INFLATABLE EMERGENCY DEVICE

• US 3,735,723 A
• Filed: 09/18/1972
• Issued: 05/29/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pierre Lutz
• Original Assignee: Pierre Lutz
• Inventors: Lutz, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Capozi, Louis J.
• Application Number:
  US05/289,790
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 116/124,124B,DIG.44 9/9,8,8.3,316,318 137/223 222/5,80
• US Class Current: 116/210
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/002 Distress signalling devices, e.g. rescue balloons vehicle optical signalling for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52

Abstract

The helium cartridge is mounted within a recess of the casing while the spool of line is mounted within an annular recess about the cartridge chamber. The balloon is disposed within a removable cap mounted on the casing. A needle valve passes through a selfsealing nipple into the balloon as well as into the cartridge chamber. A threaded screw forces the cartridge against the end of the needle valve to rupture the sealing disc therein and permit helium to enter into the balloon after the cap has bwen removed. The balloon is anchored by a line extending from the casing.

Claims

1. An inflatable emergency device comprising a casing including a pair of concentric cylinders, the inner of said cylinders having a transverse wall at one end and a peripheral wall defining a chamber therein, the outer of said cylinders being secured to an opposite end of said inner cylinder and spaced from said peripheral wall of said inner cylinder to define an annular recess therebetween;

an inflatable gas containing cartridge mounted in said chamber, said cartridge having a rupturable means therein for permitting an escape of gas from said cartridge;

means adjustably mounted in said inner cylinder in sealed relation thereto for abutting said cartridge;

a cap releaseably mounted on said outer cylinder;

an inflatable balloon disposed within said cap, said balloon having an orifice therein;

a self-sealing nipple sealingly secured in said orifice of said balloon;

a hollow needle valve extending through said nipple into the interior of said balloon and through said transverse wall of said inner cylinder into adjacent relation to said rupturable means of said cartridge; and

a spool of line disposed within said annular recess of said casing,said line being secured to said balloon at one end and anchored in said casing at the opposite end.

2. An inflatable emergency device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising removal means for limiting movement of said means into said inner cylinder.

3. An inflatable emergency device as set forth in claim 1 which further includes a resilient valve seat sealingly surrounding said needle valve and sealingly disposed in said transverse wall of said inner cylinder.

4. An inflatable emergency device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spool of line includes a cardboard core mounted in said recess and a line of monofilament material wound on said core.

5. An inflatable emergency device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spool of line is secured within said recess on said inner cylinder.

6. An inflatable emergency device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said spool of line has a core frictionally mounted on said inner cylinder.

7. An inflatable emergency device comprising a casing defining a chamber therein;

a gas containing cartridge in said chamber having a rupturable means for permitting an escape of gas therefrom;

means adjustably secured in said casing to move said cartridge longitudinally towards one end thereof;

a cap releaseably secured over said casing;

an inflatable balloon disposed within said cap and including an orifice therein;

a self-sealing nipple sealingly secured in said orifice of said balloon; and

a hollow needle valve fixedly mounted in said casing having one end communicating with the interior of said balloon through said nipple and an opposite end adjacent said rupturable means of said cartridge to transfer gas from said cartridge into said balloon upon rupturing of said rupturable means.

8. An inflatable emergency device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said casing includes an annular recess concentrically of said chamber and which further includes a spool of line mounted in said recess, one end of said line being secured to said balloon and an opPosite end of said line being secured to said casing.

9. An inflatable emergency device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means adjustably secured in said casing is a threaded screw sealingly mounted in said casing.

10. An inflatable emergency device as set forth in claim 7 further including removable means for limiting movement of said means in said casing towards said one end.