CA2805051A1 - Manual/automatic inflatable water survival device - Google Patents

Abstract

Most individual floating devices do not allow free swimming. Almost all of them do not allow particularly under water free swimming. For instance, usual individual floating life jackets are not suitable for swimmers, being too bulky and uncomfortable to be worn at beach of in swimming pools. Although practical and desirable for children, usual floating devices can fail in certain circumstances, when water level is low and people are found then unconscious or dead because their face is held downward and respiratory track is hence closed by water. This invention is described herein as a survival device designed to safeguard individuals from drowning, said device being able to be inflated volontarily at will when manually trigged, or automatically trigged when the bearer is in a state of unconsciousness. The device has both mechanic and electronic components built to allow manual or automatic trigging. As is, the water survival device is not open, meaning that the floating chambers, or bags, are fold inside the device, thus, non inflated. The said device appears as a relatively small and comfortable collar, secured to the neck of the bearer through two strapping modes. The said collar is made of a shell within which inflatable chambers, gas bottles, mechanical and electronic circuits are fixed. The collar is small enough to allow free swimming, even under water swimming. When bearer requires, under necessity, to remain above water without moving, and to avoid drowning, he triggers a mechanism that provokes the inflating of the chambers inside the collar. The chambers, under inflating, increase in volume due to expansion of the gas from the bottles. The inflatable bags in turn break the external shell of the collar through which they expand. Bags, hence inflated, allow buoyancy of the collar bearer. In a state of unconsciousness, automatic trigging occurs as a function of time and depth, since the device is battery operated and equipped with a PCB and a depth gauge.

Description

Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention Swimming is a worldwide popular sport. However, this latter is potentially dangerous for human life, since drowning is causing death every year at sea or in private or public swimming pools. Most floating devices do not allow swimming, at least, comfortably or practically, since they represent an extra charge or volume of material to carry by the bearer. Therefore, suitable inflatable water survival devices (IWSD) are needed to allow buoyancy only when it becomes necessary to prevent drowning. Hence, a swimmer might wear such device, uniflated, small and comfortable, that he can render inflated at will, whenever needed, or become inflated automatically is the swimmer becomes illed, unconscious or feel to weak to come back from his starting point after swimming for too long. In fact, there are numerous factors why a swimmer might decide to inflate his IWSD.
Furthermore, conventional individual floating jacket are not only voluminous, they do not prevent drowning in all circumstances, although one may argue that none can.
This is true that it is impossible to predict possible conditions where any floating device will work at 100 %. However, most floating jacket designs do not prevent drowning in shallow water, body being often found with the head facing bottom of pool floor, or under water ground.
In order to avoid such situations to occur, the invention is bore at the neck of the body.
Having the form of a C-shaped collar, the device is secured to the neck by an ajustable and comfortable strap, with the option of two other tube form straps bore at the underarm level. Thus, it is possible to sustain a body in water, allowing floatability of said body in water, from three support areas, when the inflatable bags have been inflated out from said collar.
The invention, once securely and properly bore at neck, can be operated manually by the bearer. For instance, if the bearer feels too weak to continue swimming and is not confident enough to come back safely at the beach, he may decide to activate the collar manually. The invention has two manual modes. One mode is battery operated, the other one is mechanically operated. To activate battery operated inflating mode, the barer has to depress one button (the collar is equipped with two of each component) for more than one second and the PCB produces the inflating of the bags. If for whatever reason the batteries are inoperative, the bearer pushes the button deeper downwardly, hence, triggers the mechanical component responsible for the inflating to occur.
If the bearer is in a state of unconsciousness, before his body fells into water, or after he went into water, the invention is automatically triggered through the aid of its internal PCBs. This latter is programmed to inflate floating bags when a bearer goes down water.
The program is based on an algorithm that interprets signals from depth gauge, combine with an internal clock. Depending upon time-depth factors, the PCB will provoke the trigging of the mechanical assembly that pierces the bottle's protecting cap that once perforated, generates the free flowing of the gas into the inflatable chamber, or bag. But this automatic mode can be guaranteed only if at least one battery is still at or beyond its nominal charge that allows trigging.
This invention acts as a security equipment for swimmers, just as the helmet is for bikers as an example. However, it could be bore by amateur yachtsmen /yachtswomen, sea workers, boat/ship passengers, fishermen/fisherwomen where the law authorizes its use.
Furthermore, it could equip aircrafts, cargos, sea petroleum platforms or any other near-water settlements. Parents having children and living near a stretch of water, of owning a pool, would less worried if their infants wear an 1WSD.
According to worldwide statistics, many drownings occur when amateur yachtsmen /yachtswomen, sea workers, boat/ship passengers, fishermen/fisherwomen, wearing standard life jacket, remove their jacket because in summer because of the heat and the incomfort at wearing such. Thence, accidents happen, people are falling down from their boat and sink, most of the time they do not know how to swim or when they know, they tired during the manoeuvre to recover a safe situation.

