GB2329107A - Support bracket for breathing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A bracket for breathing apparatus has a wall-mounted base 23 with a recess 25 shaped to receive the apparatus, whose weight is taken by two fixed arms 37. A pair of spring-loaded moving arms 31 with hooked ends (35, Fig 4) retain the apparatus and can be moved to a release position by a handle 53 which pulls on the rear ends 39 of the arms via a V-cable 41. The bracket allows rapid use of the apparatus, with the user inserting his arms into its wearing loops and then moving the handle to the release position.

Description

BRACKET FOR HOLDING BREATHING OR LIKE APPARATUS This invention relates to a bracket for holding breathing or like apparatus.

In the field of rescue services, there is often a need for breathing apparatus.

When required, this apparatus is needed very fast and it is therefore desirable to have the breathing apparatus readily available and in a position in which it can be put on in a minimum time.

At the present time, storage of breathing apparatus has been far from helpful in this respect. It has been necessary to retrieve the apparatus from storage and then, often there is a need for someone else to be present to hold the apparatus while the wearer gets into it.

The present invention seeks to provide a bracket for holding breathing apparatus which enables the breathing apparatus to be mounted in a position for immediate use.

According to the invention, a bracket for holding breathing and like apparatus comprises a base element adapted for attachment in a substantially vertical position to a wall. vehicle bulkhead or similar vertical surface, support means extending forwardly of the base element at the lower end thereof for supporting the weight of the breathing or like apparatus, moveable arm means extending forwardly from the base element above the support means and moveable between a first position in which the arm means will engage around a part of the breathing and like apparatus to hold it against the base element and a second position in which the arm means moves sideways to permit insertion or removal of the breathing or like apparatus and operating means for controlling movement of the arm means between the first and second positions.

Preferably, the base element is shaped in a mirror image of the shape of the breathing apparatus so that it fits snugly thereagainst.

The arm means may comprise two forwardly extending arms having hook portions at their outer ends and facing towards each other, the arms being movable towards and away from each other to take up the first and second positions respectively.

The movement of the arms may be controlled by means of a lever which extends forwardly from the rear of the base element substantially parallel to but spaced outwardly from the arms on one side of the bracket.

The arms may pass through apertures in the base element so as to be pivotable therein and the arms may be attached together at the rear of the base element by a wire or like element, movement of the arms to their second position being achieved by pulling on the wire or like element out of line while movement of the arms to their second position being achieved by spring means.

The arms may be located at an angle to each other so that the connecting wire or like element has a "V" formation.

The lever may comprise a generally UL" shaped member, the main or operating part of the "L" being rotatably mounted horizontally in the base member in the region of the point of the "\/ of the wire or like element with the base of the "L" extending forwardly of the base element to act as a handle, the operating part of the lever having a radial projection which engages the wire or like element at the point of the " such that rotation of the operating part of the lever causes the wire to be pulled to move the arms to their second position to release the breathing or like apparatus.

The invention also includes the combination of a breathing apparatus with the above described bracket.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of one form of bracket for supporting breathing apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of a breathing apparatus with which the bracket of figure 1 is intended to be used; Figure 3 is a rear view of the bracket of figure 1 showing the operating mechanism; Figure 4 is a plan view of the bracket of figure 1, and Figure 5 is a front view of the breathing apparatus of figure 2 being carried by the bracket of figure 1.

Referring firstly to figures 2 and 5, it will be seen that a usual type of breathing apparatus 1 is shown. This basically comprises a harness 3 having a framework 5 carrying on its rear the necessary gear 7 for providing the user with breathable air. As can be appreciated, this gear 7 has a somewhat awkward shape when it comes to storage and therefore, if it is to be stored in a readily accessible way, requires special treatment. Onto the frame 5 at the front thereof are mounted the harness proper comprising two loops 9 through which the user passes his arms so that the weight of the apparatus is taken on the shoulders and a waist belt 11 which the user can strap around his waist for full security of the apparatus and prevent it from moving round. It will be observed that the apparatus has two side bars or handles 13 which will be used in the present embodiment for securing the apparatus to the bracket.

The intention of the invention is to provide a bracket which can be positioned on a vertical surface, such as a vehicle bulkhead wall or the like in a position in which the user can get into the harness while the apparatus is still attached to the bracket without additional assistance and, once the apparatus is positioned on the user, the user can readily release the apparatus from the bracket for use.

The bracket 21, which can be seen particularly in figures 1 and 3 comprises a base element 23 including a base portion in the form of an rearwardly opening channel 25 in which is located the operating mechanism 27 of the bracket. The base element 23 extends upwardly from the base portion 25 to provide a support 26 for the upper part of the apparatus 1.

The front of the bracket 21 mainly comprises a housing part 29 which is shaped to conform to the shape of the breathing gear 7 and thus, suitably has a substantially mirror image shape to the breathing gear 7. In addition to this it has a pair of arms 31, which, as shown comprise flat strips which pass at one end through apertures 33 in the base element 23 into the mechanism 27.

