US4244426A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fire-fighting apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1979-04-12
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Granted: 1981-01-13
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Expires: 1999-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A fire-fighting apparatus particularly for homes comprising a cabinet having a door affording access to a water hose, operating valve and fire extinguisher in the cabinet. The cabinet is divided into three compartments, the first containing a fire hose, the second a valve assembly connected to the fire hose, and the third a chemical extinguisher. The compartment containing the valve assembly opens into the fire hose compartment to accomodate a connection between the fire hose and the valve assembly. A cover plate is hingedly mounted on the cabinet unit to overlie the valve assembly, and more particularly the operating handle thereof. A spring in the hinge urges the cover plate in a direction to uncover the handle; however, the cover plate has a portion extending between the fire hose and valve assembly compartments which is engageable by the fire hose when in its compartment to hold the cover plate in overlying relation to the handle. Thus, unless the fire hose is withdrawn from its compartment, the cover plate will overlie the handle and serve as a safeguard against operation of the handle while the fire hose is still in the compartment. An electrical switch is mounted on the valve assembly in operative association with the handle such that operation of the handle serves in activating the switch. The switch may be connected to any suitable alarm device, including a bell, siren, lights, automatic telephone-dialing system and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 George E. Kerr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:51
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62C; A62C35/00; A62C35/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
Fire-fighting apparatus comprising a cabinet unit provided with a bottom and sides, the front of said unit being open, said unit being adapted to be positioned with said bottom and open front arranged vertically, an access door hingedly mounted on one side and swingable to open and close said open front, said unit having therein at least two laterally adjacent compartments with a feed-through opening therebetween, a side of each compartment being a cabinet unit side, a water hose contained within one compartment and a manually operable water valve assembly disposed in the other, means for securing said valve assembly to said cabinet unit, said valve assembly having inlet and outlet sides, the outlet side being disposed adjacent said feed-through opening with one end of said hose being connected thereto, said valve assembly including an operating handle, a cover plate hingedly mounted on said cabinet unit to overlie said handle, spring means urging said cover plate in a direction to uncover said handle, and said cover plate having a portion within said feed-through opening which is engageable by said water hose when the latter is stored within said one compartment to hold said cover plate in position to overlie said handle, said securing means including a mounting bracket which partially surrounds said valve assembly and is secured to said bottom by means of threaded fasteners, said valve assembly including a valve body and having two arm portions which are secured to said bottom by means of said threaded fasteners.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
Fire-fighting apparatus comprising a cabinet unit provided with a bottom and sides, the front of said unit being open, said unit being adapted to be positioned with said bottom and open front arranged vertically, an access door hingedly mounted on one side and swingable to open and close said open front, said unit having therein at least two laterally adjacent compartments with a feed-through opening therebetween, a side of each compartment being a cabinet unit side, a water hose contained within one compartment and a manually operable water valve assembly disposed in the other, means for securing said valve assembly to said cabinet unit, said valve assembly having inlet and outlet sides, the outlet side being disposed adjacent said feed-through opening with one end of said hose being connected thereto, said valve assembly including an operating handle, a cover plate hingedly mounted on said cabinet unit to overlie said handle, spring means urging said cover plate in a direction to uncover said handle, and said cover plate having a portion within said feed-through opening which is engageable by said water hose when the latter is stored within said one compartment to hold said cover plate in position to overlie said handle, said securing means including a mounting bracket which partially surrounds said valve assembly and is secured to said bottom by means of threaded fasteners, said valve assembly including a valve body and having two arm portions which are secured to said bottom by means of said threaded fasteners.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including an electrical switch having a switching arm, said switch being mounted on said valve assembly, a portion of said handle being engageable with said switching arm for activating said switch when said handle is moved between opened and closed positions, means for securely fastening said switch to said bracket, and means on said handle engageable with said switching arm for activating said switch when said handle is moved between opened and closed positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said fastening means includes two upstanding tabs on said bracket which are received through two openings in said switch and then bent over thereby fastening said switch to said bracket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said handle means includes a projection on one end thereof, said handle being pivotally mounted between its ends onto said valve body, said projection being engageable with said switch arm to actuate said switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
124 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the exterior of said valve body has hexagonally shaped portions on opposite sides of said handle, a second clamp like the first clamped on said valve body and secured to said bottom, both said clamps being clamped about the hexagonal portions of said valve body and having shapes complementing the same, said switch being fastened to one of said brackets with the switching arm thereof extending into the region between said brackets, said bracket arms of each bracket having a threaded fastener extending therethrough for clamping the bracket onto said valve body, the distal end portions of said arms being flared outwardly to lie flat against said bottom, and said threaded fasteners extending through said distal end portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cover plate is L-shaped with one end hingedly mounted onto said bottom, said spring means includes a spring hinge, one leg portion of said cover plate extending perpendicular to said bottom when the other leg is disposed in overlying relation to said handle, said one leg portion closing only that portion of said feed-through opening which is to one side of the connection between said hose and outlet side such that said cover plate does not interfere therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cabinet unit has a third compartment adjoining the other two compartments, said other compartment being disposed between said third compartment and said one side of said cabinet unit, said valve assembly being an elongated unit with said inlet and outlet sides at the opposite ends thereof, and said valve assembly extending parallel to said one side first mentioned of said cabinet unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
