SURVIVAL SUIT

COMBINAISON DE SURVIE

English Abstract

A survival suit (10) including two inner bladders (50), (60) filled with air
exhaled from the user to provide warmth
and floatation. The first inner bladder (50) is located against the user's
back that covers the entire dorsal region. Located behind the
firs inner bladder (50) is a second inner bladder (60) that acts as an
insulation layer when submerged under water. Both the first and
second inner bladders (50), (60) are filled with fibrous filler material (80)
to provide insulation and allow exhaled air to flow freely
therein. An air conduit (74) extends from the user's mouth to the second inner
bladder (60). Formed between the first and second
inner bladders (50), (60) is an air passageway (55) that delivers air from the
second inner bladder (60) into the first inner bladder (50).
Air outlet ports (58) located on the first inner bladder (50) allows exhaled
air to escape into the body cavity (14) and that completely
surround the user. The exhaled air in the body cavity (14) eventually escapes
through the face opening (23).

French Abstract

La présente invention concerne une combinaison de survie (10) qui comprend deux sacs gonflables internes (50), (60) remplis par l'air exhalé par l'utilisateur, qui fournit chaleur et flottaison. Le premier sac gonflable interne (50) est situé contre le dos de l'utilisateur et couvre toute la région dorsale. Derrière le premier sac gonflable interne (50) est situé un second sac gonflable interne (60) qui agit comme une couche isolante lorsqu'il est immergé dans l'eau. Le premier et le second sac gonflable interne (50), (60) sont remplis d'une matière de charge fibreuse (80) qui assure l'isolation et permet à l'air exhalé de circuler librement à l'intérieur. Une conduite d'air (74) s'étend de la bouche de l'utilisateur au second sac gonflable (60). Un passage d'air (55) est formé entre le premier et le second sac gonflable (50), (60), qui distribue l'air du second sac gonflable interne (60) au premier sac gonflable interne (50). Des orifices de sortie d'air (58) situés sur le premier sac gonflable interne (50) permettent à l'air exhalé de s'échapper dans la cavité corporelle (14) qui entoure complètement l'utilisateur. L'air exhalé dans la cavité corporelle (14) s'échappe finalement à travers l'ouverture faciale (23).

Claims

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CLAIMS
I claim:
1. A survival suit, comprising:
PL. a watertight, outer shell that includes a head section, a neck section, an
upper thoracic section, two arm sections, an abdominal section, two leg
sections and a
face opening, said outer shell forming an enclosed body cavity and a main
opening
capable of being selectively opened and closed to allow said outer shell to be
worn by
a user;
b. a first inner bladder located inside said body cavity and positioned
behind a user when said outer shell is worn, said first inner bladder being
filled with
fibrous filing material that enables air to flow through said first inner
bladder and
including a plurality of outlet ports that enable air located inside said
first inner
bladder to escape into said body cavity;
c. a second inner bladder located inside said outer shell and behind said
first inner bladder, said second inner bladder being filled with fibrous
filing material
that enables air to flow through;
d. an air passageway formed between said first inner bladder and said second
inner bladder; and,
e. an exhalation tube that extends from said face opening to said second inner
bladder that is used to deliver exhaled air from a user wearing said suit to
said second
inner bladder.
2. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 1, wherein said first inner bladder
includes lateral edges that cover the sides of a user when said suit is worn.

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3. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 2, wherein said lateral edges of
said first
inner bladder extend to a waterline mark on said suit when a user is wearing
said
suit and positioned horizontally in water.
4. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 1, wherein said first inner bladder
extends posteriorly on said outer shell adjacent to said head section, said
neck section,
said upper thoracic region, and said abdominal section of said outer shell.
5. The suivival suit, as recited in Claim 2, wherein said first inner bladder
extends posteriorly on said outer shell adjacent to said head section, said
neck section,
said upper thoracic region, and said abdominal section of said outer shell.
6. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 3, wherein said first inner bladder
extends posteriorly on said outer shell adjacent to said head section, said
neck section,
said upper thoracic region, and said abdominal section of said outer shell
7. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 1, wherein said second inner bladder
extends posteriorly inside said outer shell and terminates near the waist of a
user.
8. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 2, wherein said second inner bladder
extends posteriorly inside said outer shell and terminates near the waist of a
user.
9. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 6, wherein said second inner bladder
extends posteriorly inside said outer shell and termiiiates near the waist of
a user.

