A survival device to provide a steady supply of breathable air to the environment

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a survival apparatus (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) for providing a steady supply of breathable air to an environment, the survival apparatus comprising a housing (131) having at least one inlet (4, 83, 120, 132), at least one pump / fan (3, 85, 170, 171), at least one power resource (5, 121, 150), and a controller (6, 182), the survival apparatus (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) having at least one outlet (1 ,80,134), with at least one inlet (4,83,120,132) connected to an inlet of a pump / fan (3,85,170,171) and at least one outlet (1,80,134) connected to an outlet of the at least one pump / fan (3,85,170,171) via an air supply pipe (7'',89,133) having a rigid form factor, and the outlet (1,80,134) further comprises an internal stiffening element (144) that provides a stable, flexible form factor for the outlet (1,80,134).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a survival device for a steady supply of breathable air to an environment. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a survival device for a steady supply of breathable air to an environment as defined in the introductory part of claim 1 and in claim 1. [Background technology]

[0002] Avalanches in high mountain and mountainous regions kill many people and animals every year, motivating the development of many rescue and survival techniques. Some of these techniques include radio devices that send distress beacons to help rescuers quickly reach the correct location of the victim. Others include flotation devices such as airbags that increase a person's ability to rise to the top of an avalanche in progress and avoid being buried. Other techniques promote devices equipped with oxygen tanks and breathing equipment.

[0003] A problem with the prior art is that they are unreliable, for example because many of them require recognition of the person in need of help and a specific action to be taken to utilise the device. Other problems relate to their insufficient efficiency or being overly complicated to wear / use.

[0004] People moving around in an environment where there is avalanche risk often need to rely on multiple risk mitigation devices. When these types of devices need to be implemented in an emergency, ensuring that all the devices are working properly becomes a problem. In the event of an incident, such as an avalanche, time is limited. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution which reduces or eliminates one or more of the above mentioned problems.

[0006] Many avalanche first aid kit products on the market today are directed at locating an avalanche victim, preferably before the victim suffocates. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] It is an object of the present disclosure to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks and disadvantages in the prior art and at least solve the above-mentioned problems. According to a first aspect, there is provided a survival device for a stable supply of breathable air to an environment, the survival device comprising a housing, the housing comprising at least one inlet, at least one pump / fan, at least one power resource, a controller, the survival device further comprising at least one outlet, the at least one inlet being connected to the inlet of the pump / fan, the at least one outlet being connected to the outlet of the at least one pump / fan via an air supply tube having a rigid form factor, the outlet further comprising an internal stiffening element providing a stable flexible form factor of the outlet.

[0008] According to some embodiments, the at least one outlet further comprises attachment means located at an outer end thereof for fixedly positioning the at least one outlet in a position proximate to an area of ​​a user's face.

[0009] According to some embodiments the attachment means comprises a gripping connector for placement around the harness / strap.

[0010] According to some embodiments, the survival device comprises an actuation unit for actuating the pump / fan in an available / selected operating mode.

[0011] According to some embodiments, a survival device comprises an actuating lever, a bracket, and a wire in a wire sleeve, the wire sleeve being held at a first end by a wire sleeve space of a wire conduit element coupled to the bracket, the wire being connected at the first end to a fixing element included in the actuating lever, the wire sleeve being connected at a second end to a housing, and the wire being connected at the second end to a connector included in the housing, the connector being connected to the actuating unit such that when the actuating lever is pulled relative to the bracket, a pulling motion is transmitted to the wire in the sleeve, the connector and the actuating unit.

[0012] According to some embodiments, the actuation lever and wire conduit element further comprises space for additional wires and wire sleeves for controlling the actuation of additional devices.

[0013] According to some embodiments, the housing includes at least two battery connectors and a battery enclosure lid.

[0014] According to some embodiments, the survival device comprises one or more sensors sensitive to one or more of the following: movement caused by an avalanche, CO2 levels above a pre-set threshold, weight load / pressure, G-forces, power resource levels such as spare battery capacity, or sensor inputs crossing an activation threshold, e.g. oxygen content in a person's bloodstream, heart rate or body temperature, the one or more sensors being connected via a sensor input interface to an automatic activation unit of the controller, the controller including a program for monitoring the sensor readings and controlling the operation mode of the device accordingly.

[0015] According to some embodiments, the automatic actuation unit includes a manual switch / connector that can be used to override the sensor input and manually activate the pump / fan in a selected operating mode.

[0016] According to some embodiments, additional wires and wire sleeves are used to control the actuation of the inflating balloon / avalanche airbag.

[0017] According to some embodiments, the controller further comprises a communication device, which is capable of transmitting the state of the device to a remote communication unit.

[0018] According to some embodiments, the survival device comprises: Battery Status Hardware status Self-test control Fan status Operating status -Connection status and further signals for identifying execution and results of the self-test programs.

[0019] The present disclosure relates to a second additional factor: how to increase the survival time of an avalanche victim when buried under snow.

[0020] This technique is based on the knowledge that the quality and content of breathable air contained in, for example, snow is sufficient to allow a person to survive for an extended period of time. For example, the challenge in the case of a person buried in an avalanche is not the air content of the surrounding snow, but the heat and condensation of the air exhaled by the person creates a layer around the mouth and nose area that becomes saturated with water or, even worse, freezes into ice and thus becomes impermeable to air. This makes the oxygen contained in the layer of snow opposite the impermeable layer created by the person's breathing activity unavailable to the person.

[0021] The authors of this disclosure further recognize that many real avalanche victims will most likely quickly lose control of their limb movements, e.g., their arms will not be able to operate any emergency equipment, or the victim may even lose consciousness in the process of being caught in the avalanche, and therefore most of the devices presented by the prior art, and perhaps technologies that require physical actuation procedures to be followed by the victim, may not work very efficiently or at all in real situations.

[0022] The survival device described in this disclosure can reduce or even eliminate the need for conscious action by the victim, and the device will operate as long as it receives sufficient power. The device further takes advantage of the abundant breathable air contained around the victim.

[0023] A rule of thumb for avalanche response is that 9 out of 10 avalanche victims can survive for about 15 minutes before they inevitably run the risk of dying from lack of oxygen. Unless there is an air pocket in front of the victim's face, they will likely eventually suffocate by inhaling the same air they exhale.

[0024] The goal of the device in this disclosure is to significantly increase survival time up to 90 minutes or more, thereby increasing the chances of a victim surviving and increasing the time for rescue teams to locate the victim in time.

[0025] The present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description. The detailed description and specific examples disclose preferred embodiments of the present disclosure by way of example only. Those skilled in the art will understand that, with the guidance of the detailed description, changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0026] Therefore, it should be understood that the disclosure herein is not limited to the particular component parts of the described apparatus or steps of the described methods, as such apparatus and methods may vary. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It should be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there is one or more elements, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a unit" or "the unit" may include a plurality of apparatuses, etc. Furthermore, the use of "comprising," "including," "containing," and similar words does not exclude other elements or steps.

[0027] Although breathable air is used herein to describe one type of embodiment, it should be understood that the device may be used in a variety of environments. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the concept of the invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 shows the concept of the invention (dual channel). [Figure 3A]FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the inventive concept (standby state). [Figure 3B] FIG. 1 illustrates a backpack system of the invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the concept of the invention (in operation). [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 illustrates alternative use cases (snow cave and tent). [Figure 6] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a method. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 illustrates a backpack embodiment (multiple entry channels). [Figure 9] FIG. 1 shows a backpack and a helmet. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention attached to the side of a backpack. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 shows a detail of an embodiment of the invention mounted on a side. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 shows a skier wearing an embodiment of the backpack of the invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention and a snowmobile operator wearing a helmet. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 illustrates an avalanche victim wearing an embodiment of the present invention in a backpack. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 shows a survival device in a single embodiment. [Figure 16A] FIG. 16 shows a side view of the clean air intake side of the survival device of FIG. 15. [Figure 16B] FIG. 16 shows an end view of the clean air intake side of the survival device of FIG. [Figure 16C] FIG. 16 shows a side view of the clean air outlet side of the survival device of FIG. 15. [Figure 17A] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a usage form of the survival equipment of FIG. 15. [Figure 17B] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a usage form of the survival equipment of FIG. 15. [Figure 17C] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a usage form of the survival equipment of FIG. 15. [Figure 18A] 16 shows an embodiment of an internal element located in the lower half of the housing on the clean air intake side of the survival device of FIG. 15. FIG. [Figure 18B] 16 shows an embodiment of an internal element located in the lower half of the housing on the clean air intake side of the survival device of FIG. 15. FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing details of the clean air outlet side of the survival device of FIG. 15. [Figure 20] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing details of the clean air outlet side of the survival device of FIG. 15. [Figure 21] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing details of the clean air outlet side of the survival device of FIG. 15. [Figure 22] 13A-13C show examples of pull pin arrangements for releasing the actuation lever. [Diagram 23] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a user on a snowmobile. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in other forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. The disclosed embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0030] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the non-limiting drawings.

