INFLATABLE BUOYANCY OILSKIN JACKET

CIRE GONFLABLE

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A garment to be worn conveniently and comfortably over
the upper body of a seagoing person to gain protection from rain,
wind, and/or cold, which includes an interior deflated fluid
tight enclosure, i.e. a bladder, to be very quickly inflated
inside the garment in a time of emergency. The deflated fluid
tight enclosure covers at least the interior upper back portion
of this garment and also covers at least the interior of the
right and left chest portions of this garment. An inflating
subassembly is operatively secured between the deflated fluid
tight enclosure and to either the right or left chest portion of
this garment. This inflating subassembly has an alternatively
usable month and lung inflatable valved air intake-discharge
communicating with the deflated fluid tight enclosure, and an
alternatively usable filled compressed fluid valved cylinder
discharge also communicating with the deflated fluid tight
enclosure and having a coilable pullable lanyard. Then a pocket
like subassembly is removably secured, by using loop and hook
fasteners on the exterior of the garment at either the right or
left chest portion and is non removably secured to the coilable
pullable lanyard. This pocket like assembly fully covers and
protects the inflating subassembly, until an emergency, when the
seagoing person intentionally, readily, and quickly, pulls the
pocket like assembly away from the garment, causing the pulling
of the lanyard to activate the valve on the compressed fluid
valved cylinder. The fluid tight enclosure is then quickly
inflated, creating the buoyancy needed by this seagoing person.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A garment to be worn conveniently and comfortably
over the upper body of a seagoing person to gain protection from
rain, wind, and/or cold, including an interior deflated fluid
tight enclosure to be very quickly inflated inside the said
garment in a time of emergency, comprising:
(a) the said garment to cover at least the back
and right and left chest portions of a seagoing person;
(b) an upper back portion of this said garment
having respective interior fastening means to secure portions of
the said interior deflated fluid tight enclosure;
(c) right and left chest portions of this said
garment having respective interior fastening means to secure
portions of the said interior deflated fluid tight enclosure;
(d) the said interior deflated fluid tight
enclosure covering at least the interior upper bc portion of this
said garment and secured by the said respective interior
fastening means, and also covering the said respective interiors
of the right and left chest portions of this said garment and
secured by the said respective interior fastening means;
(e) an inflating subassembly for operating secure
attachment between the said interior deflated fluid tight
enclosure and secure attachment to either the said right or left
chest portion of this said garment, on the exterior thereof,
having the alternatively used mouth and lung inflatable valved
air intake-discharge, communicating with the said interior


deflated fluid tight enclosure, and an alternatively used filled
compressed fluid valved cylinder discharge, also communicating
with the said interior deflated fluid tight enclosure, and a
coilable pullable means having one end secured to the said filled
compressed valve fluid cylinder and having a free end, which when
pulled, causes fluid to leave the said filled compressed valved
fluid cylinder and to enter the then inflating said interior
fluid tight enclosure; and
(f) a pocket flap cover having loop and hook
fasteners, arranged across the bottom and along the side edges of
the said pocket flap cover, and removably secured to the said
garment, by using the complementary loop and hook fasteners,
secured to the said garment on the exterior thereof, at either
the said right or left chest portion, thereby forming an open top
chest pocket, having an upper edge, and having in addition a top
overlay tab secured to said garment on the exterior thereof,
using fastening means along the top and side edges, forming an
open bottom of the said top overlay tab, to receive and to
protect the said upper edge of the said pocket flap cover,
allowing the seagoing person's hand to reach in and grasp the
said upper edge of the said pocket flap cover, and the said
pocket flap cover is non-removably secured to the otherwise free
end of the said coilable pullable means to keep this said
coilable pullable means fully and protectively concealed, when
there is no need to inflate the said interior deflated fluid
tight enclosure during normal crew activities about a vessel, and
yet when an emergency occurs, to be readily and quickly pulled

