FIRE-SAFETY FURNITURE COMPRISING A FIRE BLANKET AND FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Abstract

 A novel furnishing for encasing a fire blanket (200) comprises a case (100), in the lower part of which is an opening, from which the fire blanket (200) is removable by pulling on the straps (201) of the fire blanket (200). The case (100) is arranged to encase the fire blanket (200) in such a way that the fire blanket (200) is configured to be spread open without opening the case (100). The upper part of the case (100) has an opening, from which the extinguisher (300) encased by the case (100) may be ejected so that the case (100) is configured to encase the extinguisher (300) in such a way that the extinguisher (300) can be taken into use without opening the case (100).

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0001] The present invention relates to furnishings. In particular, the invention relates to a fire-safety furnishing for encasing a fire blanket. More specifically, the invention relates to a fire-safety furnishing according to the preamble to Claim 1.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In terms of manual extinguishing, it is important that manual-extinguishing appliances are rapidly available in case of fire. Manual extinguishing appliances, such as fire blankets and extinguishers, have traditionally been attached to a wall using simple carriers, such as screws and installation irons, respectively. A problem with traditional carriers has been seen to be their unsuitability for furnished spaces. Though the nature of the problem is mainly aesthetic, the final result is often that the manual-extinguishing appliances are hidden in cabinets or other closed spaces, which must first be opened to give access to the manual-extinguishing appliances. A fire-safety furnishing is, however, known from publication CN 101130131A for encasing a fire blanket in such a way that the fire blanket can be pulled by its straps from the furnishing without first separately opening the case.

[0003] Though fire blankets are, thanks to their small size and extinguishing capacity, an excellent first aid in extinguishing an initial fire, once the fire has already started extinguishing must be performed using an extinguisher, such as a powder or foam extinguisher. Thus the intention of the present invention is to create a solution for installing manual-extinguishing appliances, suitable for extinguishing both a smouldering fire and one that has started, in furnished spaces, without the appearance of the manual-extinguishing appliances becoming an obstacle.

SUMMARY

[0004] The objective is achieved using a novel fire-safety furnishing, the case of which is arranged to encase a packed fire blanket. In the lower part of the case is an opening, from which the fire blanket can be removed by pulling on the fire blanket's straps, so that the fire blanket can be spread open without opening the case. In the upper part of the case is an opening, from which an extinguisher encased by the case can be lifted, so that the case is arranged to encase the extinguisher, in such a way that the extinguisher is accessible for use without opening the case.

[0005] Considerable advantages are gained with the aid of the invention. Because the case is arranged to encase not only a fire blanket but also an extinguisher, there are sufficient manual-extinguishing appliances for extinguishing both smouldering fires and ones that have already started. With the aid of the furnishing it is thus possible to meld the manual-extinguishing appliances into the furnished premises, because the furnishing can be itself manufactured or shaped to suit the furnishings by selecting the right materials or, for example, by painting it. Similarly, by altering the form of the fire-safety furnishing the furnishing can be made to suit a specific furnishing style, which the style of the manual-extinguishing appliances would not otherwise suit. As a particular application, it is possible to consider, for example, protected premises, in which it is not possible to carry out considerable alterations. In that case, the manual-extinguishing appliances can be brought closer to their optimal location, irrespective of the outer appearance of the manual-extinguishing appliances.

[0006] According to one embodiment, the case is hollow and can be opened for storing and replacing a fire blanket and extinguisher, respectively. In addition, the front part of the case can be open and comprise a storage space. The furnishing can then function, for example, as a newspaper stand, which also acts as a manual-extinguishing appliances case.

[0007] According to one further embodiment, the storage space is surrounded by an internal covering for supporting items, such as newspapers or a terminal device. The internal covering can be, and is equipped with a feed-through for bringing an accessory, such a charger for a terminal device, into the storage space. The furnishing then acts not only as a charging point for a terminal device, such as a smart tablet, but also as a case for diverse manual-extinguishing appliances. In addition, or alternatively, the internal covering can be equipped with a light, so that the furnishing can act as a light or light the items stored in the front part of the case.

