Life-saving system

Abstract

A personal life-saving system 11 includes an inflatable life-saving appliance (L, Fig 1) and is configured to be attached to a wearer’ leg 14. The system may include one or more leg straps 26A and 26B for attachment to the wearer's leg 14. Two elongate spaced apart compressed gas containers (32A and 32B, Fig 7) may be arranged to extend long the wearer's leg for inflating the life-saving appliance. An activation system (40, Fig 7) may activate the plurality of compressed gas containers simultaneously to inflate the life-saving appliance. The compressed gas containers and the life-saving appliance may be provided in an inner 34 and outer 20 casing.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a personal life-saving system including an inflatable life-saving appliance. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Single seat or multi-seater inflatable liferafts are important safety equipment. The liferafts are inflated by activating a release of gas from a compressed gas cylinder attached to the liferaft but can be orally topped up as well.

[0003] Single seat liferafts can be kept ready for deployment in various ways, such as: • A single seat liferaft that is stowed on the underside of an ejection seat in a fast jet aircraft. When the aircrew member ejects from the aircraft in the seat, the liferaft remains attached to the aircrew member and when they land on water the liferaft can be inflated and the aircrew member climbs into it. • A single seat life raft that is worn folded down into a small pack which is attached to the survival suit on the hip of a submariner (see EP2066557 for "Submarine Escape Suit Assemblies" in the name of Survitec Group Ltd), when used as part of the SEIE (Submarine Escape Immersion Equipment). After leaving the submarine escape chamber and when the survivor surfaces, they can then inflate the life raft and climb into it. • A single seat liferaft that is worn as a back-pack by aircrew and other such persons, that, following the escape from a ditched aircraft, the survivor can then inflate the liferaft and climb into it. • "Carry On" liferafts, where the liferaft is packed in a valise such that it can be carried onto a vessel or aircraft.

[0004] One of the challenges of providing a single seat liferaft for use in a confined cockpit space such as a jet fighter or attack helicopter, or in a confined control room space or escape chamber of a submarine, is to mount the single seat liferaft such that it does not obstruct the wearer's entry or exit or obstruct the aircraft or submarine controls. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a personal life-saving system including an inflatable life-saving appliance and configured to be attached to a wearer's leg.

[0006] Attaching the life-saving system to the wearer's leg may be more convenient that previous arrangements where similar systems are attached to the torso or hip.

[0007] The life-saving system may include one or more leg straps for attachment to the wearer's leg. This may provide a convenient arrangement for attachment, and may be releasable by including a buckle or other releasable fastener.

[0008] The life-saving system may include an inflation system comprising a plurality of compressed gas containers for inflating the life-saving appliance. It should be noted that, in contrast, conventionally, liferafts are inflated by a single larger diameter gas cylinder.

[0009] The life-saving system may include an activation system configured to activate the plurality of compressed gas containers substantially simultaneously to inflate the lifesaving appliance .

[0010] The activation system may include a respective moveable lever for activating each of the plurality of compressed gas containers, and a rigid flap associated with each of the levers that is configured to prevent movement of the associated lever from being obstructed by the life-saving appliance. This may be particularly advantageous when the lifesaving appliance is located between the compressed gas containers .

[0011] The life-saving system may include two elongate spaced apart compressed gas containers arranged to extend long the wearer's leg. The two elongate spaced apart compressed gas containers in the embodiment, in use, extend along the longitudinal direction of the part of the leg to which they are coupled.

[0012] The life-saving system may include an enclosure and the inflatable life-saving appliance located in the enclosure. The enclosure may be hermetically sealed, e.g. a hermetically sealed bag. The contents of the enclosure may be vacuum packed. The enclosure may extend the life and service requirements of the life-saving appliance.

[0013] The two elongate spaced apart compressed gas containers may be located in the enclosure either side of the inflatable liferaft. The enclosure may have a curvature that corresponds to the usual curvature of a wearer's leg to allow effective mounting and comfort for the wearer.

[0014] The activation system may include an internal portion contained in the enclosure. This internal portion may be protected from the elements.

