GB2337963A - Impermeable suit with inflatable buoyancy means - Google Patents

Abstract

An impermeable body suit (33, Fig 1), for covering the wearer's entire body, and incorporating inflatable air bags 40, for providing sufficient buoyancy, to keep said wearer afloat, when in a body of water. Draw string means 14, may be provided to give a water-tight seal, around the wearers neck. Horizontal 19 and vertical 16 safety straps may be provided, to releasably secure the suit, through a main buckle (24, Fig 1), to the wearer's body. A hand operated air pump, may be provided to inflate the air bags, and a releasably secured hood 30, with means 31 to prevent water ingress, while allowing the wearer to breathe, may also be provided. Ankle 26 and wrist parts 25, of the suit, may be elasticated.

Description

2337963 Inflatable flotation device.

This invention relates to life saving devices in general used on water, such as inflatable life jackets and dinghies.

Such devices are well known, but suffer disadvantages. Inflatable life jackets provide flotation on water but do not generally prevent the user from being in direct bodily contact with the surrounding water, which leads to loss of body heat in very cold water,and can be fatal. Dinghies; as they are in general used collectively by a group of evacuees,can in consequence lead to delays during the process of evacuation. Moreover dinghies require specific point(s) of assembly for departure, such assembly point can sometimes become inaccessible, e.g. if part of a ship is listing and/or on fire. There is therefore a requirement for a device that will provide flotation on and insulation from the surrounding water for an individual user.

Accordingly this invention provides a device to maintain an individual user afloat on 1 and insulation from the surrounding water, the device comprising: an impermeable body suit made in a form so.as to generally conform to, and to bodily encapsulate an individual user therein from the neck down with the inclusion of the user's limbs; the impermeable body suit being supported by one, or more inflatable air bag or air bags as part or parts of the impermeable body suit thereof, such that,when inflated with air the inflatable air bag or air bags provide flotation on water.for the impermeable body suit, thus providing to that effect for an individual user therein, with bracing means attached to releasably secure the user within, insulated from the surrounding water.

Preferably the impermeable body suit should be made of an impervious and sufficiently supple material so as to allow the user, in operation, some freedom of movements as would be desirable in order to escape danger on solid ground and/or water.The impermeable body suit is sack-like in construction 2e.g. the only opening and access into the impermeable body suit is at the top, with -means to releasably closing the top centripetally towards and around the user's neck,for example by a cord going through a cord channel circularly at the top of the body suit, such that when the cord is pulled the top is closed like the top of a sack around the user's neck, The device is also provided with a network of safety straps attached to the device ( for example by retaining loops),to releasably secure the user within the device (as explained below), the purpose of the straps is to allow the device to adapt itself to accommodate users of various sizes, e.g. from large to smaller users.

In preferred embodiments (diagonally) vertical shoulder straps circularly go round and over the shoulders and under the crotch part 'of the impermeable body suit, and horizontal (waist) strap(s) work in combination through a main buckle to releasably secure the device centrally around the user within, The smaller user with less body heat to lose has the benefit of the surplus material of the body suit which can be tucked in beneath the safety straps, this may provide extra insulation. The smaller or smallest users, babies for example can be accommodated within the device together. with an adult with the provision of a baby harness to the chest of the accompanying adult.

Preferably the inflatable air bag or air bags should run in parallel alongside the vertical shoulder straps for most of their lengths, e.g. elongated U-shaped air bag(s) can externally cradle the crotch part of the body suit and then extend vertically adjacent the chest and dorsal parts of the body suit and terminating at about shoulder level to the user. The air bag(s) can be releasably attached to the vertical shoulder straps, for example by means of loops which can be clipped on to the air bag(s).

In some embodiment4the device -can be constructed with the air bag(s) inherently as integral part or parts of the impermeable body suit thereof instead of using loops to retain them.

Preferably more than one air bag can be used in parallel to provide flotation, each air bag individually fitted with a separate non return valve at their air inlets, such an arrangement would provide a margin of safety, e.g. if part of device is accidentally damaged ( for example one air bag fails) the remainder(s) may provide adequate support for the user. Preferably the air bag(s) should be rounded wedge-shaped with the thicker end at the top parts to provide stable buoyancy in operation.

The user's safety and comfort may further be enhanced with the provision of a pull over hood to accommodate the user's head and face, with means to releasably secure the hood to the device, e.g. the hood can have an elasticated rim that fits over the neck part of the device, engageable by the user in operation.Thus preventing further heat loss of the user. Preferably the hood should be of a waterproof and transparent material to allow for good all round visibility, and fitted with a device that allows air to the user and not water.

The inclusion of a built-in hand operated air pump and an air release valve, operable by the user, provides the means to inflate or deflate the air bag(s) as may be appropriate to regulate the amount of air in the air bag(s).Preferably a pressurize air canister can be included for rapid inflation of the air bag(s) in emergencies.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a frontal view of the device of the invention, ( air bag(s) not shown to show other details more clearly); 1 Figure 2 shows a cut away perspective view of the figure 1 embodiment, showing the left half of the impermeable body suit, and showing one air. bag in position (not attached); Figure 3 is aback view of the figure 1 embodiment, showing a smaller user inside, (air bag(s) not shown); Figure 4 is a frontal view of the figure 1 embodiment with two air bags ( deflated) attached; Figure 5 is a perspective back view of the device of the figure 1 embodiment showing two air bags (inflated) and a user inside; Figure 6 is an illustration of the figure 1 embodiment folded down in half ready for use.

