FR3114223A1 - LIGHT LIFE JACKET - Google Patents

Abstract

This life jacket comprising a shell (30) and a thin rubber base (14), said control module (1) having means (50) for fixing the module (1) to clothing (4,5), the shell (30) enclosing an electronic circuit (31) comprising a battery (34) and signaling means (36,38,40,44,46,48) of the wearer of the garment, the control module (1) further comprising photovoltaic elements (12) arranged on the shell (30)]. Figure for the abstract: Fig 1

Description

LIGHT LIFE JACKET

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

_{The present invention relates to life jackets allowing its user to be rescued more easily in the event of critical danger, in particular in the context of hiking in the mountains or at sea.}

_{The present invention aims to constitute a jacket which is not exclusively maritime, suitable for various situations, and which in particular minimizes its weight and its size.}
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

_{Life jackets adapted for rescue in the event of drowning are known. For the sake of enabling a user to specifically survive drowning, these jackets often include sophisticated inflation means allowing the user to float after inflation, to the detriment of any performance of the jacket on other criteria: weight, bulk , ergonomics out of the water, variety of features...}

_{These solutions are therefore cumbersome to implement and unsuitable in situations other than situations at risk of drowning. In particular, this type of jacket often has nothing planned for the dangers other than drowning, against which they are therefore useless or unused, in the absence of current or imminent danger. Above all, these jackets have no prevention or rescue means for mountain dangers, and they are often only used in the event of imminent or ongoing danger.}

_{The object of the present invention is to overcome at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a lightweight jacket which will be worn by a hiker exposed to numerous risks and not only to drowning, and without an inflation system, thus capable of combining advantages simplicity, efficiency and reliability for its implementation, and this for preventive or emergency use, on a wide variety of activities.}

_{In view of the foregoing, the subject of the invention is a control module intended to be fixed to clothing, comprising a shell and a thin rubber base, said control module having means for fixing the module to clothing, the shell enclosing an electronic circuit comprising a battery and means for signaling the wearer of the garment, the control module further comprising photovoltaic elements arranged on the shell.}

_{Preferably, some of the signaling means are adapted to allow visibility of the wearer of the garment by means of lighting.}

_{For example, some of the signaling means are adapted to allow visibility of the wearer of the garment by reflective self-adhesive backlighting means surrounding the shell.}

_{Advantageously, the module includes a button for activating the signaling means arranged on a concave curvature of an outer periphery of the shell, said shell having a generally bean-shaped shape ergonomically adapted to the hand of a user.}

_{According to one embodiment, some of the signaling means comprise a radio, GPS or GSM signal transmitter.}

_{In one embodiment, some of the signaling means comprise a microphone and loudspeaker module.}

_{Advantageously, some of the signaling means comprise an accelerometer configured to detect a falling movement of the control module.}

_{The control module may further comprise means for fixing the control module to a garment allowing fixing by sewing, gluing or clipping of the base to the garment.}

_{The invention also relates to a life jacket comprising two side panels joined to the rear of the jacket by a rear panel of the jacket, the two side panels comprising two openings for the passage of the arms of a user, the two side panels being joined to the front of the jacket by removable closure means at the front of the jacket, the two side panels and the rear panel being lined internally with foam, the jacket further comprising at least one control module according to the any one of the preceding claims disposed in a centered position on one of the side panels or on the rear panel.}

_{Preferably, the life jacket comprises a liquid dispenser having a flexible waterproof container placed on an inner face of one of the side panels and connected at its outlet to a pipe having a fitting adapted for the distribution of said liquid from the flexible waterproof container .}

_{A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the figures in which:}

• _{[Fig 1] represents a life jacket in front view;}
• _{[Fig 2] represents a life jacket in rear view;}
• _{[Fig 3] represents the interior of a side production of the lifejacket;}
• _{[Fig 4] represents the control module and its components;}