[0015] The enclosure may include an expandible or extendable portion to accommodate movement of the internal portion of the activation system within the enclosure. This may preserve the protection of the enclosure even when components within the enclosure move.

[0016] The expandible or extendable portion may be folded or concertinaed, this being a convenient way of enabling expansion of extension.

[0017] The internal portion of the activation system may be coupled to the expandible or extendable portion of the enclosure so that, in use, the internal portion of the activation system moves when the expandible or extendable portion of the enclosure is expanded or extended such that the activation system is triggered and the life-saving appliance is inflated.

[0018] The activation system may include a manually operable handle assembly configured to trigger the inflation of the lifesaving appliance, the manually operable handle assembly being located outside the enclosure.

[0019] The manually operable handle assembly may be coupled to the expandible or extendable portion of the enclosure so that, in use, movement of the manually operable handle assembly causes the expandible or extendable portion of the enclosure to be expanded or extended and such that the internal portion of the activation system moves and activation system is triggered so that the life-saving appliance is inflated. This may be achieved by a "loop-to-loop" arrangement described below.

[0020] The life-saving system may include an outer casing that contains the enclosure, the outer casing being for attachment to the wearer's leg. The outer casing may be a valise and may be opened automatically when the life-saving appliance is inflated - for example, the outer casing may include two sections that are releasably connected by a burst open zipper.

[0021] The outer casing may include a manually openable flap for selectively covering the manually operable handle. In the embodiment, the inflation of the life-saving appliance requires to actions: firstly, to open the flap and, secondly, to pull the handle. This may advantageously reduce the likelihood of accidental inflation.

[0022] In the embodiment, a single (only one) life-saving appliance is provided.

[0023] The inflatable life-saving appliance may be a single seater liferaft. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] For a better understanding of the present invention an embodiment will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 shows a side view of a liferaft;

[0026] Figure 2 shows an overhead plan view of a liferaft with the canopy removed with a person present;

[0027] Figure 3 shows an overhead plan view a liferaft with the canopy removed;

[0028] Figure 4 shows a cross-section taken along line B-B of Figure 3;

[0029] Figure 5 shows a cross-section taken along line A-A of Figure 2;

[0030] Figure 6 is a front elevation of a submarine escape suit assembly including a submarine escape suit and a liferaft pack;

[0031] Figure 7 is a front elevation of the liferaft pack pre-activation as it would appear if the front casing were transparent;

[0032] Figure 8 shows a cross-section taken along line X-X of Figure 7;

[0033] Figure 9 is a partial front elevation of the liferaft pack post-activation as it would appear if the front casing were transparent;

[0034] Figure 10 is a front elevation of an activation handle system;

[0035] Figure 11 is a partial front elevation of the liferaft pack as it would appear if the front casing were transparent, showing a connection arrangement between internal and external parts of an activation system;

[0036] Figure 12 shows a cross-section taken along line Y-Y of Figure 11;

[0037] Figure 13 is a partial front elevation of the liferaft pack as it would appear if the front casing were transparent, showing a connection arrangement between internal and external parts of a mooring line arrangement;

[0038] Figure 14 shows a cross-section taken along line Z-Z of Figure 13;

[0039] Figure 15 is a view of a person wearing the submarine escape suit assembly of Figures 6 to 14 on the surface of the sea and showing a first stage in the deployment of the liferaft;

[0040] Figure 16 is a similar view to Figure 15 but showing a second stage in the deployment of a liferaft; and

[0041] Figure 17 is a similar view to Figures 15 and 16 as showing the liferaft deployed.

[0042] In the drawings, like elements are generally designated with the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0043] The invention is applicable to various types of lifesaving appliances. In the embodiment described below the lifesaving appliance is a single seater liferaft but it should be appreciated that the invention is not so restricted - and may, for example, be an inflatable multiple seater liferaft or an inflatable lifejacket.

[0044] Figures 1 to 5 show an example single seater liferaft L. The liferaft includes an inflatable buoyancy tube 1, a floor 2 (which can be single layer or two layer and inflatable) and a canopy 3 (which can be single layer or two layer and inflatable). The canopy 3 may be provided with a transparent window 4.

