Contemporary fire blankets made of fiberglass are generally attributed to the invention by Theodore Harry Diakos of Chicago. He submitted a patent on April 24, , with the serial number 351,007.
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This innovative fire extinguishing device aimed to address the challenge of dealing with small fires in households. It extinguishes the source of fire by cutting off the oxygen supply, featuring characteristics and advantages of being inexpensive, lightweight, easy to use, causing no secondary harm, high firefighting efficiency, and convenient storage. Firefighters, family members, and personnel could toss the blanket onto the fire source or cover and protect anyone who might come into contact with flames or heat.
However, its important to note that fire blankets are typically successful only when used in the early stages of a fire. Once the fire spreads, the blanket may not be able to control the source. For small-scale fires, such as a stovetop pan catching fire, a fire blanket might be sufficient to solve the problem. But for a fire engulfing an entire room, alternative methods would be necessary.
40×40 inch fire blanketRegarding the historical development of fire blankets, the earliest versions can be traced back to ancient humans who used materials like wool or hemp fabric to extinguish fires. With the industrialization of the 19th century increasing the demand for firefighting equipment, improvements were made to fire blankets, incorporating more fire-resistant materials.
In the early 20th century, the prototype of modern fire blankets began to emerge, using natural, non-flammable materials like leather and wool, later incorporating asbestos for enhanced fire resistance. During World War II, fire blankets became standard issue for the military and firefighting departments, used to extinguish small-scale fires and protect personnel.
In recent times, with technological advancements, the design of fire blankets has been continually improved, incorporating materials like fiberglass, fire-resistant coatings, ceramics, high-silica fabrics, gradually phasing out asbestos, and providing superior firefighting performance.
The answer is unsafe. Although in ancient times asbestos was considered a miraculous fire-resistant material, about years ago, people created napkins that could be cleaned by throwing them into the fire. Due to its fire-resistant and durable properties, asbestos was woven into items such as blankets, tablecloths, clothing, wallets, etc., which were not only fire-resistant but also often lasted for many years. Therefore, any fabric containing asbestos was seen as high quality and highly sought after.
However, in the s, asbestos faced competition in the fire blanket industry from fire-resistant glass fibers. In , regulatory agencies ultimately banned the use of asbestos in construction projects and consumer products in the United States due to the risk of inhaling tiny fibers over the long term and developing deadly diseases. Blankets containing asbestos may still be present in the markets of other countries, while some may still exist in homes and construction sites in the United States. Dealing with these asbestos-containing blankets has been the responsibility of homeowners, and there hasnt been much regulation on this issue.
orange yellow white silicone coated fiberglass fire blanketIn comparison, glass fibers, although they may also irritate the skin, are relatively safer than asbestos. Silicone-coated and aluminum foil-coated options effectively address the skin irritation issue associated with glass fibers.
Its confirmed that Theodore Harry Diakos of Chicago, Illinois, submitted a patent for a fiberglass fire blanket on April 24, . However, its understood that the invention of the fiberglass fire blanket likely dates back a bit earlier.
Indeed, the exact inception of the fire blanket lacks a precise consensus. Some sources attribute its creation to William Henry Fox Talbot, an English scientist and inventor, during the early 19th century. Others credit Maria Telkes, a Hungarian-American scientist, with pioneering the modern fire blanket during World War II. Telkes engineered a fire-resistant material utilizing fiberglass, subsequently employing it to fabricate the initial fire blankets. Despite the varied origins, fire blankets have remained pivotal safety implements for quelling minor fires and suppressing flames for well over a century.
Fire blankets come in various materials tailored to different scenarios. For household use, non-asbestos fire blankets are commonly employed. These small fire blankets, ideal for kitchens and domestic settings, are typically crafted from glass fiber and occasionally kevlar. They are often folded into a quick-release contraption for convenient storage.
Other materials used in fire blankets include silicone-coated glass fiber for industrial purposes, ceramic fibers for aerospace applications, and high-silica fabrics. With increased thickness, these materials can withstand higher temperatures.
Historically, asbestos fire blankets were utilized until their harmful effects on health were recognized. Despite restrictions on asbestos, some are still in use today.
Overall, fire blankets can be manufactured from a range of materials including leather and wool, fiberglass, fire-resistant coatings, ceramics, and high-silica fabrics, and so on.
