AU758314B2

AU758314B2 - Breathing apparatus holder

Info

Publication number: AU758314B2
Application number: AU31205/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Quentin Dean Moore
Original assignee: HEATHER MAY MOORE
Current assignee: Moore Heather May
Priority date: 1998-05-21
Filing date: 1999-05-21
Publication date: 2003-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2019-05-21
Also published as: AU3120599A

Description

V 49147 GEH:PFB P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

S

Name of Applicant: QUENTIN DEAN MOORE and HEATHER MAY MOORE Name of inventor: QUENTIN DEAN MOORE Address for Service: COLLISON CO., 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: BREATHING APPARATUS HOLDER Details of Associated Provisional Applications: PP3629 dated 21st May 1998 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: This invention relates to means to hold and present for immediate use an apparatus for emergency use. In particular the invention relates to a holder for a breathing apparatus as carried by a fire fighting appliance and used by the crew of the fire fighting appliance. However it is to be realised that the invention can be applied to any situation where an emergency or life saving equipment is to be stored and readily available for use.

With reference to fire fighting appliances, breathing apparatus is stored in lockers or the like in one or both sides of fire fighting appliance. The *apparatus is secured in position, and the user has to remove the apparatus 10 and then place the apparatus in position so that arms may be inserted through the straps whereby the apparatus is carried on the back.

Attempts have been made to securely carry the apparatus in a locker on the vehicle and then present the apparatus in a position whereby the user can readily pass arms through the straps and position the apparatus on the back of 1 5 the user ready for use. However some attempts have relied on gas struts and the like and a complicated linkage arrangement to pivot the apparatus in a position for use which has not been satisfactory. This has resulted in a large o o. force being necessary to present the apparatus in a position for use, and also by the use of gas struts, the holder could unexpectedly return to its storage 20 position with possible injury to the user.

Thus it is an object of the invention to provide a holder for an apparatus such as a breathing apparatus which is simple to use and presents no danger to the user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holder for a breathing apparatus which by a simple pivoting movement presents the breathing apparatus in a position for use.

Thus there is provided according to the invention a holder for emergency apparatus, said holder having support means to support the weight of the apparatus in a storage position in an upside down condition of the apparatus, resilient means retaining the apparatus in position on the holder, pivot means having a pivot pin attaching the holder to a base, to permit pivoting of the S holder from the storage position to present the apparatus in an upright position for removal of the apparatus from the holder by a user.

Preferably the holder holds the apparatus in the storage position in an upside down position facing away from the user, and by pivoting the holder downwardly the apparatus is presented to the user in the upright position outside the compartment whereby the user by backing to the apparatus can insert arms through shoulder straps on the apparatus and quickly fasten the apparatus onto the user's back, the resilient means permitting removal from the holder.

In order to more clearly describe the invention reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a view of two holders installed in the locker of a vehicle, one holder showing the breathing apparatus in the stored position and the other holder in the position where the apparatus has been removed from the holder; Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 but showing the first holder pivoted to the position ready for use by the user; l go S: Figure 3 is an exploded view from inside the locker showing the holder in the storage. position; and Figure 4 shows a similar view with the holder in the position after the apparatus has been removed from the holder.

Referring to the drawings the holder 1, only one of which will be described, has a U shaped base 2 attached for example by welding to a base plate 3.

The base plate can be bolted or otherwise affixed to the floor of a locker of a fire fighting appliance. If the holder is to be positioned in other locations such as in factories or marine vessels, the base 2 or the base plate 3 can be affixed in position as desired.

To the base there is pivoted at the upper end thereof an arm 4 by a pivot bolt passing through a sleeve 6 formed on the base 2 and bracket arms 7 on the arm 4. As shown the arm 4 is formed in this embodiment by two portions 8 and BAt the portion 8 having the bracket arms 7 attached thereto, the portion 8(a) S being bolted, riveted or welded to the portion 8. While it is preferred that the arm 4 be constructed of two portions, it is to be realised that the arm may be constructed as a single member.

The arm 4 at one end has a spring clip 9 shaped to clasp on the cylinder 12 of the breathing apparatus, and at the other end has a cup shaped socket 10 into which the end of the valve of the breathing apparatus is inserted. The socket is formed on the inside surface of an L shaped portion 11 on the end of the arm 4. On the other side of the L shaped portion 11 there can be attached attachment means to hold the face mask in position. This attachment may be a strip of "Velcro or any other quickly releasable fastening.

