FR2917707A1 - RESCUE DEVICE FORMING AN ACCOMMODATION - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rescue device, of the type comprising at least one inflatable element (1), having at least two configurations, one of small size, said first configuration, in the deflated state of said element, and, the another, said second configuration, forming a boat, in the inflated state of said element, said boat comprising at least one annular structure (2), one of the faces forming the bottom of the boat, is sealed. the invention, the face of the annular structure forming the bottom of the boat is sealed by a pocket (3), sheath-type or sock, open towards the inside of the annular structure, this pocket s' extending, in the inflated state of the annular structure, under said annular structure in the manner of a keel, the interior volume of said seat pocket of said boat.

Description

The present invention relates generally to devices for

  rescuing a person who has fallen at sea.

  It relates in particular to a rescue device, of the type comprising at least one inflatable element, having at least two configurations, one of small size, said first configuration, in the deflated state of said element, and the other, said second configuration, forming a boat, in the inflated state of said element, said boat comprising at least one annular structure, one of the faces forming the bottom of the boat, is sealed.

  The document FR2761045 proposes a rescue device, as described above, which is, after inflation, a craft of annular structure. The bottom of this annular structure is constituted by a tight web which extends in the middle plane of the annular structure and on which the person sits. It is observed, however, that when the sea is rough, the risk of turning over such a lifeboat is high. The risk of ejection of the person out of the boat is also important. Also known in the state of the art are other life-saving devices, such as inflatable buoys, which can be worn around the waist. These devices are not totally adapted to safety at sea because, if they ensure the buoyancy function, they do not allow the person 25 struggling to effectively fight against the cold.

  It is also known to use vests that have an inflatable portion that keeps the head out of the water. The vests are equipped with a pressurized gas tank associated with a gas release and distribution mechanism. When the trigger mechanism is activated, the inflatable portion for supporting the head inflates very quickly. However, the person who falls into the sea may suffer, as a result of this rapid inflation, the "whiplash". The present invention aims to limit the risk of overturning the boat, when the sea is agitated. Another object of the invention is to ensure that the person to be rescued is not expelled from the boat.

  Another object of the invention is also to prevent the person falling into the water 10 from experiencing the "whiplash" due to the rapid inflation of the boat.

  Finally, another object of the invention is to improve the thermal insulation of the shipwrecked to allow it to resist for a long time weathering. To this end, the invention relates to a rescue device, of the type comprising at least one inflatable element, having at least two configurations, one of small size, said first configuration, in the deflated state of said element, and the other, said second configuration, forming a boat, in the inflated state of said element, said boat comprising at least one annular structure, one of the faces forming the bottom of the boat, is sealed, characterized in that the face of the annular structure forming the bottom of the boat is closed in a sealed manner by a pouch, of sheath or sock type, open towards the inside 25 of the annular structure, this pocket extending to the inflated state of the annular structure, under said annular structure in the manner of a keel, the interior volume of said seat pocket of said boat.

  With this seat pocket, the center of gravity of the assembly consisting of the person and the boat is lowered, which gives the bag in which sits the person a keel function. The risks of overturning the boat and drift are thus limited.

  Finally, when inflating the boat or when the person sits in it, the pocket is gradually filled with water. Due to this progressive filling of the pocket, the rise of the device on the surface of the water is slowed down, thus reducing the risks of "whiplash". This water that infiltrates the pocket, is stagnant and warms quickly in contact with the person. The person is isolated from cold water currents, unlike an annular buoy for example or a lifejacket.

  According to a first advantageous characteristic of the invention, the device comprises an anti-flipping and anti-expulsion means of the person. According to a preferred embodiment, said anti-overturn and anti-expulsion means has the shape of an inflatable arch surmounting the annular structure and connecting two diametrically opposite points of said annular structure. It is also possible for the top of the rollbar to be spaced apart from the opening plane of the annular structure by a distance of between 40 cm and 100 cm, preferably between 40 and 70 cm, so as to form a frontal abutment. supporting the head of the person sitting in said pocket.

