WO2013059949A1

WO2013059949A1 - Device for locating an avalanche victim

Info

Publication number: WO2013059949A1
Application number: PCT/CH2012/000243
Authority: WO
Inventors: Curdegn Bandli; Remo Frei
Original assignee: Flink Gmbh
Priority date: 2011-10-28
Filing date: 2012-10-25
Publication date: 2013-05-02
Also published as: CH705685B1; DE112012004500A5; CH705685A1; AT514703B1; AT514703A5

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for locating avalanche victims, comprising a buoyancy member (13) that can increase in volume, means (23) for increasing the volume of the buoyancy member (13), a trigger mechanism (63) that triggers the means (23) for increasing the volume, and a cable (15) having a first and second end (17, 19). According to the invention, the buoyancy member (13) is fastened to the first end (17) and the second end (19) is fixed to a user (21).

Description

Device for locating an avalanche victim

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a device for locating avalanche victims according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for triggering a device for locating avalanche victims according to the preamble of claim 13.

State of the art

Tracking devices for avalanche victims have developed significantly in recent years. Although a spill of the carrier of such a location system is not prevented, but the discovery of the same is possible and accelerated.

Avalanche search devices (so-called LVS devices) work according to the transmitter-receiver principle at a standardized transmission frequency of 457 kHz. However, the handling of these devices must be regularly practiced for safe use. To make matters worse, that the search must be made mostly under great time pressure and it can not be ruled out that the seekers panic. Consequently, avalanche beacons are not very user-friendly in an emergency. It is particularly difficult to deal with these avalanche transceivers in the case of multiple burials. Another disadvantage is that state-of-the-art avalanche transceivers are just as difficult to locate as older ones.

To overcome this disadvantage, locators were developed with a balloon which is connected to the victim via a rope and floats on the avalanche after the Segregationsseff ekt and by its low density. The balloon is visible on the avalanche cone. Exposing the victim can be done quickly because the rope dictates the direction of the victim. From DE 299 06 552 Ul such a tracking device is known in which the user actuates a shutter to increase the volume of the balloon. This relaxes a preloaded spring within the balloon which tensions the surface of the balloon. By repositioning the spring, the locating device can be used again. This or- However, device has the disadvantage that it is relatively large even in the prestressed state with about 30 x 30 cm, since the springs need space even in the compressed state. Such devices can only be used in combination with a backpack. Accordingly, a user is restricted in his movement. Also, the weight of about 1 kg is not inconsiderable. Unfortunately, variant skiers, who do not want to be restricted in their freedom of movement and are deterred by additional weight due to the locating device and a backpack, regrettably all too often forego locating an avalanche transceiver.

Object of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for locating an avalanche victim, which is as small and lightweight and yet easy to apply and the volume increase of a buoyant body safely triggers. Yet another object is to propose an avalanche detection device which can be quickly fixed to a user without the need for additional equipment.

