GB2322335A

GB2322335A - Swim aid

Info

Publication number: GB2322335A
Application number: GB9703922A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward O'connor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-02-25
Filing date: 1997-02-25
Publication date: 1998-08-26
Also published as: GB9703922D0

Abstract

A swim aid in the form of an inflatable belt-like tube 10 wrappable around the body as belt or other strapping slender in profile to permit uninhibited swimming contains a pressurised cylinder 7 and emergency release mechanism 2 that inflates the swim aid when needed. Such aid is covered in protective material and is expandable in diameter when inflated. The release mechanism includes a release bar 3 swivelable on a hinge 12 and having fixing pins 4 positioned inside a series of ring hinges 5 and connected to the pressurised cylinder 7 via a valve release unit 8 and a valve connector 11.

Description

SWIM AID This invention relates to recreational and lifesaving flotation devices and aids for swimmers Swimming is a potentially hazardous recreation or activity for which reason there are many inflation related swimming aids and rescue devices in particular the life-jacket and other widely used products such as water wings and rubber rings and floats.

However, these and other similar products are divided between recreational and learning groups and those being actively rescued from the water, or in danger of needing rescue. The average swimmer is regarded as simply wishing to swim, and in doing so, does not wish to be hampered by aids or toys. This however puts the swimmer at risk of sudden accident, and since help may take time to reach such a distressed person, serious injury or death.

This is true for all segments of the population but especially so for young people and children who wish to swim without encumbrance but are at great risk of mishap. The present invention seeks to address this problem by providing a swim aid that may be worn while swimming without impeding the swimmer and which may be activated when needed to aid flotation.

According to the present invention there is provided a swim aid in the form of an inflatable expandable flexible tube collapsible reducible or foldable to a slim aerodynamic shape such as to be strappably wearable on the body as in around the waist or chest with optional support straps or the like such shape permitting free movement in the water for the wearer when uninflated and being inflatable simply and quickly and extendably when required. Such tube being partly or wholly protected by an integral or add on protective covering of flexible material such as to permit the tube to inflate when required.

Such tube being connected to or having within it's length a fasteningftelease mechanism operable in stages ranging from securely lockable to intel mediate/ready-for-use to fully opened or released.

Such fastening/release mechanism having an emergency release system or lever or handle or mechanism easily accessib]e and simply operational in the intermediate position Such fastening/release mechanism having an optional fail-safe system such that the release mechanism once placed in the intermediate or pre-active position prior to swimming or possible use remains locked in such position unless actively reversed.

Such release mechanism being so configured when released or activated as to possess expandability via an optional unfolding or sliding mechanism in part of the tube itself, or via the folding or overlapped or layered configuration of the buckle or fastening/release mechanism itself such that on release the mechanism permits an overall optional extension of the circumference of the swim aid as inflation occurs.

Such expandability being designed so as to allow the swim aid to be optionally repositioned from the waist to the chest upon inflation and so assist in keeping the wearer afloat.

Such release mechanism also being attached or connected to a cylinder or store of compressed air or gas or similar expandable material so designed that activation of the release mechanism operates a valve or similar control device thereby releasing the said air/gas or other expandable substance into the tube, thereby inflating it.

Such cylinder or store of compressed air or gas or similar expandable substance being simply replaceable and/or rechargeable after use.

Such swim aid/flotation device having in addition a pattern or design such that when inflated will attract attention via the use of vivid colours or the release of a signalling mechanism, A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 Shows the swim aid in the form of a belt featuring a folded tube protected via a folded covering and an expandable fastening and stageable release and activation mechanism connected to a cylinder containing a compressed gas or air.

Figure 2 Shows a cross section detail of the belt/covered tube in side view showing the folded covering and inner folded belt from a stage of uninflated rest through to inflation as the covering opens/separates and permits the inflated tube to expand.

