US3046575A

US3046575A - Personal inflatable life guard

Info

Publication number: US3046575A
Application number: US846673A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel O Davis; Landon G Mcgill
Original assignee: Davis and Mcgill Inc
Current assignee: Davis and Mcgill Inc
Priority date: 1959-10-15
Filing date: 1959-10-15
Publication date: 1962-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 1979-07-31

Description

July 31, 1962 D. o. DAVIS ETAL PERSONAL INFLATABLE LIFE GUARD 2 Sheets-Sheet: 1

Filed Oct. 15, 1959 FIGJ INVENTORS D. O. DAVIS L. 6.Mc6|LL ATT July 31, 1962 o. o. DAVIS ETAL PERSONAL INFLATABLE LIFE GUARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 15, 1959 m m w M E l G W V c 9 I m M G n l L F m Q7 T. AAAAAA is I I n a u n a I A I O f 1. l yin/ 1 9 m Uit rates 3,046,575 PERSONAL MLATABLE LIFE GUARD Daniel 0. Davis, Wilmington, and Landon G. McGill,

St. Paul, N.C., assignors to Davis & McGill, incorporated, St. Paul, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Oct. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 846,673 Claims. (Cl. 9--316) mally are maintained in collapsed compact condition but which can be quickly expanded and inflated to provide the necessary buoyant support or life preserver.

Life preservers have been provided of various kinds and some of these have been mounted in locations where they are readily available to persons in the vicinity and others have been made to be attached to the person or worn however these devices have been cumbersome, heavy, occupied too much space, were expensive and otherwise were unreliable or impractical and were not readily usable by persons bathing, hunting, water ski ing or engaged in other activity where it was desirable to have the arms and other portions of the body free.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple inexpensive personal inflatable life guard or preserver which can be readily attached to the wrist, against the chest, or in other location to the body, can be maintained in a small container in collapsed form or condition and which can be readily inflated to provide a buoyant support or life preserver for the individual to whom the device is applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a casing or housing having an inflatable container held within the casing in a collapsed condition, such casing or housing being adapted to be attached to be detachably secured to the person by a strap, belt, simple harness about the shoulders or the like so that the device will be at a convenient location so that it can be quickly filled or inflated and used as a float.

A further object of the invention is to provide a personal life preserver in the form of a relatively small casing having an opening with closure means therefor, normally biased toward closed position and with a replaceable inflatable float-forming container of sheet material attached and completely housed in collapsed condition within the casing and with means for inflating such floatforming container and for returning the same to the housing when deflated.

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating one application of the invention;

FIG. 2, a similar view with the preserver inflated;

FIG. 3, a perspective of the container;

FIG. 4, a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. ,3;

FIG. 5, a section on the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6, a view similar to FIG. 4 of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 7, a fragmentary perspective of the device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8, a fragmentary detailed section on the line 88 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9, a view similar to FIG. 4 of a further modified form of the invention;

FIG. 10, a similar View of a still further modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 11, a side elevation of the inflated container.

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Briefly stated the invention is alife preserver composed of an elastic bag or container attached to the interior of a protective casing or housing having an opening with closure means therefor and with means whereby the container may be inflated and caused to move outwardly through said opening and when deflated, due to its elasticity, to return to the interior of the casing. The protective housing or casing and the container which is disposed within the same are relatively small and compact so that the housing can be attached to the wrist, chest or other part of the human body and kept available for immediate use when required but which will not interfere with the activity of the individual such as swimming, diving, water skiing or the like. The inflation of the container may be accomplished by means of a cartridge containing compressed gas or by the use of compressed gas and the device may have a suitable control for causing the inflation of the container contained within the chamher or housing.

With continued reference to the drawings, a casing 10 is provided of a strong lightweight plastic or other substance of which the casing can be readily produced, such casing having compartments 11 and 12 for the reception of an inflatable bag or container 13 and a compressed air or gas cartridge 14 respectively, such compressed air or gas being used for the inflation of the bag 13.

The bag 13 has an externally threaded inlet tube 15 which serves the dual purpose of admitting air to and from the bag 13 and for anchoring the bag within the casing 10, such externally threaded inlet tube being. received in a threaded socket 16 having an-opening 17 in communication with a tube 18 providing communication with the chamber 12 in which the air or gas cartridge 14 is located for the release of the contents thereof.

The casing 10 is provided with an opening 19 in a pair of doors or closure members 20' and 21 mounted by means of spring hinges 22 which tend to bias the doors towards closed position so that when the bag isjinflated it will be caused to move outwardly from the casing through the doors.

The chamber 11 is generally rectangular with rounded corners while the chamber 12 is generally cylindrical with a shoulder 23 forming an abutment for a spring '24 which normally maintains the pierceable discharge end 25 of the gas cartridge 14 out of contact with -a piercing point 26 fixed to the end wall of the chamber.

