WO2008053439A1

WO2008053439A1 - Safety inflatable floating device

Info

Publication number: WO2008053439A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/054421
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michiel Bouwmeester
Original assignee: Michiel Bouwmeester
Priority date: 2006-10-31
Filing date: 2007-10-31
Publication date: 2008-05-08
Also published as: ITRM20060590A1

Abstract

Inflatable floating device comprising one or more inflatable members (11, 12, 13), housing means (2) of said inflatable members (11, 12, 13), characterized in that said housing means (2) is apt to be arranged at the user's waist and said inflatable members (11, 12, 13) comprise respective front portions (11) developing, in an inflated configuration, along the user's chest, and a third portion (12) connected to said front portions (11), said third portion extending, in said inflated configuration, from said front portions (11) below the user's arms and developing in the proximity of a rear portion of the neck.

Description

SAFETY INFLATABLE FLOATING DEVICE

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an inflatable floating device. A plurality of garments allowing a person to float into the water in case of emergency or, generally, in case of need, are known.

Generally, such garments have the shape of a jacket and they comprise a series of floating members, implemented by means of inserts made of materials with low specific gravity or by means of inflatable bags. Such garments are very often used in sporting activities performed in the sea, such as surfing, sailing, or they are used in case of emergency, for instance in the aircrafts. However, such uses request garments with features different therebetween and what has been implemented according to the known art does not effectively fit to both solutions, and also it is not much practical in terms of use as well. More precisely, the use of rescue garments upon practicing surfing, including also windsurf, kitesurf, kayak and other similar activities, implies specific problems, since the user of such garments has not to be hindered in his/her motions by such garments in any way and, at the same time, they must guarantee a perfect floating.

In this field people prefer to use inflatable life jackets, since the user's fall into the sea is not always dangerous. In fact, for example, when practicing surfing, after falling into the sea it is better to be able to swim freely rather than staying afloat by force with a life jacket.

Nonetheless, it is clear that the known inflatable garments are often bulky and, being jacket-shaped, they do not let the user move freely. On the contrary, when they are used in emergency situations, such as those taking place in the aircrafts, the main problem is whether wearing the garment is easy or not.

The known garments need to be put on from the top and, in times of panic, this movement is not certainly immediate and simple. Furthermore, they generally require the use of ribbons which are tied firmly to keep the garment in position and, again, they involve not very immediate movements in times of real danger.

Therefore, the technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a floating rescue device which allows to overcome the abovementioned drawbacks with reference to the known art.

Such a problem is solved by an inflatable floating device according to claim 1. The present invention affords some relevant advantages. The main advantage lies in the fact that the device according to the present invention can be easily worn by the user, however without stopping or limiting the movements in any way.

In particular, such device does not need to be put on from the top, thus making its use very simple and immediate.

Other advantages, features and ways of application of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, which are shown by way of example and not for limitative purposes. The figures of the enclosed drawings will be referred to, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of an inflatable floating device according to the present invention in an inflated configuration;

Figure 2 is a front view of the device of Figure 1, in the inflated configuration; and

Figure 3 is a rear view of the device of Figure 1, in the inflated configuration. By referring to Figures 1 to 3, an inflatable floating device comprises one or more inflatable members which can be inserted, when not inflated, into proper housing means 2.

The housing means 2 are arranged at the user's waist and, in particular, they are implemented, according to a preferred embodiment, by means of a belt whereon a pocket for housing the inflatable members is created.

In particular, the pocket is arranged around the user's waist. The device can then be easily worn and used just by tieing the belt to the waist. Such aspect turns out to be particularly important as it allows the device to be worn quickly, without the need for it to be put on from the neck. The inflatable members comprise respective front portions 11, developing, when they are in an inflated configuration, along the user's chest.

It is clear that such inflated configuration is achieved by inflating the inflatable member with air or gas, so as to make it possible for the device to implement the floating function. The inflation can be performed manually, for example by inflating by mouth the inflatable member in case of need, or automatically, by using compressed gas cylinders or other inflation means, which are not illustrated in figure.

In the latter case, there will also be activation means which will open some valves, thus letting the gas flow out. Such activation means can be built by means of a cable which is connected to the abovementioned valves and which causes the opening thereof when it is pulled. Of course, several other inflation and activation means can be provided, anyway all being within the reach of a person skilled in the art.

The inflatable members further comprise a third portion 12 which is connected to said front portions 11 and which, still in the inflated configuration, extends from the front portions 11 below the user's arms and develops in the proximity of a rear portion of the neck.

Therefore, it must be understood that in this way, after the inflation, the inflation members come out of the housing means that are placed at the waist and, when inflated, they take position on the chest under the arms and partially on the back, by the neck.

In particular, the action of the portions, that are placed under the arms and extend from the user's waist, is particularly advantageous, since it represents a supporting action to the body so as to allow it to float easily and effectively.

Moreover, the presence of two distinct front portions 11 advantageously allows the device to be worn like a belt.

