FR2813059A1 - SAFETY DEVICE FOR BUOYING BUOYS, PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN'S BUOYS - Google Patents

Abstract

Safety device for equipping buoys, in particular for buoys intended for children, characterized in that it comprises a rigid centering and support element (1) delimiting a central opening (01) sized to allow the passage of the lower part of the body of a user, and a flexible seat (2) attached to this rigid element and developable below the latter, this seat (2) comprising at least two openings (02) for the passage of the legs of the user, said rigid element comprising a portion of belt and centering (3) extending parallel or substantially parallel to the axis of said opening (01) and a support flange (4) that has the upper portion of said part (3).

Description

- 1 - 2813059

  Safety device for the equipment of buoys, in particular for buoys

intended for children.

  The present invention relates to a safety device for equipping buoys, in particular for buoys intended for children. Children's buoys have already been proposed consisting of an inflatable ring of rubber or plastic comprising a protrusion in the shape of a duck's head or the like, this ring being moreover permanently attached, by welding or otherwise, to a seat. flexible with two openings for

  leg passage. The purpose of such items commonly known as "buoys"

  panties "is to allow children to familiarize themselves with the aquatic environment and develop the instinctive gestures of swimming after an initial period of paddling. However, the use of this type of article has proven to be very dangerous, because when the buoy turns over, the child finds himself upside down and does not have sufficient control of the situation to return to normal position

  by overcoming the ballasting force exerted by its bust immersed in water.

  On the other hand, the combined action of the flexible swollen ring surrounding his waist and the pants enclosing his thighs does not always allow him to detach from the

buoy to return to the surface.

  In view of the accidents due to this type of buoy, its use has been prohibited. The invention proposes to provide a safety device allowing the use of buoys, in particular by children, under conditions such that the possible reversal of these does not constitute a

additional peril factor.

  The safety device according to the invention is remarkable in that it comprises a rigid centering and support element delimiting a central opening sized to allow the passage of the lower part of the body of a user, and a flexible seat attached to this rigid and developable element below the latter, this seat comprising at least two openings for the

- 2 - 2813059

  passage of the legs, said rigid element comprising a portion of belt and centering extending parallel or substantially parallel to the axis of said opening and a support flange that has the upper portion of

said part.

  The device thus produced can be positioned, according to its dimensions, in the central opening of a children's buoy or an adult buoy, being

  observed that the application to children's buoys is more particularly targeted.

  The device rests on the upper face of the buoy by its support flange and it is centered in the central opening of said buoy by means of its belt and centering portion. The set can be used as a panty buoy. The child is installed in this set, so that when launching

  of the latter, he sits on the seat.

  If, for any reason, the assembly turns over, the safety device will automatically detach from the buoy and the child can

  go back to the surface without being prevented by the buoy.

  However, when a child is installed in a buoy equipped with a safety device according to the invention, this buoy has no propensity to overturn. In this case, the presence of the child acts

  as a ballast effectively opposing the overturning of the buoy.

  The device for centering and centering the device may have a diameter

  allowing its installation on children's buoys.

  According to another characteristic arrangement of the present invention, the safety device also comprises a positioning crown delimiting a central opening dimensioned to allow the passage of the lifting equipment previously described and whose periphery is provided with fixing means allowing its attachment removable from a buoy, said accessory preferably also comprising a centering skirt

  delimiting said central opening.

- 3 - 2813059

  The above goals, features and benefits and more,

  will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and from the attached drawings in

which:

  Figure 1 is a plan view of the safety device according to the invention.

  Figure 2 is a front view, in axial half-section, of this device.

  Figure 3 is a plan view showing the device installed on a buoy.

  Figure 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

  Figure 5 is a plan view of the mounting accessory.

  Figure 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of Figure 5.

  Figure 7 is a plan view showing the device and the accessory

mounting installed on a buoy.

  Figure 8 is a sectional view along line 8-8 of Figure 7.

  Reference is made to said drawings to describe an exemplary embodiment.

  advantageous, although in no way limiting, of the security device according to the invention.

  This device comprises a rigid centering and support element 1 delimiting an axial opening 01 and a flexible seat 2 attached to said element and developable below the latter, the assembly constituting equipment

of lift.

  The centering and support element 1 comprises a belt and centering part 3 extending parallel or substantially parallel to the axis of the opening 01 and a support flange 4 secured to the upper portion of said part 3. The belt and centering part can consist of a large cylindrical belt. This belt 3 and the flange 4 can be formed in one piece from any suitable rigid plastic material. The internal cylindrical wall of the belt 3 can be provided with a flexible coating 5 for example constituted by a layer of plastic foam and which can be

- 4 - 2813059

  attached by gluing or molded in one piece with the rigid carcass 34 by

  a bi-material molding process.

