Non-Loop Rescue Handle for Life Vest Entanglement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing life vests for humans lack a secure and entanglement-free mechanism for rescuers to lift the wearer from water, as traditional loop handles are prohibited due to snagging risks, making it difficult for rescuers to assist individuals floating on their stomachs.
Innovation Solution
A life vest with a rescue handle featuring a flange and a non-loop shape, such as a fish fin or rectangular design, attached to the back, which is molded from polymeric materials and reinforced with membranes to support the wearer's weight without entanglement risks, allowing secure lifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a loop-type handle is used on the life vest, then it is easy to grab and lift the wearer, but the loop can become snagged on fallen trees and other objects in the water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional loop-type handle design by using a solid, non-loop handle structure (such as a fin-shaped or rectangular handle). This inversion eliminates the opening that causes entanglement while preserving the gripping function, allowing rescuers to easily grasp the handle without the risk of snagging on underwater objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of a loop handle (entanglement risk) into a benefit by designing a solid handle structure that cannot entangle. The solid handle maintains the ease of gripping function while eliminating the harmful entanglement characteristic, effectively turning the design constraint into an advantage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If no handle is provided on the life vest, then there is no entanglement risk, but it becomes difficult for rescuers to lift the wearer from the water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by inverting the approach: instead of providing no handle or a loop handle, it provides a solid non-loop handle structure. This design maintains the lifting function while eliminating entanglement risk, as the solid structure cannot snag on underwater objects yet remains easily graspable by rescuers.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a solid handle structure is used instead of a loop, then entanglement with underwater objects is prevented, but the handle must be designed to support the full weight of the wearer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite material construction to the handle, combining a rigid structural component (such as a fin-shaped or rectangular solid structure) with attachment mechanisms secured to the life vest. This composite approach ensures the handle can support the full weight of the wearer while maintaining the non-entanglement solid structure design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the handle structure with the life vest body through secure attachment methods (such as stitching, bonding, or integration with the vest structure). This merging ensures that the solid handle can effectively transfer and support the wearer's weight while maintaining its non-entanglement geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
A life vest with a rescue handle located on the back side thereof. The rescue handle has a flange located at the lower end thereof, the flange being attached to the back side of the life vest with the rescue handle extending substantially vertically upwards. The rescue handle is attached to the back side of the life vest in a manner adapted to support the weight of a user. The rescue handle has a non-loop shape that eliminates the potential for entanglement with objects in the water.