In the embodiment shown, the locker carries two holders which can hold S" breathing apparatus. Also the locker can carry one or more reserve cylinders 12(a).

It is to be noted that in the storage position, by the position of the pivot axis being on the ends of the bracket arms 7, when the holder is in the storage 1 5 position, the holder and the breathing apparatus are in an over-centre position. The centre of gravity of the apparatus is thus spaced, in the position of the apparatus in Figure 1, inwardly, in relation to the locker, of the pivot bolt 5. However in order to securely hold the holder and breathing apparatus in the stored position the base 2 and the end of the arm 4 are provided with complimentary latch means 13 and 14 with latch portion 13 on the portion 8 of the arm 4 engaging in the resilient jaws of latch portion 14 positioned on the cavity side of the U-shaped base 2. This is sufficient to secure the holder, in assistance with the over-centre effect, with the breathing apparatus in the storage position.

The arm 4 at its free end has a ledge 16 formed by a L-shaped portion on the portion 8 to support the apparatus when in the storage position. In the embodiment shown it supports the weight of the cylinder 12.

However when it is desired to use the apparatus, the user grasps a rope or the like 15 attached to the arm 4 at or adjacent the portion 11 and pulls. This releases the latch 13, 14 and swings the holder and the apparatus over into the user ready position, the user backing to the apparatus, inserting arms Sthrough the straps, releasing and applying the face mask, and by merely walking away releases the cylinder from the spring loaded clip. While a rope has been shown, it is to be realised that instead of a flexible member such as a rope, there may be provided a handle or the like which may be grasped.

Thus it can be seen that there is provided a simple and effective apparatus holder, which is simple to use, and also is simple and economical to manufacture. The unit can be fitted to new vehicles and also can be readily fitted to existing vehicles by bolting the base plate in position in a suitable locker.

It is to be noted that the invention is not to be restricted to breathing apparatus, but can be any emergency apparatus, and while it is particularly described as being fitted to the locker of a fire fighting vehicle, it can be fitted to any emergency vehicle and also can be fitted in position in any situation, such as in marine craft, or commercial premises.

While one preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in some detail it is to be realised that the invention is not to be limited thereto, but can include variations and modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

00 9* 9e 0 9 99

Claims

1. A holder for emergency apparatus, said holder having support means to support the weight of the apparatus in a storage position in an upside down condition of the apparatus, resilient means retaining the apparatus in position on the holder, pivot means having a pivot pin attaching the holder to a base, to permit pivoting of the holder from the storage position to present the apparatus in an upright position for removal of the apparatus from the holder by a user.

2. A holder for emergency apparatus in a storage compartment, said holder having support means to support the weight of the apparatus in a storage position within the compartment in an upside down condition of the apparatus, resilient means retaining the apparatus in position on the holder, pivot means having a pivotpin attaching the holder to the base of the compartment whereby the holder is pivoted to present the apparatus in an upright position outside the compartment for removal by a user. 15

3. A holder as defined in claim 1 wherein the holder holds the apparatus in 9 99 9 the storage position in an upside down position facing away from the user, and 9 by pivoting the holder downwardly the apparatus is presented to the user in the upright position whereby the user by backing to the apparatus can insert arms through shoulder straps on the apparatus and quickly fasten the 20 apparatus onto the user's back, the resilient means permitting removal from the holder.

4. A holder as defined in claim 1 or claim 3 wherein the holder has the base attached to a support, an arm to carry the apparatus, a bracket attached to the arm and pivoted to the base by a pivot pin, whereby the apparatus in the storage position has its centre of gravity spaced from the pivot pin thus assisting in maintaining the apparatus in the storage position.

A holder as defined in claim 4 wherein the arm has a spring clip to grasp and hold a portion of the apparatus, such as an air cylinder, and supporting portions at each end of the arm to locate and support the apparatus in both the storage position and the position ready for use.

6. A holder as defined in claim 4 or 5 wherein there are provided complimentary releasable latch means, one portion positioned on the arm and the other portion on the base so that when the holder is in the storage position, the portions of the latch means engage to maintain the holder in the storage position.

7. A holder as defined in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein to the end of the arm which is uppermost in the storage position there is provided a member attached to the top of the arm when in the storage position which can be grasped to pull the apparatus to swing it downwardly into the ready to use position. l :o

8. A holder for holding emergency apparatus substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. Dated this 20th day of December 2002 *o QUENTIN DEAN MOORE and HEATHER MAY MOORE By their Patent Attorneys COLLISON CO. u s 9*