DE112014005578T5 - Lifeguard with liquid-impermeable, buoyant fibers - Google Patents

Abstract

A life buoyancy aid in the form of a flexible garment or flexible garments made from liquid-impervious fibers of a buoyant material will be described. The garment or combination of garments allows the wearer to move while providing the wearer with buoyancy.

Description

TERRITORY

Described is a lifeguard body, which has a different structure and occupies a different form than conventional lifeguard body.

STATE OF THE ART

Lifeboats, or "personal flotation devices-PFDs," have evolved over the years from the old Mae West or Kapok lifejackets, then vinyl-coated foam rescue jackets, to more specialized life jackets, which are used when various water sports and boating activities are practiced, these more modern PFDs usually being fabric-covered buoyancy foam panels sewn in vests, jackets or even body suits. Inflatable PFDs have also become popular lately. They are usually designed as a vest or belt and can be activated manually or when submerged in the water. Compressed air from a high-pressure bottle is released into an air-holding swim bladder, which is incorporated in a vest or belt.

The U.S. Coast Guard has established regulations regarding the minimum required lift of PFDs. As stated in these regulations, the minimum lift required depends on the expected use of the PFD. The U.S. Coast Guard Regulations, Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations ("CFR"), Chapter I, Part 175, Subpart B require recreational craft to have at least one PFD taken from the Coast Guard for each person on a boat.

In the past, increasing the lift of PFDs has generally resulted in an increase in the volume of PFD since additional buoyant material is required to increase the lift of a PFD. The addition of thicker and / or additional buoyant material in a PFD typically results in an increased volume which tends to hinder or restrict the wearer's freedom of movement. This restriction on the wearer's freedom of movement is particularly a problem for PFD wearers engaged in strenuous water sports activities requiring a considerable amount of movement of their arms, shoulders and torso. As an example, when kitesurfing, paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, white-water rafting, sailing, windsurfing, or similar activities, considerable movement of the arms, shoulders, and upper body is required when the wearer operates paddles or control rods, sails, and lines. In addition, most conventional PFDs do not tend to move with the carrier. Instead, they tend to slip up or shift on the wearer's torso causing the PFD to be uncomfortable to wear and also affect the wearer's mobility. Current PFD solutions also restrict airflow to the user, which can cause discomfort and overheating in hot conditions. Alternatively, the outer fabric coatings on current life jackets store the water, which can cause a cooling effect that may be desirable in the heat, but this evaporative cold can add to the risk of hypothermia in cold conditions.

Unfortunately, many people are more likely to drown than to wear a PFD that is uncomfortable and limits activity. In recent years, concerns about non-compliance have led the U.S. Coast Guard to modify the minimum buoyancy regulations for PFDs. Accordingly, PFDs are now divided into several classes depending on the type of boat activity in which the PFD is to be used. There are generally five classes of PFDs as prescribed by the U.S. Coast Guard regulations. They are considered Type 1, Offshore Rescue Jacket; Type 2, coastal lifejacket; Type 3, buoyancy aid; Type 4, disposable device; and Type 5, special purpose device. The Type 3 PFDs or buoyancy aids are generally most suitable for most recreational water sports, which involve a considerable degree of mobility and arm and shoulder movement. Accordingly, they are usually the most commonly used type of PFD. The U.S. Coast Guard regulations require that all Type 3 PFDs have a minimum of 15.5 pounds buoyancy when manufactured. Since most adults generally weigh between 10 and 12 pounds when immersed in water, d. H. significantly less than the Coast Guard's minimum buoyancy requirement, providing 15.5 pounds of lift is sufficient to ensure that a person wearing such well-tended PFD will be able to swim.

