Inflatable balloon signal device

• US 5,555,839 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Distress Signals Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Distress Signals Incorporated
• Inventors: Staehle, Charles M., Staten, Dwight M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HIRSHFELD, ANDREW HOWARD
• Application Number:
  US08/470,334
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 116/209, 116/210, 220/403, 441/80, 441/88, 441/92-95, 441/41
• US Class Current: 116/210
• 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 9/21 Boats, rafts, buoys or the like, characterised by signalling means, e.g. lights, reflectors B63C9/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/64 Gas valve operating mechanisms

Abstract

An inflatable balloon signalling device having a container which houses a balloon, a pressure vessel containing a lighter-than-air gas, a gas release actuator assembly, a gas release lever arm, a balloon filler connector and tube, and a rotatable spool carrying a tether line connected to the balloon.

Claims

1. An inflatable balloon signalling device comprising:

a bottom pressure vessel having an outlet end and containing a lighter-than-air gas under pressure;

a top cap removably connected to said bottom pressure vessel to form a water-tight seal there between, said top cap and bottom pressure vessel in combination forming a pressure-resistant container;

an inflatable balloon bag having a balloon filler connector, said balloon bag having an airfoil configuration when inflated;

a gas release actuator assembly housed within said pressure-resistant container, and having an inlet end connected to said pressure vessel and an outlet end adapted to receive a balloon filling tube, and being in open communication with said balloon bag and said pressure vessel;

said balloon filing tube attached to said outlet end of said gas release actuator assembly and releasably attached to said balloon filler connector via a balloon release member;

a gas release lever arm pivotally connected to said gas release actuator assembly and adapted to release said lighter-than-air gas from said pressure vessel when said gas release lever arm is rotated; and

a rotatable spool mounted in proximity to said gas release actuator assembly and having a tether line connected to said rotatable spool and said balloon bag;

wherein said top cap is removably connected to said bottom pressure vessel by attachment of a threaded stud on said top cap to said gas release lever arm.

2. The balloon signalling device of claim 1 wherein said bottom pressure vessel contains a compression seal around said bottom pressure vessel in frictional engagement with said top cap.

3. The balloon signalling device of claim 1 wherein said pressure vessel contains a rupture disk in its outlet end, and said gas release actuator assembly contains an operating pin adapted to puncture said rupture disk to form an orifice therein when said gas release lever arm is rotated about 90 degrees.

4. The balloon signalling device of claim 3 wherein said orifice has a diameter of about 0.001 inches to about 0.003 inches and functions as a sonic nozzle which regulates the flow rate of said lighter-than-air gas from said pressure vessel.

5. The balloon signalling device of claim 1 wherein said balloon bag has a substantially hemi-spherical shaped head portion and a conical shaped tail portion when inflated.

6. The balloon signalling device of claim 5 wherein said balloon bag has an interior volume of about at least 2 cubic feet when inflated.

7. The balloon signalling device of claim 1 wherein said balloon bag is comprised of a laminate of nylon on the outside and polyethylene on the inside of said balloon bag.

8. The balloon signalling device of claim 1 wherein said balloon filling tube has a smaller diameter than the diameter of said outlet end of the gas release actuator assembly.

9. The balloon signalling device of claim 1 wherein said balloon release member is a pressure-sensitive fitting.

10. The balloon signalling device of claim 1 wherein said balloon filler connector contains a one-way valve which permits said lighter-than-air gas to flow into said balloon bag.

11. The balloon signalling device of claim 10 wherein said one-way valve is a duck-bill valve.

12. The balloon signalling device of claim 1 wherein said top cap contains a removable flexible film lining the inside of said top cap.

13. The balloon signalling device of claim 1 wherein said bottom pressure vessel contains a charging fitting opposite said outlet end.