Parafoil-borne distress signals

• US 5,530,445 A
• Filed: 09/30/1993
• Issued: 06/25/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pengineering, LLC, SE Ventures, Inc.
• Original Assignee: S E. Venturtes, Inc.
• Inventors: Veazey, Sidney E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eldred, J. Woodrow
• Application Number:
  US08/129,770
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 342/8, 342/10, 114/103, 114/102, 244/145, 244/900, 244/901, 244/902
• US Class Current: 342/8
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2201/12 Reflecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2201/16 Radio
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/00 Life-saving in water life-saving in general A62B; arrangement or adaptation of signalling or lighting devices for ships, other waterborne vessels or for equipment for shipping B63B45/00; rescue equipment specially adapted for submarine personnel B63G8/40
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/20 characterised by signalling means, e.g. lights arrangement or adaptation of signalling or lighting devices for ships or other waterborne vessels B63B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/21 Boats, rafts, buoys or the like, characterised by signalling means, e.g. lights, reflectors B63C9/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 9/1071 Spinnaker poles or rigging, e.g. combined with spinnaker handling
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/002 Distress signalling devices, e.g. rescue balloons vehicle optical signalling for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/004 Reflective safety signalling devices attached on persons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/34 Adaptation for use in or on ships, submarines, buoys or torpedoes for subaqueous use H01Q1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/18 comprising plurality of mutually inclined plane surfaces, e.g. corner reflector H01Q15/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/20 Collapsible reflectors

Abstract

Distress signal kits comprise a parafoil for carrying aloft various emergency or distress signals such as radar reflective materials, lights, flares, distress flags or smoke signals. Preferably the parafoil itself is colored International orange and contains a U.S. Coast Guard-approved distress signal (BLACK SQUARE AND CIRCLE) on both top and bottom surfaces. The parafoil can be used to raise a spinnaker sail attached to a vessel or swimmer. The spinnaker can also carry radar reflective components and/or distress flags, and can be fitted for other survival uses.

Claims

1. An aerial distress signal kit comprising a parafoil which is colored orange, incorporates in the structural features thereof a metallic radar reflector having three orthogonal surfaces and bears a distress signal consisting essentially of a black square and adjacent circle on the upper and lower surfaces thereof, with a bridle and line attached to said parafoil for flying same.

2. The distress signal kit of claim 1 wherein said line carries a collapsible radar reflector having three orthogonal surfaces.

3. The distress signal kit of claim 2 wherein said collapsible reflector comprises three orthogonally-intersecting inflatable tubular hoops, each having a radar-reflective planar surface enclosed therein.

4. The distress signal kit of claim 3 wherein said radar reflector is encased within an inflatable radar-permeable balloon.

5. The distress signal kit of claim 4 which further comprises means for inflating at least one of said radar reflector and said balloon with a lighter-than-air gas.

6. The distress signal kit of claim 1 wherein said parafoil is at least three feet square.

7. The distress signal kit of claim 1 wherein said parafoil further comprises a radar relective tail.

8. The distress signal kit of claim 1 wherein said line for flying carries a plurality of radar reflective strips.

9. The distress signal kit of claim 1 wherein said line for flying carries at least one battery-powered strobe light.

10. The distress signal kit of claim 1 wherein said line for flying carries at least one of a flare or smoke signal as additional distress signals.

11. The distress signal kit of claim 1 wherein said line for flying carries a radio antenna.

12. The distress signal kit of claim 1 wherein said line for flying is carried on a combination reel/handle.

13. The distress signal kit of claim 1 wherein said line for flying carries an orange distress flag containing a black square and adjacent circle on each side, said flag being suspended from said line by triangular connector means so as to hang in a substantially vertical position.

14. The distress signal kit of claim 1 which further comprises a spinnaker sail of radar reflective material having a top connection and two lower connections, said sail being connected to the line for flying said parafoil at said top connection and having lines for control extending from said lower connections.

15. The distress signal kit of claim 14 wherein said spinnaker contains on each side an essentially rectangular orange distress flag containing a distress signal consisting essentially of a black square and adjacent circle.

16. An aerial distress signal kit comprising a parafoil which is colored orange and bears a distress signal consisting essentially of a black square and adjacent circle on the upper and lower surfaces thereof, with a bridle and line attached to said parafoil for flying same, which further comprises a spinnaker sail of metallic-based radar reflective material having a top connection and two lower connections, said sail being connected to the line for flying said parafoil at said top connection and having lines for control extending from said lower connections, wherein said spinnaker sail is made of a lightweight light-reflective material and is fitted with fastening devices comprising grommets and pile-loop material along the edges thereof to facilitate alternate use as a personal survival blanket, raincape or sleeping bag.