ES2247464T3 - INFLATABLE SECURITY DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

An inflatable safety apparatus (10), suitable for use in water, comprising at least one pressurized fluid container (20), provided with a valve assembly (32) that extends into a groove (32¿) of a pointed or spike-shaped body (44) actuated by a lever (48) towards the nozzle (42) of said container (20), and a tie rod (54) connected to the lever (48) and connected with a handle of grip (56) on the opposite side, characterized in that it comprises a first expandable sealed tubular chamber (12) and a second expandable sealed tubular chamber (18), connected to each other and communicated by means of two pairs of flexible ducts (14-14 ¿) And (16-16¿) integral therewith, said at least one container (20) being fixed by thermal sealing and / or adhesive collars (58) to the first tubular chamber (12), corresponding to a hole practiced in it, by means of said rabera (32¿).

Description

Inflatable safety device.

The present invention relates to an apparatus of inflatable safety.

More particularly, the present invention is refers to a safety device intended to be used in the water, capable of being inflated if necessary and advantageously housed in the garment used by the swimmer or in such an accessory like a belt placed around the waist. Said garment It is usually made up of a swimsuit, particularly a pant or a full-length swimsuit / bikini bottom; therefore, the possibility of housing the safety apparatus inflatable in other types of garments, such as diving suits and / or Accessories of these, is not excluded.

It is known that, in the water, bathers fear find yourself in difficulties because of events unpredictable; Such situations can occur because of physical tiredness that can cause muscle cramps, illness or panic In such cases, bathers are not able to swim and reach the shore by their own means and, in the absence of a Quick rescue, the risk of drowning could occur.

On the other hand, it is not conceivable that bathers, especially experienced swimmers, always wear float posts, belts or vests inflated with air or made of materials such as cork; these accessories they constitute an obstacle for the swimmer who, because of them, is forced to swim in an artificial position, with part of the body afloat.

In addition to the discomfort, the use of such Devices makes the swimmer feel disturbed. Although, for one  On the other hand, it is normal for life jackets to be used even by experienced swimmers in particular conditions, such as careers, this is not the case when you are simply bathing, even though it is precisely in these circumstances when the most serious risks may occur.

Various devices are known for this purpose. inflatables carried by the user and fixed to the waist or other body parts; such devices are described, for example, in US Patents No. 2,970,326, No. 3,144,667, No. 3,414,920 and in German and European patents No. DE 198.50.187, No. DE 2.202.902 and No. EP 0,325,994. These solutions essentially refer to simple inflatable floats that do not ensure a correct effect of stabilization and flotation, and, in addition, they comprise complex systems for activating inflation media.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned inconveniences.

More particularly, the purpose of this invention consists in providing an inflatable safety apparatus suitable for being usually carried by the swimmer without obstructing your movements, artificially vary the position of your body during the bath, or be cumbersome.

A further purpose of the present invention is to provide an inflatable safety device such as described above, that the user can activate only in case necessary and that is externally invisible.

A further purpose of the invention consists in in providing an inflatable safety apparatus suitable to ensure a high level of resistance and reliability over time and capable of being easily manufactured with reduced costs.

These and other purposes are achieved through the inflatable safety apparatus claimed in the claim one.

The constructive and functional characteristics of the inflatable safety apparatus according to the present invention they will be better understandable from the following description detailed, in which reference is made to the attached drawings that they represent an embodiment given solely by way of non-limiting example, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the apparatus of inflatable safety according to the present invention, carried by the user in rest position;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the part above said security apparatus, carried by the user in use position;

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the part opposite rear of the same safety device, carried by the user in position of use;

Fig. 4 is a schematic front view, in partial section of the box containing the safety device inflatable;

Fig. 5 is a schematic view, in section transverse, of the box of the previous figure;

Fig. 6 is a schematic view, in section partial, of the safety device and its box; Y

Fig. 7 is a schematic front view, in partial section, of the means for activating the apparatus of inflatable safety according to the present invention.

In relation to the aforementioned figures, the inflatable safety apparatus according to the present invention, designated as a whole with 10 in Figs. 2 to 5, comprises a first tubular chamber 12 of substantially circular section, constituted by an extensible open ring of plastic material of the which stand out two opposite pairs of ducts 14-14 'and 16-16' solidarity of same; the latter are oriented vertically and extend in this direction with respect to the first tubular chamber 12 and they are linked seamlessly with a second tubular chamber 18 of section slightly larger than said first chamber 12.

The second tubular chamber 18 is also configured as an open ring and communicates directly with the first tubular chamber 12 through said ducts 14-14 'and 16-16'.