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10. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 1, wherein a portion of said
exhalation
tube extends into said second inner bladder and includes a plurality of holes
thereby
preventing back pressure in said exhalation tube.
11. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 2, wherein a portion of said
exhalation
tube extends into said second inner bladder and includes a plurality of holes
thereby
preventing back pressure in said exhalation tube.
12. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 4, wherein a portion of said
exhalation
tube extends into said second inner bladder and includes a plurality of holes
thereby
preventing back pressure in said exhalation tube.
13. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 1, wherein said first inner bladder
includes leg regions that extend into said leg sections of said outer shell.
14. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 2, wherein said first inner bladder
includes leg regions that extend into said leg sections of said outer shell.
15. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 4, wherein said first inner bladder
includes leg regions that extend into said leg sections of said outer shell.
16. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 14, wherein said first inner
bladder
includes a plurality of port openings formed on said leg regions on said first
inner
bladder thereby enabling exhaled air to escape into said body cavity.

17. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 15, wherein said first inner
bladder
includes a plurality of port openings formed on said leg regions on said first
inner
bladder thereby enabling exhaled air to escape into said body cavity.
18. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 1, further including a mask that
fits over
said face opening.
19. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 3, further including a mask that
fits over
said face opening.
20. The survival suit, as recited in Claim 18, further including a snorkel.

Description

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TITLE: SURVIVAL SUIT
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to the field of survival suits
designed to
protect wearers exposed to cold environments and, more particularly, to
survival suits
designed to float when placed in water.
BACKGROUND ART
1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates generally to the field of survival suits
designed to
protect wearers exposed to cold environments and, more particularly, to
survival suits
designed to float when placed in water.
2. Description of the Related Art:
Crewmembers on a ship often wear heavy, insulated work clothing to keep
them warm. Often, the work clothing includes an inflatable collar that the
crewmember selectively inflates when he is thrown involuntarily into the
waves. If
the crewmember is not removed from the cold water in a few minutes,
hypothermia
sets in shortly which may lead to death. When a crewmember knows that the ship
is
sinking and will be forced to enter the water shortly, he or she will
immediately put
on a survival suit that offers more protection against hypothermia.
Typical survival suits are bulky, full-body suits made of one thick, heavy
layer
of waterproof material. Some survival suits include an inflating neck collar
that is
selectively inflated by the wearer to provide floatation. Unfortunately,
survival suits
only offer limited protection against hypothermia.
What is needed is an improved survivor suit which offers greater protection
against hypothermia.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved survivor suit
that offers greater protection against hypothermia.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a survivor suit that
uses
the exhaled air from the wearer to heat the inside cavities of the suit.
These and other objects of the invention are met by the survivor suit
disclosed
herein that includes an outer shell that covers the entire body except the
face with two,
partially closed bladders. During use, the user exhales air into the two
bladders which
distributes air around a large area of the body directly exposed to cold water
and then
distributes it into the body cavity.
More specifically, the survival suit includes a one-piece outer shell that
includes a head section, a neck section, an upper thoracic section, two arm
sections,
an abdominal section, and two leg sections. Manufactured in the upper thoracic
and
abdominal sections is a longitudinally aligned front opening that enables the
suit to be
opened so that the wearer can easily enter or exit the suit. Formed on the
head section
is a small face opening which enables the wearer to see and breathe. Formed
inside
the outer shell is a full-length body cavity. Disposed around the face opening
is an
optional facemask and snorkel. A means for closing the front opening is also
provided so that the face opening is the only entry port into the suit when it
is worn.
The suit includes a first inner bladder located inside the outer shell
directly
behind the wearer when worn. The first inner bladder acts as an insulation
layer
between the surrounding cold water and the posterior areas of the head, neck,
upper
and lower torso, and legs. It is filled with fibrous filling material that
provides
insulation and creates air cavities that allows air to easily flow
therethrough.
Located posterior to the first inner bladder is a second inner bladder that
acts

