Life-saving system

Abstract

A personal life-saving system includes an inflatable life-saving appliance (32) and is configured to be attached to a wearer's chest. An outer casing (16) may contain the inflatable life-saving appliance, the outer casing being configured for attachment to the wearer's chest. The outer casing may include attachment means (22) for attachment to a load-carrying garment (10) worn by the wearer, such as a MOLLE load-carrying garment.

Description

LIFE-SAVING SYSTEMTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a personal life-saving system including an inflatable life-saving appliance, and to a method of mounting life-saving system to a load-carrying garment .BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Personal life-saving systems may include an inflatable life-saving appliance, such as a Life Preserver Unit, LPU (e . g . life jacket) . Traditionally, LPUs are worn or mounted in a "halter" style around the neck and extending down onto the chest either as two lobes or a single central lobe . Some LPUs are be mounted in a pouch on a belt - such as the General Service Life Preserver available from Survitec . However, the former of these LPUs cause a problem as they may interfere with harness systems over the shoulders when for example worn in vehicle or aircraft and when "shouldering" a rifle . When an LPU is fitted into a pouch on the belt, to deploy the LPU, it requires the person to take the LPU out of the pouch first, put the LPU over their head and then inflate the LPU, and this is challenging execute in an emergency situation.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a personal life-saving system including an inflatable life-saving appliance / LPU, the personal life-saving system being configured to be mounted at a wearer' s chest .

[0004] Attaching the life-saving system at the wearer ' s chest may be more convenient than previous arrangements where similar systems are attached to the hip or waist . For example, for military or security personnel, there is often a need to carry a lot of other equipment and there is little spare space at the hip or waist area for an LPU .

[0005] Attaching the life-saving system to the wearer ' s chest may be more convenient than previous arrangements where the life-saving appliance / LPU is worn or mounted in a "halter" style around the neck and extending down onto the chest . For example, for military or security personnel, there is often a need to be able to shoulder a rile - and an LPU around the neck, even when uninflated, may interfere with the ability to effectively use a rifle .

[0006] Attaching the life-saving system to the wearer ' s chest may be more convenient than previous arrangements when, for example, military personnel often wear a special garment adapted for mounting other equipment on their chest such as torches, ammunition, handguns, radios and beacons, first aid items, etc . , and typically this equipment is attached to the garment by a system of lacing webbings known as MOLLE or MACS . The inflatable life-saving appliance / LPU may be mounted onto the front of the garment at a convenient, vacant position using the webbings . The garment may be a jacket, vest or other item that overlies the chest of the wearer .

[0007] The life-saving system may include an outer casing that contains the inflatable life-saving appliance, the outer casing being configured for attachment to the wearer' s chest . The outer casing in an embodiment to be described is an LPU pack. The outer casing may be formed of a material that protects the inflatable life-saving appliance from impacts and / or the environment .

[0008] The outer casing may include attachment means for attachment to a load-carrying garment worn by the wearer, such as a MOLLE load-carrying garment . The attachment means may include generally parallel spaced rows of webbing, each webbing being attached to the outer casing at spaced intervals so that each webbing has alternate attached and unattached sections along its length with the unattached sections in generally vertical alignment . These webbings may co-operate with corresponding webbings on the load-carrying garment tofacilitate attachment of the casing to the load-carrying garment by a securing strip or webbing passing through the adjacent webbings of the casing and the garment . The outer casing may be provided with strip-receiving slots instead of webbing .

[0009] The outer casing may include an openable part or flap for selectively allowing the deployment of (e . g . removal of or inflation of ) the inflatable life-saving appliance . The part or flap may be located at the front of the casing . The part or flap may include a releasable coupling that opens when pressure is exerted - e . g . by manual pulling the part or flap or by the inflatable life-saving appliance as it is inflated .

[0010] The inflatable life-saving appliance may or may not be attached to the outer casing . If the inflatable life-saving appliance is attached at an attachment region thereof to the outer casing, this may advantageously locate the inflatable life-saving appliance after deployment of the inflatable lifesaving appliance . For example, the inflatable life-saving appliance may be attached at the attachment region thereof to a real wall of the outer casing, which rear wall is mounted to the garment at the chest region of the wearer . This locates the attachment region of the inflatable life-saving appliance at the chest region of the wearer after deployment (inflation) of the inflatable life-saving appliance . This may help prevent the inflatable life-saving appliance riding up the wearer' s body. In such an arrangement, the attachment means of the outer casing may provide two functions : firstly, to couple the outer casing to the garment at a convenient position and, secondly, to indirectly (by the attachment region of the inflatable lifesaving appliance being attached to the outer casing) locate the inflatable life-saving appliance after deployment at an optimum position on the wearer .

