US 6,105,677 A · Method of extinguishing stovetop grease fires and fire extinguisher therefor

Abstract

A simple, inexpensive container that may be a canister similar to an aerosol spray can is fixedly or pivotally mounted in inverted fashion above a cooking burner. The canister contains a particulate fire suppressant material and has a closable, downwardly-facing opening directed at the burner. A fusible or meltable material maintains a cap that covers the opening in the closed condition at all times except when a flame results from ignition of fat in a pan on the cooking burner. Upon reaching a temperature of 220 degrees F. or above, the fusible material quickly melts, enabling the cap to open, and the fire suppressant material cascades by gravity into the pan and fat, causing it to be extinguished in a matter of seconds. The cap may be guided on a member having a stop at its lower end to capture the cap and prevent it from splashing into the fat upon ejection. Alternatively, the cap may be hinged to the container and be held in place at the hinge once the container is opened. The material cascades over and around the captured cap in the shape of an inverted conical shower, extinguishing the flame. The fat and fire suppressant material combine to minimize flaring-up even though the burner still remains active.

Claims13

Dependent claims

The method of extinguishing a grease or cooking oil fire emanating from a pan of grease on a stovetop burner, comprising the steps of:

positioning a container having a predetermined volume of dry particulate fire suppressant material in a location directly over said burner, said container, when extinguishing the fire, having a downwardly-facing opening and a cap sealing said opening;
providing a heat-responsive fusible means maintaining said cap in sealing relationship with said container, said fusible means having a melting point indicative of a temperature at which grease in said pan on said burner ignites;
releasing said cap from its sealing condition in response to a fire occurring in said pan having reached the melting point of said fusible material to enable primarily downward gravitational flow of fire suppressant material from said container;
and
continuously dispensing said particulate material into said pan until said container is emptied to rapidly extinguish the flame upon initial contact of the material with the grease and to thereafter combine with said grease in a manner generally inhibiting re-ignition in the event the burner continues to operate in a heating mode.

2 more elements

In a device for extinguishing flame and fire emanating from cooking grease or fat in a cooking receptacle resting on a household stovetop burner, said device comprising:

an inverted container having a vertically-downwardly facing normally-closed opening;
particulate fire suppressant material in said container, said material being capable of smothering and extinguishing the flame when said opening is opened and reacting with the fat so as to minimize the potential for re-ignition after the flame has been extinguished;
means mounting said container adjacent said stovetop in a manner directing said opening toward a position normally occupied by said cooking receptacle during cooking, said mounting means being spaced a distance above said stovetop whereby fire suppressant material will cover said receptacle when said closable opening is opened and said distance being sufficiently removed from said stovetop so as not to interfere with normal cooking activities;
a cap covering the opening and retaining the fire suppressant material within the container;
spring means normally biasing said cap in a direction outwardly of said container;
a fusible member at the exterior of said cap, said fusible member closing and maintaining the cap in the closed position when the temperature around said stovetop is below a predetermined temperature which is indicative of the absence of a fire;
said fusible member consisting of a meltable material having a melting point generally indicative of cooking grease or fat having been ignited and presenting a hazardous fire condition, whereby, upon melting of said meltable material, the cap is urged outwardly of the container to open the opening and enable continuous flow of said fire suppressant material primarily downward by gravity toward and onto said fire until the supply of suppressant material within said container has been exhausted.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of extinguishing stovetop grease fires and fire extinguisher therefor

Life of this patent

Method of extinguishing stovetop grease fires and fire extinguisher therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13