Parafoil-borne distress signals
AssigneeS E Ventures, Inc.
InventorSidney E. Veazey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Distress signal kits comprise a parafoil for carrying aloft various emergency or distress signals such as radar reflective materials, lights, flares, distress flags or smoke signals. Preferably the parafoil itself is colored International orange and contains a U.S. Coast Guard-approved distress signal (BLACK SQUARE AND CIRCLE) on both top and bottom surfaces. The parafoil can be used to raise a spinnaker sail attached to a vessel or swimmer. The spinnaker can also carry radar reflective components and/or distress flags, and can be fitted for other survival uses.
Claims16
A life jacket and aerial distress signal kit comprising a buoyant life jacket having a collar and sufficient compartments adapted for holding distress signal components comprising at least one parafoil with bridle and line for flying same plus at least one collapsible rod for launching said parafoil, and a plurality of distress signal devices, a survival hood and a radar reflective distress flag which can be stowed in said collar.
A life jacket and aerial distress signal kit comprising a buoyant life jacket having a collar and sufficient compartments adapted for holding distress signal components comprising at least one parafoil with bridle and line for flying same and a plurality of distress signal devices, a survival hood and a radar reflective distress flag which can be stowed in said collar, wherein said distress signal devices comprise a collapsible omnidirectional radar reflector having three orthogonal reflecting surfaces, and wherein said radar reflector is enclosed within an inflatable radar-permeable balloon.
A life jacket and aerial distress signal kit comprising a buoyant life jacket having a collar and sufficient compartments adapted for holding distress signal components comprising at least one parafoil with bridle and line for flying same and a plurality of distress signal devices, a survival hood and a radar reflective distress flag which can be stowed in said collar, which kit further comprises a small spinnaker sail comprising radar reflective material and fitted with suitable connections for attachment to the line for flying said parafoil and for control of said spinnaker.
A life jacket and aerial distress signal kit comprising a buoyant life jacket having a collar and sufficient compartments adapted for holding distress signal components comprising at least one parafoil with bridle and line for flying same and a plurality of distress signal devices, a survival hood and a radar reflective distress flag which can be stowed in said collar, wherein said parafoil is contained in folded form within a survival hat which forms a drawstring bag for storage of said parafoil within said life jacket.
A life jacket and aerial distress signal kit comprising a buoyant life jacket having a collar and sufficient compartments adapted for holding distress signal components comprising at least one parafoil with bridle and line for flying same and a plurality of distress signal devices, a survival hood and a radar reflective distress flag which can be stowed in said collar, wherein said lifejacket collar contains a folding, inflatable and detachable distress flag, orange in color and fabricated of a radar reflective material, having a distress signal of a black square and adjacent circle thereon, arranged to float in the water in use.
A life jacket and aerial distress signal kit comprising a buoyant life jacket having a collar and sufficient compartments adapted for holding distress signal components comprising at least one parafoil with bridle and line for flying same and plurality of distress signal devices, a survival hood and a radar reflective distress flag which can be stowed in said collar, wherein said parafoil incorporates an omnidirectional radar reflector having three orthogonal surfaces, and wherein said radar reflector is incorporated in the structure of said parafoil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.