Patent Document

This invention relates to fire extinguishers, and in particular to break away panels, devices and methods of using the breakaway panels with a grid scored patterns for fire extinguisher cabinets, with the scored lines formed from routing and injection molding. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Wall mounted fire extinguisher cabinets have been around for many years and are often required in commercial establishments such as office buildings and schools where a wall mounted cabinet has a front glass panel covering a fire extinguisher. The glass is intended to deter unnecessary uses of the fire extinguisher and also allow a viewing window so that one can see the fire extinguisher in the cabinet. In case of a fire, persons are instructed to break the glass exposing the fire extinguisher so that the fire extinguisher can be removed. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,906 to McCabe. However, there are known problems with such cabinets. 
     Currently, in the fire extinguisher industry, there are somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 different cabinets, most of which have regular glass break panels in them. Fire extinguisher service technicians have a few options (all not so great) in regards to replacing broken break panels. They can carry large panes of uncut glass and cut the glass to fit each cabinet, but this is dangerous because they frequently injure themselves and they have lots of glass scrap leftover so that is not an efficient use of the glass. Some carry pre-cut glass of the most common sizes but this is a problem because they frequently are serving a property (especially an older property) with several different cabinets from different manufacturers that has old, outdated cabinets that they don&#39;t have glass that fits. So they usually have to measure the ones they need and come back which is a very inefficient use of their time. 
     Another option would be for the service technicians to carry about fifteen or more different sizes of panels made by the manufacturers of each cabinet (some are glass, some are acrylic) but this does not work. When there are 10 or 20 technicians with that many trucks, one would need a huge inventory to supply all those needs. So this option is impractical and never used). 
     Glass panels are becoming obsolete in view of other problems. Breaking the glass can require the user to have to insert their hand(s) through broken glass fragments left in the cabinet which can cut and harm the user. Sometimes the user will have to manually remove the loose and jagged glass pieces with their fingers which further increases the chances of causing harm to the user. 
     Since most jurisdictions require their commercially installed fire extinguisher cabinets must be inspected every year and recertified, installers have to remount new glass into the cabinets. This can be difficult and often causes the serviceman installer to take measurements of the cabinet on a first trip and have to make a return trip to the location at a different time and place, causing further delay and expense. 
     Attempts have been made over the years to come up with alternatives to plate, glass such as attempting to use safety type glass which when struck immediately disintegrates into very small pieces. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,006 to McCabe. However, there are also problems with using this type of safety glass. 
     One problem is that safety glass can often cost substantially more than plate glass. Also, there are different sizes to the types of fire extinguisher cabinets that are being used, so that one size piece of safety glass cannot fit all the different sizes of fire extinguisher cabinets. 
     Additionally, safety glass cannot be resized, since cutting into any edge or side can easily weaken and cause the entire panel to break down. 
     The installer will often not be able to install the safety glass in different sized cabinets. Again this can be difficult since the installer will only be able take measurements of the cabinet on a first trip and have to make a return trip to the location at a different time and place to install a new panel, causing further delay and expense 
     Attempts have been made to use some type of plastic panel with a limited number of grid scored sections such as large wide rectangle patterns, where the panel limited to being used in only a one size cabinet. These panels cannot be resized to fit more than one size of cabinet in view of their one size application. Also, these prior art scored panels can be difficult to break since there are few pieces that are actually scored in place. 
     These prior art scored panels can be further problematic when the installer is a serviceman for a fire extinguisher company must make individual field trips to diversely located destinations where the fire extinguisher cabinets need to be recertified for use. A single size prior art scored panel cannot fit the many different sized cabinets in the market. The serviceman installer will often have to make a return trip to get the right size panel of the job which increase the time to recertify the cabinets and results in higher labor costs, and related transportation costs for having to return to the same location at a different time. Since the single grid size panel is not used for many applications, the installer will usually switch to plate glass or safety glass which has additional problems. 
     Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide break away panels, devices and methods of using the breakaway panels with grid scored patterns for fire extinguisher cabinets, which can be made for small, mid-size and large size fire extinguisher cabinets. 