The end of the chamber opposite that of the piercing point 26 is provided with an internally threaded opening 27 for cooperative-engagement by the externally threaded portion 28 of a plug or closure 29, a gasket 30 being provided for sealing the joint between the plug and the casing. I

In order to move the cartridge 14 endwise to cause its end 25 to be pierced by the piercing point 26, the plug 28 is provided with an opening 31 in which is received a stem 32 having an enlarged head 33 for engagement with the cartridge 14 and with a reduced externally threaded outer end 34 for receiving an operating knob or button 35.

The remote sid of the head 33 from the cartridge 14 is adapted to engage the inner wall of the plug 29 and in order to form a seal, a relatively flat ring-type gasket 36 may be employed. Thus, pressure on the button will move the cartridge and cause the discharge of its contents which will inflat the bag 13.

In order to mount the casing it is provided with one or more straps 37 through which a belt 38 or the like may be received for fastening the device on the wrist or such strap may form a part of a separate harness as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Instead of the casing disclosed in the earlier figures a the bag 13 and a compartment 42 for the air or gas 3 cartridge 14. The chamber 42 has an internally threaded opening 43 for the reception of the external threads 44 of a plug 45 with a gasket 46 providing a seal between such plug and the casing.

The chamber 42 has a partition 47 at one end with an opening 48 and a gasket recess 48' in which is located a gasket 48". A pin 49 extends through the opening 48, such pin having a piercing point 50 for penetrating the end 25 of the cartridg 14.

A spring 51 has a large end engaging the partition 47 and a smaller end extending about the neck of the cartridge for maintaining the cartridge in endwise position within the chamber 42 so that it will not be contacted by the piercing point 50 until the piercing point is projected endwise into contact with such end 25 of the cartridge.

The casing 40 is provided with a chamber 52; having internal threads 53 for cooperation with a flange 56 which bears against the exterior surface of the casing.

The pin 49 is adapted to be projected into cartridge piercing position by means of a spring 58 about the pin 49, such spring engaging a flange or other abutment 49 fixed to the pin 49 and with the opposite end of the spring engaging the transverse wall of the sleeve 55, such wall having a transverse opening 55". The sleeve 55 is provided with a slot 59 in which is received a flattened transverse portion 60 of a knurled manipulating knob 60, such flattened portion being adapted to be set across the slot in a pair of receiving depressions 59' until such time as the compressed air or gas within the cartridge 14 is adapted to be released whereupon the knob 60 is pulled upwardly and rotated 90 to permit the transverse flattened portion 60' to pass downwardly in the slot 59 and whereupon the spring 58 will project the pin 49 downwardly against the end 25 of the cartridge to pierc the same and release the contents, thus permitting the gas to pass through an opening 40 and tube 18' to the part 16 and through the tube 15 to inflate the bag 13.

In FIG. 9 is disclosed a modified type of the invention including a casing 60 having a compartment 61 for the bag 13 and a compartment 62 for the cartridge 14, such compartment having a chamber 63 of reduced diameter forming a shoulder 64 against which one end of a spring 65 is adapted to bear, the opposite end of the spring being adapted to bear against the cartridge 14.

The chamber 62 is provided at its opposite end with a threaded opening 66 in which is received a screw plug 67 having a concave socket 68 in which the upper end of the cartridge 14 is received so that when the plug 67 is threaded into the opening 66 in the casing the cartridge 15 will be moved endwise, a gasket 69 being provided for sealing against leakage through the threads of the plug of the casing. A piercing point 70 is mounted in the chamber 63 in a position to engage the discharge end 25 of the cartridge.

From the chamber 63 a passage 71 and a tube '72 provide communication with the treaded socket 16 to which the inlet tube 15 of the bag 13 is adapted to be connected. In order to control flow from the chamber 63 to the bag through the passage 71, the casing is provided with a valve chamber 73 with an enlarged threaded portion 74- in which a valve body 75 is located having a transverse bore or valve opening 76 so that when such bore is in alignment with the passage 71 flow may be through such passage and when turned at right angles the flow through such passage will be stopped. The valve body has a threaded portion 77 which engages with the threads 74 of the casing and with a knurled manipulating head 78.

If desired, the valve body 75 may have an annular groove 79 for the receipt of gasket ring 80. Thus, by manipulating the valve by means of the head 78 the flow to the bag can be controlled permitting the cartridge to be punctured to release the gas and later such gas allowed to go into the bag when desired, it being preferable however to punctur the cartridge as near the time of use as practicable.

oaeeve In FIG. 10 is disclosed a casing 81 having

chambers

82 and 83 for the bag and for compressed air respectively, and adapted to be admitted through a threaded opening 84- in the casing 81 and in which opening a conventional tire valve 35 is adapted to be disposed. The wall 86 between the chambers having an enlarged portion 87 with a transverse passage 88 having communication with a tube 89 leading to the threaded socket 16, a valve chamber 90 being provided in the enlarged portion 87 having an enlarged threaded outlet 91 communicating with the exterior of the casing and a valve body 92 is provided having a transverse opening 93 adapted to be aligned with the opening 83 to permit compressed air to flow therethrough but which may be turned at right angles to obstruct the flow. The valve body 92 having a threaded portion 94 which engages the threads 91 in the casing and with a knurled operating head or knob 95.