BRIED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] In the following, some exemplary embodiments of the invention are depicted in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows an isometric view of the fire-safety furnishing in the opened state, according to one embodiment and

FIGURE 2 shows an isometric view of the fire-safety furnishing in the closed state, according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0009] FIGURE 1 shows a fire-safety furnishing according to one embodiment, the case 100 of which is in the open state. In the case 100 there are two main parts: a body 110 and an auxiliary body 120. The task of the body 110 is to encase not only the manual-extinguishing appliances 200, 300 but also accessories 118, 119 and to carry items, such as newspapers, placed in the storage space of the front part of the body 100. In this connection, the expression encase refers to the covering of an item from at least two directions at an angle of at least 90 degrees from each other. In the example of Figure 1, the manual-extinguishing appliances 200, 300 are covered from four directions; from in front, from the sides, and from the rear. The task of the auxiliary body 120 is to attach the fire-safety furnishing to a receiving structure, such as a wall, and to support the manual-extinguishing appliances 200, 300. The body 110 and auxiliary body 120 are hinged to each other, in order to open the case 100 to facilitate the installation and replacement of the manual-extinguishing appliances 200, 300.

[0010] In the example of FIGURE 1, the auxiliary body 120 comprises an essentially four-sided frame, in which there are openings to receive attachment means, such as screws. A first carrier 121 is fitted to the auxiliary body 120 to suspend a fire blanket 200 in the case 100. At its simplest, the carrier 121 can be a hook, which is fed through the opening in the protective bag of the fire blanket 200. The fire blanket 200 then hangs by its protective bag from the first carrier 121, so that the fire blanket 200 can be spread open by pulling on the straps 201. The auxiliary body 120 also comprises a second carrier 122 arranged above the first carrier 121, for supporting an extinguisher 300. The second carrier 122 can be, for example, the annular or closed channel shown in FIGURE 1, which is suitable for carrying a cylindrical extinguisher 300 lying on its side. The extinguisher 300 can be, for example, an aerosol extinguisher, as shown in FIGURE 1, or a small manual extinguisher, such as a powder or foam extinguisher. A pull handle 124 can be attached to the extinguisher 300 by means of an attachment 123, which can be, for example, a Velcro strip or some other quick-release closing element. In the example of Figure 1, the attachment 123 is arranged to press against the pull handle 124 of the extinguished 300, in such a way that the extinguisher 300 can be lifted out of the furnishing by lifting the pull handle 124. The pull handle 124 can be, for example, a handle that is ergonomically shaped and/or equipped with warning or glowing paint, which protrudes from the opening in the upper part 114 of the case 100 and with which handle it is easy to lift the extinguisher 300 out of the fire-safety furnishing. In the example of FIGURE 1, the pull handle 124 is a simple upwardly-pointing component.

[0011] The body 110 of the case 100 is hinged to the auxiliary body 120 in such a way that the case 100 can be opened according to Figure 1. Alternatively, the body 110 could be openably attached to the auxiliary body 120, for example, with the aid of sliding or snap-shut shape adapters (not shown) arranged in the counter-surfaces of the pieces. The body 110 comprises a first side 111 and a second side 112, which determine the width of the case 100. The first and second sides 111, 112 join a cut-off front part 115 at the front end, an upper part 114 at the upper end, and a lower part 113 at the lower end. The upper and lower parts 114, 113 can be, for example, furnishing boards, which extend from the front part 115 in the depth direction towards the auxiliary body 120 in such a way that the upper and lower parts 114, 113 do not extend quite to the auxiliary body 120. Openings are thus formed in the upper and lower surfaces of the case 100, from which the extinguisher 300 and fire blanket 200 respectively can be removed from the case 100, without opening it.

[0012] As can further be seen from FIGURE 1, the front part 115 of the case 100 is cut off, so that there is access to the storage space of the front part of the body 110 from in front of the fire-safety furnishing. There are also openings shaped, for example, like the letter C, in the first and second sides 111, 112, so that there is access to the storage space also from the sides of the fire-safety furnishing. The storage space is delimited or surrounded by a covering 116, which can be made from a suitable lining material, such as plywood or some other surfacing that can be shaped, which has at least an auxiliary load-bearing capacity. A feed-through 117 for bringing a lead for an accessory 118, such as a charger into the storage space, is preferably made in the covering 116. In this way, the fire-safety furnishing can be used for storing and charging, for example, a smart tablet. The wiring for the accessory 118 can be brought into the case 100 for example from the same opening in the lower surface from which the straps 201 of the fire blanket 200 hang. In addition, lamps 119, for instance, for lighting the storage space can be attached to the covering 116. This is particularly advantageous if it is wished to use the fire-safety furnishing, for example, as a newspaper or decorative-object stand. The wiring for the lamp 119 can be implemented in the same way are for the accessory 118, and its transformer can be attached, for example, to the internal surface of the upper part 114. In addition, or alternatively, the power supply for the lamp 119 can be implemented using batteries. In addition, the lamp 119 can be used, for example, to show an incipient fire, by equipping the fire-safety furnishing with a fire detector (not shown) or by connecting the fire-safety furnishing to an existing data network or fire-detector network through a dedicated interface (not shown). The lamp 119 and/or an indicator device based on sound (not shown) integrated in the fire-safety furnishing can then give an alarm of a possible fire and guide the user to the manual-extinguishing appliances.