2. Description of Prior Art Several U.S patents are directly related to life preserving devices. Bissig, in his U.S.
Patent No. 4,563,156 describes a rescue apparatus that is worn at the neck.
Its U-shaped collar encercling a person's neck, as written, is similar in shape to the invention.
However, his apparatus is not design for swimmers as it is a rescue device and it does not operate automatically in case of unconsciousness. Furthermore, people have to withdraw a housing prior to its use, preventing any other usage of the collar. Since it is a rescue equipment, it is to be used consciously only once. Thus, it is not suitable for swimmers in pools or at the beach. The mechanism of the apparatus described by Bissig needs a reaction between water and a disk-like support element, placed on edge. When this latter become soft and buckle, it no longer prevents the activation of a valve that releases a gas that inflates the floating element. This may take time, especially if the water is cold.
When a person is under stress or panic, the time factor is critical. Our invention allows the deployment of the floating elements within 5 ¨ 6 seconds after the wearer has triggered the gas-release mechanism, the triggering action can be both done manually or automatically, depending upon wearer's conditions.
Miller discloses in his U.S. Patent No. 6,767,267 an apparatus to be worn as a necklace for small child, when submerge in water, leaving the child's head above water.
In this apparatus, the inflatable balloons are inflated automatically as soon as the child touches water. A chemical reaction between water and solid compounds provokes wall gas chamber to collapse, generating enough carbon dioxide gas to inflate the balloons. Such device takes a too long time to operate and is not suitable for swimming since the reaction in water is automatic. Again, this type of collar is not designed for swimmers.
The only similarity between Miller's invention and this one is the body location where the apparatus is to be worn.
The life preserver of the encapsulated type disclosed by Moran in his U.S.
Patent No.
4,297,758 is also worn at the neck and at the waist. His invention allows the protection of inflatable cell or cells that are comprised into housing where panels are used as solid protector. The inflatable cell or cells are so called encapsulated, because they are confined thereinto. Moran does not mention the presence of any type of electronic controller or even mechanical trigger. The mechanism of inflation is not mentioned although it is stated that cylinder, presumably filled with compressed gas, may be present within the invention. Nothing is disclosed regarding the overall inflation mechanism or principle otherwise that it can be inflated, manually. The invention disclosed herein could be considered also as an encapsulated type, but, its mechanism and operational principals are totally differents.

