WO1992005071A1

WO1992005071A1 - Self-inflatable water life-saving apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1992005071A1
Application number: PCT/HU1991/000044
Authority: WO
Inventors: György KOVÁCS; Ferenc JÓZSI
Original assignee: Kovacs Gyoergy; Jozsi Ferenc
Priority date: 1990-09-25
Filing date: 1991-09-25
Publication date: 1992-04-02
Also published as: HU906202D0; HUT60638A

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-inflatable life-saving apparatus, especially for personal saving, which can be used for preventing and avoiding drowning, by keeping the head above the water surface when weared around the neck. The present invention provides for an apparatus containing a waterproof inflatable bag (3), which can be placed on the body, preferably around the neck of the person to be saved, as well as a gas bag (13) connected to said bag (3) by means of a rapid action valve assembly (6, 8, 9, 11, 12) provided with an operating organ.

Description

.ς^*T.F-TWPTATABLE WATER LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIED

The invention relates to a self-inflatable life-saving apparatus, especially for personal saving, which can be used for preventing and avoiding drowning, by keeping the head above the water surface when weared around the neck.

BACKGROUND ART

The known "on water surface keeping" devices are made mainly for non-swimmers, e.g. in the forms of air-jackets, air-belts, etc. , which are to be put on yet on the shore.

These devices can be placed on the upper part of the body, on the chest or the upper arm.

The common drawback of these known water life-saving devices lies in their big measures causing discoiufort, impeeding movement, furthermore, in use the dominant parts of the inflated device are to be found in the air, instead of water, therefore these parts do not contribute to the buoyancy.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a small self-inflatable water life-saving apparatus, easy and simple in construction, which can be put in use quickly, with a flick, when necessary.

The invention is based on the recognition that - from the point of view of life-saving from drowning - the most important is to keep the head above the water surface by means of a device remaining possibly with its whole dimensions under the water surface when inflated. The inventors realized that the most favourable form is a toroid or the like placed around the neck, the interior of which is preferably divided in two chambers by means of a partition.

The present invention provides a self-inflatable water life-saving apparatus, especially for personal saving, which is characterized by containing a waterproof inflatable bag, which can be placed on the body, preferably around the neck of the person to be saved, as well as a gas bag connected to said bag by means of a rapid action valve assembly, provided with an operating organ. Preferably said valve assembly consists of a stationary valve body as well as a moving valve body projecting through a rubber sleeve inserted in a central axial bore of said stationary valve body and connected therewith by means of a flexible member, preferably a helical spring, said moving valve body being provided with a central axial blind hole and at least one through hole mouthing into said blind hole adjacent to the closed end of said blind hole, where in the closed position of said valve assembly said closing end is inside said gas bag and said through hole is inside said rubber sleeve, whereby said blind hole's opening of said moving valve body communicates with the inside of said bag.

Preferably the material of said bag is plastic or rubber. Preferably said bag has a toroidal form in its inflated state and has one or more separate chambers.

Preferably said apparatus is provided with a preferably rigid protective casing consisting of at least two parts and surrounding said ban and a switching decorating casing surrounding said gas bag, wherein said protective casing can be opened as a shell or can be removed.

Preferably said gas bag contains a high-pressure or liquefied gas.

Preferably said gas bag is divided into at least two chambers separated by partition(s) , whereby a locking dog preferably surrounded with a packing is inserted in said partition, said locking dog being cooperative with a long longitudinal moving valve body, said chambers containing

" materials reacting with gas formation.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advanta¬ ges of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the self-inflatable water life-saving apparatus according to the present invention, in cross-section; Figure 2 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the gas bag of the life-saving apparatus according to the present invention, in cross- section too.

THE BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Now we refer to Figure 1 showing the self-inflatable water life-saving apparatus according to the present inven¬ tion, in cross-section, consisting of the following elements: a gas bag 13 closed sealingly by a valve assembly. This valve assembly comprises a stationary valve body 12 and a moving valve body 6 projecting through a rubber sleeve 11, said rubber sleeve 11 is inserted in a central axial bore of said sationary valve body 12, and said stationary and moving valve bodies 12 and 6 are connected by means of a flexible member, i.e. a helical spring 8. Said moving valve body 6 is provided with a central axial blind hole and at least one through hole 15 mouthing into said blind hole adjacent to the closed end of said blind hole. In the closed position of said valve assembly said closed end is inside said gas bag 13 and said through hole 15 is inside said rubber sleeve 11, and said blind hole's opening of said moving valve body 6 com¬ municates with the inside of said bag 3.

