Bouyant inflatable device

Abstract

A personal flotation device capable of providing buoyancy and preventing hypothermia and death caused by loss of body heat by supporting the individual's entire body out of the water. Special design features increase the ease of use to ensure successful deployment and boarding, even among injured, weak, and/or physically exhausted individuals. This personal flotation device is small and compact, so that it may be used in a prophylactic manner from low-risk to high-risk applications.

Claims

1. A flotation device, comprising: a floor; at least one perimetric flotation member, wherein a perimeter of said floor is attached to said perimetric flotation member; and whereby said apparatus is capable of transforming from a compact deflated state to an expanded inflated state; at least one opening ingress orifice in said floor; and at least one flap; wherein: said flap is reversibly manipulatable between a closed orientation in which said flap covers said ingress orifice and an open orientation in which said flap does not cover said ingress orifice.

2. The flotation device of claim 1, wherein said flap is reversibly securable in a closed orientation to said floor using a zipper, a hook and loop system, snaps, buttons, or other fasteners.

3. The flotation device of claim 1, wherein at least the perimetric flotation member is constructed from a high-strength material having a thickness of no greater than 8 mils.

4. The flotation device of claim 1, wherein at least the perimetric flotation member is constructed from a high-strength material with a tensile strength of at least 23 lbs. per square inch.

5. The flotation device of claim 1, further comprising an automatic deployment mechanism configured to deploy at least the perimetric flotation member in an operable, buoyant state upon an activation of the automatic deployment mechanism.

6. The flotation device of claim 5, wherein said automatic deployment mechanism comprises a compressed gas cartridge.

7. The flotation device of claim 1, comprising an oral inflation mechanism configured to permit inflation of at least the perimetric flotation member.

8. The flotation device of claim 1, wherein said floor is inflatable.

9. A flotation device, comprising: a support member forming a floor having a first surface and a perimeter; an inflatable bladder member, said inflatable bladder member circumscribing at least a portion of the support member, a first portion of the support member being non-removably coupled with the inflatable bladder member; and an opening in the support member selectively coverable with a flap, at least one portion of the opening being adjacent to the inflatable bladder member; wherein: the flap is deflectable, rollable, or otherwise movable from a first position in which the opening is covered by the flap to a second position in which the flap does not cover all or a portion of the opening; when the flap is in the second position, a user can enter the inflatable device through the opening in the support member; the flap has a selectively reversible securing mechanism on a portion of the flap so that the flap is selectively securable in the first position; the inflatable bladder member is capable of transforming from a compact deflated state to an expanded inflated state.

10. The flotation device of claim 9, wherein the opening is adjacent to the inflatable bladder member.

11. The flotation device of claim 9, wherein said flap is reversibly securable in the first position using a zipper, a hook and loop system, snaps, buttons, or other fasteners.

12. The flotation device of claim 9, wherein the bladder member is constructed from a high-strength material having a thickness of no greater than 20 mils and a tensile strength of at least 23 lbs. per square inch.

13. The flotation device of claim 9, further comprising an automatic inflation mechanism comprising a compressed gas cartridge configured to provide inflation to at least the bladder member upon an activation of the automatic inflation mechanism.

14. The flotation device of claim 9, further comprising an oral inflation mechanism configured to permit inflation of at least the bladder member.

15. The flotation device of claim 9, comprising a belt or a strap configured to secure the device to an individual.

16. The flotation device of claim 9, wherein the device is coupled with an individual's clothing or uniform.

17. A buoyant inflatable device, the device comprising: a floor for supporting at least one user out of contact with a body of water; an inflatable bladder coupled with the floor and forming a selectively closeable perimeter around the floor; a first terminal end and a second terminal end formed in the air bladder; and a selectively detachable and reattachable interface in the floor that divides a portion of the floor into a first portion and a second portion and extends to the first and second terminal ends; wherein: the first portion of the floor is selectively detachable and reattachable with the second portion of the floor along the selectively detachable and reattachable interface to provide a selectively continuous support surface in the floor for a user of the device; the first portion of the floor is movable or deflectable away from the second portion of the floor when the first portion is detached from the second portion of the floor; and the first portion of the floor is coupled with the first terminal end of the air bladder and the second portion of the floor is coupled with the second terminal end of the air bladder such that moving or deflecting the first portion of the floor away from the second portion of the floor simultaneously and automatically moves or deflects the first terminal end of the air bladder away from the second terminal end of the air bladder, thereby creating an ingress opening into the device between the first and second portions of the floor.

18. The flotation device of claim 17, wherein the first portion of the floor is selectively detachable and reattachable with the second portion of the floor along the selectively detachable and reattachable interface using a zipper, a hook and loop system, snaps, buttons, or other fasteners.

19. The flotation device of claim 17, further comprising an automatic inflation mechanism comprising a compressed gas cartridge configured to provide inflation to at least the bladder member upon an activation of the automatic inflation mechanism.

20. The flotation device of claim 17, further comprising an oral inflation mechanism configured to permit a user to manually inflate at least the inflatable bladder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

(1) The accompanying drawings illustrate various exemplary implementations and are part of the specification. The illustrated implementations are proffered for purposes of example, not for purposes of limitation. Illustrated elements will be designated by numbers. Once designated, an element will be identified by the identical number throughout. Illustrated in the accompanying drawing(s) is at least one of the best mode embodiments of the present disclosure. In such drawing(s):

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presently described apparatus, illustrated featuring a semi-detachable flap covering an ingress orifice, the semi-detachable flap illustrated in the closed orientation;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presently described apparatus illustrated featuring a semi-detachable flap covering an ingress orifice, the semi-detachable flap illustrated in the open orientation;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presently described apparatus illustrated featuring a semi-detachable flap covering an ingress orifice, the semi-detachable flap illustrated in the open and rolled orientation;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presently described apparatus illustrated in the pre-deployment orientation;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment featuring a semi-detachable slit in the inflatable floor and a gunwale break at one end of the apparatus formed by two terminal ends of the air bladder which firmly abut each other.

