Patent Description:
In case of a typical fire extinguisher that is widely known and distributed, a limitation caused by a safety pin has been generated.

Firstly, the safety pin is not easily pulled out when fire actually occurs. When fire occurs, initial extinguishment using the fire extinguisher before a fire truck is arrived is extremely important. However, since a person who finds fire is mostly embarrassed and has almost no experience to use the fire extinguisher, the person shows a behavior pattern of trying to pull out the safety pin while holding up the fire extinguisher by hands. In consideration of characteristics of the typical fire extinguisher, when the fire extinguisher is held by hands, particularly the embarrassed person unconsciously holds the handle with a strong grasping force, and thus the safety pin is not easily pulled out. Thus, a golden time for initial extinguishment of the fire is frequently lost.

Secondly, since the safety pin is loosely inserted to the fire extinguisher at a normal time, the safety pin is unintentionally easily separated to cause a discharge accident. Furthermore, since the safety pin of the typical fire extinguisher is inserted to the handle of the fire extinguisher in a horizontal direction, even when the safety pin is separated, it is not easily recognized.

In order to prevent the safety pin that is loosely inserted to the handle from being naturally separated, a method of binding the safety pin to the handle using a binding rope is forcedly used over the world. Although the binding rope is relatively weak and easily cut by pulling with a force, users who do not know this fact may be embarrassed when the users find the safety pin bound by using the binding rope.

Patent publication <CIT>) a fire extinguisher discharge safety device construction which is relevant for understanding the background of the present invention. This document discloses a discharge safety device <NUM> comprising a gap support part <NUM>, as well as a stopper element 159c, and protrusions similar to the present invention. It fails at least to disclose a valve pressing part in the discharge safety device.

The present invention provides a fire extinguisher having a stopper that is easily removed by a user when fire occurs and is not naturally separated from a handle at a normal time and having a further simple usage method.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a fire extinguisher including: a main body container <NUM> filled with an extinguisher agent; a lower handle <NUM> coupled to a plug <NUM> disposed at an upper portion of the main body container; an upper handle <NUM> coupled to the lower handle through a first hinge shaft; a valve stem <NUM> installed at an upper portion of the plug to control discharge of the extinguishing agent through a vertical movement thereof; a rotary lever <NUM> coupled to the lower handle or the plug through a second hinge shaft; a discharge safety device <NUM> connected to the rotary lever and disposed between the upper handle and the plug to horizontally move; an elastic member installed on the rotary lever or the discharge safety device to allow the discharge safety device to horizontally move; and a stopper configured to block the horizontal movement of the discharge safety device, and the discharge safety device includes: a body part; a gap support part protruding from the body part to the plug to maintain a gap between the upper handle and the plug; and a valve pressing part protruding from the body part to the valve stem.

When the stopper is installed on the upper handle, a force pressing the upper handle may not be transmitted to the valve stem as the gap between the upper handle and the plug is maintained by the gap support part, and when the stopper is separated from the upper handle, the force pressing the upper handle may be transmitted to the valve stem through the valve pressing part as the gap support part horizontally moves by the elastic member so as not to overlap the plug.

The elastic member may be a rotary spring formed on the second hinge shaft, and when the rotary spring lifts the rotary lever horizontally, the discharge safety device connected to the rotary lever may horizontally move between the upper handle and the plug.

The stopper may pass through the upper handle in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction.

One pair of gap support parts may be disposed at both sides of the valve stem, respectively, the valve pressing part may be disposed between the one pair of gap support parts, and the gap support part may protrude toward the plug further than the valve pressing part.

The discharge safety device may be coupled with the rotary lever through an arm, and the rotary lever and the arm or the arm and the discharge safety device may be hinge-coupled to each other.

The elastic member may be a coil spring configured to connect the gap support part and an end of the upper handle.

Particularities of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.

As described above, the fire extinguisher according to the present invention exhibits excellent effects as stated below.

Firstly, since the elastic member applies a constant pressure to the stopper in the horizontal direction at the normal time, the risk of the discharge accident may be reduced by preventing the stopper from being unintentionally separated from the handle. Thus, the stopper is not necessary to be additionally tied to the handle.

Secondarily, when the stopper is accidentally separated from the handle at the normal time, since the rotary lever is partially lifted by the elastic member, the state of the fire extinguisher may be easily recognized.

