End cap for fire extinguishing stick

Abstract

We provide end caps for fire extinguishing sticks equipped with a lighting function to assist in evacuation and firefighting operations in dark places. [Solution] The end cap 60 for the fire extinguishing stick comprises an end cap body 9 that is detachably attached to the hollow cylindrical part of the handle of the fire extinguishing stick, and a lighting unit 66 provided on the end cap body 9. The lighting unit 66 is provided on the opposite side in the axial direction from the tip of the end cap body 9. The lighting unit 66 has a lighting housing 67, one or more LEDs 69 held inside the lighting housing 67, and a battery 68 that supplies power to the LEDs 69. The user can first turn on the lighting unit 66 of the end cap 60 to grasp the surrounding situation and then evacuate or perform fire extinguishing work.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an end cap used for a fire extinguisher stick.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a general powder fire extinguisher provided with an LED.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which an LED is provided near a lock pin that fixes the lever of a powder fire extinguisher. By illuminating the area of the lock pin and the user's hand with the LED, the user can easily and immediately find the lock pin.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The application target of the prior art of Patent Document 1 is limited to a conventional general fire extinguisher that holds a lever and injects a powder fire extinguishing agent. Further, the LED of Patent Document 1 is merely a display device indicating the position of the lock pin and is not intended to illuminate the surroundings during evacuation or fire extinguishing work in a dark place.

[0006] Compared with a conventional general fire extinguisher, a fire extinguisher stick is a small and lightweight rod-shaped fire extinguishing device that injects a fire extinguishing agent from its tip and is suitable for initial fire extinguishing immediately after a fire breaks out (for example, within 2 minutes). However, an auxiliary tool having a lighting function for assisting evacuation or fire extinguishing work in a dark place has not been known conventionally.

[0007] This invention was created in view of these points, and its purpose is to provide an end cap for a fire extinguishing stick equipped with a lighting function to assist in evacuation and firefighting operations in dark places. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The end cap for a fire extinguishing stick according to the present invention comprises an end cap body (9) that is detachably attached to the hollow cylindrical portion (15) of the handle (5) of the fire extinguishing stick (1), and an illumination portion (66) provided on the end cap body.

[0009] For example, if a fire breaks out in a house and the interior becomes dark due to a power breaker being cut off, the resident can first turn on the light on the end cap to assess their surroundings and then evacuate or begin firefighting operations. The small, lightweight fire extinguishing stick can be held in one hand and used as a light source like a flashlight.

[0010] For example, a fire extinguishing stick works by igniting the ignition agent (7) located at the tip of the stick body (3) by rubbing the side charge (10) against it, which then sprays the fire extinguishing agent sealed inside the stick body. The side charge is located at the tip of the end cap body, which is the end that attaches to the hollow cylindrical part of the handle.

[0011] After igniting the ignition agent with the end cap removed from the handle and initiating the spraying of the extinguishing agent, the user can aim the spray by holding the extinguishing stick in one hand and illuminating the end cap's light forward with the other hand. Therefore, it can effectively support initial firefighting efforts with the extinguishing stick. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] A diagram of a fire extinguishing stick with a protective cap and the end cap of the first embodiment attached. [Figure 2]This figure shows the state after removing the protective cap from the state shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This figure shows the state after removing the end cap from the state shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] A diagram illustrating how to use a fire extinguishing stick. [Figure 5] (a) a plan view, (b) a front view, and (c) a bottom view of the end cap body constituting the end cap according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] A cross-sectional view showing the end cap body attached to the hollow cylindrical part of the handle. [Figure 7] (a) Plan view and (b) Front view of the end cap with lighting unit. [Figure 8] A cross-sectional view showing the state in which the whistle is housed in the handle housing space in the second embodiment. [Figure 9] A diagram illustrating the use of a whistle to call for help during a fire or other emergency. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Multiple embodiments of the end cap for a fire extinguishing stick according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The fire extinguishing stick to which this end cap is applied is a small, lightweight, rod-shaped fire extinguishing device capable of spraying a fire extinguishing agent from its tip. Fire extinguishing sticks are kept in places such as private homes, businesses, and vehicles and are used for firefighting in the event of a fire. In this embodiment, a 100-second spray type fire extinguishing stick will be described as a representative example.

