Front squeeze trigger handle for use with fire extinguishers

A front squeeze trigger discharge assembly for use with an associated pressurized container having a pressurized medium therein, the discharge assembly comprising:

• a housing having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion configured to rest in the hand of a user, said housing defining a flow chamber having a vertical flow axis substantially located between said first and second portions and said housing being mountable to the container;
• a pivotable trigger handle mounted to said housing and positioned for gripping at said first portion thereof, said handle including at least one pivot for rotatably supporting said handle relative to said housing, wherein said handle is rotatable between a first, closed position and a second, open position inward of said housing;
• a discharge nozzle positioned on said first portion of said housing adjacent to said trigger handle and in flow communication with said pivotable trigger handle pivotable independently of said discharge nozzle wherein said pivotable trigger handle is pivotable independently of said discharge nozzle;
• and
• a discharge valve assembly operably connected to said trigger handle and disposed in said chamber, said valve assembly being movable between a closed position and an open position, said open position providing a flow path between the container and said discharge nozzle,
• wherein said trigger handle is biased into said first, closed position, and pivotable from said first position to said second, open position by moving said trigger handle toward said second position of said housing, thereby moving said discharge valve assembly to said open position to discharge the medium from the container through said discharge nozzle;
• wherein said trigger handle includes a gripping portion and a lever arm generally transverse thereto, said gripping portion being mounted to said housing at about said first portion thereof, said lever arm extending from said gripping portion to said second portion of said housing across said vertical flow axis, said lever arm having said at least one pivot positioned thereon, engagable with said second portion, and being configured to coact with said discharge valve assembly to move said discharge valve assembly from said closed position to said open position when said handle is pivoted from said first position to said second position.

A squeeze trigger discharge assembly for use with one of a plurality of pressurized containers, the containers having a pressurized medium stored therein, the containers having necks opening the containers for discharge of the medium therefrom, the assembly comprising:

• a housing defining a flow chamber and being mountable to one of the containers, the housing having a threaded neck portion for flow connection to the neck of said one of the containers, said threaded neck portion having an axis;
• a pivotable trigger handle mounted to said housing and having a gripping portion located on a first side of said axis, and wherein said handle is pivotably movable toward said housing about a pivot on a second, opposite side of said axis between a first, non-discharge position and a second position wherein the pressurized medium is discharged from the container;
• a discharge valve assembly positioned in said flow chamber operably connected to said pivotable trigger handle and being movable between a third position and a fourth position in conjunction with movement of said trigger handle, wherein said pressurized medium is discharged from the container;
• a discharge nozzle mountable to said housing adjacent to said trigger handle on said first side of said axis, and being in flow communication with said flow chamber, said discharge nozzle having a discharge port configured for use with the pressurized media stored in the pressurized container.