GB2465846A

GB2465846A - Lifejacket with chest buoyancy sections adapted to provide improved support in water

Info

Publication number: GB2465846A
Application number: GB0822311A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Laura Purslow
Original assignee: Crewsaver Ltd
Current assignee: Crewsaver Ltd
Priority date: 2008-12-06
Filing date: 2008-12-06
Publication date: 2010-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2028-12-06
Also published as: GB0822311D0; GB2465846B

Abstract

A lifejacket 1 has first and second buoyancy sections 2, 3 arranged to lie on opposite sides respectively of a wearer's chest when in use. The lifejacket 1 and buoyancy sections 2, 3 are sized and configured such that at least a part of each buoyancy section 2, 3 is raised from the wearer's chest. Each buoyancy section 2, 3 may be inflatable. The second buoyancy section may is use ride up, or partially overlap the first buoyancy section. The buoyancy sections may be joined along an upper section of the lifejacket to define a generally u-shaped lifejacket. The buoyancy sections may be attached to a harness (14, 15, Fig 5).

Description

AN IMPROVED LIFEJACKET

The present invention relates to inflatable lifejackets.

Lifejackets are typically worn by personnel who are at risk of having to survive periods in water, such as lifeboat men, helicopter pilots, naval personnel, etc. Lifejackets are used to provide adequate buoyancy to keep a wearer of the lifejacket afloat in the sea or another body of water.

However, a problem with known lifejackets is that, if a wearer of a lifejacket rolls sideways or pitches forwards into a face down position in the water, they have a limited ability to self-right the wearer into a face-up position. This is obviously undesirable, especially if the wearer is unconscious or incapacitated.

An additional problem with known lifejackets is their limited ability to prevent a wearer of the lifejacket from rolling sideways or pitching forward into such a face down position.

This problem is due, in part, to the fact that known lifej ackets are generally tested on people wearing swim wear. However, in practice, people are typically wearing their normal everyday clothes when using lifejackets (e.g. lifeboat men and navel personnel will typically be wearing off-shore clothes). The bulk and weight of such clothes makes it much more difficult for a lifejacket to self-right its wearer. Known life jackets are therefore not designed to take this into account.

Embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a lifejacket which has an improved ability to self-right a wearer of the lifejacket into a face-up position and has improved stability in the face-up position.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a lifejacket comprising first and second buoyancy sections arranged to lie on opposite sides respectively of a wearer's chest when in use, wherein the lifejacket and buoyancy sections are sized and configured such that at least a part of each buoyancy section is raised from the wearer's chest.

Arranging so that part of each buoyancy section is raised from a wearer's chest moves the centre of buoyancy of the lifejacket away from the body of the wearer. This improves the ability of the lifejacket to self-right a wearer of the lifejacket from a face-down position in water to a face-up position. In addition, this helps counter the aforementioned effect that wearing clothes has on the ability of a lifej acket to self-right its wearer.

A further advantage is that the roll and pitch stability of a wearer of the lifejacket when floating face up in water is increased. This increased stability prevents the wearer of the lifejacket from rolling sideways or pitching forward into a face down position in water.

To achieve raising of the buoyancy sections from the wearer's chest the buoyancy sections may be sized and distanced apart on the lifejacket such that, when they are inflated, there is insufficient room for the sections to occupy side by side positions on the wearer's chest without acting upon each other.

The first buoyancy section may be smaller than the second buoyancy section. Each buoyancy section may be inflatable, in which case the first buoyancy section may have a smaller volume than the second buoyancy section. Preferably a substantial portion of both buoyancy sections is raised away from the wearer's chest when the buoyancy sections are inflated.

The first and second buoyancy sections may be configured so that in use the second buoyancy section rides up, or partially overlaps, the first buoyancy section.

The buoyancy sections are preferably joined along an upper section of the lifej acket to define a generally u-shaped lifejacket. A generally circular aperture for receiving a wearer's neck is preferably defined between the sections.

In this case, when the sections are inflated they preferably abut with each other substantially along the length of the sections and act on each other such that each section is inclined relative to the horizontal plane of a body of the wearer. This acts to raise the sections away from the body of a wearer of the lifejacket.