Go Ahead, Waste Your Time, Because You Never Know . . .
Fire blankets. Fire blankets? Ever heard of them? No? Well, neither had I, but heres how it all began . . . Luckily for me, Ive always loved wasting time (as I used to call it) ranging all over the internet whenever I needed a break from my work. My work as a psychotherapist is pretty intense, as you might imagine, and every now and then I need to float, away from the pain and complexity my patients bring to me. On the internet, Id go anywhere and everywhere, reading about best beaches of the world (you never know . . .), how to build a house out of hay bales (you never know . . .), how to tell a good egg from an old one (YNK . . .), how to curtsy if you meet the queen (YNK . . .), and so on and on. I loved reading probably made-up sales pitches that described how a 12-year-old child or a housewife from Kansas was able to create a million dollar business (overnight, no less), even though I knew these articles were only fantasies, designed to entice me into expensive courses Id never finish.
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But something about a couple of articles outlining how to start an e-commerce business seemed like they werent part of the next-shiny-object syndrome. They werent offering the usual sales pitch promising to lead me to quick and easy millionaire status. Well, they did say it would be easy. If they had said how complicated it really was, I undoubtedly wouldnt have bothered. I was just looking for diversion from my real interest, which is helping people.
Now heres the strange thing: this whole e-commerce diversion eventually led me right back to where I started, helping people! Now, there are a lot of miraculous elements to this story, and believe me,
Im still as skeptical as to how it all fell into place as you probably are, but heres what happened. I decided to go to the Alibaba website because I had heard that it was the world largest marketplace, selling basically every product know to humankind. Because of their truly bewildering array of things that everyone and no one could potentially want, I decided to Google What is Alibabas best-selling product?
And here is where the miracle (or the woo-woo, if you please) comes in. What my search rewarded me with was the most unlikely (and most inaccurate) possible response: fire blankets. Again, fire blankets? Never heard of them. Nor could I find any mention of them on any of the websites that tally how many sales all the things that online marketplaces offer. Not even on a worldwide basis. Nothing at all indicated that enough people had bought a fire blanket to show up as even a minuscule blip on any sales chart. And yet, strangely enough, when Alibaba self-searched, it tossed up that product for my view!
I was intrigued by this puzzling result. The name fire blanket gave away nothing. A blanket of fire? It didnt make sense, but then, ah-ha, I found out that a fire blanket is a fiberglas sheet that effectively and safely can blanket a fire, quench the oxygen that keeps the fire going, and quickly put it out! Where could they be used? In the kitchen, in the bedroom, when grilling, at the campfire, in the car, andthe more I thought about itabsolutely everywhere: hotels, schools, nursing homes, childcare centers, boats, workshops, restaurant kitchens, gas stations, and more!
Researching fire damage statistics, I discovered the incredible costs of home fires:
Talk about being able to help people or even possibly intervene in life-saving ways! I couldnt help but realize that I had to somehow bring fire blankets to the publics attention as an essential device for fire protection.
So, heres whats so special about fire blankets, and why, even if you have a fire extinguisher, you need them in your home. They come in a small, quick-tab-release package, making them easy to hang from the grommet in their bag near potential danger spots. They can be put on a hook in a kitchen cabinet or in a drawer in various places in a house, car, or boat, for example. They require no special expertise to use, so that most people can be taught to use them (just make sure the blanket drapes over your hands by holding the attached straps as you approach a fire).
In a desperate situation a fire blanket is moldable, and can be shaped around a person or a pet when escaping through flames. They also can be used in stop, drop, and roll situations. Theyre inexpensive as well. Unlike fire extinguishers, they leave no messy, environmentally toxic residue. All you do is drape them over the fire source to shut off the oxygen the fire needs to continue burning. Theres no cleanup, and they dont require recharging yearly as most extinguishers do either.
So, I hope now there are no longer any quizzical looks left at the mention of fire blankets, and I hope Ive told you enough about them that you take action to obtain some for your family, your loved ones, your offices, and everywhere else there may be fire danger. A search engine somehow presented them to me to so that somehow Id have to opportunity to present them to you. I was looking for distraction, and look what I got: a chance to help all of us save lives! Seems pretty miraculous to me!
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