At least one known fluid container 20 pressurized, consisting of inert gas such as atmospheric air, it is connected to the first tubular chamber 12. Said container comprises a known valve assembly 32 applied to the nozzle threaded of said container 20. The latter and the corresponding valve assembly 32 are briefly described below with in order to facilitate the understanding of how the device works according to the present invention. The container 20 is provided with a threaded end 34 located in the nozzle on which said valve assembly 32, including a movable plug 36, is threaded and stretched elastically by a coil spring 38 that slides in a chamber 40 provided orthogonally in the same set of valve 32 with respect to the exposed surface of the nozzle of the container 20, designated 42. The latter is protected by a membrane made of plastic or other suitable material constituting the cap of the container 20, suitably dimensioned and stabilized to constitute a barrier that prevents pressurized fluid outlet; the latter is pumped from said container 20 only after a respective action by the user. To this end, the set of usual valve 32 comprises a pointed or shaped body pin 44 facing the nozzle 42 of the container 20, tensioned  by a coil spring and operated axially by a lever 48 connected to the valve assembly 32 itself and placed on the same. As illustrated in detail in Fig. 7, one of the ends of the lever 48, designated 50, is aligned with the longitudinal axis of pin 44, while the other end, designated with 52, is free and connected to a brace 54 to which a grip handle 56 or the like is fixed. Said shooter freely protrudes from valve assembly 32 to be able to be grasped and stretched by the user, if necessary. It turns out easily understandable that the pull exerted on the handle 56, connected to  lever 48 causes the latter to swing, so that the spike 44 drill the nozzle 42 of the container 20, releasing the fluid pressurized content in this one. To that end, and in accordance with the present invention, the valve assembly 32 is firmly linked to the first tubular chamber 12, for example by thermal sealing and / or adhesive collars 58; this link is obtained in correspondence with a rabbe 32 'of the set of valve 32 that partially fits into a hole made in the own first tubular chamber 12. Consequently, the fluid pressurized inside the container 20 fills said first tubular chamber 12, ducts 14-14 ', 16-16 'and the second tubular chamber 18 after that the pin 44 has pierced the nozzle 42 of said container twenty.

The latter is hosted, according to a preferred embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, in the  cited first chamber 12 in correspondence with one of its ends, as particularly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. The opposite free ends of the first tubular chamber 12 as well as of the second tubular chamber 18, they are closed hermetically, for example by heat sealing and / or adhesive materials; said ends of the first tubular chamber 12, in correspondence with the interior of one of which is housed the container 20, they face in the opposite direction to the anterior part of the user's body along the area abdominal.

As illustrated in the attached figures, of according to a preferred and non-limiting embodiment the inflatable safety apparatus is advantageously housed in a ribbon-shaped box 26, particularly illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5; said box, made of any appropriate material and preferably of natural or synthetic fabric, it defines, in its development, a tape folded over itself along its wider sides; the edges or extreme tabs 26'-26 '' of said box 26 are at least partially overlapping and fixed together at one or more points through means of temporary stabilization of the approach.

Said means, designated 28 in Fig. 5, they are preferably constituted of one or several strips of "Velcro" or removable adhesive. The 26-shaped box tape, which substantially determines a belt that the user can carry around the waist, is provided with a means of connection and alignment of its opposite free ends, constituted for example by a small connection frame or by a clamp elastic in a buckle 30 made of plastic or other material appropriate; the constituent material of the box 26 in the form of a tape it is preferably at least partly an elastic material or become elastic to facilitate positioning and stabilization around the user's waist of said box of housing of safety apparatus 10 and the corresponding pressurized fluid container 20. From box 26 in the form of tape a traction means or handle 56 protrudes and, if necessary, two equivalent handles are provided in the presence of two containers 20, constituting the gripping means that allow the user pull the strap 54 to pierce and open the nozzle 42 of the container 20 that releases the pressurized fluid contained in the same.

As can be seen particularly in the Figs. 4 and 5, at least the second tubular chamber 18 of the apparatus for security 10 is preferably compressed on itself, in the inside the box 26, thanks to multiple folds of bellows, understanding therefore that both said chamber 18 and the first tubular chamber 12 and the corresponding connection ducts 14-14 'and 16-16' can be interchangeably compressed in the same box. The latter can be obviously integrated along the upper edge of a swimsuit or other similar garment that is substantially placed around the waist.