     A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide break away panels, devices and methods of using the breakaway panels with grid scored patterns for fire extinguisher cabinets which can be easily resized onsite for different sized cabinets. 
     A third objective of the present invention is to provide break away panels, devices and methods of using the breakaway panels with grid scored patterns for fire extinguisher cabinets, which are inexpensive to replace when reactivating the fire extinguisher cabinet for future use. 
     A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide break away panels, devices and methods of using the breakaway panels with grid scored patterns for fire extinguisher cabinets, which allows installers to make one trip to both inspect and replace missing panels when the fire extinguisher cabinets are being recertified saving time and labor costs. 
     A fifth objective of the present invention is to provide break away panels, devices and methods of using the breakaway panels with grid scored patterns for fire extinguisher cabinets, which have scored patterns formed by a router. 
     A sixth objective of the present invention is to provide break away panels, devices and methods of using the breakaway panels with grid scored patterns for fire extinguisher cabinets, which have scored patterns with the entire panel formed from injection molding. 
     With the subject invention each technician will only need to keep a supply of three different panels that will fit virtually all of the extinguisher cabinets he services. 
     Better yet, he only has to snap off the pre-scored pieces to achieve his desired dimensions. No glass to cut himself on, no having to return wasting valuable time, no huge inventory needed. The subject invention also is useful in fire extinguisher cabinets by the assignee of the subject invention, Cato Inc. It is very difficult for a technician to cut glass panels for one of the Cato cabinets because of the rounded corners on them (large radii). 
     Although the technician can break most of the scored pieces off just using his fingers, the installer can use a pair of welders pliers or long needle-nose pliers to break them because it makes it extremely easy. 
     The public is much safer having to break a plastic panel than a glass one. Thus, replacing old glass panels with the subject invention will substantially reduce and eliminate the higher risk of injury that occurs with using glass panels. 
     The novel panels are 0.080 (inch) thickness acrylic and are being scored by CNC router to a depth of 0.045 (inch). 
     A novel method of modifying panels for different sized fire extinguisher cabinets, can include the steps of: providing a fire extinguisher cabinet having an opening on at least one side, the opening having a selected width and height, providing a translucent plastic panel, providing a plurality of vertical scored lines running from a top of the panel to a bottom of the panel forming vertical columns, providing a plurality of horizontal scored lines from a left side of the panel to a right side of the panel forming horizontal rows, and resizing the panel onsite by breaking away at least one of the vertical columns or at least one of the horizontal rows, to fit the opening in the fire extinguisher cabinet. 
     The step of resizing can include breaking away at least one column from the left side of the panel along at least one scored line. 
     The step of resizing can include breaking away at least one column from the right side of the panel along at least one scored line. 
     The step of resizing can include breaking away at least one row from the lower edge from the panel along at least one scored line. 
     The step of resizing can include breaking away at least one row from the upper edge from the panel along at least one scored line. 
     The step of resizing step can include breaking away at least one column from the left side of the panel along at least one scored line, along with breaking away at least one column from the right side of the panel along at least one scored line. 
     The step of resizing step can include breaking away at least one row from the lower edge from the panel along at least one scored line, along with breaking away at least one row from the upper edge from the panel along at least one scored line. 
     The step of resizing can include breaking away at least one column from the left side of the panel along at least one scored line, along with breaking away at least one column from the right side of the panel along at least one scored line. 
     The step of resizing step can include breaking away at least one row from the lower edge from the panel along at least one scored line, breaking away at least one row from the upper edge from the panel along at least one scored line, along with breaking away at least one column from the left side of the panel along at least one scored line, and breaking away at least one column from the right side of the panel along at least one scored line. 
     The novel panels can have a thickness of approximately 0.080 inches and each of the scored lines having a depth of approximately 0.045 inches. 
     A break away panel for fire extinguisher cabinets, can include a planar panel having a single vertical row of large width scored sections down the middle of the panel between an upper edge and a lower edge, and a plurality of narrow width scored sections running down a left side and a plurality of narrow width scored sections running down a right side, wherein the large width sections are substantially larger in width than the narrow width sections, wherein the panel is used for fire extinguisher cabinets. 