Incidentally, it should be noted that the front portions 11 are connected to the housing means 2, or to the belt whereon they are obtained, so that the inflatable members in the inflated configuration keep in contact with the user's body.

Still according to a preferred embodiment, the inflatable members are bags- shaped or the like, each of them forming front portions 11 and the third portion 12, respectively.

However, to make the production process easier, such portions can be inteconnected therebetween, so as to be formed by a single inflatable bag. In this way, especially in the case of automatic inflation, the inflatable members, which in this case will be represented by a single member, can be simply and quickly inflated.

In order to guarantee a perfect wearability, the floating device according to the present invention further comprises connection means 31, implemented by means of laces fastened to the two front portions 11 , which can be closed by means of a buckle 311 or other similar closing member. In this way, the connection means 31 can be easily closed after the inflation of the device, whereas they are kept open in the deflated configuration, so as to make it possible to wear the device like a belt.

The connection members 31 are arranged at the user's chest, so as to prevent the two front portions from opening out, which would decrease the effectiveness of the device. Furthermore, the laces forming such connection members can be adjustable, so as to make it possible for the connection members to be tightened after they have been closed through the buckle 311, and so as to make it possible for them to comprise an elastic portion and an inextensible one.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment and by referring to figure 3, the floating device comprises additional connection members 32 between the third portion 12 and the housing means 2 at the user's back.

More precisely, such connection members 32 comprise a band 321, which extends between the portions of inflatable member underneath the user's arms, a second band 322, which is connected to the first one and extends to the portion at the neck. At last, the abovementioned bands are connected to the belt, so as to keep the inflatable member in a correct position.

Additionally, the connection members 32 can further extend from the back below the pelvic area and in such area can be connected to tie rods 34, as illustrated in Figure 2, which are in front of the user, so that they can be pulled so that the connection members 32 are subjected to tension. In this way, the utmost wearability of the device can be guaranteed, once the inflatable device has been inflated.

It is clear that the connection member 32, passing below the pelvic area, is slidingly housed in specific seats, that are not illustrated in figure, which allow the pulling action by means of the tie rods 34.

Now with reference to Figures 1 and 2, after the device inflation the front portions 11 can be further connected to the third portion 12 at the user's shoulders, by means of specific connection members 33. To this end, the third portion 12 can comprise appendixes 13 developing, in the inflated configuration, above the user's shoulders. In this way, the connection members 33 are connected to the appendixes 13. Such feature, apart from guaranteeing a very good wearability, improves the floating action of the device, since it allows the user to easily keep the head out of the water.

The device according to the present invention can then be advantageously integrated in windsurf or kitesurf trapezes or other similar belts, thus avoiding any discomfort for the people practicing such sporting activities.

The present invention has been so far described by referring to preferred embodiments. Of course other embodiments belonging to the same inventive core may exist, all falling within the protection scope of the here below reported claims.

Claims

1. Inflatable floating device for a user comprising one or more inflatable members (11, 12, 13), housing means (2) of said one or more inflatable members (11, 12), characterized in that said housing means (2) can be worn at the user's waist, said inflatable members (11, 12, 13) comprising respective front portions (11) which in an inflated configuration develop along the user's chest, and a third portion (12) connected to said front portions (11), said third portion extending in said inflated configuration from said front portions (11) below the user's arms and developing in the proximity of a rear portion of the user's neck.

2. Inflatable floating device according to the preceding claim, wherein said one or more inflatable members (11, 12, 13) are bags-shaped or the like.

3. Inflatable floating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said front portions (11) and said third portion (12) are interconnected therebetween so as to form a single inflatable member.

4. Floating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said housing means (2) is belt-shaped and comprises a pocket for housing said inflatable members in a deflated configuration.

5. Floating device according according to the preceding claim, wherein said pocket is arranged around the user's waist.

6. Floating device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising first connection members (31) between said front portions (11) at the user's chest, said connection members having closing members (311).

7. Floating device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising second connection members (32) between said third portion (12) and said housing means (2) at the user's back.

8. Floating device according to the preceding claim, wherein said second connection members (32) between said third portion (12) and said housing means (2) extend from the back below the pelvic area and being in such area connected to tie rods (34) apt to subject said connection members (32) to tension.

9. Floating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said front portions (11) can be connected to said third portion (12) at the upper portion of the user's shoulders by means of third connection members (33).

10. Floating device according to one of the claims 6 to 9, wherein said connection members (31, 32) have a band-like development and have elastic features.

11. Floating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said third portion (12) comprises appendixes (13) which, in an inflated configuration, develop above the user's shoulders.

12. Floating device according to claim 8 and 11, wherein said connection members (33) are connected to said appendixes (13).

13. Floating device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising inflation means of said one or more inflatable members (11, 12, 13) and activation means of said inflation means, said activation means being able to be activated by the user.

14. Floating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said housing means (2) is integrated in a windsurf or kitesurf trapeze or other belts.