The present invention generally relates survival gear and more particularly, a life jacket.
The use of emergency position indicating radio beacons for locating personnel stranded at sea or on land are well known in the prior art. Typically, the device is battery powered, compact, and when turned on, a device will transmit radio waves at predetermined frequencies, typically 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz, which are guard channels that are listened to for emergency situations. By sending out an emergency signal at these frequencies, the Coast Guard and other surrounding people who are alerted to the guard channels are aware of the emergency and can use the frequency transmissions for locating the downed personnel.
However, transmission of the beacon merely provides a signal that requires triangulation by emergency craft. The need to hone-in on a signal, without further information, may cause delay because of the lack of more exacting location information.
Additionally, when stranded at sea, one is exposed to a multitude of environmental hazards. Aside from drowning, a stranded individual may risk harm from being exposed to the water itself. Hypothermia can set in when extremities are exposed to water temperatures below cord body temperature over a prolonged period. Additionally, salt water may draw water from exposed skin leading to potential dehydration.
As can be seen, there is a need for a more exacting location system for water-born survivors, and a hydration system. It can also be seen that a need exists for a life jacket that protects an individual from prolonged exposure to the elements.
In one aspect of the present invention, a life jacket, comprises a vest; and a deployable hood attached to the vest.
In another aspect of the present invention, a life jacket, comprises a vest filled with buoyant foam; a bladder; a hydration pack attached to the vest, wherein the hydration houses the bladder, and wherein the hydration pack is lined with insulation insulating the bladder from the hydration pack; a flow tube attached to the bladder; and a filter disposed within the flow tube.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a life jacket, comprises a vest filled with buoyant foam; a neoprene hood attached to the vest; a hydration pack attached to the vest; a flow tube connected to the hydration pack; and a filter disposed in the flow tube.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.
Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a hydration system and life vest or life jacket within a single unit with a built-in waterproof personal locator.
With reference to
In one embodiment, the hydration pack 14 may be attachable to the rear portion of the life vest 12. A flow tube 18 may extend from the hydration pack 14 with enough length to allow for easy reach to the mouth of a user. A waterproof pocket 26 may be included to hold the personal locator 24, and protect electronics used by the personal locater 24 from water and the elements. In one embodiment two waterproof pockets 26 may be provided to allow for additional storage of food or other articles that the user wishes to keep dry.
In one embodiment, a mouthpiece 18 may be attached to the flow tube 18. The mouthpiece 18 may comprise a rigid tubular body glued to, or formed with, the flow tube 18, which may fit in the user's mouth and allows suction of liquid by the user from the hydration pack 14. An on/off valve 22 may allow the user to close off the mouthpiece from flow of liquid when the user is not drinking from the hydration pack. When in the closed or off position, the on/off valve 22 may prevent leakage from the hydration pack 14 during non-use of the life vest 12, and may prevent back-flow or salt water intrusion during use of the life vest 12 when the user is not drinking from the hydration pack 14.
With reference to
The personal locater 24 may comprise a combination global positioning system (GPS) locator and transmitter. The GPS portion of the personal locater 24 may determine GPS coordinates of the user from the well-known GPS system currently in use World-Wide. In one embodiment, the GPS coordinates are constantly transmitted in regular intervals by the transmitter portion of the personal locator to be received by rescue personnel. The rescue personnel may then input the received coordinates into rescue aircraft or watercraft GPS guidance systems to guide them to the user wearing the life vest 12. GPS tracking devices that transmit location information are widely available for use as the personal locater with the system 10, including the FAST FIND GPS personal locator, available from McMurdo Ltd. of Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
With reference to
With reference to
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The lifejackets 44, 210 may also include a deployable hood 30. The hood 30 may be made from neoprene. The hood 30 may be stowed within a pouch 42 when deployed. The pouch 42 may be positioned on a rear shoulder blade of the life vest 12. When storing the hood 30, the pouch 42 may be a bundled roll positioned to protect the rear base of a user's head. The hood 30 may include adjustable straps 34 configured to widen and constrict the hood 30 for placement over the user's head. A brim 32 may be incorporated onto the hood 30 to shade the user's face from the sun. The brim 32 may be rigid or limp.
The lifejackets 44, 210 may also include waterproof pockets 26a. The pockets 26a may be lined with insulation, for example, with polyethylene, urethane, or styrofoam. Referring to
A hydration pack 14a may provide clean hydration to the user. The bladder 16 may hold, for example, up to 80 ounces of fluid. The hydration pack 14a may be lined with insulation, for example, with polyethylene, urethane, or styrofoam, insulating the bladder 16 from the hydration pack 14a and external heat. The hydration pack 14a may also be water proof preventing excess water from entering the pack potentially weighing the jacket vest 12 down. A reinforcement rubber lining 40 may surround a base of the hydration pack 14a providing protection from damage and further insulating the base of the hydration pack 14a. In an exemplary embodiment, the flow tube 18 may include a filter 224. The filter 224 may be configured to prevent particulates from being ingested by the user. The filter 224 may be integral to the flow tube 18 or in some embodiments, the flow tube 18 may be separable so that the filter 224 is connected between segments of the flow tube. Referring to
Referring now to
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/948,512 filed Nov. 17 2010 now abandoned, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20120282832 A1 | Nov 2012 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12948512 | Nov 2010 | US |
Child | 13542495 | US |