Abstract: A head and neck restraint system includes a headpiece, a saddle, and tensioners connecting the headpiece to the saddle. The headpiece resides on top of a crew member's head and the saddle includes a saddle strap residing under the crew member's buttocks. The tensioners are pneumatic muscles which contract when a flow of gas is provided by gas generators. The gas generators are triggered by a G-sensor or by the initiation of a predetermined event. Triggering signals pass through a manifold from an ejection seat, aircraft, or vehicle. Contraction of the pneumatic muscles pulls the headpiece toward the saddle, thereby restraining the head, neck, and spine. The system is worn as an undergarment or incorporated into a garment. A manual adjustment provides head support during flight. The system is particularly useful for preventing head and neck injuries during ejection from or crash of an aircraft or vehicle.

Abstract: A flotation collar includes an exterior cover and a bladder with two cells separated by a baffle. The exterior cover includes circumferential cover zippers which unzip if the bladder is inflated, and bottle access zippers to allow, for example, CO2 bottles to be removed and replaced. Each cell has a manual inflation valve stem for manual inflation, and an automatic inflation valve stem for automatic inflation by the bottles. The baffle forms a vertical separation in a neck portion of the bladder, and a diagonal separation in lower portions of the bladder. The vertical separation allow either cell to fill the neck portion of the bladder if the other cell is deflated, to adequately carry the wearer's head above water, and the diagonal separation allows either cell in the lower portions of the bladder to retain sufficient volume if the other cell is deflated, to provide auto-rotation of the wearer.

Abstract: A system for maintaining a user afloat in a fluid environment is disclosed. The system includes multiple chambers such that if one chamber fails to operate, redundant chambers will function to maintain the user afloat in a face-up position. In a preferred embodiment, there are multiple activation mechanisms to ensure inflation of the chambers if a single activation mechanism fails to function.

Abstract: A system for maintaining a afloat in a fluid environment is disclosed. The system includes multiple chambers such that if one chamber fails to operate, redundant chambers will function to maintain the user afloat in a face-up position. In a preferred embodiment, there are multiple activation mechanisms to ensure inflation of the chambers if a single activation mechanism fails to function.

Abstract: A survival vest having a broad central strip forming the stem of a "Y" covering the back of the wearer, with left and right front strips (forming the twin forks of the "Y") dividing from the stem of the "Y" at the back of the neck and running down along each of the front shoulder/armpit areas of the wearer. The tips of each fork of the "Y" expand to form large, pockets which cover the front of the chest, abdomen, and (partially) the sides of the wearer. The twin large pockets are formed using a heavy-duty zipper, sewn around the periphery of each pocket area and are completely detachable. A webbing harness reinforces the vest across the inside of the twin pockets and along the forks of the "Y"-shape of the vest, from the base of the pockets to the point at which they join to form the collar of the vest, and along the outer edges of the stem of the "Y" which forms the back of the vest. A number of hook-and-loop fasteners (such as Velcro.RTM.

Abstract: A safety and life-preserving flotation collar intended for use by aircraft and shipboard personnel in an emergency that leaves the personnel in the water. The flotation collar has a fabric shell housing two automatically inflatable, independent, and symmetric flotation cells; two oral inflators and mechanical inflators mounted on the fabric shell; and a face shield stowed in the fabric shell. The flotation collar may be worn with an auxiliary belt or with a survival vest.

Abstract: A unified, low-profile, lightweight and strong component mounting system an aircrew member's helmet is disclosed. The system includes a substantially rectangular mounting bracket that carries necessary power, communications, and optical inputs to the components, mounting hardware and specially designed interface pieces for each component. The system is designed to securely and easily snap-lock onto the helmet and is positioned to stay balanced while attached to eliminate crewmember discomfort.

Abstract: A harness and belt assembly for a crewmember of an aircraft including left and right slings, a first belt assembly having first end second ends, a survival kit strap assembly attachment fitting which slidably engages the belt assembly, and a mechanism for releasably attaching the fitting to a seat of an aircraft. The slings are designed to extend from the chest of the crewmember, over the crewmember's shoulders, to the back of the crewmember. The first end of the belt assembly is attached to one of the slings at the portion designed to be adjacent the crewmember's chest. The second end of the belt assembly is attached to the other of the slings. A survival kit belt can be affixed to the fitting so that the survival kit ejects with the crewmember during an ejection.

Abstract: A pilot limb retention system for an aircraft ejection seat comprising two main straps, two secondary straps and two nets coupled to the seat. The system includes a stowage assembly and a deployment system for the straps and nets. The stowage assembly comprises two compartments in the seat back and two compartments in the seat pan. The deployment system comprises four inflatable bladders, two adjacent the knees of the pilot on opposite sides of the seat pan and two adjacent the shoulders of the pilot on opposite sides of the seat back. These bladders are also stowed in the compartments and are releasably connected to the main straps.