Jan 28 2008Fire Extinguisher Fights Fires With Balls
This conceptual fire extinguisher from designer Woo Seok Park comes packed with both oxygen tanks (for breathing) and fire-retarding powder balls (for retarding fires). So if your house is ablaze you grab this sucker and make your way to an exit while puffing the oxygen and tossing the balls.
The user rolls or throws the capsules toward the fire. The capsule, made of a material that reacts to high temperatures, will explode when it reaches the fire. Thus, the user does not need to get close to the fire in order to put it out. The elasticized body of the capsule enables it to absorb shock when it is thrown.
Sounds good. Just hope you don't run out of balls. I certainly wouldn't though, because I happened to have been born with three extra. While I haven't tested their fire-fighting capabilities, they've certainly extinguished my sex life.
Another picture of the device releasing a ball, after the jump.
Roll to Put a Fire Out [yankodesign]
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Reader Comments
1. damn luddites - January 28, 2008 2:52 PM
"The capsule, made of a material that reacts to high temperatures, will explode "
how high of a temp? will the thing explode if I leave it in the trunk of my car while parked at the beach? and what if you're running with it and trip, so that it lands on the fire. shrapnel?
2. JustBuzzed - January 28, 2008 3:31 PM
So if you have no hand eye coordination, you can breath easy while you burn to death. Great plan.
http://theunsoberlife.com
3. hepchick20 - January 28, 2008 4:05 PM
Does it seem weird to anyone else that you're wearing an oxygen tank into a fire? Maybe they should have just used gunpowder in the extunguisher and blow the building up so they don't have to worry about fire damage.
4. guate6 - January 28, 2008 5:04 PM
What about those who have bad aim or little kids who want to put out fires? What if a little kid tries swallowing one? I think this is a bad idea...
Oh and what about some regular water? A bucket or a hose should do the trick, no?
5. Stikk - January 28, 2008 10:03 PM
@ hepchick20:
It's not that big of a deal, carrying oxygen into a fire. Yes, I know that oxygen will fuel the combustion but it will be in an appropriate tank, no doubt, which will likely be fireproof and you'd be pretty damn stupid if you sprayed oxygen onto a fire. I would also think they have some safeguards like regulators, so that you couldnt expel the oxygen, just breathe it. After all, firefighters wear oxygen tanks into fires all the time.
Also, guate6, I think these balls would be like the size of a tennis ball or baseball, I dont think they'd be easy to swallow. My main concern would be how hot they would have to be to explode. It gets pretty warm in a burning building, I would be worried about one of these bad boys popping off in my hand.. Oh well, interesting concept.
Oops, looks like I wrote an essay..
6. guate6 - January 29, 2008 1:50 AM
#5: judging from the handle on the extinguisher, the balls look more like ping-pong sized...I'm sure a lot of babies can try to shove one into their mouths and not get out...hell even adults (like the geekologie writer might even try it on himself, or his wife/girlfriend/life partner). He could be the cause for them to say "warning, do not put these balls in your mouth" or something.
7. Zander - January 29, 2008 2:10 AM
This reminds me of the weapon used in No Country for Old Men but without the hose and red and double sided.
8. butterbee - January 29, 2008 9:39 AM
What if the fire is on a wall or the ceiling? Would the ball stay in position long enough to go off? Those would have to be some fairly sensitive balls.
9. TOHS - January 30, 2008 10:23 AM
#2 : So if you have no hand eye coordination, you can breath easy while you burn to death. Great plan.
No -- I would hope that you would run out of the building; not sit there and stare at the fire trying to figure out how you are going to hit it with a ball.
#4: What about those who have bad aim or little kids who want to put out fires? What if a little kid tries swallowing one? I think this is a bad idea...
What if a little kid picks up a regular fired extinguisher and sprays it all over his/her sibling? What if a little kid tries to inhale what comes out? What if a little kid drinks the Drano? Here's a tip -- be a parent and you won't have to worry about it.
Last but not least -- if you are incapable of hitting a fire with a ball there is just no hope for you. It does not require that much aim. If you can't throw then roll the ball like it said.
10. nia grant - April 1, 2008 5:16 PM
totally sick dude