Claims
- 1. An inflating flotation and stability device for equipment, the device comprising:
at least one inflatable bladder mounted to the mounting plate; a cover covering the inflatable bladder; carrier means for securing the inflatable bladder to the equipment; cover removing means for removing the cover; and inflation means for inflating the inflatable bladder.
- 2. The device of claim 1 wherein 1 wherein the inflation of the flotation bladder is selected from the group consisting of automatic and manual.
- 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the inflation of the flotation bladder occurs upon a predetermined event.
- 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the flotation bladder comprises a plurality of flotation bladders, each flotation bladder being independently inflatable
- 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the carrier means is selected from the group consisting of a substantially planar plate and a substantially L-shaped plate.
- 6. The device of claim 5 wherein the carrier means has openings spaced along the length for receiving a securing mechanism selected from the group consisting of straps, bolts, rivets, wing nuts, and rope.
- 7. The device of claim 6 and further comprising:
at least one strap receivable within each of the openings for releasably securing the carrier means to the equipment.
- 8. The device of claim 7 and further comprising:
a buckling mechanism secured to each strap for tightening and loosening the straps about the equipment.
- 9. The device of claim 1 wherein the carrier means includes a first flange and a second flange, a rotatable spool mounted between the first flange and the second flange, the flotation bladder wound about the spool.
- 10. The device of claim 9 wherein the first flange includes a first flange aperture and the second flange includes a second flange aperture, the spool includes a first spool aperture in a first end and a second spool aperture in a second end, and further comprising:
a first pin insertable through the first flange aperture into the first spool aperture; and a second pin insertable through the second flange aperture into the second spool aperture.
- 11. The device of claim 9 wherein the spool has an elongated slot for receiving at least a portion of the flotation bladder.
- 12. A method for floating and/or stabilizing equipment upon the equipment entering the water, the method comprising:
mounting at least one flotation bladder to the equipment; and inflating the flotation bladder upon occurrence of a predetermined event.
- 13. The method of claim 12 and further comprising:
inflating the flotation bladder automatically or manually.
- 14. The method of claim 12 and further comprising:
providing a plurality of flotation bladders, each flotation bladder being independently inflatable.
- 15. The method of claim 12 and further comprising:
providing carrier means selected from the group consisting of a substantially planar plate and a substantially L-shaped plate.
- 16. The method of claim 15 and further comprising:
forming openings along the length of the carrier means; inserting a securing mechanism within the openings; selecting the securing mechanism from the group consisting of straps, bolts, rivets, wing nuts, and rope.
- 17. The method of claim 16 and further comprising:
inserting straps through the openings for releasably securing the carrier means to the equipment.
- 18. The method of claim 12 and further comprising:
providing a first flange and a second flange; mounting a rotatable spool between the first flange and the second flange; and winding the flotation bladder about the spool.
- 19. The method of claim 18 and further comprising:
inserting a first pin through the first flange into the spool; and inserting a second pin through the second flange into the spool.
- 20. The method of claim 18 and further comprising:
forming an elongated slot in the spool; inserting at least a portion of the flotation bladder into the elongated slot.
- 21. A system for maintaining the upright stability of an object, the system comprising:
at least one flotation bladder secured to the object; sensing means for sensing the object in a non-upright condition; and inflation means for inflating the flotation bladder; wherein upon inflation of the flotation bladder, the object returns to an upright stable condition.
- 22. The system of claim 21 wherein the sensing means is a gravity sensor.
Parent Case Info
[0001] The present application is a continuation of pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/477,219, filed on Jun. 10, 2003, entitled “Inflating Flotation Device for Cargo Containers and the Like”.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60477219 |
Jun 2003 |
US |