[0011] The life-saving system may include an inflation system comprising one or a plurality of compressed gas containers for inflating the life-saving appliance . It should be noted that, conventionally, inflatable life-saving appliancesare inflated by a single larger diameter gas cylinder . By providing the plurality of compressed gas containers, this may allow the thickness of the casing to be reduced .

[0012] An activation system may be provided that is configured to activate the plurality of compressed gas containers simultaneously to inflate the life-saving appliance . The inflation system may include two elongate spaced apart compressed gas containers arranged to extend along the wearer' s chest in use . The two elongate spaced apart compressed gas containers may be located either side of the inflatable lifesaving appliance .

[0013] The inflation system may include an external manually operable handle assembly configured to trigger the inflation of the life-saving appliance when pulled by the wearer . This may allow the wearer to inflate the inflatable life-saving appliance when desired. The same handle may be attached to the flap to facilitate opening of the flap .

[0014] The inflation system may be configured to automatically trigger the inflation of the life-saving appliance on contact with water . This may allow the inflatable life-saving appliance to be inflated even when the wearer is unconscious .

[0015] The outer casing may include an armoured sheet located to protect the inflatable life-saving appliance from impact damage . The armoured sheet may be provided between the outermost wall of the casing and the inflatable life-saving appliance .

[0016] The inflatable life-saving appliance may include a main body portion configured to overlie the wearer' s chest in use and a neck portion configured to extend around the wearer' s neck in use, wherein the neck portion comprises first and second neck parts that extend from respective sides of the main body portion and which are connected around the wearer' s neck .

[0017] The first and second neck parts may be configured to be connected behind the wearer ' s neck in use . Each of the first and second neck parts may be generally C-shaped and extend symmetrically around the wearer' s neck .

[0018] The first and second neck parts may be asymmetrically configured to be connected over the wearer ' s shoulder in use .

[0019] The first and second neck parts may be connected by an elastically deformable member . This may allow the neck portion to be stretched over the wearer' s head (including any headgear) to assist donning the inflatable life-saving appliance .

[0020] The first and second neck parts may be connected by a releasable coupling, such as a hook and loop (Velcro®) fastening or a magnetic coupling . This may allow the neck portion to be fitted the wearer' s neck to assist donning the inflatable life-saving appliance when the first and second neck parts are not attached, whereafter the first and second neck parts are attached together by the releasable coupling .

[0021] The first and second neck parts may be configured to automatically locate themselves around the wearer' s neck on inflation of the inflatable life-saving appliance such that distal ends of the first and second neck parts lie proximate one another . When the first and second neck parts lie proximate one another, they may be automatically connected together by the releasable coupling .

[0022] The inflatable life-saving appliance may be a life preserver unit / life jacket .

[0023] The present invention also provides a life-saving system in combination with the load-carrying garment, the lifesaving system being attached to the load-carrying garment at a location corresponding to the wearer' s chest in use .

[0024] The present invention further provides a method of mounting life-saving system to a load-carrying garment,characterised by attaching the life-saving system to the loadcarrying garment at a location corresponding to the wearer' s chest in use . The life-saving system may be as described above .

[0025] One embodiment of the invention provides an inflatable lif e j acket / LPU that is retained in a small pouch ( casing / pack) when uninflated and that can be mounted onto the front of a garment such as a carrier vest, such that when inflated the inflatable lif ej acket / LPU provides buoyancy to prevent drowning . Typically, this uninflated LPU will be mounted onto the front of a vest or upper section of a suit or a carrier vest or harness system that is used by military or security personnel, such as soldiers , air crew or police etc . Such garments may be designed to carry a range of equipment such as torches, ammunition, handguns, radios and beacons, first aid items, etc . , and typically this equipment is attached to the garment by a system of lacing webbings known as MOLLE or MACS . Such vests are sometimes fitted with ballistic protection including "soft armour" and rigid ballistic plates . Depending on the type of operation the range of equipment can be extensive and the available space (the "real estate") on the garment to attach the equipment is limited .

