Safety Device and Inflating Apparatus Therefor

Inactive Publication Date: 2013-07-04
ZACTILL INTPROP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least

Problems solved by technology

Such drowning incidents frequently occur as a result of boats capsizing or victims falling overboard after a collision with other boats or floating objects.
Often victims are unable to reach their lifejackets or become exhausted from treading water before help arriving.
Typically swimmers caught in a rip current will find that they are unable to fight the current, with the result that they have no alternative but to stay afloat for a prolonged period of time while awaiting the arrival of help.
Victims of such currents, however, succumb when they become exhausted from treading water before any help can arrive.
A major danger associated with the

Method used

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  • Safety Device and Inflating Apparatus Therefor
  • Safety Device and Inflating Apparatus Therefor
  • Safety Device and Inflating Apparatus Therefor

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0091]FIG. 1 shows a safety device, generally indicated with the reference numeral 10. In use, the safety device 10 serves to keep a user afloat in a body of water during an emergency situation, for example in the case of the user having fallen overboard from a sea vessel.

[0092]The safety device 10 includes an article to be worn by a user, here in the form of a garment 12, specifically a rash guard. The garment 12 of this embodiment is produced from polyester. Polyester is suitable as it firstly provides thermal insulation to the user while immersed in water and secondly provides protection against ultraviolet rays from the sun.

[0093]The garment 12 further includes a visibility enhancing coloured section 14, produced from a fluorescent material. In use the coloured section provides enhanced visibility of the user floating in a body of water. This feature serves to assist rescue teams in spotting the user while they search a particular body of water.

[0094]An inflatable rubber bladder...

second embodiment

[0104]In a second embodiment safety device, indicated with the reference numeral 50 in FIG. 3, the article to be worn by a user is provided in the form of an accessory, having a watch 52, which can be attached to a limb of the user. The safety device 50 further includes a band 54 which can extend around a limb of the user.

[0105]The safety device 50 also includes an inflating apparatus 18 for storing an inflating product in an inflating product compartment 20. Here, however, the inflating apparatus 18 includes a number of holes 56, the purpose of which will become apparent from the description which follows.

[0106]The safety device 50 also includes a frangible valve 24 housed within the inflating apparatus 18.

[0107]The safety device 50 further includes an inflatable bladder 16 which is secured to an outer surface of the band 54.

[0108]Unlike the safety device 10, the actuator 34 of the safety device does not include a strap. Rather, the actuator 34 includes a water-expandable material ...

third embodiment

[0109]FIG. 4 shows a portion of a third embodiment inflating apparatus 60. The inflating apparatus 60 includes an automated actuator 34.1 having a rupture member 36. The automated actuator 34.1 includes a magnet 62 in electric communication with a programmable module 64, the programmable module having a polarity reverse module. The automated actuator 34.1 also includes biasing means, here in the form of a spring 37. The rupture member 36 is placed proximate a frangible valve 24 located within a flexible conduit 22. The conduit 22 is in fluid communication with a non-illustrated inflatable bladder.

[0110]The inflating apparatus 60 includes a battery power source 66, here a nickel-cadmium battery, for driving electronic components of the inflating apparatus, an information display 68 and a proximity device 70, the purpose of which is discussed below. In order to activate the automated actuator 34.1, the inflating apparatus 60 includes a sensor assembly 72, here in the form of an electr...

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PUM

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Abstract

A safety device including an article to be worn by a user and an inflatable bladder which is in use attached to the article. The safety device further includes an inflating apparatus for in use inflating the inflatable bladder with an inflating product. The inflating apparatus includes an inflating product compartment for storing the inflating product and a frangible valve for deterring flow of the inflating product from the inflating product compartment. An actuator is provided for rupturing the frangible valve thereby allowing inflating product to flow from the inflating product compartment to the inflatable bladder.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention concerns a safety device, particularly a safety device for keeping a user afloat in a body of water during an emergency situation. The invention further concerns an inflating apparatus for use in the safety device.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]More than a million people die annually as a result of drowning. In the great majority of drowning incidents the victim had no intention of going into the water, but came to be in the water due to an accident, for example being swept from a pier by a large wave.[0003]As far as water recreational activities are concerned, cruising in small motorised boats rank high in the list of activities drowning victims were engaged in at the time of drowning. Such drowning incidents frequently occur as a result of boats capsizing or victims falling overboard after a collision with other boats or floating objects. Often victims are unable to reach their lifejackets or become exhausted from treading water before h...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B63C9/08B63C9/20
CPCB63C9/08B63C9/1055B63C9/1255B63C9/155B63C9/18B63C9/20B63C2009/0041B63C2009/007B63C2009/131B63C9/081B63C9/24
Inventor ASHARD, DAVID JOHN
Owner ZACTILL INTPROP
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