US3128481A - Safety float - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1954 s. M. nAvlsoN, .1R 3,123,481

'SAFETY FLOATl Filed June 2'2"..V 1961 mmv-TOR.;

United States Patent Ofce 3,128,481 Patented. Apr. 14, 1.964

Filed June 27, 1961, Ser. No. 120,013 2 Claims. (Ci. 9--316) This invention relates to safety devices and is more particularly directed to new and improved buoyant float devices and actuatingmechanisms therefor for use by skin divers, and the like.

Heretofore, scuba and skin divers have employed inflatable bladder-type iioat devices for increasing their buoyancy. For example, if the diver becomes tired and wishes to relax for a short period of time, inflatable oat devices carried by the diver, secured as to `his belt, would be inflated by him and, thus, the diver would not be required to exert himself in maintaining his position. Iniiatable bladder-type float devices have also been used for surface marking of the general location underwater of scuba and skin divers. These iioat devices are carried by the diver with the bladder deflated, and the diver would inflate the bladder and release the device whereby the device would ascend to and iloat on the surface of the body of water in which the diver was submerged.

The present invention provides anV improved buoyant float device having a bladder inilating mechanism which provides positive rupturing of a cartridge or cylinder containing the pressurizing medium for iniiating the bladder.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved buoyant and leakproof iioat device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved buoyant and leakproof iioat device'having a positive actuating mechanism for iniiating the bladder of the device.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved buoyant and leakproof lioat device manually actuatable to assure immediate inflation of the bladder of the device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved lever controlled actuating mechanism for iniiating the expandible bladder of a buoyant and leakproof float device.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved actuating mechanism for buoyant signal oat devices and which employs a manually actuatable lever which is easily operated and is adapted to rupture the cylinder orv cartridge containing the bladder-expanding medium.

Brieiiy, the above and further objects are accomplished with the present invention wherein a ii'oat device including inflatable means, such as a bladder carrying a conventional rupturable cylinder of iniiating gas, may be iniiated by actuating mechanism including a tiring pin carried in the end cap of the iioat device which, when actuated, will not malfunction and which'will rupture the cylinder to assure expansion of the bladder.

The above andI further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from a careful consideration of the following detailed description when considered in conjunctionl with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a float device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and shown on a reduced scale;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the actuating mechanism incorporated in the iloat device of FIG. 1 for iniiating the bladder;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3of FIG. 2, assuming the device to be completely shown therein;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2, assuming the device to be completely shown therein',

FIG. 5 is an end View of the device of FIG. 1 in elevation, illustrating the details of the lever of the actuating mechanism of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of the piston assembly of FIG. 2 broken away to illustrate the cartridge rupturing member carried thereby.

Briefly stated, the present invention relates to an improved buoyant and leakproof float, an embodiment of which appears in FIG. 1 and which is generally indicated by the numeral 7. The float 7 includes an expandible or iniiatable bladder 8 constructed of elastomeric material, such as rubber, and which is preferably inert to the liquid environment in which it is adapted to be used. The blad-v der 8 is closed at one end 9 and is provided at the opposite end with an elongated shank 10 opened as'at 11.

As clearly appears in FIG. 2, the bladder 8 is preferably made of a two-ply construction including an inner blad-` der 12 and an outer bladder 13 conforming to one another. The use of two separate bladders instead of one to obtain a desired thickness minimizes the possibility of the bladder deflating as a result of weaknesses in the walls of the bladders since the likelihood that both bladders would have the same structural weakness in the same area is negligible. The shank 10 is suliiciently long to permit grasping thereof by the user and, for this purpose, is preferably of a length sized t0 comfortably iit the width of the average human hand.

Maintained in the shank 10 is a generally cylindrical` housing 14 constructed of lightweight rigid material, such, for example, as aluminum. The cylinder 14 is open at opposed ends 15 and 16 and includes a plurality of internal grooves 17 providing passageways for conducting the pressurizing fluid from the end 16 of the housing into the interior of the bladder.A

VAs best shown in FIG. 2, a cylinder 19 is supported in the housing 14 by a plurality of ribs 18 which `define the grooves 17. The cylinder 19 maybe a conventional CO2` cartridge and contains the pressurizing gas or other fluid for expanding the bladder. The cylinder 19 is provided with a reduced diameter neck' 19a having a rupturable end wall 20. To prevent axial movementV of thecylinder 19 into the bladder 8, a transverse bar or rod 21 is presstted into a suitable transverse hole in the housing 14 and provides a retaining seat for the cylinder 19.

