Claims
- 1. A flotation device comprising:
a bladder having an inflatable volume defined by a first wall and a second wall sealed about a periphery; a cover joined to at least one of said walls to form an inflatable assembly; and an inflation valve in fluid communication with said inflatable volume through at least one of said walls, wherein said inflatable assembly wraps over said inflation valve to form a protective cavity covering said inflation valve.
- 2. The flotation device as in claim 1, in which said inflation valve is actuated by a pull cord connected to said inflation valve.
- 3. The flotation device as in claim 1, in which a window formed in said cover allows a user to determine the status of said inflation valve.
- 4. The flotation device as in claim 1, in which said cover is formed from a hard case.
- 5. The flotation device as in claim 4, in which said case includes a first portion sealingly engaging a second portion, wherein upon inflation of said bladder, said first portion disengages from said second to allow expansion of said bladder.
- 6. The flotation device as in claim 1, in which said inflation valve is a water actuated inflation valve.
- 7. The flotation device as in claim 6, in which said water actuated inflation valve has an operable state and an inoperable state, wherein in said inoperable state, said water actuated inflation valve is not actuated by water.
- 8. The flotation device as in claim 6, in which said cover is water tight, and a cut-off valve extending through said cover has an open position and a closed position, wherein in said open position, water can flow through said cut-off valve and actuate said water actuated inflation valve.
- 9. The flotation device as in claim 1, including a compressed gas supply in fluid communication with said inflation valve for inflating said inflatable volume upon actuation of said inflation valve.
- 10. A flotation device comprising:
a bladder forming part of an inflatable assembly having an inflatable volume defined by a first wall and a second wall sealed about a periphery; and an inflation valve in fluid communication with said inflatable volume through at least one of said walls, wherein said inflatable assembly wraps over said inflation valve to protect said inflation valve.
- 11. The flotation device as in claim 10, in which said inflatable assembly includes a cover joined to said bladder.
- 12. The flotation device as in claim 11, in which a window formed in said cover allows a user to determine the status of said inflation valve.
- 13. The flotation device as in claim 11, in which said cover is formed from a hard case.
- 14. The flotation device as in claim 13, in which said case includes a first portion sealingly engaging to a second portion, wherein upon inflation of said bladder, said first portion disengages from said second to allow expansion of said bladder.
- 15. The flotation device as in claim 10, in which said inflation valve is a water actuated inflation valve.
- 16. The flotation device as in claim 15, in which said water actuated inflation valve has an operable state and an inoperable state, wherein in said inoperable state, said water actuated inflation valve is not actuated by water.
- 17. The flotation device as in claim 15, in which a cover enclosing said bladder is water tight, and a cut-off valve extending through said cover has an open position and a closed position, wherein in said open position, water can flow through said cut-off valve and actuate said water actuated inflation valve.
- 18. The flotation device as in claim 10, in which said inflation valve is actuated by a pull cord connected to said inflation valve.
- 19. The flotation device as in claim 10, including a compressed gas supply in fluid communication with said water actuated inflation valve for inflating said inflatable volume upon actuation of said water actuated inflation valve.
- 20. The flotation device as in claim 10 in which said inflatable assembly wraps over said inflation valve to form a protective cavity covering said inflation valve to protect said inflation valve.
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/322,968 filed on Dec. 18, 2002.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10322968 |
Dec 2002 |
US |
Child |
10876853 |
Jun 2004 |
US |