[0026] Embodiments of a chest mounted LPU may have some or all of the following benefits :• Making use of limi ted availability of "real estate" (available space on the garment) . Here the chest mounted LPU pouch can be fitted to any position on the garment chest area to optimise the use of "real estate" and be compatible with other equipment mounted on the garment . • Ease of rapidly attaching and detaching the chest mounted LPU pouch system. The operational requirements can change rapidly, e . g . from "over water" to land use, and the LPU can be rapidly attached or detached e . g . by using a MACS or MOLLE system.• Limited obstruction of other equipment and weapons when uninflated . One of the challenges of LPU design is to ensure that the LPU does not obstruct or interfere withother equipment or the use of other equipment such as weapons etc .• Performance of LPU when inflated in water. The in-water performance of the LPU when inflated is preferably the same as or better than equivalent volume capacity LPUs of the "halter" type etc . In the detailed description three types of inflation are described, oral, manual gas inflation and automatic gas inflation.• Strength and securi ty of attachment and ballistic protection . The attachment system to the garment is secure and a ballistic protection (armoured) plate may be fitted to the front of the pouch.• Extra load-carrying capaci ty . The front of the pouch can also be fitted with MOLLE and MACS slots, loops etc . to attach additional equipment to the pouch .BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] For a better understanding of the present invention embodiments will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which :

[0028] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a known load-carrying garment in the form of a military jacket including rows of webbing and with loads in the form of an LPU pack and two equipment packs attached to the garment;

[0029] Figure 2 shows a vertical cross-section through the LPU pack of Figure 1 ;

[0030] Figure 3 shows a front elevation of the LPU pack but omitting the front face for the purposes of illustrating the contents of the LPU pack;

[0031] Figure 4 is a rear elevation of an LPU pack having a mounting surface carrying rows of loops and two parallel elongate securing webbings extending from the pack;

[0032] Figure 5 is a partial side elevation of the LPU packof Figure 4 against the garment of Figure 1 with the loops of the pack between the loops of the garment and the securing webbings fed through the loops in a first stage of attachment;

[0033] Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 5 but showing a second stage of attachment;

[0034] Figure 7 is a front elevation of one embodiment of an inflatable LPU after removal from the LPU pack and when placed around a wearer' s neck but prior to inflation;

[0035] Figure 8 a front elevation of another embodiment of an inflated LPU after removal from the LPU pack and when placed around a wearer' s neck; and

[0036] Figure 9 a front elevation of further embodiment of an inflated LPU after removal from the LPU pack and when placed around a wearer' s neck .

[0037] In the drawings , like elements are generally designated with the same reference signs .DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The invention is applicable to various types of lifesaving appliances . In the embodiment described below the lifesaving appliance is an inflatable Life Preserver Unit or inflatable lifejacket but it should be appreciated that the invention is not so restricted - and may, for example, be an inflatable single seater liferaft or an inflatable multiple seater liferaft .

[0039] Referring first to Figure 1, a known load-carrying garment 10 such as a military jacket has left and right front panels 11A, 11B overlying the chest of a wearer and meeting at the centre of the chest, and arms 12 for receiving the arms of a wearer . The left and right front panels 11A, 11B are both provided with rows of webbing 13. The rows are parallel to but spaced from one another and, when the jacket is worn and thewearer upright, the rows are horizontal . The webbing may be arranged in accordance with the MOLLE specification. The webbing may be a MACS system (Modular Attachment Carrier System) , available from Survitec Group Ltd .

[0040] Each row is formed by a single length of webbing 13 that is woven in known fashion from cotton or artificial fibres or a mixture of both and has a width of about 25mm (although any suitable flexible material may be used) . Each length of webbing 13 is stitched (or otherwise connected) to the associated panel 11A, 11B at its ends and at equidistant intervals between its ends along stitch lines 14 , each stitch line 14 creating an attachment section . The spacing between the stitch lines 14 is about 38 mm. Each webbing length 13 thus forms a succession of attached portions and unattached loops 15 along its length. The loops 15 formed by one row are vertically aligned with the loops of the next adj acent rows .

[0041] As described so far, the arrangement is as the known MOLLE system.

[0042] The function of the loops 15 is to allow the attachment to the garment of various loads . As seen in Figure 1, these may include equipment packs 17 and, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an LPU pack 16.

[0043] Referring additionally to Figures 2 , 3, 4 , 5 and 6, the LPU pack 16 is of generally rectangular cross-section with a front wall 19 (see Figure 1 ) connected to a back wall 20 by a left side wall 21A, a right side wall 21B, a top wall 21C and a bottom wall 21D . The back wall 20 includes attachment means for attachment to the garment 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment means in provided by the back wall 20 carrying several lines of webbing 22 connected to the back wall 20 by stitching lines 23 to form loops 24 . In Figure 2 , three lines of webbing 22 are shown . In Figures 4 and 5 , five lines of webbing 22 are shown. The number of lines of webbing may be chosen according to the circumstances - e . g . in dependence on the size of the LPUpack 16. The width of the lines of webbing 22 and the spacing of the stitching lines 23 of the LPU pack 16 is as described above with reference to the webbings 13 and the stitching lines 14 of the garment 10 , with the exception of the lowermost line of webbing 18 of the LPU pack 16, which may abut the next succeeding webbing 13 of the garment 10, for a purpose to be described below . The lines of webbing 22 are compatible with the MOLLE specification . Lines of slots may be provided instead of the lines of webbing, the slots being sized and positioned to work with a MOLLE specification garment .

