Neck Seal Tension Relief Ring Apparatus and Method of Using Same

A water-activated neck seal tension relief system (900), comprising:

• a liner (902) configured to form a seal when pressed against the skin of a user;
• and
• an actuator (800) comprising a resilient member (200) and a coupling (802) disposed within the liner (902), the coupling (802) comprising a body (600) and a water-soluble restraint (804), wherein:
• a first end (810) of the resilient member (200) is fixed to the body;
• a second end (808) of the resilient member (200) is fixed to the body (600) on a selective basis by way of the restraint (804), the second end (808) of the resilient member (200) has the same radius as the body (600);
• and the restraint (804), upon exposure to water, is configured to dissolve and thereby release the second end (808) of the resilient member (200) allowing the resilient member (808) to deflect.

A method for relieving tension from the neck and automatically allowing the seal to form around a neck of a user, comprising:

• providing a water-activated sealing system (900) comprising a liner (902);
• and an actuator (800) comprising a resilient member (200) and a coupling (802) disposed within the liner (902), the coupling (802) comprising a body (600) configured to receive a first (810) and a second portion (808) of the resilient member (200), the liner (902), body (600) and resilient member (200) defining a substantially circular opening;
• and a restraint (804) mounted on the body (600) and configured to restrain the second portion (808) of the resilient member (200) in relation to the body (600) to maintain the resilient member (200) in a first position at which the opening has a first diameter (702), wherein the restraint (804) is configured to release the second portion (808) of the resilient member (200) when the restraint (804) is exposed to water, and the resilient member (200), upon release of the second portion (808), is configured to deflect to a second position (808) at which the opening has a second diameter (708) which is less than the first diameter (702);
• placing the sealing system (900) around the neck of a user so that the resilient member (200) is in the first position;
• and
• immersing the sealing system (900) in water to release the second portion (808) and thereby cause the liner (902) to be urged against the neck of the user to form a seal between the liner (902) and the neck of the user.