description

According to the invention the object is achieved in a device according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the trigger has a retaining means by which the trigger on the user can be fixed, wherein the trigger is adapted to trigger by the removal of the buoyant body from the user means for increasing the volume , This definition resp. Retention of the trigger allows the means for increasing the volume to be activated by pulling the buoyant body out of its holder. The device for locating avalanche victims must therefore be activated by simply throwing away the buoyant body. The disposal of the buoyant body is also intuitively feasible in stress situations, such as those present in an avalanche. Another advantage is that the increase in volume of the buoyant body is immediately recognizable to the user. As restraint means include Velcro fasteners, snaps or loops are conceivable. For a reliable release of the volume enlargement means the Force for removing the trigger to be smaller than the force necessary for releasing the restraining means, for example, a garment or a piece of equipment (backpack), necessary. Conveniently, the restraining means is fixed to a garment or a piece of equipment (backpack) of the user. The scope of the device is not limited to the detection of avalanche victims. Conceivable is the use wherever a buoyant body, for example as an inflatable rescue body, is used. As an alternative application areas, therefore, the most diverse water sports. The device therefore also includes rescue equipment, which float on the water surface. A float carrying the device according to the invention triggers it in emergency situations and can hold on to the buoyancy body, which rises by itself to the water surface by the buoyancy force. Conceivable is the application of the device even with divers. In this case, the device is triggered under water and the buoyant body, once inflated, moves away from the diver. The buoyant body drives on the water surface and signals the position of the diver in distress. It is also conceivable that the float pulls the diver slowly towards the water surface. In this case, the buoyancy of the buoyant body must be such that the diver does not dive too fast upwards and the consequences of too rapid decompression are prevented. On the surface, the diver can hold on to the buoyancy body.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cable is connected in the region of its second end to the trigger. In any case, since the second end of the rope has a loop to be attached to the user or to be connected to a holding loop, the loop only has to be passed through the trigger to be connected thereto. The trigger is securely retained when discarding the buoyant body, since the holder of the second end of the rope to the user for the proper functioning of the device is essential.

Expediently, the means for increasing the volume comprise a cartridge filled with pressurized gas. Such gas cartridges are found in the market for a variety of applications and are therefore mature and cost-effective. The gas pressure cartridges used have a length of 80 to 120 mm, preferably from 85 to 110 mm and particularly preferably from 88 to 95 mm and a diameter of 15 to 30 mm, preferably from 20 to 25 mm and particularly preferably from 22 to 24 mm extremely compact dimensions. The capacity is accordingly between about 15 ml and 50 ml. In addition to metal, the gas pressure cartridge can also be made of a fiber-reinforced plastic, in particular carbon, to reduce the weight of the gas pressure cartridge. Due to the small size of the gas pressure cartridge and the packing size of the device can be correspondingly low. If the buoyant body is folded together and accommodated together with the gas pressure cartridge in its holder, the packing size is approximately 130 mm × 50 mm × 30 mm. The dimensions of the device thus move in the areas which are comparable to those of a cigarette box. As filling gas, all gases are used, which allow safe buoyancy on snow and are still gaseous even at high pressure and low temperatures. Carbon dioxide is therefore unsuitable because it precipitates as a solid at these ratios. Non-toxic, non-flammable gases are preferred since they are harmless to the user as well as during production. These gases include air, nitrogen and all noble gases. It would also be possible to produce the gas by the course of a chemical reaction with gas evolution. Mechanical expansion elements such as spiral springs, folding springs or the like are also conceivable as means for increasing the volume.

It proves to be advantageous if the trigger releases an opening for the exit of the gas when it is withdrawn from the cartridge. The buoyant body is thereby filled reliably and quickly before the buoyant body comes into contact with an avalanche.

In a preferred embodiment, the trigger is a trigger guard which, upon removal from the cartridge, releases a biased impact member which is adapted to penetrate the cartridge wall at a defined location. The release of the gas takes place very reliably by the impact element. The impact element may, for example, be a striking head with a projecting mandrel. Of course, other ways, such as opening a valve possible to allow the gas to escape quickly and completely. A trigger in the form of a trigger guard has the advantage that this easy with the second end of the rope is connectable and has two ends, which cause a release.

Advantageously, at least one key is formed on the trigger guard, which shifts a holding element, which serves to support the impact element, during the withdrawal in a direction which extends transversely to the withdrawal direction. In this context, a wedge is understood to mean an extension with a beveled surface, which utilizes the mechanical principle of the inclined plane, that is, a force is divided into two partial forces. The retaining element is reliably displaced transversely to the withdrawal direction, since preferably two wedges engage a wedge at each of the two ends of the trigger guard. The reliability of the release of the impact element is therefore very high.

Thus, the two legs of the trigger guard does not bend during the withdrawal and thus does not occur a displacement of the retaining element, a headband is arranged on the two legs of the trigger guard, which holds the two legs together. Conveniently, the headband is U-shaped so as not to hinder the holding element in its direction of displacement.

