U.S. patent application number 12/583093 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-17 for organizer for a firefighter's protective emergency-response clothing.
Invention is credited to Gary T. Schott.
Application Number | 20110036794 12/583093 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43587971 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110036794 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schott; Gary T. |
February 17, 2011 |
Organizer for a firefighter's protective emergency-response
clothing
Abstract
An organizer is disclosed for organizing the protective
emergency-response clothing of a firefighter such as boots,
trousers, jacket and helmet. The organizer of this invention
eliminates the practice of placing the firefighter's jacket and
helmet on the floor of the fire station during the time the
firefighter is not wearing the same, thereby preventing the
firefighter's jacket and helmet from coming into contact with dirt,
water on the floor of the fire station.
Inventors: |
Schott; Gary T.; (Bellevue,
NE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMTE LAW OFFICE, L.L.C.
2120 S. 72ND STREET, SUITE 1111
OMAHA
NE
68124
US
|
Family ID: |
43587971 |
Appl. No.: |
12/583093 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/85.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 7/19 20130101; A47G
25/0671 20130101; A47G 25/06 20130101; A47F 7/24 20130101; A62C
99/00 20130101; A47G 25/0664 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/85.3 |
International
Class: |
A47F 7/19 20060101
A47F007/19; A47F 7/06 20060101 A47F007/06; A47F 7/08 20060101
A47F007/08 |
Claims
1. An organizer for the protective emergency-response clothing of a
firefighter such as boots, trousers, jacket and helmet, comprising:
a horizontally disposed based portion; a first support, having
upper and lower ends, extending upwardly from said base portion; a
grab bar assembly secured to said first support below said upper
end thereof which extends generally horizontally therefrom to
enable a firefighter to grasp the same; and a jacket support member
secured to said first support above said grab bar; said jacket
support member being spaced below said upper end of said first
support so that a helmet may be supported on the upper end of said
first support.
2. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said base portion is generally
U-shaped to provide a space for a pair of boots having trousers
compressed therearound.
3. The organizer of claim 2 wherein said base portion includes a
pair of horizontally spaced-apart support legs which extend
laterally with respect to said first support.
4. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said first support is
selectively detachably secured to said base portion.
5. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said grab bar is selectively
vertically adjustably secured to said first support.
6. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said grab bar is generally
U-shaped.
7. The organizer of claim 6 wherein said grab bar includes a pair
of horizontally spaced-apart grab bar members which extend
generally horizontally from said first support.
8. The organizer of claim 7 wherein said base portion includes a
pair of horizontally spaced-apart support legs which extend
laterally with respect to said first support below said grab bar
members.
9. The organizer of claim 2 wherein said base portion includes a
plurality of spaced-apart support members extending laterally
therefrom.
10. The organizer of claim 2 wherein said base portion includes a
plurality of spaced-apart leveling members.
11. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said base portion includes an
elongated central base member having first and second ends, an
elongated first base member extending from said first end of said
central base member at an angle with respect thereto, a second base
member extending from said second end of said central base member
at an angle with respect thereto, a third base member extending
from said first base member at an angle with respect thereto, and a
fourth base member extending from said second base member at an
angle with respect thereto.
12. The organizer of claim 11 wherein said base members have
leveling legs secured thereto.
13. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said jacket support member has
a central portion and opposite end portions which extend downwardly
from said central portion.
14. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said jacket support is
positioned laterally of said first support.
15. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said grab bar assembly is
selectively vertically slidably mounted on said first support.
16. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said base portion and said
first support are comprised of metal square tubing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to an organizer for the protective
emergency-response clothing of a firefighter during the time when
the clothing is not being worn by the firefighter.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In fire stations, the response time to an emergency is
critical. Normally, after returning from an emergency, the
firefighter will remove firefighter's protective emergency-response
clothing and will attempt to arrange or organize his/her boots,
trousers, jacket and helmet in a way which will enable the
firefighter to quickly don the same should an emergency arise. The
firefighter will normally place his/her boots on the floor and
compress his/her trousers down around the boots. The firefighter
will also frequently place his/her jacket on the floor next to
his/her boots and trousers. The firefighter will generally place
his/her helmet next to the jacket or on the jacket. When an
emergency arises, the firefighter will step into his/her boots,
pull up his/her trousers, reach down and grasp his/her jacket, don
the jacket and then reach down to retrieve his/her helmet. While
this method does facilitate the firefighter to quickly dress, it
poses a problem in that the jacket and helmet, which are very
expensive, may be subjected to dirt and water while resting on the
floor. The fact that the jacket and helmet are exposed to dirt and
water when not being worn shortens the lifespan of the clothing.