[0031] 15-23 show details of the device 30 according to the present invention and disclosure. In one use case, the survival device is used as a survival device to assist the user in obtaining a steady supply of breathable air in the event of being trapped by snow in an avalanche. Although some of these features are described only in some embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood that any feature may be combined and included in any embodiment described. It should also be understood that any feature described in any embodiment may be omitted without the embodiment itself departing from the concept of the present invention.

[0032] Because snow is diffusive, even in large avalanches where the snow is compressed, air can be drawn through the snow by the device 30 of the present disclosure even if the distance between the mouth and the nearest air outlet 134 exceeds 25 cm.

[0033] A first aspect of the present disclosure shows a survival apparatus 20, 30, 40, 60 for a steady supply of breathable air to an environment, the survival apparatus being characterized by a housing 131 having at least one inlet 4, 83, 120, 132, at least one pump / fan 3, 85, 170, 171, at least one power resource 5, 121, 150, a controller 6, 182, and the survival apparatus 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 includes at least one and an outlet 1,80,134, wherein at least one inlet 4,83,120,132 is connected to an inlet of a pump / fan 3,85,170,171, and wherein at least one outlet 1,80,134 is connected to an outlet of at least one pump / fan 3,85,170,171 via an air supply pipe 7'',89,133 having a rigid form factor, and wherein the outlet 1,80,134 further comprises an internal stiffening element 144 which provides a stable and flexible form factor for the outlet 1,80,134.

[0034] In essence, the device 30 according to the present disclosure is a highly controlled pump / fan 170, 171 located in a housing 131 that draws in air from the snow via an inlet 132. From this pump / fan 170, 171, one, two or more tubes / hoses 133 are arranged to convey the air pumped by the pump / fan 170, 171 to air outlets 134 located at the end of one or more hoses / tubes 133. These outlets 134 output the air, which then passes through the snow around the face area and reaches the victim's mouth and nose. A vital element is that the hose / tube 133 is provided in a material and rigid form factor that can withstand high pressures from the surrounding snow without collapsing. At the same time, the hose / tube 133 is advantageously formed flexible in the sense that it can be bent to be placed over the shoulders from the lower back to the upper front of the user. An alternative is to provide a rigid fixed-shape hose / tube 133 with an individual pre-shaped shape to fit the person. The key is to provide an air passage from the pump / fan 170, 171 to the air outlet 134 that is not distorted by snow pressure or other objects that apply external pressure / squeezing to the hose / tube 133.

[0035] The device 30 according to the present disclosure is powered by a heavy-duty battery (eg, an AA battery, which has better cold resistance than rechargeable batteries) and is triggered via an actuation lever 136 .

[0036] The total weight of the device 30 according to the present disclosure may vary depending on component requirements, expected life span, and operating time requirements (battery pack, fan, etc.), but minimizing weight is a goal, and an achievable goal is to provide the device 30 according to the present disclosure at less than 900 grams, and more advantageously at about 400 grams.

[0037] The device 30 according to the present disclosure does not require any action from the user / victim during operation. Once the device 30 according to the present disclosure is activated, either automatically or by pulling the activation lever 136, the device 30 will supply air to the victim, whether the victim is conscious or not.

[0038] The novel actuation lever 136 of the device 30 according to the present disclosure may actuate more security devices, such as avalanche balloons, in the same actuation action involving pulling the lever 136. This is accomplished by the unique lever 136 design which includes housing for multiple wires operated by the same lever 136. That is, pulling the lever 136 actuates multiple devices.

[0039] In FIG. 15 of the device 30 according to the present disclosure, it can be seen that the lever 136 is arranged on a bracket 146, which is provided with fastening means 135' for fastening to clothing or gear, such as a harness or backpack. The lever is arranged on a first end of a wire 137' arranged inside a sleeve 137, the second end of which is connected to a wire connector 160 in the survival equipment housing 131. This is evident from FIGS. 18A and 18B, which show the lower part of the interior of the housing 131. The upper part of the housing 131 may be removably attached to the lower part, which allows the housing 131 to be separated into two parts for maintenance and inspection. The device 30 according to the present disclosure further comprises two air supply hoses / air supply tubes 133, which are connected at a first end to the survival equipment housing 131 and at a second end to the device outlet 134. The hose / tube provides a conduit from the fan and fan air guide 172 through the hose / tube 133 to the device outlet 134. The portion of the fan air guide 172 shown is simply the lower longitudinal half of the air guide. The interior of the upper half of the housing 131 comprises the upper portion of the fan air guide 172, so that when the lower and upper portions of the housing 131 are attached, the fan air guide 172 comprises an airtight channel for air between the outlet of the fan and the inlet of the hose / tube 133. The side of the inlet portion of the fan 170 in the housing 131 may be provided with an air separator film 172' to protect the air around the component print card 180 or the battery compartment from escaping into the fan inlet channel. The device outlet 134 is designed to output air provided by the fan motor 170 and fan 171 located within the survival device housing 131. At least one outlet 1, 80, 134 may have an attachment means 135 disposed at an outer end thereof for fixedly positioning the at least one outlet 1, 80, 134 in a position proximate to the user's facial area.The attachment means 135 may include a gripping connector 145 for placement around a harness / strap, for example.

[0040] In another embodiment, as can be seen from Fig. 16C, an optional attachment means 165 for a safety tether 166 on the actuation lever 136 is provided. The safety tether 166 is fixed at one end to the attachment means 165 located on / in the actuation lever and at the other end to an anchor point arrangement, for example on a snowmobile, snow trail machine, etc., as illustrated in Fig. 23. When a user is driving in a high-risk environment and the survival device 20, 30, 40, 60 is set in standby mode, the safety tether 166 will trigger the survival device 20, 30, 40, 60 if the driver leaves the vehicle without releasing the safety tether 166 from the vehicle anchor point, for example when the user and the vehicle are caught in an avalanche.

[0041] In yet another embodiment, the safety tether 166 can be attached to a safety pin (not shown) that holds a biased activation switch for activating an activation unit 181, which when the safety pin is pulled activates the fan 171 when the mode selector is set to standby mode. The biased activation switch can be located on an activation lever that holds a safety tether activation wire that is connected to a stretched spring arrangement with a switch that is connected to the activation unit, such that when the safety pin is pulled out of the arrangement at the activation lever 136, the safety tether activation wire releases its hold in the spring arrangement and the switch connected to the activation unit 181 activates the survival device 20, 30, 40, 60. In an arrangement such as that illustrated in FIG. 22, the safety pin may hold, for example, a tensioned coil spring arrangement in the actuating lever, such that when the safety pin 167 is pulled, the actuating lever 136 is urged from its passive state to an active tension state, thereby pulling the wire in a pulling action similar to that pulled by a user, and actuating the survival device 20, 30, 40, 60.

[0042] In another embodiment, the safety tether 166 and / or the safety pin 167, instead of being coupled to the actuation lever, may have a corresponding actuation module arranged in the housing closer to the actuation unit 181 (not shown) and the safety tether 166 is directly connected to this actuation module. The actuation module, in combination with the actuation lever, may have similar or equivalent features as described above.

[0043] The housing 131 of the survival device 20 , 30 , 40 , 60 may include at least two battery connectors 151 , 151 ′ and a battery enclosure lid 140 .

[0044] FIG. 15 also shows some details of the survival equipment housing 131, such as the battery enclosure lid 140 and the operation mode selector / self-test button 138. The operation mode selector / self-test button 138 allows the user to turn the device 30 according to the present disclosure on and / or off, and may select, for example, a functional self-test mode. Other modes may be provided and selected. The survival equipment housing 131 is also provided with a grid-patterned air inlet 132. The grid pattern may be of various forms and is intended to allow air to flow in but keep obstacles and snow away from the air intake. The version in the figure shows a grill-like pattern. In one embodiment, the device 30 according to the present disclosure is set in standby mode upon insertion of a battery into the battery holder, and can then be activated at any time by pulling a lever.

[0045] 16A and 16B of the device 30 according to the present disclosure show in greater detail the battery enclosure lid 140 and the battery enclosure lid lock 141. The battery enclosure lid lock 141 provides a safety feature to prevent accidental opening of the battery enclosure lid 140.

[0046] An operational mode selector / self-test button 138 provides for the selection of an operational mode, and one or more operational mode indicator LEDs 139 indicate the selected operational mode. Shown in Figure 16A is an inlet filter 132' within the grid patterned air inlet 132. The inlet filter 132' is provided to further ensure a clear interior of the fan and fan motor.

