Lifesaving devices

• US 5,374,211 A
• Filed: 01/07/1994
• Issued: 12/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Imazato, Mitsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Avila, Stephen P.
• Application Number:
  US08/178,857
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 441/80, 441/90, 441/91, 441/92, 441/93, 441/94, 441/88, 441/35, 441/40, 441/41, 441/42, 441/84, 114/365, 114/375, 114/345
• US Class Current: 441/84
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2009/042 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/02 Lifeboats, life-rafts or the like, specially adapted for life-saving floatable furniture B63C9/30; boats in general B63B; inflatable vessels B63B7/00; equipment for handling lifeboats or the like B63B23/00; rafts B63B35/58

Abstract

A lifesaving device is formed of a plurality of gas charge devices, a plurality of cylindrical bodies each of which has one end connected to one of said gas charge devices corresponding thereto and the other end which is closed, each of said cylindrical body having an outer configuration of generally flat plate in deflated condition, and a cylindrical body holding member for holding said cylindrical bodies in the deflated condition to be folded therein or wound-up thereon, wherein said cylindrical bodies are inflated and deployed simultaneously in response to operation of the respective gas charge devices to the extent that a predetermined buoyancy force is obtained.

Claims

1. A lifesaving device comprising:

a plurality of gas charge devices,

a plurality of inflatable cylindrical bodies connected at respective ends to the gas charge devices, each cylindrical body being formed of a woven fabric in a cylindrical form and a resin coated on the woven fabric, each cylindrical body being flattened and folded when the cylindrical body is not inflated, and

a container for receiving the gas charge devices and the cylindrical bodies in a folded condition therein, said container having buoyancy to float in water and a side portion, said container containing the gas charge devices and the cylindrical bodies, in use, being discharged into water so that while the container floats in water, the gas charge devices are actuated to inflate the cylindrical bodies, said side portion being broken by the inflated cylindrical bodies to allow the inflated cylindrical bodies to exit from the container and to float in water.

2. A lifesaving device according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical bodies are folded in a direction perpendicular to the side portion so that when the gas charge device is actuated, the side portion is directly pushed by the cylindrical bodies and the cylindrical bodies can easily exit from the container.

3. A lifesaving device according to claim 2, further comprising two spacers connected at two longitudinal ends of the cylindrical bodies so that the cylindrical bodies are arranged side by side at a predetermined distance away from each other when inflated.

4. A lifesaving device according to claim 3, wherein each spacer is formed of a thin plate made of a resin material, said spacer, when retained in the container, being folded and placed between the cylindrical bodies.

5. A lifesaving device according to claim 4, wherein said cylindrical bodies include life lines attached thereto so that a user can hold the life lines.

6. A lifesaving device according to claim 5, further comprising an SOS signal generator installed in the container, said generator actuating when the cylindrical bodies are discharged from the container.

7. A lifesaving device comprising:

a plurality of gas charge devices,

a plurality of inflatable cylindrical bodies connected at respective ends to the gas charge devices, each cylindrical body being formed of a woven fabric in a cylindrical form and a resin coated on the woven fabric, each cylindrical body being flattened and folded when the cylindrical body is not inflated, and

a buoyant reel around which the cylindrical bodies in a flattened condition are wound, said buoyant reel with the cylindrical bodies and the gas charge devices, in use, being discharged into water so that while the reel floats in water, the gas charge devices are actuated to inflate the cylindrical bodies to thereby separate said cylindrical bodies from the reel and to float in water.

8. A lifesaving device according to claim 7, further comprising a spacer connected at longitudinal ends of the cylindrical bodies so that the cylindrical bodies are arranged side by side at a predetermined distance away from each other when inflated.

9. A lifesaving device according to claim 8, wherein said cylindrical bodies include life lines attached thereto so that a user can hold the life lines.

10. A lifesaving device according to claim 9, further comprising an SOS signal generator installed in the reel, said generator actuating when the cylindrical bodies are inflated.