Further, the fact that the firefighter must reach down to grasp the
jacket and then reach down and grasp the helmet does consume
valuable time. Further, it is sometimes a balancing act for the
firefighter to place his/her feet in the boots without having
anything to balance with while stepping into the boot.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify
key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter.
Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in
determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0006] An organizer is described for the protective
emergency-response clothing of a firefighter such as boots,
trousers, jacket and helmet. During the time when the clothing is
not being worn, the organizer comprises a horizontally disposed
base portion which is generally U-shaped. A first elongated
support, having upper and lower ends, extends upwardly from the
base portion and is selectively removably secured thereto. A
generally U-shaped grab bar is secured to the first support below
the upper end thereof and extends generally horizontally therefrom
to enable the firefighter to grasp the same when placing his/her
feet into the boots positioned within the base portion. A jacket
support member is secured to the first support at the forward side
thereof, above the grab bar so that the jacket support member is
adequately spaced below the upper end of the first support to
enable a helmet to be supported thereon. The grab bar is
selectively vertically secured to the first support so that the
height thereof may be adjusted.
[0007] To use the organizer, the firefighter will place his/her
boots between the legs of the base portion and will compress
his/her trousers down around the boots. The firefighter will then
place his/her jacket on the jacket support and will place his/her
helmet on the upper end of the first support. When an emergency
arises, the firefighter will grasp the grab bar and will step into
his/her boots with the grab bar serving as a means for the
firefighter to remain balanced while stepping into his/her boots.
The firefighter will then remove the jacket from the jacket support
and don the same and remove the helmet from the upper end of the
first support and don the same.
[0008] The organizer of this invention ensures that the jacket and
helmet will not come into contact with dirt and water on the floor
of the fire station as is the case during the usual storage of the
jacket and helmet. The organizer not only maintains the jacket and
helmet out of engagement with the floor of the fire station but
also eliminates the need of the firefighter to reach down and grasp
the jacket to don the same and reach down to grasp the helmet and
don the same.
[0009] It is therefore a principal object of the invention to
provide an organizer for the protective emergency-response clothing
of a firefighter such as boots, trousers, jacket and helmet when
the clothing is not being worn by the firefighter.
[0010] A further object of the invention is to provide an organizer
of the type described which includes a vertically adjustable grab
bar.
[0011] A further object of the invention is to provide an organizer
of the type described which provides a convenient means of
supporting the firefighter's jacket and helmet above the floor of
the fire station.
[0012] A further object of the invention is to provide an organizer
of the type described which shortens the time normally used for the
firefighter to don his/her protective clothing.
[0013] A further object of the invention is to provide an organizer
of the type described which lengthens the life span of the
protective clothing due to the fact that it is not subjected to
water and dirt sometimes found on the floor of a fire station.
[0014] These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in
the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present
invention are described with reference to the following figures,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the
various views unless otherwise specified.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the organizer of this
invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a top view of the organizer of this invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a front view of the organizer of this
invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a side view of the organizer of this
invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the organizer
having the firefighter's protective emergency-response clothing
positioned thereon or positioned adjacent thereto; and
[0021] FIG. 6 is a further perspective view of the organizer having
a firefighter's protective emergency-response clothing hanging
thereon or positioned adjacent thereto.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to
the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way
of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments
are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the
art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be
implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as
being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following
detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting
sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by
the appended claims.
[0023] The numeral 10 refers to the organizer of this invention
which is used to organize the protective emergency-response
clothing of a firefighter during the time that the firefighter is
not wearing the same. The numerals 12 and 14 refer to the boots of
the firefighter while the numeral 16 refers to a pair of trousers.
The numeral 18 refers to the firefighter's jacket while the numeral
20 refers to the firefighter's helmet.