In preferred embodiment the device of the invention shown in figure 1 (without air bag(s) attached) consists of an impermeable body suit (33) made in a form so as to generally conf orm to the human body shape, p;ref erably made of a sufficiently supple material, the top (15) providing access into the body suit (33), when cords 14 are pulled through cord channel 27 the top (15) of the body suit closes centripetally towards and around the neck of the user within, thereby encapsulating the user from the neck down to the feet, resulting in the circular length 28 forming into a ruff like structure around the neck and under the chin and ears of the user as shown in figure 3 and figure 5, the ruff 28 so formed provides a grip for the elasticated rim 20 of the hood 30 to f it over (f igure 4) Cords 14 are made releasably secure by cord catch 18.

Preferably the hood 30 is made of a waterproof and transparent material (for example transparent plastics material) with sufficient suppleness, with an air vent 31, fitted with a device (not shown) that allows air to pass through to the user and not let water through.

5The shoulder straps 16 are connected to crotch strap 22 at junction 13 at the back of the device figure 3,and are retained by loops 41, with the top (15) closed the straps 16 rest on the shoulders of the user,figures 3 figure 4 and figure 5, Waist strap 19 is connected to crotch strap 22 at junction 13 (figure 3) and is retained by loops 21, such that when straps 16 and strap 19 are pulled in unison, or separately to adjust for safety and comfort, through main buckle 24 the device is securely wrapped around the user, straps 16 and strap 19 are made releasably secured by main buckle 24, (details of mechanism not shown).The surplus material of the body suit can be tucked in under the safety straps.

The preferred material of construction for the impermeable body suit can be of a strong supple material with a PVC waterproof coating or synthetic flexible rubber,or any similar materials such as would be used to make inflatable life jackets or other similar inflatable devices. The safety straps can be strong flexible plastics The main buckle 24 can be made of light steel or or any material with sufficient mechanical strength. Preferably the body suit can have an additional layer of material inside with good heat retaining properties.

material.

aluminium, The air bag(s) 40(figure 2 figure 4 and figure 5) can be made of the same material as the impermeable body suit, and are releasably attached to the safety straps 15 by loops 17, ' figure 4, more than one loops can be used, (only 2 shown). The air bag(s) can be partly separated from the straps 15 by unclipping the loops 17, such as might be desirable when accommodating a smaller user.

The air 5ag(s) are provided with a built-in hand operated air pump (not shown) housed inside compartment 23, with an air release valve 43, figure lgthe air inlet tube 10 is situated at the top of the device.( Other feeding tubes to the i -6air bag(s) not shown). The device can be provided with a pressurize air canister for quick inflation of the air bag(s) by pulling cord 11. The pressurize air canister can be housed inside compartment 38, figure 1.

The device is used. Referring to figure 6 which shows the device folded down in half,with the chest part of the body su showing on the outside, such that the user can slip inside the body suit like slipping into a pair of trousers,making sure that the user's feet go beyond the elasticated ankles 26 and into the feet compartment of the body suit.The user can remove his/her shoes beforehand. Next the user brings the rest of the body suit up to about shoulder level, the arm and hand sheaths 35 are now on the inside of the suit, the user then inserts his/her hands and arms inside sheaths 35, making sure the hands go beyond the elasticated wrists 25 and into the hand gloves.

it Next the user pulls cord 14 (figure 1) until the top (15) is comfortably secure around the user's neck, cords 14 are made releasably secure by cord catch 18 (figure 1),next the user pulls the safety straps 16 and 19 through main buckle 24 until the device is secure around the user.The hood 30 can be pulled over the user's head and face with the elasticated rim 20 secured externally around the cord channel 27,(as shown in figure 4).The hood is operable by the user.The straps 16 and 19 are made releasably secure at main buckle 24,(details not shown). Next,the air bag(s) can be inflated by the user either manually by using the hand operated air pump or by pulling cord 11, if a pressurize air canister is provided.

The device is now ready for use. The individual usdr is provided with insulation and flotation and can walk to a suitable place from which to enter the water.

To remove the device the user follows the steps described above in reverse order.

Claims (8)

1. A device to maintain an individual user afloat on,and insulation from the surrounding water,the device comprising: an impermeable body suit made in a form so as to generally conform to, and to bodily encapsulate an individual user therein from the neck down with the inclusion of the user's limbs; the impermeable body suit being supported by one,or more, inflatable air bag,or air bags as part or parts of the impermeable body suit thereof, such that when inflated with air the inflatable air bag or air bags provide flotation on water for the impermeable body suit, thus providing to that effect for an individual user therein, with the means to releasably secure the user within, insulated from the surrounding water.

2 A device according to claim 1, wherein the top,neck part, of the impermeable body suit is releasably secured centripetally around the user's neck by means of a cord going through a cord channel,operable by the user,which the user pulls,in operation.

3 A device according to claim 1 and 2, wherein vertical and horizontal safety straps are provided to releasably secure the impermeable body suit, through a main buckle, around a user's body,in operation.

4 A device according to claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one hand operated air pump is provided to inflate the air bag or air bags, in operation.

5. A device according to any precedihg claim,wherein a releasably secured hood,operable by the user,is provided to protect the user's head and face. The hood is partially attached to the impermeable body suit.

6. A device according to claims 1 to 5, wherein the hood is provided with a device that allows air to pass through for the user to breath while keeping water out in operation.

7. A device according to any preceding claim,further incorporating elasticated wrists and ankle parts of the impermeable body suit.

8. A device substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in the drawings.

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