GB2329874A - Illuminated article - Google Patents

Abstract

An article which may take the form of a lifejacket, buoy or garment, comprises a pocket or cell 2 which is at least partially defined by semi-transparent membranous material 3. A light source 8 is disposed within the pocket or cell, and the light therefrom is diffused by the pocket or cell, making the article highly visible.

Description

DESCRIPTION ILLUMINATED ARTICLE The present invention relates to illuminated articles, and has particularly important applications in relation to inflatable buoyancy devices for use at sea or on waterways, specifically lifejackets and buoys, and in relation to high visibility garments.

To consider first the field of inflatable buoyancy bodies, it is frequently very important at sea to be able to find an object in the water, such as a man over board or a buoy. To this end, it is well known to provide buoyancy bodies such as lifejackets and buoys with a light. Typically, the light simply comprises a filament bulb in a waterproof casing affixed to the exterior of the buoyancy body, eg. on the shoulder of a lifejacket or at the upper end of a marker buoy.

Lights are in fact mandatory on certain buoyancy bodies, eg. (subject to certain exclusions) on lifejackets kept on aircraft and ships.

Lifejacket lights are conventionally switched on in any of three different ways: i. by means of a manual pull tab connected to a switch; ii. by means of a mechanical device responsive to inflation of the lifejacket; or iii by means of an electronic device responsive to the reduction in resistance between two electrical contacts produced by immersion.

In all three cases, the same means used to switch on the light may also actuate a device for release of gas into the lifejacket, to inflate it.

Another type of inflatable buoyancy body commonly fitted with a light is a Dan buoy - essentially, an elongate inflatable mast which, having weighty batteries or some other mass at its foot, floats in a substantially vertical orientation, the light being attached at the top of the Dan buoy.

In ideal weather conditions, lights of this type can be visible at sea for a distance as large as a mile. Unfortunately, when emergencies arise, weather conditions are rarely ideal, and known lights typically prove very hard to spot in practice. There are several reasons for this, for example: 1. the light source may be obscured eg. by the head of the wearer of a lifejacket, or simply by waves; 2. the light essentially acts as a point light source which is easily lost among any background lights or reflected light from waves; and 3. the known light sources, while designed to emit over a large range of angles, are to some degree directional and may be missed if not oriented toward the observer.

In an attempt to overcome such problems, high intensity non-filament bulbs have been utilised which emit flashes of light, but these give rise to their own problems, since they can dazzle rescuers and make it impossible for them to carry out their task effectively, and such lights are in fact forbidden in certain maritime contexts.

A further known method of making articles conspicuous is to make them from or coat them with a high visibility material. Lifejackets commonly have attached pieces or panels made from retro-reflective material, which is typically yellow or orange and which appears to glow when illuminated. Garments worn by eg. road workers and cyclists often comprise panels of similar materials to show up under car headlights. One shortcoming of such jackets/garments is that they are conspicuous only when illuminated.

An object of the present invention is to provide an article which is highly visible, even from a distance and in dark conditions.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article having a pocket or cell which is at least partially defined by semitransparent membranous material and which contains a light source, so that the pocket or cell acts as a light diffuser.

The pocket or cell can be an existing or adapted part of a conventional article, and by placing the light therewithin it can be diffused so that instead of appearing as a point light source, it makes a relatively large, glowing beacon which is highly conspicuous.

The effect can be improved by provision of a reflector, most preferably formed of a flexible reflective material, within the cell. The reflector may form, or be attached to, part of the wall of the pocket or cell.

The light source is preferably arranged to hash.

This can help to draw the attention of a rescuer.

Preferably, the pocket or cell is at least partly formed from high visibility material.

It is particularly preferred that the article is adapted to be worn on or around a person, most preferably on or around the person's torso. For example, it may be a lifejacket or a workman's donkey jacket or a cyclist's jacket.

The article in question may, in accordance with a particularly preferred aspect of the present invention be a buoyancy body. In this case, the pocket or cell containing the light source may be a sealed buoyancy providing cell.

It is particularly preferred that the cell is inflatable.

Where the light source is contained in an inflatable cell, pressure sensitive switching means adapted to activate the light in response to an increase in pressure upon inflation of the cell may be provided.

Alternatively, switching means controlling the light source may be provided which are coupled to and controlled by means controlling the inflation of the cell.

The article may, in accordance with the present invention, be a lifejacket.