  The belt 3 may have a length substantially corresponding to the thickness of a buoy B, for example a length of the order of 50 to 70 mm, while the flange 4 may have a width allowing it to partially cover the upper surface buoy B when the lifting equipment 1-2 is positioned on a buoy, and, for example, a width of

around 30 to 40 mm.

  The seat 2 can be made of flexible plastic and it has at least two openings 02 for the passage of the child's legs. He can be

  fixed by gluing or otherwise, for example on the inner wall of the belt 3.

  To facilitate the use of the device, the seat 2 can have, in top view, the shape of a cross, so as to delimit four openings 02 of

leg passage.

  In the use position, the seat 2 extends below the belt 3 to

which it is suspended.

  Figures 3 and 4 show the safety device of the invention positioned

  on a conventional buoy B consisting of an inflatable annular rod.

  The device described above can advantageously be supplemented by a positioning ring intended to be fixed to a buoy and to

support said device.

  This positioning ring is preferably made of any suitable rigid plastic material, which may be identical to that used for the execution of the carcass 3-4. It includes a circular support surface 7 surrounding a central opening 03 delimited by a short cylindrical skirt 8,

  this opening being dimensioned to allow the passage of the belt 3.

  The positioning crown is provided with attachment means 9 enabling it to be fixed, in a removable manner, on a buoy, these attachment means being,

  preferably evenly distributed around the periphery of the circular support surface 7.

- 5 - 2813059

  They can advantageously be constituted by straps or belts engaged in slots 10 formed at the periphery of the circular support area 7 and the ends of which are provided with a closure system 1 1 such

  that Velcro closure (registered trademark) or other.

  Figures 7 and 8 show a positioning ring 6 fixed on a buoy B and lift equipment 1 installed on this positioning ring. In order to reduce friction and promote the sliding and escaping of the lifting equipment 1 when the buoy turns over for any reason, the height of the skirt 8 can be reduced to a few millimeters (for example of the order from 10 to 15 mm), while the belt 3 has, externally, ribs 12 oriented parallel to the axis of said belt, these ribs being preferably regularly spaced. This arrangement makes it possible to reduce the extent of the surfaces of the positioning crown 6 and of the lift equipment 1, likely to be

  find in contact and, thereby, remove any possibility of jamming.

  To avoid rotation of the child relative to the buoy, the flange 4 of the lifting equipment 1-2 and the circular support area 7 are preferably provided with means opposing the rotation of said equipment . For example, the flange 4 of the lifting equipment 1-2 may comprise, on its underside, a lug 13 oriented in the downward direction, while the circular bearing surface 7 of the positioning crown 6 has a hole 14 for

the engagement of said lug.

- 6 - 2813059

Claims (10)

  1. Safety device for equipping buoys, in particular for buoys intended for children, characterized in that it comprises a rigid centering and support element (1) delimiting a central opening (01) dimensioned to allow the passage of the lower part of the body of a user, and a flexible seat (2) attached to this rigid element and developable below the latter, this seat (2) comprising at least two openings (02) for the passage of legs of the user, said rigid element comprising a belt and centering part (3) extending parallel or substantially parallel to the axis of said opening (01) and a support flange (4) which has the portion higher of said part (3).   2. Safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a positioning crown (6) delimiting a central opening (03) dimensioned to allow the passage of the lifting equipment (1-2) and of which the periphery is provided with means   attachment (9-11) allowing its removable attachment to a buoy (B).   3. Safety device according to claim 2, characterized in that the positioning crown (6) comprises a circular bearing surface (7) surrounding the central opening (03) which is delimited by a short skirt cylindrical (8).   4. Safety device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that the belt and centering part (3) of the lifting equipment (1-2) is constituted by a wide cylindrical belt. - 7 - 2813059   5. Safety device according to claim 4, characterized in that the wall   internal cylindrical belt (3) is provided with a flexible coating (5).   6. Safety device according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in   that the belt (3) of the lifting equipment (1-2) has a length   substantially corresponding to the thickness of a buoy (B).   7. Safety device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that the collar (4) of the lifting equipment (1-2) has a width allowing it to partially cover the upper surface with a buoy (B), and in that said collar (4) and the circular bearing surface (7) are preferably provided with means (13-14) opposing the rotation of said equipment (1-2).   8. Safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the seat (2) has, seen from above, the shape of a cross, so as to delimit   four leg openings (02).   9. Safety device according to any one of claims 2 to 8,   characterized in that the means for attaching the positioning crown (6) consist of belts or straps (9) engaged in slots (10) formed at the periphery of said crown   and the ends of which are provided with a closure system (11). - 8 - 2813059   10. Safety device according to any one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the belt (3) of the lifting equipment   has, externally, ribs (12) oriented parallel to the axis thereof.