[0045] The liferaft canopy 3 and floor 2 may comprise a single layer of material that consists of a textile supporting sheet (for example nylon or polyester) coated or laminated on the interior surface with a sheet of flexible, air impermeable polymer such as neoprene or polyurethane.

[0046] The floor 2 in this embodiment has two layers of material (that each may consist of a textile supporting sheet (for example nylon or polyester) coated or laminated on the interior surface with a sheet of flexible, air impermeable polymer such as neoprene or polyurethane. An inflatable floor is made by welding together the two layers at certain points "X" (see Figure 4) to create a "quilted" or "pillow" effect when inflated. The polyurethane coating can be welded together with a high frequency, or ultrasonic, welding system. The floor layers can be stitched and then sealed at their peripheries by taping them together or they can be welded together.

[0047] The liferaft canopy 3 may be made by also welding together two layers at certain points "Y" (see Figures 1 and 4) to create a "quilted" or "pillow" effect when inflated. The layers of the canopy 3 may have a similar composition to the layers of the floor 2). The canopy 3 layers can be stitched and then sealed at their peripheries by taping them together or they can be welded together.

[0048] Figure 4 shows the inflatable buoyancy tube 1 that is, for example, made up from textile substrate coated internally with a thermoplastic polymer (such as polyurethane) to make it airtight. The floor 2 is attached to a lower part of the buoyancy tube 1, and the canopy 3 is attached to an upper part of the buoyancy tube 1. Both the floor 2 and the canopy 3 are typically inflatable to give additional insulation to the occupant. To assemble the liferaft, multiple seams are sealed denoted by "Z".

[0049] An inflation system typically uses compressed carbon dioxide that is released into the inflatable chambers of the buoyancy tube 1, the floor 2 and the canopy 3 via an inflation valve.

[0050] The inflatable chambers of the buoyancy tube 1, the floor 2 and the canopy 3 may be fitted with oral inflation valves, such that they can be "topped up" by mouth.

[0051] A liferaft, such as liferaft L, may be part of a life-saving system that is carried by a person such as an aircrew member wearing a flight suit or submariner wearing a submarine escape suit.

[0052] For example, Figure 6 shows a submarine escape suit assembly comprising a submarine escape suit indicated generally at 10 and a life-saving system or liferaft pack indicated generally at 11.

[0053] The submarine escape suit 10 is made from a waterproof flexible material such as a rubberised fabric or a plastic-coated fabric. The suit has a body portion 12, arm portions 13 and leg portions 14. Each leg portion includes an upper part 14A, located above the knee, and a lower part 14B, located below the knee. These parts are conventional and will not be described in further detail.

[0054] A hood 15 extends over the body portion and is provided with a zipped entry opening 16 and translucent panels 17. In addition, the hood 15 has two lateral connection lines 18 that allow a face panel 19 of the hood 15 to be pulled away from the remainder of the hood 15.

[0055] The life-saving system (or liferaft pack) 11 is seen in more detail in Figures 7 to 14. The liferaft pack includes an outer casing or valise 20. The outer casing 20 may be made from a lightweight fabric material, and may be hard-wearing, abrasion resistant, flame retardant and / or have high surface friction to reduce slippage when fitted to the leg 14. The outer casing 20 may be formed by first and second casing parts 22A, 22B. Each of the first and second casing parts 22A, 22B has a generally rectangular surface surrounded by four upstanding walls. The first and second casing parts 22A, 22B are in register and the edges of two respective adjacent walls are permanently connected to form a hinge 24 (between the first and second casing parts 22A, 22B) . The edges of the walls are interconnected by two rows of zipper teeth 23A, 23B. These teeth 23A, 23B extend continuously around the join between the first and second casing parts 22A, 22B except along a short stretch (of two of the sides of the first and second casing parts 22A, 22B opposite the hinge 24) . At that point, the second casing part 22B is provided a pull flap 25.

[0056] An inner ballistic panel may be incorporated in the front and bottom of the outer casing 20 to provide additional impact protection and flame protection to the liferaft L. The ballistic panel may also give a neat uniform shape to the liferaft pack 11.

