Claims
- 1. In a multi-wheeled all terrain vehicle having a frame, a motive power means for propelling at least one wheel of the multi-wheeled all terrain vehicle operably connected to the frame, and at least one steerable wheel operably connected to the frame, the improvement comprising:
an inflatable bladder in an initial folded and un-inflated conditioned, operably connected to the frame by at least one flexible strap; inflation means, operably connected to the inflatable bladder, for inflating the inflatable bladder; and deployment means, operably connected to the inflation means, for sensing water submersion of the multi-wheeled all terrain vehicle and activating the inflation means to inflate the inflatable bladder; so that sensing submersion of the multi-wheeled all terrain vehicle activates the inflation means inflating the inflatable bladder, which, when inflated, floats at the surface of the water with the multi-wheeled all terrain vehicle submerged below and connected to the inflatable bladder by the at least one flexible strap.
- 2. The invention of claim 1 in which the inflatable bladder comprises a polymer.
- 3. The invention of claim 2 in which the polymer comprises a polymer selected from a list of polymers consisting of: polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyurethane, poly(vinyl chloride), polyisobutylene, polychloroprene, and polybutadiene.
- 4. The invention of claim 2 in which the polymer comprises a polymeric fabric sheet in combination with a polymer coating.
- 5. The invention of claim 1 in which the inflation means comprises a pressure cylinder of compressed gas.
- 6. The invention of claim 5 in which the compressed gas comprises carbon dioxide.
- 7. The invention of claim 1 in which the deployment means comprises an electrical submersion sensor and electrical power source.
- 8. The invention of claim 1 in which the deployment means comprises a mechanical submersion sensor.
- 9. The invention of claim 8 in which the mechanical submersion sensor comprises a hydrostatic sensor.
- 10. The invention of claim 1 in which the deployment sensor comprises a chemical submersion sensor.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/643,810, filed Aug. 22, 2000 entitled DEPLOYABLE RECOVERY SYSTEM FOR SNOWMOBILE AND RIDER, by inventor John T. Weinel.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09643810 |
Aug 2000 |
US |
Child |
10078619 |
Feb 2002 |
US |