Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Water rescue or life protecting apparatus – For use over ice
Patent
1986-01-13
1988-01-05
Nase, Jeffrey V.
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Water rescue or life protecting apparatus
For use over ice
280 18, B63C 932
Patent
active
047173629
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a lifesaving craft comprising a flat-bottomed elongate buoyant structure which on its upper side has a number of grab means and means for keeping a person in distress on the buoyant structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A lifesaving craft of the above type is disclosed in SE patent application No. 8306096-2. It is the object of the present invention to develop further the craft described in said application in order to optimise the properties thereof. To this end, the present invention proposes a buoyant structure which is characterised in that it has, at least at one of its two opposite ends, two projections extending along or in prolongation of the sides of said buoyant structure and, between said projections, a preferably gently curved recess adapted to receive and center the person in distress when he is pulled up on the craft, at least the lower side of each projection being inclined outwards and upwards to facilitate moving the craft forward.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWNGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the upper side of the craft according to the invention,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the underside of the said craft; and
FIGS. 3-13 are simplified lateral views illustrating different stages of a rescue operation with the craft according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE INVENTION
The craft shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a buoyant structure generally designated 1, the lower side 2 of which is substantially smooth or free from projections and the upper side of which is equipped with a number of details which have been described already in SE patent application No. 8306096-2, i.e. a belt 4 for fastening a person in distress and a number of flexible grab means 5 to be grabbed by both the person in distress and the rescuer if necessary. Furthermore, the craft comprises an ice-stick 6 held in a recess, a bag 7 with an extra lifeline 8 which is easily accessible, and a bag 9 with further lifesaving equipment, for example a warming blanket or cloth.
As will appear from FIGS. 1-2 in combination with FIGS. 3-13, the buoyant structure 1 is substantially flat along the major part of its length and has two substantially parallel longitudinal edges 10, 10' and two opposite ends 11 and 12, the first one being the fore or front end and the other the aft or rear end. In actual practice, the buoyant structure 1 preferably consists of a cellular plastic core which is provided with a thin shell of impact-resistant plastic of suitable type. The buoyant structure proper may preferably have a volume of 200-300 liters and a weight of 20-30 kilos.
According to the invention, the buoyant structure 1 is formed at its front end 11 with two forwardly extending projections 13, 13' between which a preferably gently curved recess 14 is provided to receive and center the person in distress when he is pulled up on the upper side of the buoyant structure. The lower sides 15, 15' of these projections 13, 13' are inclined in a forward-upward direction to facilitate moving the craft forward, especially up on an ice edge, and at the same time the upper side 16 of the buoyant structure portion adjacent the recess 14 is inclined in the opposite direction, i.e. forward-downward, to facilitate pulling the person in distress up on the craft. In the vicinity of the longitudinal edges 10, 10', a pair of fairly long handles 17, 17' are mounted in direct connection with the projections 13, 13'. The length of the handles 17 may be 0.5-1.0 meter.
Also the aft end 12 of the buoyant structure is formed with two projections 18, 18' between which a recess 19 is defined, and two handles 20, 20' are mounted in connection with the two projections. The provision of the handles 17, 17'; 20, 20' in combination with the two recesses 14, 19 also makes it possible to use the craft as a stretcher, in which case two bearers may grasp the handles and carry the craft quite comfortably, the re
REFERENCES:
patent: D255820 (1980-07-01), Borden et al.
patent: 981360 (1911-01-01), Barney
patent: 3453000 (1969-07-01), Asher
patent: 3532066 (1973-01-01), Cleman
patent: 3711879 (1970-10-01), Siefert
patent: 3775782 (1973-12-01), Rice et al.
patent: 4079953 (1978-03-01), Howarth
patent: 4179764 (1979-12-01), Lindblade
Nase Jeffrey V.
Sotelo Jesus D.
LandOfFree
Lifesaving craft does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Lifesaving craft, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Lifesaving craft will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-6786