Valuables flotation device (VFD)
OwnerDon P Williamsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A water activated, self-inflating, automatic floatation device that can be easily attached to small personal items of value for easy retrieval if accidentally dropped into a deep or low visibility body of water such as a lake, pond, stream, river, or ocean. The automatic flotation device is comprised of a housing, an inflatable bladder, water activated gas producing compound, an orifice plate, a gas expansion port, and a removable housing cover. The automatic floatation device will inflate the bladder regardless of orientation under water. The automatic floatation device is small enough that it can be attached to glasses, keys, cell phones, hats, basically any small personal item of value.
Claims20
A water-activated, self-inflating apparatus attachable to a personal article, comprising:
- a housing containing:
- a bladder storage cavity containing a compressed inflatable bladder;
- and
- a reactant storage cavity containing a water-activated gas-producing compound;
- and
- a gas expansion port connecting the reactant storage cavity to the bladder storage cavity;
- an orifice plate containing:
- a water inlet orifice permitting water to enter the reactant storage cavity;
- and
- an air relief orifice permitting air to escape from the reactant storage cavity;
- one or more hydro-expanding elements positioned directly over both the water inlet orifice and the air relief orifice, the hydro-expanding elements:
- (i) allowing simultaneous water entry and air escape as the apparatus sinks in water;
- and
- (ii) expanding upon sufficient water exposure to seal both the water inlet orifice and the air relief orifice;
- wherein sealing of both orifices forces gas produced by the compound through the gas expansion port into the inflatable bladder;
- a bladder seal attachment feature securing the inflatable bladder to the gas expansion port;
- and
- a removable housing cover displaced by expansion of the inflatable bladder,
- whereby the inflatable bladder inflates regardless of underwater orientation and floats the attached personal article to the surface of a body of water.
A method of underwater inflation comprising:
- simultaneously permitting water entry and air escape through a water inlet orifice and an air relief orifice;
- expanding one or more hydro-expanding elements to seal both orifices;
- forcing gas generated by a water-activated compound into an inflatable bladder through a gas expansion port;
- whereby the bladder inflates and floats the apparatus regardless of underwater orientation.
A passive, water-activated flotation apparatus attachable to a personal article, comprising:
- a housing defining:
- a reactant chamber containing a water-activated gas-producing compound;
- and
- a bladder chamber containing a compressed inflatable bladder;
- a gas expansion passage connecting the reactant chamber to the bladder chamber;
- a fluid exchange interface including:
- at least one water entry opening;
- and
- at least one air exit opening;
- a water-responsive sealing material;
- wherein:
- (i) the water entry opening and the air exit opening are configured to permit simultaneous inward water flow and outward air flow during submersion without the use of mechanical one-way valves;
- (ii) the reactant chamber becomes fluidly isolated from the surrounding water after initial submersion by expansion of the water responsive sealing material positioned adjacent the fluid exchange interface;
- (iii) isolation of the reactant chamber causes gas generated by the compound to increase internal pressure within the reactant chamber;
- and
- (iv) the increased internal pressure forces gas through the gas expansion passage into the inflatable bladder, causing the bladder to deploy from the housing and provide buoyancy;
- whereby the apparatus inflates underwater regardless of spatial orientation and floats the attached personal article to the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.