[0044] The LPU pack 16 is a casing or pouch, preferably made of strong material . The LPU pack 16 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.

[0045] The LPU pack 16 contains an inflatable LPU 32 (e . g . lifejacket ) . The LPU pack 16 may be opened by pulling an activation or release handle 34 , attached to the right side 21B in this example, which peels open the LPU pack 16 at a releasable coupling 30 to release the inflatable LPU 32 within . The releasable coupling 30 may extend around the back wall 20 -between the back wall 20 and the top wall 21C, between the back wall 20 and the right side wall 21B, between the back wall 20 and the left side wall 21A, and between the back wall 20 and the bottom wall 21D . The releasable coupling 30 , when released, detaches the front wall 19, left side wall 21A, right side wall 21B and bottom wall 21D from the back wall 20. The releasable coupling 30 may not extend around the entire back wall 20 (e . g . it may not extend along one of the left side wall 21A, right side wall 21B, top wall 21C or bottom wall 21D . This allows the front wall 19 to act as a flap that is flexibly attached to the rear wall 20 by one of the side wall 21A, right side wall 21B, top wall 21C or bottom wall 21D (in a hinge-like arrangement) .

[0046] The releasable coupling 30 may (as shown in Figures 1 and 2 ) be positioned around the front wall 19, so that, whenreleased allows the removal of the front wall 19 from the remaining left side wall 21A, right side wall 21B, top wall 21C and bottom wall 21D. In this arrangement, the handle 34 may be positioned on the front wall 19.

[0047] The releasable coupling 30 may be a "burst open zipper" : zipper with a short section of the zipper which has no teeth, which when under pressure will cause the zipper to peel open . Other forms of releasable coupling could be used . For example, VELCRO® (hook and loop fastener) could be used or a tear strip .

[0048] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the LPU pack 16 may contain an oral inflation tube 38 . Oral inflation may be used to inflate the inflatable LPU 32 . The inflatable LPU 32 may be inflated orally, or topped up, by blowing into the oral inflation tube 38. The oral inflation tube 38 may be accessible from outside the LPU pack 16, or the oral inflation tube 38 may be housed completely within the LPU pack 16. If the oral inflation tube 38 is not already accessible, then the LPU pack 16 can be opened by pulling on the release handle 34 which peels open the LPU pack 16 using the releasable coupling 30 to enable access to the oral inflation tube 38.

[0049] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the LPU pack 16 may contain an inflation system 33 having one or more compressed gas containers 35 (e . g . cylinders ) . When the inflation system 33 is activated, gas is released from the gas containers 35 which will inflate the inflatable LPU 32 causing the inflatable LPU 32 to exert a pressure on the releasable coupling 30 and causing the releasable coupling 30 to open so that the inflatable LPU 32 bursts out of the LPU pack 16.

[0050] The inflation system 33 may be activated manually by the wearer . For example, the release handle 34 may be coupled to an operating head 40 of each of the compressed gas containers 34. The manual release of the gas is activated by pulling on the release handle 34 which actuates a piercing pin in the gas cylinder operating heads 40 to release the gas from both gascontainers 34 simultaneously. As the gas fills the inflatable LPU 32 , the cover will burst open at the releasable coupling 30. The handle 34 may be coupled to both the right side wall 21B and the operating head (s ) 40 , so that pulling the handle 34 both opens the releasable coupling 30 and causes release of the gas . The inflatable LPU 32 may be topped up by blowing into the oral inflation tube 38.

[0051] Alternatively, the inflation system 33 can be activated by water immersion automatically. The LPU pack 34 may be fitted with an automatic water immersion activation device such that on immersion the inflatable LPU 32 will inflate automatically. When the inflation system 33 is automatically activated by the automatic water immersion activation device, gas is released from both the gas containers 35 simultaneously which will inflate the inflatable LPU 32 causing the inflatable LPU 32 to exert a pressure on the releasable coupling 30 and causing the releasable coupling 30 to open so that the inflatable LPU 32 bursts out of the LPU pack 16. The inflatable LPU 32 may be topped up by blowing into the oral inflation tube 38 .

[0052] There are thus three methods to deploy the inflatable LPU 32 : by oral inflation by the oral inflation tube 38 , by manual activation by the release handle 34 and by automatic water immersion activation device . Other methods to deploy the inflatable LPU 32 may also be used .

