Patent Publication Number: US-2023150666-A1

Title: Firefighting Helicopter Quick-Fill System

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/279,258, which was filed on Nov. 15, 2021, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of aerial firefighting. More specifically, the present invention relates to a firefighting helicopter quick-fill system with a filling device primarily comprised of a first end with at least one receiver and a second end comprised of at least one female connector, wherein the first end and the second end are connected by at least one tubing. To use the device, the receiver can be attached to a male nozzle of a firefighting helicopter and the female connector can then be attached to a fire hydrant such that water can be pumped from the fire hydrant, through the tubing, through the connector, and into the helicopter via the male nozzle. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In areas of the United States where wildfires are prevalent, aerial vehicles such as helicopters and planes are often used to dump large amounts of water onto said wildfires in attempt to extinguish said wildfires. Helicopters are often specifically outfitted with a bucket-like attachment or tank. A helicopter then lowers the attachment or a hose-like nozzle into a large body of water such as a lake, reservoir, river, ocean, or pool to fill the attachment/tank with water that can be dumped on a wildfire. However, said bodies of water are often not available for use depending on the location of the wildfire. In contrast, fire hydrants are often an available water source, especially in residential areas. 
     Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a system that allows a firefighting helicopter to easily receive water. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a helicopter water filling system that allows a firefighting helicopter to be easily filled with water to combat wildfires without requiring a large body of water or water source to fill said helicopter. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a helicopter water filling system that allows a helicopter to be easily filled with water to combat wildfires without requiring a large body of water or water source to fill said helicopter that also reduces the amount of travel time needed from a body of water to a wildfire. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a firefighting helicopter quick-fill system. The system is comprised of a filling device primarily comprised of a first end with at least one receiver and a second end comprised of at least one female connector, wherein the first end and the second end are connected by at least one tubing. The system is also comprised of a method of using the device. To use the device, the receiver can be attached to a male nozzle of a firefighting helicopter. The female connector can then be attached to a fire hydrant such that water can be pumped from the fire hydrant, through the tubing, through the connector, and into the helicopter via the male nozzle. The receiver allows quick connection/disconnection of the device from the helicopter. 
     In this manner, the firefighting helicopter quick-fill system of the present invention accomplishes all of the foregoing objectives and provides a firefighting helicopter quick-fill system that allows a firefighting helicopter to easily receive water without requiring a large body of water or water source to fill a firefighting helicopter. In addition, the device reduces the amount of travel time needed from a body of water to a wildfire by allowing a firefighting helicopter to be filled using more readily available fire hydrants. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a firefighting helicopter quick-fill system. The system is comprised of a filling device that attaches to a helicopter nozzle and a fire hydrant. The device is primarily comprised of a first end with at least one receiver and a second end comprised of at least one female connector, wherein the first end and the second end are connected by at least one tubing. The system is also comprised of a method of using the device. 
     The first end of the device is comprised of at least one receiver with at least one top opening and at least one bottom opening. The top opening allows a male helicopter nozzle to connect to the device for water filling, wherein the nozzle is received by at least one connector positioned within the receiver. The connector is preferably a plunger of any plunger type known in the art. The plunger is preferably comprised of at least one spring such that the plunger is spring-loaded. In this manner, the plunger can be pushed against the nozzle such that the plunger is secured around the nozzle. 
     The bottom opening of the receiver may be fixedly or removably attached to the tubing such that the receiver and tubing are in fluid communication. The tubing may be attached to the opening via at least one connecting fastener. The tubing connects to at least one female connector at the second end of the device. The tubing may fixedly connect to the connector or may be removably connected via at least one connecting fastener. The connector preferably has at least one rear opening and at least one front opening, wherein the front opening allows a male fire hydrant connector to connect to the device for water filling. The interior wall of the connector is preferably comprised of at least one thread that is a male or female reciprocating thread which corresponds to the opposite thread found on the fire hydrant. In this manner, the connector can be threaded onto the fire hydrant using at least one handle located on the connector. 
     In one embodiment, the flow of water from the fire hydrant through the tubing to the nozzle can be controlled by at least one valve. In one embodiment, the device may be comprised of at least one brace, wherein a first end of the brace preferably attaches to the receiver via at least one fastener. The second end of the brace further attaches to the female connector via at least one fastener. 
     The system is also comprised of a method of use. A user can first attach the female connector to a fire hydrant by turning the threads of the connector onto the hydrant and attach the receiver to a helicopter nozzle by pressing the connector upward into the nozzle to secure the nozzle within the connector. Once both the receiver is attached to the nozzle and the female connector is attached to the fire hydrant, the fire hydrant can be turned on to allow water to flow through the female connector, through the tubing, through the receiver, and into the helicopter via the nozzle. Once the water filling has finished, the receiver can be removed from the nozzle by pushing the receiver and/or connector downward. Then, the female connector can be unthreaded from the fire hydrant. 
