GB2071309A

GB2071309A - Fire-guards

Info

Publication number: GB2071309A
Application number: GB8101255A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HAGO PROD Ltd
Current assignee: HAGO PROD Ltd
Priority date: 1980-03-07
Filing date: 1981-01-15
Publication date: 1981-09-16
Also published as: GB2071309B

Abstract

A fire guard for use with a portable heater comprises a frame 6, 7 for supporting the heater, the frame having wheels 8 for its transport, and a heat-permeable guard 1 on the frame for obstructing access to the heat source of the heater. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Portable fire guard This invention relates to a portable fire guard.

There are a number of self-contained heaters, usually gas heaters, on the market, these having wheels for easy transport from location to location, and they are gaining rapidly in popularity because of this mobility. A serious problem exists however since a suitable fireguard for such heaters has not previously been available. Fire guards previously proposed are either fixed in one site for example around an open fire, or are freestanding, and neither of these forms is suitable for effective use with mobile heaters.

An object of this invention is to provide a fire guard which will allow safer use of mobile heaters.

According to the present invention there is provided a portable fireguard having a frame for supporting a mobile heater and having wheel means for transport of the fireguard and a heatpermeable physical barrier located on the frame and arranged so that in use it obstructs access to the heat source of a heater on the frame.

The barrier is preferably formed by material which is heat-conductive but interrupted to allow radiant heat to pass it; for example, wire mesh provides a suitable heat-permeable physical barrier. The barrier is arranged to obstruct access to the heat source, but may also extend at least partially around a heater. The barrier is preferably secured to the frame in use, but may be detachable for ease of installation of the heater. A part of the barrier may be removable, or hinged to the remainder, for access to heater controls and the like.

The frame may be of tubular metal construction and is preferably capable of receiving any of a number of different designs of heater and may be provided with fixing means, which may be adjustable, for securing a heater to it. It may be collapsible for compact storage, as may the barrier.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portable fire guard of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another form of the fire guard of the invention.

In the illustrated embodiments the fire guard has a barrier in the form of four interfitting rectangular wire mesh panels 1 which are hinged together along their adjacent edges at 2. The erected structure is held rigid by means of metal clips 3 on the side edges of the top panel 1 which engage with metal brackets 4 on the upper edges of the side panels.

In Fig. 1 frame 5 is in the form of a chassis comprising a series of interconnected metal tubular members 6 arranged on three sides of a cuboid, with a sub-frame 7 welded to and extending fore-and-aft of the bottom members 6.

The subframe 7 has at each end a pair of castor wheels 8 for transport of the structure.

On assembly of the fire guard, the wire mesh panels 1 fit around the upright tubular members 6 and are held rigidly against them by metal strips 9 which are then screwed to the upright member 6 to clamp the panels 1.

In use, a heater, for example a bottled-gas-fed heater is placed on the frame 5 by resting it on the sub-frame 7 and bottom members 6, so that its burner section faces the longer cross-spar 10 of the sub-frame 7 and is spaced from it by about six inches. The height of the sub-frame 7 above the ground is such that when the heater is in position its wheels are clear of the ground, so that the assembly is movable by means of the castors 8.

The mesh panels 1 are then positioned around the frame 5 so that the front panel 1 acts as a safety barrier against access to the burner section, while the side and top panels 1 extend this protection.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the frame 5 is of different construction to that of Fig.

1, in that it consists of a base only, without upright side members. The panels 1 are located on the frame 5 at their lower edges. The frame has a pair cf parallel side members 11 spaced apart by the width of the top and front panels 1, and interconnected by two parallel struts 1 2. A further pair of struts 1 3 extend in parallel rearwardly of the struts 1 2 and carry at their free ends castor wheels 8. Castor wheels 8 are also provided at this forward end of the side members 11.

Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

1. A portable fire guard having a frame for supporting a mobile heater and having wheel means for transport of the fireguard, and a heatpermeable physical barrier located on the frame and arranged so that in use the barrier obstructs access to the heat source of a heater on the frame.

2. A fire guard according to Claim 1, wherein the frame is in the form of a chassis on which a heater can be mounted clear of the ground.