[0053] As mentioned above, the inflatable LPU 32 is packed inside the LPU pack 16 with the inflation system 33. The inflation system 33 may have one compressed gas container 35 or two (or more) compressed gas containers 35 . If two compressed gas containers 34 are provided, each may have a smaller diameter ( compared to when only one compressed gas container is provided) which means the LPU pack 16 can be flatter (e . g . the sides 21A-D may be shorter) . This may make the LPU pack 16 more comfortable to wear . The compressed gas container ( s ) 35 may extend in a generally horizontal direction (when mounted to the garment 10 as worn by the wearer when standing) and may extend generallyparallel to the direction in which the webbing 22 and / or 13 extends .

[0054] The inflation system 33 may be attached to the inflatable LPU 32 - e . g . by being mounted in pocket (s ) of the inflatable LPU 32. The inflation system 33 may not be attached to the LPU pack 16, so that the inflation system 33 and uninflated inflatable LPU 32 may be removed from the LPU pack 16 together and the inflatable LPU 32 subsequently inflated by the inflation system 33. Alternatively, the inflation system 33 may be attached to the LPU pack 16 at an attachment region (where the inflatable LPU 32 is attached to the back wall 20 of the LPU pack 16) .

[0055] The inflatable LPU 32 and inflation system 33 may be packed in a hermetically sealed bag (within the LPU pack 16 ) to maintain the inflatable LPU 32 in a safe operating condition and without the need for frequent servicing . The sealed bag 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 may be formed, for example, by a barrier foil . The sealed bag may be vacuum packed . The sealed bag may carry a relative humidity indicator that is aligned with a translucent window or hole in the LPU pack 16 so that the indicator can be read through the LPU pack 16. The sealed bag may also contain a desiccant pack that may maintain relative humidity within the sealed bag to below e . g . 40% to prevent deterioration of the inflatable LPU 32 . The hermetically sealed bag may be broken by the pressure exerted as the inflatable LPU 32 inflates and / or by the handle 34 being pulled .

[0056] To protect the inflatable LPU 32 from being punctured, e . g . by a projectile, an armour plate (e . g . a ballistic plate shield) 36 can be fitted to the front of the LPU pack 16. In the example shown in Figure 2 , the ballistic plate shield 36 is within the LPU pack 16, behind the front wall 19 (and may be attached to the front wall 19 ) .

[0057] The LPU pack 16 is attached to the garment 10 typically by a MACS or MOLLE system. The inflatable LPU 32 may be attached at an attachment region thereof to the back wall 20 of the LPU pack 16 by any suitable means, such as welding, stitching or adhesive . When the LPU pack 16 is opened, the attachment of the inflatable LPU 32 to the back wall 20 will locate the attachment region of the inflatable LPU 32 on the wearer as the back wall 20 of the LPU pack 16 is attached to the garment 10. Advantageously, the location of the attachment region of the inflatable LPU 32 in this way (at the chest of the wearer) helps locate the inflatable LPU 32 after deployment / inf lation and may, e . g . , stop it riding up towards the wearer' s head. The attachment means (e . g . webbing 22 ) locates the LPU pack 16 on the garment at the wearer' s chest, which in turn locates the attachment region of the inflatable LPU 32 at the wearer' s chest .

[0058] The inflatable LPU 32 may not be attached to the LPU pack 16; instead, the inflatable LPU 32 may be held loosely within the LPU pack 16 but not fixed thereto . The inflatable LPU 32 may be readily removed from the opened LPU pack 16 by the wearer to mount it in the desired position on the wearer' s body.

[0059] For example, two securing webbings 25a, 25b may be attached to an upper end of the back wall 20 of the LPU pack 16 and, in the position shown in Figure 4 , extend in parallel directions that are aligned with the loops 24. Each securing webbing 25a, 25b has a proximal portion 26 that is formed from unmodified flexible webbing material . The distal portion 27 , however, of each securing webbing 25a, 25b may optionally be stiffened so that the distal portion 27 is straight and self-supporting when unloaded .

[0060] The stiffness is such that the distal portion 27 can be flexed, for a purpose to be described below, and will then return back to an unflexed straightened disposition .

