US20100087112A1

US20100087112A1 - Structure of life jacket

Info

Publication number: US20100087112A1
Application number: US12/246,612
Authority: US
Inventors: Ding-Li Chou
Original assignee: TCI Co Ltd
Current assignee: TCI Co Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-07
Filing date: 2008-10-07
Publication date: 2010-04-08

Abstract

A life jacket structure includes a life jacket body, at least one set of hanging devices, a blowing tube and an inflation starting device. An inflatable airbag is sewed onto an internal side of the body, and the body further includes at least one pair of strap holes disposed on corresponding position on both sides. Both ends of the hanging device are connected onto the corresponding strap holes of the life jacket. The blowing tube is installed at an appropriate position of the life jacket body and penetrated through the life jacket into the inflatable airbag. The inflation starting device is installed on the life jacket and disposed on the same side of the blowing tube, and further includes an inflation cylinder and a starting mechanism. The starting mechanism is provided for receiving a start signal to start inflating the life jacket by the inflation cylinder.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to life jackets, and more particularly to an improved structure of a life jacket having a hanging device and an inflating device concurrently.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Life jacket, regardless of its application in airplanes, ships and ferries, or fire squads, rescue centers and mountain climbing, generally have some problems related to its shape, function and material. For instance, the weight of a life jacket is a burden, and the large volume of the life jacket makes the storage and carrying difficult. As a result, users are unwilling to use or carry the life jacket as required by regulations, and there is potential risk for safety.
To prevent accidents, manufacturers attempt to enhance the usability of the life jacket, so that users are willing to carry and use the life jacket. In view of the aforementioned urgent need, the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience in the related industry to conduct extensive researches and experiments, and finally developed an improved foldable and rollable life jacket made of a thin, light, water-proof and wind-proof material and having a hanging device and an inflating device connected to a life jacket body.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide an improved life jacket structure connected to a hanging device and an inflating device, not only allowing users to inflate the life jacket, but also making the carrying of the life jacket easy.
The life jacket structure comprises a life jacket body, at least one set of hanging devices, a blowing tube and an inflation starting device, and the life jacket body is made of a light, thin, water-proof and wind-proof material and has the foldable, rollable and deformable feature, and an internal side of the life jacket body is sewed to form an inflatable airbag, and the life jacket further includes a pair of strap holes disposed at corresponding positions on both lateral sides of the life jacket body.
The set of hanging devices has two ends, wherein the first end is linearly fixed into the first hanging hole of the life jacket, and the second end is linearly fixed into the second hanging hole of the life jacket. The set of hanging devices further includes two connecting elements and an adjusting element, and a connecting element is installed separately on both ends of the hanging device and corresponding to the strap hole of the life jacket, such that the hanging device is coupled with the life jacket. The adjusting element is provided for adjusting the length of the hanging device.
The blowing tube is installed at an appropriate position of the life jacket body and penetrated through the life jacket into the inflatable airbag, such that air is blown into the inflatable airbag through the blowing tube to inflate the inflatable airbag.
The inflation starting device is also installed on the life jacket body and disposed on the same side of the blowing tube. The inflation starting device includes an inflation cylinder and a starting mechanism coupled with each other, and the starting mechanism includes a pull ring provided for a user to pull and provide to a start signal the starting mechanism to start inflating the life jacket by the inflation cylinder.
To make it easier for our examiner to understand the technical characteristics and effect of the present invention, we use preferred embodiments with accompanying drawings for the detailed description of the invention. However, the embodiments and drawings are provided for illustrating the invention, but not intended for limiting the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a first schematic view of a user wearing a life jacket in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a second schematic view of a user wearing a life jacket in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a third schematic view of a user wearing a life jacket in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fourth schematic view of a user wearing a life jacket in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1 for a life jacket structure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the life jacket 10 comprises a life jacket body 100, a hanging strap 200, a blowing tube 300 and an inflation starting device 400. The life jacket body 100 is made of a thin, light, water-proof and wind-proof material, and foldable and rollable easily. An internal side of the life jacket body 100 is sewed into an inflatable airbag 110, such that air can be blown through the blowing tube 300 to start the inflation starting device 400 and allow air to enter into the inflatable airbag 110 for the use of the life jacket 10.
The life jacket body 100 further includes two hanging holes 120, 130 disposed at appropriate positions on both sides of the life jacket body 100 according to the actual requirement.
The hanging strap 200 has two distal surfaces 210, 220, coupled to the hanging holes 120, 130 of the life jacket body 100 through two connecting elements 230, 240 respectively. The hanging strap 200 further includes an adjusting element 250 for adjusting the length of the hanging strap 200.
The blowing tube 300 is installed at an appropriate position on the front side of the life jacket body 100 and penetrated through the life jacket body 100 into the inflatable airbag 110, so that a user can blow air into the inflatable airbag 110 through the blowing tube 300 to inflate the inflatable airbag 110.
The inflation starting device 400 is installed at an appropriate position of the front side of the life jacket body 100, and similarly penetrated through the life jacket body 100 into the inflatable airbag 110. The inflation starting device 400 includes an inflation cylinder 410, a starting device 420 and a pull ring 430. The starting device 420 is coupled to the inflation cylinder 410, and the pull ring 430 is extended from the interior of the starting device 420 to the outside and provided for its use by the user.
If the user pulls the pull ring 430, the pull ring 430 will provide a start signal to the starting device 420. After the starting device 420 receives the start signal, the inflation cylinder 410 will be turned on to inflate the life jacket body 100.
With reference to FIGS. 2 to 5 for schematic views of a user wearing a life jacket in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the life jacket body 100 is made of a thin, light, water-proof and wind-proof material and has an easily foldable and rollable feature, the hanging strap 200 can be used for wearing the life jacket 10 from the neck to the body of the user as shown in FIG. 2, or the life jacket 10 is rolled and wrap the hanging strap 200 around the user's arm as shown in FIG. 3, or the life jacket 10 is rolled and folded to reduce the volume and allow the user to hang the life jacket 10 on the user's wrist easily by the hanging strap 200 as shown in FIG. 4 according to different needs of the user.
As shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, the life jacket 10 is hanged at the user's waist or chest by the hanging strap 200. Regardless of the storage method, it is necessary to make sure that the blowing tube 300 and the inflation starting device 400 are protruded out from the life jacket body 100 and coupled to the inflatable airbag 110 in the life jacket body 100, such that the user can take off and use the life jacket 10 easily.
In summation of the description above, the present invention improves over the prior art and complies with the patent application requirements, and thus is duly filed for patent application. While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. An improved structure of a life jacket, comprising:

