US 6,276,461 B1 · Fire extinguisher for stove grease fire and mount therefor

Abstract

Two embodiments of a swing-down type fire extinguisher are disclosed. In one embodiment, a single unit can extinguish either or both of two fires on a stove having front and back burners. This is accomplished by dispensing fire suppressant material toward both burners in the initial motion of swinging down upon activation by a fire and continuing with a pendulum action designed to distribute material to both the front burner and a back burner aligned in the direction of swinging. In a second embodiment, a single unit is provided for each burner. It is operated in two stages, first to respond to a fire or flame by unlatching the extinguisher to release from a horizontal inoperative or “at rest” position and enabling it to swing down to a fire extinguishing position directly over the pan with the burning grease. In the second stage, almost instantaneously after reaching the vertical position over a pan, a heat or flame responsive release mechanism enables dispensing of the material directly downwardly with a combined gravitational and spring force as a closure for the unit opens. The spring has one end anchored in the unit and its free end is designed to provide a slight orbital oscillation to assist in laterally distributing the material about the cooking vessel during dispensing. Also provided is a novel mounting structure in the form of a pair of parallel spring-loaded telescoping rods, for enabling the extinguisher to be installed and removed without the use of tools.

Claims18

Dependent claims

In an extinguisher and mounting structure for a stove grease fire, the combination of:

an elongated container for containing a supply of powdered fire suppressant material in a volume sufficient to extinguish such a fire and minimize the potential for reignition;
a closure for one end of said elongated container;
a supporting member for mounting said container essentially horizontally above a burner of said stove and being sufficiently removed from said burner whereby not to interfere with cooking activities related to a fat-containing cooking utensil on said burner;
a mount for pivotally supporting said container from said supporting member adjacent an end thereof remote from said closure end;
a latching member for securing said container in an inoperative horizontal position on said supporting member;
a heat-responsive member for releasing said latching member and enabling pivotal movement of said container toward a fire extinguishing essentially vertical position upon being heated to a temperature indicative of an existing grease fire therebelow;
and said closure comprising a cap which opens said one end of the container when in said fire extinguishing position, thereby enabling fire suppressant material to be dispensed primarily by gravity into said cooking utensil.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fire extinguisher for stove grease fire and mount therefor

Life of this patent

Fire extinguisher for stove grease fire and mount therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18