Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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3ESCRIPTION
P~RSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE
Technical Field
This invention relates to emergency devices to assist
in the rescue of persons who have fallen overboard in deep
water. In particular it relates to flotaticn devices which
can be sent into the water immediately after the emergency
is discovered or worn by individuals.
Background Of The Inventio_
Prior art emergency devices have one or more dis-
advantages such as time-consuming deployment and excessive
weight. Personal flotation devices which have been
described in the prior art are typically bulky, hot and
uncomfortable to wear.
One object of the present invention is to provide a
compact, lightweight flotation device which can be worn by
~he person and readily and reliably deployed.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will be
apparent from the description and claims which follow, taken
together with the appended drawings.
Summary of the Invention
The invention comprises broadly an assembly of an
inflatable flotation device in a container mounted on the
deck of a ship or worn by the individual. The ship-mounted
container has a front flap which is releasably secured to
the walls of the container. A pull on a strap attached to
the flap opens the container and permits the stored device
to fall into the waterc Means are provided to automatically
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inflate the devices with a gas under pressure, as for
example, carbon dioxide.
The device worn by the individual person also has a
front flap which is releasably secured to the walls of the
container. A pull on the flap device by the person in the
water opens the container and initiates the inflation of the
stored flotation device. As the pressure and volume build
up in the flotation device the device is forced out from the
open container into the water. Adjustable snaps are
provided to secure the flotation device to the person in a
suitable position, the device at all time being tethered to
the person.
In i~s preferred form, the ship-mounted container holds
both inflatable location and inflatable flotation devices
tethered together. In addition, it is preferred that
identification and signal devices be included, as for
example, a strobe light, air horn, whistle, flares, dye
marker, distress flag, radar reflector panels, helium
balloon and sea anchor. Where appropriate, such identifica-
tion and signal devices may also be tethered to the
inflatable devices.
In one particular form, the ship-mounted container is
attached by straps to the rail on the deck of a ship. A
release strap extends from the bottom of the front flap to
the top of the container where it is connected to a line
attached to the deck. Thus, a pull on the line immediately
pulls up the front flap permitting the stored devices to
fall into the water. The front panel is preferably
releasably attached, as for example, with Velcro to an
upward skirt extension of the bottom panel. When the front
flap is pulled up, the skirt and bottom panel drop down. A
metal snap between the front panel and the skirt insures
that the container will not open accidentally but only when
there is sufficient pull.
The inflatable location device of the ship-mounted
container is preferably a signal cone with a weight in the
bottom to keep it vertical when inflated. Inflation of the
devices is accomplished by releasing gas stored under
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pressure. Such release is accomplished either by the action
of the water on the release mechanism or by mechanical
release ~riggered by the pull on lines attached to the
container as the contents fall into the water. In the
latter instance, for example, a spring-loaded puncture pin
is driven into the opening of the vessel under pressure,
thus permitting inflation. The driving is accomplished by a
pivoted arm, one end of which is connected to the container.
As the devices fall, the pull causes the arm to pivot and
then fall away. The inflation thus starts before the
devices hit the water. Water-soluble releases can also be
used since they are activated immediately upon striking the
water.
In the personal flotation device, a metal snap is also
preferred to prevent accidental opening of the container.
Brief Description of Drawings
_
Figs. 1-11 illustrate a ship-mounted container, while
Figs. 12-18 illustrate a container worn by an individual
person.
Fig. 1 is a view showing the container with stored
flotation devices mounted on the rail of a boat and with its
release line attached to the deck.
Fig. 2 shows the same view as Fig. 1 after the devices
have been dropped from the container.
Fig. 3 shows the devices partially inflated on the
surface of the water.
Fig. 4 shows the devices full~ inflated with the
survivor in position on the horseshoe.
Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of a preferred
form o the invention in stowed condition mounted on the
rail of a boat with its release line attached to the deck.
Fig. 6 is an opposite perspective view of Fig. 5
showing the attachment of the front panel to the skirt
extension of the bottom panel.
Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-section along line 7-7 of
Fig. 6 showing the packing of the inflatable devices in the
container.
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Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed view of the
fully-inflated tethered devices in the water.
Fig. 9 is a partial section along line 9-9 showing the
bottom portion of the signal cone.
Fig. 9A is a partial section showing an alternate
construction of the signal cone.
Fig. 10 is a schematic section showing the operation of
the wate~-~oluble release mechanism for inElating with gas
under pressure.
Fig. 11 is a schematic section showing the mechanism
for mechanically releasing the gas under pressure.
Fig. 12 is a front perspective view of another
embodiment of this invention, namely a personal flotation
device adapted to be worn in stored condition by an
individual.
Fig. 13 is a rear perspective view.
Fig. 14 is a vertical section.
Fig. 15 illustrates how the device of Fig. 12 is worn
by an inventor.
Fig. 16 illustrates the device of Fig. 12 in the
process of being actuated.
Fig. 17 shows the individual with the fully deployed
personal flotation device.
Fig. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating the method
of inflation.
Specific Examples of Invention
Referring now to Figs. 1-11 in the drawings, a
preferred embodiment 10 of this invention is shown attached
to the rail 12 of vessel 11 with straps 97 and 98. The
CQntainer 100 comprises a back wall lOOa vertically attached
to two side walls lOOb. A top wall lOOc has a foldable,
flexible front extension lOOd. Extending from the bottom of
back wall lOOa is a bottom panel 102 attached only along one
edge and having a foldable skirt extension 103a provided
with a fastener means 102b as for example, Velcro. Front
flexible panel lOOd has cooperating fastening means lOOdd.
