GB2150084A

GB2150084A - An adjustable self-locking multi-purpose inflatable tube or ring buoyancy aid

Info

Publication number: GB2150084A
Application number: GB08331174A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Maurice Pedlar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-11-22
Filing date: 1983-11-22
Publication date: 1985-06-26
Also published as: GB2150084B; GB8331174D0

Abstract

An adjustable multi-purpose inflatable buoyancy aid comprising of an inflatable tube or ring 1, an adjusting device 2, attachment means 4 and 5 which include one or more adjustable tightening releasing self locking devices 3 situated on the ring or tube such that as the adjusting device or devices are moved around the ring or tube it may be attached to the person 7 or any part thereof with any degree of grip and held in that state until released. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable self-locking multi-purpose inflatable tube or ring buoyancy aid This invention relates to an adjustable selflocking multi-purpose inflatable tube or ring buoyancy aid for swimmers.

Inflated rings are well known buoyancy aids. Their chief disadvantage is the ease with which the swimmer slips out of them during swimming activities. This is potentially dangerous. This movement of the ring also leads to obstruction to arm actions and increased drag. For beginners, in particular, arm bands are safer. But they also have fitting problems and similarly obstruct arm action.

The buoyancy needs of a learner swimmer change in both position and quantity as proficiency increases. So much so that it is usual to make use of a variety of buoyancy aids.

Even the expensive "float-suits" with reducable buoyancy means have to be supplemented with arm bands. When the improver stage is reached there are few aids on the market which ideally suit. More over, no improver would wish to appear to be going backwards by being made to put on armbands or any aid associated with beginners. Yet the advantage of some buoyancy in master of a better stroke is important. In addition to the improver there are many classes such as young babies, adults, and a variety of forms of handicaps for which there is no suitable and adjustable buoyancy aid available at reasonable prices.

There is no single aid avaiiable which satisfies all the requirements of both swimmer and teacher.

The cheapness of both plastic rings and arm bands despite their short life have resulted in the discontinuance of the manufacture of rubber rings which last at least ten times as long. The valve of cycle inner tubes present an obvious hazard to the swimmer.

According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable self-locking multi-purpose inflatable buoyancy aid comprising of an inflatable ring or tube, a segmenting joining medium and method within the ring or tube confines, attachment means which include one or more adjustable tightening releasing self locking devices situated on the ring or tube such that as the adjusting device or devices are moved around the ring or tube it may be attached to the person or any part thereof with any degree of grip and held in that state until released in the reverse manner.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of the examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective, the buoyancy aid being operated on the body of a swimmer.

Figure 2 shows a horizontal centre crosssection of the ring and segmenting device with attachments.

Figure 3 shows a vertical centre crosssection through the ring and the segmenting medium means and attachment devices.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the segmenting medium, means and attachment devices pulled towards each other in preparation for use.

Figure 5 shows a horizontal centre-section of a segmenting medium and means with a frictio'n device as the operating/atachment device.

Figure 6 shows a vertical centre section of the same features as listed for Fig. 5 but which also shows the segmenting medium and means as a figure of eight configuration passing through a distance piece.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a ring with a segmenting means and attachments in a figure of eight configuration and two movable adjusting self locking devices.

Figure 8 shows in perspective, two devices fixed together by the use of an additional segmenting device in such a way as to form a life jacket like harness for use round neck and waist of a swimmer.

Figure 9 shows a cross-section of the same arangement as in Fig. 8 drawn horizontally through the additional segmenting device.

Figure 10 shows in perspective, the device folded in half and placed on the shoulder or wrist being an example of the multi-purpose aspect of this invention.

Figure 11 shows a front view of a segmenting device formed by a loop and sleeve.

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the Device attached round waist and neck using two segmenting devices.

Referring to the drawings the buoyancy aid comprises the inflatable ring 1, in these examples a 1 2.Sin. cycle inner tube with valve 6, and a segmenting device which may consist of one or more parts. In Figs. 1 to 4, for example the segmenting device consists of four parts. The joining medium 2 for example a 2.5 length of PVC 2.5 wide lay flat tubing.

Two attachment devices 4 and 5. In this example, one fixed 4, and one adjustable 5 both may be made of nylon cord, tape or similar. And finally one or two adjusting self locking devices 3. In this example the later is of PVC lay-flat tubing through which is threaded the nylon cord 5.

An example of the various possible designs of the segmenting device is given in Fig. 7.

The segmenting means and method is a figure of eight tape or cord or similar 1 6 and two adjustable self locking devices 3 of PVC layflat tube through which the tape passes.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the figure of eight method includes a "distance-piece" tube 10 through which the joining medium passes in order to give less friction when adjusting the device.

Figs. 5 and 6 also show an adjusting means 9 consisting of two concentric flexible tubes between which the ends 1 3 of the attachment device 5 pass. This allows additional adjustment of the amount of grip to the body 7 or limb 14 within the ring and allows the grip of the attachment device 5 to the ring 1 to be adjusted up to a locked state irrespective of other adjustments or usage. When, as in Figs.

5 and 6, a figure of eight configuration or a loop is used with some form of adjustable fastening to the attachment device then adjustment may also be made to the length of the joining medium 2 during usage.

In Fig. 11 the segmenting device is formed from a loop 1 7 which passes through the sleeve 2.

In Figs. 1 to 4 the fixed attachment means 4 is a cable tie, tape or cord or similar pulled tight to compress the ring. In these examples the valve 6 is pushed through a 5/16th in.

hole in the lay flat tube 2.

In these example the valve acts as an anchor to one end of the segmenting device and also becomes a discrete part of it and is thereby protected from obvious and detrimental contact with the body or parts thereof whatever the size.

The self-locking attachment device 5 is preferably a flexible loop of, for example, cord, tape, plastic.

To operate the invention, the adjusting device or devices 3 may be pulled together as shown in Fig. 4. Then, as shown in Fig. 1, the ring may be passed round the body 7 or limb 14 in Figs. 10 and 11. The operator grips the ring and adjusting device with the hands 8 and pulls the adjusting device 3 firmly towards the Body 7 until it compresses the ring against the body. It is this compression of the ring which controls the self-locking and tightness of grip on the body. Lack of pressure in the ring may adversely effect this function. Further adjustment and locking of the segmenting device to the tube may then be applied by an additional device as shown in Fig. 5 and 6 in which example the ends 1 3 may be pulled thus increasing pressure on the tube. To release the ring the reverse action is performed.Prior or during the operation the ring 1 may be twisted into any shape as Fig.

10 or 12.

Two or more rings may be used as for example in Figs. 8 and 9 in which a second ring 1 2 is passed through ring 1 and adjustably held by a second segmenting device on ring 1. Thus the two rings may form a "lifejacket" like harness.

Any such variations with or without the attaching additional buoyancy materials, fabric, padding and the like are considered to be within the scope of this invention.

CLAIMS 1. According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable self-locking multi-purpose inflatable buoyancy aid comprising of an inflatable tube or ring, a segmenting joining medium and method within the ring or tube confines, attachment means which include one or more adjustable tightening releasing self locking devices situated on the ring or tube such that as the adjusting device or devices are moved around the ring or tube it may be attached to the person or any part thereof with any degree of grip and held in that state until released in the reverse manner.

2. An adjustable self-locking multi-purpose inflatable buoyancy aid tube or ring as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflatable ring is a cycle inner tube with or without a means of guarding the valve from obvious contact with the user.

3. An adjustable self-locking multi-purpose inflatable buoyancy aid tube or ring as claimed as in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein the means of guarding the valve of the cycle inner tube is performed by the nature of the segmenting joining medium and means with or without the use of the valve as an attachment point of the ring to the segmenting device.

4. An adjustable self-locking multi-purpose inflatable buoyancy aid tube or ring as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, or claim 3, wherein the segmenting device is adjustable in length.

5. An adjustable self-locking multi-purpose inflatable buoyancy aid tube or ring as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tightening releasing device includes additional adjusting means of tightening releasing the segmenting means to the tube irrespective of the movement of the segmenting means around the tube or the use being made of the tube.

6. An adjustable self-locking multi-purpose inflatable buoyancy aid tube or ring as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a multiple of segmenting devices with or without adjusting tightening releasing devices or alternative means of attachments are used.

7. An adjustable self-locking multi-purpose inflatable buoyancy aid tube or ring as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, one or more others of the invention are combined or other buoyancy materials, fabrics, padding and the like are added.

8. An adjustable self-locking multi-purpose inflatable buoyancy aid tube or ring as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tube is formed into any shape prior or during use.

9. An adjustable self-locking multi-purpose inflatable buoyancy aid tube or ring as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the invention is used as dn attachment or lifting device or like usage other than for swimmers.

10. An adjustable self-locking multi-pur pose inflatable buoyancy aid tube or ring substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1-12 of the accompanying drawing.

Claims

CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claims 1-10 above have been deleted or textually amended. New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:-

1. A buoyancy aid comprising an inflatable endless tube or ring and segmenting means for dividing the tube or ring into at least two loops, the or each segmenting means comprising end portions which engage the tube or ring at spaced positions therearound and an intermediate portion connecting the end portions, at least one of said end portions encircling the tube or ring and acting to locally deform the inflated tube or ring, said at least one end portion being adjustable relative to the inflated tube or ring by pulling the tube or ring therethrough to vary the relative sizes of said loops and being retained in adjusted position by said local deformation of the tube or ring.

2. A buoyancy aid according to Claim 1, wherein said inflatable tube or ring is a cycle inner tube.

3. A buoyancy aid according to to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inflatable tube or ring has valve means whereby it can be inflated and wherein the other of said end portions is fixedly secured to the tube or ring at the location of said valve means.

4. A buoyancy aid according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate portion of said segmenting means serves to shield the valve means from contact with the person of a user of the aid.

5. A buoyancy aid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one end portion comprises a tab portion which can be gripped in the fingers to facilitate said adjustment.

6. A buoyancy aid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said segmenting means is adjustable for length.

7. A buoyancy aid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said end portions comprise rings or loops which encircle the inflatable tube or ring.

8. A buoyancy aid according to claim 7, wherein said end portions are flexible.

9. A buoyancy aid according to claim 8, wherein said end portions are formed from flexible cord or tape.

10. A buoyancy aid according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein said intermediate portion comprises a connecting loop or band.

11. A buoyancy aid according to claim 7, wherein the segmenting means comprises a loop of flexible material and a sleeve through which said loop passes and which cooperates with the loop to define said end portions.

12. A buoyancy aid substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, Figs.

5 to 6, Fig. 7, Figs. 8 and 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11 or Fig. 1 2 of the accompanying drawings.