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

_{Figure 1 illustrates a life jacket according to the invention, worn by a user and seen from the front. It comprises two side panels 4.}

_{As shown in Figure 2, the side panels are joined at the back of the jacket 4.5 by a back panel 5 of the jacket 4.5.}

_{The two side panels 4 include two openings for the passage of a user's arms. They are joined to the front of the jacket 4.5 by removable closure means 6 at the front of the jacket 4.5, which are in a known manner constituted for example by clips, a zipper, buttons …depending on the desired style.}

_{The side 4 and rear 5 panels are lined internally with foam. Nevertheless, it is a light jacket intended to be worn also in activity, especially when hiking in the mountains. The 4.5 jacket is therefore particularly compact unlike existing jackets, and does not limit the user's movements. Thus, the light and comfortable jacket is intended to be worn for a long time and in a preventive manner, which makes it possible to prevent and protect the user in dangerous situations to which he may expose himself, such as getting lost or injured, regardless of whether these situations actually occur or not.}

_{Unlike conventional life jackets, this one does not have an inflation system. The jacket is filled with foam and air, to be buoyant in the event of a fall in a body of water.}

_{The mixture of foam combined with air in the sides of the 4.5 jacket provides buoyancy assistance in the event of the user falling in water, without having to perform a inflation before or when falling into the water.}

_{Jacket 2 further comprises at least one control module 1.}

_{The module 1 can be arranged on one of the side panels 4, in a position centered horizontally on said side panel 4. It can also be placed on the rear panel 5, centered horizontally on the back of the user.}

_{As illustrated by Figs 1 and 2, one can of course provide several modules 1, in particular a module on each side panel 4 and a back. In addition, these modules are preferably placed high on the jacket 4.5, namely close to the shoulders of the user, which facilitates their use and increases their effectiveness when it comes to providing visibility of the user to the rescuers and that the user is standing.}

_{As illustrated by Figure 3, the jacket 4.5 may comprise a dispenser 16 of liquid 19 having a flexible sealed container 18. It may in particular be placed on an inner face of one of the side panels 4, which makes it possible to protect it the environment, for example to protect it from being pierced by brambles during a hike.}

_{The dispenser 16 is connected, via an outlet of the flexible sealed container 18, to a pipe 20 having a nozzle 22 adapted for the distribution of the liquid 19 contained in the flexible sealed container 18.}

_{This provides both a reserve that can be valuable if the user is lost and dehydrated, and also that can be easily accessed by the user in different positions, even if he is walking, if he is lying or if it is submerged in water.}

_{The jacket can also provide a pocket 24, inside or outside, resealable or not, allowing food to be stored, for example to prevent a lack of sugar, or to have reserves in the event of an emergency.}

_{To this end, the distributor 16 as well as the module 1 are designed to be perfectly watertight.}

_{Figure 4 details the control module 1 intended to be adapted on a garment, in particular on the lifejacket.}

_{Module 1 has an outer shell 30 and a thin rubber base 14.}

_{The rubber base 14 is sewn to the fabric. The use of rubber keeps the flexibility of the 4.5 jacket, making it comfortable to use without compromising the integrity of the modules.}

_{The shell 30 is preferably also flexible, and comprises for example polycarbonate. The total flexibility of the module 1 makes it possible to make wearing the jacket comprising several modules 1 more comfortable, since the shell 30 and its thin rubber base 14, which is also flexible, adapt to the movements of the jacket, which frees the user's freedom of movement.}

_{The control module 1 has fixing means 50 of the module 1 on a 4.5 garment, in particular on the 4.5 jacket, but it can be considered on other types of clothing.}

_{The control module can be removed and attached to another jacket. This also allows the user to attach the module to his favorite jacket, but also to recover the module 1 in the event of the end of life of the garment alone.}

_{The fixing means 50 are provided on the rubber base 14. Three techniques are particularly advantageous for fixing the base 14 on the jacket 4.5: clipping, sewing and gluing.}