The term "lifejacket" as used herein should be understood to include buoyancy aids and other personal flotation devices, where appropriate.

It is particularly preferred that the lifejacket comprises a generally upwardly extending inflatable mast. The light source is preferably mounted toward an upper end of the mast, although a second light source may be provided in the body portion of the lifejacket.

Preferably, the lifejacket further comprises a strap or line connected to the mast and to the body of the lifejacket.

The cell may be non-inflatable or partially inflatable. In particular, the lifejacket or buoyancy aid may be of the type whose buoyancy providing cells contain foam. In this case, the pocket or cell containing the light source is preferably on the upper front part of the lifejacket or buoyancy aid.

The mast can provide an elevated beacon, visible above waves etc., and also above the wearer's head, thus being visible from all directions. The strap or line can, by virtue of the mast, be particularly easily caught by means of a boathook or similar to aid in the (usually difficult) task of raising a person out of the water onto a ship, pontoon, etc.

The article may be a buoy. More particularly, the article may be an inflatable buoy, most preferably a Dan buoy.

Alternatively, the article may be an item of clothing such as a jacket. It is particularly preferred that the pocket or cell is formed in the hood or back panel of the jacket.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lifejacket comprising at least one buoyancy compartment containing a light source, the buoyancy compartment being at least partly defined by semi transparent material and thus acting in use as a light diffuser.

Preferably, the buoyancy compartment is inflatable.

Preferably, the light source is mounted on an internal inflation mechanism of the lifejacket.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a garment having a pocket or cell containing a light source, the pocket or cell being at least partly defined by semi transparent material and thus acting as a light diffuser in use.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source adapted to be inserted into an existing lifejacket and mounted on or by a fixture of the lifejacket.

Most preferably, the light source is adapted to be mounted on internal inflation means of the lifejacket.

It is particularly preferred that the light source is provided with switching means adapted to activate the light source upon inflation of the lifejacket. The switching means may comprise a pressure sensitive switch responsive to the increase in internal pressure upon inflation of the lifejacket, or may comprise means for coupling of the switching means to an inflation mechanisn of the lifejacket such that actuation of the inflation mechanism changes the state of the switch.

Preferably, the light source is arranged to flash.

This can help in attracting the attention of a rescuer.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Fig. 1 shows a lifejacket constructed in accordance with the present invention in use; Fig. 2 shows a cross section through a buoyancy compartment of the lifejacket shown in Fig. 1, and inflation and lighting apparatus contained therein; and Fig. 3 shows a cross section through an illuminated cell in accordance with the present invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the lifejacket illustrated therein comprises, in conventional manner, buoyancy providing cells 2 defined by impermeable membranous material 3, which in the present embodiment is high visibility material. This particular lifejacket is of the inflatable type: when out of use it is deflated to minimise the space the lifejacket takes up, and inflation of the buoyancy providing cells is produced when necessary by release of gas contained within a normally sealed and pressurised gas cylinder 4 mounted within one of the cells 2. The release of gas is triggered by a control mechanism 6 adapted, in response to immersion or additionally/alternatively to a manual control signal, to puncture the cylinder 4 and to allow the gas therein to escape into the cell 2.

The lifejacket has been modified by addition of a light source 8.

According to the present embodiment, this is an electrical light source comprising a filament bulb 10 coupled to a light housing 12. Batteries (not illustrated) are provided and are electrically connectable to the bulb via a switch. The batteries may in particular be connected to the housing 12 or may be loose within the lifejacket.

The light source shown in the Figures is adapted to be retro fitted to existing lifejackets. To this end, the housing 12 has a cavity 14 adapted to receive, as shown in Fig. 2, one end of the cylinder 4. Thus, the light source may be inserted into the cell 2 (to achieve this, the control mechanism 6 can be removed from its mounting at an aperture in the membranous material 3, leaving the aperture open) and mounted on the cylinder 4, which thus serves to locate the light source 2 and to approximately maintain its position within the lifejacket.

The light source according to the present embodiment of the invention also incorporates a pressure sensitive switch (not illustrated) adapted to activate the light source in response to the increase in internal pressure produced upon inflation of the cell 2, so that the light comes on only when it is needed - when the lifejacket is inflated for use. In other embodiments of the present invention, a switch is used which is mechanically or electrically controlled by the control mechanism 6 to achieve the same effect.