Thirdly, when the user tries to pull out the stopper in the state in which the embarrassed user holds the handle of the fire extinguisher tightly in case of fire occurrence, the stopper of the present invention may be easily pulled out from the hands with a small force while the stopper of the typical fire extinguisher is not pulled out. This is because the force pressing the handle of the fire extinguisher is transmitted only to the discharge safety device and is not used to press the stopper.

Fourthly, as the usage process is simplified more than that of the typical fire extinguisher, the golden time for the initial extinguishment may be reduced.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and implementation methods thereof will be clarified through following embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary configurations set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Further, the scope of protection is only defined by scopes of claims.

A discharge safety device of the present disclosure may be applied to various fire extinguishers including upper and lower handles (or levers), e.g., a powder fire extinguisher, a halogenated compound fire extinguisher, a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, and a loaded stream fire extinguisher. Thus, the powder fire extinguisher mentioned in embodiments of the present disclosure is only illustrative, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, when the discharge safety device of the present configuration is applied to a fire extinguisher without a discharge hose, a rotary lever may have a different shape instead of a shape surrounding one side portion of the discharge hose.

Hereinafter, a fire extinguisher according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>. Here, <FIG> is a front view and a partial cross-sectional view of the fire extinguisher according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a partially cut perspective view of the fire extinguisher of <FIG>. <FIG> is a perspective view of an upper handle of <FIG>. <FIG> is a perspective view of a lower handle of <FIG>. <FIG> is a perspective view of a rotary lever of <FIG>. <FIG> is a perspective view of a discharge safety device included in the fire extinguisher of <FIG>.

Firstly, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a fire extinguisher <NUM> of the present configuration includes: a main body container <NUM> filled with an extinguishing agent; a lower handle <NUM> coupled to a plug <NUM> disposed at an upper portion of the main body container <NUM>; a discharge hose <NUM> connected to the plug <NUM>; an upper handle <NUM> coupled with the lower handle <NUM> through a first hinge shaft <NUM>; a valve stem <NUM> installed at an upper portion of the plug <NUM> and vertically moving to control discharge of the extinguishing agent; a rotary lever <NUM> coupled to the lower handle <NUM> or the plug <NUM> through a second hinge shaft <NUM>; a discharge safety device <NUM> connected to the rotary lever <NUM> and disposed between the upper handle <NUM> and the plug <NUM> to horizontally move; an elastic member <NUM> installed in the rotary lever <NUM> and allowing the discharge safety device <NUM> to horizontally move; and, according to the invention, a stopper <NUM> installed on the upper handle <NUM> to stop horizontal movement of the discharge safety device <NUM>.

Specifically, the plug <NUM> is screw-coupled to the upper portion of the main body container <NUM>. The valve stem <NUM> is installed inside the plug <NUM>, and a valve rubber <NUM> is installed at a lower end of the valve stem <NUM>. Sealing between the valve rubber <NUM> and the plug <NUM> is maintained as a valve spring <NUM> disposed below the valve rubber <NUM> applies a force in an upward direction to the valve rubber <NUM> and the valve stem <NUM>. The discharge of the extinguishing agent may be controlled by the vertical movement of the valve stem <NUM>. When the discharge safety device <NUM>, especially a valve pressing part <NUM>, pushes the valve stem <NUM> downward by pushing the upper handle <NUM> in case of fire occurrence, the filled extinguishing agent is discharged through a gap generated between the valve rubber <NUM> and the plug <NUM> and through the discharge hose <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the upper handle <NUM> includes an overall long plate and sidewalls formed at side portions of the plate. The upper handle <NUM> may have, e.g., a U-shaped cross-section so that the discharge safety device <NUM> horizontally moves in the upper handle <NUM>. The upper handle <NUM> is coupled with the lower handle <NUM> through the first hinge shaft <NUM>, and to this end, a hole 12a to which the first hinge shaft <NUM> is inserted is defined in the sidewall of the upper handle <NUM>.

