Environmental Protection Garment

• US 20190351984A1
• Filed: 05/18/2018
• Published: 11/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Africa Jacobs
• Original Assignee: Africa Jacobs
• Inventors: Jacobs, Africa
• Granted Patent: US 10,640,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0125 with buoyancy aids
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2600/10 for sport activities
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2009/0017 characterised by making use of satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2009/007 Inflation devices comprising manual activation means, e.g. for puncturing gas-generating cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2011/046 Wet suits, or diving vests; Equipment therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/081 having compartments comprising elements which are filled with gas by deployment, e.g. sponge-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/1055 inflatable

Abstract

An environmental protection garment for use during water activities includes a wetsuit. A plurality of bladders, a receiver, a transmitter, and a controller are coupled to the wetsuit. An inflation unit coupled to the wetsuit and fluidically coupled to the plurality of bladders. The receiver is global position system enabled. The controller is operationally coupled to the inflation unit, the receiver, and the transmitter. The controller is positioned to selectively actuate the inflation unit to inflate the bladders to increase a buoyancy of a user. The controller is positioned to selectively actuate the receiver to receive location coordinates and the transmitter to transmit the location coordinates and a distress signal.

Claims

1. An environmental protection garment comprising:

a wetsuit;

a plurality of bladders coupled to said wetsuit;

an inflation unit coupled to said wetsuit, said inflation unit being fluidically coupled to said plurality of bladders;

a receiver coupled to said wetsuit, said receiver being global positioning system enabled;

a transmitter coupled to said wetsuit; and

a controller coupled to said wetsuit, said controller being operationally coupled to said inflation unit, said receiver, and said transmitter wherein said controller is positioned for selectively actuating said inflation unit for inflating said bladders for increasing a buoyancy of a user, wherein said controller is positioned for selectively actuating said receiver for receiving location coordinates and said transmitter for transmitting the location coordinates and a distress signal.

2. The garment of claim 1, further including said plurality of bladders comprising:

a pair of arm bladders, each said arm bladder being positioned on a respective sleeve of said wetsuit such that said arm bladder is proximate to a shoulder of the user positioned in said wetsuit;

a plurality of front bladders positioned on a front torso area of said wetsuit such that said plurality of front bladders are positioned proximate to a chest and an abdomen of the user positioned in said wetsuit; and

a plurality of rear bladders positioned on a rear torso area of said wetsuit such that said plurality of rear bladders are positioned proximate to a back of the user positioned in said wetsuit.

3. The garment of claim 2, further including comprising:

said plurality of front bladders comprising;

an upper bladder positioned on said front torso area such that said upper bladder is proximate to the chest of the user positioned in said wetsuit,

a lower bladder positioned on said front torso area such that said lower bladder is proximate to a waist of the user positioned in said wetsuit, and

a medial bladder positioned on said front torso area between said upper bladder and said lower bladder; and

said plurality of rear bladders comprising one said rear bladder.

4. The garment of claim 3, further comprising:

said arm bladders being ovally shaped;

said upper bladder being lemniscately shaped;

said lower bladder being squarely shaped;

said medial bladder being circularly shaped; and

said rear bladder being ovally shaped.

5. The garment of claim 1, further including a zipper positioned in a rear torso area of said wetsuit, said zipper extending from a neckline to proximate to a waistline of said wetsuit wherein said zipper is configured for opening for allowing the user to don said wetsuit.

5-1. The garment of claim 1, further including said inflation unit comprising a compressed air cylinder.

6. The garment of claim 1, further including a tube coupled to and extending between said inflation unit and said plurality of bladders such that each said bladder is in fluidic communication with said inflation unit.

7. The garment of claim 1, further including said controller being positioned on a respective said sleeve such that said controller is positioned on a forearm of the user positioned in said wetsuit.

