EP0992423B1 - Marine escape suit - Google Patents

Marine escape suit Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0992423B1
EP0992423B1 EP19990307909 EP99307909A EP0992423B1 EP 0992423 B1 EP0992423 B1 EP 0992423B1 EP 19990307909 EP19990307909 EP 19990307909 EP 99307909 A EP99307909 A EP 99307909A EP 0992423 B1 EP0992423 B1 EP 0992423B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
suit
strap
guide
panel
elastic
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19990307909
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0992423A3 (en
EP0992423A2 (en
Inventor
Stephen Littler
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Survitec Group Ltd
Original Assignee
Survitec Group Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Survitec Group Ltd filed Critical Survitec Group Ltd
Publication of EP0992423A2 publication Critical patent/EP0992423A2/en
Publication of EP0992423A3 publication Critical patent/EP0992423A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0992423B1 publication Critical patent/EP0992423B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B63C9/087—Body suits, i.e. substantially covering the user's body ; Immersion suits, i.e. substantially completely covering the user

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a marine escape suit such as a suit of the kind used to escape from a submarine structure.
  • Such suits are typically manufactured only in one size. That size must be sufficiently large to accommodate the largest person that it can be envisaged would use the suit. Thus, for smaller persons, it may be difficult to put on and cumbersome to wear. There is also the risk that excess material will snag during escape.
  • GB2266837 discloses a suit with constricting means which, after the suit has been donned by its wearer, contract to pull the suit against the wearers body, thereby reducing the volume of air trapped in the suit.
  • a marine escape suit including a body portion, arm portions and leg portions for receiving the body, arms and legs of a wearer respectively, at least one of said portions including an elastic strap having a first end and a second end, the elastic strap gathering the suit portion to a minimum dimension, said suit portion being extended against the action of the elastic strap by the insertion into the suit portion of a body portion larger than said minimum dimension to accommodate variations in the dimensions of the part of the body of the wearer received by said portion, characterised in that the first and second ends of the elastic strap are connected to the associated suit portion by respective releasable connectors, each releasable connector being at a respective one of the first and second ends of the elastic strap.
  • an escape suit has legs 2, arms 4 and a crotch region 6. It also has a body portion 3 with a rear panel 7 and a front panel 5. The suit also includes feet 9 and a hood 11 covering the head of a wearer.
  • the suit may be made of any suitable foldable material.
  • An adjustment strap 8 is connected at one end by stitching 17 to an anchor point 18 on the rear panel 7 of the suit (see Figure 6). It then passes through a rear guide 20, under a crotch region 6 between the legs 2, before passing through a front guide 10 and connecting to a buckle 12 having a webbing tongue 13 connected by stitching 15 to an anchor point 14 fixed to the front panel 5 (see Figure 7). A free end 16 of the strap 8 extends beyond the buckle 12.
  • the front and rear guides 10,20 (seen in Figure 5) each comprise a rectangular panel 21 fixed to the suit and a perforate strip 23 overlying the panel and stitched to the panel 21 only along its longitudinal edges. This forms a guide slot between the strip 23 and the panel 21 through which the strap 8 passes. This ensures that the strap 8 is not loose and free to snag.
  • the strap 8 has its maximum length so giving the suit its maximum dimension between the crotch region 6 and the anchor points 14,18.
  • the length of the strap 8 between the anchor points 14,18 is shortened and the distance between the crotch region 6 and the anchor points is also shortened.
  • the material of the body portion is thus gathered up by the strap 8.
  • persons with differing torso lengths can adjust the dimension of this portion of the suit by use of the strap 8. It can be lengthened by releasing the buckle 12.
  • the suit is also adjustable in each leg 2.
  • the leg adjustment is provided automatically.
  • Each leg 2 carries an elastic strap 31 (see Figure 4) which extends along an outer side of the associated leg from a point adjacent a waist of the suit to a point adjacent the associated foot 9. The elastic strap 31 thus extends parallel to the length of the leg 2.
  • the elastic strap 31 passes through a perforate guide 30 constructed similarly to the crotch guides 10,20.
  • the guide 30 (as seen in Figure 4) has a panel 40 overlaid with a strip 42.
  • the panel 40 is stitched to the suit using stitching 44.
  • the strip 42 is stitched to the panel 40 only along its longitudinal side edges.
  • the elastic strap 31 passes between the panel 40 and the strip 42 and emerges at each end of the strip 42.
  • Each end of the strap 31 carries a female part 32A of a snap-press stud connection 32.
  • Each connection 32A snap-fits with a complementary male connector 32B at a respective end of the guide 30.
  • the strip 42 is perforated by regularly spaced circular apertures to allow compression of the leg 2 longitudinally (in a direction along arrow A) as shown in Figure 2.
  • the elastic strap 31 When a large person wears the suit, the elastic strap 31 is stretched to its fullest extent and allows the suit to expand in the leg 2 to accommodate such a person's leg.
  • the maximum expansion is limited by the length of the strip 42, although the upper press-stud 32 can be released so that the strap has no constraining effect - when the maximum expansion is limited by the material of the leg 2.
  • the length of these parts may be the same.
  • the elastic strap 31 gathers up the material of the legs 2 in the portion of the leg 2 spanned by the strap 31 between the waist and the associated foot 9 to reduce this dimension.
  • the minimum leg length is shown in Figure 2.
  • the perforations in the guide 30 need not be provided by the regularly spaced circular apertures 34 described above.
  • the apertures may be omitted or the guide may be cut away in some other manner that facilitates gathering up along with the suit material.
  • the arms 4 may be automatic adjustment of the arms 4 in a similar way to the automatic adjustment of the legs 2 described above.
  • other parts of the suit may be similarly adjustable.
  • the width of the suit across the chest may be so adjustable and even the circumference of the suit around the legs and arms.
  • the waist dimension may also be similarly adjusted.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
  • Details Of Garments (AREA)
  • Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)

