US3884307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fire extinguisher
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-11-12
•
Granted: 1975-05-20
•
Expires: 1993-11-12
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a fire extinguisher comprising a fire extinguishing substance located in a closed container. A small amount of explosive charge is employed primarily for opening the container wall in the presence of high temperatures to allow the fire extinguishing substance to pass out of the container. In the preferred embodiment, the wall has weakened portions selectively formed to facilitate rupturing to form an opening in the wall without fragmentation. The small amount of explosive charge is located in the container in close proximity to the wall in the vicinity of the weakened portions for rupturing the wall at the weakened portions to form an opening therethrough. In addition, a heat sensitive fuse or firetrain is provided for actuating the explosive charge in the presence of heat above an undesired level. In one embodiment, a secondary explosive charge is located in the fire extinguishing substance and spaced from the small amount of explosive charge and which is actuated by the fuse or firetrain after the small amount of explosive charge is actuated to force the fire extinguishing substance outward through the opening formed by the small amount of explosive charge. The fuse or firetrain comprises a metallic wire having a high thermal conductivity, a fast burning substance located around the wire, a confining cover comprising wires spirally wrapped around the fast burning substance, a nylon yarn counter wrapped, as added hoop compression, and a water-proof layer of highly flammable material deposited on and throughout the confining cover.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:49
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62C; A62C35/00; A62C35/02; A62C35/10; A62C3/00; A62C3/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A fire extinguisher comprising: a closed container, a fire extinguishing substance located in said container, force producing means located in close proximity to a given portion of the wall of said container for use primarily for opening only said given portion of said container wall when actuated, and heat sensitive means for actuating said force producing means in the presence of heat above an undesired level to form said opening to allow said fire extinguishing substance to pass out of said container, said heat sensitive means comprising: a metallic wire having a high thermal conductivity, a fast burning substance located around said wire, cover means wrapped around said substance to provide strength for said heat sensitive means and to hold said substance in place, and a water-proof layer of highly flammable material deposited on said cover means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A fire extinguisher comprising: a closed container, a fire extinguishing substance located in said container, force producing means located in close proximity to a given portion of the wall of said container for use primarily for opening only said given portion of said container wall when actuated, and heat sensitive means for actuating said force producing means in the presence of heat above an undesired level to form said opening to allow said fire extinguishing substance to pass out of said container, said heat sensitive means comprising: a metallic wire having a high thermal conductivity, a fast burning substance located around said wire, cover means wrapped around said substance to provide strength for said heat sensitive means and to hold said substance in place, and a water-proof layer of highly flammable material deposited on said cover means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The fire extinguisher of claim 1 comprising: means coupled to a top end of said container for hanging said container from a desired object, said force producing means being located at the bottom end of said container for forming said opening in the bottom of said container when actuated to allow said fire Extinguishing substance to fall out of said container through said opening, when formed, by the force of gravity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
The fire extinguisher of claim 2 wherein: the wall of said container has weakened portions selectively formed to facilitate rupturing to form an opening in said wall without fragmentation, said force producing means being located in close proximity to said weakened portions for rupturing said wall at said weakened portions to form an opening therethrough to allow said fire extinguishing material to pass out of said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
113 words
A fire extinguisher comprising: a closed container, a fire extinguishing substance located in said container, a small amount of explosive charge located only at a position outward from the center of said fire extinguishing substance in close proximity to the wall of said container for forming an opening in the container wall when exploded without forcing the bulk of said fire extinguishing substance out of said container, and heat sensitive means for actuating said explosive charge in the presence of heat above an undesired level to form said opening to allow said fire extinguishing substance to pass out of said container, said explosive charge being characterized as capable of developing brisance without confinement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
A fire extinguisher comprising: a closed container, a fire extinguishing substance located in said container, a small amount of explosive charge located only at a position outward from the center of said fire extinguishing substance in close proximity to the wall of said container for forming an opening in the container wall when exploded without forcing the bulk of said fire extinguishing substance out of said container, and heat sensitive means for actuating said explosive charge in the presence of heat above an undesired level to form said opening to allow said fire extinguishing substance to pass out of said container, said explosive charge being characterized as capable of developing brisance without confinement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The fire extinguisher of claim 4 comprising: means coupled to a top end of said container for hanging said container from a desired object, said explosive charge being located at the bottom end of said container for forming said opening in the bottom of said container when actuated to allow said fire extinguishing substance to fall out of said container through said opening, when formed, by the force of gravity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fire extinguisher of claim 4 wherein: said explosive charge is deposited on the wall of said container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fire extinguisher of claim 4 wherein: the interior zone of said fire extinguishing substance is free of explosive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
178 words