The housing 14 is externally threaded as indicated at 22 to receive in threaded engagement therewithra generally cylindrical fitting 23 having an annular end flange 24y and an intermediate external, annular flange 25 for securing the inating mechanism to the bladder-S'as morev fully discussed hereinafter. Preferably, the housing 14 and the fitting 23 are assembled before insertionv thereof' in the shank 10 of the bladder 8. The housing 14 and the fitting 23 are'slightly larger than the unexpanded internalf diameter of the neck ofthe bladderS to assure a tight holding tit between the iniiating mechanism and thef to threadedly receive an end plate or cap iitting 27 whichv houses means for rupturing the head 20 of the cylinder 19` To assure a leakproof connection between the cap 27 and the iitting 23, a resilient annular'seal or O-ringZS-is provided which seats against and 'is compressedbetween the shoulders provided by the end ilange 24 and the/ cap 27.

The cap 27 has Ian .axial bore 29 and is counterboredl` at'r both ends as indicated at .30 and 31. The bar 21 Iis loamasar cated so as to position the cylinder 19 with its neck portion 19a partly within the counter-bore 30. A piston 32, best shown in FIG. 6, is slidably disposed in the bore 29 and resilient means, such as a spring 33, is bottomed at one end on a shoulder 29a located between the bore 29 and the counterbore 31 Aand abuts at its other end against a shoulder 32a of the piston. The piston 32 is provided with `an annular `groove 34a to receive a resilient annular gasket or O-ring 34 which is slightly compressed between the piston 32 and the counterbore 31, thus assuring a hermetic seal between the piston and internal wall of the counterbore 31.

The reduced portion of the piston 32 carries an outwardly tapered ring pin or needle 35 having a longitudinal groove 36 therein for permitting the escape of gas from the cartridge 19 after it has been punctured. In its end wall adjacent the pin 35, the piston 32 is provided with opp-osed radial slots =37 for facilitating assembly of `the parts when the piston and pin 35' are separate parts.

The spring 33, as aforesaid, maintains the pin 35 in a rst position out of engagement with the rupturable end of the cylinder. In order to move the piston 32 to a second position, wherein the pin 35 is partly inserted into the end of the cartridge -19 `for rupturing the end 20', a lever 40 is mounted on the cap 27 by means of 'a pintle 41 supported in the bifurcated ends 3S of the cap 27. The lever 40 is manually actuatable in a clockwise direction to force the piston into the cylinder. Unlimited axial movement of the piston 32 to the right, as viewed in PIG. 2, is prevented by the side anges `40a of the lever 40 which contact the bottom of the slot 38a of the bifurcated end 38 of the cap 27. It will be observed that the pintle 41 is offset from the piston 32 so that the side flanges 40a, bottom of the slot 38a, 4and pintle 41 cooperate with the piston 32 to maintain the lever 40 in angled relation with the end 38 of the cap 27.

-On the under side of the lever `40` and adjacent the piston 32 is formed a bead or projection 42 which rides on the end surface of the piston. The projection 42 is roundbottomed so that -as the lever is manually pivoted to position the piston in the second position, whereby the pin 35 ruptures the cylinder and the pressurizing medium is released from the cylinder, the bead contact with the piston `facilitates movement of the lever and prevents binding thereof -on the piston. For example, rif the bead 42 were not employed, the lever, as it is moved counterclockwise, would b-ind on the upper corner of the piston, -as indicated at 33a, and increase the force required to move the lever. Possibly, with a bent pintle 41, binding of the lever at the corner 33a might prevent 'further clockwise movement of the lever and prevent rupture of the cylinder. Similarly, without the projection 42, the lever 40 would bind on the opposed end 33h with the same possible undesirable results as indicated above with respect to the corner 33a.

