Receptacles – Closures – Closure members having alignable openings
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-08
2001-10-30
Newhouse, Nathan J. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Closure members having alignable openings
C220S265000, C220S266000, C222S153060, C128S206230
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308851
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to fire fighting safety equipment. More specifically, the invention relates to novel features on a filter container to indicate that the filter container has been opened and used.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Breathing masks are often worn by workers in hazardous environments. One type of such a mask extends only over a user's nose and mouth, and contains a charcoal filter through which the air being breathed passes. The filter removes particles and toxic gases from the air. However, use of this type of breathing apparatus is typically prohibited by most fire departments as being inadequate, unreliable or unsafe in many environments where fire and smoke are present.
Instead, fire fighters are commonly approved to use safer self-contained breathing equipment when entering burning buildings. Such equipment includes a tank of compressed air and a pressure regulator to supply air at a constant pressure that can be tolerated by the fire fighter. A hose connects the air regulator to a full-face mask that is worn over the fire fighter's face. The mask includes an outlet for air exhaled by the fire fighter and a transparent visor. When worn by the user, the mask not only provides a sealed volume of breathable air over the user's face, but also protects the fire fighter's eyes from the smoke. Self-contained breathing apparatus with a full-face mask typically is the only type of smoke inhalation prevention equipment that is authorized by a fire department.
The tank of the fire fighter's breathing equipment has a finite supply of air. Although warning mechanisms are provided to alert the fire fighter when the supply of air is running low, there always is the possibility that the fire fighter will not be able to exit the burning structure before the exhaustion of the air supply. There is also a possibility that a fire fighter may become trapped within a burning structure, due to structure collapse, for example. The fire fighter may become lost in a large smoke-filled area, such as a shopping mall. The fire fighter could also be injured or incapacitated in someway and rendered immobile. In these instances, the fire fighter can run out of breathable air and be in imminent danger of death. As a consequence, it is desirable to provide an alternative breathing apparatus that protects against smoke inhalation for use in such imminent life-threatening emergencies.
Although a charcoal filter-type mouth filter could be provided to fire fighters for emergency back-up to authorized self-contained breathing apparatus, fire department officials are often concerned that such masks will be used routinely in the normal course of fire fighting and not reserved for imminent death situations, and therefore prohibit their use outright. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a way of issuing back-up breathing devices to fire fighters in a manner which restricts their use to true emergency imminent death situations. It is also desirable to provide a mechanism by which fire fighters can quickly identify previous use and fire department officials can detect the unauthorized use of such emergency breathing devices.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a use-evidencing container for use in an emergency breathing situation which provides a clear indication that the apparatus has been used.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for storing the emergency device in a durable and moisture resistant manner for long term dormancy.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by the subject device which comprises two housing portions and two caps. The two housing portions define a chamber for surrounding an object such as a filter. The housing portions each define at least one opening which forms a first part of a fluid flow path between the chamber and outside of the housing. A cap closes the opening and has at least one cap hole which forms a second part of the fluid flow path when the opening and the at least one cap hole partially overlap one another. At least one cap connector rotatably connects the housing portions and the cap and enables the fluid flow path to be opened and closed by relative rotation of the housing portion and the cap. At least one single-use lock engages the housing portion and the cap and prevents the relative rotation. The lock holds the housing and the cap in a closed position in which the fluid flow path is closed. The fluid flow path is openable only by the relative rotation to an open position and the relative rotation being possible only upon an unlocking of the single-use lock. The single-use lock thereafter permanently evidences the unlocking.
The housing portions can be optionally formed separate from one another. In such a situation, the container further comprises a housing connector joining the first and second housing portions. The housing connector also prevents the first housing portion from rotating relative to the second housing. One embodiment of a housing connector is a circular lip positioned on the first housing portion and a circular recess positioned on the second housing portion. The circular recess is shaped to receive the circular lip and to prevent the circular lip from being removed from the circular recess.
One embodiment of a single-use is a pin extending from a housing portion and a pin receiver adapted to receive the pin positioned on a respective cap. Torque applied to the housing portion relative to the respective cap releases the single-use lock by breaking either the pin or the pin receiver. The breaking of the pin or the pin receiver prevents the single-use lock from being engaged and evidences releasing of the single-use lock.
The use-evident container can optionally include a conduit connector attached to a cap. The conduit connector is adapted for accepting a conduit. Also, the conduit can communicate with the chamber when the cap is rotated to be in the open position. The use-evident container can also optionally include a rotational stop. The rotational stop orients the housing portion and the respective cap in the open position after the lock is released. A center connector positioned substantially adjacent a center point of the housing portion and the respective cap can also be included. The center connector rotably connects the housing portion with the cap and prevents and helps to prevent fluid communication between the outside and the chamber.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4541541 (1985-09-01), Hickman et al.
patent: 4613063 (1986-09-01), Wright
patent: 4934361 (1990-06-01), Michel et al.
patent: 5303850 (1994-04-01), Connan
patent: 5449085 (1995-09-01), Brun, Jr.
patent: 5524616 (1996-06-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5562092 (1996-10-01), George
patent: 5964218 (1999-10-01), Smith et al.
Akerman & Senterfitt
Newhouse Nathan J.
SmokeSafe Corporation
LandOfFree
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