Fire hose coupling with directional indicator

Abstract

A fire hose coupling comprises a body having a first end connected to a fire hose and a second end having either male or female threads or, alternatively, a quarter-turn sexless coupler. The fire hose coupling comprises a recessed portion formed in an outer surface of the body. The recessed portion is shaped to define a visuotactile directional indicator such as an arrow. The recessed portion may include a light-reflecting surface to enhance visibility such as a super reflective metal film, a photo luminescent coating, or a phosfluorescent coating. The recessed directional indicator may be formed in female, male or sexless (Storz) couplings.

Claims

1. A fire hose coupling comprising: a substantially annular coupling body having a first end for connecting to a fire hose and a second end that defines a coupler for connecting to another coupling; a plurality of lugs that extend radially outwardly from the substantially annular coupling body; and a plurality of arrow-shaped visual directional indicators between the lugs for indicating a direction of exit.

2. The coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of visual indicators comprises a light-reflecting surface to enhance visibility of the directional indicator.

3. The coupling as claimed in claim 2 wherein the light-reflecting surface comprises a super reflective metal film.

4. The coupling as claimed in claim 2 wherein the light-reflecting surface comprises a photo luminescent coating.

5. The coupling as claimed in claim 2 wherein the light-reflecting surface comprises a phosfluorescent coating.

6. The coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substantially annular coupling body comprises internal threads to thereby define a female coupling.

7. The coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substantially annular coupling body comprises external threads to thereby define a male coupling.

8. The coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substantially annular coupling body comprises a quarter-turn coupler.

9. The coupling as claimed in claim 1 comprising three equally spaced lugs.

10. A coupling-hose combination comprising: a hose; an annular coupling body having a first end connected to the hose and a second end that defines a coupler for connecting to another coupling; a plurality of lugs that extend radially outwardly from annular coupling body; wherein the annular coupling body includes a plurality of visual directional indicators between the lugs for indicating a direction of exit.

11. The coupling-hose combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein the coupler comprises internal threads to thereby define a female coupling.

12. The coupling-hose combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein the coupler comprises external threads to thereby define a male coupling.

13. The coupling-hose combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein the coupler is a quarter-turn coupler.

14. The coupling-hose combination as claimed in claim 10 comprising three equally spaced lugs.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Further features and advantages of the present technology will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a female fire hose coupling in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a male fire hose coupling connected to a female fire hose coupling in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a Storz (sexless) coupling having differently coloured directional arrows in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] In general, the present invention provides a fire hose coupling with a directional indicator. The directional indicator is designed to indicate a direction to safety (i.e. the direction to the exit). In other words, the directional indicator points the firefighter toward the fire truck, which thus leads the firefighter out of the burning building or other structure. This directional indicator assists firefighters who may become disoriented, confused or lost in conditions of poor visibility such as for example in a dark and smoke-filled room, corridor or other location.

[0023] This novel coupling (or coupler) has a substantially annular body that includes a recessed, or sunken, portion formed in the outer surface of the body. The recessed or sunken portion thus defines a depressed area or cavity in the body of the coupling into which a symbol (e.g. an arrow) and/or a word (e.g. EXIT) may be provided for enhancing visibility of the directional indicator for the firefighter.

[0024] Since the recessed portion is both visual and tactile (i.e. can be both seen and felt, even through thick firefighter gloves), this directional indicator is said to be visuotactile. This visuotactile indicator may be shaped like an arrow, for example, or like any other readily recognizable symbol that is easily discerned either visually and/or tactilely (by touch).

[0025] The recessed portion of the coupling may contain a light-reflecting surface to enhance visibility. This light-reflecting surface may be made of a super reflective, photo luminescent or phosfluorescent material (e.g. fluorescent tape). Other coatings, paints, tapes, metallic films, etc. that provide extremely high reflectivity or brightness may be used as well. As will be appreciated, various combinations of light-reflecting materials may be used to achieve any desired visual effect. This light-reflecting surface makes the directional indicator more likely to be seen in conditions of poor visibility (e.g. in a dark or smoke-filled environment). In addition to an arrow or other such symbol, the coupling may include an engraved word (or word with recessed lettering) such as, for example, EXIT or OUT (or other foreign-language words appropriate to the local language understood by the firefighters using the couplings).

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a female coupling designated by reference numeral 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown by way of example, this coupling 10 has a substantially annular body 12 having a first end 14 connected to a fire hose 16 and a second end 18 having threads. A recessed portion 20 is formed in an outer surface 22 of the coupling body 12. The recessed portion 20 is shaped to define a visuotactile directional indicator. In this particular example, the visuotactile directional indicator is shaped like an arrow. Other symbol or shapes may be substituted such as, for example, a sideways V (<) or a series of sideways V's (<<<).

[0027] The recessed portion 20 may have a light-reflecting surface to enhance visibility of the directional indicator.