[0057] The outer casing 20 is connected to the suit by straps 26A and 26B that extend around the wearer's leg and which are fastened by reasonable connections 27 such as buckles or VELCRO®. The outer casing 20 can be removed from the suit 10 for maintenance by releasing the connectors 27. The straps 26A and 26B may be fixed to (or integrally formed with) the second casing part 22B.

[0058] One of the challenges of providing a liferaft for use in a confined space such as the cockpit of a jet fighter or attack helicopter, or a control room or escape chamber of a submarine, is to mount the liferaft pack 11 such that it does not obstruct the wearer's entry or exit or obstruct the controls. Work done by the present inventors has shown that mounting the liferaft pack 11 on the leg can fully or partially address these challenges.

[0059] In order for the liferaft pack 11 to be mounted to the leg it is designed such that when packed it is dimensionally compatible with the leg either on the thigh or calf - on the upper part 14A, located above the knee, on the lower part 14B, located below the knee - and "balanced" in weight.

[0060] The liferaft L may be vacuum packed within a sealed bag 34 to minimise the uninflated bulk.

[0061] The liferaft L may have a packed profile that is curved to better interface with the curvature of the leg 14.

[0062] The liferaft L can be supplied without the hermetic packaging (sealed bag 34) if it is considered to otherwise be too rigid and therefore uncomfortable for prolonged periods.

[0063] As shown in Figures 7 and 8 (Figure 8 being a crosssection taken along line X-X in Figure 7), the liferaft pack 11 includes the outer casing 20 mentioned above, a deflated single seater liferaft L and an inflation system 30 for inflating the liferaft L.

[0064] The inflation system 30 is located within the sealed bag 34 and includes two compressed gas cylinders 32A and 32B, and is arranged to conform to the contour of the leg (e.g. either the thigh or calf - on the upper part 14A, located above the knee, on the lower part 14B, located below the knee). It should be noted that, conventionally, liferafts are inflated by a single larger diameter gas cylinder, but for a leg mounting the liferaft pack 11 needs to be long and slender and not flat and wide as they are conventionally. The inflation system 30 further includes an operating head 50A and 50B attached to the upper end of each of the gas cylinders 32A, 32B. Each operating head 50A, 50B is located within the sealed bag 34 for releasing the gas from its connected gas cylinder 32A / 32B.

[0065] The liferaft pack 11 further includes an activation system 40. The activation system 40 comprises a portion within the sealed bag 34 and a portion outside the sealed bag 34. The portion outside the sealed bag 34 includes an activation handle assembly 42 located at the top of the outer casing 20. As shown in Figure 10, the activation handle assembly 42 includes a piece of rigid tube 43 enclosed within a fabric sleeve 45. The activation handle assembly 42 has a tactile "feel" to it for user. The activation handle assembly 42 also includes an external activation line 47.

[0066] The activation handle assembly 42 is coupled to an internal activation cord 44 in a manner to be explained below. The activation cord 44 is part of the activation system 40 and is located within the sealed bag 34 and includes a first single-line section 46, that is connected at one end to the activation handle 42, and a second split-line section 48A, 48B. The first single-line section 46 is connected to (or integrally formed with) the second split-line section 48A, 48B at its other end.

[0067] The activation system 40 further includes moveable puncturing needles (not shown) for releasing the gas from its connected gas cylinder 32A / 32B. Each operating head 50A, 50B of the inflation system 30 includes one of the moveable puncturing needles for releasing the gas from its connected gas cylinder 32A / 32B. The puncturing needles are each moved by a lever 52A, 52B that is mechanically coupled at a first end to the puncturing needle and that is pivotally mounted to its associated operating head 50A / 50B. Each lever 52A, 52B is attached at its second end to a distal end of a respective one of the split-line sections 48A, 48B of the activation cord 44. The levers 52A, 52B are protected from having their movement obstructed by the packed liferaft L by flaps (e.g. rigid plastic flaps) 54A, 54B which are located within the sealed bag 34 and are attached to the respective operating heads 50A, 50B. The flaps 54A, 54B are generally triangular. The flaps 54A, 54B are positioned and sized so that the area they cover corresponds generally to the area swept by the levers 52A, 52B when they move.

