Self-activating fire extinguisher

A self-activating fire extinguisher comprising:

• a glass container, said container being totally closed and sealed from the outside atmosphere;
• a quantity of a fire extinguishing liquid within said container, said liquid having a relatively low boiling point and, when converted into a gaseous state, having fumes which are denser than air whereby said fumes tend to settle downwardly and are capable of extinguishing a fire;
• a thin shell covering a substantial portion of the outer surface of said glass container and being secured thereto, said shell being capable of substantially maintaining its shape and physical characteristics at a temperature above the boiling point of said liquid and above the temperature which is needed for the boiling liquid in said container to cause said container to shatter;
• at least one portion of the outer surface of said glass container not being covered by said shell;
• whereby, in the event of a fire, the temperature of the liquid within said container rises and the same begins to boil thereby increasing the pressure within the container until at least a portion of the glass shatters, said shell substantially maintaining the shape of said container so that said liquid and the fumes therefrom escape substantially only at that portion of the glass container which is not covered by said shell.