WO2018197718A1

WO2018197718A1 - Lifejacket

Info

Publication number: WO2018197718A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/060991
Authority: WO
Inventors: Elizabeth Brown; John Yeats Gordon; Paul Oliver
Original assignee: Survitec Group Limited
Priority date: 2017-04-28
Filing date: 2018-04-27
Publication date: 2018-11-01
Also published as: GB2561903A; GB201706812D0

Abstract

An inflatable lifejacket (21) includes a trunk portion (23) for overlying a wearer's torso at the front. The trunk portion (23) may be configured to further overlie the wearer's torso at the sides. The trunk portion (23) may be substantially U-shaped. The trunk portion (23) may be configured to substantially increase in volume upon inflation by application of a fluid. A neck portion (25) for supporting a wearer's neck may be configured to substantially increase in volume upon inflation by application of the fluid. The trunk portion and the neck portion may be connected by at least one connecting portion (27) for overlying a wearer' s shoulder and arranged to allow passage of the fluid therethrough and configured to substantially maintain its volume upon application of the fluid.

Description

Lifejacket

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an inflatable lifejacket.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

A known inflatable lifejacket 1, such as that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 has a single inflatable chamber 3 that overlies the wearer's chest and shoulders, and extends behind the wearer's neck. An opening 5 is provided to allow the wearer's head to pass through the lifejacket 1 during donning and doffing.

The shoulder part 7 of the chamber 3 that overlies the shoulders substantially increases in volume upon inflation by application of inflating fluid, to generally the same degree as the rest of the chamber 3. The inflated shoulder part 7 makes swimming difficult, restricts the wearer's view and makes it difficult for the wearer to shoulder a firearm (which is often useful for military personnel and the like) .

The HOM (Height of Mouth) is an important consideration for a lifejacket. HOM is vital in achieving survival and the height of the mouth from the water surface has to be a minimum of 120 mm to comply with current regulated standards.

The FPA (Face Plane Angle) is further important consideration for a lifejacket. If the FPA is too shallow (e.g. less than 25°) then waves can wash over the mouth and cause choking (dry drowning) and if it is too steep then the subject cannot breathe properly.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the known chamber 3 is attached to the wearer's torso by a strap 9 so that the buoyancy of the chamber 3 lifts the torso of the wearer towards the surface of the water 11. However, as the torso part 13 of the chamber 3 sits on the front of the wearer's torso the HOM "A" can be lower than what is ideal and the field of vision "B" is obscured. The FPA is also lower than what is ideal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inflatable lifejacket including a trunk portion for overlying a wearer's torso at the front, wherein the trunk portion is configured to further overlie the wearer' s torso at the sides.

Such an arrangement may advantageously increase the height of mouth (HOM) and/or increase the unobscured field of vision when the lifejacket is inflated and the wearer is lying faceup in water.

The trunk portion may be substantially U-shaped.

The lifejacket may include a connector or webs that connects an inner side to an outer side of the lifejacket and constrains the maximum depth of the lifejacket.

The lifejacket may include a strip that is attached to a surface of the lifejacket at two spaced apart locations, arranged to form a corner in the surface of the lifejacket when inflated. A strip is attached to the torso portion in the embodiment, but could instead or also be attached to the neck portion .

The length of the strip extending between the two spaced apart locations may be less than a distance along the surface of the lifejacket between the two spaced apart locations. This causes the formation of a corner.

The strip may be formed of two flaps attached at a proximal end to the surface of the lifejacket at respective ones of the two spaced apart locations, and the flaps being attached to one another at a distal end thereof. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inflatable lifejacket including:

a trunk portion for overlying a wearer's chest and configured to substantially increase in volume upon inflation by application of a fluid, and

a neck portion for supporting a wearer' s neck and configured to substantially increase in volume upon inflation by application of the fluid,

wherein the trunk portion and the neck portion are connected by at least one connecting portion for overlying a wearer's shoulder, arranged to allow passage of the fluid therethrough, and configured to substantially maintain its volume upon application of the fluid.

As the connecting portion substantially maintains its volume upon application of the fluid, this may make swimming easier and may increase the wearer's field of view.