[0068] When the activation handle assembly 42 is pulled upwardly, the activation cord 44 (comprising the first single-line section 46 and the second split-line section 48A, 48B) moves from the pre-activation position shown in Figure 7 to the post-activation position shown in Figure 9. The upward movement of the distal ends of the split-line sections 48A, 48B of the activation cord 44 cause each lever 52A, 52B to simultaneously rotate about its mount to its associated operating head 50A / 50B. Lever 52A rotates in an anticlockwise direction, indicated by arrow RA, by approximately 90 degrees. Lever 52B rotates in a clockwise direction, indicated by arrow RC, by approximately 90 degrees. Rotation of the levers 52A, 52B simultaneously moves the puncturing needles to release the gas from the connected gas cylinders 32A, 32B through a valve in the operating heads 50A, 50B allowing the compressed gas to inflate the liferaft L via inflation tubes (not shown).

[0069] The liferaft L, inflation system 30 and part of the activation system 40 are packed in the hermetically sealed bag 34 (within a stronger outer casing 20) to maintain the liferaft L in a safe operating condition and without the need for frequent servicing. The sealed bag 34 may be formed by attaching together two similarly shaped generally flat sheets of material around their peripheries to create a fluid-tight seal. The sealed bag 34 may be formed, for example, by a barrier foil. The sealed bag 34 may be vacuum packed. The sealed bag 34 may carry a relative humidity indicator (not shown) that is aligned with a translucent window or hole (not shown) in the outer casing 20 so that the indicator can be read through the outer casing 20. The sealed bag 34 may also contain a desiccant pack (not shown) that may maintain relative humidity within the sealed bag 34 to below e.g. 40% to prevent deterioration of the liferaft L.

[0070] The activation handle assembly 42 is coupled to the internal activation cord 44 by a "loop-to-loop" coupling arrangement 70 that is shown in more detail in Figures 11 and 12 - Figure 12 being a cross-section taken along line Y-Y of Figure 11 (and 7).

[0071] As mentioned above, the sealed bag 34 may be formed by attaching together (e.g. by welding or gluing) two similarly shaped generally flat sheets of material around their peripheries to create a fluid-tight seal. One loop of the coupling arrangement 70 is formed before attaching together the peripheries of two sheets of material of the bag 34. This loop of the coupling arrangement 70 is formed by attaching together (e.g. by welding or gluing) the sheets of material of the bag 34 in a central coupling region 72, spaced away from the periphery of the sheets of material of the bag 34. The coupling region 72 (where the two sheets of material are attached) is in this example annular - although it may have any suitable shape, such as circular. A hole 74 is then created through the centre of the coupling region 72 by removing part of each of the sheets of material of the bag 34. In this example the hole 74 is circular, although other shapes may be used.

[0072] A loop line or cord 7 6 is then looped around the coupling region 72 and the hole 74. The loop line 76 comprises part of the internal activation cord 44. The loop line 76 is attached to (or integrally formed with) the first single-line section 46, which first single-line section 46 is connected at the other end to the second split-line section 48A, 48B.

[0073] The peripheries of two sheets of material of the bag 34 may then attached together to form a fluid-tight seal 78 to create the sealed bag 34 with the inflation system 30 and liferaft L inside.

[0074] As mentioned above, the activation handle assembly 42 includes an external activation line 47 coupled to the handle at one end. The second loop of the coupling arrangement 70 is formed by passing the other end of the activation line 47 through the hole 74 and then creating an activation line loop 80 in the activation line 47 at the part of the activation line 47 spaced away from the handle 42. The activation line loop 80 passes through the hole 74. The activation line loop 80 may be formed by attaching the distal end of the activation line 47 to a part of the activation line 47 near the handle 42.