[0061] The LPU pack 16 is attached to the garment 10 in thefollowing way, with reference to Figures 5 and 6. First, the back wall 20 of the LPU pack 16 is placed against the front panel 11A of the garment 10 so that each webbing 22 on the back wall 20 is located between respective pairs of webbings 13 on the front panel 11A. Thus, the front panel loops 15 and back wall loops 24 are arranged in an aligned succession to define parallel paths through the loops 15 , 24 . There is one exception to this, as seen in Figures 5 and 6 the lowermost webbing 18 on the back wall 20 is aligned with a webbing 13 on the front panel 11A so that their respective loops are aligned. Next, the stiffened distal portion 27 of each securing webbing 25a, 25b is fed through successively through a front panel loop 15 and a back wall loop 24 until the stiffened distal portion 27 emerges from the front panel loop 15 adj acent the lower edge of the LPU pack 16. The stiffness of the distal end 27 right up to the free end makes this a relatively simple task and prevents the free end of the distal portion 27 folding as it is inserted. Since the stiffened distal portion 27 is substantially the same length as the proximal portion 26, which, in turn has of necessity to be of sufficient length to extend through all the aligned loops 15 , 24 to allow the proximal portion 26 to extend through one path formed by a succession of aligned loops 15 , 24 , the part of the distal portion 27 adj acent the proximal portion 26 will still be exposed as the free end of the distal portion 27 is emerging from the lowermost loop . Once the distal portion 27 emerges from the lower-most front panel loop 15 , the remainder of the securing webbing 24 , 28 can be drawn through the path formed by the loops 15 , 24 by pulling on the free end until the flexible proximal portion 26 extends through the loops 15 and 24 and the distal portion 27 is beyond the path and hanging freely .

[0062] The free end of the distal portion 27 can then be flexed and the free end of the distal portion 27 passed up firstly through the two lowermost loops 24 on the back wall 20 and then through successive front panel loops 13 ( see Figure 6) and back wall loops 22 along the path formed by the loops 15 ,24 to lock the end of the securing webbing 25a, 25b . The resilience of the distal portion 27 causes the distal portion 27 to revert to a straightened or substantially straightened orientation once it has entered the loops 15 , 24 . This insertion continues until the free end of the distal portion 27 emerges from the uppermost of the back wall loops 15 entered by the webbing 24 , 28 (see Figure 6 ) . Due to the stiffness of the distal portion 27 , this provides a geometrical lock for the end of the securing webbing 25a, 25b . Loads applied to the equipment pack 17 , 18 will not result in the webbings releasing .

[0063] Such an arrangement is described in W02010046664 . Other attachment arrangements may also be used. The webbing may in general be arranged in accordance with the MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment ) specification (see, e . g . https : / / en. wikipedia . org / wiki / MOLLE ) . The MOLLE specification defines the current generation of load-bearing equipment and backpacks used by a number of NATO armed forces , especially the British Army and the United States Army. The webbing may be a MACS system (Modular Attachment Carrier System) , available from Survitec Group Ltd . Garments of this kind are also disclosed in, for example, US2007 / 0158380, US2006 / 0113344 , W02006 / 116952 and US2008 / 0257922 .

[0064] The front side 19 of the LPU pack 16 may also have an attachment system so that additional equipment can be fitted to the front 19 of the LPU pack 16 (e . g . by slots 29 shown in Figure 1 ) or by loops similar to the loops 24 and compatible with MACS or MOLLE .

[0065] The bottom edge of the inflatable LPU 32 may be fitted with one or more attachment buckle (s ) 50 that attach the inflatable LPU 32 to a crotch strap ( s ) 52 to prevent the inflatable LPU 32 riding up when it is inflated . This may be advantageous if the inflatable LPU 32 is mounted loosely within the LPU pack 16 (as the inflatable LPU 32 may otherwise be free to move relative to the wearer' s body and the garment 10 ) . The crotch strap (s ) 52 may pass through opening (s ) in the LPU pack16 to be connected directly to the inflatable LPU 32. In addition to, or alternatively to, the crotch strap (s ) 52 , torso strap (s ) may be connected to the inflatable LPU 32 and extend circumferentially around the wearer' s torso in order to locate the inflatable LPU 32 on the wearer' s chest . The torso strap (s ) may pass through opening ( s ) in the LPU pack 16 to be connected directly to the inflatable LPU 32.

[0066] There are a number of scenarios as to the sequence of inflatable LPU 32 inflation .

[0067] The wearer may open the LPU pack 16, using the handle 34 and by means of the releasable coupling 30, and pull the uninflated inflatable LPU 32 over their head. This might be for example if the wearer is in an aircraft that has ditched as is being evacuated on the water surface . The wearer can then safely leave the aircraft and exit, as is the case for airline type LPUs , and once safely outside can inflate the inflatable LPU 32 manually by pulling the activation handle 34.

[0068] Various mounting arrangements, shapes and configurations of inflatable LPU 32 are possible . Some examples will now be described.

