Flotation apparatus

• US 7,261,606 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eric Mickelson, Sullivan C. Bart
• Original Assignee: Eric Mickelson, Sullivan C. Bart
• Inventors: Sullivan, C. Bart, Mickelson, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson; Lars A.
• Application Number:
  US11/300,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20070135001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 441/6
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 93/00 Floats for angling, with or without signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 15/005 Fobs
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 33/00 Devices for allowing seemingly-dead persons to escape or draw attention; Breathing apparatus for accidentally buried persons
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/163 comprising a bell or other audible signal
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/166 comprising a light
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 7/26 Means for indicating the location of underwater objects, e.g. sunken vessels means for searching for underwater objects B63C11/48; buoys in general B63B22/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided to support a plurality of objects such as keys with an inflatable apparatus when the inflatable apparatus is exposed to a body of water. In one embodiment, an inflatable apparatus provides an attachment member such as a key ring to attach objects such as keys to the inflatable apparatus. The inflatable apparatus is capable of inflating from a compact shape to an expanded shape upon contact with water. In the expanded shape, the inflatable apparatus provides sufficient buoyancy to support the objects coupled therewith and float the objects to the surface of the water for retrieval by a user. In situations where the weight of the object exceeds a buoyancy limit, the inflatable apparatus can extend a marker buoy to assist in the retrieval of the objects. In other embodiments, the inflatable apparatus includes a wireless transmit a wireless location signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a body having an outer wall defining a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber separated by an inner wall;

a water pressure activated latching valve having a sealing end disposed in the first gas chamber, wherein the sealing end is configured to seal an opening disposed in the inner wall to prevent gas disposed in the first gas chamber from escaping into the second chamber until the pressure activated valve is activated by water pressure;

an inflatable membrane disposed in the second chamber, wherein when the pressure activated latching valve is activated by water pressure communicated though an opening in the outer wall to an exterior side of the membrane, the pressurized gas disposed in the first gas chamber is communicated though the opening in the inner wall to inflate the membrane, wherein in response to the pressurized gas, the inflatable membrane extends outside the body though the opening in the outer wall; and

a transceiver configured to provide a location wireless signals in response to an external input or activation of inflatable membrane.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a floatable lid configured to cover one end of the second gas chamber, wherein the floatable lid is configured to allow water passage therethrough and prevent activation of the pressure activated valve by a user of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the floatable lid comprises one or more orifices configured to allow the passage of water molecules through the floatable lid.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the floatable lid is attached to an external surface of the membrane with an adhesive.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the latching valve comprises a pressure sensing end that when exposed to water pressure moves from a sealed position to an open latched position to activate the latching valve.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a key FOB contact terminal in communication with the transceiver, wherein the key FOB contact terminal programs the transceiver to emit a wireless signal in response to a user input.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inflatable membrane is disposed in the first chamber and is configured to contain the pressure of the first chamber in a deflated position, wherein the sealing end forms the inner wall and is positioned adjacent to and in contact with the inflatable membrane.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second inner wall, wherein the second inner wall includes a water dissolvable member integrated into a second opening of the second inner wall.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the water dissolvable member is configured to hold an activation end of the pressure activated valve in a first position, wherein when dissolved by water, the water dissolvable member allows the passage of the activation end though the second opening, wherein the sealing end is moved by pressure formed by the pressurized gas in the inflatable member to an activation position allowing the inflatable member to inflate.

10. An automatic inflatable apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a body having a first chamber and a second chamber;

a movable wall slidably disposed in the first chamber;

a shaft attached to the movable wall on a first end;

an internal wall disposed within the body to separate the first chamber from the second chamber, wherein the internal wall includes a first opening sized to allow the shaft to pass therethrough;

a water dissolvable member disposed in the first opening, wherein another end of the shaft distal the first end abuts the water dissolvable member, wherein when the dissolvable member is not dissolved by water, the movable wall is held by the dissolvable member in a first position, wherein when the water dissolvable member is dissolved by water, the shaft is capable of passing through the first opening to position the movable wall in a second position; and

an inflatable member disposed in the first chamber between the movable wall and a wall of the first chamber, wherein when the dissolvable member is not dissolved, the inflatable member is enclosed in the first chamber by the movable wall, wherein when the dissolvable member is dissolved, at least a portion of the inflatable member expands from the first chamber to an exterior position though a second opening in a second wall of the body.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a light source that switches on in response to the shaft moving to the second position.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a location signal when the apparatus is submerged in water.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a vehicle operational signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a garage door operational signal.

15. An inflatable apparatus configured to hold keys and other items, the apparatus comprising:

an enclosure;

an inflatable membrane disposed within the enclosure;

an inflation activation apparatus configured to move from a ready state to an activation state when the apparatus is submerged in a body of water, wherein in the activation state the inflatable membrane expands through an opening in an outer wall of the enclosure under gas pressure to provide buoyancy for the apparatus in the body of water; and

a latching mechanism configured to prevent the inflation activation apparatus from returning to the ready state.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the enclosure comprises a first chamber capable of holding pressurized gas used to inflate the inflatable membrane.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the inflation activation apparatus comprises a water dissolvable member disposed in the opening, wherein when exposed to water, the water dissolvable member allows the inflation activation apparatus to move from a first position to a second position, wherein the second position facilitates the inflation of the inflatable member.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a wireless transmitter integral to the enclosure, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to provide a user selected wireless signal in the ready state or a location signal in response to the activation state.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the enclosure comprises an inner wall having, an opening therein to communicate pressurized as from a first chamber to a second chamber in communication with the inflatable membrane, wherein the inflation activation apparatus seals the opening in the ready state and unseals the opening in the activation state to allow pressurized gas to communicate from the first chamber to the second chamber to inflate the inflatable membrane.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the inflation activation apparatus comprises a sealing member on one end of a shaft and an activation member on another end of the shaft, wherein the sealing member is disposed in the first chamber and is held in a sealing position over the opening by a compressed gas when the apparatus is in the ready state, and held in a non-sealing position by the latching apparatus when the apparatus is in the activation state.