[0075] According to the embodiment, the activation of the inflation cylinders 32A, 32B to fill the liferaft L is substantially simultaneous and unrestricted on activation by the wearer by pulling the activation handle assembly 42 upwardly in the direction of arrow B. This movement of the handle 42 pulls the external activation line 47 upwardly. As the activation line loop 80 passes through the hole 74 in the sealed bag 34, this pulls the loop line 76 part of the activation cord 44 upwardly (as this passes around the coupling region 72 that is formed around the hole 74) . The upward movement of the loop line 76 part of the internal activation cord 44 causes upward movement of the connected single-line section 46 and the split-line section 48A, 48B of the activation cord 44, moving the levers 52A, 52B to the position shown in Figure 9 as described above and triggering inflation of the liferaft L. The inflation system 30 may be held in a fixed position so that movement of the activation handle assembly 42 does not move the inflation system - so that movement of the activation cord 44 moves the levers 52A, 52B to the position shown in Figure 9.

[0076] To accommodate the upward movement of the activation cord 44 in response to upward movement of the handle assembly 42, the sealed bag 34 includes a central upper portion 34A that loosely fits around the "loop-to-loop" coupling arrangement 70 and the single-line section 46 of activation cord 44 in the preactivation state. This allows upward movement of the activation cord 44 in the post-activation state, in response to upward movement of the handle 42, when the central upper portion 34A is extended and becomes tighter or taught. The central upper portion 34A in the pre-activation state may be folded or concertinaed, for example. The movement to the post-activation state does not compromise the seal within the sealed bag 34. The "loop-to-loop" coupling arrangement 70 allows the handle 42 outside the sealed bag 34 to be coupled to the activation cord 44 inside the sealed bag while maintaining the seal.

[0077] It is important that the liferaft L is not inadvertently inflated by snagging or mistakenly pulling the activation cord 44, which could result in inflation of the liferaft L within the cockpit which may have disastrous consequences. To reduce the likelihood of inadvertent inflation, a double action is required to achieve inflation. This requires the wearer to open the flap 25 first that covers the activation handle 42, which handle 42 can then be pulled when the flap 25 has been opened.

[0078] Once the liferaft L is inflated by the wearer it is important that it is not separated from the wearer, and they can climb on board the liferaft L. If the wearer becomes separated from the liferaft L it would become useless. A first section 60A of a painter line or mooring line is securely attached to the liferaft L by a strong attachment patch 62. A second section 60B of a painter line or mooring line is securely attached to the wearer through the leg mounted outer casing 20 (e.g. attached to the second casing part 22B by strong attachment patch 66). The second section 60B of the mooring line is arranged in a serpentine fashion within the outer casing 20 and outside the sealed bag 34. The second section 60B of the mooring line has a "break thread" 64 region that is relatives weak such that under a given load the break thread 64 region of second section 60B of the mooring line will break, and allow the liferaft L to become detached and not cause injury to the wearer in exceptional circumstances such as when the second section 60B of the mooring line becomes caught in an object.

[0079] As the liferaft L is within the hermetically sealed bag 34 it is important that the mooring line arrangement does not breach the hermetical seal and this may be achieved by a "loop-to-loop" coupling arrangement 90 that is similar to the "loop-to-loop" coupling arrangement 70.

[0080] This second "loop-to-loop" coupling arrangement 90 that is shown in more detail in Figures 13 and 14 - Figure 14 being a cross-section taken along line Z-Z of Figure 13 (and Figure 7).

[0081] One loop of the coupling arrangement 90 is formed before attaching together the peripheries of two sheets of material of the bag 34. This loop of the coupling arrangement 90 is formed by attaching together (e.g. by welding or gluing) the sheets of material of the bag 34 in a central coupling region 92, spaced away from the periphery of the sheets of material of the bag 34. The coupling region 92 (where the two sheets of material are attached) is in this example annular - although it may have any suitable shape, such as circular. A hole 94 is then created through the centre of the coupling region 92 by removing part of each of the sheets of material of the bag 34. In this example the hole 94 is circular, although other shapes may be used.

[0082] A loop line or cord 96 is then looped around the coupling region 92. The loop line 96 comprises part of (or is integrally formed with) the first section 60A of the mooring line. At the other end the first section 60A of the mooring line is attached to the patch 62.