Alternatively, the switch may be responsive to the action of the lifejacket inflating.

The membranous material 3 forming at least the outer boundary 10 of the cell 2 is semi-transparent.

That is, this material has sufficient transparency for light from the source 8 to pass through, providing the required visual signal, but is also such that the light is dispersed and thus seen as a diffuse glow (which preferably flashes) rather than a highly localised light source.

To this end, it is particularly advantageous for the inwardly facing surface 12 of the outer boundary 10 to be partially reflecting, so that some of the light incident thereon is reflected within the cell 2, helping to illuminate its extremities.

In this regard, it is also highly advantageous to provide a reflector within the cell 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the light source 8 is mounted within a parabolic reflector 14. However, an alternative is to provide a reflector formed of flexible reflective material. For example, in the Fig.

2 embodiment the parabolic reflector 14 could be replaced by a reflective layer adhered to and preferably covering the rear internal face 16 of the cell 2. The reflective layer could be formed of metallic foil, or could even be formed by metallisation of the material of the membranous material 3.

Multiple light sources may be provided within a single cell.

Turning now to the illuminated cell illustrated in Fig. 3, this could be incorporated in any of a range of articles of clothing eg work jackets, cycle jackets, the hood of an anorak etc.

The material of the garment itself is shown at 32 and 34.

According to the present embodiment, the cell 36 is located at an aperture in the garment, but it could alternatively be simply disposed over the material of the garment. The cell comprises a semi-transparent outer membranous layer 38 formed of high visibility material and, in the present embodiment, a reflective inner layer 40, both of which are adhered or welded to the material 34, 36 of the garment around their peripheries, to form an enclosed cell.

An opening may be provided for access to the light source 42 located within the cell.

As in previously described embodiments, the outer membranous layer 38 acts as a light diffuser, producing a large illuminated signal which is highly conspicuous.

Claims (26)

1. An article comprising a pocket or cell which is at least partially defined by semi-transparent membranous material and which contains a light source, so that the pocket or cell acts as a light diffuser.

2. An article as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a reflector disposed within the cell.

3. An article as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reflector forms or is attached to part of the wall of the pocket or cell.

4. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pocket or cell is at least partly formed from high visibility material.

5. An article as claimed in any preceding claim which is adapted to be worn on or around a person.

6. An article as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 which is formed as or comprises a buoyancy body.

7. An article as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pocket or cell containing the light source is a sealed or sealable buoyancy providing cell.

S. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cell is inflatable.

9. An article as claimed in claim 8, further comprising pressure sensitive switching means adapted to activate the light source in response to an increase in pressure in the cell upon inflation.

10. An article as claimed in claim 8, further comprising switching means controlling the light source which are coupled to and controlled by means controlling inflation of the cell.

11. An article as claimed in any preceding claim formed as a lifej acket.

12. An article as claimed in claim 11, wherein the lifejacket comprises an inflatable mast which extends generally upwardly when inflated in use.

13. An article as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a strap or line connected to the mast and to the body of the lifejacket.

14. An article as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the light source is mounted on an internal inflation mechanism of the lifejacket or on a gas cylinder coupled thereto.

15. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, formed as a lifejacket, buoy or garment.

16. A light source adapted to be inserted into a lifejacket and mounted on or by a fixture of the lifejacket.

17. A light source as claimed in claim 16, adapted to be mounted on internal inflation means of the lifejacket.

18. A light source as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, provided with switching means adapted to activate the light source upon inflation of the lifejacket.

19. A light source as claimed in claim 18, wherein the switching means comprise a pressure sensitive switch responsive to the increase in internal pressure upon inflation of the lifejacket.

20. A light source as claimed in claim 18, comprising means for coupling of the switching means to an inflation mechanism of the lifejacket such that actuation of the inflation mechanism changes the state of the switch.

21. A lifejacket comprising at least one buoyancy compartment containing a light source, the buoyancy compartment being at least partly defined by semi transparent material and thus acting in use as a light diffuser.

22. A lifejacket as claimed in claim 21, wherein the buoyancy compartment is inflatable.

23. A lifejacket as claimed in claim 21 or 22, wherein the light source is mounted on an internal inflation mechanism of the lifejacket.

24. A lifejacket substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, accompanying Figs. 1 and 2.

25. An article having a pocket or cell substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Fig. 3.

26. A light source substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying figures.