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US 11,912,384 B2Granted
Automation of flotation devices
OwnerJimmy R. Bainter, Michael L. Eckstein +4inventors
InventorsJimmy R. Bainter, Michael L. Eckstein, Lawrence E. Guerra, William R. Hendricks, Steven R. Walton, Joshua H. Huisenga
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to improved personal flotation devices and their methods of use. Advantageously, the devices and methods of the invention eliminate the need for a pyrotechnical firing mechanism, and compared to current devices, are less apt to be spontaneously activated by deterioration that is caused by storage in a humid environment or the passage of time. Instead, the devices and methods of use of the present invention incorporate electronic circuitry to activate automatic operation.
Claims21
An automated inflation device comprising
- a) a housing with a cover, wherein the housing and cover are joined to each other with a watertight seal, and the housing has a first opening able to attach to a gas cylinder and second opening able to attach to a valve of a flotation apparatus;
- b) a manual release having a handle and a pull cord, wherein the manual release is connected to a manual release cam inside the housing;
- c) a trigger mechanism having a circuit board that is connected to a battery and at least one sensor, wherein the circuit board and the battery are enclosed within the housing, and the at least one sensor is capable of detecting a presence of an aqueous medium outside of the housing;
- d) an automatic release mechanism having
- i) a plunger arm that has a near end mounted on a first pivot pin and is constrained axially by the housing and cover,
- ii) a plunger arm stop that has a near end mounted on a second pivot pin and is constrained axially by the housing and cover, and
- iii) a plunger arm spring that has a first end engaged with a far end of the plunger arm and tension is applied to the plunger arm,
- wherein the plunger arm stop is engaged with the far end of the plunger arm and prevents an inactive plunger arm from rotating about the first pivot pin;
- and
- e) a bore having at least one O-ring and a piercing pin capable of penetrating an aperture of the gas cylinder.
7 more elements
A method of inflating a flotation apparatus comprising
- a) covering an automated inflation device with an aqueous medium, wherein the automated inflation device comprises
- i) a housing with a cover, wherein the housing and cover are joined to each other with a watertight seal, and the housing has a first opening able to attach to a gas cylinder and second opening able to attach to a valve of a flotation apparatus;
- ii) a manual release having a handle and a pull cord, wherein the manual release is connected to a manual release cam inside the housing;
- iii) a trigger mechanism having a circuit board that is connected to a battery and at least one sensor, wherein the circuit board and the battery are enclosed within the housing, and the at least one sensor extends outside of the housing and is capable of detecting a presence of an aqueous medium;
- iv) an automatic release mechanism having
- (1) a plunger arm that has a near end mounted on a first pivot pin and is constrained axially by the housing and cover,
- (2) a plunger arm stop that has a near end mounted on a second pivot pin and is constrained axially by the housing and cover, and
- (3) a plunger arm spring that has a first end engaged with the far end of the plunger arm and tension is applied to the plunger arm, wherein the plunger arm stop is engaged with the far end of the plunger arm and prevents an inactive plunger arm from rotating about the first pivot pin;
- v) a piercing assembly having at least one O-ring and a piercing pin capable of penetrating an aperture of the gas cylinder;
- vi) a fusible link having a first affixing feature at a near end, a second affixing feature at a far end;
- vii) a resistance wire that is attached to or surrounds the fusible link;
- b) activating the sensor to signal the circuit board that an aqueous medium has been detected;
- c) causing a current to be sent from the battery to the resistance wire such that the fusible link is stretched, broken, or melted;
- d) causing the plunger arm to rotate the plunger arm stop about its pivot pin counterclockwise such that the plunger is released within the cylinder plunger assembly;
- e) allowing the plunger to pierce an aperture of a gas cylinder that is attached to the automated inflation device such that gas is released from the gas cylinder through the cylinder plunger assembly;
- and
- f) allowing the released gas to enter into the flotation apparatus through a valve of the flotation apparatus and cause a flotation bladder of the flotation apparatus to inflate.
14 more elements
A method of making an automated inflation device comprising
- a) making a housing with a cover, wherein the housing and cover are joined to each other with a watertight seal, and the housing has a first opening able to attach to a gas cylinder and second opening able to attach to a valve of a flotation apparatus;
- b) attaching a manual release having a handle and a pull cord, wherein the manual release is connected to a manual release cam inside the housing;
- c) installing a trigger mechanism having a circuit board that is connected to a battery and at least one sensor, wherein the circuit board and the battery are enclosed within the housing, and the at least one sensor is capable of detecting a presence of an aqueous medium outside of the housing;
- d) installing an automatic release mechanism having
- i) a plunger arm that has a near end mounted on a first pivot pin and is constrained axially by the housing and cover,
- ii) a plunger arm stop that has a near end mounted on a second pivot pin and is constrained axially by the housing and cover, and
- iii) a plunger arm spring that has a first end engaged with a far end of the plunger arm and tension is applied to the plunger arm,
- wherein the plunger arm stop is engaged with the far end of the plunger arm and prevents an inactive plunger arm from rotating about the first pivot pin;
- and
- e) attaching a bore having at least one O-ring and a piercing pin capable of penetrating an aperture of the gas cylinder.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.