Compact Life Jacket Sliding Float Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional life jackets are not sufficiently compact to avoid obstructing the movement of the wearer, as the float member and cover design do not adequately reduce size to minimize interference during use.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a slidable member linked to the float member that slides along a guide member, allowing the float member to fold into a compact size within the cover in the uninflated state and expand to conform with the inflated shape, enabling a smaller, non-obstructive design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the float member is accommodated in the cover in the uninflated state to reduce size, then the life jacket becomes more compact and less obstructive to movement, but the cover must be provided over a relatively large area to conform with the float member position, preventing sufficient size reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a slidable member that can move along a guide member to dynamically adjust the position of the float member within the cover. This dynamic positioning system allows the float member to be located at an ideal position in the inflated state while enabling the cover to be minimized in area, resolving the contradiction between compactness and proper float member positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a guide member with a sliding mechanism that introduces a new dimensional aspect for positioning the float member. By allowing movement along the guide member, the system can accommodate the float member in a compact cover area while ensuring proper positioning when inflated, effectively using dimensional movement to resolve the area constraint.
2Reliability
If the float member is positioned to ensure proper wear in the inflated state, then the life jacket functions correctly, but the cover area increases, reducing compactness and increasing obstruction to movement
Solution Approach 1:
The slidable member along the guide member provides a dynamic adjustment mechanism that ensures the float member can be positioned correctly for proper wear in the inflated state, while allowing the cover to maintain a minimized area in the uninflated state. This dynamic system resolves the contradiction between reliability of positioning and compactness.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to provide a small life jacket that is unlikely to obstruct movement of a wearer, a life jacket includes: a float member that changes from an uninflated state to an inflated state with gas being supplied to an internal portion thereof; a cover that covers the float member in the uninflated state; a connecting member and a waist belt as a wearable member that is to be worn by a wearer; a guide member that is linked to the connecting member and the waist belt; and a slidable member that is linked to the float member and that slides along the guide member.