In a preferred embodiment, recesses are provided at the open ends of the two legs of the trigger guard, in which the headband can be latched. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cartridge is disposed within the buoyant body and the trigger outside the buoyant body. By this constructive precaution no penetration of the surface of the buoyant body is necessary, since the surface of the buoyant body between the cartridge and the shutter can be arranged. Already during the production of the buoyancy body, the gas pressure cartridge is integrated. The buoyant body is therefore hermetically sealed. The trigger works over the surface of the buoyant body without penetrating it, as the surface lies between the trigger and the gas pressure cartridge without affecting the triggering function. It is understood that gas pressure cartridges and triggers could both be within the buoyant body or outside the buoyant body. However, these embodiments have the disadvantage that the surface of the buoyant body has a passage opening for the injection of gas or must have a bushing for the triggering. If the gas pressure cartridge is arranged outside on the buoyant body, there is also the risk that it will be torn off unwantedly by the buoyant body. Within the buoyancy body, the gas pressure cartridge is therefore protected from external influences. In order to be able to grip the buoyant body and to be able to pull it out of its holder, an attack element for the hand of a user is advantageously arranged on the outer shell of the buoyant body. Advantageously, the ends of the engaging element are permanently connected to the surface of the buoyant body, in particular welded or glued. In a further preferred embodiment, the engagement element is a loop, which can be transferred from a first folded position to a second unfolded position. This ensures that the device is not accidentally triggered. In the folded position, the loop offers no possibility of attack, only by unfolding it is easily accessible for a hand. Furthermore, the loop in the folded position can be releasably connected to the holder, in particular by a hook-and-loop fastener. This accidentally pulling the Auftreibkörpers from its holder is additionally avoided. It would also be conceivable that the loop is always tangible and protected by a cover. Only when the cover is removed, the loop can grab.

It proves to be advantageous if the transfer from the first position to the second position is accomplished by a spring element. The user only has to open a retainer, for example a hook-and-loop fastener, so that the loop springs into the unfolded position. This automatic unfolding is to be understood as "sharp" the device and makes the operation of the device according to the invention particularly simple as spring element coil springs are just as suitable as materials with a high restoring force, in particular a leaf spring The preferred material for the spring element is a spring steel, although fiber reinforced plastics, in particular reinforced with glass fibers or carbon fibers, can be used. It proves to be expedient if the buoyancy body is accommodated in a holder from which the buoyancy body can be pulled out by means of the engagement element. The extraction can simultaneously trigger the increase in volume of the buoyant body. The withdrawal takes place against a noticeable resistance, but should not require too much force. Therefore, it is advantageous if the holder is made of an elastic plastic, in particular a Sihkongurnmi. Furthermore, a simple removal is further improved by the fact that only the edge regions of the folded buoyant body are enclosed by the holder on the extension side of the holder. It would also be conceivable that the holder is a closed bag or a bag with predetermined breaking points, from which the buoyancy body is pulled out.

Advantageously, the holder by at least one fastening means on a garment or a piece of equipment, in particular a backpack, can be fixed. The fact that the holder is not directly connected to a garment, the device can still attach to the same even after the production of the garment.

In a further preferred embodiment, the fastening means is a plate with two extensions, which extensions can be latched with a receiving opening of the holder. The term "plate" in this context means a fastening means in which the length and the width are at least 10 times the thickness. The plate can be previously connected to the garment during its production, in particular sewn. The device may then be attached to the garment or piece of equipment at a later time. This has the advantage that the equipment of the garment or the equipment with the device is location-independent and a garment or a piece of equipment can be upgraded with the device even after the purchase of the user. Before the garment or piece of equipment to which the panel is secured is damaged when it is pulled out of its mounting, the bracket will disengage from the panel. The extensions are pulled out of the holder by the receiving opening expands or even enters. The plate also makes it possible to away from the device when it is to be replaced, or the garment or equipment must be washed.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for triggering a device for locating avalanche victims. According to the invention, the method comprises the disposal of the buoyant body by a user, wherein a means for increasing the volume is triggered by the disposal of the buoyant body by the user. The buoyancy body remains connected by a rope with the user. This method is very simple, intuitive and reliable feasible. Therefore, it is particularly suitable in situations of high stress, as is typically the case with avalanches.

