WO2012093292A1

WO2012093292A1 - Life saving garment

Info

Publication number: WO2012093292A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/050227
Authority: WO
Inventors: Muhammad Jabareen; Igor Dadashev
Original assignee: Muhammad Jabareen; Igor Dadashev
Priority date: 2011-01-06
Filing date: 2011-01-19
Publication date: 2012-07-12
Also published as: IL210475A0; IL210475B

Abstract

A life saving garment comprising: a belt adapted to hold gas to provide buoyancy to a wearer of the garment; a gas container proximal to the belt for containing compressed gas; and a gas-release mechanism for releasing at least a portion of the compressed gas from the gas container into the belt. In some embodiments the belt comprises an inner jacket for holding the gas.

Description

LIFE SAVING GARMENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [001 ] The present invention relates to life saving garments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] Thousands of people drown every year. There are numerous devices to help prevent such drowning, for example life saving jackets or vests and other floatation devices such as inflatable devices often referred to as "water wings" that are commonly put on the arms of children. These devices are often not used because they inhibit movement, are uncomfortable or are simply forgotten. [003] US 5,030,152 (Carr) discloses a life-saving device for protection against drowning, the device incorporating buoyancy apparatus for holding a potential drowning victim and an attached transmitter above water. A receiver and alarm device converts the signal from the transmitter into audio and visual alarms which summon help. The buoyancy apparatus comprises a capsule containing a chemical which generates a non-toxic gas when dissolved in water, whereby the device is actuated automatically.

[004] US 1 ,208,232 (Taylor) also discloses a water safety device attachable to an article of clothing. When necessary, the user activates a cord, allowing water to enter and mix with chemicals to inflate the bag. [005] US 4,676,760 (Massbaum) describes an inflatable flotation device formed of chambers conforming generally to the outline of a user's hand and lower forearm, and a hollow portion arranged between adjacent sides of the inflatable chambers defines a space for receiving such user's hand and lower forearm. The user can inflate or deflate the flotation device via a valve at the exterior of one of the chambers.

[006] US 650,976 (Lavery) discloses a life preserver which may be pinned to an article of clothing. When the wearer falls into the water, a seal is dissolved and water is allowed into a bag where it mixes with chemicals, forming a gas which inflates the bag.

[007] US 923,801 (Bargar) and US 1 ,458,822 (Halter) provide additional versions of buoyancy devices which inflate when submerged in water/moisture via chemical reactions; and US 3,004,269 (Dillier) provides a vest or jacket incorporating pockets that inflate by a foaming gaseous substance when submerged.

[008] EP0744336 (Darcy) discloses a life-jacket which takes account the articulation zones of a wearer's body, namely those parts of the upper torso that bend, twist and flex when engaged in maritime activities. The life- jacket has a buoyancy material with articulation zones which are coincident with a wearer's articulation zones. The life-jacket has an upper body garment which has seven front pockets on each side of a front opening. Each pocket contains suitable buoyancy material. Additional pockets are located on the back of the life-jacket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[009] The present invention relates to a life saving garment including an inflatable device. [010] In accordance with embodiments of one aspect of the present invention there is provided a life saving garment comprising: a belt adapted to hold gas to provide buoyancy to a wearer of the garment; a gas container proximal to the belt for containing compressed gas; and a gas-release mechanism for releasing of at least a portion of the compressed gas from the gas container into the inner jacket. [01 1 ] Advantages: The garment is particularly useful for people with weak swimming abilities such as very young, very old and handicapped people. The garment is worn as a regular garment in or out of the water, i.e. it is not an auxiliary garment or a device attached to a garment, so that it is comfortable and the user cannot forget to wear it. In some embodiments, the amount of inflation can be controlled or even reversed (deflated).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[012] The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

[013] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a life saving garment of the present invention;

[014] Fig. 2 is a view of Fig. 1 in the operated position;

[015] Fig. 3 a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a belt of the life saving garment of the present invention; and

[016] Fig. 4 is a perspective front view of another embodiment of the present life saving garment.

[017] The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings referred to above. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION [018] Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features/components of an actual implementation are necessarily described. Although the present garment can be implemented in various forms, such as shorts/trousers, a shirt, a vest or the like, the garment is particularly implementable as a bathing or swimming suit, and will thus be described using such an example.

[019] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a life saving garment of the present invention, exemplified by a man's swimsuit 10 comprising a belt 12 adapted to be able to hold a gas; a gas container 14 for containing compressed/pressurized gas, typically air, and a gas-release mechanism 16, for releasing gas from gas container 14 into belt 12. Swimsuit 10 may be for example, a child's swimsuit or a swimsuit designed for a man or woman.

[020] Belt 12 is typically formed from an expandable material, and is thus flexible to inflate when gas is dissolving within. Belt 12 is typically integrally formed with swimsuit 10. However, belt 12 can be designed to be attached to the swimsuit, for example, by using, buttons, snaps and the like. In some embodiments, belt 12 is designed to fully wrap around the user's body. For example, the user may adjust belt 12 around his waist, chest, and/or at any other part of the body which enable him a free movement. [021 ] Belt 12 may itself be inflatable and adapted to hold gas, else in other embodiments, the belt may comprise an inner jacket 18 attached thereto (e.g. sewn, glued, etc), typically to an inner surface or portion of the belt. In such case, inner jacket 18 is adapted for holding gas. Inner jacket 18 is typically formed from an expandable material typically gas-impermeable housed within belt 12. Alternatively, inner jacket 18 can be a substantially gas-impermeable bag-like structure folded up in belt 12 that inflates (unfolds) when gas is released therein. Typically, inner jacket 18 is tube-shaped (i.e. surrounding the user's body), however, the inner jacket could be of various shapes, for example, in the form of one or more side bags, front and rear bags, and so on. [022] Gas container 14 is adapted to contain a compressed gas and is operably connected, typically proximal, to belt 14 and/or to inner jacket 18. According to particular embodiments, container 14 is a generally flat component which may be designed with a curvature to rest comfortably on the user's leg; furthermore the container can be wrapped, e.g. by fabric or the like, else the swimsuit 10 can comprise an inner or outer pocket (not shown) to house (carry, support) the container.