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the same embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 with the semi-detachable slit in the open orientation thereby allowing the terminal ends of the air bladder to be separated, forming an opening for easy boarding. Once the individual has boarded, the slit can be reclosed, thereby reorienting the terminal ends tightly adjacent to each other again;

(8) FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are perspective views of the presently disclosed apparatus, featuring the semi-detachable flap in the open, rolled, and tethered orientation for easy boarding. FIG. 8 illustrates the apparatus bending at the air bladder segments.

(9) FIG. 9 is a side exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the presently described apparatus illustrated fully deployed, featuring an optional protective canopy. The canopy in the illustration is affixed with snaps but other means of affixing the canopy are possible as well;

(10) FIG. 10 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the presently described apparatus illustrated fully deployed, featuring a protective canopy and without an inflatable floor;

(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presently described apparatus, illustrated featuring a semi-detachable flap covering an ingress orifice; the semi-detachable flap illustrated in FIG. 11 is located in a different position than it is in FIG. 1. This is included to demonstrate that the ingress orifice and semi-detachable flap may be oriented differently in different embodiments;

(12) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presently described apparatus, featuring a semi-detachable flap covering an ingress orifice, the semi-detachable flap is illustrated in the open and rolled orientation with an exemplar individual boarding the apparatus included for scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

(13) The above described drawing figures illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the joint apparatus and its method of use in at least one of its preferred, best mode embodiments, which is further defined in detail in the following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and modifications to what is described herein, without departing from its spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, it must be understood that what is illustrated is set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as a limitation in the scope of the present apparatus and method of use.

(14) Described now in detail is a lightweight and compact personal flotation device that is capable of both providing buoyancy and reducing loss of personal thermal energy.

(15) FIG. 1 depicts the presently disclosed apparatus 100 in a fully deployed orientation featuring a semi-detachable flap 110 in the attached orientation covering the ingress orifice 145. The apparatus is automatically inflated when an individual pulls a pull cord 120. The illustrated embodiment shows a compressed gas cartridge 140 as the source of the inflation gas. Other embodiments can use other sources of inflation gas.

(16) FIG. 1 also shows a plurality of self-inflation valves 130. These valves can be used to restore inflation if the apparatus slowly becomes deflated because of damage. In some embodiments self-inflation may be the primary mode of inflation for the inflatable floor 135, with automatic inflation only being available for the primary air bladder 125.

(17) FIG. 2 shows the semi-detachable flap 110 in the detached orientation thereby starting to expose the ingress orifice 145. Once the semi-detachable flap 110 is in the open orientation, an individual can board the apparatus through the ingress orifice 145. It is important that the ingress orifice 145 is wide enough that the individual can board with his back square to the remaining portion of inflatable flooring 135 because this is the most stable way to board the apparatus 100.

(18) FIG. 3 shows the semi-detachable flap 110 in the fully open, rolled, and tethered orientation. Some embodiments allow for the semi-detachable flap 110 to be rolled and tethered so that it is fully out of the individual's way when boarding. In some embodiments, the semi-detachable flap 110 may need to be manually inflated after the semi-detachable flap 110 is unrolled and reattached.

(19) FIG. 4 illustrates and exemplary embodiment of the presently disclosed apparatus 100 in the pre-deployed state. The illustrated embodiment illustrates a small, lightweight, case 150 featuring only a pull cord 120 to activate inflation and a tether 160 to attach the apparatus 100 to an individual performing routine low risk activities near water. In some embodiments the tether 160 is attached to the apparatus 100 rather than the case 150 so that when an individual activates the inflation the apparatus 100 cannot drift or blow away.

(20) FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a different embodiment of the apparatus featuring a semi-detachable floor slit 170 and split air bladder 125 with two terminal ends 155 that tightly abut each other, forming a continuous gunwale. When the semi-detachable floor slit 170 is in the open orientation, the terminal ends 155 can be separated forming a space for easy ingress. FIG. 6 illustrates the embodiment in the ingress orientation.

(21) FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an additional air bladder segment 180 to increase flexibility and allow for an individual to more easily reach the ingress orifice 145. The air bladder segment 180 adds flexibility so that an individual can lift half of the apparatus 100 while the other half remains horizontal, supported by the water's surface as depicted in FIG. 8.

(22) FIGS. 9 and 10 feature an optional canopy 190 to further protect an individual from the elements whether it be excessive sun, wind, or rain. The additional protection increases the thermal insulation of the individual and increases the chances of survival until assistance is able to arrive.

(23) FIG. 11 features an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure 100 featuring the semi-detachable flap 110 in a different location than the illustration in FIG. 1. This illustration is included to emphasize that the semi-detachable flap and ingress orifice can be oriented differently in different embodiments.

(24) FIG. 12 features an illustration of an exemplar individual boarding the apparatus 100 through the ingress orifice 145.

(25) The enablements described in detail above are considered novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to the operation of at least one aspect of the apparatus and its method of use, and to the achievement of the above-described objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the instant embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification: structure, material, or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus, if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word(s) describing the element.

(26) The definitions of the words or drawing elements described herein are meant to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structures, materials or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements described and its various embodiments, or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim.

(27) Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope intended and its various embodiments. Therefore, substitutions, now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art, are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. This disclosure is thus meant to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what incorporates the essential ideas.

(28) The scope of this description is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that each named inventor believes that the claimed subject matter is what is intended to be patented.