A fire extinguisher comprising: a closed container, a fire extinguishing substance located in said container, a small amount of explosive charge located in said container for use primarily for opening the container wall, said explosive charge being located in close proximity to a given portion of the wall of said container for forming an opening only through said given portion, heat sensitive means for actuating said small amount of explosive charge in the presence of heat above an undesired level to form said opening to allow said fire extinguishing substance to pass out of said container, and a secondary explosive charge located in said fire extinguishing substance and spaced from said small amount of explosive charge, said heat sensitive means extending from the exterior of said container to said small amount of explosive and to said secondary explosive charge to allow said small amount of explosive to be actuated initially to form an opening through said container and then to allow said secondary explosive charge to be actuated to force said fire extinguishing substance outward through said opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
178 words
A fire extinguisher comprising: a closed container, a fire extinguishing substance located in said container, a small amount of explosive charge located in said container for use primarily for opening the container wall, said explosive charge being located in close proximity to a given portion of the wall of said container for forming an opening only through said given portion, heat sensitive means for actuating said small amount of explosive charge in the presence of heat above an undesired level to form said opening to allow said fire extinguishing substance to pass out of said container, and a secondary explosive charge located in said fire extinguishing substance and spaced from said small amount of explosive charge, said heat sensitive means extending from the exterior of said container to said small amount of explosive and to said secondary explosive charge to allow said small amount of explosive to be actuated initially to form an opening through said container and then to allow said secondary explosive charge to be actuated to force said fire extinguishing substance outward through said opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fire extinguisher of claim 8 wherein said small amount of explosive is deposited on the interior of the wall of said container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
The fire extinguisher of claim 8 wherein: the wall of said container has weakened portions selectively formed to facilitate rupturing to form an opening in said wall without fragmentation, said small amount of explosive charge being located in close proximity to said weakened portions for rupturing said wall at said weakened portions to form an opening therethrough to allow said fire extinguishing material to pass out of said container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The fire extinguisher of claim 8 wherein said given portion of the wall of said container next to which said explosive charge is located is formed of a material capable of being disintegrated by said explosive charge when exploded to form said opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
A fire extInguisher comprising: a closed container, a fire extinguishing substance located in said container, a small amount of explosive charge located in said container in close proximity to the wall thereof for forming an opening in said container wall when exploded to allow said fire extinguishing material to pass out of said container, and heat sensitive means for actuating said explosive charge in the presence of heat above an undesired level, said explosive being characterized as a primary initiating explosive capable of developing brisance without confinement.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
A fire extInguisher comprising: a closed container, a fire extinguishing substance located in said container, a small amount of explosive charge located in said container in close proximity to the wall thereof for forming an opening in said container wall when exploded to allow said fire extinguishing material to pass out of said container, and heat sensitive means for actuating said explosive charge in the presence of heat above an undesired level, said explosive being characterized as a primary initiating explosive capable of developing brisance without confinement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fire extinguisher of claim 12 wherein said small amount of explosive is located only next to said wall and the interior zone of said fire extinguishing substance is free of explosive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fire extinguisher of claim 12 wherein said small amount of explosive is deposited on the interior of said wall.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
186 words
The fire extinguisher of claim 12 wherein said explosive charge is selected from the class consisting of mercury fulminate, lead azide, nitrosoguanidine, lead styphnate, double salts of lead styphnate as with nitroaminotetrazole, or with lead hypophosphite, or with lead propionate, lead picrate, or its double salts, lead dinitroresorcinate, diazodinitrophenol, tetracene, mono-basic lead dinitrobenzoate, di-basic lead dinitrobenzoate, double salt of lead trinitroresorcinate, basic salts of tetrazole and basic lead salts of nitrotetrazole, nitrotetrazole, salts of mercury nitrotetrazole, salts of silver nitrotetrazole, acid copper salt of C-nitrotetrazole, silver and mercury azides, or combinations of explosives such as picric acid and silver azide or diazodinitrophenol primed with lead azide alone or with the addition of lead styphnate or tetrazene or with diazodinitrophenol as the primary explosive, tetryl, the lead salts of picric acid and trinitroresorcinal, m-nitrophenyldiazonium perchlorate, nitrogen sulfide, copper acetylide, fulminating gold, the tartarates and oxalates of mercury and silver, fulminate of silver, cadmium azide, cuprous azide, thallium azide, cadmium fulminate, copper fulminate, thallium fulminate, sodium fulminate, potassium fulminate, cobalt azide, barium azide, calcium azide, strontium azide, nickel azide, manganese azide, lithium azide, mercurous azide, zinc azide, etc.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
88 words
The fire extinguisher of claim 12 comprising: a secondary explosive charge located in said fire extinguishing substance and spaced from said small amount of explosive charge, said heat sensitive means extends from the exterior of said container to said small amount of explosive and to said secondary explosive charge to allow said small amount of explosive to be actuated intially to form an opening through said container and then to allow said secondary explosive charge to be actuated to force said fire extinguishing substance outward through said opening.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
The fire extinguisher of claim 12 wherein: the wall of said container has weakened portions selectively formed to facilitate rupturing to form an opening in said wall without fragmentation, said small amount of explosive charge being located in close proximity of said weakened portions for rupturing said wall at said weakened portions to form an opening therethrough to allow said fire extinguishing material to pass out of said container.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