PFDs are generally made from a fabric material that includes or is laminated to a foam pad plate. Typically, the web material is sewn around the foam material, thereby trapping and protecting the buoyant foam in a tissue bag. As is known in the art, the current design of PFDs includes a number of sewn pockets, each typically containing a cut piece of buoyant foam. The size and shape of the pockets and the size and shape of the enclosed foam must, of course, correspond to each other. Because the foam typically used in a PFD is more rigid than the surrounding tissue material, flexing of the PFD can be improved by providing a seam between adjacent foam-holding pockets. This is commonly referred to as a "padding hem". As is known to those skilled in the art, current and past PFDs of this type have significant amounts of stitching and stitching to provide their desired shape while trapping a sufficient amount of buoyant foam to at least meet the minimum buoyancy demanded by U.S. Coast Guard regulations to provide the type of PFD to be manufactured. In addition, the sewn seams allow increased flexing of the PFD where it is desired. Even a relatively simple PFD design generally includes at least two side panels, a back panel, and typically at least two front panels (which are usually joined together by some type of fastening system, such as tabs or a zipper, when the PFD is worn). Thus, even a simple design for a PFD may have five pockets, each including a piece of buoyant foam, which has been cut into proper shape before being inserted into the pocket formed in the fabric material to receive the buoyant foam. If more complicated designs are desired, for example, to provide more even flexing of the PFD, it is necessary to introduce additional seams where such additional bending is desired because the seams act as "hinges" between adjacent panels. As wadding seams are added, there is an obvious loss of space within the empty fabric wrap, resulting in less space available for the buoyant material itself, and therefore, reduced buoyancy and buoyancy of the PFD. Of course, using conventional manufacturing techniques and materials, this means that there must be additional foam parts and / or parts of extra thickness as well as additional stitched seams, all of which adds complexity to the design, the number of seams required, and the labor associated with making the PFD - and material costs contributes. A recent innovation is the shaping of lift foam in three-dimensional shape, which modernizes the fit of the PFDs for water sports activity. These shaped lift plates are often laminated with a secondary fabric or film layer during the forming / embossing process.

While those skilled in the art will appreciate that "belts", vests, rafts and some other buoyancy articles have been made for some time by dipping flexible buoyant foam panels in a liquid vinyl so that the vinyl forms a skin over the foam, the use of such is Technology has generally been limited to providing buoyancy devices (belts and vests) for use by skiers. Typically, the prior art devices made using vinyl immersion technology are obviously hot and stick to the skin. Further, they typically tend to tear around the edges so that they are not only uncomfortable but also cause wear, especially at the armholes and sides.

In addition to the above problem, the U.S. Coast Guard regulations require that buoyancy in a PFD be provided from an approved material and that the only approved buoyancy materials are buoyant foams. The U.S. Coast Guard has allowed the use of neoprene as a fabric in the manufacture of PFDs. Neoprene is a soft, stretchable, flexible, flexible polychloroprene foam which can be laminated to a segmented polyurethane known as LYCRA (a synthetic fiber manufactured by E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, located in Wilmington, Del.). While Lycra laminated neoprene is an approved fabric, neither neoprene nor LYCRA laminated neoprene alone can be used to replace buoyant foam. Instead, the laminate is used to trap admissible foam in a PFD. Other stretch fabrics, such as multi-directional spandex knit laminated to a monolithic film known as DARLEXX (an elastic fabric made by Darlington Fabrics Corporation of New York, NY) are not approved for use to include approved buoyant foams in PFDs ,

SUMMARY

The underlying assumption is that PFDs would be more likely to be worn if they had the same fit and comfort as ordinary clothing and would become a preferred garment in the general water environment. Such an innovation would reduce the mortality rate from drowning, as the PFD would be a comfortable garment on the water or on land at the same time. There has been a need for a PFD which deforms and naturally adapts to arm, shoulder and upper body movement of a wearer such that as the wearer moves, he becomes deformed the PFD moves with the carrier. A PFD, which moves with the carrier rather than displaces, will be much less likely to be uncomfortable for the wearer or obstruct or restrict the wearer's movements.

Accordingly, there is provided a rescue float which is in the form of a flexible garment or a combination of garments made of fibers of liquid-impervious, buoyant material. The garment or combination of garments absorbs the wearer's motion while providing buoyancy to the wearer.

While various materials may be suitable, favorable results can be achieved through the use of closed cell foam. Closed-cell foam is known as a liquid-impervious, buoyant material. It can also be extruded to form filaments of any desired length and cross section.

With the approach described above, there are a number of garments which can be made to provide the desired buoyancy. Such garments may include: jacket, sweater, vest, pants, body suit, gloves, mittens, socks, belts, sleeves, leggings, hats and belts. It must be emphasized that if the new lifeguard body is worn as clothing, the desired buoyancy can be achieved through a collection of garments. State-of-the-art buoyancy standards may be met or exceeded, for example, by a combination including a sweater, pair of pants and a vest.

The properties of the garments will be changed depending on the environment in which they are intended to be worn. For example, when active in ice-cold water, the garments may be tightly woven or knitted with a view to providing thermal insulation properties and the combination may include gloves, socks, and a cap to reduce the loss of body heat. In contrast, when operating in a warm climate, the garments may be loosely woven or knit to provide cooling ventilation for the comfort of the wearer.

While the thickness of the closed cell foam must be sufficient to provide the necessary buoyancy, it should not be so thick as to restrict movement. The task is that the PFD becomes a clothing item. It is preferable that the thickness varies between 2 mm and 6 mm. Around the upper body, the thickness can be 4 mm to 6 mm. However, the thickness around the arms and legs may be 2mm to 3mm to provide the desired freedom of movement. By controlling the density of the closed cell foam, the buoyancy can be increased or decreased in view of these dimensions of the thickness.

Once the basic principle is understood, there are numerous improvements that can be added to improve the durability, construction, and appearance of the garments. Such variations will be further described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which the drawings are given by way of illustration and are in no way intended to be limiting, wherein:

1 Figure 4 is a perspective view of a prior art PFD;

2 Fig. 11 is a view showing a PFD made of an embodiment of the invention;

3 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a buoyant foam foam;

4 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a foam lift-up filament having an outer shell;

5 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a segmented buoyant filament encapsulated in an outer shell;

6 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a buoyant filament having an inner fiber yarn or monofilament yarn;

7 is a perspective view of a buoyant filament, which is wrapped with a fiber yarn or monofilament;

8th Figure 3 is a perspective view of a buoyant filament of sealed polymeric tubing;

9 is a view of a woven buoyant filament web;

10 Figure 11 is a view of a knitted buoyant filament web;

11 is a view of an embroidered buoyant filament web;

12 Figure 11 is a view of a chain link lift filament web;

13 Figure 11 is a view of a positive lift filament web;

14 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a crossing buoyant filament web;

15 Figure 3 is a view of a woven composite buoyant fabric of filament and yarn;

16 Figure 5 is a view of several buoyant filaments wound together to form a buoyant yarn;

17 Figure 12 is a view of several buoyant filaments braided together to form a buoyant yarn;

18 Fig. 12 is a view of parts of woven buoyant filament fabric welded together;

19 Fig. 11 is a view of parts of woven buoyant filament web adhered together;

20 Fig. 12 is a view of stitched together parts of woven buoyant filament web;

21 Figure 3 is a perspective view of plates of a PFD made from woven buoyant filament web;

22 Figure 3 is a perspective view of interconnected plates of a PFD made from woven buoyant filament web;

23 Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of a woven buoyant filament web laminated on both sides with a fabric or film to form a multilayer composite;

24 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a fabric or film laminated on both sides with a buoyant filament web;

25 Figure 11 is a view of a buoyancy garment made of woven buoyant filament fabric and synthetic fabric;

26 Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of woven lift filament fabric inserted in fabric pockets;

27 Fig. 10 is a view showing a sheared, woven buoyant filament web;

28 Fig. 11 is a view showing a stretched, woven buoyant filament web;

29 Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a buoyant filament fabric having a hard shell;

30 Figure 11 is a view of a buoyancy garment made from a knitted buoyant filament web;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A rescue float and a manner of making the same will now be described with reference to FIG 1 to 30 described. Structure and Relationship of Parts:
The process of extruding, molding, cutting, shaping closed cell foams, such as PE, EPE, EVA, neoprene, silicone and NBR, has allowed for the formation of very light buoyant (buoyant) filaments, in a wide variety of diameters, densities , Profiles and shapes are made. Depending on the density of the foam, the buoyant filament may be woven in its pure form into a fabric which is then cut into portions of the pattern to be assembled into a seated garment. The cut edges of the parts of the pattern may be joined together by sewing, tying, gluing or other bonding methods to seal the foam filaments and join the parts of the pattern. By using a knitting process, the buoyant filaments can also be woven directly into shaped shapes using a process similar to knitting sweaters. Tubular shapes, garments and shaped coverings can be made.

It may be desirable for lower density buoyant filaments to coat or wrap the buoyant filaments with fabric coverings such as Lycra. By coating a buoyant filament with a lyric casing, it is possible to meet the US Coastguard Type 3 material certification, allowing the formation of a certified buoyancy garment, provided the minimum buoyancy of 15.5 pounds is achieved. The addition of the Lycra coating to the buoyant filament would also increase the resistance and abrasion resistance, while the Stretch properties of the buoyant filament can be improved. Buoyancy filaments can also be sheathed or coated with modern engineering fibers such as Kevlar or Nomex because of their specific properties, but this can defeat US Coast Guard certification. Buoyancy filaments can also be reinforced by single filaments or woven fibers, such as carbon fibers or Spectra, if stretch in the buoyant filament is not desired.

