Reversible life raft and method therefor
First Claim
1. A reversible life raft comprising:
- a self-inflatable raft body with upper and lower inflatable, peripherally disposed bladders defining a closed geometric shape and first and second inflatable masts in pneumatic communication with said upper and lower bladders, respectively;
a floor closing said geometric shape of said upper and lower bladders;
first and second canopies supported by said first and second masts, respectively, such that said first canopy forms an upright, above-water enclosure and said second canopy forms an underwater ballast beneath said floor.
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Abstract
The present invention is an inflatable, reversible life raft with a raft body including upper and lower inflatable, peripherally disposed bladders defining a closed geometric shape. The raft body also includes upper and lower inflatable masts in pneumatic communication with the upper and lower bladders, respectively. A floor closes the geometric shape between the upper and lower bladders. The upper and lower masts support upper and lower canopies, respectively. The upper canopy forms an upright, above-water enclosure to protect survivors from the elements. The lower canopy forms an underwater ballast beneath the floor of the raft, stabilizing the life raft. The reversible life raft is equipped with a reversible, collapsible ladder attached to an exterior portion of the two stacked bladders, and is equipped with two reversible ballast pouches mounted to an exterior portion of the two stacked bladders opposite the ladder. A method for establishing a reversible life raft for survivors in a body of water is also included.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A reversible life raft comprising:
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a self-inflatable raft body with upper and lower inflatable, peripherally disposed bladders defining a closed geometric shape and first and second inflatable masts in pneumatic communication with said upper and lower bladders, respectively;
a floor closing said geometric shape of said upper and lower bladders;
first and second canopies supported by said first and second masts, respectively, such that said first canopy forms an upright, above-water enclosure and said second canopy forms an underwater ballast beneath said floor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A reversible life raft comprising:
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a self-inflatable raft body with upper and lower inflatable, peripherally disposed bladders defining a closed geometric shape and first and second inflatable masts in pneumatic communication with said upper and lower bladders, respectively;
a floor closing said geometric shape of said upper and lower bladders;
first and second canopies supported by said first and second masts, respectively, such that said first canopy forms an above-water enclosure and said second canopy deploys underwater beneath said floor due to inflation of said first and second masts.
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23. A reversible life raft comprising:
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a self-inflatable raft body with upper and lower inflatable, peripherally disposed bladders defining a closed geometric shape;
a floor closing said geometric shape of said upper and lower bladders;
a reversible, collapsible ladder attached to an exterior portion of said upper and lower bladders, said ladder including an outboard platform having a proximal end coupled via a flexible link to an area at or near an intersection between said upper and lower bladders and having a distal end coupled via upper and lower flexible straps to upper and lower areas on said upper and lower bladders, respectively; and
upper and lower reversible ballast pouches attached to an exterior portion of said upper and lower bladders, respectively, at a location opposite said reversible, collapsible ladder. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A reversible life raft comprising:
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a self-inflatable raft body with upper and lower inflatable, peripherally disposed bladders defining a closed geometric shape;
a floor closing said geometric shape of said upper and lower bladders; and
a reversible, collapsible ladder attached to an exterior portion of said upper and lower bladders, said ladder including an outboard platform having a proximal end coupled via a flexible link to an area at or near an intersection between said upper and lower bladders and having a distal end coupled via upper and lower flexible straps to upper and lower areas on said upper and lower bladders, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method for establishing a reversible life raft for survivors in a body of water comprising:
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inflating upper and lower inflatable bladders;
simultaneously inflating upper and lower inflatable masts pneumatically coupled to said upper and lower bladders;
deploying first and second canopies via inflation of said first and second masts respectively above-water and below water;
stabilizing said life raft with said below water deployed canopy. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification