GB2037467A - Visible-signalling device - Google Patents

Abstract

A visible-signalling device is provided for indicating the position of people, or land-, air-, or sea-craft in distress. The device has a hollow body 1, a wind-sleeve 2 and a line 3 which can be housed in the body with the line 3 attached at one end to the wind-sleeve 2 and at the other end to the body 1. Means are provided for releasing the wind- sleeve 2 from the body 1 into the air to the extent permitted by the attached line 3 to provide a visible flying signal. A light emitter may be carried by wind-sleeve 2. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATiON Visible-signalling device This invention relates to a visible-signalling device for indicating the position of people, or land-, air-, or sea-craft in distress.

Various such devices are known but there is a need for an improved device which is both readily portable and, in use, readily visible.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a visible-signalling device for indicating the position of people, or land-, air- or sea-craft in distress, which device has a hollow body, a wind-sleeve and a line which can be housed in the body with the line attached at one end to the wind-sleeve and at the other end to the body, and means for releasing the wind-sleeve from the body into the air to the extent permitted by the attached line to provide a visible flying signal.

Preferably the means for releasing the windsleeve includes a source of lighter-than-air gas releasable, such as for example by removal of a lid from the body, into a gas container part of the wind-sleeve to lift the latter into the air.

The gas contaner part of the wind-sleeve may be sealable- or openable to air.

A tubular telescopic section may be provided on or form part of the body, with the line running through the telescopic section in the direction of extension and retraction thereof. Conveniently the line is carried on a reel rotatably located within the body.

Advantageously the wind-sleeve carries a light emitter, such as a light bulb switchably connectible via a current carrying wire, which may itself constitute or be attached to the line, to a source of electrical energy housable in the body. Alternatively the light emitter may be an optical fibre or light guide which itself constitutes or is attached to the line and switchably connectible to a source of electrical energy housable in the body.

Conveniently the body is provided with means, such as a suction pad, for releasably attaching it to a support.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partially sectioned perspective view of a visible-signalling device according to one embodiment of the invention, in a closed inoperative position, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 in an open operative position.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings a visible-signalling device according to one embodiment of the present invention provides a readily portable means of indicating the position of people, or land-, airor sea-craft in distress. The device has a hollow body 1, preferably tubular and made of any convenient material such as plastics or plastics covered metal, for housing a windsleeve 2 and a line 3 attached at one end 3a to the wind-sleeve 2 and at the other end 3b to the body 1. Means are provided for releasing the wind-sleeve 2 from the body 1 into the air to the extent permitted by the attached line 3 to provide a visible flying signal.

In the illustrated embodiment the means for releasing the wind-sleeve 2 includes a source 4 of lighter-than-air gas, such as helium. This gas may be released in any convenient manner, in this case by removal of a lid 5 from the body 1, into a gas container part 6 of the wind-sleeve 2 to lift the latter into the air. To this end the line 3 is lightly attached to the undersurface of the lid 5 so that the line and attached wind-sleeve 2 are carried with the lid 5 on removal thereof from the body 1, whereupon the attachment of the line 3 to the lid 5 can be broken if desired. Removal of the lid 5 from the body 1 and entrainment of the line 3 can be used to trigger the supply of gas from the source 4 into the gas container part 6 of the wind-sleeve 2 to lift the latter into the air.

Alternatively a switch may be provided to trigger the supply of gas to the gas container part 6. The gas container part 6 may be open to air at one end so that the gas is retained therein by gravity or sealable to hold the gas therein. Conveniently the wind-sleeve 2 has the form of an open ended cylinder as shown in Fig. 2 with the gas container part 6 being defined between inner and outer walls of the wind-sleeve 2. This wind-sleeve 2 may be made of any convenient material such as a natural or plastics fabric, preferably nylon.

A tubular telescopic section 7 may be provided on or form part of the body 1. In the illustrated embodiment the telescopic section 7, preferably made of the same material as the body 1, is housed within the body 1. The line 3, conveniently made of nylon, runs through the telescopic section 7 in the direction of extension and retraction of the section 7. The end 3b of the line 3 is mounted on a reel 8 rotatably secured in the body 1 and the line is releasably attached adjacent the end 3b, to the lid 5. The uppermost part 7a of the telescopic section 5 may also be releasably attached to the lid 5 to be extended by removal of the lid or the section may be extensible in any convenient automatic or non-automatic manner, such as manually or by spring means.

Preferably the gas source 4 is made of collapsible material such as rubber in order to present no hindrance to extension of the telescopic section 7 when the gas has been released therefrom into the wind-sleeve part 6. If the gas source 4 container is made of rigid material it is located so as not to hinder extension of the telescopic section 7.

Advantageously the wind-sleeve is made of a readily visible material and to this end may be fluorescent and/or carry a light emitter. In the illustrated embodiment the wind sleeve 2 carries a filament or bulb (not shown) or other light radiating means, which is connected via a current carrying wire (not shown) and a switch 9 to a source of electrical energy, such as a dry cell battery 1 0 removably housed in the base of the body 1. The current carrying wire may constitute or form part of the line 3 and conveniently is attached to and loosely wrapped around the line 3 to move therewith, passed around the reel 8 and connected to the switch 9.

Alternatively the light emitter may be an optical fibre or light guide which itself constitutes or is attached to the line 3 and connected via the switch 9 to the battery 10.

In order to locate the device in position on a surface, means advantageously are provided for releasably attaching it to a support. Conveniently, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 this means takes the form of a suction pad 11 attached to the base of the body 1. Alternatively or in addition, a similar suction pad (not shown) may be attached to the side of the body 1.

Any other suitable releasable attachment means may be utilised such as Velcro (Trade Mark) pads, hooks, tapes, magnets or the like.

Claims (11)

1. A visible-signalling device for indicating the position of people, or land-, air-, or seacraft in distress, which device has a hollow body, a wind-sleeve and a line which can be housed in the body with the line attached at one end to the wind-sleeve and at the other end to the body, and means for releasing the wind-sleeve from the body into the air to the extent permitted by the attached line to provide a visible flying signal.

2. A visible-signalling device according to claim 1, wherein the means for releasing the wind-sleeve includes a source of lighter-thanair gas releasable into a gas container part of the wind-sleeve to lift the latter into the air.

3. A visible-signalling device according to claim 2, wherein the means for releasing the wind-sleeve is actuable by removal of a lid from the body.

4. A visible-signalling device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the gas container part of the wind-sleeve is sealable or openable to air.

5. A visible-signalling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, including a tubular telescopic section provided on or forming part of the body, with the line running through the telescopic section in the direction of extension and retraction thereof.

6. A visible-signalling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, whereby the line is carried on a reel rotatably located within the body.

7. A visible-signalling device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the windsleeve carries a light emitter.

8. A visible-signalling device according to claim 7, wherein the light emitter is a light bulb switchably connectible via a current carrying wire, which constitutes or is attached to the line, to a source of electrical energy housable in the body.

9. A visible-signalling device according to claim 7, wherein the light emitter is an optical fibre or light guide which itself constitutes or is attached to the line and switchably connectible to a source of electrical energy housable in the body.

10. A visible-signalling device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 including means for releasably attaching it to a support.

11. A visible-signalling device according to claim 10, wherein the means for releasably attaching the device to a support is a suction pad.

1 2. A visible-signalling device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.