Buoyancy filaments can be woven in various configurations and tensions to form varying gaps or spaces between the buoyant filament bond. Tighter binding provides less air permeability while increasing protection from elements such as wind, rain and wet water immersion. Looser or more open binding of the buoyant filaments will allow more air exchange between the filaments, providing extra air permeability, ideal in warm conditions. A more open binding of the buoyant filaments would also be desirable if buoyant tissue sheets are inserted or attached between fabric or foil layers. An example of this would be to replace solid foam panels, such as those used in conventional rescue jackets, with a panel of buoyant fabric.

The correct combination of density and resistance to buoyant filaments will allow a one-piece garment, jacket, pants, cap or other body-worn accessory to be woven with the buoyant filaments. A buoyancy filament woven garment may be worn as insulated garments because the filaments provide comfort, stretch, insulation and breathability to the wearer, similar to wearing a garment made with natural or synthetic fibers that have been spun or twisted into a thread. In a water environment, a garment woven partially or in its entirety with buoyant filaments will transform the garment into a comfortable life buoyancy aid or PFD. An example of this would be a jacket with a body part woven with buoyant filaments, while the arms are made of a fabric made of threads spun with synthetic fibers. Woven buoyancy filament panels or inserts could also be used to enhance the performance of traditional type PFD or buoyancy garments by replacing the non-breathing, low stretch solid plate buoyant foam. The woven buoyant filaments may be embedded within a layer of superimposed webs which provide abrasion and weather protection and improved stability to the buoyant web.

Lifting filaments woven into a sheet or sheet may also be laminated to polymeric membranes, such as Teflon, PU, PPE, as fabric reinforcement using adhesives. By being laminated to such membranes, the fabric would be fixed in place and waterproof and breathable. Web woven webs may also be laminated to other woven webs such as nylon, kevlar, and lycra using adhesive films or heat, providing added stability, abrasion, and weatherability to the buoyant filament web.

The buoyant filament web may also be laminated into a composite material similar to neoprene sheet for use in the manufacture of articles such as wet suits and drysuits. Additionally, while the buoyant filament web provides buoyancy, insulation, and stretch, laminated webs or foils provide additional buoyancy, abrasion resistance, reinforcement, and UV protection to the buoyant filament web from the water environment.

The buoyant filament webs can be formed into fabric panels or rolls by conventional weaving techniques, such as are used with fiber-spun filaments when woven into webs. The buoyant filament webs may also be joined by positive profiling, allowing the buoyant filaments to interlock by the nested profile of the buoyant filament.

The buoyant filaments may be further connected by crossing filaments or threads through passage slots or holes formed or cut into the buoyant filaments. Individual buoyant filaments can be twisted together to form buoyant yarns, which in turn can be woven into a buoyant web. The buoyant filaments may also be formed into buoyant link members. These links, which may have an open or closed configuration, are then joined by positive engagement or other means, such as glue, tails, staples, threads or monofilaments, to form a web. The resulting fabric with this type of construction would be similar to a chainmail shirt. The links can be circular, square or of any shape and profile. The links may have an open or closed shape as long as they interlock and form a web that may be used for a PFD, garment or other non-apparel purposes. Bonds of buoyant filaments can also be imprinted via pressure, heat, and adhesives to fuse the filaments or modify the profile and density of the buoyant filament web.

The buoyant buoyancy filaments described above allow the production of PFDs using buoyancy materials approved by the US Coast Guard, which are not based on conventional manufacturing methods using foam boards that are laminated, padded or in the pure unlaminated state, cut into flat pieces of the pattern Use of the forming seams and stretch bands or gussets to form waistcoats, jackets, pants or body suits. The buoyant buoyant filaments form a garment to provide the user with high comfort and breathability, such as knitted pullovers or woven garments used outside the PFD market. The use of buoyant filaments results in a garment for the water environment that is as comfortable to wear as normal clothing that is to be used for both insulation and buoyancy as it is worn at all times and used under high performance protective garments can be, such as rain pants, jackets, wet suits and drysuits. It is feasible that a mixture of closed-pore buoyant filaments and other filaments may be used on the same garment or cover to provide buoyancy, insulation and cooling.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the garment serving as a PFD could be made for an animal, such as the family dog. In such case, the "carrier" would be the dog. It is also understood that the buoyant filaments may be treated with antimicrobial, antifungal and other agents. It is further understood that as long as the necessary buoyancy is maintained, the buoyant filaments can be combined with other filaments. It is understood that the buoyant filaments have other properties that make them desirable for marine applications. The buoyant filaments provide, for example, padding. If padding is desirable in a particular application, the size of the buoyant filaments can be increased to intentionally enhance the padding feature.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Auftriebsfilament

