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US 6,080,027 AGranted
Flotation device
OwnerWill Rodemanninventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerWill Rodemanninventor
Estimating the term…
Compact and light weight deployable flotation devices with improved elasticity, tensile strength, shear strength, and puncture resistance using higher quality materials and sequencing of layers of polymer coating with greater mechanical strength in outer layers, and improved impermeability to gas leakage from within. The flotation devices are folded in containers with the containers having an integral gas supply cannister for use in a vehicle or vessel and for portability. The flotation devices are deployed by inflation by means of mechanical pull cord, automatically by float switches, hydrostatic release, electronic panic buttons, or switches used with a pyrotechnic release valve mechanism, or by pyrotechnic inflators. Restraining mechanisms form part of inflatable bag construction for permanent mounting in a vehicle or vessel. A protective cover enshrouds the inflatable bag and its integral restraining mechanism, the shroud being able to expand at the end of bag inflation.
A method of forming an inflatable bag within a bag comprising the steps of:
A flotation device comprising an inflatable bag having a single wall construction of outer layer of rip-stop fabric in weight ranging from 200 to 1000 denier, the fabric covered on its inner surface with a deposited layer of thermoplastic material, the bag having an integral reinforced edge of several layers of heavy duty material sealed together to form a heavy duty peripheral flange for fastening the bag to a boat, a plurality of straps extending across the bag and secured at opposite ends to the flange, at least one strap extending longitudinally of the bag and secured at its ends to the peripheral flange, the cross and peripheral straps defining a restraining mechanism for holding the inflatable bag in place in a boat, an inlet valve, a pressure relief valve, and a topping off valve all penetrating the wall for inflating the bag.
A flotation device comprising an inflatable bag having a single wall construction of outer layer of rip-stop fabric in weight ranging from 200 to 1000 denier, the fabric covered on its inner surface with a deposited layer of thermoplastic material, the bag having an integral reinforced edge of several layers of heavy duty material sealed together to form a heavy duty peripheral flange for fastening the bag to a boat, a restraining net extending across the bag and secured at its margins to the flange, the net defining a restraining mechanism for holding the inflatable bag in place in a boat, an inlet valve, a pressure relief valve, and a topping off valve all penetrating the for inflating the bag.
A flotation device comprising an inflatable bag fitted with a harness, the inflatable bag having a single wall construction of outer layer of rip-stop fabric in weight ranging from 200 to 1000 denier, the fabric covered on its inner surface with a deposited layer of thermoplastic material, the bag having an integral reinforced edge of several layers of heavy duty material sealed together to form a heavy tab for fastening the bag to a boat, an inlet valve, a pressure relief valve, a topping off valve all penetrating the single wall for inflating the bag, and a shroud fitting tightly about the inflatable bag and its harness, and the shroud fitted with at least one towing shackle.
A method for deploying a flotation system within a marine vessel comprising the steps of:
A flotation system comprising a soft pouch enclosure having a securing tab, a hook and loop fastener for opening and closing the pouch, at least one flotation bag folded in deflated condition and packed into the pouch, at least one inflatable bag having a reinforced securing tab, the pouch securing tab together with the bag reinforced securing tab adapted to be affixed to a structural member of a marine vessel, a gas filled canister in the pouch for inflating the bags, means for releasing gas from the canister to the inflatables so that the inflatable bag bursts forth from folded condition through the hook and loop fastener when inflated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.