     The panel can have a thickness of approximately 0.080 inches and the scored sections each have a depth of approximately 0.045 inches. 
     A large panel can have dimensions of approximately 27.69 inches high by approximately 10.63 inches wide. The large panel can include four large rows each having scored lines approximately 6.92 inches from one another, with the top and bottom rows, each having a plurality of scored lines, and the panel has three vertical columns of sections, each being approximately 3.55 inches in width, the left and right vertical columns each having a plurality of additional scored lines. 
     A mid-size panel can have dimensions of approximately 22.63 inches high by approximately 8.63 inches wide. The mid-size panel can include four large rows each having scored lines approximately 5.66 inches from one another, with the top and bottom rows, each having a plurality of scored lines, and the panel has three vertical columns of sections, each being approximately 2.88 inches in width, the left and right vertical columns each having a plurality of additional scored lines. 
     A small panel can have dimensions of approximately 18.69 inches high by approximately 7.63 inches wide. The small panel can include four large rows each having scored lines approximately 4.82 inches from one another, with the top and bottom rows, each having a plurality of scored lines, and the panel has three vertical columns of sections, each being approximately 2.53 inches in width, the left and right vertical columns each having a plurality of additional scored lines. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective front view of a large breakaway panel of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an inside planar rear view of the large panel of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2A  is an enlarged cross-sectional view 
         FIG. 3  is an outside planar front view of the large panel of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an inside perspective rear view of a mid-size break away panel. 
         FIG. 5  is an inside planar view of the mid-size panel of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an outside planar front view of the mid-size panel of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is an inside perspective rear view of a small break away panel. 
         FIG. 8  is an inside planar rear view of the small panel of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is an outside planar front view of the small panel of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of large prior art cabinet with the novel large panel of  FIGS. 1-3  installed. 
         FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of a mid-size prior art cabinet with the novel mid-size panel of  FIGS. 4-6  installed. 
         FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of small prior art cabinet with the small panel of  FIGS. 7-9  installed. 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of the small prior art cabinet with small panel installed of  FIG. 12  and “break panel” label applied to panel. 
         FIG. 13A  is an enlarged view of the “break panel” label of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the small cabinet with installed small panel of  FIG. 12 , with a striking tool striking the panel into break away parts. 
         FIG. 15  is another perspective view of the small cabinet of  FIG. 14  with the panel substantially broken out exposing a fire extinguisher. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective front view of the large breakaway panel of  FIG. 1  with pliers being used to resize the panel as needed. 
         FIG. 17  is another perspective view of the large breakaway panel of  FIG. 16  with top, bottom, left and right break away edges removed. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the breakaway panel that can be formed injection molding. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     A list of components will now be described.
       10 . Large panel.     20 . Mid-sized panel.     30 . Small panel.     40 . Routed scores in panel.     50 . Large cabinet.     60 . Mid-sized cabinet.     70 . Small cabinet.     80 . “Strike on scores” label.     90 . Striking tool.     100 . Shattered panel pieces.     110 . Fire extinguisher.     120 . Pliers.     130 . Resized panel.     140 . Broken off pieces of panel after resizing.   

     The novel panels can be formed from a translucent acrylic plastic panel such as Plaskolite® by the Plaskolite, Inc. CORPORATION of Columbus, Ohio. The panels can have a plurality of vertical and horizontal scored routed lines, each having score lines. A preferred embodiment of the panel can have a thickness of approximately 0.080 inches, and each of the scored lines can have a depth of approximately 0.045 inches. Each routed score can have a convex round shape with a radius of 0.10 inches. The scored lines are on the inside of the panels. 
     Large Break Away Panel 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective front view of a large breakaway panel  10  of the invention.  FIG. 2  is an inside planar rear view of the large panel  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2A  is an enlarged cross-sectional view.  FIG. 3  is an outside planar front view of the large panel of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  2 A, the novel large breakaway panel  10 , can have an overall height of approximately 27.69 inches and an overall width of approximately 10.63 inches. 