With employment of the bead 42, these possibilities are substantially eliminated and, because of the point contact of the bead with the piston head, movement of the piston into and out of the counterbore is facilitated.

The bead also prevents binding at corners 33a and 3317 when the pressurizing medium, in escaping lfrom the cylinder, acts on the piston and aids spring 33 in moving the piston to the r-ight, as viewed Ain FIG. 2. Thus, the actuating mechanism of the present invention assures that the cylinder Will be ruptured.

In operation, when it is desired to inate the bladder 8, the lever 40 is pivoted clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2, to yforce the piston towards the bladder 3 and thereby to press the pin into the rupturable end of the cylinder 119. The pressurizing medium escapes from the ruptured cylinder 19 and ows around the cylinder through the iloat channels provided by the grooves 17 and into the bladder 8. 'Ihe pressure in the bladder thus increases and cooperates with the spring 33 in returning the piston 32 to the right, whereby the pin 35 is removed from the cartridge 19. The pressure and spring .alsny cooperate to return the lever 49 -to the position shown in FIG. 2. Although the bladder 8 will eventually be inilated even if the pin 35 is held in the end of the cartridge 19, the iniiation is markedly increased if the pin 3S is removed from the cylinder immediately after puncture. It, `after piercing the cylinder, Ithe pin or needle 35 sticks or lodges in the cylinder end, the action of the spring and pressurizing medium will pull the stuck slidable cylinder 19 with the piston, and, as the pin 35- moves into the bore 29, the cylinder will abut the shoulder 29a `and the pin or needle will be removed therefrom.

The pressurizing medium, thus, in addition to inflating the bladder, cooperates with the spring 33 to return the piston and lever 40 to their normal position, as shown in FIG. 2, and assures positive removal of the pin from the end of the cylinder 19. The grooves 36 and 37 assure that `actuating malfunction does not occur and that inilation positively occurs, even if the pinhead is stuck in the top of the cylinder 19. The bead 4Z on the lever 46 prevents binding of the lever and piston during operation of the actuating mechanism and cooperates with the inating pressure and spring 33 to return the piston and lever to their normal inoperative positions, shownin FIG. 2.

When it is desired to replace the `cartridge 19, the cap 27 is unscrewed, the cartridge 19 replaced, and the cap 27 rethreaded. A radial passage 42a is formed in the threaded portion of the cap 27 so that the pressurizing medium may escape from the bladder 8 gradually before the cap 27 is completely removed. If the diver desires to completely or partially deflate the bladder for any reason, he may do so by partially unthreading the cap 27 until the pressurizing medium escapes through the radial passage 42a from the interior of the bladder.

It is not necessary that the piston and O-ring assembly shown in the drawing be employed as the cylinder-piercing mechanism since a piston carrying the firing pin may be slidably retained in the bore 2,9l by a diaphragm which is secured to the housing 14 and which hermetically seals the interior of the bladder shank. The lever y40 and piston carrying the needle 35 would operate to puncture the end of the cylinder 1,9 and the spring 33 and pressure would cooperate with the diaphragm toreturn the piston `and lever to their normal positions out of engagement with the head of the ruptured cylinder.

Thus, with my invention, l provide a simple and effective buoyant and leakproof float device having an actuating mechanism which is manually operable to quickly and easily inilate the bladder and thereby `assure the proper operation of the device.

Although various minor modications land alterations of the present invention will become readily apparent to those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of lthe patent warranted hereon yall such embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

l. A buoyant and leak-proof float device comprising an inilatable bladder having an open end, a cylinder dis` posed in the bladder adjacent the open end thereof for receiving 'and for positioning therein `a rupturable cartridge containing a pressurizing medium for infiating the bladder, a bored and removable threaded iitting secured -to the cylinder with the bore thereof in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, an annular, shoulderdeiining flange extending into said bore and defining a pair of counterbores, one of said counterbores being located to receive a portion of a rupturable cartridge in said cylinder, a movable piston in the bore carrying a member for rupturing the portion of said cartridge disposed in said one of the counterbores, and O ring seal movably carried by the piston rin the other of said counterbores to prevent discharge of pressurized fluid Ifrom said bladder between the piston and the wall of said bore, an

