Patent ID: 8333246

Claim:
A discharge assembly comprising: a housing having a body portion having a first end and a second end, the housing configured and dimensioned to be releasably mounted with respect to a vehicle or structure to allow a user to use the housing in a portable fashion both within or away from the vehicle or structure; an actuator within the housing, the actuator configured and dimensioned to fluidically separate the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber configured to house a liquid-based fire fighting agent and the second chamber configured to house a pressurized fluid; a first end member enclosing the first end of the housing and having an outlet in fluid communication with a first valve, the first valve configured to allow: (i) the first chamber to be filled with the liquid-based fire fighting agent, and (ii) at least a portion of the liquid-based fire fighting agent to be released via the first valve when actuated; an actuating member mounted with respect to the first valve, the actuating member configured to be manually or remotely actuated; a second valve in fluid communication with the second chamber, the second valve configured to pressurize the fluid housed in the second chamber; a nozzle in fluid communication with the first valve, the nozzle configured and dimensioned to: (i) discharge the fire fighting agent of the first chamber from the nozzle for fire fighting purposes after the actuating member has been actuated, or (ii) be fluidically and releasably mounted with respect to a spray assembly to allow the fire fighting agent of the first chamber to travel through the nozzle and to the spray assembly for fire fighting purposes after the actuating member has been actuated; wherein the housing includes an interior protrusion, the interior protrusion configured and dimensioned to allow the actuator to rest thereon prior to actuating the actuating member; wherein the pressurized fluid in the second chamber is pressurized to about 300 psi or less prior to actuating the actuating member, wherein the first valve is an on/off valve; wherein upon actuation of the actuating member, the actuating member causes the first valve to open, thereby allowing for the release of the liquid-based fire fighting agent from the first chamber and through the outlet and to the first valve, and the housed fluid pressure in the second chamber moves the actuator towards the first chamber, thereby forcing at least a portion of the liquid-based fire fighting agent out of the first chamber and through the first valve; and wherein at least a portion of the liquid-based fire fighting agent is forced out of the first chamber regardless of the position of the housing relative to gravity.