Abstract: A life preserver includes first and second buoyancy sections 3, 4 arranged such that, in use, the first and second buoyancy sections lie on opposite sides respectively of a wearer's chest, wherein said first and second buoyancy sections include respective inner facing regions that face one another above the wearer's chest, each of the facing regions having a chin support portion 11A, 11B and being configured to abut each other in use to form a chin support.

Abstract: A hook arrangement for connecting to a load-carrying garment, comprising a main body portion from which two hook portions extend at opposite sides thereof, the hook portions each defining a recess for engaging the load-carrying garment in use.

Abstract: An escape system comprises a passage (1), a platform (3) and at least one craft (4), the platform (3) and the craft (4) being deployable from a structure (2) to water to facilitate evacuation of the structure via the passage. The passage is mounted to the platform such that the platform is urged towards the structure when deployed. The passage may be mounted to the platform such that movement of the passage relative to the platform is restricted in at least one direction. A plate (64) may support the passage, platform and/or craft during deployment, and/or stabilises the passage, platform and/or craft after deployment in the water.

Abstract: An escape system comprises a slide for facilitating evacuation of from a structure to water, wherein the slide comprises at least one helical inflatable path. The or each helical inflatable path may be configured to extend generally vertically between the structure and the water. The slide may comprise a plurality of helical inflatable paths. The slide may comprise spacing means for controlling the pitch between helix turns of the or each of the helical inflatable paths. A bowsing arrangement for the slide is also disclosed.

Abstract: A life preserver (1) including an inflatable main body portion (3) having an aperture (5) for a wearer's neck, and first and second inflatable lobes (7, 9) extending from the main body portion which are configured to respectively occupy a position on the left and right hand side of the wearer's body when in use. The main body portion may be formed by corresponding front and rear layers of material that are connected around their outer peripheries and which each have an aperture for the wearer's neck, wherein the main body portion further comprises an additional layer of material that is connected to the front and rear layers of material around the apertures in the front and rear layers to form a surface that, upon inflation of the main body portion, encircles the wearer's neck. A panel (15) of material mounted on a front surface of the main body portion adjacent to, or partially overlying, the neck aperture may protect the wearer's airways from water splashes.

Abstract: A slide fastener pan includes a multiplicity of sequentially arranged fastening element locations (SOB), extending from a start position (A) to an end position (B), and a fastening element (35B) at respective oues of the locations (SOB), the slide fastener part being configured for attachment to and detachment from an oppositely positioned associated slide fastener part having a multiplicity of sequentially arranged fastening elements (35A) by the movement of a sliding element (12), the attachment being by abutment of abutment portions of oppositely positioned ones of fastening elements (35A, 35B), wherein the first-mentioned multiplicity of sequentially arranged fastening element locations (30B) include a plurality of adjacent ones of the locations (30B)?, between the start position (A) to the end position (B), that are modified so as to provide a region (40) between the start position and the end position at which the attached slide fastener parts are relatively easily separated.

Abstract: A life preserver includes first and second buoyancy sections 3, 4 arranged such that, in use, the first and second buoyancy sections lie on opposite sides respectively of a wearer's chest, wherein said first and second buoyancy sections include respective inner facing regions that face one another above the wearer's chest, each of the facing regions having a chin support portion 11A, 11B and being configured to abut each other in use to form a chin support.

Abstract: A personal survival system for use in water includes an inflatable chamber (9) and in inflation system (31) operable to inflate the inflatable chamber (9), wherein the inflation system (31) is mounted separately from and remotely from the inflatable chamber (9). Also disclosed are: a survival system for use in water includes an inflatable chamber including an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the inner layer is separate from the outer layer; an inflation control system for use with an in-water survival system, the inflation control system comprises a selectively sealable chamber configured to contain water-triggered automatic inflation device of the survival system; and a personal survival system including an inflatable bladder and a moulded cover constructed from a flexible polymer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a survival craft comprising a hull (10) formed from inflatable members, an optional canopy support structure carried by the hull and formed from inflatable members, and an inflatable wall structure (11). The invention also relates to rigid pod (19) configured to carry a survival craft in a deflated state and be coupled to the hull when the craft is in an inflated state. The inflatable parts may be formed from drop thread material.

Abstract: A survival craft comprises a hull (10) formed from inflatable members (12, 13) and mounting a powered propulsion system (18, 19) for the survival craft. A superstructure (11) is mounted on the hull and formed from inflatable members (25, 26, 29a-29i) and a flexible roof (28) supported by the inflatable members (25, 26, 29a-29i). The superstructure provides the hull (10) with increased longitudinal rigidity that reduces the tendency of the hull (10) to bow longitudinally when the propulsion system (18, 19) is operating. The survival craft forms part of a marine escape system with the survival craft deflated and packed in a container including an inflation system for the survival craft. The system has a deployment system for amounting on a marine structure and carrying the container with the deployment system transferring the container from the structure to the water where the inflation system inflates the survival craft for access by persons.