  Thus, in case of tilting forward of the boat, the head of the person 20 is supported on the hoop, preventing it from diving into the water. In addition, the ends of the arch connected to the annular structure of the boat provide support surfaces allowing the person to put the boat back flat.

  According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, there is provided a back protector which is secured to the part of the annular structure forming the rear of the boat and, on the other hand, to the top of the arch.

  According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, there is provided a locating means of the craft disposed at the top of the bow. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the marking means is of the light type, such as a flashing light or a reflective strip.

  According to one embodiment of the invention, said device forms in its first configuration of small footprint is an article of clothing or an object designed to float and able to be launched to the person to save. Preferably, said article of clothing is a belt intended to be passed around the waist, said pocket being located, in the state worn by the person, at the lower back of the person.

  Thus, when this article of clothing is initially worn by the person at the time when the person falls into the sea, the person triggers the inflation of the inflatable element and the pocket forming seat gradually fills with water, which limits the speed of ascent of the boat on the surface of the water. The person is not likely to suffer the "whiplash".

  According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the device comprises at least a reserve of compressed gas associated with means for triggering the opening of the gas reserve for inflating said inflatable element.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

  - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rescue device in the inflated state; - Figure 2 is a side view of a person fallen at sea and equipped with the rescue device according to the invention, in the form of a belt, before inflation;

  Figure 3 is a view of the opening of the back pocket of the belt of Figure 2 enclosing the inflatable member;

  FIG. 4 is a view of the beginning of inflation, in the back of the person, of the inflation element of FIG. 3;

  FIG. 5 is a view of the continued inflation of the inflation element and the placement of the person in the central pocket 5 of the inflatable element of FIG. 4;

  - Figure 6 is a view of the rise to sea level of the whole person and the inflatable element of Figure 5 forming a boat;

  Figure 7 is a side view of the person pulling on the straps of the boat to finish taking place in the central pocket of the boat, while the hoop and the back protector are put in place;

  - Figure 8 is a side view of the person installed in the boat 15 after the inflation is completed;

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the person and the boat of FIG. 7.

  FIGS. 1 to 9 show a rescue device, of the type comprising at least one inflatable element 1, having at least two configurations, a first configuration in the deflated state of said element, of small dimensions (FIG. a second configuration in the inflated state of said element (Figures 1 and 3 to 9) forming a boat. According to a preferred embodiment, the rescue device forms, in its first configuration in the deflated state, an article of clothing. Here, as shown in Figure 2, this article of clothing is a belt 10 that is passed around the waist of the person. The belt has a protective pocket which, when worn, is located at the lower back of the person.

  The protective pocket of the belt is in the form of two flexible half-hulls articulated relative to one another and which can open or close one on the other. In the closed state, these two half-shells are held against each other by self-gripping portions (not shown). These two half-shells contain the inflatable element, in the deflated and folded state, and the attachment straps (not shown) to the boat.

  It is also planned to associate with the inflatable element 1 at least one reserve 14 of compressed gas, in this case air, associated with means for triggering the opening of the at least one compressed air reserve 14 inflating said inflatable element 1. Here, these triggering means 9 of the opening of the reserve 14 of compressed air comprise a lever 9 that the person pulls to release the compressed air in the inflatable element 1.

  As shown more particularly in Figures 1, 8 and 9, in its second configuration, in the inflated state of said inflatable member 1, the rescue device forms a boat. The boat comprises at least one annular structure 2, one of the bottom faces of the boat is sealed.

  In a manner characteristic of the invention, the face of the annular structure forming the bottom of the boat is closed in a sealed manner by a pouch 3, of sheath or sock type, open towards the inside of the annular structure 2. The bag is flexible and extends, in the inflated state of the annular structure 2, under said annular structure 2 in the manner of a keel. Here, the pocket 3 is welded to the annular structure.

  The interior volume 4 of said pocket 3 then forms the seat of said boat.