The bag 13 may be provided of an elastic sheet with elastic ribs 13 extending from the tube 15 so that such ribs acting somewhat similarly to the ribs around the top of a socket length when air is introduced thereinto but permitting it to be contracted and drawn back into the casing when the gas is released therefrom. When the gas is introduced the bag expands opening the doors of the casing and moving outwardly to form an air-filled buoyant bag which can be used to support an individual in water. When it is desired to release the air from the bag, it is necessary only to remove the plug which closes the cartridge chamber. Since the used cartridge must be removed and a new cartridge inserted, the plug may be removed completely to allow rapid release of the gas from the inflatable container or the seal around the plug may be broken by partially removing the plug to permit the gas to escape slowly through the threaded openings.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a small relatively simple inexpensive device is provided which will constitute an instrumentality for saving the lives of individuals engaged in various activities near the water, with such devices not interfering with their normal activities but available at all times to provide a float or the necessary buoyance to maintain their heads above the water for inhaling air so necessary for sustaining life, and that the device can be used repeatedly by the provision of the necessary inflating force either in the form of a small replaceable cartridge which can be had at small expenses or by the use of compressed air.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for attachment to the body for providing a readily available inflatable structure by which a user can remain afloat in water, said device comprising a relatively small casing of a size to be worn on the wrist of the user in the manner of a wrist watch, a strap for removable attaching said casing, said casing having space within the same for protectively housing a container for compressed fluid and a collapsed float-forming thin walled container, a container for compressed fluid, anchoring means for securing said thin walled container within said casing, a tubular connection between said container for compressed A fluid and said float-forming container to allow the transfer of the compressed fluid, said casing having an opening through which said float-forming container can expand when inflated, closure means for said opening, said closure means being normally biased towards closed position but movable by said float-forming container to permit the outward movement of such container, means for releasing compressed fluid from said compressed fluid container for inflating said float-forming container, said means comprising a manipulating element on the exterior of said casing, said manipulating element having a stem, said casing having an opening in which said stem is received, a radial flange on said stem within said casing, a sealing gasket operatively associated with said flange and the inner wall of the casing for sealing the opening around said stem, said flange being adapted to engage said container for compressed fluid, means for engaging the 0pposite end of said compressed fluid container for maintaining said opening around the stem closed, and a piercing pin adjacent the opposite end of said fluid container for compressed fluid whereby movement of said manipulating means will cause piercing of said compressed fluid container to release its contents.

2. A personal inflatable life guard comprising a relatively small housing of a size to be worn on the wrist, a wall dividing said housing into first and second compartments, said first compartment having an open end and a closure member therefor, a cartridge of compressed gas received within said first compartment, a firing pin located within said first compartment in axial alignment with said cartridge, means for moving said cartridge relative to said firing pin, sealing means which become operable for hermetically closing said first compartment as regards said closure member when the gas is released from said cartridge, an inflatabl container received within said second compartment, :a tubular member providing communication between said first and second compartments, and means for connecting said inflatable container to said tubular member to cause said container to be inflated when said cartridge is pierced.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which said means for moving said cartridge includes a manipulating element having a stern slidably received within said closure member, a radial flange on said stem Within said first compartment, said sealing means comprising a sealing gasket mounted on said flange in operative association with said 5 closure member for sealing the opening around said stem.

4. The structure of claim 2 including valve means disposed in said tubular member for selectively controlling the discharge of gas from said first compartment into said container.

5. A personal inflatable lif preserver comprising a relatively small housing, wall structure separating said housing into first and second compartments,- said first compartment having an open end and a closure member therefor in which a cartridge of compressed gas is received, a firing pin fixed in said first compartment, means for moving the cartridge relative to said firing pin, means which become operable for hermetically sealing said first compartment about said closur member when the gas is released from the cartridge, said wall structure having a discharge opening in spaced relation to said open end, an inflatable container received within said second compartment, and means for connecting said inflatable container to said discharge opening to cause said container to be inflated when the cartridge is pierced.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,766,182 Markus -]une 24, 1930 1,798,430 Markus Mar. 31, 1931 1,811,847 Hellrich June 30, 1931 2,141,799 Pyle Dec. 27, 1938 2,173,567 Sh-afer Sept. 19, 1939 2,194,262 Allen Mar. 19, 1940 2,463,641 Podell Mar. 8, 1949 2,675,143 Seemann Apr. 13, 1954 2,903,719 Wozencraft Sept. 15, -9 2,919,833 Wolshin Jan. 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 731,584 Great Britain June 8, 1-955