3. A fire guard according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame has fixing means for securely locating a heater.

4. A fire guard according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the frame is of tubular metal construction.

5. A fire guard according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the frame is collapsible.

6. A fire guard according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the barrier is of interrupted heatconductive construction.

7. A fire guard according to Claim 6, wherein the barrier is of wire mesh.

8. A fire guard according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the barrier is capable of extending at least partially around a heater in use.

9. A fire guard according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the barrier is detachably secured to the frame.

10. A fire guard according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the barrier is collapsible.

1 A fire guard according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein a portion of the barrier is

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Portable fire guard This invention relates to a portable fire guard. There are a number of self-contained heaters, usually gas heaters, on the market, these having wheels for easy transport from location to location, and they are gaining rapidly in popularity because of this mobility. A serious problem exists however since a suitable fireguard for such heaters has not previously been available. Fire guards previously proposed are either fixed in one site for example around an open fire, or are freestanding, and neither of these forms is suitable for effective use with mobile heaters. An object of this invention is to provide a fire guard which will allow safer use of mobile heaters. According to the present invention there is provided a portable fireguard having a frame for supporting a mobile heater and having wheel means for transport of the fireguard and a heatpermeable physical barrier located on the frame and arranged so that in use it obstructs access to the heat source of a heater on the frame. The barrier is preferably formed by material which is heat-conductive but interrupted to allow radiant heat to pass it; for example, wire mesh provides a suitable heat-permeable physical barrier. The barrier is arranged to obstruct access to the heat source, but may also extend at least partially around a heater. The barrier is preferably secured to the frame in use, but may be detachable for ease of installation of the heater. A part of the barrier may be removable, or hinged to the remainder, for access to heater controls and the like. The frame may be of tubular metal construction and is preferably capable of receiving any of a number of different designs of heater and may be provided with fixing means, which may be adjustable, for securing a heater to it. It may be collapsible for compact storage, as may the barrier. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portable fire guard of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another form of the fire guard of the invention. In the illustrated embodiments the fire guard has a barrier in the form of four interfitting rectangular wire mesh panels 1 which are hinged together along their adjacent edges at 2. The erected structure is held rigid by means of metal clips 3 on the side edges of the top panel 1 which engage with metal brackets 4 on the upper edges of the side panels. In Fig. 1 frame 5 is in the form of a chassis comprising a series of interconnected metal tubular members 6 arranged on three sides of a cuboid, with a sub-frame 7 welded to and extending fore-and-aft of the bottom members 6. The subframe 7 has at each end a pair of castor wheels 8 for transport of the structure. On assembly of the fire guard, the wire mesh panels 1 fit around the upright tubular members 6 and are held rigidly against them by metal strips 9 which are then screwed to the upright member 6 to clamp the panels 1. In use, a heater, for example a bottled-gas-fed heater is placed on the frame 5 by resting it on the sub-frame 7 and bottom members 6, so that its burner section faces the longer cross-spar 10 of the sub-frame 7 and is spaced from it by about six inches. The height of the sub-frame 7 above the ground is such that when the heater is in position its wheels are clear of the ground, so that the assembly is movable by means of the castors 8. The mesh panels 1 are then positioned around the frame 5 so that the front panel 1 acts as a safety barrier against access to the burner section, while the side and top panels 1 extend this protection. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the frame 5 is of different construction to that of Fig. 1, in that it consists of a base only, without upright side members. The panels 1 are located on the frame 5 at their lower edges. The frame has a pair cf parallel side members 11 spaced apart by the width of the top and front panels 1, and interconnected by two parallel struts 1 2. A further pair of struts 1 3 extend in parallel rearwardly of the struts 1 2 and carry at their free ends castor wheels 8. Castor wheels 8 are also provided at this forward end of the side members 11. Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

7. A fire guard according to Claim 6, wherein the barrier is of wire mesh.

1 A fire guard according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein a portion of the barrier is detachable from or hinged to the remainder.

12. A fire guard according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the wheel means are castor wheels.

1 3. A portable fire guard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A portable fire guard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.