by Ken Blocker
This information pertains to my patented invention, the Fire Hose Carrier aka Aqua Blaster patent 10,071,271.
The Aqua Blaster is a harness frame, fire hose and nozzle combination that will allow the manual use of a charged fire hose to be less stressful and safer to manage which can reduce and or eliminate fatigue and or injuries that’s associated with using fire hoses. The Aqua Blaster is a multipurpose fire hose appliance that can be incorporated to use for a variety of tasks and in multiple fields that may require the manual use of a fire hose or other flow transfer hose lines. Included is a Power Point Illustration that highlights some benefits when using the Aqua Blaster along with some photo illustrations that points out the mechanical function of the 360 degree dual elbow swivel plumbing component for the fire hose and nozzle connections that pivots the attached nozzle up and or down and even locking the nozzle in place up to a 90 degree angle while also having the ability to maneuver the attached fire hose backwards and forward.
The Aqua Blaster is constructed to adapt to a variety of nozzles that allows the most appropriate nozzle to be used for a specific task which may require using water, foam concentrates, dry or wet chemicals, and gels that are presently being used with fire hoses and other type of hoses. Below are video links with previous prototype models and videos with the current production model of the Aqua Blaster that shows proof of concept and the developing stages up to the current model that now exist. The other remaining video links shows the many uses of fire hoses within various industries along with how the Aqua Blaster can also be incorporated within different fields and even used by private citizens that may have fire hose pumps for damage control firefighting or any other task where the use of a fire hose is most feasible.
My Invention Journey
As of today, it’s been a 21 year endeavor of blood, sweat, and tears which entailed a lot of rejection, a loss of two homes and an automobile within the first 16 years of pursuing my idea and trying to get someone to believe in what I had and give it a chance.
CNBC
Of course this was like a punch in the gut but I pulled myself together and continued to pound the pavement. Out of the hundreds of companies that I contacted which turned me down, the only company that gave my idea a chance was actually a percussion musical equipment manufacturer that was called Dynasty USA. As you can see, my harness is the same type and style of harness frame that drummers use in marching bands to carry and support their drums.
After the 16th year into this journey, I was called by the producer at CNBC concerning the presenting of my invention on Make Me A Millionaire Inventor which my invention was one of the 16 inventions that was chosen to be featured on the show. My thoughts were, this is the break that I’ve been waiting for only to be let down by the investor who gave me a $ 1,000, 000 offer for 30% of my company which I agreed. Little did I know that this particular person was using the show as a PR stunt to promote their own agenda because I was never given a dime and I was told that there was no longer an interest with them pursuing my invention.
Custom Elite Manufacturing LLC
The owner of that company sold Dynasty and started a company called Custom Elite Manufacturing LLC in Lake Geneva, WI which was the investment made in my invention. As far as how I came up with the idea, it was more of an epiphany which I believed was inspired when I was a firefighter in training. The idea just came to me as a question which was wondering about something that would make life a little bit easier when you’re operating a charged fire hose because the conventional way was pretty challenging. Afterwards, I just felt and was possessed by an overwhelming desire to pursue this concept because in my heart, I really knew that I was on to something that was revolutionary.
I dibbled and dabbled with countless concepts and designs which at first was nowhere close to the current production model that’s on the market. The first patent that was issued was a chest plate with back straps and a belt that showed proof of concept but it was very cumbersome when putting the harness on and trying to adjust the webbing. I tried to make that particular concept work for nearly a decade when an engineer told me about the marching drum carriers used in marching bands.
Designing the Aqua Blaster
When I did a search, the light bulb came on and I first had a few local machine shops build me some prototypes with that design proved to work but they were not too appealing to look at. A few of the improved prototypes were actually built by my manufacturer before we secured a licensing agreement that was made about 2 ½ years ago. As far as the patent process, it was a rip off with the first one because I went through a consulting company that charged me a lot of money to do little of nothing though I manage to get a patent because lucky for me, the patent attorney that they contracted with was an honest attorney who continued to work with me in spite of the consulting company.
My second patent…
which was actually issued on September 11th, 2018 which is also my wife’s birthday was a much smoother process because I used the same attorney which we now have a twenty plus year relationship. At this stage of my journey, I have a manufacturer and a major distributor but for some reason, I still seem to be dealing with a lot of political red tape because the fire departments are not buying my product which it’s obvious that it’s something that has merit along with every other industry that use fire hoses.
Invention Exposure
I believe that what I need most is to have my invention in front of that one person of influence whoever they are that will cause it to gain momentum in the industries which I’m convinced that they know that this is something that they can’t only use but need. Sometimes I wonder if the forces that I’ve been up against has nothing to do with my invention but the inventor in some aspects. Not only am I not well known or placed in the right circles in this society, I’m also a minority (black man) and I’ve wondered if that’s had an impact on this process because I’ve experienced some things that I’m very careful of who I share them with especially when they don’t look like me. I’m not sure if I should be sharing this in my reply to you but I’m taking that chance so I’ll just see where it goes. Either way, I’m positive, optimistic, and have no animosity in my heart for any and all of the experiences that I’ve encountered because all of it has made me the person that I am today.
Hardship has a way with you coming into and understanding your purpose and that’s what I’ve taken out of all of this. I apologize if I wrote too much but I wanted to be transparent with your inquiries. Again, I appreciate this opportunity to be on this platform. If anything, I’ve learned not to take anything for granted.
Aqua Blaster Benefits
- The Aqua Blaster is a harness/frame which supports a fire hose with attached nozzle and can be operated by a single firefighter.
- The firefighter’s torso and lower body strength give enhanced control of the fire hose and nozzle. Advancing and maneuvering is done without assistance.
- Fire hose can be maneuvered hands free. Hands free operation is more balanced. The user can brace themselves while walking or advancing the hose.
- The Aqua Blaster reduces injuries like chronic pains in the joints and back that are often associated with the long-term use of fire hoses.
- The harness/frame of the Aqua Blaster is constructed from heavy duty lightweight aluminum. The flow control components of the Aqua Blaster consist of two 90-degree elbow swivels attached to a connecting tube.
- The Aqua Blaster is supplied without nozzle. Some nozzles may require a 1 1/2″ Female NH/NST to 1 1/2″ Male NH/NST adapter to provide clearance for the nozzle handles. These are available from fire equipment supply vendor
- The Aqua Blaster Reduces fatigue when a charged fire hose is being used for an extended period of time.
- Both elbows have a 150-degree range of rotation. One elbow is equipped with a fire hose adapter coupling. The other elbow accepts the fire nozzle of your choice.
- The Aqua Blaster allows the user to easily pivot to the left or right adjusting the direction of the water stream. The fire nozzle can be rotated up and down and locked at a fixed vertical angle.
- Agents including water, foam concentrates, gels, dry chemicals, or any other agent that is used with fire hoses and nozzles can be used with the Aqua Blaster.
- Ideal for exterior, HAZMAT, and forest firefighting.
Contact Information
Ken Blocker,
KBLOCK Tools LLC
803-422-9013
The Invention Stories Podcast
on YouTube and More…
Click here to learn more about Invention Stories
and here for Women Inventors and the 7 Percent.
To watch more Invention Stories on YouTube, please click here.
If you are new to inventing, we invite you to visit Episode 1 with Forbes Riley.
Click here to visit (and Like) the Invention Stories Facebook Page.
Finally, we invite you to sign our Guest Book.
Thank you for reading this and please…tell a friend.