Panel lOOd also has an external metal snap 102a to which is
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attached~trap lOOf extending through loop 109 to ring 101
attached to release line 14 which in turn is held on the
deck 96 of the vessel. Pulling on the release line 1~
causes the flexible front panel lOOd to be separated from
the skirt 103a and pulled up. The skirt with the bottom
panel 102 drops back and down and the contents of the
container drop down to the water in a very rapid fashion.
Stored within the container is a collapsed inflatable
horseshoe flotation device 111, a collapsed inflatable
signal cone 104, a weight 105 in the signal cone, carbon
d ioxide storage means 301 and carbon dioxide valve release
means 300 associated with said carbon dioxide storage means.
The signal cone and horsesnoe flotation device are tethered
together with lines 109 and 110.
Also stored in the container are other rescue devices
such as an air horn, whistle, dye marker, aerial flare, mini
strobe light, signal light and personal light. Associated
with the inflatable cone is a signal flag 108, a
water-activated light 120, reflective panels 121 and a
drogue 119. The container is preferably made with a
vacuum-formed plastic inner liner covered with nylon pack
cloth.
When the release line 14 is pulled, the contents of the
container 100 immediately fall out and the inflatable cone
and horseshoe flotation device are automatically inflated as
illustrated more particularly in Figs. 2 and 11. Lanyards
104a are attached to cam-shaped levers 300a having cut-out
300b which mount on pivot 302b. When the contents are
dropped out of the container, the cam-shaped levers 300a
rotate so as to drive puncture pin 302 into the carbon
dioxide reservoir 301 and then separate from the pivot 302b.
Inflation thus begins while the cone and horseshoe device
are still falling.
An alternative method of automatic inflation is to use
as illustrated in Fig. 10, a water-soluble release which
permits spring 207 to drive puncture pin 202 into carbon
dioxide container 201, utilizing a fixed cam lever 203. Both
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devices have as a safety a manual activator 209 in the event
that the automatic inflation fails.
Signal cone 104 when inflated sits vertically in the
water. Its weight compartment 105a has a zipper 106 for
insertion of weight 105 and is separated from the carbon
dioxide compartment. The cone 104 is preferably neoprene-
coated nylon 107 with aluminized mylar coating 107a for
radar reflection. It has connections 119b for lines ll9a
holding stabilizing sea anchor 119. A light 120 is mounted
in the upper end and maXes the reflective panels 121
visible. Power for the light 120 is provided by a water-
activated battery 117. Signal flag 108 is mounted near the
top of the cone. A manual inflation tube 118 is provided.
The horseshoe flotation device also has a manual
inflation tube 114, a pocket 113 for ancillary devices, and
a line 115 which connects the snap 115b to snap 115a to hold
the survivor 13 within the flotation device. Among the
ancillary devices are a helium balloon 127, a strobe light
120b and a flàre 120.
An alternative structure for anchoring the signal cone,
as illustrated in Fig. 9A, is to form the bottom of the
inflation chamber 104a as an inverted cone 107b terminating
in chamber 107b containing a lead weight 205b.
Referring now to the embodiment of the invention
illustrated in Figs. 12 to 18, a personal flotation device
400 is shown attached to the belt on clothing of a man 400a.
The device has an outer case comprising side walls 400b and
400c, bottom wall 400d, rear wall 400e, top wall 418. The
side walls, bottom wall, and back wall are firmly attached
to one another. However, the front flap 418 is permanently
attached only at its bottom. In stored condition the front
flap 418 is detachably connected by snap 402 to snap 402a
which is in a depending portion of the top wall 400f. Top
wall 400f is permanently attached at its bottom to the top
of rear wall 400e so that it also is a flap. Side walls
400b and 40Qc have have extensions 400bb and 400cc and front
foldable extensions 400dd and 400ee. Accordingly when snap
402 is engaged with snap 402a flap 418 fits against flaps
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400cc and 4~0dd and top flap 400f covers side wall flaps
400bb and 4~0cc. There are preferably fastener means that
are readily detachable as for example, hook and loop fabric
means such as Velcro 422, 423 and 402b on the outer surfaces
of the flaps to permit a smooth disengagement when the front
is opened by the individual pulling pull tab 401. The rear
wall 400e of the container has stitched loops 403 and 404
for attachment to belts or other suitable parts of clothing.
Stored within the container is an inflatable horseshoe-
shaped flotation device 413. Flotation device 413 is
attached by lanyard 412 which in turn is connected by snap
hook 411 to metal ring 410 which in turn is attached to the
back wall 400e of the container by stitching 405. It can be
thus seen that at all times the flotation device is
connected to the container 400 which in turn is attached to
the person 400a.
Attached to the front pull flap 418 is an operating
lanyard 436 which with clasp 407 is attached to one end of
cam crank 419. When the tab 401 is pulled, it causes the
cam-shaped lever 419 to rotate by its cut-out portion 424a
on pin 424 so as to drive puncture pin 426 into the carbon
dioxide reservoir 409 and then separate from pin 424. The
carbon dioxide gas enters through valve opening 425 and
valve 420 and quickly inflates the horseshoe-shaped
flotation device 413. A mouth piece 414 is provided as a
safety device for re-inflating the flotation device.
The flotation device 413 is provided with a nylon
belt 416 having an adjustable buckle 414, a belt handle 417,
an eyelet 417a and a length-adjusting buckle 421. Thus,
when the man equipped with the flotation device jumps into
the water he can either before or after he hits the water
actuate the device by pulling on the front flap 418 and be
certain that at all times the inflated flotation device will
be attached to him and readily adjustable for safety and
comfort.
An alternate method of automatic inflation is to use a
wa~er-soluble release. The release holds back a spring
which when released drives the puncture pin 426 into the
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carbon dioxide reservoir 409. This could be of similar
construction as shown in Fig. 10, including the manùal
activator 209.
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