AU7190098A - Marine craft life saving, safety equipment storage canopy - Google Patents

Description

I'he invention is described in the following statement: Marine craft life saving, safety equipment storage canopy.

This invention relates to improvements in the storage and accessibility of life saving and safety equipment on board marine crafts.

Hitherto most marine craft, such as dinghies, sailing, motor or fishing boats, usually store their life saving equipment in out of the way inaccessible areas, such as under bunks, or in lockers or cupboards 1 0 in the cabin space. In an emergency situation, not only is there commonly not enough time to enter a cabin, but a search may have to be conducted to find where the safety equipment is stored. Thus resulting in a potentially life threatening situation.

The devise of the present invention overcomes many of these problems, and brings together the majority of all safety and life saving equipment into one accessible and removable area, with the added feature of being a canopy for weather protection.

This invention consists of a boat canopy having upper and lower canopies joined together to form an internal space adequate enough to accommodate life jackets and other life saving equipment. The lower canopy has access holes allowing quick access to life jackets, flares, emergency positioning indicating radio beacons (LPIRBs), hand held radio, or any other life saving equipment the owner may deem necessary.

In the event of an emergency situation, the life jackets may be quickly accessed via these holes in the lower canopy.

Also should their be insufficient time to don the life jackets, the entire canopy may be quickly detached and taken over the side of the craft with the evacuees, life jackets can then be distributed to the survivors once they have regrouped in the water. It is envisioned that in a situation where the marine craft should sink and there be insufficient time to release the canopy manually, that the canopy would release automatically though the buoyancy force exerted by the life jackets and other built in buoyancy material. Once in the water the canopy can be turned upside down to display an orange coloured under canopy with a black letter or black square and round symbol emblazoned on it to indicate the international distress signal.

In the upside down position the canopy can be used as a small raft to support the very young or the injured.

In one form the upper canopy is made in a rectangular shape having a convex or domed roof which permits enough internal space in which to house the life saving equipment. A gutter is formed on the perimeter of the upper canopy, with the dual purpose of redirecting any rain water or water spray which may collect on the upper canopy to a drain hole, and providing a ridge to attach the lower canopy Should the upper canopy be made with material only, then the two sections are simply sewn together, and a framework is sewn within the canopy to create an internal space.

The lower or underside of the canopy can be made of any suitable weatherproof material, which is attached to the perimeter of the upper canopy. This lower canopy has access openings sewn into it, which are resealable. In an emergency the life jackets may be quickly accessed by opening the access holes, and pulling the life jackets through the opening. Other safety equipment may likewise be accessed.

It is envisioned that other safety equipment such as flares or EPIRB's will be held in place within the internal space of the canopy by Hook and loop style retaining straps, this is to stop them from falling out and being damaged when the access holes are opened. Conversely pockets may be sewn into the lower canopy to house the flares or EPIRBs.

On the perimeter of the lower canopy, one side of a hook and loop type fastener is sewn, the other side of this fastener is attached to the aluminium support frame, the Hook and loop style fastener provides the securing mechanism between the canopy and the supporting frame, the hook and loop fastener is arranged in such a way as to provide a greater strength in sheer tension so that during any normal movements of the craft the canopy will remain attached, however should the craft sink or the canopy is peeled manually from its support base it will release easily. This arrangement can be achieved by having more Hook and loop style fasteners fastened at one end of the canopy and a very small amount at the other end.

To assist this peeling effect more built in flotation material should be at the end where the least hook and loop type fastener is situated.

The built in flotation can be formed either in the upper canopy, or sewn into the lower section.

It can be seen from this that the support base to the canopy, at least where it attaches to and forms a support base to the canopy, is in fact an integral ingredient of the canopy in the area of its ability of being attached or detached.

In another embodiment of the devise of this invention the securing mechanism is not limited to that of a hook and loop type fastener, but it is envisioned that other mechanical devises such as those found on ski's which is released once a certain force has been reached, or hydrostatic releases as found on life rafts, may also be used.

It is foreseen that if so wished compartments may be sewn into the canopy for food, water, medical kits, etc. Reflective tape or similar devises may also be applied/attached to the canopy to assist with nighttime rescue.

In another embodiment of the device of the present invention, it is envisioned that the upper canopy when built for the smaller open craft arrangement, will when in profile or in side view, be formed in the shape of a foil. The purpose of this is that should the craft have insufficient engine power, the canopy may be attached in such a way that the thickest end is facing forward, and by tilting the canopy up vertically, causing the canopy to act as a sail to give the craft forward momentum.

The canopy can be made from fibreglass, metal, plastic, timber, closed cell foam, or a suitable weatherproof material such as vinyl. The surface may be ribbed to add strength.

To enable the invention to be more fully understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of an open boat incorporating therein the boat safety equipment storage canopy, and support frame.

Figure 2 is a plan view of figure 1.

Figure 3 is a part section of the canopy of figure 2 along the line 3-3 of figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section view of the canopy of figure 1 along the line 4-4 of figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view of the device of the invention in its capacity as a small boat, tender or raft.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the safety equipment storage canopy.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the support frame.

Figure 8 is a side view of a larger craft incorporating therein the boat safety equipment storage canopy.

Figure 9 is a plan view of figure 8.

