LIFE VEST POUCH

Abstract

Described herein is a life vest pouch for storage under an aircraft seat. The life vest pouch includes a closeable first opening for inserting a life vest into the pouch and a breakable seam for creating a second opening and permitting removal of a life vest from the pouch. Also described is an airline seat and row of airline seats comprising the life vest pouch.

Claims

1. A life vest pouch for storage under an aircraft seat, the life vest pouch comprising a closeable first opening for inserting a life vest into the pouch and a breakable seam for creating a second opening and permitting removal of a life vest from the pouch.

2. A life vest pouch according to claim 1, wherein the first opening comprises a tamper evident closure.

3. A life vest pouch according to claim 1, wherein the first opening comprises a tamper evident zip.

4. A life vest pouch according to claim 1, wherein the first opening is permanently closeable.

5. A life vest pouch according to claim 4, wherein the first opening comprises a unidirectional zip moveable from an open to a closed configuration only.

6. A life vest pouch according to claim 5, wherein the first opening comprises a permanent seal.

7. A life vest pouch according to claim 1, wherein at least one internal surface of the life vest pouch is visually distinct from the external surface of the life vest pouch.

8. A life vest pouch according to claim 7, wherein the at least one internal surface of the life vest pouch is visible when the seam is broken.

9. A life vest pouch according to claim 1, wherein the pouch comprises a second opening closure means removable from the pouch when the seam is broken and positionable over and/or across the second opening.

10. A life vest pouch according to claim 9, wherein the closure means comprises a hinged closure panel moveable from a first position within the pouch to a second position across the second opening.

11. A life vest pouch according to claim 9, wherein the closure means comprises a securing means for securing the closure means over and/or across the second opening.

12. A life vest pouch according to claim 11, wherein the closure means comprises a hinged closure panel moveable from a first position within the pouch to a second position across the second opening, said panel being hinged at a first side of the second opening and securable to the opposite side of the opening by the securing means.

13. A life vest pouch according to claim 9 wherein the closure means comprises a tab for positioning the closure means over and/or across the second opening.

14. A life vest pouch according to claim 9, wherein the closure means is visually distinct from the external surface of the life vest pouch.

15. A life vest pouch according to claim 1, wherein the breakable seam defines a panel.

16. A life vest pouch according to claim 1, wherein the breakable seam defines a removable panel.

17. A life vest pouch according to claim 1, wherein the breakable seam defines a hinged panel.

18. A life vest pouch according to claim 1 further comprising a life vest.

19. An airline seat comprising a life vest pouch according to claim 1.

20. A row of airline seats comprising one or more life vest pouches according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] Example embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which,

[0064] FIG. 1A is a schematic drawing showing a first example of the present invention;

[0065] FIG. 1B is another schematic drawing of the first example of the present invention;

[0066] FIG. 1C is yet another schematic drawing of the first example of the present invention;

[0067] FIG. 2A is a schematic drawing showing a second example of the present invention; and

[0068] FIG. 2B is another schematic drawing showing the second example of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0069] The present invention relates to life vest pouches for use in aircraft.

[0070] Several preferred embodiments of the invention are described for illustrative purposes, it being understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms not specifically described below and/or shown in the drawings.

[0071] With reference to FIGS. 1A to 1C, there is shown a life vest pouch 1 for storage under an aircraft seat (not shown). The life vest pouch 1 has a closeable first opening 14 for inserting a life vest (not shown) into the pouch 1. In the example shown, the first opening is sealed by a tamper-evident zip 2 which includes a tamper-evident seal closure mechanism 3.

[0072] A second opening 10 is formed in the pouch by breakable seams 4, which define a panel 5. In the example shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, three sides of the panel 5 are defined by breakable seams 4 and the fourth side of the panel 5 is defined by the zip 2. The seams 4 can be destructively opened manually by application of a known force, for example a force that would typically be applied by a user pulling on the tab 7 provided on the panel 5. This creates a hinged panel 5 which is detachable from the pouch via the zip 2. However, as shown in FIG. 1C, the zip 2 can be provided in different locations, for example along different edges of the pouch 1. In these examples, the breakable seams 4 can define all four sides of the panel (as shown in FIG. 1C). With reference to FIG. 1C, the alternative locations for the zip 2 are depicted as 2a and 2c.

[0073] In use, a life vest is inserted into the pouch through the first opening 14 and the first opening 14 is then closed. The pouch is secured to the underside of an aircraft seat via eyelets 6 with the breakable seams 4 positioned to allow removal of the life vest when the seams are broken.

