Surgery – Respiratory method or device
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-24
2004-07-20
Dawson, Glenn K. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Respiratory method or device
C114S334000, C114S347000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06763827
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of emergency breathing devices, and more particularly to an emergency air breathing system for kayaks.
2. Description of the Prior Art
People have been using kayaks as a means of water transportation for hundreds of years. Kayaks have a relatively flat bottom and are prone to tipping over. The tipping phenomenon is so common that most kayaks have a flexible skirt that creates a relatively water tight seal around the kayakers waist and around the top opening of the rigid body of the kayak. With this seal, a kayaker can flip upside down and then do a special rolling maneuver to right him or herself while the internal portion of the kayak remains relatively dry.
During this rolling maneuver there is obviously a period of time where the kayakers head is underwater. This is usually a short time period and many kayakers practice this rolling maneuver so that in a real life situation they can flip from the upside down position to the right side up position while holding their breath. New kayakers and even veterans sometimes have a hard time completing the roll over within one breath holding period. Therefore, it is a good idea to provide an emergency breathing tube or some other breathing device so that when the kayakers head is underwater he or she can take several breaths if necessary before successfully completing the rolling maneuver.
One such device has been introduced by the Radical Gear Company of Philadelphia, Pa. In its product the lower end of a breathing tube is supported by means of a foam tube holder on the lap of the kayaker. The breathing tube then extends up the skirt of the kayak and proceeds under the life jacket of the kayaker, terminating in a mouthpiece which is meant to be positioned to one side of the kayakers face. A second such device is described in German Patent DE 3931961 A1 to Schultz, where a tube extends up the skirt of the kayak, proceeds under the life jacket of the kayaker, and terminates in a mouthpiece in front of the kayaker's face. While these configurations do give a degree of emergency breathing when the kayaker is submerged, there are some serious disadvantages to the designs.
One disadvantage is that because a kayaker is constantly moving and twisting, there is a tendency for the mouthpiece portion to migrate to an inappropriate position, such as under the life vest rather than above it. In this case the kayaker would have to take valuable time to reorient the mouthpiece to the proper position and, more importantly, the kayaker has to take at least one hand off the paddle thereby increasing the chance of losing the paddle.
A further disadvantage of the breathing devices by Radical Gear Co. and Schultz is that neither the mouthpiece portion of the breathing tube nor the opposite end of the breathing tube is sealed. Therefore, the kayaker can receive incoming water which can potentially be breathed in by the kayaker. The tube must be purged of water before breathing. This action is difficult because of the length of the tube and the tendency of water to collect on the inside walls of the tube which can run back into the mouth of the kayaker.
In both the device by Radical Gear Co. and the German Patent (Schultz, DE 3931961 A1), a further disadvantage is that, by not being permanently attached to the kayak or the skirt, they are both prone to being left behind on shore. Weather and water conditions often deteriorate unexpectedly, resulting in an unanticipated need for an emergency breathing device.
An additional disadvantage of both the Radical Gear Co.'s device and the Schultz device is that both allow the kayaker to adopt a vulnerable position, where the head is lower in the water, and prone to impact with obstruction. The preferred position upon capsize is a tucked position where the face is as close to the kayak's deck as possible.
Finally, there is a disadvantage in the prior art in that during the rolling maneuver, the torso and head of the kayaker must be free to bend to a series of extreme positions, first, to bend forward and to one side (the “set-up” position), then outstretched to this side, then sweeping to a position outstretched on the opposite side, and finally stretched backward so that when the roll is completed, the kayaker is lying, head back, on the aft deck. It is apparent that during this process, a tube of fixed length running from the mouth down the chest would limit the necessary upper body movements considerably.
An attempt to solve the emergency breathing problem for kayakers was proposed by Fred Schoettle in his U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,694 issued Sep. 30, 1997. This patent describes an emergency breathing device for kayakers in which a pair of air bladders are installed inside the body of the kayak. A thin flexible hose is attached to the bladders which terminates at its opposite end by a mouthpiece which has a hand operated on-off valve. A hook mounted to the side wall of the kayak secures the mouthpiece when not in use. The main problem with this design is that to use this system, the seal between the skirt and the deck must be violated. This would result in a significant amount of water flooding into the boat. Another problem is that the kayaker has to use two hands to remove the mouthpiece for use and to turn the valve to the flow position. This means that the kayaker has to let go of his or her kayak paddle to use the device. Losing ones paddle puts the kayaker in danger because he or she has to struggle to retrieve the paddle. In many cases, retrieving the paddle may quickly become impossible. Additionally, because of the length of the flexible tube, the kayaker may unintentionally get tangled in the tube as well has have difficulty in breathing due to the nature of the long thin tube. Finally, the proposed air bladders take up valuable space in the interior of the kayak and add complexity and cost to the emergency apparatus described.
Therefore, what is needed and what has been invented is a kayak having an emergency breathing device which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. What is further needed and what has been invented is a method for retrofitting existing kayaks to produce kayaks not possessing the disadvantages associated with the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the invention is to provide a better emergency breathing system that allows a kayaker to breathe while underwater.
Another object of the invention is to provide an emergency breathing system that does not collect water while in the standby mode.
Another object of the invention is to provide an emergency breathing system that is easy for the kayaker to reach while under water.
Another object of the invention is to provide an emergency breathing system where the kayaker can not become dangerously entangled by the breathing tube while in the submerged position.
Another object of the invention is to provide an emergency breathing system which is normally available as needed.
Another object of the invention is to provide an emergency breathing system which is simple in construction and easy to manufacture.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed.
One embodiment of the invention is directed to an emergency air system for kayakers comprising a mouthpiece connected to a breathing tube which pierces the top surface of the kayak and is held in place perpendicularly to the top surface of the kayak, such as by a pair of opposed flat washers. The washers, or the like, are capable of being forced together by an internally threaded nut, or other standard securing means, that is capable of securing the breathing tube to a kayak skirt or to the upper deck of the kayak. The mouthpiece of the breathing tube contains a mouth-operated valve which is capable of opening the air passage of the breathing tube whe
Coudert Brothers LLP
Dawson Glenn K.
LandOfFree
Emergency air system for kayaks does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Emergency air system for kayaks, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Emergency air system for kayaks will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3257391