Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02295348 2000-04-03
Being a mE~mber of the fire services for twenty six
years, I have experienced the sensation of being in a hot,
dark, smoke filled environment and becoming disoriented. In
total darkness, you must use your hands and feel your way
along the walls and hope to find an opening which will lead
you to safety. Of course, the best visibility is always at
floor level and a hand light is essential. Visibility
through thick smoke can increase dramatically with a good
light beam from a hand light. Walls and doorways are easier
to find as visibility .increases by several feet. Reflective
surfaces, such a=. the reflective stripes on bunker gear, show
up dramatically when hit by a light beam. Many high rise
buildings are now installing reflective numbers at the bottom
of doors, about a f.-'oot from the floor, in order for
firefighters to easily find apartment numbers in a smoke
filled hallway. The hand light has become an essential tool
in any search and rescue operation, and incorporating said
invention will increase its effectiveness as hart of anv
entry control process.
Many departments have, or are now in the process of
developing entry control or personnel accountability systems.
This is a means of keeping track of personnel going into a
building, how :Long they are in the building, and their
location, as well as providing back-up rescue teams in case a
problem develops.. Many devices are being developed or are
already on the rnarket to help locate fallen firefighters.
The Pass Alarm .Ls attached to the firefighters and will
activate an alarm if there is no movement for approximately
twenty seconds. This audible alarm can be heard from a great
distance, but unfortunately it does not provide a route to
follow when searching for the victim. Valuable time is lost
going from room to roorru trying to pinpoint where the sound is
coming from. The direction of an audible sound is difficult
to discern when a firefighter is in an enclosed area and
CA 02295348 2000-04-03
training exercises have shown how hard it can be to locate a
fallen firefighter whose alarm has activated.
With today's technology, it is possible to provide
electronic signals that would show a general direction to
follow in a search. The global positioning system could be
used to pinpoint a general location, however, none of these
could provide ~~ direct route around walls and through
doorways to effect a quick rescue. Electronic gadgetry is
not well suited :Eor the difficult conditions which are always
present in the fire services. It has to withstand water,
heat, shock, and must not interfere with radio
communications. These systems are also costly and most
departments woulc9 be reluctant to spend a great deal of money
in this area.
On the othE~r hand, the proposed invention can be made
durable, reliab_Le, and made affordable to any department.
The first team oi-_' firefighters entering a burning building in
search of possible victims would remain "low to the ground"
and begin marking a path of arrows using the proposed
invention. In a corridor or hallway, the arrows would always
be placed on the right. hand side near the wall and in the
direction of travel. When encountering a doorway, an arrow
would be stamped in the middle of the entrance, pointing into
that room. Firefighters would then conduct a thorough search
of this room, stamping' an arrow along it's perimeter walls
until the room has been completely encircled and they have
returned to the doorway. At this point, another arrow would
be stamped acro:~s the first one, creating an X pattern,
indicating to the second entry team or rescue team that the
room has been searched and the firefighters have exited this
particular area. This avoids wasting valuable time when
searching for fallen firefighters. Rescue teams would notice
the X across the doorway and would continue farther down a
hallway in the proper direction. When going up or down a
stairway in a multi-level building, the same technique is
CA 02295348 2000-04-03
used. The first step or landing is marked with an arrow
indicating that the crew have now gone up or down a stairway
to another level. When returning, this arrow is also crossed,
forming an X, showing that the crew has safely returned from
this level. An arrow that is not crossed forming an X would
direct the rescue crew to the proper level. Using this
protocol in a high rise building would direct the rescue crew
to the proper floor or strairway to effect a quick rescue.
The use of more than one fluorescent marking color for
the stamping device would allow several teams to be
monitored. For example, the first entry team could be of a
bright lime green fluorescent which would mark the initial
entry into the building, and the rescue team with a bright
orange fluorescent: color could place their arrows along the
established route and mark a safe exit or rescue path for
themselves should they :run into problems. Changing the color
of the arrow is as simple as inserting the desired colored
cartridge in the :tamping device at the bottom of the light.
The embodiment of this invention could be applied to
other uses such as cavE~ exploration, hiking in remote areas,
or inspection of sewers or underground tunnels in water
pollution plants and manufacturing plants. A biodegradable
marking solution would be used so that arrows would not
remain permanent.
The Lifelight could be described as a Rescue tool that
could be a critical life saving device for search and rescue
operations. In the fire service, it could be considered a
vital life line to safety when trapped in a dangerous
environment.
CA 02295348 2000-04-03
in drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:
FIG. 1 is a cfiagrarn of a typical hand held light, usually
referred to as a hand light in its most common
form, which is readily available and manufactured
with minor variances by several companies.
Attached to the bottom of the hand light is a
compartment or bracket designed to accommodate
a cartridge.
FIG. 2 is a stamping cartridge which is inserted into
the bracket depicted in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a detailed drawing of the components which
make up the stamping cartridge.
FIG. 4 shows the rear view of a hand light and its
brack et assembly, demonstrating the insertion
of a stamping cartridge/cassette.