[0074] A tag 7 is provided for a user to pull and so break the seams 4 and open the second opening 10.

[0075] On the outside of the pouch 1, an information panel 8 is provided upon which information such as the expiry date of the life vest can be provided.

[0076] Once the seams 4 have been broken, it will be immediately evident to someone inspecting the pouch 1 that it has been opened. For example, with reference to FIG. 1B, the internal surfaces of the pouch 1, seen through the second opening 10, can be provided in bright colours, which are visually distinct from the outside of the pouch.

[0077] In the example shown, a second closure means, in the form of a rectangular flap 9, is provided within the pouch. When the panel 5 has been opened or removed, the flap 9 can be positioned over the second opening 10 to re-close the pouch 1. Whilst this allows the pouch 1 to continue to be used as a life vest pouch until such time as it is replaced, the flap 9 is also provided in bright colours, which are visually distinct from the outside of the pouch 1. This means that it will be immediately evident to someone inspecting the pouch 1 that the second opening 10 has been opened.

[0078] The flap 9 is provided with a Velcro strip 11a for attachment to a Velcro strip 11b on the pouch adjacent the second opening 10. In the example shown, the Velcro strip 11a is provided on the underside of the flap such that it can attach to Velcro strip 11b on the pouch. It is envisaged that alternative re-sealable closure means can also be provided on the flap 9, such as a suitable adhesive.

[0079] A tab 12 is provided on the flap 9 to assist movement of the flap to a position, which covers the second opening 10.

[0080] With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a second example of the present invention is shown. The second example differs from the first example (shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B) in that the first opening 14 is permanently closeable and the breakable seams 4 define a detachable panel 5.

[0081] Permanent closure of the first opening 14 is achieved, in the example shown, by the use of a unidirectional zip 2. This means that once the first opening 14 has been closed, it cannot then be re-opened.

[0082] This is particularly advantageous, because there is no need to provide the first opening 14 with a tamper evident closure. Once a life vest has been inserted into the pouch 1 and the first opening 14 permanently closed, the life vest can only exit the pouch 1 through the second opening 10.

[0083] Whilst a unidirectional zip is used in the example shown, it will be appreciated that any suitable method of permanently closing the first opening 14 can be used. For example, adhesive strips could be used which, when provided on the inside of the pouch 1 adjacent the first opening 14 and squeezed together, permanently seal the first opening 14. Equally, the first opening 14 could be provided with a flap, which can be permanently secured over the first opening 14.

[0084] With further reference to FIG. 2A, the breakable seams 4 define a removable panel 5. When the seams 4 are broken by a user pulling on the tab 7, the panel 5 detaches from the pouch 1 to leave the second opening 10, as shown in FIG. 2B. As described above in relation to FIG. 1B, the brightly coloured internal flap 9 can be positioned to re-close the second opening 10 to allow the pouch 1 to continue to be used until such time as it can be replaced.

[0085] The present invention provides life vest pouches for use on commercial airliners which fulfil all of the normal functions of a life vest pouch. The life vest pouch is designed to provide, not only a tamper evident device that is destroyed when it is opened but also the life vest pouch itself is irreparably and conspicuously damaged. The life vest pouch can display the expiry date of a life vest contained within the pouch so that it can be checked easily.

[0086] In one example, a sealed life vest pouch is provided with at least one seam sewn such that it can be destructively opened manually by application of a known force. A life vest is inserted through a zip which is secured closed and has a means of determining whether it has been opened, such as a tamper evident seal.

[0087] The life vest pouch is re-closable with Velcro once it has been opened to allow the life-vest to “burst” therefrom; but is then highly conspicuous by virtue of a brightly coloured fabric, which is impossible to hide because some of the life vest pouch is detached on first opening.

[0088] In another example, a sealed life vest pouch is provided with at least one seam sewn such that it can be destructively opened manually by application of a known force. The life vest is inserted through a unidirectional zip, wherein the unidirectional zip cannot be re-opened once it has been closed.

[0089] As with the first example, the life vest pouch is re-closable with Velcro once it the pouch has been opened to allow allows the life-vest to “burst” therefrom; but is then highly conspicuous by virtue of a brightly coloured fabric, which is impossible to hide because some of the life vest pouch is detached on first opening.

[0090] The life vest pouch of the present invention is a single use life vest pouch which is tamper evident.

[0091] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications are covered by the appended claims.