Fire extinguishers – Mount – cabinet or guard
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-15
2001-10-16
Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3752)
Fire extinguishers
Mount, cabinet or guard
C169S075000, C340S289000, C340S539230, C340S568300, C340S626000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302218
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to portable pressurized equipment, such as fire extinguishers, e.g. of the type for domestic, office or industrial use.
Portable fire extinguishers are provided for use in all manner of environments, typically situated in standby condition in an unobtrusive location selected for reasonably easy access in a fire emergency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, a portable fire extinguisher assembly comprises a fire extinguisher, a docking station, and a fire extinguisher assembly electronic circuit. The fire extinguisher comprises a tank defining a volume containing fire extinguishing material and further defining a tank outlet, and a valve assembly mounted at the tank outlet, the valve assembly comprising: a valve housing, a valve disposed relative to the tank outlet for metering release of the fire extinguishing material from the volume, a valve trigger mounted for movement of the valve between a first position for containing the fire extinguishing material within the volume and a second position for metering release of the first extinguishing material, and a fire extinguisher gauge disposed in communication with the volume for display of pressure condition of the fire extinguishing material within the volume. The docking station is mounted in the vicinity of and in communication with the fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher assembly electronic circuit is disposed in communication with the fire extinguisher and the docking station and adapted to issue a signal upon detection of predetermined conditions comprising at least one predetermined internal condition and at least one predetermined external condition. The predetermined internal condition may comprise a low pressure condition within the fire extinguisher tank, with the fire extinguisher assembly electronic circuit comprising a detector of the predetermined internal condition, the detector being adapted to actuate issue of a signal upon detection of the predetermined internal condition. The predetermined external condition may comprise a signal from an external electronic circuit, with the fire extinguisher assembly electronic circuit comprising a detector of the predetermined external condition, the detector being adapted to actuate issue of a signal upon detection of the predetermined external condition. The fire extinguisher assembly electronic circuit is further adapted to issue a signal to a remote station and to receive a signal from a remote station.
Preferred embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following additional features. The fire extinguisher electronic circuit comprises cooperative male and female electrical/communication connection elements defined by the fire extinguisher and the docking station. Preferably, the portable fire extinguisher assembly further comprises a bracket for mounting the fire extinguisher, e.g. to a surface, the bracket positioning the fire extinguisher relative to the docking station for mating engagement of the cooperative male and female electrical/communication connection elements. The fire extinguisher electronic circuit comprises an rf antenna and rf signal means and the signal comprises an rf signal. Preferably, the fire extinguisher electronic circuit also comprises an rf signal receiver for receiving the rf signal from the remote station. Alternatively, the fire extinguisher electronic circuit comprises an electronic signal means and the signal comprises an electronic signal. Preferably, the fire extinguisher electronic circuit also comprises an electronic signal receiver for receiving the electronic signal from the remote station source. The signal comprises a visual signal and the fire extinguisher assembly electronic circuit comprising an electroluminescent light panel mounted upon a gauge face surface of the fire extinguisher gauge and adapted to issue the visual signal by illumination of a region of the gauge face surface. The gauge comprises a gauge pointer and a gauge scale, the gauge pointer being moveable relative to the gauge scale for indication of pressure, and the fire extinguisher electronic circuit comprises the gauge pointer and a contact disposed in a region selected for interengagement of the contact and the gauge pointer as the tank approaches the predetermined low pressure condition. The predetermined internal condition may comprise a high pressure condition, with the fire extinguisher electronic circuit further comprising a contact disposed in a region selected for interengagement of the contact and the gauge pointer as the tank approaches a predetermined high pressure condition.
The predetermined external condition may comprise removal of the fire extinguisher from an external support bracket. The signal comprises an audio signal, e.g. a recorded instructional message. The predetermined external condition may comprise smoke, lack of light or lack of external power. The predetermined internal condition may comprise low battery power. The detector comprises a timer and the predetermined internal condition comprises lack of inspection reset.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment, and from the claims.
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Levenson Michael R.
McSheffrey Brendan T.
McSheffrey John J.
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Mija Industries, Inc.
Nguyen Dinh Q.
Scherbel David A.
LandOfFree
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