Automated fail-safe sea rescue flotation system

• US 6,439,941 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2001
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Esther S. Massengill, Massengill, R. Kemp, McClure, Richard J.
• Original Assignee: Esther S. Massengill, Massengill, R. Kemp, McClure, Richard J.
• Inventors: Massengill, R. Kemp, McClure, Richard J., Massengill, Esther S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWINEHART, EDWIN L
• Application Number:
  US09/828,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20010049241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 441/88, 441/89, 441/10, 441/97, 342/357-6-3
• US Class Current: 441/89
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/0005 by means of alarm devices for persons falling into the water, e.g. by signalling, by controlling the propulsion or manoeuvring means of the boat alarms responsive to presence of persons in a body of water in general G08B21/08

Abstract

A sea rescue signaling system including a personal flotation device equipped with a GPS receiver, a satellite radio-telephone, a hydrostatic pressure detector, and a controller. When the pressure detector senses a minimum specified submersion of the device for a minimum specified duration, the controller energizes the GPS and the radio-telephone, then dials a rescue service and transmits a distress signal and position data.

Claims

1. A sea rescue apparatus, comprising:

a personal flotation device (PFD);

a hydrostatic pressure sensor mounted on said PFD;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver mounted on said PFD;

a radio transmitter mounted on said PFD; and

a controller connected to said hydrostatic pressure sensor, said GPS receiver, and said radio transmitter;

wherein said controller is programmed to transmit location data via said radio transmitter only when said controller detects a hydrostatic pressure signal having at least a selected magnitude for at least a selected duration.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the location of said hydrostatic pressure sensor on said PFD is selected to cause said hydrostatic pressure sensor to sink to a selected depth, producing a hydrostatic pressure signal having said selected magnitude, when said PFD is floating in water and supporting a selected minimum weight.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said radio transmitter is adapted to communicate via a satellite radio-telephone transmission system.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said controller is further programmed to transmit a distress signal via said radio transmitter when said controller detects a hydrostatic pressure signal having at least a selected magnitude for at least a selected duration.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said controller is further programmed to energize said GPS receiver and said radio transmitter when said controller detects a hydrostatic pressure signal having at least a selected magnitude for at least a selected duration.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 5, wherein said controller is further programmed to periodically de-energize said radio transmitter to conserve power.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said controller is further programmed to cease transmission when said controller detects a hydrostatic pressure signal having less than said selected magnitude.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said controller is further programmed to transmit a unique identification code.

9. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising a user input module mounted on said PFD.

10. The apparatus recited in claim 9, wherein said user input module further comprises a microphone.

11. The apparatus recited in claim 9, wherein said user input module further comprises a keyboard.

12. A sea rescue apparatus, comprising:

a personal flotation device (PFD);

a hydrostatic pressure sensor mounted on said PFD at a location selected to cause said hydrostatic pressure sensor to sink to a selected depth, producing a hydrostatic pressure signal having a selected magnitude, when said PFD is floating in water and supporting a selected minimum weight;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver mounted on said PFD;

a radio transmitter mounted on said PFD; and

a controller connected to said hydrostatic pressure sensor, said GPS receiver, and said radio transmitter;

wherein said controller is programmed to energize said GPS receiver and said radio transmitter, and to transmit a distress signal and location data via said radio transmitter, only when said controller detects a hydrostatic pressure signal having at least said selected magnitude for at least a selected duration.

13. The apparatus recited in claim 12, wherein said radio transmitter is adapted to communicate via a satellite radio-telephone transmission system.

14. The apparatus recited in claim 12, wherein said controller is further programmed to cease transmission when said controller detects a hydrostatic pressure signal having less than said selected magnitude.

15. The apparatus recited in claim 12, wherein said controller is further programmed to transmit a unique identification code.

16. The apparatus recited in claim 12, further comprising a user input module mounted on said PFD.

17. A sea rescue apparatus, comprising:

a personal flotation device (PFD);

a hydrostatic pressure sensor mounted on said PFD at a location selected to cause said hydrostatic pressure sensor to sink to a selected depth, producing a hydrostatic pressure signal having a selected magnitude, when said PFD is floating in water and supporting a selected minimum weight;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver mounted on said PFD;

a radio satellite transmitter mounted on said PFD; and

a controller connected to said hydrostatic pressure sensor, said GPS receiver, and said radio transmitter;

wherein said controller is programmed to energize said GPS receiver and said radio transmitter, and to transmit a distress signal and location data via said radio transmitter, when said controller detects a hydrostatic pressure signal having at least said selected magnitude for at least a selected duration, and to cease transmission when said controller detects a hydrostatic pressure signal having less than said selected magnitude.

18. A sea rescue method, comprising:

providing a personal flotation device (PFD) having a hydrostatic pressure sensor, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a radio transmitter, and a controller;

submerging said hydrostatic pressure sensor to at least a selected depth, producing a hydrostatic pressure signal having at least a selected magnitude, when said PFD is floating in water and supporting a selected minimum weight;

energizing said GPS receiver and said radio transmitter with said controller when said hydrostatic pressure signal reaches said selected magnitude for a selected duration; and

transmitting a distress signal and location data via said radio transmitter.

19. The method recited in claim 18, further comprising ceasing said transmission when said controller detects a hydrostatic pressure signal having less than said selected magnitude.

20. The method recited in claim 18, further comprising transmitting a unique identification code via said radio transmitter.