external annular flange carried by the piston in said other counterbore, spring means in said other counterbore bottomed at yone end against said piston :liange and at its other end against a shoulder provided by said shoulder defining ange for biasing the rupturing member away from the rupturable cartridge, an operating lever member carried by the iitting, and a round bottomed projection carried by said lever member adjacent said piston, said spring urging said piston away from said cartridge and against said round bottom projection to locate the lever member in an inoperative position, said lever member being pivotable from said inoperative position to move said rupturing member to an operative position to rupture `said cartridge, said round bottomed projection being rideable on said piston during pivotal movement of said lever member to facilitate movement of said lever member between said positions and to prevent binding be- 6 tween said lever member and said piston `during movement of the lever member between said positions.

2. The device of claim 1 including a transverse passage in the fitting communicating one of said counterbores with the ambient environment for bleeding pressurized medium from the bladder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,202,415 Christopher May 28, 1940 2,324,744 Ward July 20, '1943 l2,347,010 Ward Apr. 1'8, 1944 2,451,475 Craig Oct. 19, 1948 2,533,446 Fisher Dec. 12, 1950 2,944,268 Fruendt July 1-2, 1960 `3,019,459 Ripley Feb. =6, 1962

Claims (1)

1. A BUOYANT AND LEAK-PROOF FLOAT DEVICE COMPRISING AN INFLATABLE BLADDER HAVING AN OPEN END, A CYLINDER DISPOSED IN THE BLADDER ADJACENT THE OPEN END THEREOF FOR RECEIVING AND FOR POSITIONING THEREIN A RUPTURABLE CARTRIDGE CONTAINING A PRESSURIZING MEDIUM FOR INFLATING THE BLADDER, A BORED AND REMOVABLE THREADED FITTING SECURED TO THE CYLINDER WITH THE BORE THEREOF IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE CYLINDER, AN ANNULAR, SHOULDERDEFINING FLANGE EXTENDING INTO SAID BORE AND DEFINING A PAIR OF COUNTERBORES, ONE OF SAID COUNTERBORES BEING LOCATED TO RECEIVE A PORTION OF A RUPTURABLE CARTRIDGE IN SAID CYLINDER, A MOVABLE PISTON IN THE BORE CARRYING A MEMBER FOR RUPTURING THE PORTION OF SAID CARTRIDGE DISPOSED IN SAID ONE OF THE COUNTERBORES, AND O RING SEAL MOVABLY CARRIED BY THE PISTON IN THE OTHER OF SAID COUNTERBORES TO PREVENT DISCHARGE OF PRESSURIZED FLUID FROM SAID BLADDER BETWEEN THE PISTON AND THE WALL OF SAID BORE, AN EXTERNAL ANNULAR FLANGE CARRIED BY THE PISTON IN SAID OTHER COUNTERBORE, SPRING MEANS IN SAID OTHER COUNTERBORE BOTTOMED AT ONE END AGAINST SAID PISTON FLANGE AND AT ITS OTHER END AGAINST A SHOULDER PROVIDED BY SAID SHOULDER DEFINING FLANGE FOR BIASING THE RUPTURING MEMBER AWAY FROM THE RUPTURABLE CARTRIDGE, AN OPERATING LEVER MEMBER CARRIED BY THE FITTING, AND A ROUND BOTTOMED PROJECTION CARRIED BY SAID LEVER MEMBER ADJACENT SAID PISTON, SAID SPRING URGING SAID PISTON AWAY FROM SAID CARTRIDGE AND AGAINST SAID ROUND BOTTOM PROJECTION TO LOCATE THE LEVER MEMBER IN AN INOPERATIVE POSITION, SAID LEVER MEMBER BEING PIVOTABLE FROM SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION TO MOVE SAID RUPTURING MEMBER TO AN OPERATIVE POSITION TO RUPTURE SAID CARTRIDGE, SAID ROUND BOTTOMED PROJECTION BEING RIDEABLE ON SAID PISTON DURING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER MEMBER TO FACILITATE MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER MEMBER BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS AND TO PREVENT BINDING BETWEEN SAID LEVER MEMBER AND SAID PISTON DURING MOVEMENT OF THE LEVER MEMBER BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS.

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