GB2029331A - Buoyancy Support - Google Patents

Abstract

A float for use in water as a swimming aid comprises a flexible panel 1 which has multiple permanently sealed compartments and means for attachment to the body. Preferably, the panel comprises two laminated layers of flexible plastics material, discrete portions of one layer being spaced from the other layer and remaining portions of the one layer being sealed to the other layer to define the permanently sealed compartments. One or more such panels may be enclosed by a watertight outer envelope, and so form the front and such portions of a buoyant support garment. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Buoyancy Support This invention relates to a buoyancy support for usa in water. The buoyancy support is intended for use as a swimming aid, rather than a life preserver, and is particularly suitable for use by children.

A variety of support apparatus is available for small children, such as arm bands, balloons on the back, water wings and rubber tyres. These all have great disadvantages. They do not allow freedom of arm action to allow the child to swim in the normal way. All are restricting and can rub against the skin. If the air plug becomes dislodged or the apparatus becomes punctured, the whole support is defunct and is a hazard to the child.

These apparatuses are located in the wrong place for most effective support and in some cases can be positively dangerous if they become misplaced.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of conventional support apparatus mentioned above.

The present invention provides a buoyancy support comprising a flexible panel having multiple permanently sealed compartments and provided with means for attachment to the body.

Generally, the panel comprises two laminated layers of flexible plastics material, discrete portions of one layer being spaced from the other layer and remaining portions of the one layer being sealed to the other layer to define permanently sealed compartments. Preferably, each layer has a buoyancy support as defined above, wherein each layer has an array of opposing, discrete raised portions, the space defined between each opposing pair of raised portions being permanently sealed. Alternatively, the one layer has discrete raised portions which are spaced from the other layer, the other layer being substantially flat. In one embodiment, the discrete portions are shaped hemispherically, forming an array of bubbles which covers the greater part of the surface area of the panel.

Both the panel and the compartments are preferably made from the same flexible plastics material, such as polythene or PVC. Thus, the support may be formed from a double layer of plastics material which is welded e.g. by ultrasonics along a first series of parallel lines and then cross-welded along a second series of parallel lines at an angle to the first series.

Multiple permanently sealed compartments are thereby formed.

In an alternative method of forming the support, a sheet of plastics material, e.g. PVC, is vacuum-formed against a mould surface having multiple indentations. The sheet thus moulded is then bonded to a substantially flat second sheet.

The moulded sheet has discrete raised portions which are spaced from the second sheet and form the required permanently sealed compartments.

Alternatively, two PVC sheets moulded as above may be bonded together in such a way that the discrete raised portions are aligned in pairs opposite one another, the space defined between each opposing pair thus being permanently sealed.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a buoyancy support according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of part of the panel of the support shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of buoyancy support according to the invention.

The flexible panel 1 is of plastics material and the permanently sealed compartments are airfilled hemispherical bubbles 2 of the same plastics material mounted on the panel. One such panel is worn on the chest and another on the back. The two panels are secured by tapes 3, which may be elasticated, so that they cannot move up or down on the body and cannot become detached, which would allow the panels to float away. The panels will vary in size according to the age group of the wearer.

The multiple bubbles or air sacks on each panel are about 4 cm in diameter but only about 2 cm deep. The plastics material, such as polythene, is of sufficient gauge to give the required strength, generally from 400 to 800 gauge. The bubbles themselves may be of 400 gauge whilst the backing sheet is of 800 gauge. Polythene itself is buoyant in any event. The panels are generally rectangular, but can be of any other shape to provide a more acceptable appearance. The plastics material can be coloured if so desired.

The chest and back panels are generally secured by one strap over each shoulder, one strap at each side under the arms and another strap at each side at about waist level. The support strap over the shoulders can be constructed of an air-filled tube to provide added buoyancy.

The apparatus according to the invention ensures that maximum support is given in a position such that the head is always held clear of the water. At the same time, the apparatus allows the unrestricted use of the arms and so any sort of swimming stroke can be used. If the buoyancy support is punctured at any point, only one air bubble will be deflated and this will only affect the efficiency minimally. It is not possible to deflate the apparatus totally, except by total destruction or by deliberately puncturing each bubble separately.