180 words
Fire-fighting apparatus comprising a cabinet unit provided with a bottom and sides, the front of said unit being open, said unit being adapted to be positioned with said bottom and front arranged vertically, an access door hingedly mounted on one side and swingable to open and close said front, said unit having therein at least two laterally adjacent compartments with a feed-through opening therebetween, a water hose contained within one compartment and a manually operable valve assembly disposed in the other, at least one bracket firmly clamped onto said valve assembly and secured to said bottom for mounting said valve assembly on said cabinet unit, an electrical switch having a switch-activating portion secured to said bracket, said valve assembly including an operating handle engageable with said switch-activating portion for actuating said switch when said handle is moved between opened and closed positions, said switch being secured to said bracket by means of two upstanding tabs thereon which are received through two openings, respectively, in said switch, said tabs being bent over onto said switch for clamping it onto said bracket.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
180 words
Fire-fighting apparatus comprising a cabinet unit provided with a bottom and sides, the front of said unit being open, said unit being adapted to be positioned with said bottom and front arranged vertically, an access door hingedly mounted on one side and swingable to open and close said front, said unit having therein at least two laterally adjacent compartments with a feed-through opening therebetween, a water hose contained within one compartment and a manually operable valve assembly disposed in the other, at least one bracket firmly clamped onto said valve assembly and secured to said bottom for mounting said valve assembly on said cabinet unit, an electrical switch having a switch-activating portion secured to said bracket, said valve assembly including an operating handle engageable with said switch-activating portion for actuating said switch when said handle is moved between opened and closed positions, said switch being secured to said bracket by means of two upstanding tabs thereon which are received through two openings, respectively, in said switch, said tabs being bent over onto said switch for clamping it onto said bracket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said valve assembly includes a valve body provided with hexagonally shaped portions on opposite sides of said handle, said handle being pivotally mounted on said valve body, a second clamp like the first clamped on said valve body and secured to said bottom, both said clamps being clamped about the hexagonal portions of said valve body and having shapes complementing the same, said switch-actuating portion including a switching arm extending into the region between said brackets, and said handle having a portion thereon engageable with said switching arm for actuating said switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
221 words
Fire-fighting apparatus comprising a cabinet unit provided with a bottom and sides, the front of said unit being open, said unit being adapted to be positioned with said bottom and front arranged vertically, an access door mounted on one side and movable to open and close said open front, said unit having therein at least two laterally adjacent compartments, a water hose contained within one compartment and a manually operable valve assembly fixedly disposed in the other, said valve assembly and said hose being connected, said valve assembly having a manually operable handle, an electrical switch device having a switch-activating portion operatively associated with the handle of said valve assembly whereby operating said handle serves in actuating said switch device, a guard operatively mounted on said cabinet unit for movement between first and second positions, said guard in said first position being juxtaposed with respect to said handle to preclude manual operation thereof, said guard further in said first position exposing said switch device for manual access thereto, said guard in said second position being spaced from said handle to provide manual access thereto, and means for holding said guard in said first position when said hose is contained within said one compartment and for moving said guard to said second position when said hose is withdrawn from said one compartment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
221 words
Fire-fighting apparatus comprising a cabinet unit provided with a bottom and sides, the front of said unit being open, said unit being adapted to be positioned with said bottom and front arranged vertically, an access door mounted on one side and movable to open and close said open front, said unit having therein at least two laterally adjacent compartments, a water hose contained within one compartment and a manually operable valve assembly fixedly disposed in the other, said valve assembly and said hose being connected, said valve assembly having a manually operable handle, an electrical switch device having a switch-activating portion operatively associated with the handle of said valve assembly whereby operating said handle serves in actuating said switch device, a guard operatively mounted on said cabinet unit for movement between first and second positions, said guard in said first position being juxtaposed with respect to said handle to preclude manual operation thereof, said guard further in said first position exposing said switch device for manual access thereto, said guard in said second position being spaced from said handle to provide manual access thereto, and means for holding said guard in said first position when said hose is contained within said one compartment and for moving said guard to said second position when said hose is withdrawn from said one compartment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said guard is in the form of a cover which overlies said handle in said first position; said means including a hinge mounting said cover onto said cabinet unit and spring means for yieldably urging said cover from said first to said second position, and said hose when contained within said one compartment being engageable with said cover to hold the latter in its first position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said switch device is exposed for manual access in both positions of said cover, said switch device being fixedly secured relative to said valve assembly, said handle having a portion operatively engageable with said switch-activating portion for actuating said switch device when said handle is moved to valve-opening position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said cover is L-shaped with one leg portion overlying said handle when in said first position and with the other leg portion being hingedly connected to said cabinet unit, said hose being engageable with said other leg portion while within said one compartment to hold said cover in said first osition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-13 | 1984-07-14 | 1985-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-13 | 1988-07-14 | 1989-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-13 | 1992-07-14 | 1993-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |