GB2364886A

GB2364886A - Fire cloak

Info

Publication number: GB2364886A
Application number: GB0117874A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Allan Stace
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-07-21
Filing date: 2001-07-23
Publication date: 2002-02-13
Also published as: GB0117874D0; GB0017819D0

Abstract

A fire cloak and hood is wrapped around a wearer to give protection against a fire. The cloak may be provided with external handles to enable the wearer to be carried by a rescuer, internal handles to ensure that the cloak is wrapped completely round the wearer, a flap with a gauze pad to cover the mouth, a permanently fixed audio alarm for detection by a rescuer, fluorescent strips 6 and a detachable torch 8. The cloak may be packed in a holdall with a hammer on its outside to allow the user to break a window with the hand protected inside the holdall.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> FIRE CLOAK This invention relates to a fire cloak.

The fire cloak would be made of fire protective fabric material designed to be wrapped around the wearer in an emergency situation during the unexpected outbreak of fire. It is not a full fire fighting suit, but to be used as an aid to escape during the unexpected outbreak of fire. According to the present invention, the cloak comprises a combined hood and cloak made of fire protective fabric material. The hood will be of a size capable of covering the head and face of the wearer.

Two built-in handles made of the same fire protective material as the rest of the cloak, positioned inside and halfway down the cloak, would enable the wearer to wrap the cloak completely and easily around themselves, including people with hand dexterity problems, thus affording maximum protection in the shortest time. No buttons or other fasteners would be needed.

Two fluorescent strips running vertically down the front of the cloak, and one larger panel on the back, would offer recognition to any light shone onto them from a potential rescuer. A built-in audio alert emitting a continuous but intermittent alarm would enable any rescuer to home in on the whereabouts of any person wearing the cloak.

A torch, releaseably attached to the front of the cloak by means of two tapes sewn into the material, would offer a source of light to the person wearing the cloak and also serve as a direction finding beacon to any would-be rescuer.

A gauze pad attached inside a fire protective fabric flap (the same material as the rest of the cloak) would offer protection against smoke and heat inhalation. It would be permanently attached to one- side

of the hood, drawn across the nose and mouth and attached to the other side of the hood by means of two velcrMLst ibs - one on the inside of the flap and the other on the outside of the hood. When fastened across the face, the flap would also help to keep the hood in position.

The cloak would come in varying sizes, designed to fit small children through to large adults.

The cloak would be folded and packed into a flat holdall of relevant size with a small pointed hammer attached to the outside of the

holdall. This would allow the wearer of the cloak to grasp the hammer from inside the holdall and be protected from broken glass should the need arise to break a double glazed unit or similar.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows, in perspective, the front view of the cloak, fully wrapped around the wearer with the hood drawn up over the head and the protective flap in position across the mouth. It also shows the audio alarm, the two fluorescent vertical strips each side of the cloak and the torch; Figure 2 shows a close-up of the hood and protective mouth flap with gauze inside; Figure 3 shows the rear view of the cloak with the vertical fluorescent strip; Figure 4 shows the cloak fully open from the front with view of the handles; Figure 5 shows the holdall with the hammer attached to the outside; Figure 6 shows the hammer being grasped from inside the holdall; and Figure 7 shows a cloak incorporating carrying handles. Referring to Figure 1, the fire cloak would be made of fire protective fabric material designed to be wrapped around the wearer in an emergency situation during the unexpected outbreak of fire. It is not a full fire fighting suit but to be used as an aid to escape during the unexpected outbreak of fire. There would also be further safety and informative features attached as described below: The fire cloak (1 in Figure 1) would be pulled round the wearer by means of holding handles (2 in Figure 4) which are permanently attached to the inside of the cloak. The permanently attached protective flap with gauze pad inside (3 in Figure 2) would be pulled across the mouth and attached by velcro strips (4 in Figure 2). A permanently fixed audio alert (5 in Figure 1) could be actuated to emit a continuous but intermittent alarm enabling any rescuer to home in on the whereabouts of any person wearing the cloak. Two permanently fixed vertical fluorescent

strips (6 in Figure 1) and one larger permanently fixed vertical strip (7 in Figure 3) would offer recognition to any light shone onto them from any potential rescuer. A torch (8 in Figure 1), releaseably attached by tapes (9 in Figure 1) sewn into the material of the cloak would offer a source of light to the person wearing the cloak and also serve as a direction finding beacon to any would-be rescuer. The cloak would be packed in a holdall of relevant size (10 in Figure 5), with a small pointed hammer (11 in Figure 5) attached to the outside and allowing the wearer to insert a hand into the holdall (Figure 6) for protection against broken glass as and when the hammer is to be used to break a double glazed unit or similar should the need arise.

In a modified cloak provided by the present invention, carrying handles are afixed to the outside of the cloak at the shoulder or upper portions thereof and to lower side portions of the cloak.

The carrying handles enable an injured or an infirm person to be carried to safety by a rescuer.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A cloak and hood being wrapped around wearer and offering protection against fire, and a possible means of escape, the cloak including at least two handles or carrying elements to facilitate the wearer to be carried by a rescuer.
2. A cloak and hood as claimed in Claim 1, with a permanently fixed fabric flap with gauze attached to help to protect against smoke and heat inhalation.
3. A cloak and hood as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, with permanently fixed handles inside the cloak enabling the wearer to wrap themselves completely with the cloak.
4. A cloak and hood as claimed in Claims 1 to 3, with a permanently fixed audio alarm indicating the whereabouts of the wearer to any rescuer.
5. A cloak and hood as claimed in Claims 1 to 4, with two permanently fixed fluorescent strips on the front of the cloak enabling any rescuer to identify the whereabouts of the wearer should light be shone onto the strips.
6. A cloak and hood as claimed in Claims 1 to 5, with one permanently fixed fluorescent strip on the back of the cloak enabling any rescuer to identify the whereabouts of the wearer should light be shone onto the strip.
7. A cloak and hood as claimed in Claims 1 to 6, with a releaseably fixed torch on the front of the cloak offering a source of light to the wearer and also serving as a direction finding beacon to any rescuer.
8. A cloak and hood as claimed in Claims 1 to 7, packed in a holdall of relevant size with a hammer attached to the outside allowing the user to insert a hand to grasp the hammer and be protected from broken glass, should the need arise to break a double glazed unit or similar to enable escape.