Description

  • The invention relates to a marine escape suit such as a suit of the kind used to escape from a submarine structure.
  • Such suits are typically manufactured only in one size. That size must be sufficiently large to accommodate the largest person that it can be envisaged would use the suit. Thus, for smaller persons, it may be difficult to put on and cumbersome to wear. There is also the risk that excess material will snag during escape.
  • GB2266837 discloses a suit with constricting means which, after the suit has been donned by its wearer, contract to pull the suit against the wearers body, thereby reducing the volume of air trapped in the suit.
  • According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a marine escape suit including a body portion, arm portions and leg portions for receiving the body, arms and legs of a wearer respectively, at least one of said portions including an elastic strap having a first end and a second end, the elastic strap gathering the suit portion to a minimum dimension, said suit portion being extended against the action of the elastic strap by the insertion into the suit portion of a body portion larger than said minimum dimension to accommodate variations in the dimensions of the part of the body of the wearer received by said portion, characterised in that the first and second ends of the elastic strap are connected to the associated suit portion by respective releasable connectors, each releasable connector being at a respective one of the first and second ends of the elastic strap.
  • The following is a more detailed description of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:-
  • Figure 1 is a front view of a marine escape suit with a hood of the suit partially folded away,
  • Figure 2 is a view of a portion of a left leg of the suit of Figure 1 adjusted to have a reduced length,
  • Figure 3 is a rear view of the suit of Figure 1,
  • Figure 4 is a schematic view of means for adjusting the length of the leg of the suit of Figures 1 to 3,
  • Figure 5 is a schematic view of part of a crotch adjustment for the suit of Figures 1 to 4,
  • Figure 6 is a schematic view of a strap and an anchor point for the crotch adjustment of Figure 5, and
  • Figure 7 is a schematic view of a buckle for use in the crotch adjustment of Figure 6.
  • With reference to Figure 1, an escape suit has legs 2, arms 4 and a crotch region 6. It also has a body portion 3 with a rear panel 7 and a front panel 5. The suit also includes feet 9 and a hood 11 covering the head of a wearer. The suit may be made of any suitable foldable material.
  • An adjustment strap 8 is connected at one end by stitching 17 to an anchor point 18 on the rear panel 7 of the suit (see Figure 6). It then passes through a rear guide 20, under a crotch region 6 between the legs 2, before passing through a front guide 10 and connecting to a buckle 12 having a webbing tongue 13 connected by stitching 15 to an anchor point 14 fixed to the front panel 5 (see Figure 7). A free end 16 of the strap 8 extends beyond the buckle 12.
  • The front and rear guides 10,20 (seen in Figure 5) each comprise a rectangular panel 21 fixed to the suit and a perforate strip 23 overlying the panel and stitched to the panel 21 only along its longitudinal edges. This forms a guide slot between the strip 23 and the panel 21 through which the strap 8 passes. This ensures that the strap 8 is not loose and free to snag.
  • As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the strap 8 has its maximum length so giving the suit its maximum dimension between the crotch region 6 and the anchor points 14,18. By pulling on the free end 16 of the strap 8, the length of the strap 8 between the anchor points 14,18 is shortened and the distance between the crotch region 6 and the anchor points is also shortened. The material of the body portion is thus gathered up by the strap 8. Thus persons with differing torso lengths can adjust the dimension of this portion of the suit by use of the strap 8. It can be lengthened by releasing the buckle 12.
  • The suit is also adjustable in each leg 2. The leg adjustment is provided automatically. Each leg 2 carries an elastic strap 31 (see Figure 4) which extends along an outer side of the associated leg from a point adjacent a waist of the suit to a point adjacent the associated foot 9. The elastic strap 31 thus extends parallel to the length of the leg 2.
  • The elastic strap 31 passes through a perforate guide 30 constructed similarly to the crotch guides 10,20. The guide 30 (as seen in Figure 4) has a panel 40 overlaid with a strip 42. The panel 40 is stitched to the suit using stitching 44. The strip 42 is stitched to the panel 40 only along its longitudinal side edges. The elastic strap 31 passes between the panel 40 and the strip 42 and emerges at each end of the strip 42. Each end of the strap 31 carries a female part 32A of a snap-press stud connection 32. Each connection 32A snap-fits with a complementary male connector 32B at a respective end of the guide 30. The strip 42 is perforated by regularly spaced circular apertures to allow compression of the leg 2 longitudinally (in a direction along arrow A) as shown in Figure 2.
  • When a large person wears the suit, the elastic strap 31 is stretched to its fullest extent and allows the suit to expand in the leg 2 to accommodate such a person's leg. The maximum expansion is limited by the length of the strip 42, although the upper press-stud 32 can be released so that the strap has no constraining effect - when the maximum expansion is limited by the material of the leg 2. Of course, the length of these parts may be the same. Where the wearer's leg is less than the maximum length, the elastic strap 31 gathers up the material of the legs 2 in the portion of the leg 2 spanned by the strap 31 between the waist and the associated foot 9 to reduce this dimension. The minimum leg length is shown in Figure 2.
  • It will be appreciated that the perforations in the guide 30 need not be provided by the regularly spaced circular apertures 34 described above. The apertures may be omitted or the guide may be cut away in some other manner that facilitates gathering up along with the suit material.
  • It will also be appreciated that there may be automatic adjustment of the arms 4 in a similar way to the automatic adjustment of the legs 2 described above. Further, other parts of the suit may be similarly adjustable. For example, the width of the suit across the chest may be so adjustable and even the circumference of the suit around the legs and arms. The waist dimension may also be similarly adjusted. These various adjustments may be provided separately or together.