[0083] The peripheries of two sheets of material of the bag 34 can then be attached together to form the fluid-tight seal 78 to create the sealed bag 34.

[0084] The second loop of the coupling arrangement 90 is formed by passing the end of the second section 60B of the mooring line that is distant from the patch 66 through the hole 94 and then creating a mooring line loop 98 in the at the second section 60B of the mooring line. The mooring line loop 98 passes through the hole 94. The mooring line loop 98 may be formed by attaching the distal end of the second section 60B of the mooring line to a part of the second section 60B of the mooring line between the activation line loop 98 and the patch 66.

[0085] The "loop-to-loop" coupling arrangement 90 allows the second section 60B of the mooring line outside the sealed bag 34 to be coupled to the first section 60A of the mooring line inside the sealed bag while maintaining the seal of the sealed bag 34.

[0086] Activation of the inflation of the liferaft L causes the hermetically sealed bag 34 containing the liferaft L to burst open and this in turn causes the strong outer casing 20 to open. The strong outer casing 20 is closed by use of the "burst open zipper" 23A, 23B such that a short section of the zipper has no teeth, which when under pressure from the inflating liferaft L, will cause the zipper 23A, 23B to peel open.

[0087] The mounting of the liferaft pack 11 to the wearer's leg needs to be such that it can be in a position acceptable to the wearer and compatible with the cockpit / control room / escape chute layout and controls. The attachment of the outer casing 20 to the leg is by at least one attachment strap 26A, 26B, which wraps around the leg and can be adjusted and tightened to suit. The arrangement allows the wearer to don the liferaft pack 11 to prior to entry or exit, on entry or exit, or whist on board. This allows the liferaft pack 11 to be held on the left or right side or back of the leg as required depending on cockpit / control room / escae chute exit and exit procedures. The straps 26A, 26B and buckles 27 are secure but allow for quick and simple opening and closing.

[0088] In use, the submarine escape suit 10 is for escaping from a submarine. The wearer enters the suit 10 by opening the entry opening 16 and climbing into the suit 10 inserting arms into the arm portion 13, legs and feet into leg portions 14 and body into the body portion 12. This configuration is shown in Figure 6 where it will be seen that the liferaft pack 11 is located at the leg 14 of the wearer to the right-hand side of the wearer. Of course, the liferaft pack 11- can be located on the other leg or at a different position on either leg to that shown.

[0089] The wearer then enters an escape chamber of the submarine where the wearer connects the suit to an air supply system of the submarine via a connector (not shown). The chamber then fills with water and a hatch opens to allow the wearer to ascend to the surface breathing the air within the suit 10 supplied by the system.

[0090] As mentioned above, the suit 10 may instead be a flight suit for a crewmember of an aircraft. The crewmember of an aircraft may land on water in an emergency (e.g. after ejecting from the aircraft).

[0091] When the wearer reaches the water surface, the wearer adopts the position shown in FIG. 15. In this first stage, the wearer is lying on his / her back with his / her head above water and the liferaft pack 11 exposed. If the wearer wishes to deploy the liferaft L, the wearer grabs and opens the flap 25 which then makes the activation handle assembly 42 accessible.

[0092] The activation handle assembly 42 can then be pulled to operate the inflation system 30 in the manner described above. Gas is then supplied to the liferaft L which bursts from the sealed bag 34 for subsequent full inflation and deployment of the liferaft. As the liferaft L inflates it presses against the outer casing 20 so separating the zipper teeth 23a, 23b and hinging the first casing part 22A about the hinge 24. This second stage is shown in Figure 16.

[0093] The inflated liferaft L is then released from the outer casing 20 and floats on the water surface. This third stage is shown in Figure 17. The inflated liferaft L remains attached to the outer casing 20 (e.g. the second casing part 22B) by the mooring line 60. As the outer casing 20 (e.g. the second casing part 22B) is attached to the leg by the belts 26A, 26B, the liferaft is coupled to the wearer. In this position, the liferaft L can be boarded by the wearer.

