Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Water rescue or life protecting apparatus
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-06
2001-08-07
Basinger, Sherman (Department: 3617)
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Water rescue or life protecting apparatus
C441S089000, C441S092000, C441S104000, C441S124000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270386
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an avalanche life jacket. Specifically, the present invention relates to an avalanche life jacket having an airbag inflatable by a gas release system upon actuation by a user. The airbag inflates around at least the user's head to protect the user's head during an avalanche and to facilitate search and rescue of the user after the avalanche.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One type of personal emergency life preserving equipment designed to be worn and utilized by a specific user is life jackets. Certain life jackets comprise inflatable balloons as an additional life preserving feature. The balloon may be inflated upon actuation in the event of an emergency. One example of a life jacket with an inflatable balloon is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,754 to Aschauer et al. (“Aschauer”). Aschauer discloses a rescue apparatus that includes a balloon bound to a frame securable to a user. The apparatus comprises a rigid frame with a collar to which the filling opening of the balloon is attached. A balloon filling mechanism and the balloon are disposed within the frame for the stated purposes of functional safety during release, balloon inflation and actual and repeated use. Aschauer discloses that the balloon is inflated by pressurized gas to buoy the attached person at the surface of the avalanche.
Other types of personal emergency life preserving equipment also may be worn and utilized by a specific user. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,106 to Prager (“Prager”) discloses a life preserving equipment designed to be worn by a user on or in the water. The life preserving equipment comprises a rigid elongated housing having a hinged cover. The housing encloses an inflatable member which in turn encloses a gas release system. The gas release system comprises a compressed gas cartridge with a diaphragm, a cartridge puncturing pin, and a cooperating lever. Upon opening the hinged cover, levers carried by the housing and the cover actuate a cooperating lever to force the puncturing pin into the diaphragm of the gas cartridge. Upon puncturing the diaphragm, the gas cartridge discharges the gas contained therein into the inflatable member to thereby inflate the member. During inflation of the member, the inflatable member exits the housing and is tethered to the housing via a cord coupled therebetween.
In both life preserving equipment described above, the balloon, upon inflation, does not surround the user's head and thus does not provide physical protection to the user's head. For example, the balloon does not provide a buffer between the user's head and any potential danger such as falling rocks in the event of an emergency such as an avalanche.
In addition, conventional life preserving equipment are usually large and bulky and relatively expensive. Further, neither of the above references describe a life preserving equipment having automatic actuation upon detection of an emergency such that the balloon would be inflated even if a user neglects to manually actuate the equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing problems and disadvantages of convention life preserving equipment, it is an object of the present invention to provide a life preserving jacket comprising an inflatable balloon or airbag which, upon inflation, provides a buffer between at least the user's head and any potential dangers posed to the user in the event of an emergency such as an avalanche.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a life preserving jacket that is light weight, compact, cost effective, reliable and functionally safe prior to and during actuation, during inflation of the airbag, as well as during repeated use.
It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a life preserving jacket comprising an automatic actuator which, upon detection of an emergency, inflates the balloon even if a user does not manually actuate the equipment.
The life preserving jacket of the present invention generally comprises a harness, a torso strap for attaching the jacket to the user, an airbag enclosed within the harness prior to inflation, and a release handle for manually actuating the gas release system to inflate the airbag. The harness provides an enclosure mechanism for enclosing the airbag within the harness and for opening to allow the airbag to expand outside of the harness during inflation. Prior to inflation, the airbag is folded inside the harness such that, upon inflation, the airbag surrounds at least the back and sides of the user's head to thereby provide a physical and thermal buffer between the user's head and the environment. The inflated airbag may also provide a buoyant force against the downward force exerted by the current of the avalanche.
An actuation preventer may be provided to selectively prevent the release handle from actuating gas release system, such as when the torso strap is not secured. In addition, an accelerometer may be provided for automatic actuation of the gas release system upon indication of a predetermined threshold acceleration. Further, a mouth-bite may be provided on the harness such that the user may breathe and/or release the gas contained in airbag after inflation. Thus, the inflated airbag may additionally serve as a respiratory chamber, for example, if the user is trapped under the snow.
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Avagear Inc.
Basinger Sherman
LandOfFree
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