Front squeeze trigger handle for use with fire extinguishers

Abstract

A front squeeze trigger discharge assembly for use with a fire extinguisher having a pressurized extinguishing medium therein includes a housing defining a flow chamber. The housing has a front portion and a rear portion configured to rest in the hand of a user, and a pivotable trigger handle mounted to the housing and positioned at the front portion thereof. The pivotable trigger handle is configured for gripping by a user's fingers. The handle includes a pivot for rotating the handle relative to the housing between a first position and a second position toward the housing for discharging the extinguishing medium from the extinguisher. The handle includes a discharge nozzle positioned on the front of the housing and a discharge valve assembly operably connected to said trigger handle for providing a flow path between the container and the discharge nozzle. The trigger handle is pivotable from the first position to the discharge position inward of the housing by gripping the handle and pulling thereon, i.e., squeezing the handle, moving the discharge valve assembly to the discharge position. The housing also includes a nozzle stem which is adapted to interchangeably receive one of a plurality of different discharge nozzles to permit use of the assembly with different types and sizes of fire extinguishers containing different types of extinguishing media, stored at various pressures.