Advantageously, a force applied to the buoyancy body attack element is unfolded before discarding the buoyant body. As a result, the buoyancy body can be safely gripped and thrown away even in extremely difficult situations, such as an avalanche. It is also conceivable that the attacking element is always within reach and can not be folded or folded. In this case, can not be forgotten on the unfolding of the attack element.

Due to the fact that the release of the buoyant body removes the trigger that can be fixed on the user by the means for increasing the volume, the increase in volume automatically occurs only in that the user throws the buoyant body away from him.

Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the schematic representations. It shows in not to scale representation:

Figure V. an axonometric view of an inventive device for locating avalanche victims with a buoyant body;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a gas pressure cartridge for increasing the volume of the buoyant body in a first embodiment; FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a gas pressure cartridge for increasing the volume of the buoyant body in a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows an axonometric representation of the folded buoyant body packaged in a holder with an unfolded engagement element;

Figure 5 is an axonometric view of a mounting of fasteners for attaching the device to garments;

Figure 6a - 6d: a non-exhaustive list of ways to mount the device to a user and

FIGS. 7a-7e: a schematic representation of the use of the device according to the invention for locating avalanche victims.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show an apparatus according to the invention for locating avalanche victims, which is denoted overall by the reference numeral 11. The device 11 comprises a buoyant body 13, preferably in the form of a gas-tight balloon. The buoyancy body is preferably made of an elastic plastic, in particular a thermoplastic elastomer film (TPE film) or a thermo-plastic elastomer film based on urethane (TPU film). These elastomeric films have the advantage that, even if the air pressure decreases with increasing height, ie in the buoyant body 13 in the inflated state, a higher pressure prevails, they remain elastic. In the buoyant body so no pressure is built up, which could damage the buoyant body 13 or could even cause it to burst. The inflated buoyant body 13 thus remains elastic even at high sea level and can thereby absorb shocks from the outside, without being damaged. With increasing sea level of the inflated buoyancy body has the further advantage that it resp. A larger volume. has a lower density and therefore floats better on snow than at lower sea level. In the inflated state, the buoyant body has essentially the shape of a sphere of a diameter of 80 to 500 mm, preferably of 100 to 300 mm and very particularly preferred. given from 120 to 220 mm. The buoyant body 13 therefore has a volume of 2 to 15 liters, preferably from 3 to 10 liters and more preferably from 4 to 7 liters. A cable 15 having a first end 17 and a second end 19 connects the buoyant body 13 to a user 21 of the apparatus 11. The buoyant body may be received in a sack with predetermined breaking points. The bag protects the buoyancy body from UV light so that it does not lose its elasticity. If he buoyant buoyant body 13, so burst the predetermined breaking points, so that the bag does not hinder the rapid inflation of the buoyant body 13. The predetermined breaking points are preferably realized by Velcro straps or stitching. The rope 15 is made of UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) fibers, is plasticized on the surface and has a diameter of about 1.6 mm. It cuts very well through snow. A gas pressure cartridge 23 is preferably received within the buoyant body 13. The gas pressure cartridge 23 is preferably a commercially available gas pressure cartridge with a length of about 90 mm and a diameter of about 20 mm. Due to the small size of the gas pressure cartridge 23 and the packing size of the device can be correspondingly low. The buoyant body 13 is added folded together with the gas pressure cartridge 23 and the cable 15 in a holder 25. The holder 25 is preferably made of an elastic plastic, so that the buoyancy body on the one hand, if necessary, can be removed without too much resistance and on the other hand does not accidentally fall out of the holder 25. The buoyant body 13 is pulled out of the holder 25 through a removal opening 27. This is done relatively smoothly, since the buoyant body is held only on retaining webs 29a, 29b in the holder 25.

