US 10,814,945 B2Granted

Life raft system

OwnerRobert Chaney, Darren Berrecloth +5inventors

InventorsRobert Chaney, Darren Berrecloth, Ian Dellert, Alex Carey, Travis Chaney, Darren Terhune, Sean Raymond Schlueter

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Abstract

A life raft system including a life raft assembly including a mounting bracket having a base and an awning, an upper lateral support having a latching mechanism and deployment cable, a lower lateral support comprising a hinge-member, a self-inflatable raft having a housing, an inflator, an inflator cable, and a raft securing cable, and a cover chute. The life raft system is a residential and commercial life saving device for urban and rural area homes as well as commercial building structures that could be at risk to rising flood waters. The device may be mounted to a structure such as a home or building as a precaution. The device provides a family or group of people with the ability to flee to higher ground when disaster occurs, preventing loss of life and offering a safe exit from an affected area.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A life raft system comprising:

a life raft assembly including;
a housing;
a self-inflatable raft;
an inflator;
an inflator cable;
and
a raft securing cable;
a mounting bracket having;
a base comprising;
upper lateral supports including;
a latching mechanism comprising;
a deployment cable;
lower lateral support comprising;
a hinge member;
an awning;
and
lights;
a cover chute having;
an upper latching points;
lower hinge points;
and
a safety securing pin;
wherein said life raft assembly comprises said housing, said self-inflatable raft;
said inflator, said inflator cable, and said raft securing cable;
wherein said mounting bracket comprises said base, said upper lateral supports, and said lower lateral supports in functional combination, and configured to mount to a structure via a plurality of fasteners;
wherein said upper lateral supports and said lower lateral supports extend from said base;
wherein said self-inflatable raft is configured within said housing and comprises said inflator, said inflator cable, and said raft securing cable;
wherein a first-portion of said housing is oriented towards an upper mounting bracket portion of said mounting bracket at said latching mechanism and a second-portion of said housing is oriented towards a lower portion of said mounting bracket at said hinge-member;
wherein said latching mechanism when released, releases an upper cover chute portion of said cover chute and allows said cover chute to pivot about said hinge-member;
and
wherein said life raft assembly is deployed and said inflator when activated with said inflator cable, inflates said self-inflatable raft for use.

28 more elements

A life raft system, the life raft system comprising:

a life raft assembly including;
a housing;
a self-inflatable raft;
an inflator;
an inflator cable;
and
a raft securing cable;
a mounting bracket having;
a base comprising;
upper lateral supports comprising;
a latching mechanism comprising;
a deployment cable;
lower lateral support comprising;
a hinge member;
an awning;
and
lights;
a cover chute having;
an upper latching points;
lower hinge points;
and
a safety securing pin;
wherein said life raft system comprises said life raft assembly, said mounting bracket and said cover chute;
wherein said mounting bracket comprises said base, said upper lateral supports, and said lower lateral supports in functional combination, and configured to mount to a structure via a plurality of fasteners;
wherein said life raft assembly is concealed behind a cover chute during non-use;
wherein said upper lateral support and said lower lateral support extend from said base;
wherein said cover chute is latched at said latching mechanism positioned at said upper mounting bracket portion;
wherein said cover chute is hinged at said bottom cover chute section;
wherein said self-inflatable raft is configured within said housing and comprises said inflator, said inflator cable, and said raft securing cable;
wherein said self-inflatable raft is concealed within a housing during non-use;
wherein a first-portion of said housing is oriented towards an upper mounting bracket portion of said mounting bracket at said latching mechanism and a second-portion of said housing is oriented towards lower portion of said mounting bracket at said hinge-member;
wherein said housing further encases an inflator cable and raft securing cable;
wherein said housing further encases safety-items for emergency use;
wherein said housing comprises compressed carbon dioxide inflator release;
wherein said housing is flexible;
wherein said latching mechanism when released, releases an upper cover chute portion of said cover chute and allows said cover chute to pivot about said hinge-member;
wherein said latching mechanism comprises a deployment cable;
wherein said base is configured to mount to a structure in an elevated position above ground;
wherein said structure comprises a building-structure;
wherein said inflator when activated, inflates said self-inflatable raft for use;
wherein said inflator is activated when said inflator cable is pulled when said self-inflatable raft is ejected;
wherein said inflator comprises carbon dioxide inflation;
wherein said inflator comprises pressurized carbon dioxide gas housed in a gas canister as an inflation means that is released by pulling said inflator cable thus releasing said pressurized carbon dioxide gas into said life raft buoyancy chambers;
wherein said life raft assembly further comprises a raft securing cable connecting said self-inflatable raft to said mounting bracket;
wherein said raft securing cable is connected to said mounting bracket via a carabiner-clip or fasteners;
wherein said life raft system further comprises safety indicators;
wherein said life raft assembly further comprises safety indicators;
wherein said lights comprise LED lighting.

45 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/676,286Filed 6 Nov 2019 · continuation in part
Priority: 8 Dec 2017
Published: US 2020/0108901 A19 Apr 2020
Granted: 27 Oct 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B63C 9/04
Lifeboats, life-rafts or the like, specially adapted for life-saving: life-rafts
B63B 23/28
Equipment for handling lifeboats or the like: devices for projecting or releasing boats for free fall
B63C 9/20
Life-buoys, e.g. rings; Life-belts, jackets, suits, or the like: characterised by signalling means, e.g. lights
B63C 2009/042
Life-rafts: inflatable