     Accordingly, the firefighting helicopter quick-fill system of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a firefighting helicopter quick-fill system that allows a firefighting helicopter to easily receive water without requiring a large body of water or water source to fill a firefighting helicopter. Further, the device reduces the amount of travel time needed from a body of water to a wildfire by allowing a firefighting helicopter to be filled using more readily available fire hydrants. In this manner, the firefighting helicopter quick-fill system overcomes the limitations of existing methods and devices used to fill firefighting helicopters known in the art. 
     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a firefighting helicopter quick-fill system of the present invention while attached to a male nozzle of a firefighting helicopter and a fire hydrant in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a firefighting helicopter quick-fill system of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a flowchart of one potential method of using one potential embodiment of a firefighting helicopter quick-fill system of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined. 
     As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a system that allows a firefighting helicopter to easily receive water. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a helicopter water-filling system that allows a firefighting helicopter to be easily filled with water to combat wildfires without requiring a large body of water or water source to fill said helicopter. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a helicopter water filling system that allows a helicopter to be easily filled with water to combat wildfires without requiring a large body of water or water source to fill said helicopter and that also reduces the amount of travel time needed from a body of water to a wildfire. 
     The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a firefighting helicopter quick-fill system comprised of a filling device that attaches to a helicopter nozzle and a fire hydrant. The device is primarily comprised of a first end with at least one receiver and a second end comprised of at least one female connector. The first end and the second end are connected by at least one tubing. The system is also comprised of a method of using the device. 
     The first end of the device is comprised of at least one receiver with at least one top opening and at least one bottom opening. The top opening allows a male helicopter nozzle to connect to the device for water filling. The nozzle is received by at least one connector positioned within the receiver. The connector is preferably a plunger of any plunger type known in the art. The plunger is preferably comprised of at least one spring such that the plunger is spring-loaded. In this manner, the plunger can be pushed against the nozzle such that the plunger is secured around the nozzle. 
     The bottom opening of the receiver may be fixedly or removably attached to the tubing such that the receiver and tubing are in fluid communication. The tubing may be attached to the opening via at least one connecting fastener. The tubing connects to at least one female connector at the second end of the device. The tubing may fixedly connect to the connector. The tubing may also be removably connected via at least one connecting fastener. The connector preferably has at least one rear opening and at least one front opening, wherein the front opening allows a male fire hydrant connector to connect to the device for water filling. The interior wall of the connector is preferably comprised of at least one thread that is a male or female reciprocating thread which corresponds to the opposite thread found on the fire hydrant. In this manner, the connector can be threaded onto the fire hydrant using at least one handle located on the connector. 
     In one embodiment, the flow of water from the fire hydrant through the tubing to the nozzle can be controlled by at least one valve. In another embodiment, the device may be comprised of at least one brace, wherein a first end of the brace preferably attaches to the receiver via at least one fastener. The second end of the brace further attaches to the female connector via at least one fastener. 
     The system is also comprised of a method of use. First, a user can attach the female connector to a fire hydrant by turning the threads of the connector onto the hydrant and attach the receiver to a helicopter nozzle by pressing the connector upwards into the nozzle to secure the nozzle within the connector. Once both the receiver is attached to the nozzle and the female connector is attached to the fire hydrant, the fire hydrant can be turned on to allow water to flow through the female connector, through the tubing, through the receiver, and into the helicopter via the nozzle. Once the water filling has finished, the receiver can be removed from the nozzle by pushing the receiver and/or connector downward. Then, the female connector can be unthreaded from the fire hydrant. 
     Accordingly, the firefighting helicopter quick-fill system of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a firefighting helicopter quick-fill system that allows a firefighting helicopter to easily receive water without requiring a large body of water or water source to fill a firefighting helicopter. Further, the device reduces the amount of travel time needed from a body of water to a wildfire by allowing a firefighting helicopter to be filled using more readily available fire hydrants. In this manner, the firefighting helicopter quick-fill system overcomes the limitations of existing methods and devices used to fill firefighting helicopters known in the art. 
     Referring initially to the drawings,  FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a firefighting helicopter quick-fill system  100  of the present invention while attached to a male nozzle  10  of a firefighting helicopter and a fire hydrant  20  in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The system  100  is comprised of a filling device  200  that attaches to a helicopter nozzle  10  and a fire hydrant  20 . The device  200  is primarily comprised of a first end  210  with at least one receiver  200  and a second end  270  comprised of at least one female connector  280 , wherein the first end  210  and the second end  270  are connected by at least one tubing  260 . The system  100  is also comprised of a method of using  300  the device  200 . 
