Inflatable Toroidal Rescue Collar with Web Strap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aquatic rescue devices often fail to provide adequate stabilization and lifting of victims in water rescue situations, as they are not designed to withstand the forces exerted during rescue, particularly when lifting a person from the water, and may cause injury due to binding straps.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable toroidal collar with a central web strap and D-rings, designed to extend around the upper torso, providing buoyancy, comfort, and a cushioned lifting harness that can be securely attached to a rescue line, featuring an auto-inflator and pressure release valve for safe and efficient rescue operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional flotation devices are used to stabilize victims, then victim flotation is achieved, but the devices fail to withstand lifting forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines flotation and lifting functions into a single integrated collar device. The collar includes both buoyant chambers for flotation and reinforced lifting loops with webbing straps for secure lifting, eliminating the need for separate flotation and lifting devices and ensuring both functions can withstand the required forces simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar utilizes composite construction with reinforced materials in critical load-bearing areas. The lifting loops are reinforced with additional webbing and stitching, and the collar incorporates both flexible buoyant material and strong structural elements to withstand both flotation buoyancy forces and lifting tension forces.
2Ease of operation
If lifting straps are used to extract victims, then victim extraction is achieved, but the straps may bind and cause injury
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting straps are designed with different local properties: the webbing material is wide and padded in areas contacting the victim to distribute pressure and prevent binding, while the attachment points use reinforced D-rings and clips for secure connection. The collar portion contacting the victim is made of soft, flexible material to prevent injury during extraction.
3Strength
If the collar is made secure for lifting, then lifting strength is improved, but the collar may bind on the individual
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is segmented into distinct functional zones: buoyant chambers for flotation, reinforced lifting loops for secure attachment, and flexible comfort sections that contact the victim's body. The lifting function is concentrated in the reinforced loops and webbing straps, while the body-contact portions are made of softer, more flexible material to prevent binding and discomfort.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures safe and effective stabilization and lifting of victims by providing sufficient buoyancy and compressive force without causing injury, allowing for secure attachment to rescue equipment, enhancing the reliability of aquatic rescue operations.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable lifesaving apparatus is disclosed which is specifically designed to assist rescuers by providing an inflatable flotation device
Implementation Method 2
The strap is constructed such that it may be cinched adjacent the free ends thereof so as not to bind on an individual or clipped so as to apply compressive force about the upper torso of an individual
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable rescue collar is disclosed. The collar is formed of an elongated inflatable cylindrical tube having appropriate ends and which is of a size to extend around the upper torso of an individual. The bladder is generally toroidal in cross-section and defines an open channel along the length thereof through which a web strap extends. The strap is constructed such that it may be cinched adjacent the free ends thereof so as not to bind on an individual, or clipped so as to be capable of applying a compressive force about the upper torso of an individual.