[023] Release of gas from container 14 is controlled by gas-release mechanism 16, typically a one-time use pin, such as used in activating grenades or the like; however in some embodiments the mechanism comprises a valve. Compressed gas is released only when the user (or perhaps a nearby person providing assistance) activates gas-release mechanism 16 rather than the gas being released automatically, for example upon contact with water or other liquid. As a result, belt 12, or inner jacket 18, is not inflated inadvertently by water spray or a spill.

[024] In embodiments wherein the swimsuit 10 comprises inner jacket

18, belt 12 has an inner jacket exit passage 20 for allowing inner jacket 18 to exit from the belt when the inner jacket is inflated. Exit passage 20 can be held temporarily closed by a number of mechanisms such as hook and loop fasteners, a pressure sensitive adhesive, one or more clips (for example clips 22, exemplified in Fig. 3), and the like.

[025] Gas-release mechanism 16 is typically located adjacent to gas container 14, and adjacent one of the user's hands for convenient operation. Gas-release mechanism 16 may be adapted for left and or right handed operation.

[026] The swimsuit 10 can be used in an emergency or merely as a controllable aid (i.e. the amount of compressed gas released to the belt can be controlled). In some embodiments, swimsuit 10 further includes a belt/inner jacket valve (not shown) for slow deflation if the user decides he/she does not need full or further buoyancy assistance. This feature may also be used to totally deflate the belt/inner jacket for repeated use. Alternatively, gas-release mechanism 16 can be designed to allow passage of gas from the belt 12 or inner jacket 18 out to the atmosphere, for example as a 3-way valve.

[027] In its non-inflated configuration, inner jacket 18 resides within belt 12 (as an expandable balloon-like structure, or folded/rolled if a bag-like structure, thereby allowing the user an easy and free movement. When the user wishes to inflate belt 12 (or inner jacket 18) he or she operates gas- release mechanism 16, for example by pulling out a one-time use pin (not shown) for full inflation or slightly turning a valve (not shown) to control the amount of gas released into belt 12 or inner jacket 18.

[028] Inner jacket 18 within belt 12 may be designed to expand or unfold in an elongated fashion so that it will inflate upward toward the upper body of the user. Thus the user will be kept face up in the water helping to keep the user's head above the surface of the water to permit breathing. [029] In some embodiments, gas container 14 is adapted to be filled with an amount of gas that will completely fill inner jacket 18, and no more, to thereby avoid popping of the inner jacket. Gas container 14 can be replaced or refilled after use. In other embodiments, there may be more than one valve, to allow for multiple use of the same gas container. [030] Fig. 2 shows the life saving garment in an inflated configuration; i.e. after compressed gas from container 14 has inflated inner jacket 18, the inner jacket 18 thus expanding out of belt 12 to provide buoyancy to the user. Garment 10 is typically more or less flat when not in an inflated mode, to avoid hindering movement of the user and upon inflation inner jacket 18 will inflate and exit belt 12.

[031 ] Fig. 3 shows clips 22 attached to the inside of belt 22. Clips 22 are adapted to open when inner jacket 18 is inflated with gas from gas container 14 to thereby allow the inner jacket to expand outward and upward through exit passage 20. Clips 22 can be snapped back into their closed position so that after inner jacket 18 is deflated and placed back in belt 12, the life-saving garment can be re-used. [032] Fig. 4 shows the life jacket saving garment, exemplified by a woman's two-piece swimsuit 24. Belt 12 can be integrated with the lower piece of the woman's swimsuit, whereby, like in the man's swimsuit, belt 12 is wrapped around the user's waist. Alternatively, belt 12 can be integrated with the upper piece of the woman's swimsuit, mutatis mutandis.

[033] It should be understood that the above description is merely exemplary and that there are various embodiments of the present invention that may be devised, mutatis mutandis, and that the features described in the above-described embodiments, and those not described herein, may be used separately or in any suitable combination; and the invention can be devised in accordance with embodiments not necessarily described above.

Claims

1. A life saving garment comprising: a belt adapted to hold gas to provide buoyancy to a wearer of the garment;

a gas container proximal to the belt for containing compressed gas; and

a gas-release mechanism for releasing at least a portion of the compressed gas from the gas container into the belt.

2. The garment according to claim 1 , wherein the belt comprises an inner jacket attached thereto adapted to receive gas from the gas-release mechanism and hold the gas, the belt further comprising an exit passage from which the inner jacket can expand therefrom.

3. The garment according to claim 2, further comprising mechanism for holding exit passage temporarily closed.

4. The garment according to claim 3, wherei n the mechanism for holding exit passage temporarily closed comprises at least one clip.

5. The garment according to claim 1 , further comprising a deflation mechanism to release gas from the belt.

6. The garment according to claim 1 , wherein the belt further comprises adjustable means for securing the belt around the garment.

7. The garment according to claim 1 , wherein the belt is releasably attached to the garment.

8. The garment according to claim 1 , wherei n the gas-release mechanism is adapted to release all the compressed gas from the gas container.

9. The garment according to claim 8, wherei n the gas-release mechanism comprises a one-time use gas-release pin.