[0014] (Composition of a fire extinguisher stick) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the configuration of the fire extinguisher stick 1 will be described. The fire extinguisher stick 1 is composed of a stick body 3, a protective cap 4, and a handle 5 coaxially arranged along the central axis O. The handle 5 is integrally connected to the stick body 3. The protective cap 4 is detachable from the stick body 3. Further, an end cap 60 is detachably attached to the side of the handle 5 opposite to the stick body 3. The stick body 3 is made of metal, and the protective cap 4, the handle 5, and the end cap 60 are formed of resin.

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a state where the protective cap 4 and the end cap 60 are attached. FIG. 2 shows a state where the protective cap 4 is removed from the state of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a state where the end cap 60 is removed from the state of FIG. 2. The side from which the fire extinguishing agent is ejected, which is the left side of the paper surface in FIGS. 1 to 3, is defined as the tip side. The side opposite to the tip side of the fire extinguisher stick 1 is called the base end side.

[0016] The stick body 3 is composed of a cylindrical metal tube, and a cartridge filled with a fire extinguishing agent is housed inside. An ignition agent 7 corresponding to the head medicine of a match is installed at the tip of the stick body 3 by coating or pasting. The handle 5 has a hollow cylindrical portion 15 with the tip side connected to the stick body 3 and opening at the base end side. The user can grip the handle 5 when using the fire extinguisher stick 1.

[0017] The protective cap 4 is a bottomed cylindrical shape with the tip side closed, and is put on the stick body 3 from the tip side to cover the outside of the stick body 3. On the outer wall of the base end side of the protective cap 4, a protective cap gripping portion 13 with an axial ridge formed thereon is provided. The user can remove the protective cap 4 to the tip side by holding the protective cap gripping portion 13.

[0018] The end cap 60 is detachably attached to the hollow cylindrical portion 15 of the handle 5 from the base end side of the fire extinguisher stick 1. The end cap 60 of the present embodiment includes an end cap body 9 and a lighting portion 66. The detailed configuration of the lighting portion 66 will be described later.

[0019] On the tip of the end cap body 9, the side medicine 10 is installed by coating or pasting. On the outer wall of the end cap body 9, an end cap gripping portion 91 with an axial ridge formed thereon is provided. The user can fit the end cap body 9 into the hollow cylindrical portion 15 by holding the end cap gripping portion 91. The outer wall of the end cap body 9 is fitted into the inner wall of the hollow cylindrical portion 15 with a light interference fit to prevent it from falling off.

[0020] In the state where the end cap 60 is attached to the hollow cylindrical portion 15, the side medicine 10 is accommodated inside the handle 5. When removing the end cap 60, the user can remove the end cap 60 from the hollow cylindrical portion 15 of the handle 5 by pulling it out while holding the end cap gripping portion 91.

[0021] (Method of using the fire extinguisher stick) Referring to FIG. 4, the method of using the fire extinguisher stick will be described. In the first step, the user removes the protective cap 4 from the stick body 3 of the fire extinguisher stick 1. In the second step, the user removes the end cap 60 from the handle 5. As a result, the ignition agent 7 and the side medicine 10 that were covered during storage are exposed. In the third step, when the user rubs the side medicine 10 of the end cap 60 against the ignition agent 7 of the stick body 3 to ignite it, the fire extinguishing agent enclosed inside the stick body 3 is ejected. In the fourth step, the user extinguishes the fire by directing the ejection port towards the bottom of the flame.

[0022] When the ignition agent 7 of the stick body 3 is ignited in the third step, the components inside the cartridge undergo a chemical reaction, and the fire extinguishing agent is ejected from the tip of the stick body 3. Specifically, potassium nitrate and dicyandiamide burn through a chemical reaction, and an inert gas containing white vaporous potassium particles is ejected. A large amount of potassium radicals cut off the combustion chain through the asphyxiation effect and inhibitory effect of depleting oxygen inside and around the flame.

[0023] (Comparison between the fire extinguisher stick and a comparative form of fire extinguisher) This section uses a conventional, general-purpose powder fire extinguisher (standard fire extinguisher) as a comparative example and explains the features of the fire extinguishing stick in comparison to it. For example, a 100-second spray type fire extinguishing stick without accessories measures 4 cm in diameter and 33 cm in length, and weighs 365 g, making it small and lightweight.

[0024] Conventional fire extinguishers, as a comparative example, use a large-diameter, cylindrical metal container and weigh, for example, 5 kg. It is difficult to spray fire extinguishing agent at flame sources in high places or narrow spaces using a heavy fire extinguisher. Furthermore, it is necessary to hold the fire extinguisher body with one hand and squeeze the lever with the other to spray, occupying both hands and resulting in poor operability. In contrast to the comparative example, the fire extinguishing stick used in this embodiment is small, lightweight, and can be used with one hand, thus offering superior operability and convenience. The following is a comparison item by item.

