Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
  • B63C9/00—Life-saving in water
  • B63C9/08—Life-buoys, e.g. rings; Life-belts, jackets, suits, or the like
  • B63C9/13—Life-buoys, e.g. rings; Life-belts, jackets, suits, or the like attachable to body member, e.g. arm, neck, head or waist
  • B63C9/15—Life-buoys, e.g. rings; Life-belts, jackets, suits, or the like attachable to body member, e.g. arm, neck, head or waist having gas-filled compartments
  • B63C9/155—Life-buoys, e.g. rings; Life-belts, jackets, suits, or the like attachable to body member, e.g. arm, neck, head or waist having gas-filled compartments inflatable

Definitions

• the invention relates to an individual rescue device intended to equip a person, such as a bather, yachtsman, passenger or boat staff, water skier, marine platform worker ... in order to ensure, when necessary, his safety when it is accidentally or voluntarily submerged in water.
• the invention relates to a device of the type comprising a flexible pocket arranged to be inflated when ordered by a pressurized gas in order to constitute a volume of fluidity.
• Known devices of this type generally include a small bottle of compressed gas under high pressure, which is connected to the inflatable flexible bag by means of a perforating member making it possible to perforate, on order, the closing head. .
• This bottle is fixed on a strap which is called to surround the waist of the user: in certain cases, it is the inflatable pocket itself which forms a belt.
• Such devices are described in particular in patent FR 2 050 966 or patent US 2 869 151.
• the device is very bulky and constitutes an important nuisance for the user; in particular such a device is not adapted to be worn permanently by a bather.
• the very high pressures necessary make the device dangerous and require bottles with very thick walls, which have the disadvantage of being very heavy.
• the inflation of the flexible pockets arranged in a belt can cause an unpleasant compression of the size of the user, compression which can sometimes cause discomfort.
• the reserve used is a reserve of liquefied gas in particular liquefied C0 2 ; these devices, however, have the defects of the last case mentioned above.
• the pocket which, once inflated, forms the volume of buoyancy is generally situated at the level of the navel or the stomach of the person, that is to say in a position close to the center. of its severity; this pocket is incapable of holding the person stably on the surface of the water, so that his head remains above the surface.
• US Pat. No. 3,925,838 describes an inflatable collar which is arranged around the neck of a person so as to constitute, after inflation, a volume of buoyancy situated in a good position to ensure that the head of the person is held in place. - above the water surface.
• a volume of buoyancy situated in a good position to ensure that the head of the person is held in place. - above the water surface.
• this type of device leads to providing a very loose collar around the neck to limit these risks of strangulation during inflation, but the wearing of such a collar in the non-inflated state is then extremely unpleasant.
• this necklace cannot be adjusted to the neck of the person wearing it and the risk of strangulation remains for people with a large neck.
• connection piece between flexible bag and collar must therefore both allow the collar to be filled beforehand by means of pressurized gas and, during use, ensure inflation on command of the bag.
• the connection endpiece designed in US Pat. No. 3,925,838 to fulfill these two functions is relatively complex and expensive, and notably increases the cost price and the weight of the collar.
• the present invention proposes to overcome the shortcomings of known devices and to provide a new individual rescue device which poses no risk to the user and is discreet and comfortable.
• Another objective of the invention is to provide a simple, light and inexpensive device, the implementation of which is simple and easy both for filling under pressure of the gas reserve and, during use, for inflation of the pocket if necessary.
• the device covered by the invention comprises, on the one hand, a reserve of pressurized gas contained in a sealed hollow conduit capable of withstanding the pressure of the gas without significant deformation, said conduit being closed at one end and having a nozzle for connection at its other end, on the other hand, a flexible pocket having a mouth fixed on the aforementioned connection endpiece so as to be able to be inflated when ordered by pressurized gas in order to constitute a buoyancy volume; in accordance with the present invention, this device is characterized by the combination of the following characteristics:
• the hollow duct acting as a gas reserve has a length and a circumferential elasticity, adapted to allow it to be arranged as a belt around the waist of a person, with a covering portion of the two ends against one another ,. said ends of the hollow duct are provided with fastening means making it possible to fix them one against the other, with a covering portion of adjustable length,
• the inflatable bag is arranged so as to be separable from the hollow duct with the only connection being the fixing of its mouth on the connection end piece,
• said inflatable pocket is associated with attachment means adapted to allow it to be disposed either in a folded position against the hollow duct, or in a position separated from the hollow duct in order to form a loop passing behind the neck of the person, the connection endpiece is provided with maneuverable closure means adapted, on the one hand, to allow prior pressurization of the hollow conduit before fixing the mouth of the pocket on its endpiece connection, on the other hand, to allow the communication between the hollow conduit and the flexible bag to be opened when the latter is in place.
• two sizes can be provided:. one for adults with a length of hollow conduit forming a belt between ion and 140 cm and a capacity pouch in the inflated state between 5.5 and 10 liters,
• the other for children with a length of hollow duct forming a belt of between 70 and 100 cm and a capacity pouch in the inflated state of between 3 and 5.5 liters.