_{By clipping, the module 1 can be attached by additional clip-on buttons provided on the module and on the base 14 fixed to the jacket 4.5. Clip-on buttons are for example made of plastic.}

_{By sewing, the module 1 can be sewn through the thin rubber base 14 so as to be perfectly integral with the jacket 4.5.}

_{By gluing, the control module can be directly attached to the jacket by an adhesive strip, in particular adhesive on these two faces.}

_{The shell 30 of the module 1 contains an electronic circuit 31 comprising a battery 34 and signaling means 36,38,40,44,46,48 of the user wearing the jacket 4.5.}

_{The control module 1 further comprises photovoltaic elements 12 arranged on the shell 30 and adapted to supply the battery 34 with electricity.}

_{Some of the signaling means 36,38,40,44,46,48 can be adapted to allow visibility of the wearer of the garment 4.5 by lighting means 44, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), or a ribbon of LEDs, in particular red, which increases visibility for the human eye.}

_{The lighting means 44 can also be adapted to allow the user to light his way in the event of a night situation, for example if he has gotten lost in the mountains at nightfall, which saves him from having to having to bring and carry a flashlight for lighting.}

_{For example, the visibility of the wearer of the garment 4.5 is made by backlighting means 48 with reflective sticker surrounding the shell 30. It is possible in particular to provide a self-adhesive reflective band around the shell 30.}

_{Advantageously, an activation button 32 on the shell 30, which allows the activation or deactivation of the signaling means 36,38,40,44,46,48.}

_{This module 1 can thus house all the control and communication systems promoting the alert and the arrival of help.}

_{The button 32 is advantageously arranged on a concave curvature of an outer periphery of the shell 30. This facilitates the gripping of the button 32, of the push-button type, and the activation of the functions of the electronic circuit 31.}

_{The shell 30 may have a generally bean-shaped shape ergonomically adapted to the hand of a user.}

_{This is particularly the case of the shells provided at the front of the jacket 4.5, namely provided on the side panels 4, since these are intended to be directly accessible by the user.}

_{It will be noted that the concavity is more favorably placed in the direction of the shoulder of the user, so that the button 32 of a side module is reached and grabbed more easily either by the hand opposite the side of this side module on the jacket 4.5, and then more particularly more easily activated by the thumb, opposite to the other fingers, or by the hand on the same side of the jacket 4.5 as this side module, and then more particularly more easily activated by the four fingers of this hand other than the thumb in opposition to the palm of the hand.}

_{The shape is thus particularly ergonomic by virtue of its accessibility and the ease of gripping for any hand of the user as well as a hand of a person other than the user. This ease and time savings are particularly important for critical situations.}

_{It is of course possible to provide that any module 1 placed on the jacket 4.5 in a way that is less accessible to the user, in particular any module 1 which would be placed on the back panel 5, is coupled by its electronic circuit 31 to the electronic circuit 31 d at least one module comprising an activation button 32, so that the activation of one leads to the activation of the other.}

_{Thus, for example, a rear module and its lighting are provided, connected to the front module by a thread sewn under the jacket to give more visibility to the person in danger.}

_{According to one embodiment, some of the signaling means 36,38,40,44,46,48 comprise a radio, GPS or GSM signal transmitter, 40, 46. It makes it possible to transmit an alert signal to the surroundings and to notify the emergency services, or help the rescuers find the user who has been lost.}

_{In particular, the radio signal transmitter 46 transmits a radio signal on a frequency specific to emergencies. This opens a direct line of communication with the emergency services and in fact allows for a faster response time. In the current state of the art, the means of telemetric communication for the emergency services are approximately four hundred and six mega Hertz.}

_{The radio transmitter can be paired with a GSM and/or GPS 40 module which connects the vest to cellular networks, allowing the user to call and communicate with nearby emergency services.}