[0047] 16C details the clean air outlet side of the survival device 30, with outlet attachment means 135 located at the outer end of the device outlets 134. The attachment means 135 is used to fixedly position at least one outlet 134 near the face area of ​​the user. This arrangement can be one of, but is not limited to, a jacket / harness / backpack gear attachment arrangement, connecting harness / backpack straps, strap bands / quick draw slings, etc.

[0048] The outlet attachment means 135 in this embodiment has a gripping connector 145 for placement around a harness / strap, such as, for example, a shoulder strap of a custom harness or backpack, etc. Various attachment options may be selected that are not shown here and are not limited by click lock connectors, zipper connectors, Velcro type attachments, carabiner hooks, etc.

[0049] 17A shows the device 30 according to the present disclosure in a configuration as it would be placed on a user's shoulder, emphasizing the flexibility of the hose / tube and illustrating the multiple use scenarios in which the device 30 according to the present disclosure may be deployed.

[0050] One such deployment is shown in Figures 17B and 17C, in which a device 30 according to the present disclosure is positioned with a backpack or, for example, an avalanche balloon / avalanche airbag device.

[0051] In FIG. 18 of the device 30 according to the present disclosure, the internal layout of the survival device housing 131 is shown in an exemplary embodiment. Various components may be recognized as a battery 150 held in a battery connector 151, 151', a component print card 180, a fan motor 170, a fan 171, a fan air guide 172, a wire connector 160, etc., to which a second end of a wire 137' disposed in a wire sleeve 137 is connected. The battery 150 powers the components within the device housing 131. Other power sources may be provided, for example a remote battery pack, which is carried separately from the device housing 131 and in contact with the components of the device housing 131 for wired or wireless power transfer. The battery may be rechargeable or replaceable via a charging port and wiring (not shown). The outer battery connector 151' may be held in place by a battery safety lock feature 151'' that holds the battery securely in place when the battery enclosure lid 140 is closed.

[0052] The component print card 180 may include a power circuit 153, which may include a backup power source, such as a capacitor or a small rechargeable battery. A controller / processor 6, 182 is included, providing processing and HW / SW for executing programs and routines, GPS-like devices, cell phones, and other features.

[0053] The survival device 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 may include an actuation unit 181, 11 for actuating the pump / fan 3, 85, 170, 171 in an available / selected mode of operation. The wire connector 160 may typically be connected to the actuation unit 181, which actuates the fan 171 when a lever is operated when the mode selector is set to standby mode.

[0054] The device 30 according to the present disclosure may also include various sensors 152, 185, including, but not limited to, one of a gyro sensor, a vibration sensor, a pressure / vacuum sensor, a moisture sensor, a power sensor, a temperature sensor, a CO2 sensor, an oxygen sensor, a light sensor, a noise sensor, and the like.

[0055] The survival device 20, 30, 40, 60 may be equipped with one or more sensors 8, 152, 185 that are sensitive to one or more of the following: movement caused by an avalanche, CO2 levels above a pre-set threshold, weight load / pressure, G-forces, power resource levels such as spare battery capacity, or sensor inputs crossing an activation threshold, e.g. oxygen content in a person's bloodstream, heart rate or body temperature, and the one or more sensors 8, 152, 185 are coupled via a sensor input interface 8' to an automatic activation unit 11, 181 of the controller 6, 182, which may include a program for monitoring the readings of the sensors 8, 152, 185 and controlling the operational mode of the device 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 accordingly.

[0056] The automatic actuation unit 11, 181 may be equipped with a manual switch 11' / connector 160 which may be used to override the input of the sensor 8, 152, 185 and manually actuate the pump / fan 3, 85, 170, 171 in a selected operating mode.

[0057] Typically, in one embodiment, the user analyzes the environment and, if traveling to a high risk environment, activates the survival device 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 or places it in standby mode for the duration of the time spent in the high risk environment.

[0058] Alternatively, the actuation unit 181,11 may be controlled by a controller / processing unit 6,182 which receives data from the sensors 8,152,185, whereby the controller / processing unit 6,182 may be configured to actuate the device when an emergency situation is detected.

[0059] Typically, the controller then automatically activates the survival device 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 when it detects that the survival device 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 is completely still. This is optionally accompanied by detector data adapted to a situation where the survival device 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 is buried in snow and the carrier is completely still / not moving. This is a typical situation of a user when buried in an avalanche. The time to manually activate the safety device is very short and often impossible. When buried in an avalanche, the user has little ability to move any part of his body and the possibility of reaching switches etc. is very low. Thus, the embodiment of the survival device according to the present disclosure of the survival device can automatically activate and start the device when the user is caught in an avalanche, buried in snow and unable to move or manually activate the device.

[0060] Another possibility when automatic sensor-driven activation does not work is when, for example, a user puts his / her survival device 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 to sleep while stopping for a break or the like. In this case, the device is absolutely stationary, but the sensor data may identify, for example, that the device is stationary in a sunny area, in a heated room, or in an oxygen-rich cupboard. In such situations, the device should not be activated. Other scenarios may be detected in which the device should not be activated.

[0061] A separate switch (not shown) may be used to deactivate / pause the device when a short outage is planned / executed.

[0062] The controller 6, 182 may include power saving features and may provide several pump / fan power levels to be used / selected, which may be automatically controlled based on the power remaining in the power supply 150, for example, or may be manually controlled by either the user or a remote controller.

[0063] The survival device 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 may comprise an actuating lever 136, a bracket 146, and a wire 137' in a wire sleeve 137, the wire sleeve 137 being held at a first end by a wire sleeve space 149' of a wire conduit element 149 coupled to the bracket 146, the wire 137' being connected at a first end to a fixing element 147 included in the actuating lever 136, the wire sleeve 137 being connected at a second end to a housing 131, a wire connected at a second end to a connector 160 being included in the housing 131, the connector 160 being connected to the actuating unit 181,11 such that when the actuating lever 136 is pulled relative to the bracket 146, the pulling motion is transmitted to the wire 137' in the sleeve 137, the connector 160 and the actuating unit 181,11.

[0064] The actuation lever 136 and wire conduit element 149 may further include space for an additional wire 137' and wire sleeve 137 to control the actuation of additional devices. A further additional wire 137' and wire sleeve 137 may be used to control the actuation of an inflating balloon / avalanche airbag.

[0065] The controller 6 of the device 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 may further comprise a communication device, which can send the status of the device 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 to a remote communication unit 101, 104, 105, 107. The communication device may be physically separate from the device itself and may for example be a smartphone running an app that communicates with the device via a short-range communication channel such as Bluetooth, NFC, etc. The app or the remote communication unit may be set to transmit the distress signal and the device data to one or more emergency services. The emergency services may be the first helpers arriving at the scene of the avalanche, a medical unit, a location service, etc. In FIG. 7, different emergency services are shown.

[0066] FIG. 19 shows the clean air outlet side of the survival device 30, illustrating the internal layout of the actuation lever 136 as it may be provided in one embodiment. The wire 137', arranged inside the wire sleeve 137, is connected at a first end to a wire fixing element 147, which is constituted by a narrow passage 147 and optionally a fixing screw 147', so that when the actuation lever is operated, the wire moves relative to the wire sleeve 137, and the movement of the wire 137' is relayed to the connector 160, which in turn triggers the actuation unit 181. The wire 137' typically has a wire stop knob at its peripheral end. The bracket 146 further has a wire conduit element 149 arranged to receive and hold the wire sleeve 137 when the wire 137' is pulled and moves within the wire sleeve 137. The figure also shows an outlet clamp 148 arranged to secure the air outlet 134 to the bracket 146.

[0067] Figure 20 shows the clean air outlet side of survival device 30 and the other side of actuation lever 136 seen in Figure 19. Here it becomes clear how in the unoccupied wire and wire sleeve space 149' in wire conduit element 149, space is provided to which further wires / actuation elements may be connected.

[0068] In FIG. 21 of the device 30 according to the present disclosure, the inside of the air outlet 134 is shown in one alternative embodiment. A reinforcing element 144 is placed at the outlet of the hose / tube 133. The function of the reinforcing element 144 is to provide a stable and flexible form factor of the air outlet, so that when ice and snow pressure is applied to the outside of the air outlet, it maintains a shape that can send air to the environment. A second outlet clamp 148' is shown, which provides a better connection between the two hoses / tubes 133 in this embodiment. Alternatively, as seen in the previous figures, the hoses / tubes 133 can be separated, in which case there is no or only one hose / tube 133 connected to the bracket.