If the buoyant body 13 is folded together with the gas pressure cartridge 23 received in the holder 25, the packing size is approximately 130 mm × 50 mm × 30 mm. Of course, in order to reduce the length, the width and depth of the device 11 can also be increased. The dimensions are determined by the space provided by the garment to which the device 11 is to be attached. The dimensions of the device thus move in the areas which are comparable to the dimensions of a cigarette box. To remove the buoyant body 13 from the holder 25, an engagement element in the form of a loop 31 is provided. The loop 31 has a bend 33 at which it is foldable. The first loop part 35 can therefore be folded over the second loop part 37. In this folded position, the first loop end 39 is retained on a garment, for example, with a hook-and-loop fastener. In this folded position, the loop 31 is under pretension, since a spring element 41, preferably in the form of a plastic inlets, reinforces the second loop part 37. At the second loop end 43, at which the loop 31 is fixed to the buoyant body 13, the Kunststoffinlet is kinked and therefore acts as a leaf spring. If the Velcro is opened, the loop is transferred by relaxing the Kunststoffinlets in an unfolded position. Figures 1, 4 and 5 show that the loop 31 can slide through a ring 45 until the unfolded position is reached. The unfolded position is limited by the fact that the first loop end 39 is widened or has a hook, for example by stitching, and therefore can not pass through the ring 45. The ring 45 is in turn attached to the buoyant body 13. It is also conceivable that the loop 31 is not foldable and unfoldable and is always within reach. Then, the user does not have to think about unfolding the loop 31 to make the device 11 ready for use. In Figure 2, the triggering function of the gas pressure cartridge 23 is shown. The impact element 47 is biased by a spring 49. This is accomplished by the end of the impact element 47 facing away from the gas pressure cartridge protruding from a sleeve 51. The protruding from the sleeve 51 end is provided with a circumferential groove 53 which is held in a holding member 55. The sleeve 51 can be screwed onto the gas pressure cartridge 23 and has rails 57 formed along its length on both sides. The sleeve 51 facing longitudinal sides of the support member 55 are tapered wedge-shaped, the side portions 59 of the support member 55 increase in height in the withdrawal direction 61. The side parts 59 form together with the rails 57 elongated grooves. It is also important that the rails 57 and the edges of the side parts have undercuts. In the grooves thus formed and undercut their lengths, the ends of a trigger bracket 63 are added. Preferably, the gas pressure cartridge 23 is mits- office of the sleeve 57 and the holding member 55 is received in the buoyancy body and the trigger guard 63 is located outside the buoyant body 13. The ends of the trigger guard 63 are designed as wedges 65a, 65b, which engage behind the undercut grooves. As a result, the ends of the trigger guard 63 are locked with the grooves and displaceable only in the withdrawal direction 61. In the grooves, in addition to the wedges 65a, 65b, a part of the buoyant body 13 in the region of the wedges 65a, 65b must also be accommodated. A part of the buoyant body is thus arranged between the sleeve 51 and the trigger guard 63. A displacement of the strap ends in a direction other than the withdrawal direction 61 is reliably avoided, since the strap ends are positively guided in the grooves. If the trigger guard 63 is now pulled in the withdrawal direction 61, the retaining element 55 is displaced in the displacement direction 67 by the wedge shape of the side parts 59. The holding element 55 releases from the groove 53 and releases the impact element 47. The impact element strikes the gas pressure cartridge 23 and the gas escaping under pressure inflates the buoyant body 13.

