FIRE HOSE CONTAINER

CONTENANT POUR BOYAUX D'INCENDIE

English Abstract

A container for storing, transporting and unloading fire hose in high rise
apartment or open area fires comprises top, bottom, front, back and side
panels, which can be made to lie in a single plane when the container is
fully opened, or to form a rectangular compartment with parallel
opposite sides when the container is closed. When the top and front
panels are opened, the bottom, back and side panels form a trough, in
which to load the fire hose. The top and front panels employ hook and
loop fasteners to open and close them. A shoulder strap attached to tabs
on a bottom panel passes freely through a tunnel guide strap on each
side panel. The shoulder strap has a contoured cushioned pad. The top
panel flap has projections for easy opening. The panels have a foam
insert and lines sewn for rigidity. A reflective extension flag, through
whose loop the fire hose passes, can be used to extend the accordion
folded fire hose. The container efficiently stores, transports and unloads
fire hose in all visibility conditions without generating hose spirals and
kinks.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A container for storing, transporting and unloading fire hose
comprising: top, bottom, front, back and side panels which, when the
container is closed, form a compartment, and which, when the top and
front panels are opened, the back, bottom and side panels form a trough;
a reusable closure means for the container's top and front panels; and
a means for carrying the container.

2. A container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein when the container is fully
opened, the panels can be made to lie in a single plane.

3. A container as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the reusable closure
means for the top and front panels comprise *Velcro fasteners.

4. A container as claimed in Claims 1,2 or 3, wherein the means for
carrying the container comprise a shoulder strap anchored to tabs
extending from the ends of the bottom panel and sliding freely within a
tunnel guide strap anchored to each side panel, parallel to the shoulder
strap and parallel to or at an angle with the long edge of the side panel.

*Trademark


5. A container as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the shoulder strap is
equipped with a contoured cushioned pad.

6. A container as claimed in Claim 1,2, 3 or 5, wherein anchored to the
underside of the top panel is an attachment through which a hand can
freely pass.

7. A container as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 5, wherein there is a means
for manually extending the fire hose from the container.

8. A container as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the means for extending
the fire hose from the container comprise a reflective extension flag which
has a loop through which the hose passes and which has a hard insert

9. A container as claimed in Claims 1, 2, 3, 5, or 8, wherein the back panel
is equipped with a plurality of wear resistant, fabric skid strips.

10. A container claimed in Claims 1, 2, 3, 5, or 8, wherein the panels
are integral to one another.

11. A container as claimed in Claims 1,2,3,5 or 8, wherein the panels
are made from a double layer of material.

12. A container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the material is fabric


which is fire resistant, water resistant and rot and mildew resistant.

13. A container as claimed in Claims 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, or 12, wherein the
panels, are made semi-rigid by means comprising a form insert and
lines sewn.

14. A container as claimed in Claims 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 or 12 wherein the
compartments is rectangular.

15. A container as claimed in Claim 1,2,3,5,8 or 12, wherein the means
for carrying the container comprise a shoulder strap anchored to tabs
extending from the ends of the bottom panel, and passing freely through
plurality of cross straps anchored to each side panel and perpendicular
to or at an angle with the long edge of the side panel.

16. A container as claimed in Claim 1,2,3,5,8 or 12, wherein attached to
the top panel is a flap which has projections on its ends, which extend
beyond the side panels when the container is closed.

17. A container for storing, transporting and unloading fire hose
comprising top, bottom, front,back and side panels which can be closed,
the back, bottom, and side panels forming a trough when the top and
front panels are opened, the panels lying in single plane when the


container is fully opened, *Velcro fasteners providing a reusable closure
means for the top and front panels, a contoured cushioned shoulder
strap anchored to tabs extending from the ends of the bottom panel and
sliding freely through a tunnel guide strap anchored to each side panel
and parallel to the shoulder strap and the side panels long edge, the
panels made from a double layer of fabric with a foam insert and lines
sewn for rigidity.

Description

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EIELI::~ OF INYENTION

The present in~ention rel~tes to a ~ont~iner for storingJ tr~nsporting
~nd u~ g fire hose.

BAI~K~ROUNI: OFTHE INYENTION

Effe~tiYe firefi~hting requires efficien~ly storing~ tr.~nsporting ~nd
unlo~ding fire hose in ~ Y~riety of fïre situ~tions so th~t it is free of kinks
~d spir~ls~ in order to ~T~oid diminished no~le pressure upon ~h~rging.
One su~h situ~tion in~ol~es ~ high rise ~p~rtme~t fire ~here firefig,hter~
~ommonly must oper~te in poor or no ~isibility.