[0013] In practice, the installation of the fire-safety furnishing is straightforward. The case 100 is attached, for example, to a wall by drilling a screw through the frame of the auxiliary body 120. Once the auxiliary body 120 is attached, the packed fire blanket 200 is suspended by its protective bag from the first carrier 121 and the extinguisher 300 is placed in the second carrier 122 and possibly secured with a quick-release attachment 123. When the case 100 is open, the possible wiring for an accessory 118 and/or lamp 119 is brought out of the case through the opening that is formed between the lower part 113 of the body 110 and the auxiliary body 120. Maintenance of the manual-extinguishing appliances 200, 300 takes place by opening the case and detaching the manual-extinguishing appliances 200, 300 from the carriers 121, 122, respectively. The manual-extinguishing appliances 200, 300 are thus easily available by pulling on the straps 201 of the fire blanket 200, which hand form the opening in the lower part 113 of the case 100, or by lifting the extinguisher 300 from the opening in the upper part 114 of the case 100.

[0014] The fire-safety furnishing described above can also be implemented in many alternative ways. It is not necessary to attach the case to a receiving structure, instead a corresponding functionality can be created, for example, by placing the furnishing, for example, on a support surface, in which case the furnishing 100 will stand supported by the body 110. The storage space of the body 110 can be adapted almost without limit, for example, as an umbrella stand or a key frame. On the other hand, differing from FIGURE 1, the parts of the furnishing can be converted as a mirror image. For example, the auxiliary body shown in FIGURE 1 could act as the encasing part, whereas the body could be only a cover. Alternatively, the body and auxiliary body could be halves of the case. FIGURE 2 shows an alternative way to construct the present fire-safety furnishing. As can be seen from FIGURE 2, the shaping of the furnishing is considerably more rounded than the embodiment of FIGURE 1, so that, for instance, the front part 115 of the furnishing, the covering 116 of the storage space, and the upper part 114 join each other seamlessly. The openness of the front part of the case can also be more clearly seen than in the embodiment of FIGURE 1. In the embodiment of FIGURE 2, an accessory 118, which can be, for example, a wireless charging station for charging a terminal device placed in the storage space, is fitted into the covering 116. The feed-throughs and wiring for the accessory 118 can be implemented as above. In the embodiment of FIGURE 2, the pull handle 124 is a strip, by pulling of which the extinguisher can lifted out of the opening in the upper part 114. In the example of FIGURE 2, the straps 201 of the fire blanket are also shaped in a special way that suits the general appearance of the furnishing.

[0015] On the basis of the example described above, one skilled in the art can create many variations. Thus, the above description cannot be regarded as defining the scope of protection, which is defined by the accompanying claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Number	Part
100	case
110	body
111	first side
112	second side
113	bottom
114	upper part
115	front part
116	covering
117	feed-through
118	accessory
119	lamp
120	auxiliary body
121	carrier
122	carrier
123	attachment
124	pull handle
200	fire blanket
201	strap
300	extinguisher

Claims

1. Fire-safety furnishing for encasing a fire blanket (200), which fire-safety furnishing comprises a case (100), in the lower part of which is an opening, from which the fire blanket (200) is removable by pulling on the straps (201) of the fire blanket (200), wherein the case (100) is arranged to encase the fire blanket (200) in such a way that the fire blanket (200) is configured to be spread open without opening the case (100), characterized in that in the upper part of the case (100) there is an opening, from which the extinguisher (300) encased by the case (100) may be ejected so that the case (100) is configured to encase the extinguisher (300) in such a way that the extinguisher (300) can be taken into use without opening the case (100).

2. Fire-safety furnishing according to claim 1, which is further characterized in that the case (100) comprises:

- a first carrier (121), which is arranged to suspend the fire blanket (200) by its protective bag, and

- a second carrier (122), which is arranged to carry the extinguisher (300) in such a way that the extinguisher (300) can be lifted out of the fire-safety furnishing.

3. Fire-safety furnishing according to claim 1 or 2, which is further characterized in that the case (100):

- is hollow and openable to store and replace the fire blanket (200) and the extinguisher (300), respectively, and

- the front part is open and comprises a storage space.

4. Fire-safety furnishing according to claim 3, which is further characterized in that the storage space is surrounded by a covering (116), which is arranged to support items, such as newspapers or a terminal device, and which is equipped with:

- a feed-through (117) for introducing an accessory (118), such as a charger, into the storage space, or

- a lamp (119), or

- both.

Drawing