_{In one embodiment, some of the signaling means 36,38,40,44,46,48 further comprise a microphone and speaker module 36, 38, which thus allows communication between the user and the emergency services. Provision can also be made for the microphone and loudspeaker module 36, 38 to be capable of emitting a sound signal helping to find the user, or even to be able to emit a set of pre-recorded audio recordings, such as emergency instructions intended to reassure or help the user.}

_{Advantageously, some of the signaling means 36,38,40,44,46,48 comprise an accelerometer 42 configured to detect a falling movement of the control module 1.}

_{Accelerometer 42 detects sudden movements that may signify an accident, such as a fall, and activates emergency mode.}

_{When idle, most modules are in sleep mode to save power, while Accelerometer 42 is essentially the only one kept active, configured to detect any sudden movement that could signify a crash.}

_{The emergency mode can be activated by the user via the activation button 32, or by the accelerometer 42.}

_{Emergency mode should be activated when an accident has been detected. The accelerometer is then the only module which becomes inactive, while the microphone and loudspeaker module 36, 38, the GPS and GSM modules 40, the LED light strips 44, and the radio transmitter 46 are activated at substantially four hundred and six mega Hertz.}

_{The authorities are then informed via radio transmitter 46.}

_{They are also contacted via the GSM/GPS module 40, allowing the user to communicate directly with the emergency services, and to report their location via a dedicated emergency satellite which receives the data and sends it to the emergency services. nearest emergencies.}

_{The LEDs light up to make the user more visible, especially in the dark.}

_{Thanks to the jacket of the invention, the emergency services locate the user in danger, who is lost or who has suffered an accident, thanks to the coordinates and the lights on the jacket, and the rescue of the user is produced within an average of forty-five minutes.}

Claims (10)

_{Control module (1) comprising a shell (30) and a thin rubber base (14), said control module (1) having means (50) for fixing the module (1) to clothing (4,5) , the shell (30) containing an electronic circuit (31) comprising a battery (34) and signaling means (36,38,40,44,46,48) of the wearer of the garment, the control module (1) comprising further photovoltaic elements (12) arranged on the shell (30). Control module (1) according to claim 1, in which some of the signaling means (36,38,40,44,46,48) are adapted to allow visibility of the wearer of the garment (4,5) by lighting means (44). Control module (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, in which some of the signaling means (36,38,40,44,46,48) are adapted to allow visibility of the wearer of the garment ( 4.5) by means of backlighting (48) reflective sticker surrounding the shell (30). Control module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, having an activation button (32) of the signaling means (36,38,40,44,46,48) disposed on a concave curvature of a circumference exterior of the shell (30), said shell (30) having a generally kidney-shaped shape ergonomically adapted to the hand of a user. Control module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which some of the signaling means (36,38,40,44,46,48) comprise a radio, GPS or GSM signal transmitter (40, 46) . Control module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which some of the signaling means (36,38,40,44,46,48) comprise a microphone and loudspeaker module (36, 38). Control module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which certain of the signaling means (36,38,40,44,46,48) comprise an accelerometer (42) configured to detect a falling movement of the module control (1). Control module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the fixing means (50) of the control module (1) on a garment (4, 5) allow fixing by sewing, gluing or clipping of the base (14) on the garment (4.5). Life jacket (1) comprising two side panels (4) joined at the back of the jacket (1) by a rear panel (5) of the jacket (1), the two side panels (4) comprising two openings for the passage of a user's arms, the two side panels (4) being joined to the front of the jacket (1) by removable closure means (6) at the front of the jacket (1), the two panels sides (4) and the rear panel (5) being lined internally with foam, the jacket (2) further comprising at least one control module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims disposed in a position centered on one side panels (4) or on the rear panel (5). Life jacket (1) according to claim 9, further comprising a dispenser (16) of liquid (19) having a flexible waterproof container (18) placed on an inner face of one of the side panels (4) and connected to its outlet to a hose (20) having a fitting (22) suitable for dispensing said liquid (19) from the flexible sealed container (18).}