# US 7,465,204 B2 · Life raft

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- Number: US 7,465,204 B2
- Document ID: US7465204B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/630,652
- Filed: 2005-06-21
- Published: 2007-11-22
- Granted: 2008-12-16
- Earliest claimed: 2004-06-25
- Assignees: Zodiac International
- Inventors: Christian Schloegel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7465204B2

## CPC

- B63C 9/04: Life-rafts
- B63C: LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS (floating nets, floating slipways, or the like for recovering aircraft from the water B63B35/52)

## Abstract

The inventive inflatable life raft comprises a peripheral pneumatic float (1) and a bottom (2) fixed thereto and is characterised in that a mechanically résistant belt (4) extends along the float (1) circumference, is fixed thereto along the entire length thereof and said belt (4) bears or incorporâtes fixing means (8) for at least one towing line in such a way that towing forces are distributed through the entire circumference of the float and the raft can withstand high towing forces without any damages.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A life raft of inflatable type comprising a peripheral pneumatic float and a bottom fixed to said float,
wherein the float is made up of at least two superposed inflatable tubes held at a distance from each other and connected together by an intermediate strip of flexible material,
wherein a belt having good mechanical strength extends all the way around the periphery of the float and is rigidly fixed to an outer face of the intermediate strip between the two tubes all the way along its length, and
wherein the belt supports or incorporates fixing means for at least one towing line,
whereby towing forces are distributed all the way around the periphery of the float and the raft is able to withstand very high towing forces without damage.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The life raft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the belt is made of a material suitable for adhesively bonding or welding directly to the outer face of the intermediate strip of the float.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The life raft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the belt is made of woven or braided material and is stitched to a strip of substrate which in turn is made of a material suitable for adhesively bonding or welding to the outer face of the intermediate strip of the float.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The life raft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the belt is formed by two half-belts encircling two respective half-peripheries of the intermediate strip of the float.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The life raft as claimed in claim 4, said life raft being of generally round shape and wherein the two half-belts extend between two diametrically opposite parts of said intermediate strip.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The life raft as claimed in claim 4, said life raft being of generally quadrilateral shape and wherein each half-belt extends along two consecutive sides.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The life raft as claimed in claim 4, wherein a loop or ring suitable for receiving the end of at least one towing line is provided in the vicinity of each end of the half-belts.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The life raft as claimed in claim 1, wherein a loop or ring suitable for receiving the end of at least one towing line is provided in the vicinity of each end of the belt.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The life raft as claimed in claim 1, wherein an external lashing is fixed at intervals to the belt.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The life raft as claimed in claim 1, wherein external raft accessories are fixed to the belt.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The life raft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the float is made from a sheet of material whose longitudinal edges are folded and fixed, facing each other, along the middle of the sheet, leaving said intermediate strip between them.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The life raft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the float is made from a tube of material whose diametrically opposite longitudinal portions are pinched together and fixed to each other in such a way as to define said intermediate strip.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The life raft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the belt is made of a woven or braided material and is stitched to the outer face of the intermediate strip.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The life raft as claimed in claim 13, wherein internal raft accessories are fixed to said belt through the intermediate strip.