The connecting portion may be arranged such that, in use, the wearer can shoulder a firearm substantially unrestricted by the connection portion.

The connecting portion may have an inflated diameter of less than 30mm, preferably 8mm.

The connecting portion may comprise two parts that are detachably connectable by a connector. This allows the connecting portion to be temporarily split to allow easy removal of the lifejacket. Valves may be provided in the parts to prevent escape of inflation fluid.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inflatable lifejacket configured to have a first, full, buoyancy state and a second, reduced, buoyancy state.

The second, reduced buoyancy, state may provide flotation for tactical, operational swimming use. The first, full, buoyancy state may provide a full survival mode.

The lifejacket may include wearer-selectable means operable to selectively inflate the lifejacket to provide the first buoyancy state or the second buoyancy state.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inflatable lifejacket including a trunk portion for overlying a wearer's chest a neck portion for supporting a wearer's neck, wherein the neck portion includes a manual oral inflation nozzle located behind the head of the wearer in use, e.g., positioned for allowing manual oral inflation by a rescuer .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lifejacket including an outer inflatable trunk portion for overlying a wearer' s torso and an inner armour part, the inner armour part being configured to lie on one side against the wearer's torso in use, with the inflatable trunk portion being mounted on the other side.

In another embodiment, the inflatable trunk portion is located between the wearer's torso and an outer armour part.

The inner armour part may be located on the wearer's torso in use by a releasable securing mechanism and the arrangement is such that the location of the inner armour part on the wearer's torso does not alter upon inflation of the inflatable trunk portion.

The releasable securing mechanism may include a wearer- operable release activation member that is arranged to be accessible to the wearer when the inflatable trunk portion is in an inflated and an uninflated state.

The lifejacket may include one or more high visibility regions configured to be selectively revealable. For example, the high visibility regions may be concealed by a flap that is secured by a releasable fastener.

An inflatable part of the lifejacket may comprise two or more separate inflatable sections. The sections may be in the trunk portion and/or the neck portion

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention an embodiment will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a known lifejacket;

Figure 2 shows a side elevation of a known lifejacket worn by a user in water;

Figure 3 a bottom plan view of a known lifejacket, showing the position and shape of the lifejacket in relation to the body of the wearer;

Figure 4 shows a front elevation of a lifejacket in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 shows a side elevation of the lifejacket in accordance with the embodiment when the wearer is in water;

Figure 6 shows a side view similar to that of Figure 5, illustrating additional equipment mounted at the user's neck;

Figure 7 shows a side elevation similar to that of Figures 4 and 5, showing the wearer shouldering a riffle; Figure 8 shows a front elevation of a lifejacket in accordance with an embodiment of the invention with a modified connecting portion;

Figure 9 shows a detailed view of the modified connecting portion of Figure 8;

Figure 10 shows a bottom plan view of a lifejacket in accordance with an embodiment in which a baffle is provided in the inflation chamber and also the showing the position of an armour plate;

Figure 11 shows a bottom plan cross-sectional view of a lifejacket in accordance with an embodiment of the invention showing an elastic cover over the inflatable parts and a position of an armour plate;

Figure 12A and 12B are cross-sections in the region 90 of Figure 10;

Figure 13 is cross-section similar to Figure 12B but with a two-layer structure;

Figure 14A shows a cross-sectional view of an inflatable chamber according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 14B shows an enlarged detailed view of the layers of the inflatable chamber according to the embodiment of Figure 14A;

Figure 14C shows an enlarged view of the inflatable chamber of Figure 14A where the upper and lower layers are connected together; and

Figure 15 shows a bottom plan cross-sectional view of a lifejacket in accordance with an embodiment of the invention showing an elastic cover over the inflatable parts and an alternative position of an armour plate

In the drawings, like elements are generally designated with the same reference sign.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown a lifejacket 21 according to an embodiment of the invention. The lifejacket 21 comprises a trunk portion 23 for overlying a wearer's chest and a neck portion 25 for supporting a wearer's neck. The trunk portion 23 and the neck portion 25 are connected by, e.g., two connecting portions 27, one of which overlies each of the wearer's shoulders. In an alternative arrangement one, tree or more connecting portions 27 may be provided .

The lifejacket 21 is rendered buoyant in use by inflation.

