Automatic deployment flotation device

Abstract

A personal flotation device is provided that includes a housing, a canister disposed within the housing and storing a compressed gas, an inflatable member coupled to the housing, a channel within the housing, and a compressible member positioned within the channel. The channel extends from an exit point of the canister to the inflatable member such that the canister can be in fluid communication with the inflatable member. The compressible member is configured such that (i) when the personal flotation device is located less than a predetermined depth below a surface of water, the compressible member prevents the compressed gas from the canister from reaching the inflatable member, and (ii) when the personal flotation device is located greater than or equal to the predetermined depth below the surface of water, the compressible member compresses and thereby allows the compressed gas from the canister to inflate the inflatable member.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.