• the flexible pocket is of elongated shape and is fixed along a strap provided with fastening members allowing, either to fix said strap along the hollow conduit forming a belt and against it , or to link together the two ends of the strap independently of the hollow conduit in order to form the loop passing at the back of the person's neck.
• the flexible pocket advantageously comprises two sections of elongated shape, extending on either side of its mouth, so as to go up along the thorax on one side and the other of the central area thereof when the pocket is arranged along of the previously mentioned loop.
• connection end piece comprises:
• a body fitted by its amon end into the hollow conduit and provided at its other downstream end with a cylindrical portion for fixing the mouth of the flexible bag, said body having an upstream axial channel opening at its upstream end, a downstream axial channel opening at its downstream end and upstream and downstream radial channels causing the upstream axial channel and the downstream axial channel respectively to communicate with the periphery of the body,
• Such arrangements provide a space-saving tip of simple structure, the implementation of which is particularly easy both during the prior pressurization of the hollow conduit forming a belt and during inflation of the bag by the person wearing the device.
• FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the device according to the invention, with enlargement of a detail,.
• Figure 2 is a perspective view at expanded scale of said device at the connection end-piece,
• FIG. 3 is a partially developed view of the flexible bag linked to its carrying strap and
• FIG. 4 is a section through a plane AA ′,
• FIGS. 5 and 6 are axial sections of the connection end piece respectively at rest (closed position) and in the active state (open position),
• FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are diagrams illustrating the installation of the device and its operation
• FIG. 10 is a cross section on an expanded scale of the hollow conduit forming a belt
• Figure 11 is a cross section of a variant of hollow conduit forming a belt.
• the individual rescue device shown by way of example in FIGS. 1 to 5 comprises a hollow duct 1 which in the example has a section
• This semi-rigid type duct is made of synthetic material in order to have an operating pressure approximately between 100 and 250 bars.
• This conduit can in particular be formed by
• a composite material of the "NERFLEX” type comprising a layer of polyamide, a braid of polyester fibers and a layer of polyurethane; the external diameter of such a conduit can be chosen equal to 1.4 cm and internal diameter equal to 0.8 cm.
• Such a duct has an operating pressure of
• This conduit is adapted to the size of the user in order to be able to surround it.
• 35 with a covering portion For example, two lengths can be provided, one for children between 70 and 100 cm (especially around 85 cm), the other for adults between 100 and 140 cm (especially around 120 cm).
• the duct 1 is sealed in a sealed manner one of its ends la; in the case where the duct is specially molded to the desired length, this closure is achieved by a molded wall integrally with the duct. If an already existing conduit is used, this obturation can be achieved by means of a plug fixed at the end of the conduit, in particular by an adhesive adapted to resist the pressure.
• connection end piece 2 which has the triple function: of allowing the pressurization of the hollow duct beforehand, of closing this duct in the normal state of rest,. and to provide, on command, the transfer of gas to an inflatable flexible bag 3.
• connection end piece 2 has a body 4 having an upstream end 4a whose external diameter corresponds to the internal diameter of the hollow duct 1. This end is fitted into the duct 1 and bonded therein so as to withstand the pressure.
• the body is provided with an end piece 5 which is tightly screwed into it.
• This part is provided with an external rib 5b and an elbow 5a.
• the inflatable flexible bag 3 which will be described later has a mouth 3a which, in the example, consists of a valve connector 6.
• the end piece 5 is provided with a thread 5c for fixing, either the valve connection 6 of the bag, or a compressed air bottle head, allowing the hollow duct 1 to be pressurized.
• the body 4 of the connecting piece is pierced with an upstream axial channel 7 opening at its upstream end, with a downstream axial channel 8 extending in the end piece 5 to open at the downstream end, and upstream 9 and downstream 10 radial channels respectively causing the upstream axial channel 7 and the downstream axial channel 8 to communicate with the periphery of the body.
• the body 4 has a cylindrical surface which extends over most of its length and carries a movable sleeve 11 capable of sliding externally along this cylindrical surface.
• This bushing is provided on its bore with an annular groove 11a which extends axially over a distance slightly greater than the distance separating the upstream radial channels 9 and the downstream radial channels 10.
• the sleeve 11 can thus slide between a closed position ( Figure 5) where the upstream 9 and downstream 10 radial channels are isolated, and an open position ( Figure 6) where said channels open into the groove 11a.
• Three O-rings such as 12 seal the cylindrical surface of the body 4 and the bore of the movable sleeve 11.
• the sleeve 11 is provided in its upstream part with an external rib 11b.
• a spring 13 is disposed around said sleeve and the body 4 between the rib 11b thereof and the rib 5b of the body; this spring biases the bushing towards its open position.
• a pin 14 is secured around the body (in an external groove formed therein) and blocks the bush 11 in its closed position, serving as a support for the latter in this position.
• the pin 14 has a loop 14a which is located outside of this sleeve, in order to authorize the withdrawal of said pin by a traction exerted on its loop: the connection end piece is then brought into its open position under the action of the spring 13 and the gas under pressure inflates the flexible bag 3.