     The first end  210  of the device  200  is comprised of at least one receiver  220 . The receiver  220  may be any shape in differing embodiments but is preferably generally cylindrical and has at least one top opening  222  and at least one bottom opening  224 . The receiver  220  is preferably made from a brass or other rustproof and waterproof metal or plastic material. The top opening  222  allows a male helicopter nozzle  10  to connect to the device  200  for water filling. The nozzle  10  is preferably received by at least one connector  230  positioned within the receiver  220 . The connector  230  is preferably a plunger of any plunger type known in the art. The plunger  230  is preferably comprised of at least one spring  240  such that the plunger  230  is spring-loaded. In this manner, the plunger  230  can be pushed against the nozzle  10  such that the plunger  230  is secured around the nozzle. In a differing embodiment, the receiver  220  may have any other type of connector  230  style known in the art, which is preferably, but not limited to, a quick-connector type. In one embodiment, the connector  230  may be designed and adapted for use with a female helicopter nozzle. 
     The bottom opening  224  of the receiver  220  may be fixedly or removably attached to the tubing  260  such that the receiver  220  and tubing  260  are in fluid communication. The tubing  260  may be attached to the opening  224  via at least one connecting fastener  262  such as, but not limited to, a clamp, a clasp, a bolt, a thread, a screw, a lock, etc., or any other fastening means known in the art. The tubing  260  may be any material known in the art that can transport water without leakage. Said material includes, but is not limited to, any combination of rubber, nylon, fabric, plastic, polyester, etc. 
     The tubing  260  connects to at least one female connector  280  at the second end  270  of the device  200 . The tubing  260  may fixedly connect to the connector  280  or may be removably connected via at least one connecting fastener  272  such as, but not limited to, a clamp, a clasp, a bolt, a thread, a screw, a lock, etc., or any other fastening means known in the art. The connector  280  may be any shape in differing embodiments but is preferably generally cylindrical and has at least one rear opening  288  and at least one front opening  286 . The connector  280  is preferably made from a brass or other rustproof and waterproof metal or plastic material. The front opening  286  allows a male fire hydrant connector to connect to the device  200  for water filling. The interior  282  wall of the connector  280  is preferably comprised of at least one thread  284  which is a male or female reciprocating thread which corresponds to the opposite thread found on the fire hydrant  20 . In this manner, the connector  280  can be threaded onto the fire hydrant  20  using at least one handle  290  located on the connector  280 . In one embodiment, the connector  280  may be comprised of at least one fastener  292  that further secures the connector  280  to the fire hydrant  20  such as, but not limited to, a clamp, a clasp, a bolt, a thread, a screw, a lock, etc. or any other fastening means known in the art. 
     In one embodiment, the flow of water from the fire hydrant  20  through the tubing  260  to the nozzle  10  can be controlled by at least one valve  250 , as seen in  FIG.  2   . The valve  250  may be any valve type known in the art such as, but not limited to, a ball valve, butterfly valve, check valve, gate valve, globe valve, stop valve, etc. 
     In one embodiment, the device  200  may be comprised of at least one brace  264 . The brace  264  is preferably made from a metal or plastic material. A first end  265  of the brace  264  preferably attaches to the receiver  220  via at least one fastener  276 . The second end  266  of the brace  264  further attaches to the female connector  280  via at least one fastener  276 . The fastener  276  may be any fastener type known in the art such as, but not limited to, bolt, screw, hinge, clip, clasp, lock, etc. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates a flowchart of one potential method of using one potential embodiment of a firefighting helicopter quick-fill system  100  of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The system  100  is also comprised of a method of use  300 . The first step of the method  300  is interchangeable. A user can first attach the female connector  280  to a fire hydrant  20  by turning the threads  284  of the connector onto the hydrant  20  [Step  302 ]. Then, a user can attach the receiver  220  to a helicopter nozzle  10  by pressing the connector  230  upward into the nozzle  10  to secure the nozzle  10  within the connector  230  [Step  304 ]. It is appreciated that Step  302  and Step  304  are interchangeable and can be performed in any order. Once both the receiver  220  is attached to the nozzle  10  and the female connector  280  is attached to the fire hydrant  20 , the fire hydrant  20  can be turned on to allow water to flow through the female connector  280 , through the tubing  260 , through the receiver  200 , and into the helicopter via the nozzle  10  [Step  306 ]. In an embodiment of the device  100  with a valve  250 , the valve  250  can be opened to allow water to flow through the device  200  [Step  308 ]. Once the water filling has finished, the receiver  220  can be removed from the nozzle  10  by pushing the receiver  200  and/or connector  230  downward [Step  310 ]. Then, the female connector  280  can be unthreaded from the fire hydrant  20  [Step  312 ]. It is appreciated that Step  310  and Step  312  are interchangeable and can be performed in any order. 
     Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “firefighting helicopter quick-fill system” and “system” are interchangeable and refer to the firefighting helicopter quick-fill system  100  of the present invention. 
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the firefighting helicopter quick-fill system  100  of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the firefighting helicopter quick-fill system  100  as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the firefighting helicopter quick-fill system  100  are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the firefighting helicopter quick-fill system  100  are important design parameters for user convenience, the firefighting helicopter quick-fill system  100  may be of any size, shape and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user&#39;s needs and/or preferences. 
     Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof. 
     What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.