The trunk portion 23 comprises an inflatable chamber and is configured to substantially increase in volume upon inflation by application of a fluid. The neck portion 25 comprises an inflatable chamber and is also configured to substantially increase in volume upon inflation by application of the fluid. The connecting portions 27 allow passage of the fluid therethrough and are configured to substantially maintain their volume upon application of the fluid.

Various attachments may be made to lifejacket 21. For example, the trunk portion 23 may have attached to it a light, location device or beacon 28.

The connecting portions 27 may each be formed of a tube of inelastic material that extends from the trunk portion 23 to the neck portion 25. Alternatively, the connecting portions 27 may be integrally formed with either or both of the trunk portion 23 and the neck portion 25. The connecting portions 27 allow inflation fluid to pass between the trunk portion 23 and the neck portion 25 so that both may be inflated from a single inflation source.

The connecting portions 27 may be significantly narrower than the corresponding shoulder parts of a known lifejacket inflation chamber, such as that shown in Figures 1 to 3, which overly the shoulders of a wearer when inflated. According to the embodiment, the shoulder area of the wearer is substantially free of obstruction whether the lifejacket 21 is inflated or uninflated. The connecting portions 27 may have a diameter of 30mm or less. A diameter of 8mm is suitable, although smaller diameters are also possible.

Compared to a known lifejacket inflation chamber, such as that shown in Figures 1 to 3, the size and location of the connecting portions 27 reduces or eliminates restrictions to movements of the wearer's head (including when wearing a helmet) and arms. Additionally, the size and location of the connecting portions 27 provide little or no impediment the wearer effectively shouldering a riffle when in water and having a full field of fire from parallel to the water surface to vertically overhead.

Figure 8 corresponds generally to Figure 3 but includes a "Quick Release" connector 80 in the left-hand connecting portion 27. A quick release" connector 80 may alternatively, or additionally, be provided in the right-hand connecting portion 27.

Figure 9 shows a detailed view of the quick release connector 80 (in the encircled region 82 of Figure 8) .

Figure 9 shows the tube parts 27A and 27B connecting the neck portion 25 to the chest portion 23. It may be preferable for the tube 27 to have a quick release connector 80 in a position such that a simple single handed action will allow the neck portion 25 to be rapidly disconnected from the chest portion 23 if the lifejacket 21 needs rapid removal from the wearer without the need to take the lifejacket 21 over the head of the wearer. This might be the case if the wearer is injured and cannot be moved.

Such a quick release connector 80 may be the type made by CPC (and sold by RS Components) and comprises two parts which connect together to form a sealed connection between the two tube parts 27A and 27B. The part 84 is a "Straight Male Hose Coupling Insert" and Part 86 is a "Straight Male Hose Coupling Body" which has a button 88 on it such that when pressed by e.g. the thumb it will instantly release the coupling of the parts 84 and 86. Both parts 84 and 86 are valved such that when disconnected the parts 84 and 86 allow no leakage of gas. This may be important to prevent the bladders becoming deflated such as when being tested. The connectors are made from acetal plastic but could be made from stainless steel or other materials.

The lifejacket 21 is provided with a manual oral inflation tube 29 with a non-return valve. The manual oral inflation tube 29 is positioned on the trunk portion 23 so that it can be easily reached by the wearer's mouth. This allows the wearer to manually inflate the lifejacket 21 if required.

The lifejacket 21 is further provided with two inflators 31, although only one (or more than two) may be provided. Inflators 31 are each fed by a gas cylinder (not shown) , such as a pressurised C0₂ cylinder, for inflating the lifejacket 21. The inflators 31 may be manually activated by the wearer (e.g. by the wearer operating a beaded handle to release the C0₂ gas) or automatically activated, for example, when they come into contact with water. The inflators 31 may detect when they contact water and automatically trigger operation of the associated gas cylinder to inflate the lifejacket 21. The inflators 31 may be positioned on the trunk portion 23. The inflators 31 may include means for disabling automatic mode. This can be advantageous when there is a risk that the inflators 31 will be exposed to moisture or water but when it would be undesirable for the lifejacket 21 to inflate.

The inflators 31 may be positioned on the trunk portion 23 so that they are in the waist area of the wearer. This is advantageous if the inflators 31 are automatic, as the waist will usually come into contact with water when the wearer falls into the sea, for example, before the upper body of the wearer .

An over-pressure relief valve 33 is provided on the lifejacket 21, for example on the trunk 23,. This valve 33 operates at a predetermined maximum inflation pressure. When that pressure is exceeded in the lifejacket 21 the excess pressure is released to prevent over-inflation of the lifejacket 21.

In addition to the manual oral inflation tube 29 for use by the wearer of the lifejacket 21, a further manual oral inflation tube 35 may be provided in the neck portion 25, positioned behind the wearer's head in use. The additional inflation tube 35 also includes a non-return valve. The additional inflation tube 35 allows a rescuer to manually inflate the wearer's lifejacket 21 when located behind the wearer, such as when in the chin tow, cross chest tow or head tow rescuing position. The additional inflation tube 35 may be concealed within a cover and released by pulling a tab (not shown) . The additional inflation tube 35 is not readily accessible by the wearer of the lifejacket 21.

To assist in making the wearer easily visible to rescuers, the lifejacket 21 may be provided with one or more high visibility and/or reflective panels 37 located on the trunk portion 23 and/or the neck portion 25 (see Figure 5) . The panel (s) 37 may be concealed by a flap that is attached by Velcro®, press studs or other releasable attachment means. This is advantageous as, in some circumstances, the wearer of the lifejacket 21 may wish to conceal their presence, for example, in covert military operations.

The lifejacket 21 may include a waist or chest strap 39 for holding the lifejacket 21 against the wearer's body..

The lifejacket trunk portion 23, neck portion 25 and connecting portions 27 may be incorporated into a harness, an exoskeleton system, a ballistic protection vest, a jacket or the like.

An armour panel 41, as shown in Figure 4 and also in Figures 10, 11 and 15 may be incorporated into the lifejacket 21.

In Figures 10 and 11 the armour panel 41 is mounted on the interior side of the lifejacket 21, facing the wearer's body. The lifejacket 21 is configured, for example, by appropriate straps, such as strap 39 to mount the panel 41 firmly against the body of the wearer to ensure ballistic protection is maintained at the required areas of the wearer's body. A rapid release system for the lifejacket 21, and the incorporated armour panel 41, is provided to allow removal of the lifejacket 21 and panel 41 if required.

Further, the rapid release system is configured so that it can easily be operated irrespective of whether the lifejacket 21 is in an inflated or uninflated state.

According to a feature of theis embodiment, the armour panel 41 is mounted on the interior side of the lifejacket 21, with the inflatable trunk portion 23 mounted on the exterior side of the lifejacket 21. The arrangement is such that the position of the panel 41 relative to the wearer's body does not change when the lifejacket 21 changes from an inflated state to an uninflated state (and vice versa) . This can be a significant advantage, as the risk of injury to the wearer is reduced by the correct and consistent location of the armour panel 41 relative to the wearer's body.

The armour panel 41 may be a hard and/or soft armour panel and may provide ballistic protection. More than one armour panel may be provided.

The armour panel (s) may be fitted to an exoskeleton system (or similar support structure) . The inflatable parts - the trunk part 23 and the neck part 25 - and the connecting parts 27 may be detachable from the exoskeleton system so that they can be replaced when necessary.

As shown particularly in Figures 10 and 11, the trunk portion 23 of the lifejacket 21 is substantially U-shaped and covers the wearer's torso at the front, and also overlies the wearer's torso at each side. The trunk portion 23 may adopt the U-shape by means of webs or strips 43 glued or sewn into the material of the trunk portion 23 to pull the trunk portion 23 into the required U-shape. If the webs 43 are sewn into the material of the trunk portion 23, it is preferable for the inflatable chamber of the trunk portion 23 to be contained within a separate fluid-tight outer chamber (forming a two- layer structure) , so that the holes created during sewing do not allow the escape of fluid.

The 3D ("U") shape of the trunk portion 23 may be formed by creating a number of creases in the trunk portion 23 as depicted in Figures 12Ά and 12B, which are cross sections through the trunk portion 23 at the region within dashed line 90 of Figure 10.

92A and 92B are opposite outer layers of the trunk portion 23, which is typically formed by an air holding material such as a fabric coated with a polymer such as PU or PVC. 94 is a "web" or "reed" (or connector) typically formed of a similar material to the trunk portion 23, although this does not need to be air holding. The web/reed 94 is attached to the inner faces 96A and 96B of the trunk portion 23 by gluing or welding or stitching etc. The depth of the web/reed 94 dictates a maximum dimension of the trunk portion 23 (i.e. its depth) .

98A and 98B are two flaps of material which are attached at a proximal end to the outside surface 92B of the trunk portion 23. After the trunk portion 23 is sealed then the two flaps of material 98A and 98B are joined together at their distal ends as shown whilst the lifejacket is deflated, and when inflated will take up the shape depicted in the Figure 12B by creating a corner. The two flaps of material 98A and 98B when joined form a strip that is attached to a surface of the lifejacket 21 at two spaced apart locations. The length of the strip extending between the two spaced apart locations is less than a distance along the surface of the lifejacket (21) between the two spaced apart locations. The length of the strip extending between the two spaced apart locations may be substantially zero where the distal ends of the two flaps of material 98A and 98B are joined at, or very near to, the outside surface 92B of the trunk portion 23.

The neck portion 25 may also include a strip or flaps of material to form corners therein.

The neck portion 25 may also include a "web" or "reed" (or connector) . The depth of the web/reed may dictates a maximum dimension of the neck portion 25 (i.e. its depth) .

Figure 13 shows how the 3D ("U") shape may be formed if the trunk portion 23 is made from a two-layer structure with an inner air holding bladder 100 made typically from a polymer film of PU or PVC and an outer preferably permeable material 102 such as a woven fabric which acts as a "restrainer" . The outer layer 102 is made with the "webs" or "reeds" (or connectors) 106 formed between opposite sides of the outer "restrainer" layer 102 to constrain the maximum depth. The dimensions of the outer restrainer layer 102 panels are made such that they will form the 3D ("U") shape when under tension from the inflatable bladder 100 inside them (e.g. the length "Y" is shorter than length "X" etc.) . The "webs" or "reeds" 106 formed in the outer "restrainer" layer 102 may be positioned and configured similarly to the web/reed 94 shown in Figures 12A and 12B. A single bladder 100 may be shaped so that it fits around the "webs" or "reeds" 106.

The use of two separate layers to make the trunk portion 23, may result in a bladder construction that is lighter, more compact when packed and stronger. The neck portion 25 may also be formed of two such separate layers.

The two-layer structure may be generally as shown in Figures 14A-C. A textile outer layer 52 (for example nylon or polyester) may be formed of two sheets of material that are stitched together. An upper sheet of material 53A has an outer surface 57A and an inner surface 57B. The lower sheet of material 53B has an outer surface 58A and an inner surface 58B. The sheets 53A and 53B are connected at an edge region 59 of each of the sheets so that the distal inner surface of one of the sheets overlaps the distal outer surface of the other one of the sheets, the distal surfaces being stitched together, as indicated at 61. In the arrangement shown the distal inner surface 57B of the upper layer 57A is positioned to face the distal portion of the outer surface of the lower layer 53B, these layers being held in contact by the stitching 61.

The bladder 100 is formed by two sheets 54 or flexible air impermeable material. The two sheets are joined by a weld 56.

In this embodiment the outer textile layer 52 can be stitched (in sheer) around its edge and this creates a much stronger seam than welding. The bladder 100 is made to be oversize or made from a polymer that can stretch and so the welded edge 56 never comes under tension, as shown in Figures 14A-C. Although the bladder may be of generally the same shape as the outer textile 52, the bladder 100 may be of generally larger size. The bladder 100 may be made of a sufficiently large size so that, when inflated within the outer textile 52, the bladder 100 fills the internal volume of the outer textile 52 without any stretching of the bladder 100 occurring, and the tension is taken up by the outer textile 52. If the bladder is made oversized, the bladder 100 may be made of an inextensible and/or inelastic material. It is advantageous for the tension to be taken up by the outer textile 52, as it is stronger than the bladder.