• a calibrated orifice 16 prevents the inflation from being too abrupt (inflation time of the order of 1 to 5 seconds).
• the closed end 1a thereof can be caused to cover the other end over a variable length depending on the waist size of the user; securing means make it possible to fix these ends one against the other in the appropriate position.
• These means can very simply be constituted by one or more tabs such as 17, made of flexible material, fixed on one of the ends; each leg is adapted to be able to close on it- even by enclosing the other end.
• a surface of an attachment material such as "VELCRO" makes it possible to hang the two ends of each tab 17.
• the flexible pocket 3 which is shown in the partially developed state in the figure comprises two sections of shape elongated 3b and 3c that extend on either side of its mouth 3a.
• the pouch has a suitable shape for forming, after inflation, two approximately cylindrical volumes.
• the pocket 3 is fixed along a strap 18 defining two strands which each carry one of the sections of the flexible pocket.
• the pocket is folded along the strap 18 by longitudinal folds as shown in Figure 4; it is glued to the strap by its part directly applied against it and is held in the folded state by a thin tearable sheath 24.
• the two strands of the strap 18 are provided with fastening members 19, 20, 21 which allow either to fix these strands along the hollow conduit 1, or to link them together at the back of the neck of the 'user.
• attachment tabs 19, 20, 21 are provided on each strand, one 19 near the mouth 3a, the other 21 at the end of the strap and the third 20 in position intermediate, near the end of the corresponding pocket section.
• These attachment tabs are provided as above with attachment surfaces allowing them to close on themselves after having gripped the hollow conduit 1.
• the attachment tabs 21 located near the ends of the strands also make it possible to fix said ends l 'one on top of the other on the back of the user's neck.
• the length of the strap 18 is provided sufficient to allow it to go up along the torso of the user and form a loop at the back of the neck (as shown in Figure 8).
• the length of the sections 3b and 3c of the flexible pouch can be reduced so that these sections go up approximately to the pectorals when the strap is buckled at the back of the neck. If necessary, a greater length can be provided (the sections going up to the base of the neck).
• each of its strands can be folded back and secured against the hollow duct by means of the tab 21 as shown in detail in FIG. 1.
• the flexible bag 3 has a capacity in the inflated state of between 3 and 10 liters depending on the destination of the device (between 3 and 5.5 liters for children and between 5.5 and 10 liters for adults).
• the rescue device described can be worn like a belt as illustrated in FIG. 7. It is devoid of any bottle (in particular of a bottle under high pressure or of large capacity), is very discreet and does not present any risk. for the user.
• This device can, if necessary, be used from the position of FIG. 7, by ensuring a withdrawal pull on the pin 14.
• the two pocket sections then inflate along the belt, in front of the hollow duct.
• the device is arranged in the position shown in Figure 8: the strap 18 is separated from the hollow duct 1 to close it protested to the rear R of the user's neck and form a loop. It should be noted that the attachment tabs 19 located in the vicinity of the mouth of the flexible bag 3 remain attached around the hollow conduit, in order to avoid that traction is exerted directly on this mouth.
• the pressurized gas from the hollow conduit inflates the two pocket sections (FIG. 9); the holding sheaths 24 are torn and the pocket forms buoyancy volumes capable of holding the user on the surface, the head out of the water.
• the pin 14 can be replaced by a water-soluble blocking member, which will cause the inflation automatically after immersion.
• the prior operation of pressurizing the hollow conduit 1 is carried out in a very simple manner through the connection end piece 2 before fitting the flexible bag 3. The end piece being in its active position (pin withdrawn: FIG. 6 ), the head of a pressure tank is screwed into the internal thread 5c.
• FIG 10 There is shown in Figure 10 the section of the hollow conduit 1 described above, on a scale 4.
• This conduit may also have an ovalized section as shown at 22 in Figure 11 (same scale).
• This section can in particular be provided with one (or more) internal stiffening wall 23 which prevents it from deforming.
• Such a section has the advantage of being flatter and more comfortable to wear (it comes pressing against the size of the user by one of the flattened parts of its section).
• EXAMPLE i Total length of duct 1 between 100 and. 140 cm and in particular equal to 120 cm,. Surface of its internal section between 0.40 and 1 cm 2 and in particular equal to 0.50 cm 2 ,
• Capacity of the flexible bag of between 5.5 and 10 liters and in particular equal to 9 liters.
• EXAMPLE 2 Length of duct 1 between 70 and 100 cm and in particular equal to 85 cm,
• Capacity of the flexible bag between 3 and 5.5 liters and in particular equal to 4.8 liters.
• the two pocket sections can optionally be folded down along the same end of the hollow conduit, the two strands of the strap being linked together, after a prior adjustment of their length to fit around the neck of the 'user. After inflation, the strap can then be quickly passed by the user around his neck in order to arrange the pocket in the position of FIG. 9.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)
• Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9303480

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 1984
  • 1984-04-13 FR FR8406523A patent/FR2562864B1/fr not_active Expired
• 1985
  • 1985-04-02 EP EP19850901473 patent/EP0176533A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1985-04-02 WO PCT/FR1985/000077 patent/WO1985004634A1/fr not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events