A hole 40a to which the stopper <NUM> is inserted may be defined in the sidewall of the upper handle <NUM>. The stopper <NUM>, as a member installed on the upper handle <NUM> to block the horizontal movement of the discharge safety device <NUM>, may be made of a rigid material. For example, the stopper <NUM> may include a safety pin. Referring to <FIG>, the stopper <NUM> may pass through the upper handle <NUM> in a horizontal direction through the hole 40a and be disposed behind the discharge safety device <NUM> to effectively block the movement of the discharge safety device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the lower handle <NUM> includes an overall long plate and sidewalls formed at side portions of the plate. An opening to which the plug <NUM> is inserted is defined in the plate of the lower handle <NUM>. The lower handle <NUM> is coupled with the upper handle <NUM> through the first hinge shaft <NUM>, and to this end, a hole 12b to which the first hinge shaft <NUM> is inserted is defined in the sidewall of the lower handle <NUM>. Also, the lower handle <NUM> is coupled with the rotary lever <NUM> through the second hinge shaft <NUM>, and to this end, a hole 52b to which the second hinge shaft <NUM> is inserted is defined in the sidewall of the lower handle <NUM>.

The elastic member <NUM> may include, e.g., a rotary spring formed on the second hinge shaft <NUM>. The elastic member <NUM> may be installed around the second hinge shaft <NUM>.

between the rotary lever <NUM> and the lower handle <NUM>. The elastic member <NUM> may allow the discharge safety device <NUM> connected to the rotary lever <NUM> to horizontally move between the upper handle <NUM> and the plug <NUM> when the elastic member <NUM> lifts the rotary lever <NUM> horizontally with respect to the lower handle <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the rotary lever <NUM> may an overall gently curved shape to cover at least one side portion of the discharge hose <NUM> and have, e.g., a U-shaped cross-section. The rotary lever <NUM> is coupled to the lower handle <NUM> through the second hinge shaft <NUM>, and to this end, a hole 52c to which the second hinge shaft <NUM> is inserted is defined in a sidewall of the rotary lever <NUM>. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the rotary lever <NUM> may be hinge-coupled to the plug <NUM>. The rotary lever <NUM> is coupled with the discharge safety device <NUM> by using an arm <NUM>, and a hole 54c may be defined in the sidewall of the rotary lever <NUM> for the coupling between the rotary lever <NUM> and the arm <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the discharge safety device <NUM> includes a body part <NUM>, a gap support part <NUM> protruding downward from the body part <NUM> to the plug <NUM>, and according to the invention, a valve pressing part <NUM> protruding from the body part <NUM> to the valve stem <NUM>.

The gap support part <NUM> supports the upper handle <NUM> and the plug <NUM> to maintain a gap therebetween, and the valve pressing part <NUM> transmits a force pressing the upper handle <NUM> to the valve stem <NUM>. One pair of gap support parts <NUM> may be disposed at both sides of the valve stem <NUM>, respectively, and the valve pressing part <NUM> may be disposed between the one pair of gap support parts <NUM>. The gap support part <NUM> and the valve pressing part <NUM> may form a stepped portion in a longitudinal direction of the fire extinguisher <NUM>, i.e., the gap support part <NUM> may further protrude from the body part <NUM> to the plug <NUM> than the valve pressing part <NUM>.

The discharge safety device <NUM> is coupled with the rotary lever <NUM> through the arm <NUM>. Firstly, the arm <NUM> and the rotary lever <NUM> may be coupled with various types, e.g., hinge coupling. In this case, the arm <NUM> and the rotary lever <NUM> may be coupled by the hinge shaft passing through the hole 54d of the arm <NUM> and the hole 54c of the rotary lever <NUM>. Also, the arm <NUM> and the discharge safety device <NUM> may be coupled with various types, e.g., the hinge coupling. Although the rotary lever <NUM>, the arm <NUM>, and the discharge safety device <NUM> are exemplarily described as separate components in this embodiment, the present configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the rotary lever <NUM> and the arm <NUM> may be substantially integrated with the same material, the arm <NUM> and the discharge safety device <NUM> may be substantially integrated with the same material, and the rotary lever <NUM>, the arm <NUM>, and the discharge safety device <NUM> may be substantially integrated with the same material.

Hereinafter, a method for operating the fire extinguisher according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>. Here, <FIG> is a view illustrating the fire extinguisher according the present configuration in a stopper mounted state at a normal time. <FIG> is a view illustrating the fire extinguisher according the present configuration in a stopper removed state when fire occurs.

