In-flight evacuation system

• US 5,979,829 A
• Filed: 02/21/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cleveland Nance, Neil Wade Nance
• Original Assignee: Cleveland Nance, Neil Wade Nance
• Inventors: Nance, Neil Wade, Nance, Cleveland
• Primary Examiner(s): MARQUIS, LISSI MOJICA
• Application Number:
  US08/804,071
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.6, 244/138 R, 244/122 A, 244/137.1, 244/137.2, 244/137.3, 244/140, 244/141
• US Class Current: 244/141
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/10 Ejector seats

Abstract

A safety system that will evacuate passengers on an airplane while in flight. The In-Flight Evacuation System operates while the airplane is still in flight. While in operation the In-Flight Evacuation System will systematically evacuate passengers from the airplane. During the process the seats will rotate 180 degrees to face the rear of the plane. The seats will move towards the rear of the plane due to a rotating device connected along the bottom of the seats. When evacuation is deemed necessary, the rear doors on the plane will opened. The seats will continue to be rotated until it reaches the evacuation doors. At that point the seats will disengage. The top portion of the seat complete with a survival kit will be released with the passengers as the bottom of the seat rotates into a open compartment beneath the passenger cabin. A parachute will be activated as the passengers leave the rear of the plane. The passengers will slowly ascend to earth. After landing, the survival kit will be used until rescuers arrive.

Claims

1. An in-flight evacuation system including:

an aircraft having a rear exit portion and a passenger seat floor;

an emergency door at the rear of said aircraft;

an aircraft passenger seat;

a seat rotating means;

said aircraft passenger seat having a back support portion and a sitting portion,

said back portion including survival compartment means,

wherein the back support portion disengages from the sitting portion during the evacuation of passengers;

the seat rotating means rotates the seat 180 degrees upon initiation of the evacuation system;

a passenger seat rotating system

wherein the seat rotating system carries the seat portion of the seat along a carrier that is positioned along the top of the passenger seat floor and below the aircraft passenger seat floor;

wherein said rotating system carries the seat and passenger to the exit door, where the back and support portion of the seat disengage, and upon disengagement, the passenger exits the vehicle and the support portion of the seat continues to travel along the passenger seat rotating system.

2. The evacuation system of claim 1 wherein the survival compartment includes a parachute.

3. The evacuation system of claim 1 wherein the survival compartment includes a first aid kit.

4. The evacuation system of claim 1 wherein the back support portion includes safety straps for the passenger.

5. The evacuation system of claim 1 including an auxiliary power source for the evacuation system.

6. The evacuation system of claim 1 wherein the back support portion includes safety lights.

7. The evacuation system of claim 1 wherein the back support portion is a floatation device.