  Thanks to this pocket 3 and its interior volume 4 which makes it possible to receive the person in a fetal position, the center of gravity of the assembly consisting of the person and the boat is lowered, which confers on the pocket 3 a keel function. Advantageously, according to the invention, the rescue device also comprises a means 5 anti-reversal and anti-expulsion of the person. Said anti-overturn and anti-expulsion means 5 has the shape of a hoop 5 surmounting the annular structure 2 and connecting two diametrically opposite points of said annular structure 2. The connection parts of the hoop to the annular structure are welded to the annular structure.

  In particular, as shown in Figure 9, the arch extends from one side edge to the other of the boat at the central portion of said boat. The lateral edges of the boat as well as the front part and the rear part are defined by reference to the person sitting in the boat. The legs of the person are arranged towards the front part of the boat while the trunk of the person is located towards the rear part of the boat.

  The top 7 of the arch 5 is spaced apart from the plane of opening of the annular structure by a distance of between 40 cm and 100 cm, preferably between 40 and 70 cm, so as to form a frontal abutment of support of the the head of the person who sits in a fetal position in said pocket 3.

  Thus, in case of tilting of the boat, the head of the person is supported on the hoop preventing it from diving into the water. In addition, the portions of the arch connected to the annular structure provide bearing surfaces 25 allowing the person to put the boat back flat.

  As shown, more particularly in Figures 1, 8 and 9, the rescue device also comprises a cover 6, forming back protection, which protects the person from wind and sun in particular. The cover 6 is attached, on the one hand, to the portion of the annular structure 2 forming the rear of the boat and, on the other hand, to the top 7 of the arch 5. The rescue device also comprises a locating means 8 of the boat disposed at the top of the arch 4, that is to say in direct vision from the sky. Here, the tracking means 8 is a burst light, but it could also be provided to replace it with a reflective strip.

  s The rescue device is also equipped on its annular structure of straps 11, 12 that can seize the person. It is intended to have a pair of straps near each of the connecting portions of the arch with the annular structure 2, on the side of the front part of the boat.

  The operation of the rescue device is described below.

  There is shown in Figure 2 a person fallen at sea and equipped with the rescue device in the form of belt as described above.

  The person fallen at sea then pulls on the handle 13 to release into the inflatable element 1 the compressed air contained in the reserve 14. As illustrated in FIG. 3, under the effect of the swelling of the inflatable element 1, the belt protection pocket opens and the inflatable element, which starts to inflate, comes out of the protective pocket. As shown in FIG. 4, the compressed air spreads in the inflatable element 1 and in particular in the annular structure 2 which inflates in the back of the person around his buttocks. At the same time, the seat pocket 3 unfolds. The inflation of the inflatable element 1 continues as illustrated in FIG. 5. In particular the annular structure 2 continues to expand to reach the thighs of the person while continuing to surround his buttocks. The person is thus engaged in the interior volume of the pocket 3 forming a seat, his legs being supported at the knees on the annular structure 2. The person is thus found in fetal position in the boat. Meanwhile, the water seeps through the top of the annular structure 2 into the seat pocket 3 and thus limits the boat's ascent rate to the surface, which limits the risk for the person to suffer. the "whiplash". In addition, the pocket filled with water forms a ballast that limits the drift of the boat. As recalled above, thanks to this pocket the center of gravity of the assembly consisting of the person and the boat is lowered, which limits the risk of overturning the boat in case of rough seas.

  The boat thus slowly rises to the surface with the person sitting in the fetal position as shown in FIG. 6.

  As shown in Figure 7, the person then pulls on the straps 11, 12 of the boat to finish sinking into the inner volume 4 of the pocket 15 3 seat. At the same time, the arch 5 is raised by driving the cover 6 to reach a substantially vertical position. The hoop 5 thus ensures, during its inflation, the introduction of the back protector or cover 6. The cover 6 which connects the hoop 5 to the rear part of the boat also allows to retain the hoop 5 in this vertical position, against the action exerted by the person on said hoop 5. The hoop 5 can be inflated with the same gas reserve as that acting on the annular structure or at the same time. using a separate gas reserve.

