FLOTATION DEVICE
A flotation device is arranged to receive a compressed air cylinder. The flotation device includes an expansion part arranged to be expanded by compressed air and a guide for supplying compressed air from the compressed air cylinder to the expansion part. The expansion part is a silicone tube.
The invention relates to flotation devices and particularly to inflatable flotation devices.
Prior art knows use of inflatable flotation devices in aeroplanes, for example, where a flotation device in storage occupies only little space, yet may be rapidly activated for use.
An example of this type of prior art flotation device is disclosed in EP publication 1614620. The flotation device has two fillable bags of the same size, a compressed air cylinder, and a filling mechanism for transferring air from the compressed air cylinder to the bags, whereby the flotation device keeps the user afloat in the water.
A problem with the above arrangement is that the flotation device is large and hampers movements too much to be fit for any other purpose than life-saving in an emergency situation. Moreover, after use and after activation in particular the flotation device must always be refolded flat back into its storage shape.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONAn object of the invention is thus to provide a device that solves the above-mentioned problems. The object of the invention is achieved by a device characterised by what is disclosed in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
The idea of the invention is that a small casing is provided with a space for a compressed air cylinder and the contents of the compressed air cylinder may be guided, when desired, with a guide to an expansion part, which is preferably an elastic tube made of silicone, for example, and may be placed around a user's chest, for example.
Advantages of the flotation device of the invention include that it is small and does not need to be refolded or reshaped after activation but the expansion part regains its original shape automatically upon deflation.
The invention will now be described in more detail by means of preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
According to an embodiment, rubber or a mixture of rubber and silicone may be used in the expansion part. The shape of the expansion part may vary quite freely, although preferably the expansion part has a tube with a thicker wall on the side placed against the body and a thinner wall on the side directed away from the body. Hence the tube of the expansion part expands in a controlled and safe manner in a direction away from the user when compressed air is supplied into the expansion part. The casing is dimensioned so that the compressed air cylinder to be used fits into the casing. Preferably, the casing has rounded edges, and the bottom of the casing, which is placed against the skin when the flotation device is used, may be provided with a textile surface, for example, for increased comfort of use.
The bottom and the cover of the casing are preferably shaped so that when the cover of the casing is closed the second end 22 of the expansion part becomes compressed and thus hermetically closed. Correspondingly, the shaping of the opposite end of the casing causes the first end 21 of the expansion part to press between the casing and the guide 16. The shaping of the casing at the ends 21, 22 of the expansion part is dependent on the shape of the expansion part. In addition, with regard to the sealing of the first end 21 of the expansion part to the casing and the guide, also the shape of the guide 16, which may be made to substantially correspond to the shape of the inner surface of the expansion part tube, is to be taken into account.
The embodiment of
According to an embodiment, a tubular expansion part made of silicone may be made with small dimensions, a flotation belt around the chest being thus almost as unnoticeable as a measurement strap of a heart rate monitor. The flotation device does not cause any significant inconvenience in physical exercise, such as swimming, water-skiing, surfing and boating, or to children playing on the beach. Since the user does not experience a need take off the small and unnoticeable flotation device as soon as s/he has is no longer close to water or is engaged in activities, the flotation device is more likely to be worn when an accident happens than a life-vest, which is considered inconvenient.
According to an embodiment, the expansion part comprises not only a strap around the chest but also shoulder-straps that may be of the same material as the flotation device. The air conduit in the tube forming the shoulder-straps may be connected to an air conduit forming the belt, the shoulder-straps being inflated with air or some other gas at the same time as the belt.
According to an embodiment, the expansion part comprises flat pockets made of an elastic material and expandable by supplying compressed air, for example, into them. The flat pockets are preferably made of silicone and connected by a silicone tube so that some or all of the pockets are filled simultaneously when air is supplied into one of the pockets. The pockets themselves may also be tubular. The pockets may be manufactured in the shape of a vest, T-shirt or jacket, the flotation device functioning at the same time as a protective garment. Due to the large surface area, the pockets and the tubes may be made very thin and unnoticeable indeed, if necessary.
According to an embodiment, the expansion part consists of a silicone tube pressed onto a fabric or other base and expandable by supplying compressed air, for example, therein. A silicone tube pressed onto the inner or outer surface of a vest, T-shirt or jacket, for example, may form the expansion part of a flotation belt, the flotation belt being thus always ready for use when the user is wearing the garment.
A person skilled in the art will find in obvious that as technology advances the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are therefore not restricted to the above examples but may be varied within the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A flotation device arranged to receive a compressed air cylinder, the flotation device comprising:
- an expansion part of an elastic material and arranged to be expanded by compressed air; and
- a guide for supplying compressed air from the compressed air cylinder into the expansion part,
- wherein the expansion part comprises a tube pressed onto a fabric and comprising silicone.
2. The flotation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expansion part comprises at least one tube made of silicone.
3. The flotation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expansion part has a thicker side and a thinner side, the expansion of the expansion part being thus mainly due to stretching of the thinner side.
4. The flotation device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the thicker side of the expansion part is arranged to be set against a user's body when the flotation device is being used.
5. The flotation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expansion part is arranged to have a shape and size that enable the flotation device to be placed around a person's chest so that a desired side of the expansion part is against the body.
6. The flotation device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a casing arranged to be provided with a compressed air cylinder and comprising an actuator for operationally connecting the compressed air cylinder to the expansion part for balancing air pressure between the compressed air cylinder and the expansion part.
7. The flotation device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a casing having a first shaping for receiving a first end of the expansion part and for fastening it to the casing and the guide.
8. The flotation device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a casing having a second shaping for receiving a second end of the expansion part and for fastening it to the casing, the shaping being arranged to press an elastic tube of the expansion part hermetically when the casing is closed.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 17, 2014
Publication Date: Mar 17, 2016
Applicant: INNOTIA EESTI OÜ (Tallinn)
Inventor: Mika LOKKINEN (Tallinn)
Application Number: 14/786,476