The buoyancy support may vary in size and shape so that it can be fitted to persons of different age groups and physique, and so that varying degrees of buoyancy can be provided as required. The panels are preferably attached to the straps in detachable manner, for example by means of toggles. It is then a simple matter to wear two or more panels in face-to-face combination on the chest and/or the back. The number of panels is chosen to provide the required degree of buoyancy and can be increased, for example, as a child grows older.

Alternatively, the numbers of panels worn can be decreased as swimming proficiency increases.

The buoyancy support according to the invention has the following advantages in comparison with conventional supports. It is a "fail safe" apparatus which cannot be deflated accidentally. It is simple to put on and comfortable to wear, and will not be a hindrance to a child swimming. It is a cheap and easily replaceable article, which is important since more buoyancy should be provided as a child grows and his weight increases. On the other hand, it does not give an over abundance of buoyancy with consequent unnecessary bulk. The buoyancy is provided in the right area to ensure safety in the event of submersion. The support can be made from a material which does not deteriorate when in contact with salt water or chlorinated water, and is unaffected by sunlight.

Although the bubbles or air sacks of the support according to the invention are generally air-filled, they can also be filled with other gases having a lower density than air.

As shown in Figure 4, the bubbles mounted on the flexible panel may be enclosed in a watertight outer envelope 4, and the latter can be compartmentalised so that should a leak develop only one compartment is affected. At least one flexible panel can be enclosed in a water-tight outer envelope, or several flexible panels may each be inclosed in respective separate watertight compartments of a compartmentalised outer envelope. Any leak into the outer envelope would allow the interior to become flooded, but this will only marginally affect the buoyancy. The envelope may be of tough PVC, which may be transparent as shown in Figure 4 or opaque, whilst the panels of bubbles are of relatively weaker polythene. The envelope can be made from two sheets of PVC, sealed around the edges by ultrasonic welding, as shown by the lines 5 and 6 in Figure 4. If an outer envelope is not provided, it is necessary for the plastics material forming the bubbles to be sufficiently strong to prevent accidental rupture.

The outer envelope therefore provides protection from damaye to the bubbles themselves, and has the further advantage of increasing the buoyancy since more air is entrapped. When an outer envelope is employed, reinforced holes 7 are provided around the edges to enable the straps to be attached by means of toggles.

Foam type materials are not suitable for use in this invention. Such materials will only work if suitably sealed, but any puncture would then immediately turn the foam container into a moisture absorbent, with resulting saturation.

The bubbles do not, of course, have to be hemispherical. Rectangular or tubular bubbles can also be used, but circular bubbles are generally easier to produce.

Claims (11)

Claims

1. A buoyancy support comprising a flexible panel having multiple permanently sealed compartments and provided with means for attachment to the body.

2. A buoyancy support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the panel comprises two laminated layers of flexible plastics material, discrete portions of one layer being spaced from the other layer and remaining portions of the one layer being sealed to the other layer to define permanently sealed compartments.

3. A buoyancy support as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each layer has an array of opposing, discrete raised portions, the space defined between each opposing pair of raised portions being permanently sealed.

4. A buoyancy support as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the one layer has discrete raised portions which are spaced from the other layer, the other layer being substantially flat.

5. A buoyancy support as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the discrete portions are shaped hemispherically, forming an array of bubbles which covers the greater part of the surface area of the panel.

6. A buoyancy support as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the sealed compartments are filled with air.

7. A buoyancy support as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one flexible panel is enclosed in a water-tight outer envelope.

8. A buoyancy support as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein several flexible panels are each enclosed in separate water-tight compartments of a compartmentalised outer envelope.

9. A buoyancy support as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, comprising at least one flexible panel, optionally in an outer envelope, to be worn on the chest; at least one flexible panel optionally in an outer envelope, to be worn on the back; and straps for attaching the panels and/or the envelopes to the body.

10. A buoyancy support as claimed in Claim 9, having two or more flexible panels, optionally in one or more outer envelopes, in face-to-face combination to be worn on the chest and/or the back, the number of panels being chosen to provide the required degree of buoyancy.

11. A buoyancy support as claimed in Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.