Life Jacket Attachment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a life jacket. The life jacket comprises a floatable rope and securing means attached to the life jacket. The floatable rope extends from the securing means and is arranged such that it is suitable for attachment to lifting means.

Claims

1. A life jacket comprising: a floatable rope, and a securing means attached to the life jacket, wherein the floatable rope extends from the securing means, and the floatable rope is arranged such that it is suitable for attachment to a lifting means.

2. A life jacket according to claim 1, wherein the floatable rope includes first and second ends joined together to form a continuous loop and the continuous loop is suitable for attachment to the lifting means.

3. A life jacket according to claim 2, wherein the first and second floatable rope ends are joined together by splicing.

4. A life jacket according to claim 1, wherein the floatable rope is made from polyethylene.

5. A life jacket according to claim 1, wherein the floatable rope is made from ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fiber.

6. A life jacket according to claim 1, wherein the floatable rope further comprises reflective elements.

7. A life jacket according to claim 1, wherein the securing means is a lifting strop.

8. A life jacket according to claim 1, wherein the securing means and floatable rope are contained within a closable compartment and, in use, are deployed so as to extend from the closeable compartment.

9. A life jacket according to claim 8, wherein the life jacket is inflatable and the securing means and floatable rope are contained within the closeable compartment such that, when the life jacket is inflated, the floatable rope is deployed from the closeable compartment.

10. A life jacket according to claim 1, wherein the floatable rope is between substantially 3 mm to 6 mm in diameter.

11. A life jacket according to claim 8, wherein the floatable rope is substantially 3 mm in diameter.

12. A life jacket according to claim 1, wherein the floatable rope is substantially 3 m in length.

13. A life jacket according to claim 1, wherein the floatable rope comprises an illuminous, a luminous, or neon coating portion.

14. A life jacket according to claim 1, in which the floatable rope comprises first and second ends joined together to form a continuous loop, and in which the securing means is a lifting strop, and wherein the continuous loop of the floatable rope is fastened to the lifting strop.

15. A life jacket according to claim 1, in which the floatable rope comprises first and second ends joined together to form a continuous loop, and in which the securing means is a lifting strop including a loop, the continuous loop of the floatable rope being fastened to the loop of the lifting strop.

16. A life jacket according to claim 1, wherein the floatable rope is secured to the life jacket by means of splicing.

17. A life jacket according to claim 1, further comprising reflective elements secured to the floatable rope.

18. A life jacket according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the floatable rope is coated with a neon coating.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order that the invention may be well understood, there will now be described an embodiment thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a life jacket according to a first embodiment of the invention, with floatable rope secured to a lifting strop;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a partial view of the life jacket of FIG. 1, showing the floatable rope substantially gathered up; and

[0026] FIG. 3 is a partial side view of an apparatus according to FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the floatable rope gathered up into a closable compartment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Terms such as upper, lower, top, bottom and derivatives thereof shall be related to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1 as if the apparatus were stood upright on the floor. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may assume various other orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary.

[0028] Referring firstly to FIG. 1, there is shown a life jacket 10. The life jacket 10 comprises adjustable straps 12, a floating portion 14, a D-ring 16, a lifting strop 17, and floatable rope 18. The adjustable straps 12 extend, in use, around the waist of the wearer and hold the floating portion 14 in place against the user's back, over the user's shoulders and against the user's chest down to substantially the user's waist.

[0029] Floatable in this sense means that the rope has a positive buoyancy such that when submerged in water it will rise to settle on the surface of the water. The water may be saltwater, e.g. seawater, or fresh water, e.g. river water. The floatable rope of the present invention could be formed by a material which itself floats, such that the rope then floats, or, in an alternative embodiment, floatation of the rope could be achieved by means of buoyancy aids attached to said rope.

[0030] A portion of the adjustable straps 12 extends between two parts of the floating portion 14 which, in use, are held against the chest and stomach of the wearer. The D-ring 16 is attached to this portion of the adjustable straps and thus, in use, is proximate to the stomach of the wearer. The D-ring 16 is attached by passing the adjustable straps 12 through the D. A lifting strop 17 is attached to the life jacket 10 in the conventional manner to comply with SOLAS regulations.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the floatable rope 18 is fastened to the lifting strop 17 as shown in FIG. 1, although, as mentioned above, the floatable rope may form a part of the securing means, in this case the lifting strop. The floatable rope may be attached to the D-ring 16 but this is not compliant with SOLAS regulations. The fastening may be achieved by means of a knot, but in the preferred embodiment the fastening is achieved by splicing the floatable rope 18 end to end to form a continuous loop of rope and then passing the rope 18 through the lifting stop 17 and tying a strap hitch as shown in FIG. 1.

[0032] The floatable rope 18 includes reflective portions 20 spaced apart along its length. In an alternative embodiment, the reflective portions may cover the entire length of the rope 18, or the rope 18 may be coated in a bright colour, for example a neon or illuminous colour.

[0033] The floatable rope 18 is of a polyethylene material, specifically Dyneema and is approximately 3 mm in diameter and 3 m in length. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rope is gathered up and stored in a closable compartment 22. The closable compartment 22 is disposed within the floating portion 14, proximate the front of the life jacket 10 and may be closed by means of a zip, Velcro, or the like.

[0034] The lifting strop 17 is also housed within the closable compartment 22. In use, the life jacket 10 is inflated and the lifting strop 17 deploys such that it extends out from the closable compartment 22. The rope 18 which is fastened to the lifting strop 17 also, in use, extends from the closable compartment 22.

[0035] Where a life jacket 10 comprises more than one lifting strop 17, a floatable rope 18 is attached in the manner described above, to each lifting strop 17.

[0036] In use, the bladder of the life jacket 10 is inflated. The D-ring of known life jackets is obscured when said known life jacket is inflated, making it very difficult for a rope or the like to be attached to haul the wearer from the sea. The lifting strop 17 of known life jackets is also very difficult to get hold of. The lifting strop 17 of the present invention has a floatable rope 18 already attached. In use, this rope 18 floats to the surface of the water and can easily be hooked with a boat hook or the like to pull the wearer towards the boat and haul the wearer aboard. The wearer of the life jacket does not have to intervene, thus the present invention may advantageously be used to rescue semi-conscious, or comatose wearers.

[0037] It will also be apparent to the skilled reader that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Alternative arrangements will be apparent to a reader skilled in the art. For example, the Dyneema rope 18 may be replaced with an alternative rope that is able to float or has floatable attachments enabling said rope to float.