89 words
The fire extinguisher of claim 17 comprising: a secondary explosive charge located in said fire extinguishing substance and spaced from said small amount of explosive charge, said heat sensitive means extends from the exterior of said container to said small amount of explosive and to said secondary explosive charge to allow said small amount of explosive charge to be actuated initially to form an opening through said container and then to allow said secondary explosive charge to be actuated to force said fire extinguishing substance outward through said opening.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The heat sensitive means of claim 1 wherein said cover means comprises thin metaLlic wires.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
58 words
A heat sensitive fuse for igniting an explosive charge comprising: a metallic wire having a high thermal conductivity, a fast burning substance located around said wire, cover means wrapped around said substance to provide strength for said fuse and to hold said substance in place, and a water-proof layer of highly flammable material deposited on said cover means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
58 words
A heat sensitive fuse for igniting an explosive charge comprising: a metallic wire having a high thermal conductivity, a fast burning substance located around said wire, cover means wrapped around said substance to provide strength for said fuse and to hold said substance in place, and a water-proof layer of highly flammable material deposited on said cover means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fuse of claim 20 wherein said cover means comprises a wrapping of thin metallic wires.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The fuse of claim 21 wherein its end to be exposed to sense for undesired temperatures is cut at an angle relative to the axis thereof to form an end with a pointed tip and a relatively large surface area, said water-proof layer of highly flammable material being deposited on the cut end of said fuse.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
140 words
A fire extinguisher comprising: a closed container, a fire extinguishing substance located in said container, said container having a bottom end and a top end, a magnet coupled to said top end to allow said container to be attached in place to a metallic object to locate said bottom end in a downward direction, said bottom end having weakened portions selectively formed to facilitate rupturing to form an opening in said bottom end without fragmentation, a small amount of primary initiating explosive charge located in said container, only in the vicinity of said weakened portions for rupturing said bottom end at said weakened portions to form an opening therethrough to allow said fire extinguishing material to fall out of said container, and heat sensitive fuse means for igniting said explosive charge in the presence of heat above an undesired level.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
140 words
A fire extinguisher comprising: a closed container, a fire extinguishing substance located in said container, said container having a bottom end and a top end, a magnet coupled to said top end to allow said container to be attached in place to a metallic object to locate said bottom end in a downward direction, said bottom end having weakened portions selectively formed to facilitate rupturing to form an opening in said bottom end without fragmentation, a small amount of primary initiating explosive charge located in said container, only in the vicinity of said weakened portions for rupturing said bottom end at said weakened portions to form an opening therethrough to allow said fire extinguishing material to fall out of said container, and heat sensitive fuse means for igniting said explosive charge in the presence of heat above an undesired level.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fire extinguisher of claim 23 wherein said container is formed by a cup shaped member having a lid attached thereto by a double seam.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
121 words
A fire extinguisher comprising: a closed conatiner, a dry fire extinguishing substance located in said container, means coupled to said container for attaching said container to an object, at least a portion of the wall of said container comprising a layer of highly combustible material sandwiched between two layers of combustible material, and ignitable fuse means extending from the outside to said layer of highly combustible material for igniting said layer of highly combustible material and hence said two layers of combustible material in the presence of an undesired high temperature for rapidly removing at least a portion of the wall of said container from its confining position for allowing the passage of said fire extinguishing substance out of said container.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
121 words
A fire extinguisher comprising: a closed conatiner, a dry fire extinguishing substance located in said container, means coupled to said container for attaching said container to an object, at least a portion of the wall of said container comprising a layer of highly combustible material sandwiched between two layers of combustible material, and ignitable fuse means extending from the outside to said layer of highly combustible material for igniting said layer of highly combustible material and hence said two layers of combustible material in the presence of an undesired high temperature for rapidly removing at least a portion of the wall of said container from its confining position for allowing the passage of said fire extinguishing substance out of said container.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
76 words
A fire extinguisher comprising: a closed container, a dry fire extinguishing substance located in said container, means coupled to said container for attaching said container to an object, said fire extinguisher container wall being formed at least in part of an explosive material, said explosive material is sandwiched between two layers capable of being disintegrated when said explosive material is exploded, and fuse means for actuating said explosive material in the presence of undesirable high temperatures.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
76 words
A fire extinguisher comprising: a closed container, a dry fire extinguishing substance located in said container, means coupled to said container for attaching said container to an object, said fire extinguisher container wall being formed at least in part of an explosive material, said explosive material is sandwiched between two layers capable of being disintegrated when said explosive material is exploded, and fuse means for actuating said explosive material in the presence of undesirable high temperatures.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |