WO2014019664A1

WO2014019664A1 - Survival aid, in particular for swimmers and persons participating in watersports

Info

Publication number: WO2014019664A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/002222
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher Fuhrhop; Marius Kunkis
Original assignee: Christopher Fuhrhop; Marius Kunkis
Priority date: 2012-07-31
Filing date: 2013-07-26
Publication date: 2014-02-06
Also published as: DE202012007334U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a survival aid, in particular for swimmers and persons participating in watersports. Said survival aid comprises an inflatable floating body (10) of elongated shape, a compressed gas cartridge (20) that can be coupled with the floating body (10), an actuator, the actuation of which clears the gas path between the compressed gas cartridge (20) coupled to the floating body (10) and the interior of the floating body (10), and a pouch (30), into which the floating body (10) can be folded or rolled when deflated. The pouch (30) comprises a front wall (32), a rear wall (34), a bottom (36) interconnecting the front and the rear wall, at least one first side (38) extending from the bottom and interconnecting front and rear wall, and an opening (O) located opposite the bottom. In order to be able to configure the survival aid to be very small when not in use so that the survival aid can be comfortably worn on the body, while ensuring at the same time that the floating body safely unfolds from the bag when the actuator is activated, the opening angle (α) of the opening (O) is greater than 0⁰, and preferably greater than 15⁰, at least when the floating body is expanding.

Description

Survival aid, especially for swimmers and water sports enthusiasts

description

The invention relates to a survival aid, in particular for swimmers and water sports, with an inflatable float according to claim 1.

In Europe alone, over 40,000 people drown each year. A not inconsiderable part of this dies in sports or swimming accidents in the sea or in lakes. Not infrequently, experienced swimmers drown, because they panic, for example, due to a muscle spasm. Especially in such cases, it would often be sufficient for the swimmer / water sportsman concerned to gain five to ten minutes until he has recovered and the panic subsides or a rescuer has reached the affected person.

On this basis, the object of the present invention is to provide a survival aid which can save lives, in particular in the above-described situations.

This object is achieved by a survival aid having the features of claim 1.

The survival aid according to the invention has an inflatable float, which can be inflated by means of a compressed gas cartridge, so that it provides a buoyant body with sufficient volume of particular 7 to 15 liters. The inflatable floating body is elongated, which has the advantage that you can be very on him without further action

CONFIRMATION COPY can hold well, in particular by placing the arms over it, so that the head is "automatically" kept out of the water.The elongated shape has the further advantage that the inflatable float can fold very well, namely preferably in one Art accordion folding across the longitudinal direction.

Of course, such a survival aid can only fulfill its purpose if it is worn, especially if no emergency situation is expected. That is, the survival aid must be designed so that it is small and light in a resting state in which the inflatable float is not inflated and comfortable on the body, especially at the hip by means of a belt worn. It is therefore a pocket provided, in which the float in its non-inflated state is foldable and / or rolled. This bag, like virtually any other bag, also has a front wall and a rear wall, front and rear walls being directly or indirectly interconnected to form a receiving space in which the inflatable float is folded / rolled up , The pocket has a bottom and an opening opposite the bottom. There is at least one side, typically two sides, extending from the bottom towards the opening. The opening is usually closed in the resting and transport state, in particular by means of a valve extending from the rear wall flap.

For the survival aid to fulfill its task, it is of course essential that after actuation of the gas cartridge - this is usually done by means of a ripcord - the inflatable float can unfold unhindered. In order to do this, the angle at which the inflating float exits the opening - hereinafter referred to as the "opening angle" - must be greater than 0 °. In order to achieve this, the at least one side according to a preferred embodiment is at least in the opening subsequent area stretchable, unfoldable or obvious, so that the opening angle of the opening can be increased.

In an alternative embodiment, the opening angle of more than 0 ° is given solely by the, in particular trapezoidal, geometry of the pocket.

Both embodiments can be combined with each other.

The bag may be formed two-dimensionally (claim 10) or three-dimensionally (claim 11). Both variants have advantages: The variant with a two-dimensional pocket can be produced very inexpensively, whereby a lower final sale price can be achieved, which correspondingly lowers the purchase inhibition threshold. In the three-dimensional variant, a larger volume can be enclosed, which makes it possible, in particular, to manufacture the inflatable floating body from a very stable material, for example from a fabric. This can be particularly advantageous for professional use.

Further preferred embodiments will become apparent from the other dependent claims and from the embodiments now described in more detail with reference to the figures. Hereby show:

1 shows a first embodiment of the first embodiment of the invention in an unpacked state,

1a shows the pocket of Figure 1 in a schematic longitudinal section in the state shown in Figure 1,

FIG. 2 shows that shown in FIG. 1 in a packed state, FIG. 2a shows the pocket from FIG. 2 in the state shown in FIG. 2 in a schematic longitudinal section corresponding to FIG. 1a, the float being not shown for reasons of clarity, FIG.

a bag according to a second embodiment of the first embodiment,

FIG. 4 shows the pocket from FIG. 3 in a state corresponding to FIG. 2 and FIG

Figure 5 shows a bag according to a second embodiment of the invention in a plan view.