At the other end, the arms 31 are bent inwardly to form hooks 35 which will engage the breathing apparatus 1 as will be described hereinafter. These arms 31 are pivoted so that they are movable towards an away from each other between a first position1 as shown in which the arms are substantially parallel and a second position (not shown) in which the arms are parted to release the breathing or like apparatus 1. It will be appreciated that because the apertures 33 are inclined to the vertical, the arms will not only move towards and away from each other but will have an up and don component.

The lower part of the housing part 29 has a pair of forwardly extending support members 37 on which the apparatus rests.

Turning now to the rear of the bracket 21 as shown in figure 3, the mechanism 27 for operating the bracket is shown. As can be seen, the ends 39 of the arms 31 which pass through the apertures 33 are connected together by a substantially "V" shaped wire or the like 41. this wire passes through two springs 43 and two bracket elements 45 so that the point of the "V is located centrally and below the arms 31. At this location, there is located a horizontal rod 47 which is rotatably mounted on the walls of the channel 25 and carries a radially projecting member 49 having an aperture (not shown) through which the wire passes. From the arrangement as shown, it will be seen that when the rod 47 is rotated so that the member 49 moves downwardly, the wire or the like 41 will be pulled downwards against the action of the springs 43 to act on the arms 31 and move them apart into their second position.. Once the rod 47 is released, the springs 43 will act on the wire or the like 41 to return the rod 47 to its initial position, thus returning the arms 31 to their first position.

In order to actuate the rod. the rod 47 is provided with an extension 51 which is bent round so as to extend to the front of the bracket and thus form a handle 53.

Operation of the bracket will now be considered: In use, the bracket 21 is attached in a suitable position to a vertical surface, suitably using the fixing holes 57 provided. Once attached, it is ready for use.

To put a breathing apparatus 1 onto the bracket, the handle 53 is pushed downwardly to part the arms 31 and the breathing apparatus 1 is placed on the bracket 21 facing outwardly with is gear 7 located in the housing part 29 and resting on the supports 37. Once the apparatus 1 is in position, the handle 53 is released allowing the arms 31 to take up their closed position.

From figure 5, it will be observed that the hooks 35 on the arms 31 engage the bars 13 on the apparatus 1 and thus hold the apparatus securely in position.

When the user wants to put on the apparatus 1, he backs up to the bracket 21 and puts his arms through the loops 9. He may then fasten the waist strap 11 if he so wishes but this may be left until after detachment of the apparatus 1 from the bracket 21. Once he is in this position, he pulls down on the handle 53 which will be located next to him, opening the arms 31 and releasing the apparatus 1 from the bracket 21. He can then walk away with the apparatus resting on his shoulders.

It will be appreciated that modifications or additions to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, while the arms 31 have been shown engaging in front of the bars 13 on the apparatus, the arms may equally be located with their hooks in front of any suitable part of the apparatus, particularly where other forms of apparatus, other than the one shown is used. Where different apparatuses are used of course, the housing part 29 will be suitably customized to fit the particular apparatus in use. The mechanism for opening and closing the arms 31 may be replaced by a linkage arrangement instead of the form show.

Claims (11)

1.A bracket for holding breathing and like apparatus comprises a base element adapted for attachment in a substantially vertical position to a wall.

vehicle bulkhead or similar vertical surface, support means extending forwardly of the base element at the lower end thereof for supporting the weight of the breathing or like apparatus, moveable arm means extending forwardly from the base element above the support means and moveable between a first position in which the arm means will engage around a part of the breathing and like apparatus to hold it against the base element and a second position in which the arm means moves sideways to permit insertion or removal of the breathing or like apparatus and operating means for controlling movement of the arm means between the first and second positions.

2. A bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base element is shaped in a mirror image to the shape of the breathing apparatus so that it fits snugly thereagainst.

3. A bracket as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the arm means comprise two forwardly extending arms having hook portions at their outer ends and facing towards each other1 the arms being movable towards and away from each other to take up the first and second positions respectively.

4. A bracket as claimed in claim 3, wherein the movement of the arms is controlled by means of a lever which extends forwardly from the rear of the base element substantially parallel to but spaced outwardly from the arms on one side of the bracket.

5. A bracket as claimed in claim 4, wherein the arms pass through apertures in the base element so as to be pivotable therein.

6. A bracket as claimed in claim 5, wherein the arms are attached together at the rear of the base element by a wire or like element, movement of the arms to their second position is achieved by pulling on the wire or like element out of line while movement of the arms to their second position is achieved by spring means.

7. A bracket as claimed in claim 6, wherein the arms are located at an angle to each other so that the connecting wire or like element has a "V" formation.

8. A bracket as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lever comprises a generally "L" shaped member, the main or operating part of the "L" being rotatably mounted horizontally in the base member in the region of the point of the " < ' of the wire or like element with the base of the "L" extending forwardly of the base element to act as a handle, the operating part of the lever having a radial projection which engages the wire or like element at the point of the "V" such that rotation of the operating part of the lever causes the wire to be pulled to move the arms to their second position to release the breathing or like apparatus.

9. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base element extends upwardly beyond arms so as to provide support for the upper part of the breathing or like apparatus.

10. A bracket for supporting breathing or like apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

11. The combination of a breathing apparatus and a bracket therefore as claimed in any preceding claim.