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the trigger guard 63. In order to further improve the safety of the triggering process, the two legs of the trigger guard 63 are held together by a retaining bracket 68. The two limbs are therefore held or forced twice in the withdrawal direction 61: on the one hand by wedges 65a, 65b described above and on the other hand by the retaining yoke 68. In the region of the wedges 65a, 65b, latching recesses 70 are provided, into which the retaining yoke 68 can be clipped , As FIG. 3 shows, the U-shaped retaining clip is clipped onto the trigger guard 63 in such a way that its open side faces the retaining element 55. The retaining element 55 is therefore not hindered when moving in the direction of displacement 67 by the retaining strap 68.

The trigger guard 63 is held at the second end 19 of the rope. If the buoyant body 13 is pulled out of the holder 25 on the loop 31, the trigger guard is retained by the second cable end 19 and is withdrawn from the sleeve 57 in the withdrawal direction 61. By pulling the buoyant body 13 out of the holder 25, the buoyant body 13 is therefore automatically inflated.

The second end of the rope 19 can still be passed through a non-illustrated retaining member. The retaining member is between the trigger guard 63 and the Bracket 25 is arranged. The loop of the second rope end is passed through two passage openings through the retaining part. The retainer retains the bracket 25 in the user attachment (garment attachment, halter, backpack, etc.) with which the retainer 25 is held on a garment. This ensures that the buoyant body 13 together with the cable 15 and the gas pressure cartridge 23 are pulled out of the holder 25 and the cable 15 unfolds clean during the disposal of the buoyant body 13. In addition, the buoyant body 13 is facilitated by the weight of the bracket 25, as it is reliably held on the user attachment. The inflation and the buoyancy of the superstructure body 13 are therefore not hindered by the holder 25.

Figures 6a to 6d show one way in which the holder 25 may be attached to a garment. For this purpose, two plates 69a, 69b attached to the garment, for example, sewn. The plates 69a, 69b have an arrow shape and can thereby be easily inserted into receiving openings 71 (FIG. 1) on the underside of the holder 25. The plates have extensions 73 which hook into the receiving openings 71 and prevent unintentional release of the device 11 from the garment. The device can be quickly and securely attached to a garment by the plates 69a, 69b. Before the panels 69a, 69b damage the garment, the connection between the panels 69a, 69b and the bracket 25 is released.

However, it is also conceivable that the holder 25 is held with a strap and a Velcro fastener on the user attachment by the tape is passed through the receiving openings 71 and is held with a Velcro connection to the user attachment. It is also conceivable that the holder 25 is inserted into the user fastener, for example a holster.

In order to secure the second end 19 of the rope 15 securely to a body part of the user 21, the second end 19 may be passed through an adjustable retaining loop 75 or be connected by means of a sack stitch with the retaining loop 75. The lanyard 75 may then be attached to an arm, a leg, the torso or the belt of a belt or rucksack, or it may wrap around it. The looping has the advantage that when pulling on the cable 15, the connection is strengthened. In FIGS. 6a to 6d, various possibilities of fastening the device 11 to a user 21 or carrier are not shown conclusively. The device can be held according to Figure 6a, for example by means of the plates 69a, 69b on a jacket. Other garments to which the device 11 can be fixed are, for. B. a halter (Figure 6b), a hip belt or waist belt of a backpack (Figure 6c) or pants (Figure 6d). The loop 31 must be easily accessible to the user's hand in any case, to allow a quick and easy release of the device 11.