[0069] The survival equipment 10, 20, 30, 40, and 60 are Battery Status Hardware status Self-test control Fan status Operating status -Connection status and a further signal for identifying execution and results of the self-test programs.

[0070] The self-test program may be implemented in the controller, the remote device, or any module defined in this disclosure. The self-test may be performed at device startup, between active uses, upon request from on-board SW, or according to a predefined self-test interval provided by a remote application program, etc. Typically, the results of the self-test are stored or communicated to a remote service / storage. If the self-test detects any operational hazards or other failures, the self-test routine may initiate appropriate mitigating actions. This may be, for example, an alarm sounding to indicate the need for battery charging / replacement, loss of communication, a broken fan, etc. See below.

[0071] In one embodiment, the LED light 139 can operate to provide subsequent, non-limiting messages, such as when a new battery is inserted or when the self-test button is pressed. OK NEW BAT: Solid green light for 10 seconds followed by a short beep. Indicates a new good lithium battery and good hardware. OK USED BAT: Flashing green light for 10 seconds, ending with a short beep. Indicates a good battery and good hardware. BAT LOW: Flashing red light for 10 seconds, terminated by 3 short beeps. Indicates the battery should be replaced, but the journey can be completed. BAT DEPLETED: Red light for 10 seconds followed by one continuous beep for 5 seconds. Indicates the battery needs to be replaced immediately. FATAL ERROR: Solid red light and beeping buzzer. Indicates a hardware failure. The unit should not be used. The beeping (250 ms on, 250 ms off) and red light will continue until the self-test button is pressed again or 20 seconds have elapsed.

[0072] If the operating mode selector / self-test button 138 is used as a self-test button, a self-test may be initiated by removing and reinserting the battery or by pressing the self-test button for more than one second. An example of this may include accelerating the fan for approximately one second, running at 100% for three seconds, and slowing down for one second. Error conditions are checked and indicated on the LED and buzzer after the test. During the self-test, OK NEW AT, OK USED BAT, or BAT LOW are displayed depending on the condition of the battery.

[0073] Other features that may be implemented and operated upon may include, but are not limited to, the following.

[0074] Use case Insert a new lithium battery When a new Li battery (10.74V) is inserted, the fan self-test starts and displays "OK NEW BAT". This action is logged and used to reset the battery capacity estimation. After inserting a new battery, the reported capacity on the serial port should be 100%. (Li battery has 1.79~1.83V. 6 cells has 10.74V~10.98V. For 5% error range, the limit should be 10.2V (1.7V*6). Alkaline battery has voltage less than 1.65V*6=9.9V).

[0075] Insert a used Li battery with an estimated remaining charge greater than 80% and a battery voltage greater than 9.3V Insert a battery with a voltage greater than 6*1.55V=9.3V and an estimated remaining charge greater than 80%. "OK USED BAT" should be displayed. A self test will run automatically. (This is a normal occurrence after air travel, when the battery must be removed on the plane; this also occurs if an alkaline battery is inserted).

[0076] Self-test with estimated remaining charge greater than 80% and battery voltage between 9.3 and 10.2V "OK USED BAT" should be displayed. A self test will run automatically. (A cell voltage of 1.55V indicates a recovered but worn out cell. A good cell that has been heavily loaded very recently will also drop below 1.55V but will recover within 5-10 minutes).

[0077] Insert a battery with an estimated remaining charge of 70-80% and a battery voltage of 9.3-10.2V. "BAT LOW" should be displayed. A self test will run automatically.

[0078] Self-test with estimated remaining charge of 70-80% and battery voltage of 9.3-10.2V "BAT LOW" should be displayed. Self-test will run automatically. (Indicates that the battery should be replaced, but the process can be completed. This also occurs if an alkaline battery is inserted.)

[0079] Insert a battery that has a voltage less than 9.3V or an estimated remaining charge less than 70%. The message "BAT DEPLETED" should be given. No fan self-test will be performed. (A cell voltage of 1.55V indicates a recovered but worn out cell. A good cell that has been heavily loaded very recently will also drop below 1.55V but will recover within 5-10 minutes).

[0080] Battery drops below 7.8V during fan self-test During fan self-test, if the voltage drops below 1.3V x 6 = 7.8V, "BAT DEPLETED" should be displayed. (A cell loaded with 1A will typically drop to 1.45V after a few seconds. If it falls below 1.3V*6=7.8V this indicates a cell with less than 25% remaining. This assumes room temperature).

[0081] Insert rechargeable lithium-ion or lithium-thionyl chloride cells These cells will cause damage to the fan and / or electronics. If the battery voltage is detected to be greater than 11.5V, the unit should display a FATAL ERROR and the fan self-test will not be performed. (If the fan is turned on this will almost certainly destroy some of the components. It is possible for the unit to fail even without the fan being turned on, but they should at least try to give the user an alarm).

[0082] Release any active buttons during self-test If the release button is pressed during the self-test, the self-test is aborted and the normal release operation is initiated. This occurs both while the fan is running and during a post-test alarm.

[0083] Self-test without tach signal This could be caused by a blocked fan or an interrupted connection to the fan. (Pin 4). At start-up, the battery status determines the display as described above. After 2 seconds with no tach signal, "FATAL ERROR" is displayed.

[0084] Operate the self-test button when the unit is not powered on. Pressing the self-test button for less than one second will not initiate a self-test. Pressing the self-test button for more than one second will initiate a self-test.

[0085] Operate the self-test button while the unit is powered on. Pressing the self-test button for less than one second has no effect. Pressing the self-test button for more than one second aborts operation and goes into sleep mode.

[0086] Restarting fans on fan failure If the fan stalls (or does not start) after activation, the unit will attempt to restart the fan. If the tach signal is below 1% for 3 seconds, power is removed for 3 seconds, then full power is reapplied for another 3 seconds. This sequence is repeated until the fan starts. (This can be tested by blocking the fan before operation. The supply current is briefly increased to 0.5-2A every 3 seconds. Verify that it unblocks and the fan starts successfully. Press the self-test button for 2 seconds to verify it can be stopped. Verify log entry).

[0087] Suspending a working (active) battery Vibration or mechanical shock can interrupt the battery connection. A very brief interruption while the fan is running will reset the processor and stop the fan. It is advantageous for the fan to continue running after an interruption. To achieve this, the CPU checks the log. If the manual start was the last entry in the log, the CPU will automatically start the fan again. (The test was done by pulling the release trigger, disconnecting the battery and reconnecting it. The duration of the disconnect is not critical - 1-2 seconds is fine. Verify that operation begins again. This test should be repeated at least twice).

[0088] Start production test mode Since it is not possible to perform a factory production test after the units have been distributed, a method is provided to initiate the factory production test: select the detection test mode by checking if the PWM and TACHO pins are shorted together, which is not possible if a fan is connected. If a short is found, the firmware goes into a factory test mode and a command is expected on the serial port. If no command is received, the self-test automatically ends after 30 seconds and normal operation resumes. (Testing was done by connecting the pins, applying power and verifying that no fan operation occurs after 30 seconds).

[0089] Estimating discharge From the log, we can deduce the battery discharge status. We assume that the clock is constantly running. The discharge consists of three parts: Sleep time consumption: 0.0005Ah per day Self-test consumption: 0.003Ah per test Release time: 1.0Ah per hour Here the time is detectable by scanning the log: if the time was reset because the battery was removed for a while, the only error would be the sleep time, which has little impact compared to other factors. The battery capacity is approximately 3.5Ah (based on the Energizer L91 battery) (This feature is difficult to test, other than the amount of time the fan has been running. One option is to inject fake data into the log via the serial port. The fan can be allowed to run for 2 hours, then tested for any alarms during self-test. Some test scenarios are as follows: -Power was temporarily interrupted during operation and the RTC clock restarted Too many self-tests and the battery is depleted -Very long storage period (>5 years).

[0090] Log events NEW_BATTERY(1) A new battery has been inserted (powered up). This also indicates that the real-time clock has been reset. SELF_TEST_OK(2) The self-test completed without errors. LOADED_BAT_LOW(3) Battery voltage was too low (<1.4V) during self-test with fan operation. CHARGE_LOW1(4) The estimated remaining charge was between 70% and 80% of capacity. CHARGE_LOW2(5) The estimated remaining charge was less than 70% of capacity. BAT_DEPLETED(6) The initial unloaded battery voltage was too low or the estimated remaining charge was less than 70%. RELEASE_MAN(7) The unit was activated by pulling the release handle. RELEASE_AUTO(8) The unit was triggered by the accelerometer / altimeter (not yet in use). TERMINATED (9) Operation was interrupted by the user pressing the self-test button. FAN_SLOWDOWN(10) This event occurs the first time the battery voltage falls below 5.5V and the fan PWM begins to ramp down. This indicates that the battery is almost depleted. AUTO_RESTART(11) This event is logged if the unit detects that the battery connection has been briefly interrupted and that it should be released and continue operation without performing a self-test. FAN_RUNNING(12) This event is logged every minute of operation while the fan is running (unit is turned on). This is used to estimate battery capacity. FAN_FAILED(13) No fan tacho detected. Something is wrong with the fan. OVERVOLTAGE (14) A battery with a voltage greater than 1.85V per cell was inserted. FAN_RESTART(15) An automatic fan restart was performed.