[0025] (1) Spray duration: The fire extinguishing stick can spray continuously for up to 100 seconds, for example. This is effective in achieving initial fire suppression, which is said to be extinguishing a fire within 2 minutes of it starting. (2) Weight: The fire extinguishing stick (excluding accessories) is lightweight at 365g. Therefore, it is easy to carry in the event of a fire. (3) Residues: Because the fire extinguishing stick sprays an inert gas, no harmful residues are left behind. Therefore, it is easy to restore items and equipment at the site of the fire after it has been extinguished. (4) The fire extinguishing stick can handle flammable gas fires that cannot be handled by general fire extinguishers.

[0026] (5) Expiration date: The expiration date for fire extinguishing sticks is 15 years, which is longer than that of general fire extinguishers. (6) Durability: Because the fire extinguishing stick is non-pressurized, it has excellent durability and impact resistance. (7) Periodic inspection: Fire extinguishing sticks do not require periodic inspection by a legally qualified person. (8) Safety and Environment: The fire extinguishing stick uses an inert gas as its propellant. Therefore, it does not adversely affect the breathing or vision of the operator or those nearby, and does not contribute to global warming or ozone layer depletion.

[0027] For reference, the specifications of a general-purpose fire extinguisher, which is a comparative example, are as follows: (1) Spray duration: Standard fire extinguishers have a spray duration of approximately 15 seconds. This often fails to achieve initial fire suppression. (2) Weight: Standard fire extinguishers weigh approximately 5 kg, making them difficult to carry during a fire. (3) Residues: Standard fire extinguishers leave behind chemical residue and stains after spraying. This makes it difficult to restore items and equipment in the affected area after the fire has been extinguished. (4) Standard fire extinguishers are not suitable for flammable gas fires.

[0028] (5) Expiry date: Standard fire extinguishers deteriorate quickly and have a short shelf life. (6) Durability: Because general fire extinguishers are pressurized, they have inferior durability and impact resistance. (7) Periodic inspections: Standard fire extinguishers require periodic inspections by legally qualified personnel, and their handling is complicated. (8) Safety and Environment: The chemicals sprayed by general fire extinguishers can easily affect the breathing and vision of the operator and those nearby, and are also a cause of global warming and ozone layer depletion.

[0029] <First Embodiment> Next, the configuration of the end cap 60 for the fire extinguishing stick according to the first embodiment will be described. The end cap 60 of this embodiment is configured by assembling an illumination unit 66 to the end cap body 9. First, the configuration of the end cap body 9 will be described with reference to Figures 5(a) to (c) and Figure 6. Assuming that the end cap body 9 is attached to the handle 5 with the opening 151 of the hollow cylindrical part 15 of the handle 5 facing upwards, Figures 5(a), (b), and (c) will be referred to as the plan view, front view, and bottom view, respectively.

[0030] The end cap body 9 is made of resin and has a bottomed cylindrical container shape with a central axis O. Since the end cap 60 of this embodiment is made of yellow resin, it has a strong contrast with the black handle 5 and is easily visible in dark places. The end of the end cap body 9 that is attached to the hollow cylindrical portion 15 of the handle 5 is called the tip. The end cap body 9 has a gripping portion 91, a fitting portion 92, and a protruding portion 93 in order from the opening side to the tip side.

[0031] The gripping portion 91 is cylindrical with a larger diameter than the fitting portion 92 and is connected to the fitting portion 92 via a step. Multiple axially extending protrusions 912 are formed on the outer circumferential wall of the gripping portion 91. As shown in Figure 6, when attached to the hollow cylindrical portion 15 of the handle 5, the step between the gripping portion 91 and the fitting portion 92 interferes with the edge of the opening 151 of the hollow cylindrical portion 15, so the gripping portion 91 is exposed outside the opening 151 and can be gripped by the user. The user can remove the end cap body 9 from the hollow cylindrical portion 15 by holding the gripping portion 91. At this time, the end cap body 9 can be easily removed by hooking a finger onto the protrusions 912 and twisting.

[0032] The fitting portion 92 is formed in a straight shape with a constant outer diameter in the axial middle section. The outer diameter of the fitting portion 92 is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the opening 151 of the hollow cylindrical portion 15, and more specifically, it is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the opening 151. When attached to the handle 5, the outer wall of the fitting portion 92 fits into the inner wall 152 of the hollow cylindrical portion 15. The degree of this fitting is set such that the end cap body 9 does not fall off under its own weight due to the light tightening of the resin members, but can also be easily removed by the user.