According to an embodiment preferred and non-limiting, a tape 60, of appropriate width and with the purpose of stabilizing around the user's body the cited ducts in their inflated state, is associated with each of the 14-14 'and / or 16-16' ducts that connect the tubular chambers 12 and 18 together and allow communication between them. These tapes, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 2, they are advantageously constituted of material flexible plastic and fixed to the ducts 14-14 ' and 16-16 'by heat sealing; preferably, the same material is used to manufacture the tapes 60 from which the ducts are constituted. The tapes 60 are placed so that they are in contact with the user's body both along the frontal abdominal area as well as the dorsal area, and their opposite free ends are respectively fixed to the first tubular chamber 12 and the second tubular chamber 18 by thermal sealing or adhesives.

The preceding description follows easily the operating mode of the safety device object of the present invention; once activated, it creates a complete life jacket around the bust of the swimmer carrying the same. In emergency situations, the user pulls the handle 56 and the strap 54 connected thereto drives the lever 48 and the body  pointed or spike-shaped 44 that pierces the nozzle 42 of the container 20. After this activation, the fluid leaves the container 20 and is immediately distributed by the first chamber tubular 12 and reaches the second tubular chamber 18 through the conduits 14-14 'and 16-16'; when said first chamber begins to expand due to the effect of gas that inflates it, the box 26 opens, overcoming the resistance of "Velcro" or adhesive strips, allowing the unfolding and inflating the remaining part of the device, constituted by said ducts and the second tubular chamber 18. Figs. 1 to 3 schematically show the safety device carried by the user in his non-inflated state (Fig. 1) and in his operational status (Figs. 2 and 3); the latter illustrate the Global position and configuration of the inflated device. The user it is provided with a first float of reduced section, corresponding to the first tubular chamber 12, which surrounds its waist, and also of a second wider, corresponding float to the tubular chamber 18, which extends and surrounds its body to the underarm height

It can be seen that the advantages achieved by the present invention they are evident.

The inflatable safety device according to the The present invention can always be carried, without disturbing the user, since its volume, when not inflated, is very reduced; furthermore, as said apparatus is housed in a box 26 configured essentially as a belt, or fit to be directly housed in the swimsuit, it does not make you feel disturbed user carrying it and, if necessary, constitutes a adequate means of rescue.

Although the present invention has been described in the foregoing with reference to a given embodiment only by way of non-limiting example, people understood in the matter may bring multiple changes and variants according to the preceding description and within the scope of the claims.

It is therefore evident that the present invention aims to cover all the changes and variants that remain  within the scope of protection of the following claims.

Claims (7)

1. An inflatable safety apparatus (10), suitable for use in water, comprising at least one pressurized fluid container (20), provided with a valve assembly (32) that extends into a nozzle (32 ') of a pointed or spike-shaped body (44) actuated by a lever (48) towards the nozzle (42) of said container (20), and a tie rod (54) connected to the lever (48) and connected with a grip handle (56) on the opposite side, characterized in that it comprises a first expandable sealed tubular chamber (12) and a second expandable sealed tubular chamber (18), connected to each other and communicated by means of two pairs of flexible ducts (14 -14 ') and (16-16') integral therewith, said at least one container (20) being fixed by thermal sealing and / or adhesive collars (58) to the first tubular chamber (12), in correspondence with a hole made therein, by means of said tail (32 '). 2. Safety apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a box (26) configured as a tape, such as an integrated belt, if necessary, in a garment such as a swimsuit or the like, and housing said tubular chambers (12-18), the corresponding connection ducts (14-14 '), (16-16') and the container (20) of pressurized fluid. 3. Safety apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said box (26) configured as a tape is constituted of a strip of natural or synthetic fabric folded on itself along the wider sides, whose edges (26 ' -26 '') can be at least partially superimposed and fixed to each other through means of temporary stabilization (28), such as "velcro" or separable adhesives. 4. Safety apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said box (26) configured as a tape is provided with an elastic clamp with buckle (30) or a small connection frame of the ends themselves in correspondence with the Opposite free ends. 5. Safety apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the box (26) configured as a tape is at least partially made of elastic material or made of elastic. 6. Safety apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a tape (60) of flexible plastic material is associated with said conduits (14-14 ') and / or (16-16') that connect the tubular chambers to each other (12) and (18), extending over the entire length of said ducts, to which it is linked by thermal sealing. 7. Safety apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tapes (60) are constituted of the same material as the conduits (14-14 ') and (16-16') and are linked by their free ends opposite to the first tubular chamber (12) and the second tubular chamber (18) by thermal sealing and / or adhesive materials.