Firefighting tool set

A firefighting tool, comprising:

• (a) an elongate handle;
• (b) a combination head including an axe-like edge and an oppositely directed grub hoe blade;
• and
• (c) selectively releasable connector means for attaching said combination head to said handle, said connector means including mating helically threaded portions located respectively on said elongate handle and said combination head and selectively releasable latching means for preventing inadvertent loosening of said connector means by preventing rotation of said threaded portions relative to one another when said threaded portions are fully mated with one another, said latching means including a plunger and defining means for receiving said plunger in a latched condition of said connector means and including resilient means for biasing said plunger toward said latched condition.

A firefighting tool, comprising:

• (a) an elongate handle;
• (b) a combination head including an axe-like edge and an oppositely directed grub hoe blade;
• (c) selectively releasable connector means for attaching said combination head to said handle, said connector means including selectively releasable latching means for preventing inadvertent loosening of said connector means, said latching means including a plunger and defining means for receiving said plunger in a latched condition of said connector means and including resilient means for biasing said plunger toward said latched condition;
• and
• (d) a shovel including a shovel blade, said shovel head being interchangeably attachable to said elongate handle by said connector means in place of said combination head, and said shovel blade defining a rear edge and having a pair of opposite lateral edges extending generally parallel with one another and generally perpendicular to said rear edge, at least one of said lateral edges defining a plurality of notches therein, said notches each having a depth and being separated from one another by a distance at least about equal to said depth, and said shovel head also including an elongate handle extension and attachment means defining a pivot axis extending transversely with respect to the length of said handle extension and generally parallel with said rear edge of said shovel blade, for releasably holding said shovel blade in a selected one of a shovel position, in which said blade extends away from said handle extension and said lateral edges extend generally at an angle in the range of about 20.degree.-25.degree. with respect to an imaginary extension of said handle extension, and a scraper position, in which said lateral edges extend substantially perpendicular to said handle extension, said shovel blade being pivotable about said pivot axis between said shovel position and said scraper position.

A firefighting tool, comprising:

• (a) an elongate handle;
• (b) a combination head attached to an end of said elongate handle, said combination head including
• (i) an axe blade portion having a bottom and extending in a first direction and having a convexly arcuate sharpened axe edge directed away from and extending generally parallel with said handle;
• (ii) a grub hoe blade extending oppositely from said first direction and having a sharpened grub edge located in a plane substantially perpendicular to the length of said handle, said grub edge extending generally perpendicular to said axe edge;
• and
• (iii) a sharpened concavely arcuate brush hook edge located on said bottom of said axe blade, said brush hook edge extending generally away from said handle and being located substantially in a plane including said handle and said sharpened edge of said axe blade;
• and
• (c) connector means for attaching said combination head to said handle, said connector means including mating helically threaded portions on said elongate handle and said combination head and selectively releasable latching means for preventing inadvertent loosening of said connector means by preventing rotation of said threaded portions relative to one another when said threaded portions are fully mated with one another, said latching means including a plunger and defining means for receiving said plunger in a latched condition of said connector means and including resilient means for biasing said plunger toward said latched condition.

A firefighting tool, comprising:

• (a) an elongate handle having a length;
• (b) a shovel blade defining a rear edge and having a pair of opposite lateral edges, at least one of said lateral edges defining a plurality of generally V-shaped notches spaced apart from one another along a major portion thereof to define rake teeth;
• and
• (c) shovel blade attachment means defining a pivot axis extending transversely with respect to the length of said handle and generally parallel with said rear edge of said shovel blade, for releasably holding said shovel blade in a selected one of a first position in which said shovel blade extends away from said handle and said lateral edges extend generally at an angle in the range of about 20.degree.-25.degree. with respect to an imaginary extension of said handle, and a second position in which said lateral edges extend substantially perpendicular to said handle, said shovel blade being pivotable about said pivot axis between said first and second positions.

A firefighting tool kit for use by forest firefighters, comprising:

• (a) an elongate handle;
• (b) a combination head including an axe-like edge and an oppositely directed grub hoe blade;
• (c) selectively releasable connector means for attaching said combination head to said elongate handle said connector means including mating helically threaded portions on said elongate handle and said combination head and selectively releasable latching means for preventing unintended loosening of said connector means by preventing rotation of said threaded portions relative to one another when said threaded portions are fully mated with one another, said latching means including a plunger and defining means for receiving said plunger in a latched condition of said connector means and including resilient means for biasing said plunger toward said latched condition and means for retaining said plunger always attached to one of said elongate handle and said combination head;
• (d) a shovel head interchangeably attachable to said elongate handle by said connector means in place of said combination head;
• (e) a fire extinguishing, direct contact head interchangeably attachable to said elongate handle by said connector means in place of said combination head;
• and
• (f) a backpack including a plurality of separate pockets for holding, respectively, said combination head, said shovel blade head, and said beater head.

A firefighting tool, comprising:

• (a) an elongate handle having a pair of opposite ends and a terminal portion adjacent one of said ends;
• (b) a fire extinguishing direct contact head including a plurality of elongate flexible straps of sheet material each having a length of at least about 16 inches, said straps being defined by a plurality of separate generally parallel cuts in a sheet of material having a marginal portion, at least a majority of said plurality of cuts extending approximately to an imaginary line defining said marginal portion of said sheet of material, a first end of each of said straps being attached to said handle by said marginal portion being wrapped about and fastened to said handle adjacent said terminal portion;
• and
• (c) scrubber means fastened to said handle adjacent said terminal portion for exposing, spreading and cooling embers in vegetation.

A firefighting tool comprising:

• (a) an elongate substantially unbreakable and fire resistant handle including means for selectively and removably attaching any of a plurality of different heads thereto, said means for attaching being operable without removal of any small parts from secure attachment to said elongate handle or one of said different heads;
• (b) cutting head means attachable to said elongate handle for cutting and severing tree trunks, limbs, and roots, and other woody vegetation;
• (c) scraping and throwing head means attachable to said elongate handle for scraping surface materials down to expose mineral soil and for throwing dirt in order to extinguish fire;
• (d) a direct contact fire extinguishing head attachable to said elongate handle and including durable fire resistant means for beating flames and fuel to extinguish fire, said fire resistant means including a plurality of elongate flexible straps each having a length of at least about 16 inches;
• (e) scrubber means attachable to said elongate handle for pulling apart materials which may hide smoldering embers, in order to tear open, mix, spread, and cool such embers;
• (f) rake means large enough to collect fluffy leaves and similar fuels substantially without spilling, in order to remove such fuels from an area in order to separate them from exposure to flames;
• and
• (g) staff extension means for assisting a firefighter in walking through difficult terrain.