The outer textile layer 52 may be made from a lightweight "ripstop" material and is coated with a lubricant such as silicone. This produces an extremely strong material with high tear strength, and also, because the surface has a very low surface friction, the inner polymer layer will slide easily over it which results in a very compact lifejacket.

Ripstop fabrics are woven fabrics, e.g. made of nylon, using a special reinforcing technique that makes them resistant to tearing and ripping. During weaving, relatively thick reinforcement threads are interwoven at regular intervals in a Crosshatch pattern. The intervals are typically 5 to 8 mm. Thin and lightweight ripstop fabrics have a 3-dimensional structure due to the thicker threads being interwoven in thinner cloth.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a known lifejacket 1 which is mounted only to the front of the wearer's torso.

As can be seen by a comparison of a known lifejacket when deployed in water, as shown in Figure 3, and a lifejacket according to the embodiment when deployed in water, as best shown in Figure 5, the body-hugging arrangement of the embodiment increases the buoyancy of the lifejacket 21, thereby raising the height of mouth (HOM) "A" of the wearer. The arrangement also provides a desired floatation angle as well as mouth freeboard and effective self-righting if the wearer is unconscious. With the body-hugging arrangement of the embodiment, the HOM may be 160mm, the trunk angle may be 30 degrees below the horizontal water surface. The face plane angle (FPA) may be 50 degrees above the horizontal water surface .

Further, because portions of the trunk portion 23 extend around the wearer's sides and are immersed (as indicated by cross-hatching in Figure 5) , equivalent buoyancy can be provided with a smaller proportion of the trunk portion 23 being provided at the front of the wearer's torso. This improves the field of vision "B" of the wearer. The U-shape provides much less of a hindrance to the wearer when swimming, engaging in combat or boarding a vessel.

The inflation of the lifejacket 21 may advantageously be staged, so that it has a first, full, buoyancy state and a second, reduced, buoyancy state. The second, reduced, buoyancy state may be activated by using the manual oral inflation tube 29 and partially inflating the lifejacket 21, or by activating one of the two inflators 31. For example, the one of the inflators 31 may provide fluid from the associated pressurised carbon dioxide cylinder with a 33gram capacity to provide up to 190 Newton of buoyancy. This partial inflation of a lifejacket 21 is optimal for tactical, operational swimming use .

To activate the first, full, inflation mode, the lifejacket 21 may be further inflated using the manual oral inflation tube 29, or activating both of the two inflators 31. The second inflator may be substantially identical to the first inflator and provide pressurised fluid from an associated carbon dioxide cylinder with a 33gram capacity. When both of the inflators 31 have been activated, the buoyancy may be in excess of 370 Newtons . In the first, fully, inflated state the lifejacket enters full survival mode. In survival mode, swimming may be more difficult, but the wearer has increased buoyancy which is advantageous for emergency situations such as when the wearer is unconscious or incapacitated.

The first and second inflators 31 may be activated at the same time or separately, so that the lifejacket may initially enter the second, reduced, buoyancy state and subsequently may enter the first, full, buoyancy state.

The pressure-relief valve 33 is advantageous in the event that the lifejacket 21 is inflated using the manual oral inflation tube 29 and then both the inflators 31 are activated. When the pressure in the lifejacket 21 exceeds a predetermined maximum, the pressure-relief valve 33 releases the excess pressure so as not to over-pressure the lifejacket 21.

The arrangement of the lifejacket 21 is such that it provides self-righting for the wearer. For example, should the wearer be unconscious and becomes oriented face down in the water, the arrangement performs self-righting to the face up orientation within three seconds.

As shown in Figure 6, the compact dimensions of the connecting portions 27 provide space for neck-mounted equipment 44, such as radio or communications apparatus, breathing devices etc., and also allows the wearer to move their head substantially unhindered even when wearing a helmet. Movement of the wearer' s arms is also unhindered compared with conventional arrangements .

As shown in Figures 10 and 13, a baffle 45 may be provided that divides the inflatable chamber of the torso portion 23 into two separate sections. Such an arrangement provides redundancy. Should one of the sections become damaged, and therefore deflate, the second section will still provide buoyancy. Such a baffle may also be provided in the neck portion 25. One of the inflators 31 may be configured to inflate the first section, and the other of the inflators 31 may be configured to inflate the second section. A similar baffle may be provided for the neck portion 25.

The inflatable chamber of the torso portion 23 may be surrounded by an elastic material cover 47, as shown in Figure 11 (which cover 47 may correspond to the outer permeable "restrainer" layer 102 of Figure 13, with the inflatable chamber corresponding to the bladder 100) . The elastic material cover 47 controls the shape of the inflatable chamber as it inflates, and expands when the lifejacket 21 enters the first, fully, inflated state.

The inflatable chambers may be formed from, for example, a polymer such as polyurethane coated onto a textile material such as nylon or polyester. The neck portion 25 may also be provided with an elastic material cover, similar to that shown and described in relation to the trunk portion 23.

The inflatable chambers (or bladders 100) may be directly inflated, rather than inflating the torso or neck portions themselves .

Although the inflatable chambers (or bladders 100) may be of generally the same shape as the associated torso 23 and neck 25 portions, the inflatable chambers may be of generally larger size than the associated torso 23 and neck 25 portions. The inflatable chambers may be made of a sufficiently large size so that, when inflated within the associated torso or neck portion, the inflatable chamber fills the internal volume of the associated torso 23 and neck 25 portion without any stretching of the inflatable chamber occurring, and the tension is taken up by the torso or neck portion. If the inflatable chamber is made oversized, the inflatable chamber may be made of an inextensible and/or inelastic material. It is advantageous for the tension to be taken up by the torso 23 and neck 25 portions as these may be stronger than the inflatable chamber (or bladder 100) .

Figure 15 relates to Fig 11 and further explains how the outer elastic layer 47 may be used to control the shape of the bladder and keep it under tension if the lifejacket inflatable chamber (or bladder 100) is only partially inflated (e.g. in the second reduced buoyancy state mentioned above) . The outer elastic layer 47 is under tension and when the inflatable chamber (or bladder 100) behind it begins to inflate the elastic layer 47 comes under increasing tension. This holds and keeps the inflatable chamber (or bladder 100) in shape providing the required buoyancy distribution in the lifejacket even when only partially inflated. Without this elastic layer 47 the inflatable chamber (or bladder 100) would have no rigidity when partially inflated and would simply "flop about" and have no defined shape.

Figure 15 also shows how the ballistic protection armour 41 may also be positioned on the outside of the inflatable chamber (or bladder 100) and held in the correct position by the elastic layer 47. In relation to Figures 10 and 11 it is described how the armour 41 is normally held against the body with the inflatable chamber (or bladder 100) on the outside of it. However, in some situations and operational requirements, it is preferable to have the armour 41 on the outside of the inflatable chamber (or bladder 100) such that when the inflatable chamber (or bladder 100) is un-inflated the armour 41 provides a degree of protection to the inflatable chamber (or bladder 100) from it being penetrated by a bullet or knife etc. In this case it is important that the armour 41 is held correctly in position even when the lifejacket bladder is only partially inflated and the elastic layer 47 can do this due to its shape and rigidity as shown in the diagrams. Additional lengths of elastic and webbing etc. may be used to further hold the armour 41 in the correct position. In order to hold the armour 41 very firmly in place prior to inflation, strips or pieces of material or connection buckles signified at 110 can be used to hold the armour 41 in place, and which will break or peel open once the inflatable chamber (or bladder 100) starts inflating and applying tension to them. Such items could be Velcro strips that peel open, a lacing thread that breaks or a buckle or connector that springs open when under a certain tension.

As shown in Figure 4, the neck portion 25 may be formed of two separate inflatable chambers that are releasably attached to one another at a coupling joint 51. This facilitates rapid release of the lifejacket 21 when the two sections of the neck portion 25 are decoupled at the coupling joint 51. The coupling joint 51 may be formed by a magnetic or Velcro coupling. The separate inflatable chambers of the neck portion 25 may connect together automatically as the neck portion 25 is inflated - which pushed the parts at the coupling joint 52 together .

The above embodiments are described by way of example. Many variations are possible without departing from the invention.