[0069] Figure 7 shows an inflatable LPU 32 with a "split" area behind the wearer' s head whereby the two halves of the inflatable LPU 32 behind the head are joined by elastic . The inflatable LPU 32 is worn in a "halter" style around the neck and extends down onto the chest as a single central lobe 60 ( in this example ) . Figure 7 shows the LPU 32 when uninflated (prior to inflation) and mounted around the wearer' s neck . A neck portion 62 extends from the single central lobe 60 around the back of wearer' s neck. The neck portion 62 comprises two neck parts 62A and 62B which extend from the left hand side and the right hand side of the single central lobe 60 , respectively. The neck portion 62 is not continuous : the neck parts 62A and 62B are separated behind the wearer' s neck ( so, e . g . inflation gas does not pass directly from one neck part to another) . The neckparts 62A and 62B are connected behind the wearer' s neck by an elastically deformable member 64 . This arrangement allows the uninflated LPU 32 to be donned over the head when for example a helmet and / or night vision equipment is worn - as the neck opening 66 can be enlarged by stretching the elastically deformable member 64 to increase its size to pass over the helmet and / or night vision equipment, after which the elastically deformable member 64 resiles and allows the inflatable LPU 32 to be securely located around the wearer' s neck . Alternatively, to aid donning, instead of an elastically deformable member 64 , a buckle, press studs or a Velcro® (hook and loop fastener) arrangement (or other releasable coupling) can be used to link together the neck parts 62A and 62B of the LPU 32 and which is easily accessible to the wearer - allowing the separated neck parts 62A and 62B to pass around the wearer' s neck and to then be connected so that the inflatable LPU 32 is securely located around the wearer' s neck . After the inflatable LPU 32 is securely located around the wearer' s neck, it may then be inflated.

[0070] Figure 8 shows another embodiment of an inflatable LPU 32 with a "split" area behind the wearer' s head whereby the two halves of the inflatable LPU 32 behind the head are j oined. The inflatable LPU 32 is worn in a "halter" style around the neck and extends down onto the chest as a single central lobe 60 ( in this example ) . Figure 8 shows the LPU 32 when inflated (after inflation) and mounted around the wearer' s neck . A neck portion 72 extends from the single central lobe 60 around the back of wearer' s neck. The neck portion 72 comprises two neck parts 72A and 72B which extend from the left hand side and the right hand side of the single central lobe 60 , respectively. The neck portion 72 is not continuous : the neck parts 72A and 72B are separated behind the wearer' s neck ( so, e . g . inflation gas does not pass directly from one neck part to another) . The neck parts 72A and 72B may connected behind the wearer' s neck by an elastically deformable member like 64 in Figure 7. This arrangement allows the inflatable LPU 32 to be inflated and subsequently donned over the head when for example a helmetand / or night vision equipment is worn - as the neck opening 66 can be enlarged by stretching the elastically deformable member 64 to increase its size to pass over the helmet and / or night vision equipment, after which the elastically deformable member 64 resiles and allows the inflatable LPU 32 to be securely located around the wearer' s neck. Alternatively, the LPU 32 is configured without an elastically deformable member connecting the neck parts 72A and 72B and is arranged such that, as the LPU 32 inflates , the two neck parts 72A and 72B come together behind the head and may be joined together by a releasable coupling 74 . The releasable coupling 74 by be provided by providing the distal portions of the neck parts 72A and 72B with complimentary Velcro® (hook and loop fastener) fasteners or magnets . In this way, as the two neck parts 72A and 72B automatically come together behind the head due to inflation pressure, the distal ends meet and can be automatically secured together by the releasable coupling 74 .

[0071] Figure 9 shows a further embodiment of an inflatable LPU 32 with a "split" area . The inflatable LPU 32 is worn in a "halter" style around the neck and extends down onto the chest as a single central lobe 60 ( in this example ) . Figure 9 shows the LPU 32 when inflated (after inflation) and mounted around the wearer' s neck . A neck portion 82 extends from the single central lobe 60 around the back of wearer' s neck . The neck portion 82 comprises two neck parts 82A and 82B which extend from the left hand side and the right hand side of the single central lobe 60 , respectively. The neck portion 82 is not continuous : the neck parts 82A and 82B are separated to the right (in this embodiment) of the wearer' s neck (so, e . g . inflation gas does not pass directly from one neck part to another) . In this embodiment, the right side neck part 82B is shorter than the left side neck part 82A. The right side neck part 82B extends from the central lobe 60 to the region of the right shoulder of the wearer . The left side neck part 82A extends from the central lobe 60 around the wearer' s neck to the region of the right shoulder of the wearer . The neck parts 82A and 82B may be connected by connection means 84. The connection means84 may be an elastically deformable member like the elastically deformable member 64 of Figure 7 or, instead of an elastically deformable member 64 , a buckle, press studs or a Velcro® (hook and loop fastener) arrangement (or other releasable coupling) can be used to link together the neck parts 82A and 82B of the LPU 32 and which is easily accessible to the wearer . The connection means 84 may be a releasable coupling like the releasable coupling 74 of Figure 8 - by providing the distal portions of the neck parts 82A and 82B with complimentary Velcro® (hook and loop) fasteners or magnets .