Figure 3 Shows the buckle or fastening and release mechanism as it is operated through a succession of stages from closed (A) to leads to use (B) to activated (C) to operably expanding (D) Figure 4 Shows the swim aid with the release mechanism activated and the fastening in expanding mode.

Figure 5 Shows the swim aid with the still covered tube and fastening/release mechanism expanded to full circumference due to the influx of compressed air/gas from the cylinder.

Figure 6 Shows the folded covering on the tube opened via the pressure of air entering the tube and thereby expanding the tube outwards.

Figure 7 Shows the tube expanding under the pressure of the compressed air/gas entering it.

Figure 8 Shows the tube fully expanded and inflated.

Referring to the drawings the swim aid consists of an inflatable and expandable flexible tube 10 folded within an attached protective and folded covering 1 and connected to a three sectioned fastener 2 with a release bar 3 swivelable on a hinge 1 2 and having twin fixing pins 4 positioned inside a series of ring hinges 5 and connected in turn to a valve release unit 8 via a valve connector 11 to a compressed gas/air cylinder 7 such that the release bar may be moved from a rest and closed position (figure 3/A) to a ready for use position (figure 3/B) prior to the wearer entering the water, and thereafter when needed may be activated by tugging downwards on the bar 3 (figure 3/C arrow) such that the twin fixing pins 4 are pulled downwards simultaneously releasing the three sectioned fastener 2 to expand to it's full length (figure 3/D) and releasing a valve contained in the valve connector 1 1 thereby permitting compressed gas/air to inflate the covered tube 1/10 such that the folded covering 1 is forced open (figure 2) and the tube thereafter allowed to fully inflate (figures 6-8). Such inflation and expansion of the fastener permitting the inflated tube to rise up from the waist to the greater circumference of the chest and thereby supporting the person utilising the swim aid in an effective manner.

Claims

A swim aid in the form of an covered protected inflatable expandable flexible tube collapsible reducible or foldable to a slim aerodynamic shape such as to be strappably wearable on the body as in around the waist or chest with optional support straps or the like such shape permitting free movement in the water for the wearer when uninflated and being inflatable simply and quickly and extendably when required.
2 A swim aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein such tube is partly or wholly protected by a an integral or add on protective covering of flexible visually attractive material such as to permit the tube to inflate when required.
3 A swim aid as claimed in claim 1 and 2 wherein such tube is connected to or having within it's length a fastening/release mechanism operable in stages ranging from securely lockable to intermediate/ready.for-use to fully opened or released.
4 A swim aid as claimed in claim 1 and 2 and 3 wherein such fastening/release mechanism having an emergency release system or lever or handle or mechanism easily accessible and simply operational in a pre-selectable intermediate position
5 A swim aid as claimed in claim 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 wherein such fastening/release mechanism having an optional fail-safe system such that the release mechanism once placed in the intermediate or pre-active position prior to swimming or possible use remains locked in such position unless actively reversed.
6 A swim aid as claimed in claim 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 Such release mechanism being so configured when released or activated as to possess expand ability via an optional unfolding/expanding/overlapping of the tube itself if so folded, or compressed or via the folding or configuration of the buckle or fastening/release mechanism itself such that on release the mechanism permits an overall optional extension of the circumference of the overall swim aid as inflation occurs.
7 A swim aid as claimed in claim 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 Such expandability being designed so as to allow the swim aid to be optionally repositioned from the waist to the chest upon inflation or expanding to fit the chest automatically.
8 A swim aid as claimed in claim 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 Such release mechanism also being attached to a cylinder or store of compressed air or gas or similar expandable material so designed that activation of a release mechanism operates a valve or similar control device which then releases the said air/gas or other expandable substance into the tube, thereby inflating it.
9 A swim aid as claimed in claim 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 and 8 Such cylinder or store of compressed air or gas or similar expandable substance being simply replaceable and/or rechargeable after use.
10.

A swim aid as claimed in claim 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 and 8 and 9, wherein the swim aid features attractive/luminous or otherwise highly visible features upon inflation and optional alert device or mechanism.