GB2490742A

GB2490742A - Wall Mounted Fire Escape Mask and Alarm

Info

Publication number: GB2490742A
Application number: GB1108117.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard John Wright; Carl Robert King
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-05-13
Filing date: 2011-05-13
Publication date: 2012-11-14
Also published as: GB201108117D0

Abstract

A fire escape mask and smoke alarm housed in a housing unit or separate housing units which attach together, the housing can be wall mounted. The Mask has integrated eye protection providing maximum visibility available to escape. A seal around the mask reduces smoke ingress into the mask for cleaner air and improved vision. The mask can be made to drop out of the housing when the housing is opened onto a short breakable line. The device can be manufactured in a modular form so that a number of them can be fitted together. The device may comprise a flashing light which is energized upon activation of the smoke alarm.

Description

DESCRIPTION

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Background

Smoke inhalation is the biggest cause of death or illness resulting from a fire within a building containing people.

Many occupants are overcome by poisonous smoke fumes before they can get to a fire exit and it is a well known fact that if a fife occurs whilst occupants are asleep, the smoke can poison them before they are woken up by the fife itself, or rescuers, giving them no chance of escape or of rescuing others and generally proving fatal.

This invention has specifically been designed to save lives at minimal cost when this type of fife occurs, by protecting a user from smoke fumes for enough time to escape.

Concept The main concept is a mask that has been designed to be stored and protected within an attractive heat resistant housing which is made visible and accessible by being wall mounted. Figure 1.

When located at a convenient height and position on any wall in any room of a residence, office or building that contains people within easy reach and location the concept has the potential to save lives.

The mask is to help residents and or occupants of a property to escape from a fife before they are overcome by fumes from smoke.

Whilst the ideal is that the mask is located in rooms that are more difficult to escape from, ie upstairs bedrooms, loft conversions or any room in any building that does not have a direct fire exit, masks mounted downstairs may be used to rescue people in upstairs rooms.

Densely populated buildings should have multiple masks mounted within easy vision and reach at various locations.

In a hospital, nursing home or sheltered housing the mask will give older and disabled occupants more time to escape or to be rescued before they are overcome by smoke.

Factories or any type of workplace to include office buildings and tower blocks will find the benefits of this device in the event of a fire.

This invention will be beneficial to all age groups and is very easy to use.

Construction The mask incorporates an Active Carbon Filter tested to hold back smoke fumes for as long as is possible within the size restriction of the filter within the mask. The exact length of time will vary dependant on the user and their inhalation rate but the inventors will test the production version to ensure a minimum of ten minutes usage.

It is intended for the filter within the mask to be made up of two small square or rectangular panels with a hinged seal down the centre of the two panels. Figure 2. This allows a larger filtration area than a single (usually round) filter and the mask to be stored flat (flat packed) within the housing, thus keeping the physical size of the housing to a minimum for cosmetic reasons.

The filter within the mask may be superseded Wan even more efficient and suitable type of filter is developed.

The mask is compact, allowing it to be stored and preserved within the easily accessible plastic housing which has mounting holes for wall mounting. The mask housing has a hinged lid which opens from the bottom and an obvious fmger hold for easy opening.

Whilst the mask is not a play thing' this design allows an intelligent child to open the lid by using something to stand on or an object to poke it open with from below if the mask happened to be mounted out of their normal reach and should they require to use it.

When the lid is opened it could be made so that the mask would drop out on a short breakable line for quick and easy location in a smoke filled room, also making it easier to reach.

The housing can be made to accommodate or attach a smoke detector Figure 1, in addition to the mask, with a light which upon activation of its audible alarm would energise the light, possibly red and flashing to allow anyone in the property to find the mask during poor visibility.

Whilst this devise may be slightly more expensive than a conventional stand alone smoke detector it will represent a better option with the additional benefits of the mask and location light.

It is the intention of the inventors that the devise can and will be manufactured in two housings which clip, slide or fit together in some other way so that they can be sold separately as the basic' Escape Mask which can then be up-graded at any time to a deluxe' version with the smoke alarm and light.

This will make the device more affordable to those on low incomes and the mask still attractive to those who do not wish to replace their existing smoke alarms.

When fitted together the housings will form one neat and attractive unit.

All housings will also be made to fit together perfectly for mounting of multiple units. 4 3

The mask itself, Figure 2, features integrated eye protection and a soft rubberised seal around the whole mask, onto the face to reduce smoke ingress. These features will help the user to see through the smoke outside of the mask without their eyes being damaged.

The seal will also keep the air inside the mask clean, giving maximum benefit from the filter to maximise the time available to escape from a building in the event of a fire.

Eyes can become permanently damaged from smoke as can lungs.

The mask is retained by a wide elasticised strap easily pulled over the head to keep the mask in place and tight onto the face of the user so that the seal is effective.

All materials used for the construction of the Mask itself will be fire retardant.

Cosmetically the overall look of the mask itself is unimportant as it is the fact that it is to be made easily visible and accessible by wall mounting it within the housing together with the various technical features in the overall design and the useful purpose of the complete devise that is the invention itself.

The heat resistant housing will be neat. It can be made to look modem or otherwise and will be available in a range of colours and fmishes such as wood effect or chrome without limitation to match decoration and meet personal preferences or requirements.

Summary

The inventors are not aware of any similar device which is wall mounted' for this exact purpose and which has such versatile features with a massive potential to save lives due to its unique design and universal application.