Referring to <FIG>, according to the invention, when the stopper <NUM> is installed on the upper handle <NUM>, the movement of the discharge safety device <NUM> may be blocked by the stopper <NUM> although the elastic member <NUM> installed on the rotary lever <NUM> pushes the discharge safety device <NUM> connected with the rotary lever <NUM> in a horizontal direction (a right direction in <FIG>). Since the gap support part <NUM> maintains the gap between the upper handle <NUM> and the plug <NUM> when the discharge safety device <NUM> is disposed at the above-described position, although a user presses the upper handle <NUM>, the pressing force is not transmitted to the valve stem <NUM>. Furthermore, since a constant pressure is applied to the stopper <NUM> in the horizontal direction by a rotary force of the elastic member <NUM>, the stopper <NUM> may not be unintentionally separated from the upper handle <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when the stopper <NUM> is separated from the upper handle <NUM>, the elastic member <NUM> installed on the rotary lever <NUM> lifts the rotary lever <NUM> to push the discharge safety device <NUM> connected to the rotary lever <NUM> in the horizontal direction (the right direction in <FIG>). When the discharge safety device <NUM> is disposed at the above-described position, the gap support part <NUM> horizontally moves by the elastic member <NUM> not to overlap the plug <NUM>, and a unit for maintaining the gap between the upper handle <NUM> and the plug <NUM> is disappeared. Thus, the force pressing the upper handle <NUM> is transmitted to the valve stem <NUM> through the valve pressing part <NUM>. That is, when the user holds and grasps the upper handle <NUM> and the lower handle <NUM>, the valve pressing part <NUM> presses the valve stem <NUM> downward, and the extinguishing agent is discharged to the outside through the discharge hose <NUM>.

A fire extinguisher according to another embodiment of the present invention will be descried with reference to <FIG> is a partially cut perspective view of the fire extinguisher according to another embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of description, different points with the previous embodiment (<FIG>) will be mainly described.

As illustrated in <FIG>, this configuration, in which a stopper <NUM> passes the upper handle <NUM> in a vertical direction, may obtain the substantially same action and effect as the previous embodiment. A hole (40b of <FIG>) may be defined in a plate of the upper handle <NUM>, and a hole (40c of <FIG>) may be defined in a plate of the lower handle <NUM> so that the stopper <NUM> vertically passes the upper handle <NUM> and fixed to the lower handle <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when a rotary lever <NUM> is connected to one side of a discharge safety device <NUM>, an elastic member <NUM>' is installed on the other side of the discharge safety device <NUM> to pull the discharge safety device <NUM> in a horizontal direction (a right direction in <FIG>). For example, the elastic member <NUM>' may include a coil spring for connecting the gap support part <NUM> and an end of the upper handle <NUM>.

Although the safety pin, as a stopper, installed on the upper handle, as in the invention, or on the upper and lower handles, is exemplarily described in the exemplary configurations, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The stopper of the present disclosure may be an arbitrary unit for blocking the horizontal movement of the discharge safety device, and, for example, an accommodation holder installed on the main body container to accommodate the discharge hose or the rotary lever may serve as the stopper. In this case, although the safety pin or the stopper is not installed on the handle (not according to the invention), the substantially same action and effect may be obtained.

Claim 1:
A fire extinguisher comprising:
a main body container (<NUM>) filled with an extinguisher agent;
a lower handle (<NUM>) coupled to a plug (<NUM>) disposed at an upper portion of the main body container;
an upper handle (<NUM>) coupled to the lower handle through a first hinge shaft;
a valve stem (<NUM>) installed at an upper portion of the plug to control discharge of the extinguishing agent through a vertical movement thereof;
a rotary lever (<NUM>) coupled to the lower handle or the plug through a second hinge shaft;
a discharge safety device (<NUM>) connected to the rotary lever and disposed between the upper handle and the plug to horizontally move;
an elastic member (<NUM>) installed on the rotary lever or the discharge safety device to allow the discharge safety device to horizontally move; and
a stopper (<NUM>) configured to block the horizontal movement of the discharge safety device,
wherein the discharge safety device comprises: a body part (<NUM>) a gap support par (<NUM>) protruding from the body part to the plug to maintain a gap between the upper handle and the plug; and a valve pressing part (<NUM>) protruding from the body part to the valve stem,
wherein the gap support part protrudes toward the plug further than the valve pressing part, and
wherein the stopper (<NUM>) is installed on the upper handle (<NUM>), and the elastic member (<NUM>) applies a constant pressure to the stopper (<NUM>) in the horizontal direction.