Abstract:
A multiple use tool providing a variety of different features for use by firefighters as a hose coupling wrenches, pin and lug wrenches, valve wrenches, hose carrying and anchoring hooks, a glass cutting tool, a rope rapelling and belay apparatus and several other common firefighter tools all provided in a single tool, compact and conveniently provided in a single device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Applicant claims the benefit of provisional patent Application No. 61/141,158 filed on Dec. 29, 2008, by the same inventors. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     A multiple use tool providing a variety of different features for use by firefighters as a hose coupling wrenches, pin and lug wrenches, valve wrenches, hose carrying and anchoring hooks, a glass cutting tool, a rope rapelling and belay apparatus and several other common firefighter tools all provided in a single tool, compact and conveniently provided in a single device. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     A preliminary review of prior art patents was conducted by the applicant which reveal prior art patents in a similar field or having similar use. However, the prior art inventions do not disclose the same or similar elements as the present multiple use firefighter tool, nor do they present the material components in a manner contemplated or anticipated in the prior art. 
     The prior art relevant to the present multiple use firefighter&#39;s too appears to fall into three categories—multiple component multi-tools, single piece multi-tools, and hose carrying devices. 
     The multiple component multi-tools provide several features for use in firefighting or other activities. In design U.S. Pat. No. D566,494 to Karl, an emergency tool provides an adjustable hydrant valve wrench, a water cutoff wrench, a pry hook or cutting tool and a possible hatchet end. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,001 to Sanders, an adjustable length ratchet wrench, hydrant wrench and hose connector wrench is disclosed which also defines a water valve or gas valve opening, this device having several components comprising its assembly. Pivotally acting spanner wrenches are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,247,715 to Nishiguchi, D244,252 to Ardis and 1,784,535 to Osterby. A pivotal hydrant wrench and spanner/lug wrench is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,763,353 to Heller. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,465,009 to Wasseth provides a pipe wrench having an adjustable jaw, several formed slots to fit several different size and shaped valves, and a hammer. 
     Of the single piece tools, to which the present invention would be categorically similar, a demolition tool is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,123 to Cobe, Jr., having a claw, a hammer and a pry bar. An emergency entrance tool is shown in U.S. Pat. No. D275,258 to Albrecht. A couple of spanner wrenches are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. D263,674 to Ebert (a spanner and hydrant wrench) and 1,400,285 to Hart (a spanner wrench). A multi-tool having a pick, a spanner wrench, a hydrant valve wrench and a handle is shown in U.S. Pat. No. D54,394 to Dodge. A detachable hand tool attaches to a fire hose and provides multiple valve openings, a hydrant wrench and forms on an end a hook, which may be used to secure the attached hose to an object, indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 1,703,856 to McKeag. A hook and pry tool is shown in U.S. Pat. No. D210,141 to Woods. The hose carrying tools are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. D262,183 to Brown and 730,119 to Hanson. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Firefighter&#39;s use a variety of tools when performing their jobs. These tools typically involve tools for connecting and disconnecting hoses of small and large sizes, breaking into structures and removing dangerous structural components in a building, turning valves, pins and lugs on gas meters, bottles of compressed gas, and water lines, use of hooks and clamps to anchor or support fire hoses during use, wedges, turning pins and lugs of hoses and hydrants and their connections, and tools used by mountaineers for climbing and descending ropes, cables and ladders. For this profession, firefighters have a variety of tools they use, and often use several tools to accomplish each required task, requiring a heavy tool box containing a selection of the several tools for the multiple tasks they may face. 
     Several multiple use tools have been disclosed in prior art. A few disclose and device made from a single piece of metal or high heat plastic and several have more than one integrated component forming the complete tool. These tools either have limited use and function or they require the assembly of components to form the tools. The present firefighter tool provides a multiple use tool which would replace numerous tools, be easily carried by every firefighter at a fire scene and would be easier to keep track of during use while easily replaced if lost or damaged. 
     The primary objective of the invention is to provide a multiple use firefighter tool to serve the place of multiple tools for common firefighting needs while performing their duties. It also provides the same tool for safety purposes, to serve as a wrench for multiple valves, pins, lugs and hose connections, and also to serve other disclosed functions. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following drawings are submitted with this utility patent application. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the firefighter tool. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the tool indicating the relative angles of certain reference points within the device. 
         FIG. 3  is a representation of the device when used as a valve wrench on a gas valve. 
         FIG. 4  is a representation of the device when used to remove a pipe cover by attaching the device to a lug on the pipe cover. 
         FIG. 5  is a representation of the device being used to remove a STORZ coupling similar to a spanner tool. 
         FIG. 6  is a representation of the device used as a belay anchor for a rope descent. 