T~o types of de~ ices for storing~ tr~nsporting ~nd unlo~ding fire hose in
thi~ situ~tion, ~re kno~n in the prior ~rt. One ~omprises ~ c~n~sb~g
with ~ p ~losure equipped with ~ sp ~hich is ~ecured to ~ ring o~ the
b~g~s ~ody. To lo~d the h~g, the fire hose is l~id tl~t on the ground ~long
~ide itælf in two equ~l length~. Eeginning ~t the mid point of the fire
hose, ~ double doughnut is ~re~ted by rolling ~he hose upon itself. The
doughnut iq then -~tr~pped, pl~ce~ in the ~g~ ~nd the ci~sp f~tened. A
second de~ioe knoS~n ~omprises ~ str~ight. pl~ti~ str~p ~tt~hed ~o
~hi~h ~re three perpendi~ul~r str~ps. To lo~d this de~i~e.. the fire hose is

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nrdin~ !n~d~d irl nn~ nr .~Ty~n f-nlllm,t~ r~ f,rnm, th~ irn~lr"~ d
then l~ound ~y the three. perpendi~ul~r ~tr~p~! T~hi~h ~re wr~pped
~round the fire hose ~nd f~stened to their opposite ends.

The ~l~sp me~h~ni~m on the bag i~ diffi~ult to open. After remo~ing the
doughnut ~nd lo~ting ~nd rele~sing the str~p! the noæle ~nd the
rem~ie ~oupiing must be ~ound at ~n unkrlwvn lo~tion on the
doughnut?s cir~umferen~e. The doughnut?s unrollingJ often t~king
seTYTer~l attemptsJ inTYT~ri~ly ~re~tes hose ~;pir~ls whi~h mu~t be found
~nd ~le~red~efore ~h~rging.

1he str~p is ~wkw~rd to ~rry be~use of its si~e ~nd does not prote~t the
fire hose ~hile stored. At the st~nd pipe ~13inet~ the end of the
perpendi~ul~r ~tr~p~. must ~e lo~ted ~nd the f~c.tener~ rele~ed.

lhe no~le ~nd the fem~le ~oupling must~e lo~tecl ~t ~n unknawn
position. All of these pro~eduresJ r e~[uired l~y u~ing the b~g or the str~pJ
~re e.Ten more difficult ~nd time con~uming in pwr or no Tisibility
~onditions.

Asewnd~ommonsitu~tion~here efficiently ~toringJ tr~n~ipnrting ~nd

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unloadin~ fïre hose is r~uired in~olTT~es ~ fire in ~n open ~re~. One
eY~mplewould ~ ~ hi~hw~y TT~ehi~le fire. ~ice~ for this situ~t.ion ~re not
knw~n in the prior ~rt. E~ire hoæJ tored in ~ tiered ~ordion lo~d.. is
dr~gged off ~he fire tru~k ~nd extended m~nu~lly prior ~o ~h~rging. This
sometimes results in more th~n one tier f~lling to the grouFId with the
result th~t the fire hose becomes t~ngled.

SUMI!~ARY OFTHE lN~ ON

1. An ohject of the present iI~TT~ention i to etficierltlyT store! tr~rlsporl.
and unlo~d fire hose for use ~t high rise ~p~r~ment ~nd open ~re~ fires.

. A further obie~tis to unlo~dfire hose un~erpoor or noTT~isibility
~onditions b~ elimin~ting unkno~ns ~u~h ~s no~le.. fem~le ~oupling or
~stener lo~tions.

:~. A further object is to store~ transport ~nd unlo~d fïre hose so th~t
hose spir~ls ~nd kinks ~re ~T~oided in the interests of optimum nozzle
pressure.

4 A further o7~je~t is to pro~i~e ~ ~ont~iner whi~h is simple ~nd e~sy to
use.

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1 he in~Jention ~onsi~ts of ~ ~o~tainer for effi~iently storing~
tr~porti~g ~d ~ln~dir~g fire ho~e. The eoz~t~i~er e mpri~ top,
botto~, front, b~k~ and side p~nels. ~hen the ~op ~nd ~ront p~nel ~re
opened~ the b~k.. bottom, ~nd side p~nels for m ~ ~rough. The p~nels~
when the ~ont~iner is fully opened, ~n be m~de to lie in ~ single pl~ne
When the ~ont~iner is fully ~losed the p~nels form ~ re~t~ngul~r
comp~rtment. The top ~nd front p~nels employ ~ reus~le dosure
me~ns. 1 he ~orlt~ er h~s ~ me~ns for ~rrying it. There is ~ me~ns for
m~nu~lly e~tending the fïre hose from the ~ont~iner. The p~nels m~y l~e
m~de fr om ~ douhle l~yer of m.~teri~l.