8. The garment of claim 6, further including comprising:

a fill valve positioned in said tube between said inflation unit and said plurality of bladders;

a release valve coupled to said plurality of bladders; and

said controller comprising;

a housing defining an interior space,

a power module coupled to said housing and positioned in said interior space,

a microprocessor coupled to said housing and positioned in said interior space, said microprocessor being operationally coupled to said power module, said receiver, said transmitter, said fill valve, and said release valve,

a first button coupled to said housing, said first button being depressible, said first button being operationally coupled to said microprocessor wherein said first button is configured for depressing for signaling said microprocessor for actuating said fill valve for inflating said bladders,

a second button coupled to said housing, said second button being depressible, said second button being operationally coupled to said microprocessor wherein said second button is configured for depressing for signaling said microprocessor for actuating said release valve for deflating said bladders, and

a third button coupled to said housing, said third button being depressible, said third button being operationally coupled to said microprocessor wherein said third button is configured for depressing for signaling said microprocessor for actuating said receiver for receiving the location coordinates and said transmitter for transmitting the location coordinates and the distress signal.

9. The garment of claim 8, further including said power module comprising a battery.

10. An environmental protection garment comprising:

a wetsuit;

a plurality of bladders coupled to said wetsuit, said plurality of bladder comprising;

a pair of arm bladders, each said arm bladder being positioned on a respective sleeve of said wetsuit such that said arm bladder is proximate to a shoulder of a user positioned in said wetsuit, said arm bladders being ovally shaped,

a plurality of front bladders positioned on a front torso area of said wetsuit such that said plurality of front bladders are positioned proximate to a chest and an abdomen of the user positioned in said wetsuit, said plurality of front bladders comprising;

an upper bladder positioned on said front torso area such that said upper bladder is proximate to the chest of the user positioned in said wetsuit, said upper bladder being lemniscately shaped,

a lower bladder positioned on said front torso area such that said lower bladder is proximate to a waist of the user positioned in said wetsuit, said lower bladder being squarely shaped, and

a medial bladder positioned on said front torso area between said upper bladder and said lower bladder, said medial bladder being circularly shaped, and

a plurality of rear bladders positioned on a rear torso area of said wetsuit such that said plurality of rear bladders are positioned proximate to a back of the user positioned in said wetsuit, said plurality of rear bladders comprising one said rear bladder, said rear bladder being ovally shaped;

a zipper positioned in said rear torso area of said wetsuit, said zipper extending from a neckline to proximate to a waistline of said wetsuit wherein said zipper is configured for opening for allowing the user to don said wetsuit;

an inflation unit coupled to said wetsuit, said inflation unit being fluidically coupled to said plurality of bladders, said inflation unit comprising a compressed air cylinder;

a tube coupled to and extending between said inflation unit and said plurality of bladders such that each said bladder is in fluidic communication with said inflation unit;

a fill valve positioned in said tube between said inflation unit and said plurality of bladders;

a release valve coupled to said plurality of bladders;

a receiver coupled to said wetsuit, said receiver being global positioning system enabled;

a transmitter coupled to said wetsuit; and

a controller coupled to said wetsuit, said controller being operationally coupled to said inflation unit, said receiver, and said transmitter wherein said controller is positioned for selectively actuating said inflation unit for inflating said bladders for increasing a buoyancy of the user, wherein said controller is positioned for selectively actuating said receiver for receiving location coordinates and said transmitter for transmitting the location coordinates and a distress signal, said controller being positioned on a respective said sleeve such that said controller is positioned on a forearm of the user positioned in said wetsuit, said controller comprising;

a housing defining an interior space,

a power module coupled to said housing and positioned in said interior space, said power module comprising a battery,

a microprocessor coupled to said housing and positioned in said interior space, said microprocessor being operationally coupled to said power module, said receiver, said transmitter, said fill valve, and said release valve,

a first button coupled to said housing, said first button being depressible, said first button being operationally coupled to said microprocessor wherein said first button is configured for depressing for signaling said microprocessor for actuating said fill valve for inflating said bladders,

a second button coupled to said housing, said second button being depressible, said second button being operationally coupled to said microprocessor wherein said second button is configured for depressing for signaling said microprocessor for actuating said release valve for deflating said bladders, and

a third button coupled to said housing, said third button being depressible, said third button being operationally coupled to said microprocessor wherein said third button is configured for depressing for signaling said microprocessor for actuating said receiver for receiving the location coordinates and said transmitter for transmitting the location coordinates and the distress signal.