[0033] The protruding portion 93 is formed, for example, in a hemispherical shape, such that its diameter decreases from the fitting portion 92 towards the tip. When attached to the handle 5, the protruding portion 93 faces the bottom 153 of the hollow cylindrical portion 15. At the top of the protruding portion 93, a base portion 94 is formed that protrudes further from the hemispherical surface and has a flat end face. The side coating 10 is applied or attached to the end face of the base portion 94. By attaching the side coating 10 to the end face of the base portion 94 that protrudes from the hemispherical surface of the protruding portion 93, it becomes easier to pinpoint the target point when rubbing the side coating 10.

[0034] Thus, the basic function of the end cap body 9 is to serve as a mounting member for the side lubricant 10. The end cap body 9 protects the protruding portion 93 on which the side lubricant 10 is installed from external contact during storage, and allows for easy removal from the handle 5 during use. Incidentally, an internal cap space 90 is formed inside the end cap body 9 through the gripping portion 91, the fitting portion 92, and the protruding portion 93. By utilizing the space in the internal cap space 90 to attach the lighting portion 66, an end cap 60 with a lighting function is provided.

[0035] Next, the configuration of the lighting unit 66 will be described with reference to Figures 7(a) and 7(b). The lighting unit 66 is provided on the base end side of the end cap body 9, that is, on the side opposite to the handle 5. The lighting unit 66 includes a lighting housing 67, one or more LEDs 69, and a battery 68 that supplies power to the LEDs 69. The lighting housing 67 has a cylindrical shape including an outer cylinder portion 671 and an inner cylinder portion 672, and a part of its axial direction is fitted into the cap internal space 90 of the end cap body 9 and connected coaxially.

[0036] The outer cylinder portion 671 is formed of black resin in a cylindrical shape with an outer diameter similar to that of the gripping portion 91 of the end cap body 9. Because it is black, it is easily distinguishable from the yellow gripping portion 91. The surface of the inner cylinder portion 672 is provided with a transparent cover that transmits light from the LED 69.

[0037] Inside the lighting housing 67 are the LEDs 69 and the battery 68, as well as a circuit board on which the circuit for lighting the LEDs 69 is mounted. The LEDs 69 are held inside the lighting housing 67. In the example configuration shown in Figure 7(a), three LEDs 69 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis O in the inner cylindrical portion 672 of the lighting housing 67. For example, a button cell battery is used for the battery 68.

[0038] For example, the outer cylinder portion 671 of the lighting housing 67 is rotatable relative to the inner cylinder portion 672, and the LED 69 is turned ON when the outer cylinder portion 671 is rotated in one direction, and turned OFF when it is rotated in the other direction. In other words, the lighting housing 67 of this embodiment not only holds the LED 69 but also functions as a switch to switch it ON / OFF. Not limited to a rotary type, any type of switch such as a push type or lever type may be used. Furthermore, the brightness when ON may be switchable to two or more levels.

[0039] The fire extinguishing stick with illumination function according to this embodiment is preferably kept in each room rather than in the common corridors in apartments and condominiums. When a fire occurs, the power breaker is often shut off, and corridors and stairwells that serve as evacuation routes become dark not only at night but also during the day, making rapid evacuation difficult. For example, if a fire occurs in a house and the interior is dark due to the power breaker being shut off, the user can first turn on the illumination part 66 of the end cap 60 to understand the surrounding situation and then proceed with evacuation or firefighting. The small and lightweight fire extinguishing stick 1 can be held in one hand by the user and can be used as a lighting tool like a flashlight.

[0040] After igniting the ignition agent 7 with the end cap 60 removed from the handle 5 and initiating the spraying of the extinguishing agent, the user can aim the spray by holding the extinguishing stick 1 in one hand and illuminating the end cap 60 with the other hand, pointing the illuminated section 66 forward. Therefore, by taking advantage of the characteristics of the extinguishing stick 1, which is particularly small and lightweight and capable of continuously spraying inert gas for 100 seconds, it is possible to effectively support initial firefighting operations immediately after a fire breaks out (for example, within 2 minutes).

[0041] <Second Embodiment> The second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. As shown in Figure 8, a storage space 154 with a diameter of 3 cm and a depth of 5 cm is formed in the hollow cylindrical portion 15 of the handle 5, behind the part where the end cap 60 is attached. A whistle 88 with a neck strap is stored in the storage space 154. When the user removes the end cap 60 from the handle 5, the whistle 88 can be taken out.

