Portable safety apparatus

• US 5,162,006 A
• Filed: 06/18/1991
• Issued: 11/10/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sylvester E. Yandle II
• Original Assignee: Sylvester E. Yandle II
• Inventors: Yandle, Sylvester E. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bartz, Clifford T.
• Application Number:
  US07/716,749
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 441/80, 441/90, 441/92-94, 441/96, 441/99, 441/106-117, 441/123, 244/121, 244/122 R, 244/122 AG, 280/728, 280/730, 280/733, 280/737, 280/740-743, 297/470, 297/471, 2/2, 2/2.1 R, 425/816, 128/205.13-205.15, 128/205.17, 128/205.22, 128/205.24, 128/205.25, 128/204.18, 128/204.27, 128/204.28, 128/206.12 , 128/206.15, 128/206.21, 128/206.24, 128/206.28, 128/207.11-207.13
• US Class Current: 441/96
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/02 with compressed oxygen or air
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/22 carried by diver
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/1255 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 10/00 Flight suits helmets in general A42B3/00; breathing helmets A62B18/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2231/025 Oxygen masks; Mask storages seats combined with storage means, said storage means being specially adapted for emergency equipment B64D11/0629; Features related to mask deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/00 Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for parachutes B64D17/00, B64D19/00; jettisoning of fuel tanks or fuel per se B64D37/00; specially adapted for protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems B64D45/0015 ; safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00; safety belts or body harnesses for land vehicles B60R22/00; jettisonable parts of fuselage facilitating emergency escape B64C

Abstract

A portable safety vest (20) includes an inflatable collar (22) which functions as a personal floatation device, a transparent, inflatable air bag (50), and an air mask (60). A cylinder of compressed air (40) has a seal (41) and, when the seal (41) is broken by a triggering mechanism (42, 43, 44), the compressed air expands and fills the air bag (50) and the collar (22). The air bag (50) is preferably large enough to hold at least a two-minute supply of air to allow one time to escape from an area filled with smoke or noxious or toxic gas.

Claims

1. Safety apparatus comprising:

(a) a normally deflated air bag;

(b) means for inflating the air bag with breathable gas;

(c) an air mask;

(d) means for connecting the air mask to the air bag; and

(e) automatic valve means for preventing fluid communication between the air bag and the air mask while the air bag is inflating.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for inflating the air bag with breathable gas comprises a container of compressed air, the container being connected to the bag.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for attaching the air mask to a person'"'"'s face.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for attaching the air bag adjacent a person'"'"'s torso.

5. The safety apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

trigger apparatus for causing the air bag to inflate in response to a predetermined stimulus.

6. The safety apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

means for automatically activating the trigger apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a normally deflated floatation collar.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

valve means for allowing air to automatically enter the collar when the air bag is inflated.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

strap means for attaching the apparatus to a seat belt.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

valve means for selectively providing fluid communication between the air mask and air bag.

11. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the means for attaching the air bag adjacent a person'"'"'s torso comprises a vest.

12. Safety apparatus comprising:

(a) a normally deflated air bag;

(b) a normally deflated floatation collar;

(c) means for inflating the air bag and the floatation collar;

(d) valve means for allowing fluid communication between the air bag and the floatation collar;

(e) an air mask; and

(f) means for connecting the air mask to the air bag.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for attaching the air mask to a person'"'"'s face.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for inflating the air bag comprise breathable air.

15. Safety apparatus comprising:

(a) a normally deflated air bag which, when inflated, has a volume of at least 10 liters;

(b) means, for inflating the air bag, comprising a cylinder of compressed gas;

(c) attachment means for releasably attaching the air bag to a safety seat belt in an automobile; and

a trigger mechanism for piercing the cylinder of compressed gas comprising a clip for clipping onto a shoulder harness in the automobile.