Referring now to the drawings, a boat 11 has attached thereto a safety equipment storage canopy devise 12 of the present invention.

The canopy 12 has an internal space 17 formed by the upper canopy 14, to which is attached the lower canopy 15. The lower canopy 15 is glued to the upper canopy gutter, to which is added a rubber or PVC Pinchweld section 16.

In the case where the upper and lower canopy are made of a waterproof material the upper canopy 14 is simply sewn to the lower canopy Thus in this way an internal space 17 is formed to accommodate the life saving equipment The life jackets and other life saving equipment are accessible through resealable openings 18, in the lower canopy The lower canopy 15 is to be coloured international long sight orange, to which is sewn or painted a black letter or a black square and circle, so that when the canopy is inverted and placed in the water in it's capacity of a raft, the international distress signal is displayed.

Flotation material 19 may be either built into the upper canopy 14 or sewn into the lower canopy The lower canopy 15 has sewn onto it's perimeter one side of a hook and loop type fastener (for example the hook) 21, the other side of the hook and loop type fastener (for example the loop) 22 is attached to the support frame 23 in a position so as to facilitate the attachment of the safety equipment storage canopy If the craft is to be towed on a trailer a shock cord similar to that used on ute tonneau covers or other securing device can be used to further secure the canopy.

It is envisioned that handles may be formed on the perimeter of the canopy to assist in it's being released in an emergency situation, or to assist survivors to hang onto the canopy in it's capacity as a raft.

CLAIMS.

1. A marine craft safety equipment storage canopy comprising a rectangular shaped upper and lower canopy attached together to form an internal space to accommodate life jackets and other life saving equipment, in an emergency the canopy provides quick and safe accessibility to said equipment, in a situation where there is insufficient time to don the life jackets the canopy has the ability to be detached so that all the life saving equipment can be taken from the craft and be distributed to the evacuees in the water.

2. 'IThe marine craft safety equipment storage canopy device of claim 1 wherein resealable access holes are formed in the lower canopy, to provide quick accessibility to life saving equipment.

3. The marine craft safety equipment storage canopy of claim 1 wherein if the craft should sink, the flotation of the life jackets plus that of the built in flotation, should exert a buoyancy force which will cause the securing mechanism to release the canopy.

4. The marine craft safety equipment storage canopy device of claims 1 to 3 wherein the securing mechanism is a hook and loop type fastener, which can be either calculated or tested to release at a certain force to allow the canopy's safe release.

Claims (11)

1. A marine craft safety equipment storage canopy comprising a rectangular shaped upper and lower canopy attached together to form an internal space to accommodate life jackets and other life saving equipment, in an emergency the canopy provides quick and safe accessibility to said equipment, in a situation where there is insufficient time to don the life jackets the canopy has the ability to be detached so that all the life saving equipment can be taken from the craft and be distributed to the evacuees in the water.

2. 'IThe marine craft safety equipment storage canopy device of claim 1 wherein resealable access holes are formed in the lower canopy, to provide quick accessibility to life saving equipment.

3. The marine craft safety equipment storage canopy of claim 1 wherein if the craft should sink, the flotation of the life jackets plus that of the built in flotation, should exert a buoyancy force which will cause the securing mechanism to release the canopy.

4. The marine craft safety equipment storage canopy device of claims 1 to 3 wherein the securing mechanism is a hook and loop type fastener, which can be either calculated or tested to release at a certain force to allow the canopy's safe release. example the hook side) of the securing mechanism of claim 4 is attached to the support frame, and the other (for example the loop side) is attached to the canopy.

6. The marine craft safety equipment storage canopy device of claims 1 to 3 wherein the securing mechanism is mechanical in nature, and can be adjusted to any setting within the range of the devise of the present invention for its safe release.

7. The marine craft safety equipment storage canopy device of claim 1 wherein the purpose made pockets may be sewn into the lower canopy to receive flares, food, water, medical supplies, or FBPIRBs.

8. The marine craft safety equipment storage canopy device of claim 1 wherein the hook and loop type fasteners are sewn within the internal space of the canopy to secure, flares, EPIRBs or other safety equipment.

9. The marine craft safety equipment storage canopy device of claim 1 wherein the canopy is placed in an upside down position the canopy can be used as a small raft to support the very young or the injured.

10. The marine craft safety equipment storage canopy device of claim 1 wherein handles may be formed on the perimeter of the canopy to assist in it's being released in an emergency situation, or to assist survivors to hang onto the canopy in it's capacity as a raft.

11. The marine craft safety equipment storage canopy device of claim 1 wherein should the craft have insufficient engine power, the canopy may be attached in such a way that the thickest end is facing forward, and tilting the canopy up vertically, causing the canopy to act as a sail to give the craft forward momentum.

12. The marine craft safety equipment storage canopy device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. ABSTRACT A marine craft safety equipment storage canopy comprising an upper and lower canopy attached together to form an internal space to accommodate life jackets and other life saving equipment. In an emergency the canopy provides quick and safe accessibility to said equipment via access holes in the lower canopy. In a situation where there is insufficient time to don the life jackets the canopy has the ability to be detached so that all the life saving equipment can be taken from the craft and be distributed to the evacuees in the water, or should the craft sink the buoyancy force of the life jackets and the built in buoyancy material should cause the canopy to automatically release. This document was filed at the patent office on the 15 June 1998.