[0091] Log Size and Overflow Handling The log is currently 5300 entries long using a 64k processor (the smallest available processor). There is enough space for about 2500 self-tests. This is almost 7 years of daily use. If the current is logged every minute it is released, the data can be stored for 41 hours - the equivalent of about 20 avalanches! When the log is nearing full capacity, the oldest data should be cleared. The last, new battery event should not be cleared. (This should be tested as part of regression testing using a script that fills the logs).

[0092] Previous versions of this device, shown in Figures 1-14 herein, are included for reference in the following sections of this disclosure, and all of their features may be independently combined with the features of device 30 according to the present disclosure described above.

[0093] In one embodiment of a previous version of the device of the present disclosure shown diagrammatically in Figure 1, a device 10 for improving breathable air quality comprises at least an inlet 4, a pump 3, a power source 5, an outlet 1, and tubes or conduits 7', 7'', 7''' connecting the elements to provide a path for the flow of breathable air from the inlet 4 to the outlet 1 through the pump. The pump 3 provides a flow of breathable air from the inlet 4 to the outlet 1 when actuated by sufficient power from the power source 5, such as a battery.

[0094] At least one inlet 4 is connected to a pump inlet 31 of the pump 3 and at least one outlet 1 is connected to a pump outlet 32 ​​of the pump 3, and when the pump is actuated, the pump can pump air from the inlet 4 to the outlet 1.

[0095] The pump may be activated by a controller 6 which may consist of a manual switch 11' or an automatic activation unit 11. Typically, the controller 6 comprises an avalanche situation detection mechanism / sensor 8 which automatically activates the switch 11 and thus the device for improving breathable air quality. The avalanche situation detection mechanism / sensor 8 may be disabled in order to activate the device for improving breathable air quality 10, 20 in non-avalanche situations where improvement of breathable air quality is required.

[0096] The manual switch 11 ′ may be arranged to be latched onto a carrying strap of the breathable air quality improving device 10 .

[0097] The pump may be operated in multiple modes, such as high, medium, and low, where the low mode may be a power saving mode. The controller 6,182 may include detectors and actuators to automatically adjust the operation mode of the pump as a result of power resource capacity, such as spare battery capacity, detected, for example, by a detector (not shown). By way of example only, this may be facilitated such that the pump 3 is fully operational until 50% of the power resource remains, the operation mode of the pump automatically switches to medium mode which continues until 25% of the power resource remains, and then automatically switches to power saving or low mode.

[0098] The choice of pump operating mode may be manually selected by a locally or remotely connected regulator switch 11'.

[0099] Such a mode control scheme can significantly extend the operating time when power resources for the breathable air quality improving device 10 have limited capacity.

[0100] In another alternative embodiment of the previous version of the device in the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 2, a dual breathable air quality improvement device 20 is provided. In such a system, the volume of breathable air, such as provided air, may be increased to accommodate an environment requiring distributed loading of the environment around the inlet 4. For example, in an emergency situation where a person is trapped in an avalanche, the surrounding snow may not provide a sufficient amount of air / oxygen in one location alone, and inlets may need to be provided at multiple locations.

[0101] The invention may comprise the instance of a number of breathable air quality improving devices 10 arranged to cooperate to improve the breathable air quality in the environment surrounding the outlet 1.

[0102] Another reason for having duplicate or multiple breathable air quality improving devices 10 may be redundancy. The arrangement providing redundancy may comprise, for example, a test function implemented in the controller 6. The test function frequently tests the operational status of the main breathable air quality improving device 10 and, in case of a malfunction, activates another available breathable air quality improving device 10 in a redundant setup.

[0103] A controller 6 in a redundant configuration with multiple breathable air quality improving devices 10 may be used for all or some of the breathable air quality improving devices 10 as shown in FIG. 2. It should be understood that the controller in other embodiments may be arranged in multiple devices, for example one for each breathable air quality improving device 10, 20, or the operating switch 11 may be included in the multi-function unit 6, while the sensor 8 may be arranged in a separate module / device and organized in a specific module / device for each breathable air quality improving device. If multiple controllers 6 are present, they may be hierarchically combinable, for example as follows, such that the second controller is the first controller to identify an emergency situation, which may trigger the operation of the first air quality improving device 10. The sensor may be connected to one, multiple or all controllers 6 in a hierarchical configuration. Such a configuration may increase the redundancy capacity.

[0104] The device 10 for improving breathable air quality can improve the quality of the output breathable air by comprising a filter 2 for purifying the breathable air. The filter may be located in the tube or conduit 7', 7'', 7'''', for example in the outlet tube 7'''. The filter may be located at a position of the device 10 for improving breathable air quality, for example in the inlet duct 7'.

[0105] If the air is supplied by the device 10 for improving the quality of breathable air, a typical filter may be a CO2 filter. Other filters may be provided, for example filters for removing water / snow / ice.

[0106] In one embodiment of the present invention, the device 10, 20 for improving the quality of breathable air comprises a feedback duct 110 for drawing air from the space surrounding the outlet 1 and recirculating it through the pump (3) and the CO2 filter (2). The controller 6 is capable of controlling the operation of the feedback duct 110 which supplies air to the pump 3 when the level of CO2 detected in the area of ​​the outlet 1 reaches a preset level.

[0107] Filters such as CO2 filters may malfunction for various reasons and may prevent the flow of air through the filter. An embodiment of the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality may include a bypass duct 111 that is activated by the controller 6 to supply air directly from the pump to the outlet 1 if the filter is detected as malfunctioning, for example by detecting an airflow below the expected airflow through the pump. Other sensors may detect a malfunction of the filter. For example, the bypass duct 111 may be activated if the ambient air quality level at the outlet 1 is safely below a critical level and the airflow through the pump 3 is of acceptable quality.

[0108] A typical CO2 filter may be selected to have a capacity many times the volume of air potentially pumped by an available power resource 5, such as a battery.

[0109] The power resource 5 may consist of a battery, or other power generating device, for example a fuel cell instead of or in combination with a battery.

[0110] The exemplary embodiment of the device 10 for improving breathable air quality also includes an inlet 4 that includes an inlet protector 4' for protecting the inlet from clogging with snow, water or other materials. The inlet protector may be formed by a lightweight protective mesh, for example, made of a hard plastic or carbon material, and the mesh may be filled with a gas-permeable material, such as polyurethane sponge. In another embodiment, the inlet protector 4' is gas-permeable but fluid-impermeable. The protector may be impact resistant.

[0111] The wearable device / equipment 114 may be positioned to ensure that the outlet 1 is close to the nose / mouth of a person wearing the breathable air quality improving device 10, 20. The wearable device may be equipped with a fastening device (not shown), e.g. located on a jacket collar / backpack strap or e.g. inside a helmet.

[0112] An exemplary embodiment of the device 10 for improving breathable air quality will now be described.

[0113] A typical use of the breathable air quality improving device 10 of the present invention is to provide a first aid pack for climbers who spend time in avalanche prone areas. In an avalanche situation, a person trapped below the snow surface is provided with only a few minutes of oxygen from the surrounding snow. If the person has access to oxygen trapped in the snow near the mouth / nose, the snow itself most often contains enough excess oxygen for the person to survive. However, this is not the case here, because condensation from the breath of the person buried in the snow very quickly saturates the environment around the head with moisture, which very often creates a layer of ice or water-saturated layer that turns the nearby snow into an impermeable material. This impermeable shell around the mouth / nose area prevents oxygen from the nearby snow mass from reaching the buried person, and the person very quickly suffocates due to the accumulated CO2 in the breathing environment. While carrying an oxygen supply for emergency use may postpone the inevitable outcome if the victim is not rescued, carrying an oxygen supply that can provide life-sustaining oxygen for a long period of time is cumbersome.

[0114] FIG. 3A shows the device 10 for improving breathable air quality of a previous version of the device in the present disclosure worn by a skier / climber as a backpack 40. The assembly of the backpack 40 in one embodiment is shown in FIG. 3B. The backpack 40 provides an environment with inlets 4, 4' away from the facial area of ​​the wearer of the backpack 40. The outlet 1 is positioned to be located near the facial area of ​​the wearer of the backpack 40. The pump 3, power source 5 such as a battery, and controller 6 may be located inside the backpack 40.