In U.S. Patent no. 6,776,678 Courtney discloses a collar to improve life jacket performance. The invention described in Courtney's patent relates to an added collar, integrated or attached, to a standard life jacket. The purpose of this invention is to help support of a wearer's head by holding the latter in the axis of rotation. This said cephalo-cervical support has been designed to improve the efficacy of all personal flotation device (PFD). The described collar is preferably made with soft inner fabric for comfort. Our invention differs from that concept in various ways. First, our invention is not intented to add to a standard PDF, although nothing prevents from using it in addition to a PDF.
Second, our invention is complete as a safety device and serves only if needed, in case of an emergency. People can swim with our invention without realizing that they are wearing it. Third, our invention is an electronic device, Courtney's isn't.
Bazant discloses a life preserver that is described as a PFD fitted to be worn at the neck in his U.S. Patent No. 7,249,988. In his patent, no claim concerns the presence of bottle of compressed gas or low boiling point liquid to inflate inflatable what is defined as bladder, or mechanisms to inflate bladders. There is no electronic content in his invention and is not worn as a collar that contain the inflatable element or elements.
U.S. Patent No. 3,988,795 held by Robertson, describes a PDF of rectangular shape with a circular neck opening. Again, the neck is exploited to hold a survival device, although the attach system is totally different from our invention. Nothing is said in his patent about inflatable cell, cells, element or elements.
Jones, in his U.S. Patent No. 3,931,657 discloses a life vest that has similarities with previous patent. In his invention, there is an inflatable bladder whose purpose is to improve the buoyancy of the PDF. He also mentions the use of a collar within.
Finally, a life jacket developed by Higginbotham et al in U.S. Patent No.
7,169,001 discloses a PDF model that appears as a buoyancy device equiped with lateral under arm buoyancy areas to hold the wearer more upright and normally higher above the level of water when in use. Our invention bears under arm holders as well, but they are not used to improve flotation but rather to improve the overall support of the device when worn.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention appears as an open torus, the opening corresponding roughly to one quarter of said torus. Diameter of the torus section, as well as the diameter of the torus itself, depends upon the corresponding weight or age of the bearer. The torus forms a collar, which is adjustable for comfort and security through adjustable straps, one at the neck level, the others are designed to go at the underarm level. Since human necks are highly variable in diameter, the collar has a C-shape that can fit almost all specters of age brackets. People can pick the model of collar that is most suitable for them, choosing it has per their weight, except for very young children, just as for floating life jackets. For people having neck diameter equal or higher than head diameter, supporting is possible with the underarm straps.

The invention is made of polymer, preferably, but not exclusively, from the polypropylene family. Flexibility, thickness and hardness of the material may vary, as far as there is not rupture of the plastic under normal shearing or axial bending.
The collar is hollow. Mechanical and electronic components are located inside the collar.
Depth gauge, thermometer and alarm openings are through. PCB, gas bottle and trigging mechanism are all located inside an inflatable chamber, said chamber being itself entirely comprised inside the collar. Hence, each inflating assembly is waterproof until the collar is sollicitated to open. Each said assembly is fixed to the collar in the inside. Buoyancy of a human body in water is possible through the floating bags, which are fixed to the collar, this latter being fermly strapped to the body.
The preferred trigging mechanism is made of double-spring loaded hammer, maintained at a steep angle by a lever. At one end, the lever touches hammer's head, said head bearing a puncture hollow needle and a damper. At the other end, the lever is held by the piston of a selenoid valve. All described components are held on a rigid made preferably from a mixture of injectable fiber glass and polymer. For example, when the inflating of bags is manually commanded by the bearer by pushing down one of the electrical activating buttons located on the collar, a battery pull-in the piston of the valve, hence freeing the level to tip over its central pivot, provoking the hammer to fermly hit the cap of a gas bottle with the needle. The needle pierces through the cap, letting go the gas to escape from bottle through the needle's opening. Size opening has been determined such that the entire expansion of a bag takes no longer than 10 seconds, preferably half that time period.
Inflated bag is folded in an accordion fashion inside a collar in order to unfold rapidly and to push at maximum force outwardly when the gas expands into it. The force, generated by a bag under inflating, has to be high enough to break the interface between the collar (the shell) and its protective sheath. The said interface is made of a polymer that is chemically and physically compatible to shell material, preferably applied to said shell through overmoulding. The key operating factor to obtain buoyancy from the invention is to get the floating bags inflated out of it. Bags being protected from sheath and collar shall inflate from within the collar first, thence, outside the collar. To make that happen, bags have to break their protective sheath. This occurs through inflating, the latter itself being cause by the introduction of a gas state medium. Gases obey Dalton's laws. The force generated by the expansion of a gas, or gases, is transfered to the bag, unfolding it, bag's volume increases, pushing the sheath outwardly until overmolded interface polymer breaks. After rupture of that interface the bags are freed to expand to their nominal volume.
Once completely opened, the PCB activates optic and/or radio frequency transmitting beacon, helping location of the bearer, at sea or at beach. Batteries should normally maintain LED or RF emission long enough to represent an advantage of the collar, preferably two to three days. The PCB can be equiped with a standard photocell, hence avoiding battery usage during daylight when LED beacon is activated. Bags are provided with hooking straps, helping to tow the collar bearer.