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away by a seagoing person, using either hand, which pulling on
the said upper edge, in turn causes the uncoiling and extending
of the said pullable means, to thereby activate the said
compressed valve fluid cylinder to inflate the previously said
interior deflated fluid tight enclosure, and if that fails, to
expose the mouth and lung inflatable valved air intake-discharge
for its alternate use, to inflate the previously said interior
deflated fluid tight enclosure.
2. An inflatable buoyancy garment intended to be worn
on an upper body of the wearer as a jacket, wherein a U-shaped
air chamber is securely attached to the inside of said garment;
and comprising, in addition:
(a) an inflator assembly securely positioned to
the outside of the said garment at a breast pocket location
thereof, and depending from the said U-shaped air chamber, and
communicating with the inside of the said U-shaped chamber,
having a pressurized gas filled cylinder to discharge gas into
the said U-shaped air chamber, and a lever arm, having in turn
one piercing end to pierce the said gas filled cylinder, and
another end to receive a lanyard, and a coilable and extendable
said lanyard having one end secured to the said lever arm and
another end for subsequent securement, and having an oral
inflation tube and valve thereof communicating with the inside of
the said U-shaped air chamber for alternate use in inflating the
U-shaped air chamber; and
(b) an exterior removably pocket flap cover,
adapted and located to be easily removed with either hand of the

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wearer, removably secured to the said garment, having portions of
fasteners such as snaps or hook and loop fabric, to complementary
interfit with snaps or hook and loop fabric secured to the said
garment, wherein this said exterior removable pocket flap cover
is so secured to said garment along the bottom and side edges
forming an open top chest pocket on the said garment, having an
upper edge and having a top flap secured to the said garment
along the top and side edges forming an open bottom to receive
and to protect the said upper edge, while allowing the seagoing
person's hand to reach in and grasp the said upper edge of the
said exterior removable pocket flap cover, which covers the said
inflator assembly, and this said exterior removable pocket flap
cover is secured to the other end of the said coilable and
extendable lanyard, whereby upon the intentional pulling away of
this said exterior removable pocket flap cover byu the wearer
using his or her left or right hand, the said lanyard is
uncoiled, extended and pulled to move the said lever arm, to in
turn pierce the said gas filled cylinder, to in turn inflate the
said U-shaped chamber, and if that fails, to expose the said oral
inflation tube and valve thereof for alternate use in inflating
the said U-shaped air chamber.

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Description

1;~9t;9S~

~FLATA~LF~ BUOYANCY OILSKIN JACKET



BACKGRO~N~ OF THE INVENTION
Field of Invention
The invention pertains to the art of inflatables, and more
particularly to the art of manufacture of inflatable life preservers,
especially those adapted to be integrated in a vest or jacket
like protective garment. The invention thus falls within the
field of inflatable life preservers, which are an integral part
of a garment designed for a use other than li~esaving. The
invention, further, is so designed as to be adaptable for military
and civilian use, installed in an oilskin jacket.



Prior Art
Most inflatable personal flotation devices in use today
are a separate unit requiring extra time and a conscious awareness
of a dangerous situation for use. The inflatable personal flotation
devices that currently are integrated into garments are primarily
designed for use by the military, intended forspecific applications,
or for the yachtsman who occasionally is exposed to a potentially
dangerous situation. In that regard many professional mariners,
especially commercial fishermen, are frequently reluctant to
be seen, or to be bothered, wearing a personal flotation device
even when conditions are dangerous.
Typical of the prior art as described above are the following

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patenks:
J. Harding, et al. 3345657
H, J. Moran, et al. 3771183
C. E. Erickson 2823396
It has been important, in inflatable personal flotation
devices as those shown in the prior art patents, to assure that
the flotation compartment design be capable of incorporation
with various types of military and sportsmen garments and that
the flotation compartment offer ample buoyancy so as to keep
the head of the wearer out of the water. The prior art patent
of R. J. Moran even offers an additional flotation compartment
as a safety factor; that is, if one of the two flotation compartments
is damaged the other will adequately support the wearer. The
prior art inflatable personal flotation devices have unquestionably
been of great benefit to those who had need and were equipped
with one of these devices.
~ owever, certain deficiencies must be noted in the prior
art. In the prior art inflatable personal flotation devices
cited above, these inflatables are designed to be worn separately
and/or incorporated into a specific type garment. It is not
reasonable to expect a professional mariner to wear a military
flight suit or a sportsman vest while at sea. It is also impossible
for an inflatable personal flotation device to save a life if
it is not on the person or available to them at their critical
time of need. The majority of deaths caused by man overboard