[0094] This arrangement allows the wearer to choose when the liferaft L is inflated.

[0095] It will be appreciated that there are a number of other alterations that can be made to the arrangement described above with reference to the drawings. The form of the suit 10 is optional; any suitable submarine escape suit or flight suit, or indeed any other garment, could be used.

[0096] Although it is preferred that the bag 34 is hermetically sealed and vacuum packed, this is not essential. Although the connection between the first and second outer casing parts 22A, 22B is shown as being by two sets of zipper teeth 23A, 23B that release when a force in excess of a predetermined minimum force is applied, other forms of releasable fastening could be used. For example, VELCRO could be used or a tear strip.

[0097] The hinge 24 is not essential; the first and second outer casing parts 22A, 22B could be completely separable.

[0098] Only one of the "loop-to-loop" coupling arrangements 70 or 90 may be provided, or both the two "loop-to-loop" coupling arrangement 70 and 90 may be provided.

[0099] Although the embodiment has been described with reference to an embodiment where the life-saving appliance is in the form of a single seater liferaft, it should be appreciated that other types of liferafts or inflatable life-saving appliance may be housed in the sealed bag 34 in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. A personal life-saving system including an inflatable lifesaving appliance and configured to be attached to a wearer's leg.

2. The life-saving system of claim 1, including one or more leg straps for attachment to the wearer's leg.

3. The life-saving system of claim 1 or 2, including an inflation system comprising a plurality of compressed gas containers for inflating the life-saving appliance.

4. The life-saving system of claim 3, including an activation system configured to activate the plurality of compressed gas containers simultaneously to inflate the life-saving appliance .

5. The life-saving system of claim 4, wherein the activation system includes a respective moveable lever for activating each of the plurality of compressed gas containers, and a rigid flap associated with each of the levers that is configured to prevent movement of the associated lever from being obstructed by the life-saving appliance.

6. The life-saving system of claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the inflation system includes two elongate spaced apart compressed gas containers arranged to extend long the wearer's leg.

7. The life-saving system of any one of claims 1 to 6, including an enclosure with the inflatable life-saving appliance located in the enclosure.

8. The life-saving system of claim 7 wherein the enclosure is hermetically sealed.

9. The life-saving system of claim 7 or 8, when dependent on claim 6, wherein the two elongate spaced apart compressedgas containers are located in the enclosure either side of the inflatable life-saving appliance.

10. The life-saving system of claim 7, 8 or 9, when dependent on claim 4 or 5, wherein the activation system includes an internal portion contained in the enclosure.

11. The life-saving system of claim 10, wherein the enclosure includes an expandible or extendable portion to accommodate movement of the internal portion of the activation system within the enclosure.

12. The life-saving system of claim 11, wherein the expandible or extendable portion is folded or concertinaed.

13. The life-saving system of claim 11 or 12, wherein the internal portion of the activation system is coupled to the expandible or extendable portion of the enclosure so that, in use, the internal portion of the activation system moves when the expandible or extendable portion of the enclosure is expanded or extended such that the activation system is triggered and the life-saving appliance is inflated.

14. The life-saving system of claim 10, 11, 12 or 13, wherein the activation system includes a manually operable handle assembly configured to trigger the inflation of the lifesaving appliance, the manually operable handle assembly being located outside the enclosure.

15. The life-saving system of claim 13 and 14, wherein the manually operable handle assembly is coupled to the expandible or extendable portion of the enclosure so that, in use, movement of the manually operable handle assembly causes the expandible or extendable portion of the enclosure to be expanded or extended and such that the internal portion of the activation system moves and activation system is triggered so that the life-saving appliance is inflated.

16. The life-saving system of any one of claims 7 to 15, including an outer casing that contains the enclosure, the outer casing being configured for attachment to the 5 wearer's leg.

17. The life-saving system of claim 16, when dependent on claim 14 or 15, wherein the outer casing includes a manually openable flap for selectively covering the manually 10 operable handle.

18. The life-saving system of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein inflatable life-saving appliance is a single seater liferaft.15

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