Flotation device
First Claim
1. A flotation device comprisingan inflatable bag of substantially waterproof and air impervious material;
- a container of compressed gas;
trigger means associated with the container and operable upon immersion of the device in water to open the container and allow gas from the container to inflate the bag;
a casing in which the bag, the container and the trigger means are housed; and
means for attachment of the device to another article;
wherein the trigger means comprises a valve mounted on the container and connecting the container to the inflatable bag, retainer means operative to hold said valve in a closed condition, and water reactive means which, upon contact with water, serves to release the retainer means and open the valve;
wherein the water reactive means comprises a band of material, at least part of which is water reactive; and
wherein the trigger means comprises a spring which is held under compression by the water reactive band and which is released, thereby to open the valve, when the band ruptures upon immersion of the device in water.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device which will act efficiently as a float for any article (e.g. keys, mobile telephone, wallet) attached thereto when dropped into water comprises an inflatable bag (14) of substantially waterproof and air impervious material, a container (12) of compressed gas, and trigger means (16,30,32) associated with the container (12) and operable upon immersion of the device in water to open the container (12) and allow gas from the container (14) to inflate the bag (14). The trigger means comprises a valve (16) mounted on the container (12) and connecting the container to the inflatable bag (14), retainer means (30) operative to hold the valve (16) in a closed condition, and water reactive means (32) which, upon contact with water, serves to release the retainer means (30) and allow the valve to open. The water reactive means may comprise a band of material (32), at least part of which is water reactive.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A flotation device comprising
an inflatable bag of substantially waterproof and air impervious material; -
a container of compressed gas; trigger means associated with the container and operable upon immersion of the device in water to open the container and allow gas from the container to inflate the bag; a casing in which the bag, the container and the trigger means are housed; and means for attachment of the device to another article; wherein the trigger means comprises a valve mounted on the container and connecting the container to the inflatable bag, retainer means operative to hold said valve in a closed condition, and water reactive means which, upon contact with water, serves to release the retainer means and open the valve; wherein the water reactive means comprises a band of material, at least part of which is water reactive; and wherein the trigger means comprises a spring which is held under compression by the water reactive band and which is released, thereby to open the valve, when the band ruptures upon immersion of the device in water. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A flotation device comprising:
-
an inflatable bag of substantially waterproof and air impervious material; a container of compressed gas; trigger means associated with the container and operable upon immersion of the device in water to open the container and allow gas from the container to inflate the bag; a casing in which the bag, the container and the trigger means are housed; and means for attachment of the device to another article; wherein the trigger means comprises a valve mounted on the container and connecting the container to the inflatable bag, retainer means operative to hold said valve in a closed condition, and water reactive means which, upon contact with water, serves to release the retainer means and allow the valve to open; and wherein an illumination device is mounted inside the inflatable bag, said illumination device comprising a housing, a light emitting diode (LED), and at least one battery to power the LED mounted in said housing, and said housing having a projection whereby it is attached to the inside of the inflatable bag by a clip or O-ring fitted over said projection from outside the bag. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
-
21. A flotation device comprising:
-
an inflatable bag of substantially waterproof and air impervious material; a container of compressed gas; trigger means associated with the container and operable upon immersion of the device in water to open the container and allow gas from the container to inflate the bag; a casing in which the bag, the container and the trigger means are housed; and means for attachment of the device to another article; wherein the trigger means comprises a valve mounted on the container and connecting the container to the inflatable bag, retainer means operative to hold said valve in a closed condition, and water reactive means which, upon contact with water, serves to release the retainer means and allow the valve to open; wherein an illumination device is mounted inside the inflatable bag, said illumination device comprising a housing; said illumination device also comprising a light emitting diode (LED) and at least one battery to power the LED mounted in said housing, and said housing having said illumination device comprising a housing having a projection whereby it is attached to an inside of the inflatable bag by a clip or O-ring fitted over said projection from outside the bag; and wherein a strip of insulating material is initially located between the battery or batteries and the LED, said strip also being connected to the neck of the bag so that it is automatically withdrawn from extending between the battery or batteries and the LED upon inflation of the bag.
-
Specification