[0042] Thus, in addition to functioning as a mounting member for the side charge 10 and as an illumination unit 66, the end cap 60 of the second embodiment also functions as a lid for the storage space 154 in which the whistle 88 is housed. If the whistle 88 is stored in a separate location from the fire extinguishing stick 1, it may take time to retrieve them in an emergency. In the second embodiment, the whistle 88 can be retrieved at the same time as the end cap 60 is removed from the handle 5, allowing for quick use.

[0043] Referring to Figure 9, the situations in which the whistle 88 is used will be explained. For example, when a fire breaks out in a house, a resident in a room on the second floor or higher first removes the end cap 60 from the handle 5 of the fire extinguishing stick 1 and takes out the whistle 88. The resident then blows the whistle 88 outwards, for example, from a second-floor window. Because the fire extinguishing stick 1 is small and lightweight, it is possible to hold the fire extinguishing stick 1 in one hand to extinguish the fire while holding the whistle 88 in the other hand to call for help. In addition, by hanging the whistle 88 around the neck using its lanyard, the user can keep both hands free.

[0044] If there are two or more occupants in a room, one person can blow the whistle 88 to call for help, while the other uses the fire extinguishing stick 1 to put out the fire, enabling a rapid response. Therefore, it can more effectively support initial firefighting efforts using the fire extinguishing stick 1.

[0045] In addition to fires, the Whistle 88 can also be used to call for help in situations such as when the surrounding area is flooded due to torrential rain or river overflows, when a house collapses due to an earthquake and you are trapped inside, or when a robber or intruder breaks into your home.

[0046] <Other Embodiments> (a) The fire extinguishing stick is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, but may be any rod-shaped fire extinguishing device that can spray a fire extinguishing agent from its tip and has a hollow cylindrical part of a handle to which an end cap can be detachably attached.

[0047] (b) The illumination unit is not limited to being located on the side opposite the tip of the end cap body 9 in the axial direction. For example, the illumination unit may be located on the side wall of the gripping portion 91 of the end cap body 9.

[0048] (c) The lighting means for the lighting unit is not limited to LEDs; light bulbs, light-emitting materials utilizing chemical reactions, etc., may also be used. The battery for the lighting unit is not limited to button-type batteries; rechargeable batteries that can be charged by solar power generation, etc., may also be used.

[0049] (d) When the fire extinguishing stick with illumination function of this embodiment is kept in a vehicle and used for extinguishing vehicle fires, it is particularly suitable for nighttime fire extinguishing operations and for fire extinguishing operations while illuminating dark places such as under the body of a truck.

[0050] The present invention is not limited in any way to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from its spirit. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0051] 1... Fire extinguishing stick, 5...Handle, 15...Hollow cylindrical section, 60... (for fire extinguishing sticks) end caps, 66...Lighting Department, 9. End cap body, 91...gripping part, 92.. Fitting part, 93...protrusion.

Claims

1. An end cap body (9) that can be detachably attached to the hollow cylindrical part (15) of the handle (5) of the fire extinguishing stick (1), The illumination unit (66) provided on the end cap body, An end cap for a fire extinguishing stick equipped with the following features.

2. The end cap for a fire extinguishing stick according to claim 1, wherein the end of the end cap body that is attached to the hollow cylindrical portion of the handle is defined as the tip, and the illumination portion is provided on the opposite side in the axial direction from the tip of the end cap body.

3. The aforementioned lighting unit is Lighting housing (67) and One or more LEDs (69) are held inside the aforementioned lighting housing, A battery (68) that supplies power to the LED, An end cap for a fire extinguishing stick according to claim 1 or 2, having the following features.

4. The aforementioned fire extinguishing stick works by igniting the ignition agent (7) located at the tip of the stick body (3) by rubbing the side charge (10) against it, thereby spraying the fire extinguishing agent sealed inside the stick body. The fire extinguishing stick end cap according to claim 1, wherein the side coating is provided at the tip of the end cap body, which is the end that is attached to the hollow cylindrical portion of the handle.

5. The end cap body is, When attached to the handle, the grip portion (91) is exposed outside the opening (151) of the hollow cylindrical portion and can be grasped by the user, The inner wall (152) of the hollow cylindrical portion has a fitting portion (92) into which the outer wall fits, A protruding portion (93) facing the bottom of the hole (153) of the hollow cylindrical portion, with the side coating installed at its top, An end cap for a fire extinguishing stick according to claim 4, having the following features.

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