[0024] Organizer 10 includes a horizontally disposed base 22 which
is shown to be generally U-shaped but which could take other shapes
as well as long as there is sufficient room between the legs
thereof to position the boots 12 and 14 of the firefighter. Base 22
includes a base portion 24 having legs 26 and 28 extending from the
opposite ends thereof respectively at an angle with respect
thereto. Legs 30 and 32 extend from the outer ends of legs 26 and
28 respectively at an angle with respect thereto. Normally, end
caps will close the outer ends of legs 30 and 32. A plurality of
angle brackets 34 are secured to base 10 by any convenient means
such as welding or the like in a spaced-apart manner and have
levelers 35 mounted thereon.
[0025] Tube 36 is secured to base portion 24 of base 22 by welding
or the like and extends upwardly therefrom as seen in the drawings.
The lower end of an elongated support 37 is removably received
within the tube 36 and is maintained therein by one or more bolts
38 or set screws.
[0026] The numeral 40 refers to a generally U-shaped grab bar
assembly having a pair of grab bars 42 and 44 secured to a tube,
sleeve or collar 46 which is selectively vertically movably mounted
on support 37. As seen, support 37 has a plurality of vertically
spaced openings 48 formed therein adapted to register with an
opening 50 formed into tube 46 to enable a bolt 52 to be extended
therethrough so that the height of the grab bar assembly may be
vertically adjusted to compensate for the different heights of
firefighters.
[0027] A jacket support 54 is secured to support 37 below the upper
end thereof to enable the firefighter's jacket 18 to be supported
thereon. Preferably, the jacket support 54 is slightly curved so
that its outer ends dwell in a plane below the central portion
thereof. The jacket support 54 is spaced below the upper end of
support 37 at a sufficient distance so the firefighter's helmet 20
may be placed on the upper end of the support 37.
[0028] Preferably, the organizer 10 is constructed of a metal
material such as steel or aluminum but it is possible that it could
be constructed of a plastic material.
[0029] In use, the organizer 10 is placed in a convenient location
within the fire station and the levelers 35 in the brackets 34 are
adjusted so that the organizer 10 is properly positioned regardless
of the contour of the floor on which it is supported. The grab bar
assembly 40 is vertically adjusted to compensate for the height of
the firefighter using the organizer 10. After the firefighter has
removed his/her protective emergency-response clothing, his/her
boots 12 and 14 will be placed within the base 22 so that the toes
thereof are facing the base portion 24. The trousers 16 are then
compressed downwardly around the boots 12 and 14 in conventional
fashion. The firefighter's jacket 18 is supported on the jacket
support 54 so that the back portion of the jacket 18 will be facing
the opening of the grab bars 42 and 44. The firefighter's helmet 20
is then positioned on the upper end of the support 37.
[0030] When an emergency arises, the firefighter will step towards
the organizer 10 and will grasp the grab bars 42 and 44 and step
into his/her boots 12 and 14 using the grab bars to balance
himself/herself. The firefighter will then pull his/her trousers
upwardly to don the same. The firefighter will then remove his/her
jacket 18 from the support 54 and will don the same. The
firefighter will then remove the helmet 20 from the upper end of
the support 36 and don the same.
[0031] Thus it can be seen that a novel organizer has been provided
which maintains the jacket 18 and helmet 20 up above the floor of
the fire station when the protective clothing is not being worn by
the firefighter. The fact that the jacket 18 and helmet 20 are not
brought into contact with dirt and water on the floor of the fire
station ensures that the jacket and helmet will have a greater
life. Further, the fact that the jacket 18 is positioned directly
in front of the firefighter who has just donned his/her boots 12
and 14 and pulled his/her trousers upwardly to don the same
eliminates the need for the firefighter to reach down to the floor
of the fire station to retrieve his/her jacket. The fact that the
helmet 20 is stored on the upper end of the support 36 directly in
front of the firefighter eliminates the need for the firefighter to
reach down to the floor of the fire station to retrieve his/her
helmet 20. The convenient placement of the firefighter's jacket and
helmet is believed to save precious seconds.
[0032] Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least
all of its stated objectives.
[0033] Although the invention has been described in language that
is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is
to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims
is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps
described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as
forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments
of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims
hereinafter appended.
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