Where the buoyancy sections are inflatable they are preferably arranged such that, when inflated, the centre of buoyancy of the lifejacket and wearer does not move horizontally relative to the centre of gravity of the lifejacket and wearer. If the centre of buoyancy did move in this way, the lifejacket and wearer would tilt in the twist direction when afloat and the stability of the lifejacket would be decreased. In one arrangement, therefore, the buoyancy sections are arranged such that, when inflated, each section is raised along its width by substantially the same amount. In this way, each inflated section is substantially the mirror image of the other section in a vertical plane.

The abutting edges of the buoyancy sections may interfit with each other. In particular the edge of the first buoyancy section may be at least partially concave and the corresponding edge of the second buoyancy section at least partially convex so that the first section cups the second in use.

With this arrangement abutting edges of each section preferably form a curve of substantially constant radius. This allows the abutting sections to form a tight fit with each other, and to be held in position relative to each other. The tight fit prevents the jacket coming undone and/or slipping off the wearer. In addition, the tight fit allows the chin of a wearer to be supported by a region of each section which fits underneath the wearer's chin. This boosts mouth freeboard and so prevents flow of water into the wearer's mouth.

Raising the height of one of the sections increases the height at which visual aids may be mounted on the raised section and therefore can increase the hemispheric visibility of the lifejacket.

Preferably, when the buoyancy sections are in a deflated condition they are housed within a flexible casing. The flexible casing is preferably arranged such that it opens in a controlled fashion as the buoyancy sections are inflated.

The buoyancy sections may be provided on a harness for attachment to a person. The harness may comprise a number of straps for attachment to a person. The straps are preferably adjustable to fit the size and shape of the person.

Where the buoyancy sections are housed within a flexible casing, the casing is preferably attached to the harness.

The casing/sections are preferably attached to the harness such that, in use, the buoyancy sections are maintained in the above described arrangement, whereby at least part of each section is raised away from the wearer's chest.

All of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a top down view of a lifejacket according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the lifejacket shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a view of the lifejacket shown in Figures 1 and 2 from below; Figure 4 shows a front view of a person wearing the lifejacket shown in Figures 1 to 3 in a deflated condition and housed within a casing; and Figure 5 shows a rear view of the person and lifejacket shown in Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 there is shown a lifejacket 1 comprising two inflatable buoyancy sections 2, 3.

The buoyancy sections 2, 3 are joined along an upper section of the lifejacket 1 to define a generally u-shaped lifejacket. A generally circular aperture 4 for receiving a wearer's neck is defined between the sections 2, 3.

Each buoyancy section 2, 3 is an elongate member of generally oval cross section and defines an inflation chamber.

Each inflation chamber is connected to an inflation cartridge 5 containing carbon dioxide, which can be manually actuated by a pull handle 6 or alternatively can be activated automatically when the lifejacket is placed in water, for example by an immersion sensor. Following actuation, the inflation cartridge 5 inflates the sections 2, 3. -7--.

A mouth-operable inflator in the form of a tube 7 is connected to the interior of each inflation chamber. This allows manual inflation of each inflation chamber in the event of failure of the inflation cartridge 5. Each tube 7 is provided with a non-return valve and a closure cap to prevent water flowing down the tube 7 and into the inflation chamber to which it is connected.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, when the buoyancy sections 2, 3 are inflated, they abut with each other substantially along the length of the sections and act on each other such that each section is inclined relative to the horizontal plane of a body of the wearer in use. This acts to raise the sections away from the body of a wearer of the lifejacket.

This arrangement is achieved by distancing the sections 2, 3 apart such that, when they are inflated, there is insufficient room for the sections 2, 3 to occupy side by side positions on the wearer's chest without acting upon each other.

As can be seen from Figure 3, each section is raised along its width by substantially the same amount, with each inflated section being substantially the mirror image of the other section in a vertical plane.

One of the sections 3 partially overlaps the other section 2 along the length of the sections 2, 3, with a portion of a lower surface of the overlapping section 3 abutting a portion of an upper surface of the overlapped section 2.

The abutting portion of the lower surface of the overlapping section 3 forms a convex curve 9 of substantially constant radius.

The abutting portion of the upper surface of the overlapped section 2 forms a concave curve 10 of substantially constant radius.

This allows the inflated sections 2, 3 to form a tight fit with each other, and to be held in position relative to each other, with one section 3 being cupped by the other section 2.