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accidents are not the result of a predictable situation or an
inherently dangerous one; most often it is the result of a freak
accident in which the unfortunate victim is pitched into the
sea. According to the U. S. Coast Guard a full 75 per cent
of these victims might have lived had they been wearing their
personal flotation devices. It must also be noted that the
large majority of mariners are not in the military and therefore
do not have access to those inflatable life preservers of the
prior art should they have the inclination to wear them. Although
many commercially available life preservation devices have been
approved by the U. S. Coast Guard, for use by the general public,
for the most part these devices remain in a locker somewhere
ready for use should the occasion arise. There are other products
currently available that perform this function far better than
an inflatable personal flotation device; for example the survival
suit is designed to not only keep a victim afloat but also to
protect against exposure and hypothermia. If a victim were
aware of impending danger, i.e. the boat is sinking, or the
weather is more severe than the boat is capable of withstanding,
the victim would no doubt use the survival suit rather than
the currently available personal flotation devicesf both of
which are probably in the same locker. It is therefore of primary
importance that a personal flotation device become standard
equipment of those who work at sea. This is best accomplished
by integration of the inflatable flotation compartment with


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a garment that is already standard equipment for those who work
at sea.
The present invention is intended tocorrect these deficiencies

in the prior art, by integrating the inflatable flotation chamber
witb the most common and most utilized piece of personal gear

used by all those who venture upon the sea, most especially
commercial fishermen and others who make their living upon the
sea.




SUMMARY OF TEE INVENTION
The subject invention is an inflatable buoyancy oilskin
jacke~ further comprising a lifesaving inflatable buoyancy garment
accessory which is adapted for removable or alternatively permanent
attachment to the inside of any oilskin foulweather jacket worn
by fishermen in particular. The inflatable buoyancy jacket
invention is normally worn in the deflated mode by the fishermen
as they work on board the ships and may be inflated manually
or in an alternative embodiment, automatically should the fisherman
be swept overboard for example. The invention broadly comprises
a U-shaped continuous inflatable chamber which is secured to
the inside of any oilskin foulweather jacket. Inflating means
include an inflator assembly as well as an auxiliary oral inflator
tube. The U-shaped chamber is adapted such that a collar section
is secured to the upper back portion of the interior of the


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oilskin jacket while body lobes extend down each side of the
jacket to lie upon the chest of the wearer. The inflator assembly
has an attached lanyard which is in turn secured to a pocket
flap cover removably mounted on the front of the oilskin jacket.
Activation of the inflator assembly is accomplished by removing
and then pulling down on the pocket flap cover. The cover is
secured to a lanyard which is secured at its opposite end to
a lever. A C02 cartridge, secured into an extending portion
of the chamber, is then activated to inflate the chamber by
being punctured by a spring activated piercing pin connected
to the lever.



BRIEF DES~RIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an environmental view of the inflatable buoyancy
oilskin jacket worn by a fisherman in the deflated mode.
Figure 2 is an environmental view showing the jacket in
the inflated mode wherein the fisherman has manually activated
the inflator assembly by removing and then pulling on the pocket
flap cover, both also shown.
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the U-shaped continuous
inflatable chamber.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the inflatable buoyancy
oilskin jacket showing the pocket flap cover in place and the
chamber in the deflated mode.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the jacket with the chamber

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inflated, the flap cover having been removed and the inflator
assembly activated.
Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the inflator assembly secured
to the pocket flap cover by the lanyard.
Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the inflator assembly with
a portion cut away to show the spring activated piercing pin.




DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the various drawings, it will be noted
that the preferred embodiment of the inflatable buoyancy jacket
10 or jacket 10 broadly comprises: a standard oilskin, a U-shaped
continuous inflatable flotation chamber 12 and an inflator assembly
20.
As shown in figure 1 of the drawings, the inflatable buoyancy
jacket 10 is ~o be worn primarily by fishermen in the deflated
mode while working on board their fishing boa~s. The inflatable
buoyancy jacket 10 may be worn in combination with overalls
or waterproof pants together to serve as foulweather gear and
protect the fisherman against rain as well as the waves and
water which spills from the fishing nets as they are hauled
in. The oilskin is a standard item and may serve as the basic
garment for which the inflatable buoyancy jacket 10 invention
is made.
The U-shaped continuous inflatable chamber 12 or chamber