a life jacket body, with an internal side sewed into an inflatable airbag, and the life jacket body having at least one pair of strap holes disposed at corresponding positions on both lateral sides of the life jacket body;

at least one set of hanging devices, with at least two ends, and the first end being linearly fixed into the first hanging hole of the life jacket body, and the second end being linearly fixed into the second hanging hole of the life jacket body;

a blowing tube, installed at an appropriate position of the life jacket body, and penetrated through the life jacket body into the inflatable airbag, such that air can be blown through the blowing tube into the inflatable airbag for inflating the inflatable airbag; and

an inflation starting device, installed on the life jacket body, and disposed on the same side of the blowing tube, and the inflation starting device comprising:

an inflation cylinder; and

a starting mechanism, installed at an appropriate position of the life jacket body, and coupled to the inflation cylinder, for receiving a start signal to start the inflation cylinder to inflate the life jacket body.

2. The improved structure of a life jacket of claim 1, wherein the life jacket body is made of a light, thin, water-proof and wind-proof material, and the life jacket body has a foldable, rollable and deformable feature.

3. The improved structure of a life jacket of claim 1, wherein the set of hanging devices is a hanging strap.

4. The improved structure of a life jacket of claim 3, wherein the hanging strap further comprises:

at least two connecting elements, installed on two distal surfaces of the hanging strap, and corresponding to the pair of strap holes of the life jacket body, for coupling the hanging strap with the life jacket body; and

an adjusting element, for adjusting the length of the hanging strap.

5. The improved structure of a life jacket of claim 4, wherein the connecting element of the hanging strap is a connecting structure selected from the collection of an elastic latch, a button, a hanging hook, a knot, and a Velcro tape.

6. The improved structure of a life jacket of claim 1, wherein the starting mechanism of the inflation starting device further includes a pull ring provided for a user to pull and generate the start signal of the starting mechanism.