Sponge ballast system for inflatable rafts

Abstract

Fatalities from hypothermia and exposure are increasing each year due to the vast popularity of paddle sports such as: kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, etc. A lightweight inflatable self-rescue raft stored aboard with the present invention attached to the underside, can greatly reduce such fatalities.

The sponge-ballast system is a stabilization system that aids a person in the water to make a quick self-rescue boarding of any lightweight inflatable raft of any size or shape avoiding fatigue and hypothermia.

The system comprised of highly compressed sponge contained in permeable enclosures, which enclosures in turn are secured to the underside of an inflatable raft, which the compressed sponge, upon contact with water, rapidly absorbs water through the openings and quickly expands providing prompt, sufficient weight and ballast for a wet person to climb aboard a raft as light as 5 pounds. The present invention used 20 compressed sponges to achieve such results.

Claims

1. A method of providing supplemental ballast to a lightweight inflatable raft suitable for storage on or in a craft selected from, but not limited to, the group consisting of a kayak, a canoe, a small boat and a small-engine aircraft, said method comprising the steps of: a. placing at least one compressed sponge in each of a plurality of water-permeable enclosures; and b. attaching said enclosures to the underside of a inflatable raft so that, when exposed to water, the sponges increase in weight and become saturated to provide supplemental ballast to the flotation device and stabilize the flotation device due to the increased weight of the saturated sponges to allow a person in the water to self-rescue by mounting the flotation device without the opposite side of the device rising to hamper or prevent entry upon the device; wherein the enclosures allow entry of water to contact the sponges and allow expansion and saturation of the sponges.

2. The method of claim 1b. wherein the water-permeable enclosures are attached to the underside of a forward portion of the inflatable raft or circularly configured for a round raft.

3. The method of claim 1b. wherein the inflated raft is selected to have a forward portion with a bow at the front of the forward portion, a stern at the back of a rear portion, and a length that is greater than a width of the raft, or circularly configured for a round raft.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the flotation device is inflatable and the water-permeable enclosures are attached to the underside of a forward portion of the flotation device or circularly configured for a round inflatable raft.

5. The method of claim 1b. wherein the flotation device is inflatable, and has a floor.

6. A method of providing supplemental ballast to a water-surface inflatable rescue device capable of carrying one or two human occupants and suitable for storage on or in at least one of a small craft for use on water and a small-engine aircraft, said method comprising: a. placing at least one compressed sponge in each of a plurality of water-permeable enclosures; and b. attaching said enclosures to the underside of the inflatable device so that, when exposed to water, the sponges increase in weight and become saturated to provide supplemental ballast to the flotation device and stabilize the flotation device due to the increased weight of the sponges to allow a user in the water to quickly mount the flotation device without the opposite side of the device rising.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a conventional two-person raft showing suitable placement, indicated with shading, of the sponge-ballast system.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a conventional two-person raft with a cut-away showing the placement of several sponge elements within permeable enclosures.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a front-side view of a conventional two-person raft suggesting the permeable enclosures with enclosed sponge elements indicated with shading.

[0011] FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 show suitable placement of the sponge elements on the bottom of a conventional round inflatable raft.

[0012] FIG. 6 & FIG. 7 illustrate an alternative two-section placement of permeable enclosures on the underside of a typical inflated raft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The invention includes any flotation device for which ballast can be provided by sponge, usually, but not necessarily, compressed synthetic sponge, contained in one or more permeable enclosures, which enclosures in turn are secured to the underside of the device.

As used in this application, flotation device or flotation element refers to any item capable of providing buoyancy, such as inflated synthetic rubber.

[0014] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a suitable placement of permeable enclosures on the underside of a typical inflated raft (4) said enclosures being secured to the raft indicated with shading (1). The dots indicate openings to allow water into the enclosures (2). FIG. 2 shows a cut-away illustrating the placement of sponge within the permeable enclosures, said sponge indicated as rectangular shape. Alternatively, the permeable enclosures might be segmented so that each said sponge element (3) is separately contained within a separate permeable enclosure. FIG. 3 front-side view, suggests permeable enclosures with enclosed sponge, as might appear on a typical inflated two-person raft (4a). FIG. 3 also indicates generally how the permeable enclosures might be segmented so that each sponge element is contained within a separate permeable enclosure (la). The dots indicate openings to allow water into the enclosures (2a). FIG. 4 suggests permeable enclosures with enclosed sponge, indicated with shading (1b), as might appear on the underside of a typical circularly configured flotation device (4b). The dots indicate openings to allow water into the enclosures (2b).

FIG. 5 suggests permeable-enclosed sponge, indicated with shading (1c) as might appear from a side view of a typical circularly configured flotation device (4c).

[0015] The sponge-ballast system need not be configured as indicated and may be configured in any fashion along the underside (see claim 2) of a flotation device.

[0016] The sponge-ballast system can be configured to provide ballast of any desired significance by using larger sponge for additional weight and correspondingly larger permeable enclosures, adding permeable enclosures, stacking permeable enclosures, or any other configurations providing a greater volume of sponge.

[0017] The invention may be configured in the shape of a traditional or circular life preserver with a floor rather than a middle opening, and configured with the sponge-ballast system, as depicted in FIG. 4 & FIG. 5.

[0018] FIG. 6 & FIG. 7 illustrate an alternative two-section placement of permeable enclosures on the underside of a typical inflated raft.

[0019] The invention need not be configured for human occupancy and could be configured, for instance, for use as a transport device over any water, such as might occur, for instance, if one sought to transport items while wading across a river.

[0020] A contemplated embodiment of the invention employs compressed cellulose sponge contained in perforated Neoprene synthetic rubber, heat-sealed along the underside of a traditional raft with inflatable floor as depicted in FIG. 3. The permeable enclosures with the compressed sponge are configured in segments which allow easy folding and packing. A raft with a sponge-ballast system attached can be packaged compactly for storage on or in kayaks, canoes, small boats, or small-engine aircraft cockpit.

[0021] In certain embodiments, the permeable enclosures could be accessible, allowing removal of saturated sponge, with a replacement of another compressed dry sponge.

[0022] No attempt is made to illustrate the means of manufacturing and securing such ballast system, particularly the permeable enclosures, as this is thought sufficiently obvious as not to require special illustration.

[0023] Finally, it will be understood that various embodiments have been disclosed by way of example, and that other modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.