FIGS. 7a to 7e show the function of the device 11 for locating avalanche victims in a sequential sequence. Before starting a tour, or at the latest when the user 21 enters an avalanche slope, the device 11 is to be ready for use. For this, as stated above, in a first step, the loop 31 to unfold. After this is biased by the spring element 41, the unfolding is done quickly and easily by loosening the first Schlu- fenendes 39. In case of danger of spillage, the user 21 pulls the buoyant body 13 with the loop 31 from the holder 25 and throws it away from him. By pulling the buoyant body of the trigger guard 63 is withdrawn from the gas pressure cartridge 23, whereby the gas inflates the buoyant body 13. As the filling gas, air, nitrogen or other inert gases, such as noble gases, can be used. In the case of a spill of the user 21 by an avalanche the buoyant body 13 remains on the surface. The buoyant body 13 preferably has a signal color, which contrasts sharply with the white color of the snow, so that the helpers can quickly recognize the buoyant body 13. By pulling on the rope 15, this cuts through the snow. Around the rope, the snow is then shoveled away. During the shovel, contact with the victim is not lost, as is the case with an avalanche transceiver, since the buoyant body 13 and the rope 15 permanently indicate the path to the victim. This process is repeated until the rescuers have reached the victim. The device 11 allows the user 21 to be retrieved very quickly without having to search for a long time. Legend:

11 Device for locating avalanche victims

13 buoyancy body, gas-tight balloon

15 rope

17 First end of the rope

19 Second end of the rope

21 users

23 gas pressure cartridge

25 bracket

27 removal opening

29a, 29b retaining bars

31 loop

33 kink

35 First loop part

37 Second loop part

39 First loop end

41 spring element

43 Second loop end

45 ring

47 impact element

49 spring

51 sleeve

53 circumferential groove

55 holding element

57 rails

59 side parts of the holding element

61 withdrawal direction

63 trigger guard

65a, 65b wedges

67 displacement direction of the holding element

68 retaining bracket

69a, 69b plates

71 receiving opening

73 extensions

75 wrist strap

Claims

claims

1. Device (11) for locating avalanche victims with

a buoyancy body (13), which can be enlarged in its volume, means (23) for increasing the volume of the buoyant body (13), a trigger (63), which triggers the means for increasing the volume (23) and

a rope (15) having first and second ends (17, 19), the buoyancy body (13) being fixed to the first end (17) and the second end (19) being provided to a user (21) to be,

characterized,

in that the trigger (63) has retaining means (19) by means of which the trigger (63) can be fixed to the user (21), the trigger (63) being designed to prevent the user (21) from removing the buoyant body (13) ) trigger the means for volume increase (23).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the trigger (63) with the cable (15) in the region of its second end (19) is connected.

3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for increasing the volume of a filled with pressurized gas cartridge (23).

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the trigger (63) when removing from the cartridge (23) an opening for the escape of the gas releases.

5. Device according to one of claims 3 to 4, characterized in that the trigger is a trigger guard (63) which upon removal from the cartridge (23) releases a prestressed Aufschlagelement (47), which is adapted to the cartridge wall to penetrate at a defined location.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the trigger guard (63) is forcibly guided on the cartridge (23) in at least one rail, which leads the trigger guard (63) in the withdrawal direction (61).

Device according to one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that on the trigger guard (63) at least one wedge (65 a, 65 b) is formed, which a holding element (55) which serves to support the impact element (47), during the peeling in a direction (67) moves, which extends transversely to the withdrawal direction (61).

Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the cartridge (23) within the buoyant body (13) and the trigger (63) outside the buoyant body (13) is arranged.

Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that on the outer shell of the buoyancy body (13) an engagement element (31) for the hand of a user (21) is arranged.

Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the engagement element is a loop (31) which can be transferred from a first folded position to a second unfolded position.

Device according to one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that the buoyancy body (13) in a holder (25) is received, from which the buoyant body (13) by means of the engagement element (31) can be pulled out.

Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the holder (25) is fixable by at least one fastening means (69) on a garment or a piece of equipment.

Method for triggering a device (11) for locating avalanche victims with a buoyant body (13), wherein

- by the discarding of the buoyant body (13) from a user (21) Means (23) for increasing the volume is triggered and

- The buoyancy body (13) by a cable (15) with the user (21) remains connected.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that before the disposal of the buoyant body (13) arranged on the buoyancy body (13) engaging element (31) is unfolded.

15. The method according to any one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that by the disposal of the buoyant body (13) of the user (21) fixable trigger (63) is subtracted from the means (23) for increasing the volume.