi ll become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodi ments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like nu merals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[Para 23] Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the improved fire extinguisher.

[Para 24] Figure 2 shows a side sectional view of the fire extinguisher with tapered sides showing the fire extinguishing powder within the chamber.

[Para 25] Figure 3 shows a side sectional view of an inverted fire extinguisher with tapered sides showing the fire extinguishing powder within the chamber.

[Para 26] Figures 4A -4C show movement of the fire suppressing media within the tapered walls of the chamber as the chamber is rotated.

[Para 27] Figure 5 shows a second preferred embodiment of a securing mechanism of the top to the chamber.

[Para 28] Figure 6 shows a third preferred embodiment of a securing mechanism of the top to the chamber.

[Para 29] Figure 7 shows the third preferred embodiment of a securing mechanism of the top to the chamber with the top removed.

[Para 30] Figure 8 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of a securing mechanism of the top to the chamber.

[Para 31 ] Figure 9A and 9B shows detailed views of the embodiment shown in figure 1 3.

[Para 32] Figure 1 0 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of a securing mechanism of the top to the chamber. [Para 33] Figure 1 1 A and 1 1 B shows detailed views of the embodiment shown in figure 1 5.

[Para 34] Figure 1 2 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of a securing mechanism of the top to the chamber.

[Para 35] Figure 1 3A and 1 3 B shows detailed views of the embodiment shown in figure 1 7.

[Para 36] Figure 1 4 shows a second preferred embodiment of the connection of the pressurized gas canister and the fire extinguisher.

[Para 37] Figure 1 5 shows a third preferred embodiment of the connection of the pressurized gas canister and the fire extinguisher.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[Para 38] Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the improved fire extinguisher 1 0. The chamber 20 is substantially a cylindrical shape with a bottom and a top. In the preferred embodiment the chamber is made from a lightweight resilient material such as plastic, but the chamber could also be made of steel, brass, copper or aluminum. On the top of the chamber the fire extinguishing dispensing apparatus is provided. The top is screwed onto the chamber, but it could also be attached with a bayonet or latching mechanism. The lid fits on top of an enlarged opening 70 on the chamber to allow easier filling of the chamber 20 with fire retardant materials. A wall hanging mechanism can be incorporated into the top of the extinguisher, wrap around the body of the cylinder or fork the top of the extinguisher. A handle 40 allows the operator to hold the extinguisher in an upright orientation when it is being used. The fire extinguisher can also be stored and or transported in the upright orientation, but the upright orientation is not critical for the storage or operation of the extinguisher. Within the handle 40 a pressurized gas canister 50 is located. While in the preferred embodiment the pressurized gas canister is shown within the handle other locations such as within the top of the extinguisher or adjacent to the hose are contemplated.

[Para 39] The canister 50 consists essentially of a compressed gas cartridge, but canisters of different types of gas are possible that do not promote spreading of the fire. Because the gas within the canister is under high pressure or in a liquid state, a small canister of gas is required to expel the contents of the chamber 20. It is also contemplated that multiple gas canisters can be placed within the handle to accommodate a larger fire extinguisher without deviating from the inventive nature of the design. Gas canisters are available from a variety of sources and can be replaced or serviced without the need to service the entire fire extinguisher. The handle 40 provides some protection to the canister in the event the fire extinguisher is dropped or roughly handled. A trigger mechanism 60 opens the gas canister to pressurize the chamber and expel the fire extinguishing media into and out of the exit port or application nozzle 90. A control valve 91 opens and closes the exit port to prevent fire extinguishing powder from pouring out of the extinguisher when the trigger 60 is no longer being depressed. The path from the gas canister 50 to the application nozzle 90 is best shown and described in figure 2.

[Para 40] Figure 2 shows a side sectional view of the fire extinguisher with tapered sides showing the fire extinguishing powder within the chamber. Figure 3 shows a side sectional view of an inverted fire extinguisher with tapered sides showing the fire extinguishing powder within the chamber and figures 4A -4C show movement of the fire suppressing media within the tapered walls of the chamber as the chamber is rotated. The tapered side walls 20 allows the fire extinguishing media 25 to loose when the fire extinguisher is inverted thereby allowing the fire extinguishing media to expand into the tapered portion of the fire extinguisher. The tapered sides and or the ends of the fire extinguisher may further have finger or blades 1 30, 1 31 or other features that break-up the fire extinguishing media when the extinguisher is rotated or inverted as shown in figures 4A, 4B and 4C.