Claims (13)

  1. A marine escape suit including a body portion (3), arm portions (4) and leg portions (2) for receiving the body, arms and legs of a wearer respectively, at least one of said portions (2,3,4) including an elastic strap (31) having a first end and a second end, the elastic strap (31) gathering the suit portion (2,3,4) to a minimum dimension, said suit portion (2,3,4) being extended against the action of the elastic strap (31) by the insertion into the suit portion (2,3,4) of a body portion larger than said minimum dimension to accommodate variations in the dimensions of the part of the body of the wearer received by said portion(2,3,4), characterised in that the first and second ends of the elastic strap are connected to the associated suit portion by respective releasable connectors (32), each releasable connector being at a respective one of the first and second ends of the elastic strap (31).
  2. A suit according to claim 1 wherein the elastic strap (31) is accommodated within a guide (30) carried by the associated suit portion (2,3,4).
  3. A suit according to claim 2 wherein the guide (30) comprises a panel (40) overlaid with a strip (42), the panel (40) and the strip (42) forming between them the guide (30) through which passes the elastic strap (31).
  4. A suit according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said connectors are snap-fit connectors (32).
  5. A suit according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said elastic member (31) is provided on a leg portion (2) of the suit.
  6. A suit according to claim 5 wherein said elastic strip (31) extends in a direction parallel to the length of the associated leg portion (2).
  7. A suit according to claim 1 wherein a further member is provided in the form of an inextensible member (8) connected between first and second fixed points on the associated suit portion, the length of the member (8) between said first and second fixed points being adjustable to adjust the dimension of the associated suit portion (2,3,4).
  8. A suit according to claim 7 wherein the further member comprises a strap (8) having a first end and a second end, the first end being fixed to the first fixed point on the associated suit portion (2,3,4) and a second end passing through a buckle (12) at the second fixed point, the buckle (12) allowing the length of the strap (8) between the first and second fixed points to be adjusted.
  9. A suit according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the first fixed point is on a rear panel (5) of the body portion (3) of the suit and the second fixed point is on a front panel (5) of the body portion (3) of the suit, with the strap (8) passing between the leg portions of the suit adjacent a crotch region (6) of the suit, adjustment of the length of the strap (8) adjusting the dimension of the suit between the first and second fixed points and the crotch of the suit.
  10. A suit according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the strap (8) passes through at least one guide formed on the associated suit portion.
  11. A suit according to claim 10 when dependent on claim 9 wherein the strap passes through a first guide (20) on the back panel and a second guide (10) on the front panel.
  12. A suit according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the or each guide (10,20) comprises a panel (21) stitched to the associated suit portion and overlaid by a strip (23) to form therebetween the guide (10,20) through which the strap (8) passes.
  13. A suit according to claim 3 or claim 12 wherein the strip (23) is perforate.
EP19990307909 1998-10-07 1999-10-07 Marine escape suit Expired - Lifetime EP0992423B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9821878 1998-10-07
GB9821878A GB2342277B (en) 1998-10-07 1998-10-07 Marine escape suit

