Expandable drift sock system
OwnerLawrence Nolaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An expandable drift sock system includes an expandable drift sock having a plurality of expansion sections configured around the circumference of the cylindrical sleeve, each having a first and second expansion portion detachably attached to each other by a section coupler. The first and second expansion portions each have an outer extension and fold portion that folds back to join with an inner extension that extends between the fold portions of the first and second expansion portions. Flaps are configured to fold over each expansion portion to hold the expansion portion in a folded configuration and to prevent water from flowing in between the folds that may produce force the stowed expansion portion to open.
Claims20
An expandable drift sock system comprising:
- a) cylindrical sleeve comprising:
- i) an inlet end forming an inlet opening;
- ii) an outlet end forming an outlet opening;
- and
- iii) plurality of expansion sections, each comprising;
- an inner extension comprising:
- an inner extension attachment component on an inside surface of the inner extension;
- a first expansion portion comprising:
- a first outer extension;
- a first fold portion that extends from the first outer extension to a first fold edge of the inner extension;
- and
- a first coupler component;
- a second expansion portion;
- a second outer extension;
- a second fold portion that extends from the second outer extension to a second fold edge of the inner extension;
- and
- a second coupler component;
- a first flap coupled to the first expansion portion and having a first flap attachment component configured to detachably attach to the inner extension attachment component when the first expansion portion is in a packed configuration;
- and
- a second flap coupled to the second expansion portion having a second flap attachment component configured to detachably attach to the inner extension attachment component when the second expansion portion is in a packed configuration;
- and
- iv) a section coupler configured to detachably attach said first expansion portion to said second expansion portion by detachably attaching the first coupler component to the second coupler component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.