The p~nels m~y be inte~r~l to one ~nother. The side, top, bottom, front~nd b~k p~nels ~ont~in ~ fo~m insert ~nd ~re se~Tn into sm~ll
~omp~rtments to ~hie~e ~ semi-rigid qu~lity. ~he fl~ps int.egr~l with the
side ~nd top p~Lnel ~nd pro~e~tions on the top p~nel fl~p ~ont~in ~ ro~m
insert to resist deform~tion. The f~ri~ m~y be fire resist~nt,T~F~ter
resist~nt ~nd rot ~nd mildew resist~nt. lhe me~ns for c~rrying the
~or~t~iner m~y be ~ shoulder str~p ~n~hored to t~bs extending ~rom the
ends of the bottom p~nel. The shoulder str~p p~sses freely through ~
tunnel ~uide str~p ~n~hored to e~h ~ide p~rlel ~d p~r~llel to the
~holllder str~p, The tunnel guide str~p m~y l~e p~r~llel to or ~t ~ slight
~ngle T~Yith the side p~nel~s long edge. Altern~ti~ely to the tunnel guide

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~t~ n~ P~i~h C~ s~~~Pl th~rP m~ hP ~rn~c! ~~r~ C! ~,r~ r to ~r ;~t
~ ;light ~ngle with the ~ide p~nel~ long edge. The sho~ld~r ~;tr~p m~y
h~T~e ~ contoured cushioned p~d. ~he method of ~n~horing the shoulder
st.r~p to the hottom p~nel t~s ~nd the tlmnel g~ide str~ps to the side
p~nels m~y be riTets or stit~hing. 1 he re~le ~losure me~I~s for ~he top
~nd front p~nel~ el~ro f~tener. The Imder~:ide of the top p~nel
m~y h~T~e ~tt~hments throughwhi~h ~ h~nd m~y freely p~ss. Theb~ck
p~nel m~y h~Ye we~r re~ist~nt ~kid strip~.

SUMMARY OF ~IRAY~INGS

~he inYention ~s e~emplifiedby ~ preferred embodiment is describedwith
referen~e to the dr~wing~ in which:

F`igure 1 is ~ perspe~tiYe ~iew of the ~ont~iner whil~P. ~losed ~nd res' ing on
its bottom p~nel.

E`igure ~. is ~ topT~iew of the wnt~iner when fully opeI~ed ~nd lying in
single pl~ne.

~Tr~l~h

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Fi5llre 3 is .~ cide Yiew of ~he ~ont~iner when opened with the top p~nelJ
~ide p~el ~nd t~ ~x~di~g from the hottom p~ndJ r~ot h~ g Ix~r
m~de to lie in ~ single pl~ne.

ngure 4 i~ ~ ~ro~s section of ~ doul~le l~yer p~nel wi~h ~ fo~m in~ert.

Figure ~ per~lue~ e~iew of the refle~ti~e e~tension fl~g.

~igure ~ is ~n intern~l Yiew of ~he cont~iner lo~ed wi~h fïre ho~e.

I:IET~LE~ ~ESCRIPTION

E Leferring ~o the dr~wing~J the preferred em~odiment of the inYentionJ ~
cont~iner for storing, tr~n~porting ~nd unlo~cling fire hoseJ i~ shc~n in
E~igllres 1.. 2 ~ncl 3.

As shc~Fn in E`igllre ~J the cont~iner ~omprise~ p~nel~ 1~, 14J 16~1g~ ~0
~nd ~ integr~l to one ~nother. The p~nel~ 12.. 14J lfiJ 18~ 20 ~nd ~ ~re
defined by ~titching ~long their ~utting edgesJ 24.. ~ / 30 ~nd ~2.
As shc~;LJn in E~igure 4, p~nels 1_~ 14f l ~ nd 2 - ~re m~de ~emi-rigid by
me~ns of ~ fo~m insert .3.~ . ~he p~nels 1 ~J14f 1~ ~18J~O ~nd 7.2. ~l~o h~e
line~ ~e.wn :~5~ for rigidity. Integr~l with the top p~nel ~.2 i~ ~ fl~p 34 The