[0072] If the LPU inflates automatically on the water surface, then the arrangement as shown Figure 8 may be the most effective .

[0073] In Figures 7 , 8 and 9, an example of the position of an attachment region (where the inflatable LPU 32 is attached to the back wall 20 of the LPU pack 16, which in turn locates the inflatable LPU 32 on the garment at the wearer' s chest) is indicated by dashed box 90 .

[0074] Although the invention has been described with reference to embodiments where the life-saving appliance is in the form of an inflatable LPU, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments of the invention other types of inflatable life-saving appliance may be housed in the LPU pack 16, including liferafts .

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A personal life-saving system including an inflatable lifesaving appliance and configured to be mounted at a wearer' s chest .2 . The life-saving system of claim 1 , including an outer casing that contains the inflatable life-saving appliance, the outer casing being configured to be mounted at the wearer' s chest .

3. The life-saving system of claim 2 , wherein the outer casing includes attachment means configured for attachment to a load-carrying garment worn by the wearer, such as a MOLLE load-carrying garment .4 . The life-saving system of claim 3, wherein the attachment means includes generally parallel spaced rows of slots or webbing, each webbing being attached to the outer casing at spaced intervals so that each webbing has alternate attached and unattached sections along its length with the unattached sections in generally vertical alignment .5 . The life-saving system of claim 2 , 3 or 4 , wherein the outer casing includes an openable part for selectively allowing the deployment of the inflatable life-saving appliance .

6. The life-saving system of any one of claims 2 to 5 , wherein the inflatable life-saving appliance is attached at an attachment region thereof to the outer casing .7 . The life-saving system of any one of claims 1 to 6, including an inflation system comprising a plurality of compressed gas containers for inflating the life-saving appliance .8 . The life-saving system of claim 7 , including an activation system configured to activate the plurality of compressedgas containers simultaneously to inflate the life-saving appliance .

9. The life-saving system of claim 7 or 8 , wherein the inflation system includes two elongate spaced apart compressed gas containers arranged to extend long the wearer' s chest in use .

10. The life-saving system of claim 9, wherein the two elongate spaced apart compressed gas containers are located either side of the inflatable life-saving appliance .

11. The life-saving system of any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the inflation system includes an external manually operable handle assembly configured to trigger the inflation of the life-saving appliance .12 . The life-saving system of any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the inflation system is configured to automatically trigger the inflation of the life-saving appliance on contact with water .

13. The life-saving system of any one of claims 2 to 12 , wherein the outer casing includes an armoured sheet located to protect the inflatable life-saving appliance from impact damage .14 . The life-saving system of any one of claims 1 to 14 , wherein the inflatable life-saving appliance comprises a main body portion configured to overlie the wearer' s chest in use and a neck portion configured to extend around the wearer' s neck in use, wherein the neck portion comprises first and second neck parts that extend from respective sides of the main body portion and which are connected around the wearer' s neck .15 . The life-saving system of claim 14 , wherein the first and second neck parts are configured to be connected behind the wearer ' s neck in use .

16. The life-saving system of claim 14 , wherein the first and second neck parts are configured to be connected over the wearer ' s shoulder in use .17 . The life-saving system of claim 14 , 15 or 16, wherein the first and second neck parts are connected by an elastically deformable member .18 . The life-saving system of claim 14 , 15 or 16, wherein the first and second neck parts are connected by a releasable coupling, such as a hook and loop fastening or a magnetic coupling .

19. The life-saving system of claim 14 , 15 , 16 or 17 , wherein the first and second neck parts are configured to automatically locate themselves around the wearer' s neck on inflation of the inflatable life-saving appliance such that distal ends of the first and second neck parts lie proximate one another .

20. The life-saving system of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein inflatable life-saving appliance is a life preserver unit or lifej acket .

21. The life-saving system of any one of claims 3 to 20, in combination with the load-carrying garment, the lifesaving system being attached to the load-carrying garment at a location corresponding to the wearer' s chest in use .22 . A method of mounting life-saving system to a load-carrying garment, characterised by attaching the life-saving system to the load-carrying garment at a location corresponding to the wearer' s chest in use .

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the life-saving system is as defined in any one of claims 1 to 21.

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