Fire extinguisher container

Abstract

A fire extinguisher holder having a base, top portion and two wall portions that form a concave outer surface. A receptacle is formed in the top portion to support a free standing fire extinguisher. All of the holder is formed as a single piece, integral and homogeneous material.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a container for a fire extinguisher and, more particularly, to a free standing fire extinguisher holder suitable for placement in numerous locations within a facility without the need to be located or mounted on a wall or other supporting structure.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] It is becoming more important because of environmental and safety requirements to provide fire extinguishers at all locations where any danger of a fire may occur such as, for example, adjacent fuel tanks, oil and gas equipment and at locations where trash and waste may accumulate. Previous designs have been utilized that that hold the fire extinguisher in a protected manner but permit it to be readily accessible for use. Generally these designs are acceptable, however they often contain features that detract from a free and unrestricted use.

[0005] One example of a fire extinguisher housing discloses a shallow container with a semicylindrical rear wall which is mounted in an indentation in a support wall. A semicylindrical inner housing is mounted in the outer housing for rotation about a vertical axis, the inner housing receiving the fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher is exposed by rotating the inner housing from an initial closed position to an open position in which the inner housing is turned through 180 degrees to expose the inside surface of the inner housing and fire extinguisher.

[0006] This device has a number of disadvantages. First, the mounting system within a wall cavity limits the possible locations of use. Secondly, the design has a number of serious disadvantages in that it does not properly protect against environmental effects because it will allow entry of moisture (rain and snow) which if frozen could interfere with the opening of the device. The housing is likely useable only in an interior location.

[0007] Other designs include an arrangement in which there is a substantially rectangular housing including a hollow box section defining a rear part and a front door. Devices of this type are in many instances unsatisfactory because the door can be difficult to open thus interfering with the needed ready access of the user to the fire extinguisher.

OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an attractively designed and essentially fault free fire extinguisher holder that can be inexpensively manufactured.

[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a free standing fire extinguisher holder that requires no supporting or related structure.

[0010] Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a fire extinguisher holder of the type described that has a top portion, wall portions and a base portion all formed as a single piece, integral and homogeneous material.

[0011] The present invention is a free standing fire extinguisher holder having a base portion, wall portions and a top portion all cooperatively formed as a single piece, integral and homogeneous container. A receptacle is formed within the top portion and slots are formed in the inner surfaces of some the side walls. A receptacle divider is cooperatively received within the formed slots to make desired compartments within the receptacle. A fire extinguisher may be placed in the receptacle for ready access, and the receptacle holds the extinguisher at a waist or chest high position. The receptacle is sufficiently deep to prevent the extinguisher from being accidentally dislodged is at a convenient height for intentional removal for use.

[0012] Thus there has been outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In that respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its arrangement of the components set forth in the following description and illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.

[0013] It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting in any respect. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of this development. It is important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent methods and products resulting therefrom that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The application is neither intended to define the invention, which is measured by its claims, nor to limit its scope in any way.

[0014] Thus, the objects of the invention set forth above, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are noted with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific results obtained by its use, reference should be made to the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.

[0015] The drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. They illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with their description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fire extinguisher holder of the present invention showing the manner in which a fire extinguisher is held in an inactive state;

[0017] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the fire extinguisher holder of the present invention in the empty condition;

[0018] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the fire extinguisher holder of the present invention slightly modified to support a light;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the fire extinguisher holder of the present invention which is exactly like the rear elevational view of the holder;

[0020] FIG. 5 a side elevational view of the fire extinguisher holder of the present invention which is exactly like the opposite side elevational view of the holder;

[0021] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the fire extinguisher holder of the present invention; and

[0022] FIG. 7 is bottom plan view of the fire extinguisher holder of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, the fire extinguisher holder of the present invention is shown generally as 10 supporting a fire extinguisher 12 ready to be withdrawn from a receptacle 14 formed in the top portion 16 of holder 10. Receptacle 14 in top portion 16 is formed by the joining of the four (4) wall portions 20. An extinguisher 12 is shown positioned in receptacle 14 in top portion 16 as shown in FIG. 1. Wall portions 20 each have inner surfaces 21 and outer surfaces 23.

[0024] Each wall portion 20 extends from the holder supporting surface, for example the floor 28, commencing with base portion 18 and upward arcuately to top portion 16. When wall portions 20 are joined to each other along their arcuate edges 28, they form concave outer wall surfaces 30.

[0025] At least two (2) wall portions 20 may be formed with recesses 32 extending downwardly from the top of the carrying wall portion 20 for a preselected distance to provide an engaging slot 32 to receive, for example, light 26 as shown in FIG. 3. Receptacle 14 may be formed as just a simple box-like opening as illustrated in FIG. 1. It is possible to form other recesses or slots within receptacle 14 to accommodate other articles of varying shapes that might be appropriately displayed or made ready for use at any time. Such articles could, for example, be ash trays, light holder, sign holder and framed pictures.

[0026] Holder 10 of the present invention is preferably formed by rotational molding, a process effectively utilizing specialty machinery to accomplish a great variety of structural configurations formed from resinous substances and plastic. Forming holder 10 with this technology enables the formation of the holder base portion 18, wall portions 20 and top portion 16 as a single piece, integral and homogeneous component. Holder 10 formed in this manner is virtually indestructible effectively resisting the normal damaging effects of moisture, heat, sun, chemicals and others.

[0027] From the proceeding description, it can be seen that a holder for various such as fire extinguishers, lights and others has been provided that will meet all of the advantages of prior art devices and offer additional advantages not heretofore available. With respect to the foregoing invention, the optimum dimensional relationship to the parts of the invention including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, use and assembly are deemed readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed herein.

[0028] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, and it is not intended to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. All suitable modifications and equivalents that fall within the scope of the appended claims are deemed within the present inventive concept.

Claims

1. A free standing fire extinguisher/light holder comprising: a base portion; a top portion; at least two wall portions positioned opposite each other, each wall portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, each of the at least two wall portions extending from the base portion upwardly to the top portion and forming a concave outer surface therebetween; a receptacle formed within the top portion by the inner surfaces of each wall portion; and adjusting means associated with the receptacle to change the size and configuration of the receptacle to accommodate articles of varying sizes.

2. The holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the total number of wall portions are 4.

3. The holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least two side wall portions have recesses within the inner surfaces of the at least two wall portions and the adjusting means is a receptacle divider cooperatively engaged with the recesses.

4. The holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein the receptacle divider is a flat shelf-like member.

5. The holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein the side wall portions have recesses within the inner surfaces of the wall portions and the adjusting means is a receptacle divider cooperatively engaged with the recesses.

6. The holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the holder base portions, wall portions and top portions are formed as a single piece, integral and homogeneous material.

7. The holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein the holder base portions, wall portions and top portions are formed as a single piece, integral and homogeneous material.

8. The holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein the holder base portions, wall portions and top portions are formed as a single piece, integral and homogeneous material.

9. The holder as claimed in claim 4 wherein the holder base portions, wall portions and top portions are formed as a single piece, integral and homogeneous material.

10. The holder as claimed in claim 5 wherein the holder base portions, wall portions and top portions are formed as a single piece, integral and homogeneous material.