         FIG. 7  is a representation of the device secured to a fire hose as a means to control the fire hose when extinguishing a fire. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A compact S-shaped multiple use tool  10  for use by firefighters made from a shingle sheet or a single cast of a strong, non-deformable material, indicated in  FIGS. 1-7  of the drawings, defining a lower loop  20  providing an inner tip  22  with a drag hook  23 , a large water or gas valve notch  24 , an inner diameter  25  to hook and retain a large fire hose, and a side portion  26  defining at least one, small pin or lug spanner bore  28 , a central transition portion  30  defining a gas valve slot  32 , an oxygen bottle valve opening  34 , and a STORZ notch  36 , and an upper loop  40  defining an inner tip  42  with a spanner indent  43  and an inner loop shoulder  44 , a closed circular handle portion  50 , at least one small pin lug opening  46  and a large pin lug opening  47 , and having an inner diameter  45  to hook and retain a small fire hose, the tool  10  used as a hose connector wrench, a large and small hose carrier and hanger, a rappel anchor, a hose connector wrench, a spanner wrench, a valve wrench, and pry device, a hook anchor device or a tool hanger. 
     More specifically, the tool  10  may include at least one or all of the following defined elements. The large pin lug opening  47  located in the upper loop  40  may be used to connect the tool  10  to a belt by use of a carabiner or connecting hook, not shown, and also to attach to a large pin lug when the tool  10  is used as a pin lug wrench,  FIG. 4 . The closed circular handle portion  50 , the upper loop  40  and the gas valve slot  32  may be used in conjunction with a threaded rope, shown in  FIG. 6 , for a rope descent, as a rappel anchor. The gas valve slot  32  may also be used to turn a gas valve on a gas meter,  FIG. 3 . A standard oxygen bottle valve may be turned with the oxygen bottle valve opening  34  located within the central transition portion  30 . The upper loop  40  provides the inner diameter  45  to accept and retain a 1-1¾ inch fire hose when under pressure with the tool  10  used for the advancement, stabilization and assistance in control of the nozzle and for leverage against the nozzle back pressure,  FIG. 7 . The opening of the upper loop  40  between the spanner indent  43  and the STORZ notch  36  provides the tool  10  as a spanner wrench for sizes 1½ to 2½ inch lug couplings and STORZ couplings,  FIG. 5 . The lower loop  20  may serve as a rescue drag hook or a hose anchor, the lower loop  20  providing the inner diameter  25  to receive a large fire hose from 2-3 inches, the lower loop  20  also serving as a spanner wrench for sizes 2½ inch and larger couplings and larger STORZ couplings. This lower loop  20  may also provide a tapered cutting notch  60 ,  FIGS. 1-2 , on an inner margin  21  of the lower loop  20  adjacent to the drag hook  23  for use to rip glass and screen material in an automobile, structure or building to gain entry. On an outer edge  27  of the lower loop  20 , the large water and gas valve notch  24  is provided to engage a common water valve on a water meter, or it may also be used to snap a piece of glass or sheet material when attached to an edge of the material and pulled out, applying leveraged force along the edge of the material to break the material. One or more of the at least one small pin lug openings  46  and lug spanner bores  28  may be provided within the upper loop  40  or within the lower loop  20  to engage a 1½ inch pin lug. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the optimal reference angles for the tool to properly serve as a spanner wrench for both the upper loop  40  and the lower loop  20 . A base reference line x is defined as a straight line across an upper margin  48  of the upper loop  40  and an upper margin  52  of the closed circular handle portion  50 . A first angle α, properly positioning the inner tip  22  of the lower loop  20  is defined and formed by a first angle line y between a point θ along the base reference line x intersecting the upper margin  52  of the closed circular handle portion  50 , and the inner tip  22  of the lower loop  20  and the base reference line x, the first angle α formed by these two lines at 75-90 degrees, and most preferably 87 degrees. A second angle β is defined by a second angle line z traveling through the inner tip  42  of the upper loop  40  and the inner loop shoulder  44 , that line z intersecting the base reference line x forming the second angle β at a 56 degree angle, or an angle between 45 and 60 degrees. The second angle β positions the STORZ connector wrench notch  43  and the corresponding inner loop shoulder  44  of the upper loop  40  for optimal leverage on a STORZ or spanner coupling while the first angle α positions the STORZ connector wrench notch  23  and a contact fulcrum point  56  along a lower side margin  54  of said tool  10  along the closed circular handle portion  50 ,  FIG. 2  and as indicated on  FIG. 5 , when the lower loop  20  is used to tighten or loosen a spanner or STORZ coupling. If these respective angles are not maintained, the upper and lower loops may not be able to maintain secure contact with the couplings when great leverage forces are applied to the tool when used to open or close a coupling. 
     Because of the leverage forces and bending forces applied to the tool  10  during its use for various functions, the tool  10  should be completely non-deformable when both straight and rotational forces are applied. In this regard, it would be preferred that the tool  10  be made of a single sheet of hard metal, cast of metal, extremely hard plastics or composite materials, but also be light enough that it can be carried on a belt by a firefighter during firefighting activities. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.