[0028] The light-reflecting surface inside the recessed portion 20 may be made of a super reflective metal film, a photo luminescent coating, or a phosfluorescent coating. Other paints, coatings, films, etc. having extremely high reflectivity or brightness may be used.

[0029] Optionally, in addition to an arrow or other such symbol, the coupling may include an engraved word (or word with recessed lettering) such as, for example, EXIT or OUT (or other foreign-language words appropriate to the local language understood by the firefighters using the couplings).

[0030] Optionally, the substantially annular body 12 has a plurality of recessed portions 20. This helps to ensure that at least one directional indicator is always visible irrespective of the position (or lie) of the coupling. As a specific example, the substantially annular body may have three directional indicators on the outer surface of the coupling. As will be appreciated, any number of directional indicators may be used provided they remain large to be readily visible.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a male fire hose coupling 11 connected to a female fire hose 10 coupling in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The female coupling 10 is the same as described above. The male coupling has external threads for connecting to complementary internal threads on the female coupling. As shown by way of example in FIG. 2, both the female coupling 10 and the male coupling 11 have directional indicators. It is possible, however, to have the directional indicators on only the male coupling or on only the female coupling. As shown in FIG. 2, the visuotactile directional indicator is formed by the recessed portion 20 located in the outer surface of the annular body.

[0032] In one embodiment, as shown by way of example in FIG. 2, one recessed portion (directional indicator) is disposed between each adjacent pair of lugs 24 that extend radially outwardly from the substantially annular body. In this specific example, the annular body has three lugs 24. Three arrow-shaped directional indicators are provided between each adjacent pair of lugs. This disposition of directional indicators ensures that at least one directional indicator is visible irrespective of the lie of the coupling (i.e. regardless of how the coupling is positioned).

[0033] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a Storz (sexless) coupling having differently coloured directional arrows in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the coupling is composed of a first sexless coupling 30 and a second sexless coupling 40. The first sexless coupling 30 includes a first coupling body 32 having a first coupler 34. The second sexless coupling 40 includes a second coupling body 42 having a second coupler 44. These Storz or sexless couplings are also referred to as quarter-turn couplings in the industry. On the first coupling body 30 is a first directional arrow 38. On the second coupling body 40 is a second directional arrow 48. In this embodiment, the directional arrows 38, 48 are of different colour or appearance. This facilitates assembly of the sexless couplings. Any suitable colour scheme or visual indicia can be used to facilitate connection of the Storz couplings. For example, a convention may be adopted that red-coloured arrows are on the side of the coupling facing the nozzle while yellow-coloured arrows are on the side of the coupling facing the hydrant or fire truck. As will be appreciate, any symbols, shading, lettering or other visual indicia may be added to further distinguish one side from the other.

[0034] The novel coupling disclosed herein can be used as part of a novel fire hose assembly. The assembly has a first fire hose 36 having a first coupling 30, wherein the first coupling comprises a body having a recessed portion formed in an outer surface of the body, the recessed portion shaped to define a visuotactile directional indicator. The assembly also has a second fire hose 46 having a second coupling 40 adapted to be mechanically coupled to the first coupling.

[0035] The novel coupling disclosed herein can also be used in a novel method of indicating a direction of exit when assembling fire hoses. The method entails providing a first fire hose having one end adapted to connect to a fire truck and another end having a first coupling and providing a second fire hose having a nozzle at one end and a second coupling at another end that is adapted to be mechanically coupled to the first coupling. One or both of the first coupling and the second coupling comprises a visuotactile directional indicator formed as a recessed portion in an outer surface of a body of the coupling. The method then involves coupling the first and second couplings such that the one or more directional indicators points toward the fire truck, thereby indicating the direction of exit.

[0036] The coupling, assembly and method confer advantages over the prior art. The coupling has a visuotactile directional indicator that formed as a recessed portion in the annular body of the coupling. As such, the coupling is less likely to catch or snag as the hose assembly is dragged through a building. The recessed portion defining the visuotactile directional indicator may have a light-reflecting surface (e.g. high-reflectivity coating, tape, film, etc.) that enhances visibility. Since this light-reflecting surface is protected within the recessed portion, it does not abrade or wear when the hose and coupling assembly is dragged over the ground or floor, thus preserving the reflectivity of the light-reflecting surface of the directional indicator. This improved coupling is therefore safer and easier to utilize since it is less likely to cause the hose and coupling assembly to catch or snag when being dragged through a flaming building. Furthermore, the visuotactile directional indicators on this improved coupling are more resistant to wear and abrasion, thus prolonging the coupling's usefulness as a visuotactile indicator in conditions in poor visibility.

[0037] This new technology has been described in terms of specific examples, embodiments, implementations and configurations which are intended to be exemplary only. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that obvious variations, modifications and refinements can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The scope of the exclusive right sought by the Applicant is therefore intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.