For security reason, all security features of a collar are preferably doubled.
In future, this requirement might be required for any floating safety device designed to wear abord ships, boats and aircrafts. Thus, bags may be doubled on above the other, or over the other, as long as at least two bags are present. In any circumstances, one battery shall be charged enough to trigger at least two bags, even if one bag is, alone, capable to sustain the bearer of a collar fitted to his weight.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION APPLICATIONS
Working operation in the conscious-state mode:
The bearer first shall trigger the ON/OFF switch (preferably locaty behind the neoprene inner collar) to see the charge level of the batteries (the device may have more than one floatation cell unit, preferably two). A bicolor LED must automatically light up. Bicolor LED convention is GREEN for nominal battery charge/RED for low battery charge.
If the LED goes red, the circuit corresponding battery is too weak to make the device safe enough to be worn, it has to be changed. If the LED does not light up, the battery is either dead or absent from the battery compartment. If the LED goes green, the device is activated and in nominal condition to be worn. To bear the invention, a person has to put the under arm straps, ajusting them to his body, then opening the neoprene collar and put the C-shaped device at his neck. Using a Velcro type strap fixed to the neoprene collar, the bearer passes the said strap through a ring, preferably a stainless steel half-rounded ring, and fold it back to its corresponding anchorage to a conform position.
When the bearer reaches water, electronic components start to operate and transmit information to the internal pre-programed microprocessor: depth gauge, thermometer, biometric captor and battery charge level cell. Many emergency situations may occur in water. For example, a swimmer might feel ill and judges that he is not able to swim back to a sound and safe position. He decides to activate his personal collar by depressing the electric emergency button, preferably located at the top side of the device.
In order to avoid accidental or undesired triggering of the perforation mechanism, it is prefable to delay the activation signal. This delay can be programed many ways.
Preferably, the bearer has to push several times the emergency button, like 3 to 5 times, to push down the emergency button for several seconds, preferably 2 to 4 seconds.
The depressed button sends a signal to the microprocessor that triggers the solenoid. The retractable piston within the solenoid is then pulled in (or out); a lever leaned over it is then freed to tip over its axis pivot and no longer prevents a spring-armed hammer to flip from its base pivot and hit the head of a compressed gas or low boiling liquid bottle. The hammer is equiped with a hollow piercing point and a damper. The potential energy from the spring or springs is instantaneously transformed into kinetic energy used to break the bottle's cap membrane and free its content. The damper allows the hammer to come back a little bit from its maximum position, helping the delivery of the inflating medium. This latter inflates a sealed inflatable bag that has been previously folded inside the collar. The increasing inflation of the bag creates a pressure that eventually becomes high enough to push a protective outer shell from outside the collar, freeing completely the inflated bag up that reaches its final volumetric dimensions. Hence, the bearer floats with his head above water level. The volumetric dimensions of a bag are determined such that its internal pressure does not exceed 20 % the atmospheric pressure at NPT.
If the bearer swims or stays at water surface, the programed algorithm allows this safe situation for as long as there is no position change or the batteries start weakening. If the water temperature is too low, below 15 degrees celcius for example, the thermometer sends a signal to the microprocessor that automatically triggers the perforation mechanism, allowing the inflation of the bags. This property of the invention helps to compensate for hypothermia conditions under which the bearer might go. If water temperature is above a comfortable value, for example, above 15 degrees celcius, then, the device works according to normal standard conditions.
In order to be practical and to reach invention's goal, namely, saving people's life in water, more precisely, under water, the total under water immersion time shall be limited to avoid drowning or other negative health hazard cause by near-drowning conditions.
For that reason, the algorithm is pre-programed for under water time periods that depend upon brackets of bearer ages. For example, a maximum under water time set of seconds is pre-programed. For toddlers or young children, pre-set under water time can be as short as 15 seconds, for example.
In order to take into account the time it might take to rise from a certain water depth, the algorithm is pre-programed accordingly. For example, is a bearer swims and at a water depth of 1,5 meters, the alarm is triggered after 20 seconds if this depth value does not change. If the bearer changes his position by swimming in an upward motion, the microprocessor interprets this position change as a controlled-situation state, hence, the alarm will stop, more under water swimming time will then be allowed up to the maximum time period. This latter depends entirely upon the integration of time VS water depth. To be again practical, once the wearer comes back at a water depth of 10 cm or smaller, the chronometer within the microprocessor goes on reset. This overall functionality of the algorith allows a bearer to swim for as long as it pleases him, as far as the pre-programed algorithm is respected. Programed conditions of the algorithm are infinite, as long as the invention purpose is logically obeyed. Hence, models of collar can be designed for people practicing aquatic apnea.
Under numerous different circomstances of danger or security uncertainties, the bearer of the invention in a conscious state can always depress the emergency button to provoke the inflation of the bag or bags and float above water level, hence saving his life. In the case where the battery or batteries are empty or defective, for examples, the invention can be activated manually through a manual emergency button. This latter is either located elsewhere on the collar or combined with the electronic button. For example, the bearer pushes down the electronic emergency button until it breaks and pushes the shaft of the solenoid, thus, provoking the inflation of the bag. Another example of emergency button is a mechanical button placed at angle inside the inner shell of the collar.
If needed, the bearer depresses the button to provoke inflating of bag or bags.