[0115] The backpack 40 carrying the device 10 for improving breathable air quality may further provide a protective casing around the components of the invention to avoid malfunction due to external forces or impacts. The tubes and / or conduits 7', 7'', 7''' may be designed to be resistant to bending and may be reinforced to avoid breakage or leakage when the wearer is in an emergency situation, e.g. caught in an avalanche or buried under snow.

[0116] The breathable air quality improving device 10 of the present invention is typically in one of a shut off state, a standby state, or an active state.

[0117] When shut off, typically when in storage, none of the elements of the air quality improving device 10 are active.

[0118] When in standby state, the controller 6 of the device 10 for improving breathable air quality monitors the state of the switches 11, both the automatic activation unit and the manual on / off switch 11'. When either is activated, the controller 6 starts the pump 3 and air is pumped from the inlet 4 to the outlet 1. The device 10 for improving air quality is switched to the active state.

[0119] The controller 6 may include a gyro sensor 8 that detects a motion pattern equivalent to that expected to be caused by an avalanche. For example, if the carrier is caught in an avalanche as illustrated in FIG. 4, the gyro sensor 8 may activate an automatic actuation unit, which causes the controller to start the pump 3. The pump pumps air from an inlet 4 at the back of the person carrying the backpack 40 to an outlet 1 near the facial area, thereby carrying oxygen from the surroundings outside the ice layer or water-saturated layer to the facial area of ​​the victim. In this way, the ice barrier formed by the victim's breathing does not obstruct the environment around the face and block access to the surrounding oxygen-rich air contained in the snow. The pumped airflow also displaces CO2-saturated air around the nose and mouth.

[0120] In such cases, it is advantageous for the inlet to be located away from the carrier's nose and mouth area, for example, as low as possible within the backpack 40. The inlet 4 will further improve efficiency if it is surrounded by an inlet protection device 4', such as a filter or material that prevents snow from packing tightly around the inlet. The larger the area of ​​the inlet protection device 4', the more surface is provided to draw in air from the surrounding snow.

[0121] When the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality is activated and an ice layer forms around the victim's head area, CO2 levels rise rapidly in the breathing environment. The device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality may advantageously comprise one or more filters 2 for purifying the air, such as a filter for capturing CO2. The filters 2 may be located near the outlet 1, but may also be located near the inlet 4 to prevent "bad" air from contaminating the incoming air quality.

[0122] Optionally, the controller 6 may initiate a distress signal transmitter, not shown, and other signal transmitting or visual / physical tracking devices, not shown. Optional transmitters may transmit data from various sensors 8 of the devices 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality, such as sensors provided in the devices 10, 20 for measuring power levels, filter status, malfunctions.

[0123] In an optional embodiment, the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality is provided with one or more sensor input interfaces 8' for connecting to body-mounted sensors 8 capable of detecting, for example, a physical condition of a person carrying the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality. The controller 6 may be able to process information and, optionally, communicate information to a remote communication unit 101, 104, 105 as shown in FIG. 7 and receive control instructions from the remote communication unit 101, 104, 105. The controller may be able to modify the air supply level through the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality based on the change or level of data provided by the sensor 8.

[0124] The breathable air quality improving device 10, 20 can be adapted for many advantageous use scenarios, such as the backpack 40 for avalanche emergency use described above. The backpack 40, or other bag-like embodiment of the breathable air quality improving device 10, 20, can be optimized for use, for example, in an emergency snow cave or tent camp 50, as illustrated in Fig. 5. When a skier or the like is unexpectedly caught in a storm, for example, and only has time to dig a crude / shallow snow cave, air supply can be a critical factor for survival. In this case, the breathable air quality improving device 10,20 may be used to draw air away from the facial area, either by providing an extendable outlet tube 7'',7''' so that the breathable air quality improving device 10,20 can be placed outside a shallow snow cave and the extendable outlet tube 7'',7''' can be placed close to the facial area of ​​the skier, or by providing an extendable inlet tube 7' which can be placed at a sufficient distance from the facial area, e.g. from the outside of the cave / tent 50, and further a manual switch 11' of the controller 6 may be provided to switch the breathable air quality improving device 10,20 to the desired pumping mode. Depending on the amount of free space the victim has been able to dig around himself, the operating mode may be variably set to provide a sufficient air supply and at the same time to save energy for the longest possible time of use.

[0125] Another use may be, for example, a tent 50, which may be buried in snow during a snowstorm, thereby blocking its normal ventilation features, and the inlet may be extended far enough outside to draw in supply air from outside the ice that has formed around the perimeter of the tent fabric.

[0126] The automatic actuation unit 11 may be triggered by various detected events, such as one or more sensors / detectors 8 connected to the automatic actuation unit 11, including, but not limited to, movement caused by an avalanche, CO2 levels above a pre-set threshold, weight load / pressure, gravitational acceleration, or other sensor 8 inputs crossing an actuation threshold, such as the oxygen content in a person's bloodstream, heart rate or body temperature.

[0127] In one embodiment, the present invention is used as a backup oxygen supply device, for example, when a person is spending time in a shallow snow cave. A person spending time in an environment with high CO2 content may be unaware of the danger and may suffocate. The device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality, which is a previous version of the device in the present disclosure, may include a sensor 8 for CO2 content and may automatically start supplying air drawn from outside the restricted area when it reaches a level considered dangerously low. The device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality may additionally include an alarm 112, which may be, for example, an acoustic alarm, a visible light alarm, etc., and the alarm 112 may be activated by the controller 6 to alert the person of the detected dangerous CO2 level. The alarm 112 may be integrated into the controller 6 or may be arranged as a separately connected alarm device. The alarm 112 may ensure a better power usage scheme of the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality. This is because it may enable the user or the controller 6 to manually or automatically switch on and off the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality based on the air quality in the area of ​​the outlet 1.

[0128] In another embodiment of the previous version of the device in the present disclosure, the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality may be used in combination with one or more further life-saving features / devices, for example a balloon / avalanche airbag safety device arranged to inflate in an avalanche situation. The further life-saving devices may be controlled by an automatic actuation unit 11 of the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality or by a manual switch 11' of the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality. Other further life-saving features may be, for example, a distress beacon radio signal, an emergency flashlight, a siren, etc.

[0129] In another embodiment of the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality in combination with a balloon / avalanche airbag safety device activated by the expansion of oxygen from a compressed O2 tank, an additional inlet 115 is provided which is arranged to connect the inside of the balloon / avalanche airbag to the pump 3, where the flow of oxygen from the inside of the balloon / avalanche airbag is released when the balloon / avalanche airbag is filled with oxygen and the surplus of oxygen from the other inlets 4, 4' does not provide sufficient oxygen flow through the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality.

[0130] In yet another embodiment of the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality, a container 116 filled with compressed oxygen may be added to provide oxygen through a pump when the inlet 4, 4' does not provide enough oxygen. The additional supply may be controlled by a controller and a sensor located at the inlet 4, 4' that measures flow rate or oxygen level, or measures CO2 in the outlet environment, to identify unacceptable levels.

[0131] Yet another embodiment of the breathable air quality improving device 10, 20 may combine a balloon / avalanche airbag backup feature via an additional inlet 115 with an additional container 116 for holding compressed oxygen to further provide an operating time range for the breathable air quality improving device 10, 20.

[0132] In yet another embodiment of the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality, a second life-saving device may be arranged to cooperate with the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality, and the second life-saving device may be, for example, an air-inflated balloon / avalanche airbag for avalanche buoyancy, a container containing compressed oxygen, an airbag for body protection, optionally a body heating device powered by the power resource 5 of the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality, etc.

[0133] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the mode of operation of an optional embodiment of the present invention, in which when the device 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality is turned on, the activation of the control switch 200 waits for either an input signal of the automatic emergency detector 201 for activation or a manually controlled signal from the switch 202. Upon receiving such an input signal, the control unit can initiate operation by performing a battery self-test and / or a power status reading 203. If the present invention comprises multiple devices 10, 20 for improving breathable air quality, the controller selects which device should be activated 204. This decision may be influenced by the power level or other sensor inputs. If the pumps can be operated at different capacity levels, the data read by the sensors and the power level may additionally be evaluated to define the level at which the pump should be operated 205. If the pump level should be changed, the pump is instructed to operate at the new level 206. The controller 6 re-runs the self-test for the pump activation operation 203-206 at preset time intervals, for example every 30 seconds.

