Avalanche survival pack assembly
First Claim
1. An avalanche survival pack assembly to be worn by a user comprising:
- a) a main support chest pack assembly connected to the user thereof;
b) an oxygen supply means including an oxygen conserving assembly operable on activation to deliver a controlled amount of oxygen in a pulsating mode to the user after becoming an avalanche victim;
c) a radio signal transmit beacon assembly to emit a transmitting radio signal from the main support chest pack assembly to signal location of the avalanche victim;
d) a visual location indicator assembly having a ribbon member dispensed from said main support chest pack assembly on the user becoming a potential avalanche victim; and
e) said visual location indicator assembly having an indicator indicia on said ribbon member to indicate which direction said main support chest pack assembly is located with the user attached thereto;
whereby said transmitting radio signal can be traced to the avalanche victim by rescuers using a radio transceiver assembly;
said oxygen supply means can transfer life-sustaining oxygen to the avalanche victim for at least a period of one hour; and
a portion of said ribbon member should be above a top surface of the avalanche snow pack to be observed by the avalanche rescuers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The avalanche survival pack assembly includes 1) a main support chest pack assembly to be secured as by a waist support assembly and a shoulder harness assembly to a user thereof; 2) an oxygen supply assembly or means to provide oxygen through a nose/mouth mask assembly to be worn by an avalanche victim and placed in operation on initially observing being caught up within an avalanche condition; 3) an auxiliary power supply assembly to provide electrical battery power to an oxygen conserving assembly or means and a radio signal transmit beacon assembly or means; 4) the radio signal transmit beacon assembly to transmit a radio signal therefrom for aiding in locating the avalanche victim by avalanche rescuers; 5) a visual location indicator assembly having a lengthy, brightly colored ribbon-like material and having one end connected to the main support chest pack assembly and the other end to be trailed outwardly hoping to be exposed on a top surface of the avalanche snow pack; and 6) a control circuit assembly operable to automatically energize itself on closing an “on” switch to provide oxygen to the avalanche victim even though the victim may be in an unconscious condition. The main pack assembly is provided with a CO2 absorbing foam material which is important in increasing the chances of an avalanche victim'"'"'s survival. The oxygen supply assembly has been modified with an oxygen conserving assembly to provide a pulsating supply of oxygen to the avalanche victim which is sufficient to provide a life-sustaining oxygen condition for a period of at least one hour. The nose/mouth mask assembly is provided with a face mask member having discharge valve members to discharge carbon dioxide from the nose and mouth sections of the avalanche victim and having a teeth grip member to be grasped by teeth of the avalanche victim to securely hold in a usage position.
66 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An avalanche survival pack assembly to be worn by a user comprising:
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a) a main support chest pack assembly connected to the user thereof;
b) an oxygen supply means including an oxygen conserving assembly operable on activation to deliver a controlled amount of oxygen in a pulsating mode to the user after becoming an avalanche victim;
c) a radio signal transmit beacon assembly to emit a transmitting radio signal from the main support chest pack assembly to signal location of the avalanche victim;
d) a visual location indicator assembly having a ribbon member dispensed from said main support chest pack assembly on the user becoming a potential avalanche victim; and
e) said visual location indicator assembly having an indicator indicia on said ribbon member to indicate which direction said main support chest pack assembly is located with the user attached thereto;
whereby said transmitting radio signal can be traced to the avalanche victim by rescuers using a radio transceiver assembly;
said oxygen supply means can transfer life-sustaining oxygen to the avalanche victim for at least a period of one hour; and
a portion of said ribbon member should be above a top surface of the avalanche snow pack to be observed by the avalanche rescuers.
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2. An avalanche survival pack assembly, comprising:
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a) a main support assembly to be worn and connected adjacent a chest area by a user thereof;
b) an oxygen supply means conveyed in said main support assembly;
c) said oxygen supply means includes an oxygen supply reservoir to supply high pressure oxygen through a pressure regulator assembly which supplies low pressure oxygen to a nose/mouth mask assembly to be worn by an immediately potential avalanche victim;
d) a visual location indicator assembly having an elongated signal member dispensed from said main support assembly just prior to becoming an avalanche victim;
e) said signal member having indicator indicia to indicate direction to follow so as to be traced back to the main support assembly and, thus, the avalanche victim; and
f) means to automatically energize said oxygen supply means and dispense said signal member when the user encounters avalanche emerging conditions. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
a) said oxygen supply means including an oxygen conserving assembly attached to a high pressure output from said oxygen supply reservoir assembly and a low pressure output from high pressure oxygen through a pressure regulator member which supplies low pressure oxygen in a pulsating mode to said nose/mouth mask assembly in a predetermined amount to sustain life to the avalanche victim.
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4. An avalanche survival pack assembly as described in claim 2, wherein:
a) said nose/mouth mask assembly provided with a one-way valve assembly whereupon discharged air from the avalanche victim moves through the one-way valve assembly so that only oxygen is taken in by the avalanche victim.
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5. An avalanche survival pack assembly as described in claim 2, comprising:
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a) said main support assembly includes a main pack assembly having a main pack member with a closure flap assembly;
b) said closure flap assembly movable to an actuated condition on the user encountering an avalanche flow condition to automatically energize said oxygen supply means, said visual location indicator assembly and a radio signal transmit beacon assembly whereby said oxygen supply means supplies oxygen to the avalanche victim through said nose/mouth mask assembly; and
c) said visual location indicator assembly is dispensed from said main support assembly to provide the elongated signal member and said radio signal transmit beacon assembly is energized to transmit a transmitting radio signal to avalanche rescuers.