FIG. 5 shows one method of attaching and securing the
cartridge to the hand light bracket.
CA 02295348 2000-04-03
SPECIFICATION
The invention consists of a stamping device secured to a
hand held lighi~ which, when depressed, imparts the
fluorescent image of an arrow indicating direction of travel.
FIG. 1 shows a typical hand light 1. made with an attached
mounting bracket :?. made of a strong plastic, similar to that
used in forming the shell of a hand light, or could be made
of metal, which is specifically designed, and strong enough
to hold a stamping cartridge 3. within it. The bracket 2.
would be secured to tile bottom, flat portion of the hand
light by a strong bonding medium, such as glue, hot glue,
rivets, screws, bolts, peel-and-stick type adhesives or other
methods such as vE~lcro straps which encircles the body of the
hand light and through t:he handle.
As shown in 'hIG 4,. the mounting bracket 2. is mostly
enclosed on three sides and has as open end which would be
facing rearward, in the opposite direction of the light beam,
allowing for a place to insert the stamping cartridge
depicted in FIG 2.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting
bracket 2. would be added to the molding process in the
design of a new hand light, which incorporates the bracket 2.
into the molded body 1. as part of the design. As shown in
FIG 5 a small opening 9. in the front of the bracket,
opposite the open end, is designed to admit a locking
mechanism 8. The stamping cartridge 3. would have a
mechanism 8. which fits into the opening 9. and snaps in the
cartridge securing it to~ the bracket. The stamping cartridge
depicted in FIG 3 is sectioned into its three main
components: the main body 3., which fits into the bottom
channel of the bracket 2., the spring-loaded platform 10.
which retracts into the main body, and the actual ink filled
reservoir 6. saturating the stamping arrow 5.
CA 02295348 2000-04-03
The stamping cartridge can be inserted into the
compartment of the bracket 2. in two different positions:
one in a storage mode and the other when in use.
When being stored, the cartridge is inserted into the
bracket upside down, with the stamping arrow facing the
bottom of the hand light. This allows the top half of the
bracket 2. to accommodate the stamping platform 10. in the
stored position, providing protection for the stamping pad
and platform. ~Phe locking mechanism depicted in FIG 5-8.
engages in either storage or in use positions. The cartridge
3. can be removed by pushing on the flexible locking
mechanism 8., thereby releasing the stamping cartridge.
To use the stamping properties of the invention, the
cartridge 3. is :imply removed from its storage position and
re-installed in the same channel grooves 11., but with the
stamping arrow 5. down. The stamping platform 10. would now
extend beyond tree bracket and would in fact be the lowest
point of contact:. When placed on a flat surface, the hand
light would be resting on the spring-loaded platform. By
applying a reasonable amount of downward pressure to the
handle, the spring-loaded platform 10. would retract into the
main body 3. of the cartridge, thereby exposing the ink
saturated pad 5. shaped in the form of an arrow. The pad 5.
would then make contact with the floor surface, leaving an
imprint of an arrow or other suitable marking in the same
direction as the light beam emitted by the hand light. In
another embodiment of this invention, a stamping pad affixed
to the handle would lower beyond a fixed platform, making an
impression.
The stamping arrow 5. is of a felt or rubber foam or
synthetic foam material, which would absorb the liquid
marking solution in reservoir 6. It should have a degree of
flexibility that allows it to make an impression on irregular
surfaces such as cement. The arrow would attach to an ink
filled container 6. and be contacted by the ink, so as to
allow absorption at a rate necessary to make a continuous
CA 02295348 2000-04-03
series of impressions" The fluid filled reservoir could
contain a~J absorbent, fibrous or sponge-like material to
prevent liquid from dripping or splashing around in the
container. A similar ~>rocess is used in the making of felt
pens or highlight markers.
For the purpose of high visibility, the liquid formula
should have fluorescent and, preferably luminescent
qualities. A fast drying solution, which could be alcohol
based, would also be water resistant, a desirable and
necessary requisite in a firefighting environment. Being
alcohol or methyl hydrate based, the solution would not be
affected by free:aing temperatures, and could be stored in
vehicle compartments even during winter. The stamping
cartridge 3. would be sealed in a plastic or foil wrap to
prevent drying, and would be opened prior to inserting into
the bracket when being used. Because of the simplicity and
relatively low co:~t, a used cartridge would be discarded and
replaced with a new sealed unit inserted in the stored
position in the bracket., ready for use. As shown in FIG 3.,
the stamping platform 10. is extended from the main body 3.
by tensioned U-shaped pieces of metal 7. When pressure is
applied, these metal strips 7. flatten out to allow the
platform 10. to Enter i:he cavity and return to their former
shape when pressure is released, thereby pushing out the
platform 10. to it.s ful7L extension. Coiled springs or other
tensioning methods could be used besides the embodiment shown
in FIG 3.
Rubber strips 4. would be incorporated into the stamping
platform 10. to absorb shock and prevent slipping when force
is applied.
