Patent Application
20160069652
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to accessories for consumer fireworks, and more particular to a firework launching stand.
Consumer-grade fireworks made available by retailers/wholesalers/distributors for use by consumers during holiday celebrations and other occasions are well-known and enjoyed by many consumers. Such fireworks are widely available in many retail environments and their distribution is not heavily regulated.
During operation many fireworks emit long streams of hot ashes, or propel multiple hot salvos from generally elongate bodies. The intention is for such fireworks to emit their salvos generally vertically into the air for maximum enjoyment of spectators.
Many consumer-grade fireworks are provided in packaging with other fireworks at low cost to consumers. As separate items ready for activation via ignition, such fireworks do not often have features sufficient for ensuring that the fireworks remain stable on a given surface during operation. For example, many fireworks of a tube configuration have a cylindrical tube that is far longer than its base. When such a firework is placed onto an unstable or uneven surface and activated, the propulsion forces incurred upon activation may cause the firework to tip over such that the cylindrical tube is no longer vertical, even while salvos are still being emitted.
Some fireworks are provided with a small base that is wider than the main body, for providing a small measure of stability. Other fireworks are created without such bases, the intention being that they are to be partially buried in the ground prior to activation. Responsible consumers generally anticipate the risk that a firework may tip over, and take steps to embed the base of a firework into a pile of thick sand, bury it into dirt, or otherwise prepare the ground for providing stability to the firework. However, often the extent to which this is done is insufficient for preventing firework tipping or the surface on which the firework is to be supported is not amenable to such preparation because it is concrete or asphalt based.
As such, with current techniques for stabilizing readily-available consumer-grade fireworks there remains a significant risk of spectator injury. It is an object of an aspect of the following to address this and other disadvantages.
In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a firework launching stand comprising a hub; at least one inlet at the periphery of the hub, each inlet having an open mouth at the periphery and tapering inwardly in width; and at least one securing member for temporarily securing to the hub a firework received within a respective inlet.
The firework launching stand lends stability during the activation of fireworks such as consumer-grade fireworks for home and recreational use.
The firework launching stand may be constructed of a material such as plastic, or a metal such as steel. In an embodiment, anchoring members such as one or more spikes are provided to assist with temporarily anchoring the hub, and accordingly the fireworks secured to the hub, to the ground.
Other aspects and advantages will become apparent from the following.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings in which:
Turning to
The firework launching stand 10 also includes a number of securing members, in this embodiment straps 24 having hook and loop (i.e., Velcro™) fasteners, for temporarily securing to the hub 12 a generally elongate firework received within a respective inlet, as will be described and shown. Anchoring members, in this embodiment spikes 40, extend from the bottom of hub 12 for securing the firework launching stand 10 to the ground for additional stability. The manner by which spikes 40 are associated with the hub 12 will be described in further detail below.
Because of their inward taper, different diameters and shapes of firework may be received via the mouths of the inlets 20a, 20b and seated therein. For example, a slimmer firework will be able to enter further into an inlet 20a, 20b than would a fatter firework, but either will be received within the inlets 20a, 20b and will be similarly supported on either side by the walls of the inlets 20a, 20b.
It is to be noted that, in this embodiment, the mouths of inlets 20a are wider than the mouths of inlets 20b. The wider mouths of the subset of inlets 20a as compared to the mouths of the subset of inlets 20b are provided in order to enable firework launching stand 10 to support an increased variety in size of fireworks, as will be shown and described.
In this embodiment, the hub 12 includes a base 14, a lower hub member 16 supported by the base 14 and an upper hub member 18 supported above the lower hub member 16 by a plurality of pillars 17. It is to each pillar 17 that a respective strap 24 is affixed so that, when secured to a firework which the firework is within a respective inlet 20a or 20b, the firework is affixed to hub 12.
In this embodiment, the lower hub member 16 incorporates a lower portion of each inlet 20a, 20b, and the upper hub member 18 incorporates an upper portion of each inlet 20a, 20b, thereby to together receive the side of a respective firework that is at least the same height as hub 12.
In the embodiment shown in
The spike 40 is intended to maintain the firework launching stand 10 in the same position with respect to the ground (or other surface) on which it is sitting so that, even with the forces received from ignited fireworks, the firework launching stand 10 does not significantly shift, move, or tip over. Multiple anchoring members, whether spikes or some other components, may be employed.
During use, fireworks such as fireworks F1-F4 can be received by and secured to the firework launching stand 10. Their fuses may be connected together for single point ignition, or connected to a control system (not shown) for controlling ignition. The combination of the firework launching stand 10 and the secured firework(s) is then placed onto a surface such as a lawn, a driveway, a parking lot, or other surface. The firework launching stand 10 lends significant stability to the firework(s) secured at inlets 20a or 20b due primarily to the firework launching stand 10, when secured to one or more fireworks, increasing the overall width to height ratio (ie., wider base) as compared to the fireworks alone. This reduces the chance of tipping during activation of the firework. Stability is also leant to the firework(s) supported on platform 21 because it is recessed with respect to central opening 19 enabling the circular wall of central opening 19 to act as a stabilizer should it be required.
The anchoring members may be removed so that the firework launching stand 10 can be used on hard surfaces such as asphalt and concrete, so as to maintain a low centre of gravity. Optionally, spikes 40 are connected to base 14 and may be inserted into a suitable ground surface (such as a grassy lawn or other surface able to receive the spikes 40) thereby to secure firework launching stand 10 to the ground while maintaining the low centre of gravity.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to the drawings, those of skill in the art will appreciate that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit, scope and purpose of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
For example,
In an embodiment, the firework launching stand 10 may be made of a material other than steel, such as some other metal, or plastic or the like. The firework launching stand may be made of more than one such material.
In an embodiment, the anchoring members are not removable.
In an alternative embodiment of the firework launching stand, all inlet mouths are the same width. In another alternative embodiment of firework launching stand, only one inlet mouth differs in width from all of the others. In yet another embodiment, there is only one inlet at the periphery of the hub.
It will be understood that, in an alternative embodiment, the inlets 20a, 20b may each be a continuous channel running from the top of the firework launching stand 10 towards the bottom, rather than having separated upper and lower portions. In yet another embodiment, one or more middle hub members may be provided having middle portion(s) of each inlet 20a, 20b.
