Vehicle rescue system

• US 10,124,658 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
• Original Assignee: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
• Inventors: Sarhan, Sami Ibrahim
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson, Lars A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hayes, Jovon E
• Application Number:
  US15/674,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20180043760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 11/00 Removable external protective coverings specially adapted for vehicles or parts of vehicles, e.g. parking covers covering of load on vehicles B60P7/00; guard strips for body finishing, identifying or decorating B60R13/04; tents for use as garages E04H15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 11/04 for covering at least the roof of the vehicle, e.g. for covering the whole vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/58 Rafts, i.e. free floating waterborne vessels, of shallow draft, with little or no freeboard, and having a platform or floor for supporting a user lifeboats, life-rafts or the like B63C9/02
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 7/08 Inflatable inflatable water sports boards B63B32/51; inflatable canoes, kayaks or the like being inflatable or having inflatable parts B63B34/22

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiment of a vehicle rescue system. The vehicle rescue system may include a gas chamber that is attached to a vehicle, the gas chamber comprising an enclosed cavity; a gas tube that is connected to the gas chamber, the gas tube being filled with a gas; and an inflation control module attached to the gas chamber, the inflation control module being configured to control a release of the gas from the gas tube into the gas chamber, wherein releasing the gas inflates the gas chamber.

Claims

1. A vehicle rescue system, comprising:

a gas chamber configured to attach to a vehicle, the gas chamber comprising an enclosed cavity and a port;

a gas tube connected to the gas chamber via the port, the gas tube being filled with a gas; and

an inflation control module attached to the gas chamber, the inflation control module being configured to control a release of the gas from the gas tube into the gas chamber through the port, wherein releasing the gas inflates the gas chamber,

wherein the inflation control module includes a wireless transceiver that receives a wireless signal to control the release of the gas from the gas tube.

2. The vehicle rescue system of claim 1, wherein the gas chamber is configured to attach to the vehicle via a plurality of magnets attached to the gas chamber.

3. The vehicle rescue system of claim 1, wherein the gas chamber comprises an elongated gas chamber, and wherein a first portion of the elongated gas chamber is configured to be positioned underneath the vehicle and a second portion of the elongated gas chamber is configured to be positioned along a side of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle rescue system of claim 1, wherein the gas chamber comprises a plurality of snap-hook straps attached to the gas chamber, wherein at least one of the plurality of snap-hook straps is configured to attach to another gas chamber.

5. The vehicle rescue system of claim 1, wherein the inflation control module initiates a release the gas into the gas chamber in response to at least one of:

a detection of a liquid level threshold, a wireless signal from a client device, or a user manipulation of a chamber inflation latch.

6. A tire vehicle rescue system, comprising:

a tire jacket configured to surround a portion of a tire of a vehicle;

a gas chamber attached to the tire jacket, the gas chamber comprising a cavity;

a strap attached to the tire jacket, the strap configured to wrap around an axle of the vehicle from a first end of the tire jacket to a second end of the tire jacket; and

an inflation control module that is attached to the gas chamber, the inflation control module comprising a gas tube containing a gas, the inflation control module being configured to control a release of the gas from the gas tube into the gas chamber, wherein releasing the gas inflates the gas chamber.

7. The tire vehicle rescue system of claim 6, wherein the strap is a snap-hook strap, and wherein the snap-hook strap is attached to a ring connected to the second end of the tire jacket.

8. The tire vehicle rescue system of claim 6, wherein the gas contained in the gas tube is air, nitrogen, or carbon dioxide.

9. The tire vehicle rescue system of claim 6, wherein the inflation control modules comprise a manual gas release latch.

10. The tire vehicle rescue system of claim 6, wherein the tire jacket surrounds a top half of the tire.

11. The tire vehicle rescue system of claim 6, further comprising an enclosure that conceals the inflation control module, wherein the enclosure prevents water from accessing the inflation control module.

12. A vehicle rescue system, comprising:

a first inflatable side module and a second inflatable side module configured to attach to a vehicle, the first inflatable side module and the second inflatable side module comprising an elongated gas chamber, the first inflatable side module and the second inflatable side module being configured to elevate a portion of the vehicle in response to inflating the elongated gas chamber;

a plurality of inflatable tire modules configured to attach to a plurality of vehicle tires, wherein the first inflatable side module and the second inflatable side module are attached to at least one of the plurality of inflatable tire modules, and

wherein each of the plurality of inflatable tire modules comprises a gas chamber, wherein the plurality of inflatable tire modules are configured to elevate a portion of the vehicle in response to inflating the gas chamber, wherein, when the gas chamber or the elongated gas chamber is inflated, the vehicle floats in water.

13. The vehicle rescue system of claim 12, further comprising an anchor module that is attached to the first inflatable side module or the second inflatable side module, wherein the anchor module is configured to release an anchor in response to receiving an activation signal or manual manipulation of a lever.

14. The vehicle rescue system of claim 12, further comprising an inflatable front bumper module attached to two of the plurality of inflatable tire modules.

15. The vehicle rescue system of claim 12, further comprising an inflatable rear bumper module attached to two of the plurality of inflatable tire modules.

16. A vehicle protection system, comprising:

a plurality of inflatable barriers that surround a vehicle in an inflated state, each inflatable barrier being attached to at least two of the plurality of inflatable barriers, each inflatable barrier comprising at least one air chamber, the at least one air chamber for each of the plurality of inflatable barriers being structurally independent; and

an inflatable base that is attached to the plurality of inflatable barriers, the inflatable base comprising a base air chamber, the inflatable base being configured to elevate a portion of the vehicle in response to inflating the base air chamber.

17. The vehicle protection system of claim 16, wherein the inflatable base comprises at least two material strips that are used as a location for a plurality of tires of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle protection system of claim 16, further comprising a cover that attaches to the inflatable barriers, wherein the cover is positioned over the vehicle.

19. The vehicle protection system of claim 16, further comprising a single air port that fills the at least one air chamber of the plurality of inflatable barriers and the base air chamber of the inflatable base.

20. The vehicle protection system of claim 16, wherein the inflatable base comprises a heat-resistant material.