2

Auftriebsfilamentbindeglied

3

Interlocking buoyancy filament

4

Slit in buoyancy filament

5

Fiber yarn or monofilament thread

6

Plate made of woven buoyant filaments

7

Life buoyant body made of woven buoyant filament fabric

8th

Welded connection

9

Bonded connection

10

fabric strips

11

jacket

12

Fiber yarn or monofilament thread

13

polymer tube

14

Plug

15

netting

16

Woven fabric or foil

17

seam

18

Gap or space between buoyant filament web

19

Interlocking connection

20

zipper

21

Buoyancy garment made from woven buoyant filament fabric and synthetic fabric

22

Sleeves made of synthetic fabric

23

Woven lift filament fabric

24

fabric pocket

25

traction

26

Hard protective shell

27

Knitted lift filament fabric

28

A buoyancy garment made of knitted buoyant filament fabric

In this patent document, the word "having" is used in its non-limiting sense to signify that articles which follow the word are included, but articles which are not specifically named are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one element exists if the context does not clearly require that there can be only one element.

The scope of the claims should not be limited by the illustrated embodiments set forth as examples, but should be accorded the broadest interpretation consistent with an appropriate structure of the claims in view of the description as a whole.

Claims (20)

Life-saving float, comprising: a flexible garment or a combination of garments made of filaments of liquid-impervious, buoyant material such that the garment or combination of garments comprises Movement of the wearer while providing the wearer with buoyancy. The life buoy according to claim 1, wherein the filaments are a closed cell foam. The life buoy according to claim 1, wherein the filaments have a thickness of between 2 mm and 6 mm. The life buoy according to claim 1, wherein the garment is selected or a combination of: jacket, pullover, vest, pants, body suit, gloves, mittens, socks, belts, sleeves, leg warmers, hats and belts. The life buoy according to claim 1, wherein the garment provides a minimum requirement of 15.5 pounds buoyancy. A life buoy according to claim 1, wherein the filaments are sheathed or coated with one or more materials to improve durability. The life buoy according to claim 1, wherein the filaments are segmented into segmented parts and then sheathed or coated with one or more materials to encapsulate the segmented parts. The life buoy according to claim 1, wherein the filaments takes the form of connecting links and the garment takes the form of a chain mail. The life buoy according to claim 8, wherein the connecting links to form a garment are connected by one of the following: form-fitting, weaving, gluing, welding or stapling. The life buoy according to claim 1, wherein each of the filaments has a reinforcing fiber yarn or reinforcing monofilament yarn to form a composite filament. The life buoy according to claim 10, wherein in the composite filament the filaments are wrapped by one or more reinforcing fiber yarns or monofilament yarn. The life buoy according to claim 1, wherein an interlocking profile is provided, whereafter the filaments are aligned and connected. The life buoy according to claim 1, wherein the filaments are woven together by inserting a thread through a slot or slots in the other filaments. The life buoy according to claim 1, wherein the filaments are laminated on one or both sides with fabric or foil to form multilayer composite materials. The life buoy according to claim 10, wherein the composite filament has an outer layer formed by the thread and a central layer of fabric or foil. The life buoy according to claim 10, wherein the composite filament has an inner layer formed by the thread and an outer layer of fabric or foil. A life-support buoy according to claim 1, wherein the filaments are formed into molds or plates and inserted into carrying tissue pockets or casings to provide insulation, cooling or buoyancy to garments. Rescue swimming body, comprising: a garment or combination of garments made from liquid impermeable closed cell foam filaments having a thickness of between 2mm and 6mm and providing a minimum buoyancy of 15.5 pounds such that the garment or combination of garments absorbs the wearer's movement while providing the wearer with sufficient buoyancy to meet PFD requirements. The life buoy according to claim 18, wherein the filaments are sheathed or coated with one or more materials to improve durability. A life buoy according to claim 18, wherein the garment is either a jacket or a pullover having a thickness of 4 mm to 6 mm as a covering of the upper body and a thickness of 2 mm to 3 mm as an arm covering.

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