The valve assembly is held in closed position by the gas pressure of gas bag 13 and the helical spring 8. Said

SUBSTITUTESHEET moving valve body 6 is kept back to return from its open position into closed position by means of (not shown) claws formed on the moving valve body 6 itself and the stationary valve body 12 as well. So the gas can flow from the gas bag 13 via said through hole 15 into said bag 3.

Said waterproof inflatable bag 3 is connected sealingly to said moving valve body 6 by means of a fixing piece 5 and with the insertion of a rubber ring 7.

Said bag 3 is guided on a neck-piece 1 by means of rings 2.

Said bag 3 is placed in folded form inside a decorated protective casing 4 consisting of two shell-like parts, which parts will open and fall apart on the effect of the inflating bag 3, in this way allowing the bag 3 to place around the neck.

The self-inflatable water life-saving apparatus according to the invention can be put in use by means of a switching decorating casing 14, by pulling it, upon which the moving valve body 6 is moved and the valve assembly will be opened, hence the neck-piece 1 pulls the stationary valve body 12 in the opposite direction. Through the valve assembly opened in this way the gas is streaming into the bag 3 and brigns about a volume increase of it, resulting a buoyancy necessary for keeping the head of the person to be saved above the water surface.

A second embodiment of the gas bag of the self-inflat¬ able water life-saving apparatus is demonstrated in Figure 2. The difference from the first embodiment lies in that the gas bag is realized in the form of a gas bag 17 having two chambers A and B, which are separated from each other by means of a partition 18 and contain chemical materials.

A locking dog 20 is inserted in said partition 18, where said locking dog 20 is surrounded with a packing 19. In this embodiment the moving valve body is realized as a long longitudinal moving valve body 16 cooperating with said locking dog 20.

By moving said longitudinal moving valve body 16 - by pulling said switching decorating casing 14, as in the first case - said locking dog 20 moves out of its locking position, upon which the chemical materials contained in said chambers A, B interact and evoke a reaction with gas formation. This gas gets through said hole 15 into said bag 3.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is ot to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by terms of the appended claims.

SUBSTITUTESHEET

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

l. A self-inflatable water life-saving apparatus, especially for personal saving, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n containing a waterproof inflatable bag (3) , which can be placed on the body, preferably around the neck of the person to be saved, as well as a gas bag (13) connected to said bag (3) by means of a rapid action valve assembly (6, 8, 9, 11, 12) provided with an operating organ.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim- 1, wherein said valve assembly consisting of a stationary valve body (12) as well as a moving valve body (6) projecting through a rubber sleeve (11) inserted in a central axial bore of said stationary valve body (12) and connected therewith by means of a flexible member, preferably a helical spring (8) , said moving valve body (6) being provided with a central axial blind hole and at least one through hole (15) mouthing into said blind hole in the proximity of the closed end of said blind hole, where in the closed position of said valve assembly said closed end is inside said gas bag (13) and said through hole (15) is inside said rubber sleeve (11) , whereby said blind hole's opening of said moving valve body (6) is connected with the inside of said bag (3) .

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the material of said bag (3) is plastic or rubber.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said bag (3) has a toroidal form in its inflated state, having one or more separate chambers.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said apparatus is provided with a preferably rigid protecti-ve casing (4) consisting of at least two parts and a switching decorating casing (14) , wherein said protective casing (4) can be opened as a shell or can be removed.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims l to 5, wherein said gas bag (13) containing a high-pressure or liquefied gas.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceeding Claims, wherein said gas bag (17) is divided into at least two chambers (A, B) separated by partition(s) (18), whereby a locking dog (20) preferably surrounded with a packing

(19) is inserted in said partition (18) , said locking dog

(20) being cooperative with a long longitudinal moving valve body (16) , said chambers (A, B) containing materials reacting with gas formation.

SUBST