HOSE CONNECTOR

1 . A hose connector ( 106 ) for a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher ( 100 ), the hose connector comprising:

a valve body connection tube ( 330 ) for connecting the hose connector to a valve body of the fire extinguisher, wherein the valve body connection tube is non-threaded;

a hose connection tube ( 332 ) for connecting a hose to the hose connector; and

a fixing plate ( 334 ) for fixing the hose connector to the valve body of the fire extinguisher.

2 . The hose connector of claim 1 , wherein the hose connector ( 106 ) is made of plastic.

3 . The hose connector of claim 1 , wherein the fixing plate ( 334 ) comprises an aperture ( 340 ).

4 . The hose connector of claim 3 , wherein the aperture ( 340 ) is non-threaded.

5 . The hose connector of claim 1 , wherein the hose connection tube ( 332 ) extends from a first side ( 336 ) of the fixing plate ( 334 ) and wherein the valve body connection tube ( 330 ) extends from a second side ( 338 ) of the fixing plate, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side.

6 . The hose connector of claim 5 , wherein the fixing plate ( 334 ) comprises a fixing plate plane, wherein hose connection tube ( 332 ) extends in a first direction perpendicular to the fixing plate plane, and wherein the valve body connection tube ( 330 ) extends in a second direction perpendicular to the fixing plate plane, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

7 . The hose connector of claim 1 , wherein an opening ( 342 ) extends through the valve body connection tube ( 330 ), the fixing plate ( 334 ), and the hose connection tube ( 332 ).

8 . The hose connector of claim 1 , wherein fixing plate ( 334 ) comprises one or more reinforcing ribs ( 346 ).

9 . A valve body ( 104 ) for a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher ( 100 ), the valve body comprising:

a hose connector support surface ( 320 ) for supporting a fixing plate of a hose connector; and

a non-threaded hose connector receiving hole ( 310 ) within the hose connector support surface ( 320 ) for receiving a valve body connection tube of a hose connector.

10 . The valve body of claim 9 , wherein the valve body ( 104 ) is made of plastic.

11 . The valve body of claim 9 , wherein the hose connector support surface ( 320 ) comprises a fixing point ( 304 ), and wherein the fixing point comprises an aperture ( 304 a ).

12 . A cartridge-operated fire extinguisher ( 100 ), the fire extinguisher comprising:

the hose connector ( 106 ) according to claim 1 ;

a valve body ( 104 ); and

a cylinder ( 102 ) with an opening ( 200 ) at the top of the cylinder,

wherein the valve body is fixed to the cylinder to seal the opening at the top, and the hose connector is mounted on the valve body such that the fixing plate ( 334 ) of the hose connector is supported on the hose connector support surface ( 320 ) of the valve body and the valve body connection tube ( 330 ) of the hose connector is received in the hose connector receiving hole ( 310 ) of the valve body.

13 . The cartridge-operated fire extinguisher of claim 12 , wherein the cylinder comprises a fixing bolt ( 214 ), and wherein the fixing bolt passes through the hose connector ( 106 ) and the valve body ( 104 ).

14 . A method of assembling the cartridge-operated fire extinguisher ( 100 ) of claim 12 , the method comprising:

mounting the valve body ( 104 ) on the cylinder ( 102 );

connecting the hose connector ( 106 ) to the valve body by pushing the valve body connection tube ( 330 ) into the hose connector receiving hole ( 310 ) such that the fixing plate ( 334 ) of the hose connector is supported on the hose connector support surface ( 320 ) of the valve body; and

fixing the valve body ( 104 ) and the hose connector ( 106 ) to the cylinder ( 102 ).

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the valve body ( 104 ) and the hose connector ( 106 ) are fixed to the cylinder by one or more nuts ( 350 ).