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0992423A2 EP0992423A2 (en) 2000-04-12
EP0992423A3 EP0992423A3 (en) 2001-04-04
EP0992423B1 true EP0992423B1 (en) 2005-01-19

Family

ID=10840158

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19990307909 Expired - Lifetime EP0992423B1 (en) 1998-10-07 1999-10-07 Marine escape suit

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0992423B1 (en)
DE (2) DE992423T1 (en)
GB (1) GB2342277B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011008876A1 (en) 2011-01-18 2012-07-19 TEXCON GmbH Rescue suit for submarine riders, comprises breast area, spinal area, arm area, leg area and adjustment device which is provided for adjusting rescue suit to clothes size of different carriers

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7168103B2 (en) 2003-12-31 2007-01-30 Lion Apparel, Inc. Height adjustable protective garment
GB2441986B (en) 2006-09-21 2011-08-17 Survitec Group Ltd Submarine escape suits
GB2441959B (en) 2006-09-21 2011-06-15 Survitec Group Ltd Submarine escape suits
CN100546871C (en) * 2008-04-24 2009-10-07 王梦芝 Life-saving device for use in marine perils
GB2620112A (en) * 2022-06-21 2024-01-03 Survitec Group Ltd Protection garments

Family Cites Families (15)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DK22606C (en) * 1916-06-16 1917-11-19 Nat Life Preserver Company Life jacket.
FR850338A (en) * 1938-02-16 1939-12-14 Life-saving clothing-float
US3076206A (en) * 1960-01-28 1963-02-05 Internat Applied Res Corp Survival-apparel and related survival-gear
CH384507A (en) * 1960-06-03 1964-11-30 Kleber Rudolf Overdress combination
FR2434077A1 (en) * 1978-07-13 1980-03-21 Vanrell Antoine Survival suit with integral buoyancy belt - is made from flexible waterproof material and has windowed hood fitting over users head
CA1161602A (en) * 1981-07-29 1984-02-07 Marc Harvey Rain cover for cyclists' legs
US4464795A (en) * 1982-06-17 1984-08-14 Diving Unlimited International, Inc. Easy access underwater diving suit
US4547904A (en) * 1982-11-12 1985-10-22 Diving Unlimited International, Inc. Survival suit
GB2155761B (en) * 1984-03-24 1987-09-09 Btr Plc Garment
GB2156655B (en) * 1984-04-05 1988-12-14 Toyo Bussan Kk Improvements relating to clothing
DE8534081U1 (en) * 1985-12-04 1986-03-13 Bernhardt Apparatebau Gmbh & Co, 2000 Hamburg Life jacket
US4670913A (en) * 1986-10-16 1987-06-09 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Coverall with elastomeric panels
US4910802A (en) * 1988-11-07 1990-03-27 Malloy Eugene A Exercise suit
GB2241678B (en) * 1990-02-24 1993-10-13 Btr Plc Submarine escape assembly
GB9210140D0 (en) * 1992-05-12 1992-06-24 Multifabs Ltd Survival suits

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011008876A1 (en) 2011-01-18 2012-07-19 TEXCON GmbH Rescue suit for submarine riders, comprises breast area, spinal area, arm area, leg area and adjustment device which is provided for adjusting rescue suit to clothes size of different carriers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9821878D0 (en) 1998-12-02
EP0992423A3 (en) 2001-04-04
EP0992423A2 (en) 2000-04-12
DE69923271T2 (en) 2005-06-30
DE69923271D1 (en) 2005-02-24
GB2342277A (en) 2000-04-12
DE992423T1 (en) 2000-09-14
GB2342277B (en) 2002-09-04

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