  The person then passes his arms in the lateral openings defined between the hoop 5 and the cover 6. The person thus surrounds with his arms the parts of the hoop 5 which are connected to the annular structure 2 of the boat, which which allows in case of projection in front, to avoid the expulsion of the person. Indeed, in the case of forward projection, the parts of the arch 5 located at the arms play the role of stop. Conversely, in case of rear projection, it is the cover 6 which prevents the person from being expelled from the boat. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the person is then seated in a fetal position in the boat, with his head positioned at the top of the hoop and his arms surrounding the hoop.

  The water that fills the seat pocket is stagnant and is thus rapidly warmed, allowing the person to retain his or her body heat longer.

  It is also possible to equip the rescue device protective sleeves hands (not shown) to protect the hands of the person against the cold water and weather.

  Finally, it is expected that the rescue device incorporates various accessories, such as a whistle 13 attached for example to the cover, a small floating anchor to limit drift, holding handles, an alarm rocket, or another radio transmitter.

  As shown in Figure 9, it can be provided that momentarily, or after a given time, the flashing light 8 illuminates to allow the identification of the boat. Of course, in all of the above, the device could form another article of clothing such as a vest, a harness or a jacket, the inflatable element being located close to the lower back so that the person can sit properly in the seat pocket, during inflation of the inflatable member.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown, but the art can apply any variant within his mind. Here, the inflating means of the boat are manual percussion, but alternatively could be provided a hydrostatic percussion system or electrical. 2917707 It can be provided that the device forms not an article of clothing but an object designed to float and able to be launched to the person to save.

  In this case, when the person has fallen overboard, a third person throws in its direction the rescue device which is presented externally, for example, in the form of a flexible or rigid shell which encloses the inflatable element. The fallen person reaches the rescue device which floats on the surface and pulls on a handle to release the gas contained in at least one air reserve. The inflatable element inflates and forms the boat as described above.

  The person then only has to hoist himself in the boat using the 15 straps. During this step the seat pocket fills with water. Then the person takes a position in the fetal position in the boat by sitting in the pocket filled with water. As mentioned above, this water is stagnant and will warm up.

  Of course, as described above, the person positions himself under the blanket with his head behind the top of the bow, so that the bow can serve as a front stop in case of forward projection. Finally, the person surrounds the arch of his arms.

Claims (10)

  1. Rescue device, of the type comprising at least one inflatable element (1), having at least two configurations, one of small size, said first configuration, in the deflated state of said element, and the other, said second configuration, forming a boat, in the inflated state of said element, said boat comprising at least one annular structure (2), one of the faces forming the bottom of the boat, is sealed, lo characterized in that that the face of the annular structure (2) forming the bottom of the boat is closed in a sealed manner by a pocket (3), sheath-type or sock, open towards the inside of the annular structure (2), this a pocket extending, in the inflated state of the annular structure (2), under said annular structure (2) in the manner of a keel, the inner volume (4) of said pocket (3) forming a seat of said boat.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (5) anti-reversal and anti-expulsion of the person. 20   3. Device according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that said means (5) anti-rollover and anti-expulsion affects the shape of an inflatable arch (5) surmounting the annular structure (2) and connecting two diametrically opposite points of said annular structure (2). 25   4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the top (7) of the arch (5) is spaced from the opening plane of the annular structure by a distance of between 40 cm and 100 cm, preferably between 40 and 70 cm so as to form a frontal abutment of support of the head of the person while seated in said pocket (3). 30   5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a back protector (6) which is secured, on the one hand, to the part of the annular structure (2) forming the back of the boat and, on the other hand, 12 to the top (7) of the bow (5).   6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a locating means (8) of the boat disposed at the top of the arch (4).   7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the locating means (8) is of the luminous type, such as a flashing light or a reflective strip.   8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said device forms, in its first configuration of small footprint, either an article of clothing or an object designed to float and able to be launched to the person to save . 15   9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said article of clothing is a belt (10) intended to be passed around the waist, said pocket (3) being located, in the state worn by the person, at the level of lower back of the person.   10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises at least one reserve (14) of compressed gas associated with trigger means (13) of the opening of the gas reserve allowing the inflating said inflatable element (1). 13