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as a second insulation barrier between the first inner bladder and the back
surface of
the outer shell. The second inner bladder extends posteriorly over the head,
neck and
upper torso. The lower edge of the second inner bladder terminates near or at
the
wearer's waist or upper buttocks region. Like the first inner bladder, the
second
bladder is filled with fibrous filling material that provides insulation and
creates air
cavities that allows air to easily flow therethrough.
Located in the mouth region of the head section of the suit is a mouthpiece
connected to a ventilation tube that extends downward inside the body cavity
to the
second inner bladder. A plurality of air holes is formed on the section of
ventilation
tube located inside the second inner bladder to reduce back pressure when
exhaling
air into the mouthpiece. During use, exhaled air is delivered to the second
inner
bladder and then travels through an air passageway formed between the first
and
second inner bladders. The exhaled air then travels through the first inner
bladder and
eventually escapes into the body cavity through outlet ports located on the
first inner
bladder near the user's feet when the suit is worn. Once the exhaled air is
deposited
into the body cavity, the exhaled air travels up and around the user's legs,
torso, neck
and head sections to provide warmth to these areas and then exits the suit
through the
face opening.
In a second embodiment, the sides of the first inner bladder bend and extend
laterally around the sides of the user to provide thermal protection up to the
water line
on the suit when the wearer is floating horizontally in the water.
One benefit of inflating the suit is that the suit is more rigid and protects
the
wearer from rough wave action. A benefit of using exhaled air to inflate the
suit is
that a large thermal target or signature is created that enables rescuers
wearing
infrared vision goggles to see the wearer in the water.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a front plan view of the survival suit disclosed herein showing the
relative location of the first inner bladder.
Fig. 2 is a rear plan view of the survival suit showing the relative location
of
the second inner bladder.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the survival suit showing a wearer lying in
a
horizontal position in water.
Figs. 4 - 6 are sectional, side elevational views of the upper torso region of
the
survival suit.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
There is shown in the accompanying Figs. a survival suit 10 including a one-
piece outer shell 20 that includes a head section 22, a neck section 24, an
upper
thoracic section 26, two arm sections 28, 30, an abdominal section 32, and two
leg
sections 34, 36. Manufactured in the upper thoracic and abdominal sections 26,
32,
respectively, is a longitudinally aligned front opening 38 that enables the
suit 10 to be
easily opened so that the wearer 90 can enter or exit the suit 10. Formed on
the head
section 22 is a small face opening 23 which enables the wearer 90 to see and
breathe.
Disposed around the face opening 23 is an optional facemask 40 and snorkel 42.
The suit 10 includes a first inner bladder 50 located inside the outer shell
20
directly behind the wearer 90 when worn. The first inner bladder 50 acts as an
insulation layer that extends from the back of the head, over the back and
legs, and to
the two ankles. In the preferred embodiment, the first inner bladder 50 does
not cover
the posterior areas of the arms. It should be understood, however, the first
inner
bladder 50 may be modified to cover the posterior areas of the upper arms. The
first

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5 inner bladder 50 is filled with fibrous filling material 80 that provides
insulation and
creates a plurality of interconnected air cavities to allow air located
therein to easily
flow therethrough.
Located behind the first inner bladder 50 is a second inner bladder 60 that
acts
as a second insulation barrier between the first inner bladder 50 and the
outer shell 20.
The second inner bladder 60 is shorter than the first inner bladder 50 and
extends
from the back of the head, over the dorsal or back region to the wearer's
waist and
upper buttocks. Like the first inner bladder 50, the second inner bladder 60
is filled
with fibrous filling material 80 that provides insulation and creates an inner
air cavity
a plurality of interconnected cavities that allow air to flow therethrough.
Located or adjacent to the face opening 23 of the head section 22 is a
mouthpiece 70 connected to a flexible ventilation tube 74 that extends around
the
neck and downward inside the body cavity and along the back. The ventilation
tube
74 terminates inside the second inner bladder 60. A plurality of air holes 78
are
formed on the section of ventilation tube 74 located inside the second inner
bladder 60
to reduce back pressure on the mouthpiece 70. During use, exhaled air is
directly
delivered to the second inner bladder 60 and then travels through the air
passageway
55 formed between the second and first inner bladders 50, 60, respectively.
The
exhaled air then travels into the first inner bladder 50 and escapes through
port
openings 58 located near the feet and then into the body cavity 14 formed
between the
inside surface of the second inner bladder 60 and the outer shell 20. Once
deposited
into the body cavity 14, the exhaled air travels up and around the upper torso
and head
and neck sections 22, 24, respectively, to provide heat to these regions. The
exhaled
air then exits the suit 10 through the face opening 23.
In a second embodiment, the sides 52, 53 of the first inner bladder 50 bend

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and extend around the sides of the wearer 90 to provide thermal protection
up to the waterline 95 on the suit 10 when the wearer 90 is floating
horizontally in the water as shown in Fig. 1.
In the preferred embodiments, the outer shell 20 is made of neoprene
or urethane backed nylon approximately 3/16 to 3/8 inches thick. The first
and second inner bladders 50, 60, respectively, are also made of neoprene
or urethane backed nylon approximately 1/8 inch thick. The fibrous filling
material 8 is made of loosely twisted nylon fibers. As shown in Fig. 5, the
first and second inner bladders 50, 60, respectively, have a uniform
thickness over their entire length of approximately 1/8 inch.
In compliance with the statute, the invention described herein has
been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It
should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the
specific features shown, since the means and construction shown, is
comprised only of the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into
effect.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
This invention is useful in the survival suits worn by individuals in
cold environments, and more particularly, in floating survival suits worn by
seaman who jump or are thrown overboard from a boat or ship operating in
cold water and must wait an extended time period until rescued.

Representative Drawing