     The panel  10  can have a plurality of vertical parallel scored lines (routed scores)  40 , and a plurality of horizontal scored lines (routed scores)  40 . 
     The vertical columns can include a middle column having a width of 3.55 inches. 
     The novel panel  10  can have four large row sections, each having a height of approximately 6.92 inches. The top and bottom large row sections can each have seven additional scored lines that are each approximately 0.50 inches from each other, with each of the outer scored lines being approximately 2 inches from the upper and lower edges of the panel  10 . The two middle large row sections having no additional scored lines therein. 
     The novel panel  10  can have three large width vertical columns each having a width of approximately 3.55 inches. The left most vertical column and the right most vertical column each have additional five scored lines. The outer first scored line is approximately 0.50 inches from the left and right side edges. The next two scored lines (2nd and 3rd) are spaced apart from one another approximately 0.38 inches. The fourth scored line is approximately 2.01 inches from the left and right side edges, and the fifth scored line being approximately 2.51 inches from the left and right side edges. The middle large vertical column has no additional scored lines. 
     The outer four corners of the panel  10  can be convex rounded. 
     Mid Size Break Away Panel 
       FIG. 4  is an inside perspective rear view of a mid-size break away panel  20 .  FIG. 5  is an inside planar view of the mid-size panel  20  of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 6  is an outside planar front view of the mid-size panel  40  of  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , the mid size panel  20  can have an overall height of approximately 22.63 inches and an overall width of approximately 8.63 inches. 
     The panel  20  can have a plurality of vertical parallel scored lines (routed scores)  40 , and a plurality of horizontal scored lines (routed scores)  40 . 
     The vertical columns can include a middle column having a width of 2.88 inches. 
     The novel panel  20  can have four large row sections, each having a height of approximately 5.66 inches. The top and bottom large row sections can each have six additional scored lines that are each approximately 0.25 inches from each other, with each of the outer scored lines being approximately 0.50 inches from the upper and lower edges of the panel  20 . The two middle large row sections have no additional scored lines therein. 
     The novel panel  20  can have three large width vertical columns each having a width of approximately 2.88 inches. The left most vertical column and the right most vertical column each have additional four scored lines. The outer first scored line is approximately 0.50 inches from the left and right side edges. The next two scored lines (2nd and 3rd) are spaced apart from one another approximately 0.25 inches. The fourth scored line is approximately 1.50 inches from the left and right side edges. The middle large vertical column has no additional scored lines. 
     The outer four corners of the panel  20  can be convex rounded. 
     Small Break Away Panel 
       FIG. 7  is an inside perspective rear view of a small break away panel  30 .  FIG. 8  is an inside planar rear view of the small panel  30  of  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 9  is an outside planar front view of the small panel  30  of  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-9 , the small panel  30  can have an overall height of approximately 18.69 inches and an overall width of approximately 7.63 inches. 
     The panel  30  can have a plurality of vertical parallel scored lines (routed scores)  40 , and a plurality of horizontal scored lines (routed scores)  40 . 
     The vertical columns can include a middle column having a width of 2.53 inches. 
     The novel panel  30  can have four large row sections, each having a height of approximately 4.82 inches. The top and bottom large row sections can each have two additional scored lines that are each approximately 0.50 inches from each other, with each of the outer scored lines being approximately 0.25 inches from the upper and lower edges of the panel  30 . The two middle large row sections have no additional scored lines therein. 
     The novel panel  30  can have three large width vertical columns each having a width of approximately 2.53 inches. The left most vertical column and the right most vertical column each have an additional two scored lines. The outer first scored line is approximately 0.25 inches from the left and right side edges. The next scored line is spaced inwardly another 0.50 inches. The middle large vertical column has no additional scored lines. 
     The outer four corners of the panel  30  can be convex rounded. 
       FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of large prior art cabinet  50  with the novel large panel  10  with routed vertical and horizontal scored lines  40  of  FIGS. 1-3  installed. The scored lines  40  are on the inside of the panels. 
       FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of a mid-size prior art cabinet  60  with the novel mid-size panel  20  with routed vertical and horizontal scored lines  40  of  FIGS. 4-6  installed. The scored lines  40  are on the inside of the panels. 
       FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of small prior art cabinet  70  with the small panel  30  with routed vertical and horizontal scored lines  40  of  FIGS. 7-9  installed. The scored lines  40  are on the inside of the panels. 
       FIG. 13  is a front view of the small prior art cabinet  70  with the novel small panel  30  with routed vertical and horizontal scored lines  40  installed of  FIG. 12  and “break panel” label  80  applied to panel.  FIG. 13A  is an enlarged view of the “break panel” label of  FIG. 13 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13 and 13A , the label  80  must be located on an entire rectangular section and cannot overlay a scored line. The label  80  indicates that the user is directed break the panel  30  by striking an area directly on one of the scored lines  40 . It is easier to break the panel  30  in areas where the fire extinguisher is not located. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the small cabinet  70  with installed novel small panel  30  of  FIG. 12 , with a striking tool  90  striking the panel  30  into break away parts. Although a hammer  90  is shown, the striking device can be a small rod, or can be fist of the user. The user can strike the panel  30  along one of the scored lines to gain access to the fire extinguisher. The breakaway sections  100  are easy to remove since the scored lines  40  are on the inside of the panel  30  so that the shattered panel pieces  100 . 
       FIG. 15  is another perspective view of the small cabinet of  FIG. 14  with the panel  30  substantially broken out exposing a fire extinguisher  110 . Here, the user can then retrieve the fire extinguisher  110  without being harmed by broken glass that is often used in the prior art. 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective front view of the large breakaway panel  10  of  FIG. 1  with pliers  120  being used to resize the panel  10  as needed. Although, pliers  120  are shown, a user can use other tools such as a needle-nose pliers, which makes breaking off the pieces extremely easy. In addition, the scored pieces can be broken off just using one&#39;s fingers. The installer such as a fire extinguisher technician can change out most glass panels in all fire extinguisher cabinets by only transporting three types of panels (large panel  10 , mid-size panel  20  and small panel  30 ). The installer can then size the replacement panel by using any one of the three panels  10 ,  20 ,  30  or alternatively breaking off scored pieces to correctly size the respective panel to the respective cabinet. Again, unlike glass, the novel panels cannot cause harm to the installer or the ultimate user that breaks the breakaway panels to access the fire extinguisher. 
       FIG. 17  is another perspective view of the large breakaway panel  10  of  FIG. 16  with top, bottom, left and right break away edges  40  removed, so that a resized panel  130  is formed that can be used in a cabinet having an opening sized for the resized panel  130 . 
     Injection Molded Panel 
     While the invention is described by scoring (routing) lines into the panels, both the scoring and the panel itself can be done by injection molding. So that the entire part can be formed from injection molding. 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the breakaway panel that can be formed injection molding. This panel can have a width of approximately 10.63 inches and a length of approximately 27.69 inches. The panel can have four large rows that each have a height of approximately 6.92 inches. The panel can be formed with small square shaped scoring lines, with each square having a length and width of approximately 0.50 inches. 
     The panel can have a central rectangular section down the middle of the panel having large rectangular scored lines, wherein the large rectangular scored lines spaced substantially apart from the square shaped patterns of scored lines. The panel can have a perimeter small rectangular patterns of scored lines about each of the four sides of the panel, the small rectangular patterns being smaller than the square shaped patterns of scored lines. 
     With the injection molded panel, the depth of scoring from injection molding can be 0.050 inches which is deeper than scoring done by routing. The injection molded panels can have a thickness of 0.095 inches. 
     Additionally, the injection molded panel can be sized for small, mid sized and large breakaway panels. 
     The dimensions described in the patent application that are a preferred embodiment, and the label of “approximately” allows for a 10% (ten percent) deviation. 
     Although the invention references the panels for being used with fire extinguisher cabinets, the novel invention panels can be used for other types of cabinets, and the like. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.

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