12 further comprises a collar section 14 and two body lobes
16. The chamber 12 is secured at its collar section 14 along
the upper interior of the jacket 10 at the upper back portion
18 as shown in figure 4. The body lobes 16 continuously communicate
with the collar section 14 to form a single cavity within the
chamber 12. The body lobes 16 are secured to the interior of
the iacket 10 along each side as shown in figures ~ and 5.
Points of connection spaced along the perimeter of the chamber
12 are referred to as 40, as illustrated in figures 3, 4 and
5. Such attachments may be made with stitches, snaps, rivets
or any other method which will firmly locate and secure the
chamber 12 in the jacke~ 10. While the primary embodiment of
the invention incorporates a permanently secured chamber such
as with stitches, other embodiments may include a detachable
or interchangeable chamber which may be sold as a separate accessory
and installed in the fisherman's previously purchased jacket.
The chamber 12 is preferably constructed of a lightweight
polyurethane coated nylon, neoprene coated nylon, rubber, vinyl
or other lightweight gas retaining material.
The inflator assembly 20 is secured to the exterior of
the jacket 10 to extend into the chamber 12 and permit the trans-
mission of air to fill the chamber 12.
The inflator assembly 20 utilizes a sealed CO2 cartridge
22. Details of the inflator assembly 20 are limited for the
sake of simplicity since its components are often used on life


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preservers and the like. The assembly further includes a lever
24 which is connected at one end to a spring actuated piercing
pin 26. The lever has a lanyard 28 attached to its opposite
end as shown in figure 7. The opposite end of the lanyard 28
is secured to the interior of the pocket flap cover 30. When
the pocket flap cover 30 is pulled away from its velcro mounting
strip 32 and then pulled downwardly, the lever 24 is consequently
pulled downwardly, thereby activating the piercing pin 26 which
then punctures ~he CO2 cartridge 22 causing inflation of the
chamber 12 upon demand. The sealed CO2 cartridge 22 is removably
mounted into the threaded end of the transmission portion 27
of the inflator assembly 20.
The primary embodiment of the invention re~uires the fisherman
or other wearer to manually remove the pocket flap cover 30
to activate the inflator assembly 20; an alternative embodiment
would provide for automatic inflation when the inflator assembly
20 was submerged in water. In such embodiment, the spring activated
piercing pin 26 could be held in an inactive position by a salt
grain or tablet of other dissolvable material which would activate
the piercing pin 26 upon being dissolved in the water. Other
possible means could be used for automatic inflation as well.
An auxiliary inflating means is provided by the oral inflator
tube 34 as shown in figure 6. The oral inflator tube 34 may
be used if the inflator assembly 20 fails to operate. The oral
inflator tube 34 will normally be screwed in place to seat against


S~


the surface of the jacket 10 to serve as a valve. Deflation
of the chamber 12 may then be accomplished by unscrewing the
tube 34 such as is done with other lifesaving vests.
A pocket flap cover 30 is removably secured to the front
of the oilskin jacket 10 preferably at breast pocket location.
The pocket flap cover 30 or cover 30 is preferably secured to
mounting strips of velcro 32 which have been attached to the
front of the oilskin jacket 10. Snaps or other means may be
used to secure ~he cover 30 in place, to serve as protection
for the inflator assembly 20 and oral inflator tube 34 which
project from the chamber 12 through the jacket 10 to be accessible
beneath the cover 30. The cover 30 also serves to prevent damage
or interference to the inflating means from exterior sources,
yet allows for manual activation with a gloved groping hand.
The pocket flap cover 30 is additionally secured to the jacket
10 by a top flap 36 which is stitched or otherwise permanently
affixed to the oilskin jacket and across the ~op and down the
sides of the top flap 36 as illustrated in figure 6.
An additional feature of the inflatable buoyancy jacket
10 is a safety buckle 38 which is secured to the bottom of the
coat and may be wrapped around the midsection of the wearer
to prevent the jacket 10 from coming off in case it is unsnapped
while the wearer is in the water for example.

Representative Drawing