Abstract: A liferaft system comprises a container for storing a liferaft, and at least one sheet of material for fitting over an exterior surface of the liferaft container and configured to heat an interior volume of the liferaft container.

Abstract: An escape system comprises a slide for facilitating evacuation of from a structure to water, wherein the slide comprises at least one helical inflatable path. The or each helical inflatable path may be configured to extend generally vertically between the structure and the water. The slide may comprise a plurality of helical inflatable paths. The slide may comprise spacing means for controlling the pitch between helix turns of the or each of the helical inflatable paths. A bowsing arrangement for the slide is also disclosed.

Abstract: A survival craft comprises a hull (10) formed from inflatable members (12, 13) and mounting a powered propulsion system (18, 19) for the survival craft. A superstructure (11) is mounted on the hull and formed from inflatable members (25, 26, 29a-29i) and a flexible roof (28) supported by the inflatable members (25, 26, 29a-29i). The superstructure provides the hull (10) with increased longitudinal rigidity that reduces the tendency of the hull (10) to bow longitudinally when the propulsion system (18, 19) is operating. The survival craft forms part of a marine escape system with the survival craft deflated and packed in a container including an inflation system for the survival craft. The system has a deployment system for mounting on a marine structure and carrying the container with the deployment system transferring the container from the structure to the water where the inflation system inflates the survival craft for access by persons.

Abstract: A waterproof garment connector arrangement attaches a distal garment part (e.g. a glove) to a main body of a garment. The connector arrangement includes a first part having a first outward facing recess and an inward facing protrusion; and a second part having an outer engagement member for being received in the first outward facing recess and in inner engagement member for engaging the protrusion. The outer engagement member includes a second outward facing recess at least partially accommodated in the first outward facing recess. An annular member is fitted into the second outward facing recess, so that the annular member urges the outer engagement member against a wall of the first outward facing recess to secure the first part to the second part.

Abstract: An inflatable evacuation slide for evacuating people from a first structure to a second structure is disclosed. The slide comprises: at least three longitudinal beams, including two lateral lower beams and an upper beam, spaced apart transversally over their length and substantially parallel to each other in the inflated state, each beam comprising at least one inflatable longitudinal tube; and a plurality of inflatable lateral panels connected to said upper beam and to said lateral lower beams. The inflatable longitudinal tubes may comprise a braid tube. The inflatable lateral panels may comprise drop stitch material. Each of the inflatable longitudinal tubes may include at least one end plate for closing an end of the tube.

Abstract: A conditioning garment has an array of tubes (11) for passing heated/cooled fluid to heat/cool a wearer of the garment. The array of tubes (11) terminate at a connector (16) for connection to a source of heated/cooled liquid. The connector (16) comprises a male part (15) and a female part (17) with a releasable latch (22, 34, 40) acting between the male and female parts (15, 17) to hold the male part (15) in engagement with the female part (17). The releasable latch includes a release member (40) moveable in a rectilinear path away from the connector (16) to release the latch and allow separation of the male part (15) from the female part (17). The male and female parts (15, 17) are self-sealing on disengagement. This allows for automatic separation of the male and female parts (15, 17) in an emergency.

Abstract: An aircrew ensemble comprising a garment (20, 21) for covering at least a part of a body of a wearer and an inflatable counter-pressure bladder (33, 41), carried by the garment (20, 21). The inflatable counter-pressure bladder (33, 41) is formed from a moisture permeable material allowing the passage therethrough of perspiration from the wearer's body.

Abstract: An attachment system principally use on garment (10, 30) provides a number of aligned loops (15) on the garment and a number of aligned loops (24) on a load such as an equipment pack (17). The load also includes an elongate securing member that extends from the load with a flexible proximal portion (26) and a stiffened distal portion (27). The stiffened distal portion (27) can be very readily threaded through successive ensemble loops (15) and load loops (24) to pull the flexible proximal portion (26) through the loops (15, 24) to attach the load (17) to the garment (10, 30). The stiffened distal portion (27) is then fed back through the loops (15, 24) to provide a geometric lock that prevents the load (17, 18) detaching from the garment (10, 30). Various loads can be attached in this way.

Abstract: A method of countering the effects of G-forces on a person comprises passing inflation gas to a bladder (41, 40) around a leg of the person by starting the inflation of the bladder (41, 49) to an operating pressure from a point (62a, 62d) adjacent an ankle of the leg as well as from a point (62b, 62c, 62e, 62f) spaced from said ankle towards the abdomen of the wearer. The inflation then progresses away from the ankle at the same time as the upper part of the bladder is being inflated. When the bladder (41, 49) is inflated to the operating pressure, the blood vessels of the leg are constricted.