[0134] One approach to control the setting of the pump capacity level may consider lowering power consumption by providing only enough breathable air to keep a person barely alive in order to maximize the life of the power source. If a sensor detects a worrisome heartbeat, the flow rate of breathable air may be increased for a period of time. Another approach may involve communication with a remote rescue group, which may estimate the time of arrival, and power consumption may be averaged over the estimated time to rescue.

[0135] The breathable air quality improving devices 10, 20 may provide advantageous life-saving support in environments other than the avalanche / snow environment described above, such as, for example, wells, pipes, crawl spaces, caves, fertilizer pits, and other stressful environments where workers operate with limited air supplies.

[0136] 7 shows an embodiment of the system of the invention in which the controller 6 comprises a wireless communication unit capable of transmitting a beacon 106 that can be searched for by a search party 105. The wireless communication unit can also send 103 the readings of the sensors 8 so that the search party can make an intelligent decision, such as calling for an emergency transport agency 107. The communication unit can furthermore communicate with a cloud or wide area network 100 and through this communication 102 may be able to communicate with a server service 101, a search team 105, a transport agency 107 or a local alarm station 104. This may typically be an emergency service that can react to the distress signal and the emergency service can communicate 102 with the appropriate control rescue team 105 and the emergency transport agency 107.

[0137] The communication transmission medium 102, 103, 106 may be one of a wireless LAN or WAN, Bluetooth, WiFi, a mobile network, wireless communication, or other communication medium.

[0138] Another system feature may include a local alarm station 104 located at the site, for example at a selected mountain location. Each device 10, 20 of the invention may communicate 103 with the local alarm station 104 at pre-set intervals to identify presence and non-distress signals. The local alarm station 104 may be programmed to provide a list of people out of danger and those in the danger zone when an emergency situation is detected.

[0139] Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 8. The inlet channels are integrated with a frame, such as the backplate of the backpack 40, and are configured as a plurality of distributed inlet channels 82 with corresponding inlet openings 83 at their most peripheral ends, set apart in a distributed pattern to allow air to be collected from different peripheries of each inlet opening 83. This allows air to be collected from a larger peripheral area than if the inlets were only at one location. The plurality of distributed inlet channels 82 are coupled at their central ends to a pump 85, optionally via a central inlet channel 81. Each distributed inlet channel 82 can connect a corresponding air inlet (83) at its peripheral end to the central inlet channel 81 at a connecting junction 81', which may have one or more connecting junctions 81' connecting to each or group of the distributed inlet channels (82). In one embodiment, some or all of the central inlet channel 81 and / or the multiple smaller distributed inlet channels 82 and corresponding inlet openings 83 may be configured for and filled with a moldable air-permeable foam material, which simultaneously filters the air conveyed by the channels. The filtering characteristics may vary depending on the need, pump capacity, etc. The moldable foam material may partially contribute to maintaining the shape of the channels 81, 82, which also reduces the requirements for the material used in the walls of the channels 81, 82. For example, it is sufficient to use channel wall materials such as lightweight poly-based materials, lightweight woven airtight materials, etc.

[0140] 8, in an embodiment where the frame of backpack 40 incorporates a central inlet channel 81 and multiple smaller inlet channels 82, the smaller inlets are located on the periphery of the backplate and the inlet openings 83 are either on a side of the backplate of backpack 40 or immediately adjacent the side edge of the backplate on the side facing the person carrying backpack 40. Each inlet opening 83 is coupled to the central inlet channel 81 by distributed inlet channels 82 such that air can be easily drawn from each inlet opening 83 into the central inlet channel 81.

[0141] The pump 85 may be integrated with the battery in a sealed casing 84 that is attached to the inlet opening 83 via distributed inlet channels 82 and central channel 81. When the pump 85 is activated, it creates a vacuum in the distributed inlet channels 82 and central channel 81 which combine to form or act as a chamber, thereby drawing air from the surroundings through the inlet opening 83 and through the distributed inlet channels 82 and central channel 81. The combined strength of the channels 81, 82 and optional filler material, including moldable foam material, must be able to maintain a shape sufficient to withstand the vacuum without collapsing.

[0142] Another advantage of the illustrated embodiment is obtained by integrating an air supply conduit 89 for conveying air from the pump 85 to the facial area with the backpack 40 and one or more of the shoulder harness 91, sternum strap 92, stabilizer straps, etc. Thus, air supply from the pump 85 may be conveyed through the air supply conduit 89, which is concealed within the backplate of the backpack 40 and / or the shoulder harness and / or the sternum strap and / or the stabilizer straps, thereby protecting it from environmental damage.

[0143] An outlet device 80 providing an outlet opening 90 for the air intake tube 89 may be provided at the end of the air intake tube 89, i.e. at the end of the air intake tube 89 opposite the end connected to the pump 85. The outlet 80 is arranged close to the face area of ​​the carrier. The outlet device 80 may be provided with a further outlet filtering material to ensure that the outlet is not clogged with snow and ice. The outlet filtering material may additionally be provided with a heating device (not shown) to prevent clogging of the air outlet opening 90 by ice formation.

[0144] To facilitate the provision of improved air in a more precisely defined enclosure, for example when the user of the air quality improving device is wearing a full face helmet 93 and air has to be supplied inside the helmet, a tube extension 94 may be connected at one end to the outlet opening 90 of the outlet device 80, for example by a quick snap lock, and at the other end to the inside of the helmet 93, for example to a helmet outlet device (not shown). In one embodiment, the helmet outlet device may be integrated into the helmet, for example in the chin protection part 95.

[0145] In another embodiment, the pump, battery, distributed inlet channels and openings as shown in FIG. 8 may be included in a combined pump unit 120, which includes a chamber 120', a pump 85, a battery, an air inlet consisting of an opening 123 in the chamber 120' facing the environment, and a filter. All of this is one device adapted to be integrated into the side of a backpack or the like, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In this latter embodiment, a portion or hole side of a carrying device such as a backpack 40 may be used to surround the inlet opening. Advantageously, an integrated side cover may be provided between the inlets of the combined pump unit, providing an air permeable barrier, which provides additional protection against external forces and objects. The pump 85 in the pump unit 120 draws ambient air from the inlet opening into the pump inlet 82 and supplies it to an air supply tube 89 connected to the outlet 122 of the pump 85, which conveys the air to the outlet device 80. Additional air filtering and support may be provided to the chamber by partially or completely filling the chamber with a moldable air permeable foam material, which provides an additional barrier against debris, snow, fluids and other particles being drawn into the pump.

[0146] The device shown in FIG. 8 may be implemented in a wearable jacket with a backplate to surround the inlet channel and central channel, or a carry on the backplate (not shown), or the like.

[0147] The scenarios of use shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14 all show this latter embodiment of the pump unit 120 for the sake of convenience of the drawings to clearly identify the pump unit 120. However, the inventors intend that the embodiment shown in Figure 8, with the inlet channel 82 integrated in the back frame of the backpack and the inlet opening 83 via the central channel 81, for example, can also be used in the scenarios shown in which the backpack is worn by a downhill skier, as shown in Figure 12, or in the version shown in Figure 13, which is worn by a snowmobile driver who is also using a helmet 93 and has a tube extension 94 connected at one end to the outlet device 80, or in the version shown in Figure 14, where a person is buried in an avalanche.

[0148] The following embodiments may define previous versions of the device of the present disclosure, the device 10, 20 for improving the quality of breathable air in an environment comprising: At least one entrance 4, At least one pump 3, At least one power resource 5; Controller 6 and It has at least one outlet 1, At least one inlet 4 is connected to a pump inlet 31 of the pump 3; At least one outlet 1 is connected to a pump outlet 32 ​​of a pump 3; When activated, the pump pumps air from the inlet 4 to the outlet 1 .

[0149] The connection between the at least one inlet 4 and the pump inlet 31 further comprises an inlet pipe segment 7' enabling a more remote positioning of the inlet 4 relative to the pump inlet 31 in the apparatus 10,20.

[0150] The connection between the at least one outlet 1 and the pump outlet 32 ​​of the device 10,20 further comprises an outlet pipe segment 7'',7''' which allows for the placement of the outlet 4 further away from the pump outlet 32.

[0151] The device 10, wherein any of the pipe segments 7', 7'', 7''', the inlet 4, the outlet 1 or the pump 3 further comprises a filter 2 for filtering the air supplied by the device 10.

[0152] The filter 2 is a CO2 filter for removing CO2 from the air supplied by the device 10, device 10,20.

[0153] The controller 6 is equipped with an automatic actuation unit 11 for setting and controlling the operating modes of the pump 3, the devices 10,20.

