Abstract: An inflatable flotation device having a reaction chamber with reactants that generate gas when mixed, said reactants being separated by a barrier assembly; an activating mechanism adapted to remove or puncture the barrier assembly such that said reactants mix; and an inflatable compartment fluidly connected to the reaction chamber by means of a pressure sensitive passageway, adapted to open only when the pressure of the gas in said reaction chamber exceeds a predetermined threshold. This ensures that most of the reactants are used up to generate gas before the gas enters the inflatable chamber, thus preventing scattering of the reactants. Some implementations have a reaction chamber without a barrier assembly, comprising reactants that generate gas when mixed with water and an activating mechanism adapted to expose the reactants to water. A variety of manual or automatic mechanisms may be employed to activate the reaction and inflate the device.

Abstract: An inflation device is provided which is inflatable upon impact by water for marine flotation life preservers, wherein the tip of a striking pin is moved by means of a plunger which is driven by igniting a pyrotechnic charge in the direction of the sealing membrane of a pressure gas cartridge and against the force of a spring, and wherein the tip of the striking pin and the sealing membrane are of electrically conducting material, and wherein during a ready position of the device, the tip of the striking pin bears against the sealing membrane of the pressure gas cartridge and wherein the tip and the sealing membrane are in electrical connection with an indicator unit to form a closed electrical circuit, whereby the presence of an intact sealing membrane of the pressure gas cartridge, or the absence thereof, is detectable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inflator device that is adapted for producing a sufficient quantity of a gaseous product to substantially inflate an inflatable member. The inflator device has a first stage gas source in fluid communication with a second stage gas source, which, in turn, is in fluid communication with the inflatable member. The second stage gas source contains a liquified gas in an amount sufficient to inflate the inflatable member upon vaporization of the liquified gas, and the first stage gas source is capable of providing a sufficient quantity of gas at a sufficiently high temperature to the second stage gas source to vaporize substantially all of the liquified gas in the second stage gas source.

Abstract: A propulsion and exercise device transmitting human energy from both the upper and lower body simultaneously. A frame (20) contains a rotatable upwardly extending mast (30) to which a foot engaging structure (38) is attached by linkage (48). A collapsible backrest (22) is situated on the frame and movable arms (62) with handles (56) are attached to the mast. Mechanical advantage and energy transmission is accomplished by pushing the foot engaging structure forward with ones legs while pulling the handles rearward propelling a vehicle or exercising the body.

Abstract: An improved automatic actuation device for inflatable life-saving equipment which comprises a housing, a compressed gas cylinder, a piercing pin for piercing the seal cap of the gas cylinder to open it, a L-shaped lever for driving the piercing pin and an automatic actuation device which will automatically operate when submerged in water to actuate the lever, characterized in that the automatic actuation device can be readily fitted on the compressed gas cylinder of any kind of the conventional life-saving equipment and comprises an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, an actuating spring being compressing received between two cylinders, a water-soluble paper coil being surrounded around two projecting pins of the cylinders when two cylinders are pressed and fastened together and the water-soluble paper coil is used in the form of a replaceable unit.