[Para 41 ] Figure 5 shows a second preferred embodiment of a securing mechanism of the top to the chamber. The securing mechanism has ears 1 43 that exist on the lower chamber 20. The top housing 30 has an anchor 1 40 with a hasp 1 42 having an engaging strap 1 41 that engages in the ears 1 43. When the hasp 1 42 is engaged in the ears 1 43 , the straps are pulled to lock the top housing 30 onto the chamber 20. While the figure shows two locking hasps it is contemplated that more than two can be utilized.

[Para 42] Figure 6 shows a third preferred embodiment of a securing mechanism of the top to the chamber and figure 7 shows the third preferred embodiment of a securing mechanism of the top to the chamber with the top removed. This embodiment uses a series of ball bearings 1 53 that lock into a series of holes 1 52. A ring 1 54 is rotated or lifted with ears 1 50 or by manual manipulation to unlock the ball bearings 1 53 from the holes 1 52. A lip 1 51 seats and seals the top 20 to the bottom 30 housing.

[Para 43] Figure 8 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of a securing mechanism of the top to the chamber and figures 9A and 9B shows detailed views of the embodiment shown in figure 8. In this embodiment the top housing 30 slides across the bottom housing 20. The top housing 30 has opposing lips 1 60 that engage onto a ridge 1 61 in the lower housing to lock the top housing 30 onto the bottom housing 20 when they are slid horizontally together.

[Para 44] Figure 1 0 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of a securing mechanism of the top to the chamber and figures 1 1 A and 1 1 B shows detailed views of the embodiment shown in figure 1 0. In this embodiment the top housing 30 has a tab 1 70 where each tab 1 70 has a tapered front edge 1 72 with a wider back edge 1 73. The tab 1 70 drops into mating holes 1 71 located in the bottom housing 20. The tapered tab 1 70 pulls the top housing 30 down into the bottom housing 20.

[Para 45] Figure 1 2 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of a securing mechanism of the top to the chamber and figures 1 3A and 1 3B shows detailed views of the embodiment shown in figure 1 2. In this embodiment the top housing 30 has a tab 1 80 where each tab 1 80 has a tapered front edge 1 82 with a wider back edge 1 83. The tab 1 80 engage with mating tabs 1 81 located in the bottom housing 20. The mating tabs 1 81 located in the bottom housing also are tapered. The tapered tab 1 80 pulls the top housing 30 down into the bottom housing 20.

[Para 46] Figure 1 4 shows a second preferred embodiment of the connection of the pressurized gas canister and the fire extinguisher and figure 1 5 shows a third preferred embodiment of the connection of the pressurized gas canister and the fire extinguisher. In these figures the replaceable CO2 cartridge 50 is supplied with a replaceable seal rupturing device that ensures the rupturing device is sharp with each replaceable CO2 cartridge 50. The replaceable seal rupturing device is secured to the top of the replaceable CO2 cartridge 50 using threads 52 or other mechanism that secures the replaceable CO2 cartridge 50 to the replaceable seal rupturing device. The seal rupturing device is secured into the fire extinguisher with threads 1 92 as shown in figure 1 5 , with engaging ears 1 93 as shown in figure 1 4 or by other means that holds the replaceable CO2 cartridge 50 within the fire extinguisher.

[Para 47] The replaceable seal rupturing device has a pin 1 90 that ruptu res the seal on the replaceable CO2 cartridge 50. In the preferred embodiment the pin is hollow to allow the pressurized gas to pass through the pin 1 90.The opposing side of the pin 1 90 has a plurality of vent holes 1 91 that allows the gas within the cartridge to vent into the fire extinguisher. A spring 1 94 keeps the point of the pin 1 90 away from the seal and also lifts the pin 1 90 out of the hole that is made when the cartridge is ruptured.

[Para 48] Thus, specific embodiments of an improved fire extinguisher have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.