FIG. 1 shows all components of a first embodiment of a first embodiment of the survival aid according to the invention. This survival aid consists essentially of two parts, namely a floating body 10, to which a compressed gas cartridge 20 can be coupled and from a pocket 30. Float 10 and pocket 30 are connected to one another by means of a connecting line 62. This connecting line preferably has a length of about 60 cm.

It is first discussed the float:

The float is elongated, that is, its length in the y-direction is greater than its width in the x-direction. The dimensions are (including edges) preferably as follows: length about 70 cm, width about 20 cm, so that the inflated float encloses a volume of about 9 liters. The floating body may consist of a foil-like material or of tissue. Firmly and tightly connected to the floating body, the coupling member 12, in which said pressurized gas cartridge 20 can be screwed (in Figure 1, the screwed state is shown). As a compressed gas cartridge, in particular a commercially available small CO2 pressurized gas cartridge, as used for example in home beer dispensers serve. In the idle state, the closing cap of the Co2 pressurized gas cartridge is closed, so that the gas path between the Co 2 pressurized gas cartridge 20 and the interior of the floating body 10 is blocked. There is a ripcord 26 is provided which actuates a mandrel in the coupling member 12 upon application of a corresponding tensile stress, which pierces the cap of the Co2-compressed gas cartridge 20 and thus destroyed. Thus, the ripcord serves as a trigger. This technique is well known in the field of lifejackets and need not be explained in detail here. For accommodation in the pocket 30 described later, the float 10 is preferably accordion-folded in the Y direction.

The bag 30 will now be described:

The pocket of the first embodiment has four sections, namely a front wall 32, a rear wall 34, a flap 44 and a substantially V-shaped connecting element 42. The front wall 32, rear wall 34 and flap 44 can be basically made from a blank be. However, it is also possible to use a separate blank for each section and to connect these blanks together, in particular to sew together. Front wall 32 and rear wall 34 enclose a receiving space and are in this case along a bottom 36 and along a side, which is referred to here as the second side 40, directly connected to each other. Furthermore, front and rear walls are connected to one another via a first side 38. This first side 28 is formed by the already mentioned connecting element 42, which is connected to the front wall 32 and the rear wall 34. It is thus formed an opening O, which extends from the first side 38 to the second side 40 and the bottom 36 opposite. The flap 44 extends from the top edge of the rear wall 34. A push button 46 and a back button 48 are attached to the connector 42, in such a way that their effective areas in the state shown in Figure 1, ie, when the connecting element 42 is folded outward, facing outward. Push button 46 and counter-push button 48 are in each case in the vicinity of the upper edge of the front wall 32 and the rear wall 34. In the state shown in Figure 1 is thus a folded, enlarged first side 38 and an opening O with an opening angle of more as 0 ° before, see in particular Figure 1 a. If the connecting element 42 is folded inwards (ie in the direction of the arrow) and pressure and counter-pressure button are connected to each other, the first page is almost reduced to a line, corresponding to the second side 40. On the outside of the front wall 32 is a hook and loop element 50 and on the inside of the flap 44 a Gegenklettelement 52 is attached. On the outside of the rear wall 34, a fastening belt 60, in particular by means of loops, held. At the front ends of this strap 60 are a buckle and a mating buckle, in particular made of plastic, as they are often used for example in backpacks. Thus, the bag can be worn with the help of the belt, especially around the waist.

The transition from the state shown in FIG. 1 to the state of use shown in FIG. 2 is as follows: The uninflated floating body 10 is rolled or preferably folded in the y-direction and then into the interior of the pocket 30, ie between the front wall 32 and rear wall 34 introduced. Depending on the specific geometric configuration, a second convolution in the x direction may also be necessary here. Subsequently, the connector 42 is folded inwardly and the push button 46 and back button 48 are fastened together so that the first side 38 is in a shallow depth condition. Now, the flap 44 is folded so that the Velcro and Gegenklettelement come into engagement with each other. Care must be taken that the end of the ripcord 26 sticks out of the pocket. Thus, the inflatable float is compact and completely enclosed by the bag so that it is protected from damage by the bag, for example by sharp objects, but can be immediate be operated. This complete or nearly complete enclosure is important, since it may well be that the survival aid is in the state shown in FIG. 2 for a very long period of time and it must be ensured that it also functions if required, in particular the inflatable re body is undamaged.

As can be seen from FIG. 2 and in particular from FIG. 2 a, the opening angle α of the opening O at rest is the survival aid of the embodiment just described, 0 °.