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6. An avalanche survival pack assembly as described in claim 5, wherein:
a) said signal member having arrow indicia pointing to said main support assembly worn by the user to assist the avalanche rescuers in saving the life of subject user.
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7. An avalanche survival pack assembly as described in claim 2, wherein:
a) said main support means includes a light assembly operable to be energized to illuminate an area in front of the avalanche victim.
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8. An avalanche survival pack assembly as described in claim 2, wherein:
a) said main support chest pack assembly includes a CO2 absorbing member to receive and absorb carbon dixoide thereabout.
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9. An avalanche survival pack assembly, comprising:
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a) a main support assembly to be worn and connected adjacent a chest area by a user thereof;
b) an oxygen supply means conveyed in said main support assembly;
c) said oxygen supply means includes an oxygen supply reservoir to supply high pressure oxygen through a pressure regulator assembly which supplies low pressure oxygen to a nose/mouth mask assembly to be worn by an immediately potential avalanche victim;
d) a visual location indicator assembly having an elongated signal member dispensed from said main support assembly just prior to becoming an avalanche victim;
e) said signal member can be traced back to the main support assembly and, thus, the avalanche victim;
f) means to automatically energize said oxygen supply means and dispense said signal member when the user encounters avalanche emerging conditions;
g) said main support assembly includes a main pack assembly having a main pack member with a closure flap assembly;
h) said closure flap assembly movable to an actuated condition on the user encountering an avalanche flow condition to automatically energize said oxygen supply means, said visual location indicator assembly and a radio signal transmit beacon assembly whereby said oxygen supply means supplies oxygen to the avalanche victim through said nose/mouth mask assembly;
i) said visual location indicator assembly is dispensed from said main support assembly to provide said elongated signal member and said radio signal transmit beacon assembly is energized to transmit transmitting radio signal to avalanche rescuers; and
j) movement of said closure flap assembly operates to energize a light assembly to illuminate an area in front of the avalanche victim and closes an “
on”
switch to automatically energize said oxygen supply means and a radio signal transmit beacon assembly.
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10. An avalanche survival pack assembly to be worn by a user normally in adverse weather conditions, comprising:
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a) a main support means which includes a main pack assembly to receive and support elements on a user thereof;
b) an oxygen supply means mounted on said main support means operable to supply oxygen to the user through a mask assembly;
c) a radio signal transmit beacon assembly mounted on said main support means operable to emit a radio signal from said main support means to pin point location of an avalanche victim;
d) a visual location indicator assembly including a coiled ribbon member having directional indicia thereon secured at one end to said main support means; and
e) means to energize and operate an auxiliary power supply assembly and said oxygen supply means, activate said radio signal transmit beacon assembly to emit the radio signal, and release said coiled ribbon member into an uncoiled ribbon member trailing said main support means just prior to the user becoming an avalanche victim. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
a) a main support means having a plurality of support pocket members to individually receive and support elements being an accessory pocket assembly, a battery pack pocket assembly, a filler valve pocket assembly, and a radio beacon pocket assembly;
b) said means to energize includes an automatic “
on”
switch closed when a portion of said main support means is moved to an open position and operable to energize said oxygen supply means;
said radio signal transmit beacon assembly; and
said visual location indicator assembly so as to provide means to find location of the avalanche victim by avalanche rescuers.
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12. An avalanche survival pack assembly as described in claim 10, wherein:
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a) said oxygen supply means includes an oxygen supply reservoir assembly to provide high pressure oxygen to a pressure regulator assembly which supplies low pressure oxygen to an oxygen conserving assembly; and
b) said oxygen conserving assembly provides pulses of oxygen to said mask assembly to sustain life in the avalanche victim for at least one hour.
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13. An avalanche survival pack assembly as described in claim 12, wherein:
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a) said mask assembly includes a one-way valve operable to exhaust exhaled air with CO2 therein away from the avalanche victim; and
b) a nose strap member of a deformable material to be depressed to achieve a seal against the user'"'"'s nose to prevent loss of oxygen about the mask assembly.
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14. An avalanche survival pack assembly, comprising:
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a) a main support chest pack assembly connected to the user thereof;
b) an oxygen supply means including an oxygen conserving assembly operable on activation to deliver a controlled amount of oxygen in a pulsating mode to the user after becoming an avalanche victim;
c) a radio signal transmit beacon assembly to emit a transmitting radio signal from the main support chest pack assembly to signal location of the avalanche victim;
d) a visual location indicator assembly having a ribbon member dispensed from said main support chest pack assembly on the user becoming a potential avalanche victim; and
e) said main support means includes a light assembly operable to be energized to illuminate an area in front of the avalanche victim;
whereby said transmitting radio signal can be traced to the avalanche victim by rescuers using a radio transceiver assembly;
said oxygen supply means can transfer life-sustaining oxygen to the avalanche victim for at least a period of one hour; and
a portion of said ribbon member should be above a top surface of the avalanche snow pack to be observed by the avalanche rescuers.
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Specification