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US 5,007,368 AGranted
Emergency ski altering device and method
OwnerTimothy P. Bushinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compressed gas powered projection device is provided to alert other skiers of a downed skier who is incapacitated in the snow including a projection cartridge containing liquid to disperse into droplets as the cartridge is projected through the air. The opening to the cartridge is opened prior to or at the time of projection to sprinkle the liquid on the snow leaving brightly colored marks.
Claims31
A device to alert other skiers of a downed skier that is incapacitated in the snow out of direct sight from the other skiers, the device comprising:
- (A) a cartridge comprising:
- (i) an interior storage volume sufficient to store a charge of liquid,
- (ii) aperture means to provide an opening to the interior storage volume for continuously dispensing said charge of liquid from the cartridge as the cartridge is projected through the air, and
- (iii) a closure means to
- (a) prevent inadvertant opening of the aperture means prior to actuating the trigger means, and
- (b) be openable to permit dispensing of said charge of liquid from the opening of the cartridge, and
- (B) a body comprising:
- (i) projection means to provide a source of power to project the cartridge from the body, and
- (ii) trigger means on the body to actuate the projection means, and
- (C) said charge of liquid in the cartridge having physical characteristics to disperse from the aperture means into droplets as the cartridge is projected through the air and to have high visibility when sprinkled on the snow.
7 more elements
A device to alert other skiers of a downed skier that is incapacitated out of direct sight from the other skiers, the device comprising:
- (A) a body, having a front and a rear, the body comprising:
- (i) a rear section housing a hollow rear cavity,
- (ii) a front hollow barrel section with an opening to the front,
- (iii) projection means in the rear cavity to provide a source of high pressure gas,
- (iv) trigger means on the body to actuate release of the high pressure gas from the projection means, and
- (v) communication means between the rear cavity and the front barrel section to allow gas flow from the rear cavity to the front barrel section,
- (B) a cartridge comprising:
- (i) an interior storage volume sufficient to store a charge of liquid,
- (ii) a rear section comprising a transverse cross-section of a size and shape sufficient to wedge into and air tightly close off the opening of the front hollow barrel section, and
- (iii) a front section comprising:
- (a) aperture means to provide an opening to the interior storage volume for continuously dispensing said charge of liquid from the cartridge as the cartridge is projected through the air, and
- (b) a closure means to
- (1) prevent inadvertant opening of the aperture means prior to actuating the trigger means, and
- (2) be openable to permit dispensing of said charge of liquid from the opening of the cartridge, and
- (C) said charge of liquid in the cartridge having physical characteristics to disperse from the aperture means into droplets as the cartridge is projected through the air and to have high visibility when sprinkled on the snow.
12 more elements
A method to alert other skiers of a downed skier that is incapacitated in the snow out of direct sight from the other skiers, the method comprising:
- (A) placing a device in a storage location on the person of a skier before going out on a ski trail, the device comprising:
- (1) a cartridge comprising:
- (i) an interior storage volume sufficient to store a charge of liquid,
- (ii) aperture means to provide an opening to the interior storage volume for continuously dispensing said charge of liquid from the cartridge as the cartridge is projected through the air, and
- (iii) a closure means to
- (a) prevent inadvertant opening of the aperture means prior to actuating trigger means, and
- (b) be openable to permit dispensing of said charge of liquid from the opening of the cartridge, and
- (2) a body comprising:
- (i) projection means to provide a source of power to project the cartridge from the body, and
- (ii) trigger means on the body to actuate the projection means, and
- (3) a charge of liquid in the cartridge having physical characteristics to disperse from the aperture into droplets as the cartridge is projected through the air and to have high visibility when sprinkled on the snow
- (B) the downed skier removing the device from its storage location on his or her person,
- (C) the downed skier aiming the device such that the direction of projection of the cartridge is upwardly and toward an area where other skiers travel and would likely see markings on the snow,
- (D) the downed skier actuating the trigger means to project the cartridge over the snow to sprinkle the high visibility liquid over the snow in a line from the downed skier to the area where other skiers travel.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.