Liferaft

Details Liferaft Liferaft

2000-10-26

2001-12-04

Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)

Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices

Rafts

With shelter

C114S345000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06325688

ABSTRACT:

This invention relates to a liferaft and in particular to a reversible liferaft i.e. one which can be occupied satisfactorily regardless of the way it floats.
It is known to provide a liferaft with means which project into the water, when the liferaft is floating on water, and stabilize the liferaft. One example is the provision of stabilizing pockets which project downwards into the water and fill with water to provide a degree of stability when the inflated liferaft is floating on water. However, these pockets do require the usage of a significant amount of fabric and when not in use can cause obstruction. When such pockets are provided on both the upper and lower sides of a reversible liferaft, those pockets which are on the upper side can whip or flutter in windy conditions.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a liferaft in which the above disadvantages are substantially overcome.
According to the invention, there is provided a reversible liferaft comprising a floor having a periphery, a first side and a second side, at least one inflatable tube surrounding and connected to the periphery of the sheet, an erectable first canopy extending over the first side of the floor and an erectable second canopy extending over the second side of the floor, support means for holding erect that one of the first and second canopies which is on the upper side of the liferaft when the liferaft is deployed and floating on water, the other of the first and second canopies then being unerected, and shaping means operative when the liferaft is deployed and floating on water for providing stabilizing means for the liferaft from said other canopy.
One embodiment of the invention, a reversible liferaft capable of carrying several people, will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1
shows a perspective view from above of an inflated reversible liferaft,
FIG. 2
shows a vertical cross-section through the liferaft shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
shows on an enlarged scale part of the liferaft shown in
FIG. 2
; and
FIG. 4
shows on an enlarged scale another part of the liferaft shown in FIG.
2
.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3037218 (1962-06-01), Brooks, III
patent: 4517914 (1985-05-01), Geracitano
patent: 4828520 (1989-05-01), Baughman et al.
patent: 5733158 (1998-03-01), Higginbotham et al.
patent: 440576 (1970-04-01), None
patent: 2040867 (1971-01-01), None
patent: 2147656 (1973-03-01), None
patent: 2152105 (1973-04-01), None
patent: 0839716 (1960-06-01), None
patent: 1405279 (1975-09-01), None

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