[0154] The device 10, 20 further comprises one or more sensors 8 that are sensitive to one or more of the following: movement caused by an avalanche, CO2 levels above a pre-set threshold, weight load / pressure, G-forces, power resource levels such as spare battery capacity, or sensor inputs crossing an activation threshold, e.g., oxygen content in a person's bloodstream, heart rate or body temperature; The one or more sensors 8 are connected via a sensor input interface 8' to an automatic actuation unit 11 of the controller 6, which contains a program that monitors the readings of the sensors 8 and controls the operating mode of the device 10, 20 accordingly.

[0155] The automatic actuation unit 11 is provided with a manual switch 11' which can be used to override the input of the sensor 8 and manually actuate the pump 3 in a selected operating mode of the device 10,20.

[0156] The inlet 4 is further provided with an inlet protection device 4' for protecting the inlet 4 from clogging with snow, water or other materials, devices 10,20.

[0157] The inlet protection device 4' is formed by a lightweight protective mesh, device 10,20.

[0158] The mesh is constructed of one of a hard plastic or a carbon material, devices 10,20.

[0159] The inlet protection device 4' may be filled with a gas permeable material, the devices 10,20.

[0160] The gas permeable material of the devices 10, 20 is polyurethane sponge.

[0161] The apparatus 10,20 further comprises a feedback duct 110 which supplies air from the environment surrounding the outlet 1 to the pump 3 and back through the outlet 1.

[0162] The device 10,20 further comprises a bypass duct 111 for bypassing the filter 2.

[0163] The device is disposed within a backpack 40 assembly, with the inlet 4 and inlet protection device 4' disposed at the lower end of the backpack 40, and the outlet 1 positioned so as to be located near the mouth and nose area of ​​the carrier, device 10, 20.

[0164] The device 10,20 is disposed within a bag or backpack 40 assembly, and the inlet 4 and inlet protection device 4' are disposed within the backpack 40 or bag assembly, and the inlet 4 is provided with an extendable inlet tube 7', or the outlet 1 is provided with an extendable outlet tube 7'',7''', such that the device 10,20 is positionable such that the inlet 4 is positioned away from the person and the outlet 1 is positioned near the face area of ​​the person.

[0165] The device 10,20 further comprises a wearable device, the wearable device 114 holding the outlet 1 such that it may be located close to the nose / mouth of a person wearing the device 10,20.

[0166] The devices 10, 20 further include an alarm 112 that can be activated by the controller 6 if the detector 8 detects excessively high CO2 levels near the outlet 1, if the power resource level falls below a preset threshold, or if any detector detects a level outside of a preset acceptable level.

[0167] The apparatus 10,20 further comprises an additional inlet 115 for providing oxygen to the pump 3 from an inflated balloon / avalanche airbag.

[0168] The apparatus 10,20 further comprises a container 116 filled with oxygen, which provides oxygen from the container 116 filled with oxygen to the pump 3.

[0169] The controller 6 further comprises a communication device, which is able to transmit the state of the devices 10,20 to communication units 101,104,105,107 located away from the devices 10,20.

[0170] The communication devices are capable of receiving operating instructions from communication units 101, 104, 105, 107 located remotely from the devices 10, 20.

[0171] An embodiment of a system for providing life-sustaining assistance to an avalanche victim, the system comprising one or more devices 10, 20, the system further comprising a remote communication unit 101, 104, 105, 107 and a communication transmission medium 102, 103, 106.

[0172] The remote communication units 101, 104, 105, 107 include a local alarm station 104 that can identify the presence of the device 10, 20 and non-distress signals, a remote server 101 that can monitor and communicate with the other remote communication units 101, 104, 105, 107, a search party 105 or emergency transport agency 107 that can identify the location of the device 10, 20 simply by receiving a beacon 106 sent by the device 10, 20, one of the system.

[0173] The devices 10, 20 may further be combined with other life-saving equipment to form a system.

[0174] Other life-saving equipment may be one or more of the following: an air-inflatable balloon / avalanche airbag for avalanche buoyancy, a container containing compressed oxygen, an airbag for body protection, a body heating device, the system.

[0175] A method of improving the quality of breathable air in an environment using a device 10, 20, the method comprising: A user turns on the device 10, 20; activating the device 10, 20 when either the automatic emergency detector 201 or the manual switch 202 is activated; Start the pump, step 206 Contains:

[0176] The step of starting the pump 206 is performed before starting the pump 206. a) step 203 in which the controller 6 of the device 10, 20 performs normal self-tests and reads power and / or sensor status; b) step 204 in which the controller 6 selects which device 10, 20 to activate; c) the controller 6 selects 205 a pumping level for the selected pump 3; one or more steps of starting the pump at the selected pump level (step 206); and repeating steps a to c at preset intervals to adjust the pump level or modulating device 10, 20. The method includes:

[0177] It should be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention, and that there may be additional ways of implementing the present invention. It is the associated claims that define the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) for providing a steady supply of breathable air to an environment, comprising: The survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) comprises a housing (131); The housing (131) at least one inlet (4, 83, 120, 132); at least one pump / fan (3, 85, 170, 171); at least one power resource (5, 121, 150); A controller (6, 182); It is equipped with The survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) further comprises at least one exit (1, 80, 134); the at least one inlet (4, 83, 120, 132) is connected to the inlet of a pump / fan (3, 85, 170, 171); the at least one outlet (1, 80, 134) is connected to the outlet of the at least one pump / fan (3, 85, 170, 171) via an air supply pipe (7'', 89, 133) having a rigid form factor, the outlet (1, 80, 134) further comprising an internal stiffening element (144) that provides a stable, flexible form factor for the outlet (1, 80, 134); Survival equipment (10, 20, 30, 40, 60).

2. the at least one outlet (1, 80, 134) further comprises attachment means (135) disposed at an outer end thereof for fixedly positioning the at least one outlet (1, 80, 134) in a position proximate to an area of ​​a user's face; 2. The survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) of claim 1.

3. The attachment means (135) comprises a gripping connector (145) for placement around a harness / strap.

3. A survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) according to claim 2.

4. The survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) further comprises an actuation unit (181, 11) for actuating the pump / fan (3, 85, 170, 171) in an available / selected operating mode. A survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) comprises: an actuating lever (136); A bracket (146); a wire (137') in a wire sleeve (137); It also has The wire sleeve (137) is held at a first end by a wire sleeve space (149') of a wire conduit element (149) coupled to a bracket (146); said wire (137') being connected at a first end to a fixing element (147) included in said actuation lever (136); The wire sleeve (137) is connected to the housing (131) at a second end thereof; The wire is connected at a second end to a connector (160) contained in the housing (131); The connector (160) is connected to the actuation unit (181, 11) so that when the actuation lever (136) is pulled relative to the bracket (146), a pulling motion is transmitted to the wire (137') in the wire sleeve (137), the connector (160) and the actuation unit (181, 11). A survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) according to claim 4.

6. The actuation lever (136) and the wire conduit element (149) further comprise space for additional wires (137') and wire sleeves (137) for controlling the actuation of additional devices. A survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) according to claim 5.

7. The housing (131) comprises at least two battery connectors (151, 151') and a battery enclosure lid (140).

2. The survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) of claim 1.

8. the survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) further comprises one or more sensors (8, 152, 185); The sensor detects movement caused by an avalanche, CO2 above a preset threshold, ２ sensitive to one or more of the following: level, weight load / pressure, g-forces, power resource levels such as spare battery capacity, or sensor inputs crossing an activation threshold, e.g., oxygen content in the person's bloodstream, heart rate, or body temperature; the one or more sensors (8, 152, 185) are connected via a sensor input interface (8') to an automatic actuation unit (11, 181) of the controller (6, 182), the controller (6, 182) containing a program for monitoring the readings of the sensors (8, 152, 185) and controlling the operating mode of the survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) accordingly; 2. The survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) of claim 1.

9. the automatic actuation unit (11, 181) comprises a manual switch (11') / connector (160) that can be used to override the input of the sensor (8, 152, 185) and manually operate the pump / fan (3, 85, 170, 171) in a selected operating mode; A survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) according to claim 8.

10. The additional wire (137') and wire sleeve (137) are used to control the actuation of the inflating balloon / avalanche airbag. A survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) according to claim 6.

11. The survival apparatus (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) further comprises a safety tether (166), the safety tether (166) being coupled to the activation unit (181) to activate the survival apparatus (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) when the safety tether (166) is pulled. A survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) according to claim 4.

12. The controller (6, 182) further comprises a communication device, which is capable of transmitting the status of the device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) to a remote communication unit (101, 104, 105, 107).

2. The survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) of claim 1.

13. The survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) comprises: - Battery status ・HW status ・Self-test control ・Fan status ・Operating status ・Communication status a comprehensive set of self-test programs including tests for checking one or more of the above, and further signals for identifying the execution and results of the self-test programs; 2. The survival device (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) of claim 1.

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