Fluid handling – With casing – support – protector or static constructional... – With hose storage or retrieval means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-10
2001-02-13
Chambers, A. Michael (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
With casing, support, protector or static constructional...
With hose storage or retrieval means
C137S355120, C137S355200, C137S355280, C137S899000, C137S351000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186166
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of firefighting devices and, more particularly, to a hose dispenser for a fire apparatus such as a fire truck.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Connecting a fire hose between a fire truck and a water hydrant has traditionally been a time consuming and hazardous evolution. With early firefighting devices, a firefighter would typically ride on the rear deck of a moving fire apparatus, such as a truck or wagon, until a fire hydrant was located. The apparatus would stop and the firefighter would jump from the apparatus clutching one end of a folded two and one-half inch diameter hose. After wrapping the hose several times around the hydrant, the firefighter would jump back onto the apparatus. As the apparatus resumed its forward motion toward the fire, the hose in the bed of the apparatus would unroll. The entire process was moderately expedient, provided the firefighter was not injured by fire related hazards, slippery surfaces or adverse weather.
However, due to changes in equipment, coupled with health and safety concerns, the traditional method of paying hose from a fire truck became less efficient. First, both the diameter and length of supply hoses have increased, making the hoses heavier and harder to handle. Second, longer, thicker hoses occupied more space, forcing the hoses to be stacked higher on the fire truck. Lastly, federal and state safety regulations required firefighters, wearing full protective gear, to travel inside of a fire truck's passenger compartment. This combination of changes resulted in the modern method of paying hose. In the modern method, the fire truck is stopped next to an available hydrant. A fully-equipped firefighter jumps out of the fire truck's passenger compartment, runs the length of the truck to the end of the truck bed, leaps up onto the truck's rear deck, physically grabs an end of a hose located at eye level, pulls the hose away from the truck without losing his balance and falling backwards off of the rear deck, jumps from the rear deck to the ground, runs to a fire hydrant, wraps several turns of the hose around the hydrant, runs back to the truck, and steps back up into the truck's passenger compartment. Once the fireman is inside, the truck restarts and continues toward the fire. This modern method is relatively time consuming and tiring for the firefighter, who must do all of these procedures wearing full protective gear. Valuable time is wasted which could be better spent in actually fighting the fire.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Ideally, firefighters should be able to pay hose without having to leave the safety of the fire truck. To help solve this problem, the present invention is directed toward an automatic supply hose dispensing system, generally including an ejection mount and a hose box releasably attached to the ejection mount. A supply hose may be positioned adjacent to and connectable with the hose box. The present invention allows a firefighter to release a supply hose from a fire truck without requiring the firefighter to leave the fire truck passenger compartment. In addition to saving valuable lifesaving time, the present invention also enhances a firefighter's physical safety. Additionally, the present invention alerts passing motorists and pedestrians of the possibility of unwound hose during darkness, fog or other inclement conditions.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a means of discharging a supply hose segment, or similar equipment, without requiring firefighters to leave the fire truck's passenger compartment.
Another object of the invention is to decrease the amount of time needed to pay hose.
A further objective is to produce a hose paying system which alerts drivers to the exposed hose.
These and other advantages of the present invention will be clarified in the description of the preferred embodiments taken together with the attached drawings in which like reference numerals represent like elements throughout.
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Chambers A. Michael
McShane Thomas L.
Myers Quick Drop, Inc.
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
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