The tight fit prevents movement of the sections 2, 3 relative to each other and so retains the sections 2, 3 in their abutting arrangement as described above. In addition, the tight fit allows the chin of a wearer to be supported by a region of each section 2, 3 which fits underneath the wearer's chin. This boosts mouth freeboard and so prevents flow of water into the wearer's mouth.

A neck support 12 in the form of a radially extending flange is provided around a section of the inner circumference of the neck receiving aperture.

Raising the height of one of the sections 3 increases the height at which visual aids may be mounted on the raised section 3 and therefore can increase the hemispheric visibility of the lifejacket 1.

When the buoyancy sections are in a deflated condition they are housed within a generally u-shaped flexible casing 13, a shown in Figures 4 and 5. The flexible casing 13 is arranged such that it opens in a controlled fashion as the buoyancy sections 2, 3 are inflated.

The flexible casing 13 is provided on a harness for attachment to a person. The harness comprises a first strap 14 which, in use, extends around the waist of a person and a second strap 15 which, in use, extends up the back of the person, in a generally perpendicular direction to the first strap 14. The first strap 14 comprises two side sections which are releasably connectable to each other by a releasable push fit clip 16.

Each buoyancy section 2, 3 is attached, via the casing, to respective side sections of the first strap 14 and the upper section of the lifej acket, where the buoyancy sections 2, 3 are joined, is attached to the top of the second strap 15.

As the buoyancy sections 2, 3 are inflated they act on each other to try and push each other apart. The attachment of the sections 2, 3 to the harness (via the casing) maintains the distance that the sections are spaced apart and so provides a resistive force against the action of the sections 2, 3. This maintains the above described arrangement of the sections 2, 3, whereby at least part of each section 2, 3 is raised away from the wearer's chest.

A pair of adjustable straps 17 are provided to adjust the tightness of fit of the lifejacket to its wearer.

The above embodiment is described by way of example. Many variations are possible without departing from the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A lifejacket comprising first and second buoyancy sections arranged to lie on opposite sides respectively of a wearer's chest when in use, wherein the S lifejacket and buoyancy sections are sized and configured such that at least a part of each buoyancy section is raised from the wearer's chest.
2. A lifejacket according to claim 1 wherein the first and second buoyancy sections are configured so that in use the second buoyancy section rides up, or partially overlaps, the first buoyancy section.
3. A lifej acket according to either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the buoyancy sections O are joined along an upper section of the lifejacket to define a generally ushaped lifej acket. r
4. A lifejacket according to any preceding claim wherein abutting edges of the buoyancy sections interfit with each other.
5. A lifejacket according to any preceding claim wherein the edge of the first buoyancy section is at least partially concave and the corresponding edge of the second buoyancy section is at least partially convex so that the first section cups the second in use.
6. A lifejacket according to claim 5 wherein abutting edges of each section form a curve of substantially constant radius.
7, A lifejacket according to any preceding claim wherein each buoyancy section isinflatable.
8. A lifejacket according to claim 7 wherein the buoyancy sections are sized and distanced apart on the lifejacket such that, when they are inflated, there is insufficient room for the sections to occupy side by side positions on the wearer's chest without acting upon each other such that the buoyancy sections are raised from the wearer's chest.
9. A life] acket according to either of claims 7 or 8 wherein a substantial portion of both buoyancy sections is raised away from the wearer's chest when the buoyancy sections are inflated.
10. A lifejacket according to any of claims 7 to 9 wherein when the sections are inflated they abut with each other substantially along the length of the sections and act on each other such that each section is inclined relative to the horizontal plane of a body of the wearer.

0
11. A life] acket according to any of claims 7 to 10 wherein the buoyancy sections are arranged such that, when inflated, the centre of buoyancy of the lifejacket and wearer does not move horizontally relative to the centre of gravity of the lifejacket and wearer.
12, A lifejacket according to any of claims 7 to 11, wherein the buoyancy sections are arranged such that, when inflated, each section is raised along its width by substantially the same amount.
13. A lifejacket according to any of claims 7 to 12 wherein, when the buoyancy sections are in a deflated condition they are housed within a flexible casing.
14. A lifejacket according to claim 13 wherein the flexible casing is arranged such that it opens in a controlled fashion as the buoyancy sections are inflated.
15. A lifejacket according to either of claims 13 or 14 wherein the casing/sections are attached to the harness such that, in use, at least part of each section is raised away from the wearer's chest.
16. A lifejacket substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. 0*) (4 r