If now the ripcord 26 is pulled when needed, then gas flows from the compressed gas cartridge 20 into the interior of the floating body 10, which then begins to expand. In this case, he first opens the connection formed by the push button and back button of the first page 38, which then unfolds and thus the opening angle α of the opening corresponding to that in Fig. 1 a increases. As a result, the longitudinal section of the bag takes the form of an oblique trapezium, that is, the bag widens up and the float can unfold unhindered upwards. Here it opens the existing of Velcro and Gegenklettelement releasable connection between see valve 44 and front wall 32. The now inflating float 10 then completely exits the bag, but is through the connecting line 62 at this and thus to the person who the bag carries, held so that it has the float 10 directly available. At the end of the ripcord, a signal device may be arranged in the form of a battery-powered light and / or in the form of a signal whistle (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows a pocket according to a second embodiment of the first embodiment of the invention. Here the floor and both sides are formed as separate sections, so it is a 3D construction. The advantage here is that a larger volume can be enclosed, which in particular results in the use of inflatable floats made of stable fabric. made possible. In order to securely close the float from all sides, the flap 44 preferably has side surfaces 44a, 44b. These continue to give the packed bag greater dimensional stability. Again, the first side 38 is foldable formed as a connecting element 42 and can be brought in particular by means of snaps (or Velcro) in a closed position in which it has the same shape as the second side 40. Again, the first page 38 is unfolded by the unfolding float and the opening angle increased accordingly.

In particular, the following variations to the pockets of the two exemplary embodiments are conceivable:

First embodiment: Here, it would be possible, in the area of the first side, to connect the front wall and the rear wall exclusively via detachable connections, such as pushbuttons and counter-pressure buttons, and completely dispense with a connecting element. Furthermore, it would be possible to manufacture the connecting element of an elastic material.

Second embodiment: Here it would be conceivable in particular to design the first page in two parts, so that it can "burst open".

FIG. 4 shows a pocket of a second embodiment of the invention in a schematic top view: Here, the shape of the pocket is chosen such that the opening angle of the opening is permanently greater than 90 °. In particular, the pocket may have a trapezoidal, preferably symmetric-trapezoidal cross-section (as shown). Advantage is a comparison with the first embodiment simplified production, it is disadvantageous that the packing space can not be used optimally. In the second embodiment, the bag may be implemented as a 2D construction or as a 3D construction. Preferably, both the bag 30 (except for the ability to make the connecting element 42 of an elastic material) and the inflatable float 10 are each made of a flexible, but substantially non-elastic material.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 floats

12 coupling member

20 compressed gas cartridge

26 ripcord

30 bag

32 front wall

34 back wall

36 floor

38 first page

40 second page

42 connecting element

44 flap

44a, b side surface

46 push button

48 back button

50 Velcro elements

52 counter Velcro element

60 fastening strap

62 connecting line

Claims

claims

1 . Survival aid, in particular for swimmers and water sports, with an elongated, inflatable float (10), with the float (10) coupled pressurized gas cartridge (20), a trigger, by its operation, the gas path between the on the float (10) coupled to the compressed gas cartridge (20) and the interior of the floating body (10) is released, and

a pocket (30) into which the floating body (10) can be folded and / or rolled in its unfilled condition, wherein

the pocket (30) includes a front wall (32), a rear wall (34), a bottom (36) connecting front and rear walls, at least one first side (38) connecting the floor, front and rear walls, and a base Bottom opposite opening (O), wherein

the opening angle (a) of the opening (O) is greater than 0 ° and preferably greater than 15 °, at least when the floating body is expanding.

2. survival aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the first side (38) at least in the adjoining the opening (O) area stretchable, unfoldable or obvious, so that the opening angle (a) of the opening (O) is increased.

3. Survival aid according to claim 2, characterized in that reversible closure means are provided, by means of which the at least one side

(38) can be brought into a closed state, wherein the reversible closure means are formed so that they open when inflated in the bag / rolled-up float this is inflated by means of the gas cartridge.

4. survival aid according to claim 3, characterized in that the closure means as at least one push-button pair (46, 48) are formed.

5. Survival aid according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the first side (38) connecting the front and rear wall connecting element (42) is formed.

6. Survival aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that from the rear wall (34) a flap (44) extends, by means of which the opening (O) can be closed.

7. survival aid according to claim 6, characterized in that on the flap (44) at least one closure element and on the outside of the front wall (32) at least one counter-locking element is provided.

8. Survival aid according to claim 7, characterized in that the closure element and the counter-closure element form a hook-and-loop fastener.

9. Survival aid according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the flap (44) has side surfaces (44a, 44b).

10. Survival aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front wall (32) and the rear wall (34) touch at least at the bottom (36) directly.

1 1. Survival aid according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the front wall (32) and rear wall (34) are spaced from each other.

12. survival aid according to one of the preceding claims, character- ized in that the pocket (30) has a trapezoidal longitudinal section.

13. Survival aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a connecting line (62) is provided, which connects the floating body (10) and the pocket (30) at least indirectly with each other.

14. Survival aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the pocket (30), in particular on the rear wall (34), a fastening strap (60) is held.