Abstract: An inflatable survival vest includes an inflatable bladder having an inflation inlet through which a gas is input to inflate the bladder. The bladder is configured in the shape of a vest. The bladder has a plurality of parallel seams that divide the bladder into tubular channels. The tubular channels cause the vest to have a wavy outwardly facing surface with crests and troughs and a wavy inwardly facing surface with crests and troughs. An inner air chamber is positioned along the inwardly facing surface of the bladder. A shell with limited stretch-ability overlies the inflatable bladder, thereby limiting outward expansion of the bladder such that the bladder is adapted to expand inwardly pressing the inner air chamber against a body of a person wearing the bladder.

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: A device made of an elastomeric material formed in a circular or elliptical or oval shape having an exterior surface and an interior surface and a non-uniform thickness, with opposing ends having a decreased thickness. The interior surface may include one or more slip resistant elements. The exterior of the device may also include at least one slip resistant element as well as one or more artistic or design elements or overlays. The device is lightweight and may be made more buoyant with one or more air pockets or air spaces located between the exterior and the interior surfaces and walls forming the surfaces. In operation, one or more devices are removably and adjustably positioned around an extremity portion of a person, such as both ankles, both feet, both calves, both knees, both thighs, both hands, both wrists, both lower arms, both upper arms, or both elbows.

Abstract: A system for providing a secure fit between feet and/or ankles of an individual and boot sections of wader pants may include wader pants including boot sections, and wader support pants configured to be positioned underneath or over the wader pants. The wader support pants may include inflatable membranes configured to be disposed within or on the boot sections of the wader pants, and a pump in fluid communication with the inflatable membranes. The pump is operable to inflate the membranes to provide a secure fit between the boot sections of the wader pants and the feet and/or ankles of the individual.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an airbag system and, more particularly, to such a system employed as a rescue or life-saving system to enable a person to survive an avalanche, for example. In a particular embodiment, the invention relates to an airbag system utilized with a backpack to be worn by a skier, snowboarder, hiker, or snowmobiler, for example. Instead of relying upon compressed gas cartridges or cylinders to inflate the airbag(s), the invention inflates the airbag(s) with ambient air only. In a particular embodiment, air is supplied to the airbag by means of a battery-powered electrical motor.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a personal garment constructed with a buoyancy-enhancing feature whose purpose is to provide the garment wearer with the ability to float on the surface of the water for an extended period of time with minimal expenditure of energy in a water environment in order to prevent drowning. The buoyancy enhancing feature may comprise several configurations. One configuration consists of a compressed fluid canister apparatus constructed within the garment that is activated by the garment wearer. Another configuration comprises a garment constructed in part of a fabric manufactured with minute particles of a buoyancy-enhancing material encapsulated within the fabric substance. Another configuration consists of the incorporation of one or more removable buoyancy-enhancing panels into pockets constructed within the garment.

Abstract: A life jacket has a plurality of shoulder air bags, a zipper disposed between the shoulder air bags, and a plurality of pockets. Each of the pockets receives an inflated bag. A safety pin is disposed on the inflated bag. An air inlet hose is connected to the respective shoulder air bag and a pressing ball. Each of the shoulder air bags has a hook-and-loop type fastener.

Abstract: An accessory for inflating and deflating inflatable articles comprises a conduit 13, an intake 17, an outtake 19 and an injector 35. In use, conduit 13 functions as a venturi tube for rapid inflation and deflation of inflatable articles, preferably, articles having a large, low pressure air volume. For inflation, outtake 19 is connected to the inflatable article. For deflation, intake 17 is connected to the inflated article. For inflation and deflation, a source of pressurized air, preferably, an electric air compressor is connected to injector 35.

Abstract: An air pump formed of a resilient elastomeric material bondable about the perimeter of an opening provided in a plastic inflatable bladder, has a self-supporting spherical dome portion and a generally planar base portion. An inlet flapper type valve is integrally formed in a wall of the dome and an outlet check valve extends through an opening in the base for supplying air into the plastic bladder accomplished by alternately compressing and releasing the dome. The underside of the base includes projections disposed about the outlet valve to hold the bladder wall clear of the outlet valve. The base may also include a tail portion which extends laterally of the dome with an exhaust valve affixed thereto for deflating the bladder.