Working operation in the unconscious-state mode:
The invention works automatically, as long as its circuitry is in the ON state and the battery or batteries have enough charge to light up the LED in the GREEN
state. This automatic mode works then regardless the conscious or unconscious state of the bearer.
The unconscious-state can be considered of two different manners. First manner, in water, a person in a panic state of mind can be considered as having his judgement lost, as encountered in several books related to diving. This state of mind may conduct to drowning. Second manner, a person has lost consciousness then falls down in water. In both manners, if the person bears an activated collar in nominal working condition, the microprocessor, via the electronic components, will take the proper decision depending upon under water conditions within which the bearer is. For example, in a free vertical, or nearly vertical under water fall, at a water temperature above 15 degrees celcius, the bearer having his head positioned downwardly, the chronometer starts to count under water immersion time as soon as the water depth reaches 10 cm, then, as soon as the water depth reaches 1,5 meters, a maximum of 20 second before the 5-second alarm goes on is set. After the 25-second time period, the bag or bags are immediately inflated after the microprocessor has triggered the compressed gas or low boiling liquid bottle perforation mechanism. Hence, the bearer's body turns head upwardly up and rises above water level, the bearer's life is thence saved.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a general view of the invention, as it appears when the inflatable bags are not deployed. The electronic aquatic survival device is worn as a collar, or necklace, mainly composed of an inner shell, or framework (2) that holds all inside components, and an outer shell (1) that protects the inflatable bags. The collar is securely fixed to wearer's body through a flexible and comfortable neoprene strap (6) ajustable with a Velcro type attach (5) insertable through a ring (8). The neoprene strap may support, depending upon invention model type, a biocaptor (9). Two string-shaped straps (4) to be ajusted at under arms through a small squeezing mechanism (not shown) serve as complementary support. From outside, the emergency button (7) and bicolor LED
indicating battery charge level (3) can be seen.
FIG. 2 represents an overall view of the invention worn at a wearer's neck.
This figure illustrates an exemple of an adult wearing the collar. The size of the collar as compared to the size of a human body is relative, although the figure shows how small the invention is in contrast with standard PFDs.
FIG. 3 illustrates two differents upper views of the invention, before (10) and after use or deployment of the bags (11). Once activated, manually or automatically, the outer shell is broken or opened by the inflation of the bags. These latters can be folded in various manners, winded or snaked, as long as the inflation time is within a reasonable time period, preferably between 5 to 10 seconds. The inflated bags surround wearer's neck except where the velcro-type attach is. Mass of inflating media such as compressed gas is calculated as a function of wearer's weight, as so indicated on each model of collar.
Wearer selects model of collar to use according to his weight.
FIG. 4 shows an example of a swimmer wearing the invention after deployment of the floating bags (12). The swimmer has his head always above water level, regardless his original posture when the deployment of the bags has occured, and regardless the mode of activation of the device, manually or automatically. The device provides a flotation posture for several days. Optical beacon is built to last several days as well while the RF
or GPS beacon may last several hours. Both beacons start to operate once the bags are inflated.