Claims

1. An inflatable lifejacket (21) including a trunk portion (23) for overlying a wearer's torso at the front, wherein the trunk portion (23) is configured to further overlie the wearer's torso at the sides.

2. The lifejacket of claim 2, wherein the trunk portion (23) is substantially U-shaped.

3. The lifejacket of claim 1 or 2, wherein the lifejacket (21) includes a connector (94, 106) that connects an inner side to an outer side of the lifejacket (21) and constrains the maximum depth of the lifejacket (21) .

4. The lifejacket of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the lifejacket (21) includes a strip (98A, 98B) that is attached to a surface of the lifejacket (21) at two spaced apart locations, arranged to form a corner in the surface of the lifejacket (1) when inflated.

5. The lifejacket of claim 4, wherein a length of the strip (98A, 98B) extending between the two spaced apart locations is less than a distance along the surface of the lifejacket (21) between the two spaced apart locations .

6. The lifejacket of claim 4 or 5, wherein the strip (98A, 98B) is formed of two flaps attached at a proximal end to the surface of the lifejacket (21) at respective ones of the two spaced apart location, and the flaps being attached to one another at a distal end.

7. An inflatable lifejacket (21) including:

a trunk portion (23) for overlying a wearer's chest and configured to substantially increase in volume upon inflation by application of a fluid, and a neck portion (25) for supporting a wearer's neck and configured to substantially increase in volume upon inflation by application of the fluid,

wherein the trunk portion (23) and the neck portion (25) are connected by at least one connecting portion (27) for overlying a wearer's shoulder, arranged to allow passage of the fluid therethrough, and configured to substantially maintain its volume upon application of the fluid.

The lifejacket of claim 7, wherein the connecting portion (27) is arranged such that, in use, the wearer can shoulder a firearm substantially unrestricted by the connection portion.

The lifejacket of claim 7 or 8, wherein the connecting portion (27) has an inflated diameter of less than 30mm, preferably 8mm.

The lifejacket of claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the connecting portion (27) comprises two parts (27A, 27B) that are detachably connectable by a connector (80) .

An inflatable lifejacket (21) configured to have a first, full, buoyancy state and a second, reduced, buoyancy state .

The lifejacket of claim 11, including a wearer-selectable means operable to selectively inflate the lifejacket to provide the first buoyancy state or the second buoyancy state .

The lifejacket of claim 11 or 12, including a partially rigid layer (47) in which an inflatable bladder (100) is contained, the partially rigid layer (47) defining a desired shape of the lifejacket even when in the second, reduced, buoyancy state. An inflatable lifejacket including a trunk portion (23) for overlying a wearer's chest a neck portion (25) for supporting a wearer's neck, wherein the neck portion (25) includes a manual oral inflation nozzle (35) located behind the head of the wearer in use and positioned for allowing manual oral inflation by a rescuer.

A lifejacket (21) including an outer inflatable trunk portion (23) for overlying a wearer's torso and an inner armour part, the inner armour part being configured to lie on one side against the wearer's torso in use, with the inflatable trunk portion being mounted on the other side .

The lifejacket of claim 15, wherein the arrangement is such that the location of the inner armour part on the wearer's torso does not alter upon inflation of the inflatable trunk portion

The lifejacket of claim 16, wherein the inner armour part is located on the wearer' s torso in use by a releasable securing mechanism.

The lifejacket of claim 17, wherein the releasable securing mechanism includes a wearer-operable release activation member that is arranged to be accessible to the wearer when the inflatable trunk portion is inflated and uninflated.

A lifejacket (21) including an inner inflatable trunk portion (23) for overlying a wearer's torso and an outer armour part (41) , the inner inflatable trunk portion (23) being configured to lie facing the wearer's torso in use, with the outer armour part (41) being mounted on the other side, and wherein the outer armour part (41) is located by a partially rigid layer (47) in which inner inflatable trunk portion (23) is contained. The lifejacket of claim 19, wherein the arrangement is such that the location of the outer armour part on the wearer' s torso does not substantially alter upon inflation of the inner inflatable trunk portion

The lifejacket of any one of the preceding claims, including one or more high visibility regions configured to be selectively revealable.

The lifejacket of any one of the preceding claims, wherein an inflatable part thereof comprises two or more separate inflatable sections.