CA2702485A1 - Avalpac - Google Patents

Description

19 April 2010 THE `AVALPAC' The 'Avalpac' has been designed to assist searchers in locating a victim who has been buried in an avalanche. At the time of such a disaster, speed is absolutely essential as the victim is encased in snow and unable to move. The victim's face is covered with compacted snow and in a very short period of time, an ice mask will form and the victim will suffocate. Considerable time is consumed in trying to locate a radio signal, if in fact, such a device was worn and activated by the victim. Considerably more time is consumed before a search dog can be brought to the scene, if in fact one is even available.

The `Avalpac" is worn by the victim as part of their snow jacket or can be worn on an external harness outside of the snow jacket. The simplest description of the device would be to call it a pocket, containing multiple special ribbons.
The pocket would measure approximately four by six inches. The two sides and top would consist of strips of Velcro. The outside or flap would be of a corresponding size and bordered on the inside with matching Velcro. A grommet would be placed on the upper outside corners of the flap. A cord would then be attached, joining the two grommets with the cord sagging on the outside of the flap. It could be referred to as a `rip-cord'. On the inside base of the flap, two or more special ribbons would be securely attached. The ribbons would be of strong, extremely light material, approx one half inch wide about twenty to thirty feet long, consisting of very bright, florescent colours, possible, red, green, blue and orange or any other combination of bright colours and each ribbon would have an `arrow' printed on it every four to six inches. When the ribbons are affixed to the inside of the pocket, the arrows would point towards the victim, this would enable the rescuers to determine without delay, the direction in which to dig.

The person wearing the `Avalpac', a skier, snow-mobiler, snow-boarder or other person in an avalanche area, would most likely receive some type of warning that an avalanche had broken loose. The person in jeopardy would pull the `rip-cord' the flap would open and their forward momentum or the wind from the avalanche would deploy the ribbons and when all became still again, hopefully, one or more of the brightly coloured ribbons would be visible on the surface of the avalanche thereby enabling their companions to quickly locate the victim.

The `Avalpac', because of its simple design, would be reusable, as the ribbons could easily be folded back into the pocket.

odney V. Alcock

Claims