- 2144717



fl~p .S4 h~s ~ ,fn~ ~s~rt ~ . PrnilP~tinns 3~ nd ~æ n~ thP fl~p ~1
~ont~in ~ fo~m in~ert ~ ~nd pro~ide ~n e~sy me~ns of gr~ing the fl~p
~ for the pllrpoæ of opening the top p~Lnel ~ Att~ched to the fl~p 34
on the in~ide. ~di~ent to its edge, is ~ strip of ~Yel~ro f~stener 40. ~IJhen
the ~ont~iner i~ ~losed ~s is sho~n in E`ig~re 1J t.he strip of *~el~ro
f~stener 40 on the fl~p 34 i~ se~ured to ~ strip of ~Yel~ro f~stener 4~' on
the outside of the l~ck p~nel 14~ ~dJ~cent to its edge. The sele~tion of
~el~ro ~steners 40 ~nd 47. must bfe su~h th~t the b~k p~nel 14 will
~ot f~s~en to ~ ~rpeted s~rf~e when the ~ont~iner i5 resting on its ~k
p~nel 14 ~s sho~Tn in E~gure 7. ~nd: ..

Att~hed to the inside of the front p~nel ~0 ~s ~hf~ in E`i~ure 2r
~dj~ent to its edges~ ~re strips of *~.~el~ro f~steners 44 ~nd 4~. Att~c.hed
to the fl~ps 4~ d 50 integr~l~f~ith the side p~nels 1~ ~nd 1~ ~re strips
of ~elcro f~stener~ nd ~4 . ~e fl~ps 42. ~d '~0 h~Ye ~ fo~m insert
33. ~Jhen the ~ont~iner is resting on its b~k p~el ~ sho~Tn in Figure ~;,
the strips of *~Felcro f~steners ~2 ~nd ~4 f~e ~pw~rds. A~wrdingly~
when the. ~ont~iner is ~losed the. *Yel~ro f~stener~ 44 ~nd 4~ on the
front p~nel ~0 ~re se~ured to the *~Fel~ro f~steners ~ nd ~4~ on the
fl~ps ~2 ~rld ~.Q.


~.1~1--...Ar'-

2144717



.4s ~h~.~ Figure ~ when the ~or~t~ er iA~ ~lly opened ~r~d restirlg or~it~ b~ek p~ 4J it e~r~ be m~de ~o lie i~ ~ ~ingle pl~e. A~ ~h~rl in
Figure i, the ~ont~iner whe~ ~lo~edr form~ ~ re~t~ngul~r ~omp~rtmerlt
with p~r~llel oppo~ite sides. As shown i~ Figure 1J ~tt~ched to the t~b~
5~ ~d ~ t the e~ds of the bottom p~rlel 1~ i~ a ~ho~lder ~tr~p ~0 ~r
c~rryi~g t:he ~or~t~i~er. The ~houlder ~tr~p ~ tt~hed to the t~b~ ~
~r~d ~ by ~tit~hi~g. rr~e for~e ~re~ted by the m~s~ of the corlt~i~er ~r~d
~he fire ho~e ~o~t~i~ed thereirl is tr~nsmitted dire~tly to the ~houlder
~tr~p ~0. ~t~hed to the out~ide of e~h ~;ide p~el 12 ~r~d 1~; is ~
t~nrlel guide ~tr~p ~.~2.~ p~r~llel t.o the ~houlder ~tr~p ~nd to t:he lo~g edgeof the ~ide p~nel. Irl the ~lter~ti~e. the tun~el guide ~tr~p m~y be
po itior~ed so th~t it i~ ~t ~ gle with the lor~g edge of the ~ide p~nel.
The l;~mr~el guide ~tr~p ~J~ tt~hed by me~ of ~tit~hing ~rld i~
po~itioned daw~ from the side p~nel 115 ~hort edge. ~he shoulder ~tr~p
~0 p~s~e~ freely throu~h the turl~el guide str~p ~. The c.houlder ~tr~p
h~s ~ h~rd irlsert be~een ~ se~ond l~yer of m~teri~ in the ~re~ of the
tu~nel guide str~p 6 17~e~e two ~pe~t of the ~ont~iner ~110~T it to lie
fl~t when it i~: opened ~ ~;hown in Fig~re~ nd :3. In the ~ltern~ e..
the stl~olllder ~tr~p 60 -m~y p~s~ freely through ~ros~ tr~p~ ~tt~hed to
e~h ~ide p~rlel ~d perpendi~ul~r to or ~t ~ slight ~ngle ~ith the ~ide
p~nel~s long edge. Att~hed to the ~houlder ~;tr~p ~iO is ~ ~ontoured
~u~hioned p~d f.~. The ~ont~ er m~y l~e m~de of f~bric. prefer~bl~