Claims (22)

1. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device, which appears as a collar, strapped comfortably by a bearer, that can be trigged manually or automatically depending upon situation of a bearer in water, said bearer being conscious or unconscious, said collar being made of a polymer shell inside which mechanical and electronic components are assembled such as to provide the floating mean required by the bearer whenever needed, said shell being designed to protect all inner components, said shell, or sheath, being able to be broken from inside by the floating chambers, or bags, under process of inflating, to free them, allowing hence the buoyancy of said collar.

2. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, where all components are at least doubled.

3. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, which is built such that its fabrication involves soundness equilibrium between inner component protection and breaking from inside when chambers, or bags, are under process of inflating.

4. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, which can be operated with at least one battery whose voltage and charge is able to trigger the inflating of at least one floating bag.

5. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, which size and dimensions are determined after the weight of the bearer.

6. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, which is programmable to follow various algorithms of depths and time as factors which determine when it is necessary to trigger the inflating mechanism when the bearer is under water, regardless of his state of consciousness.

7. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, which contains a temperature probe that provokes automatic trigging when water temperature is below 16 °C.

8. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, which dimensions depend upon bearer's weight, since volume of bags once inflated, is determined as per density ratio between bearer and gas content into the bags, said ratio depending upon mass of bearer.

9. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, which can be inflated in contact with water for children under two (2) years old, being equipped with a conductivity meter within the said device that electronically reacts with water, said water being tap water, swimming pool water or sea water.

10. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, which come under any suitable ergonomic design, color or material as long as it allows fundamental operation. Material density shall permit underwater swimming.

11. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, which construction prevent infiltration of water inside said device, hence, preventing water to attack by corrosion or by any other mean electronic or mechanic components inside said device. Sea water contains high concentration of salts and organic matter, thus, water inflitration may cause corrosion or bacteria proliferation if it infiltrates said device.

12. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, adapted to water garment, such as wet suit, said adaptation meaning the the said device is fixed to garment, permanently or temporarily, at the neck or shoulder level, hence, being used as an accessory to said garment.

13. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, which inner component may consist of one more than on gas bottle, bag, electronic card or PCB, and other trigging mechanism. Gas in bottle includes all inert gas such as helium, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, neon or argon, or combinaison of them.

14. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, equipped with any type of small portable beacon system, such as light, light emitting diode, radio-frequency (RF) emitter, GPS or combinaisons of them.

15. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, which includes a heart beat monitor, said monitor being connected to PCB, said PCB
being able to trigger automatically the inflating of bags when sudden changes in heart beat rate, caused by a state of panic, is being recognized, registered and treated as a signal to transmit said trigging mechanism.

16. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, which is equipped with a hooking feature, hence allowing manual traction of device's bearer by any manual or mechanical fashion.

17. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, which is equipped with battery charge indicators.

18. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, which bears a PCB that allows the charge level of the batteries that equip said device, in order to alert owner that the said charge level is in a state that is capable to provoke inflating of the floating bags through circuitry, in both manual mode or automatic mode, this latter functioning only with at least one battery, this latter being at said nominal operating charge.

19. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, where the light beacon system can be made of light emitting diodes (LED), incorporated to the PCB, or otherwise, such that the light can be seen at least up to one kilometer under normal weather conditions. Light can also be projected within the inflated chambers, or bags, such that said chambers appears as a light beacon.

20. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, where inflating chambers, or bags, are made of material constructed to reflect light, projected inwardly or outwardly, from at least one inner source or from at least one outside source.

21. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, where inflating is possible either above or into water.

22. A manual/automatic inflatable water survival device as claimed as in 1, which can be adapted to animals as well, such as dogs, cats and horses for example.