214 1717
_



f~h~ri~ ~YT~hi~h -s .~.re resist~.tJ w~ter re~i~t~.t ~nd rot ~r~.d ni!dew
re~i~t~nt. A~: ~hown in Figure ~ ~n e~ten~ion fl~g ~8. thro~gh whose
loop thefirehosep~s~e~be~r~ refle~ti~e trip ~Oonboth~ides~rldh~s
h~rd i~sert for rigidity. Reflecti~e t~pe is ~l~o ~tit~hed to the b~k p~nel
14~ the top p~nel f1~p 3~ a~d the tunr~el g~ide str~p ~. An~hored to the
~nder~ide of the top p~nel ~.2 m~ h,e ~n ~tt~hment for gr~ping.
Att~hed to the outside of the l~ck p~nel 14 m~y ~e we~r resist~t skid
~rip~:

To lo~d the wnt~iner it i~ po~:itio~ed ~ ~how~ in E`igure :~. The fron~
p~el ~0 is ~e~ured for ~ short di~t~ e to the fl~ps 4~ ~d ~!0 irltegr~l
with the side p~nel~ nd 16 so th~t bottom p~nel 1 ~J b~k p~nel 14
~nd ~ide p~rlel~ 1~ J 16 form ~ trough. Thi~ is f~ilit~ted thJy the ~emi-rigid
q~lity of the~e p~nel~. While f~cing th~ tro~lgh ~nd kneeling on the top
p~rlel ~ ttheb~seofthe h~ kp~elJ themidpoir~tofthefirehose i~
lo~ted ~nd the e~tension fl~g f~ ; pl~e~ ~t this point . The h~lf
length of ~he fire ho~e with the rlo~le end~ beginning in ~he ri~ht ~orner
of ~he troughJ i~Y then m~de into ~n ~ordion tier whi~h re~Y on ~he
~c~ p~nel 1~. AS shw~ m E~gure ~'J the h~l~lerlgth of the fire ho~ewith
the fem~le couplin~ i~ then m~de into ~ second ~ccordior~ tier which
re~t~ on top of the fir~. The e~ten~ion fl~g 7~ .. is po~itioned on ~op of the
~econd tier. I~ he~d i~ fol~ed 90 de~ree~ ~nd in~erted in l~et~een the

. 214~717
_



~ordion fold~. When the ~ont~iner i~ ~lo~ed~ the no~zle ~d the ~m~le
~oupling will ~e lo~ted ne~t to the top p~nel 2 ~T~Tith the no~le doæst to
theb~d~p~nel 14~ndthe fem~le ~o~lpling ~lo~esttothe front p~nel ~0.

In ~ high riæ ~p~rtment fire the cont~iner i~ pl~ed on it bottom 1
with ~he front p~n~l f~ing ~he fïrefighter. The ~houlder ~.tr~p ~0 i~
~llowed to f~ g~in~t the outside of the ~k p~nel 14 . l~ne fl~p 34 i~
rele~ed from the b~ck p~nel 14 by gr~sping the proje~tions 36 ~nd 3
~nd pulling open the top p~nel, ~. The iem~le ~oupling is gi~Ten to ~
fir~fighter working ~he st~ndpipe ~inet for ~onne~tion to the w~ter
~upply. l~e wnt~iner i~ m~de to rest on it~ h~k p~nel 14. l~e front
p~nel 20 is fully opened so th~t the ~ont~mer lies fl.~t ~s sho~lm in Figure
~. The ex~en~io~ fl~g i~ used to extend the hose down the h~llw~y.

The ~ont~iner effi~iently store tr~n ports, prote~t~, ~nd unlo~ds fire
hose for use ~t high rise ~p~rtment ~nd open ~re~ fir~s. The firefighter
~1W~Y~ know~; I;he no~le ~nd fem~le coupling lo~tion~. The opening
me~n~ for the ~ont~iner i-~. ~imple ~nd e~y. The~.e ~d~nt~ge~
per~iste~en in poor or no~isil~ility condition~. The ~ort~iner ~lso ~oid~
the possi~ilitT,~- ~f~ener~ing hose spir~ls ~ndkink~. The ~or,t~iner i~
~;imply ~nd e~ily loaded ~r~d ~ont~in~ the hoæ in ~ ne~ti ~omp~t ~nd
~omfort.~bly port~le m~nner.

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,




Although or~ly ~ single e~hr3diment of the pre~e~t in~ention h~ been
det~iled ~nd illu~tr~t~d~ the pre~erlt in~ent.ion i~ not limited to the
fe~tures of the en~ dime~t ~ut in~ludes ~ ri~tion~ ~nd modifi~tiorls
withir~ the ~ope of the ~l~im~ ~nd the spirit of the i~er~tion.

Representative Drawing