Survival suit

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6551160
  • Patent Number
    6,551,160
  • Date Filed
    Friday, February 8, 2002
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, April 22, 2003
    22 years ago
Abstract
A survival suit for providing a user with an inflatable suit that would keep its wearer afloat, keep them warm, and provide food and water in an emergency. The survival suit includes a main body portion and leg portions that extend from the main body portion. Arm portions extend from the main body portion and shoe portions extend from the leg portions. A hood portion extends from the main body portion. An inflatable bladder is coupled to the main body portion, the leg portions, the arm portions, the shoe portions, and the hood portion. An automatic inflation assembly is coupled to the main body portion and in environmental communication with the bladder to selectively inflate the bladder. The bladder extends along the side portions of the main body portion and the leg portions to facilitate free movement of a person in the anti-exposure suit.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to anti-exposure suit and more particularly pertains to a new survival suit for providing a user with an inflatable suit that would keep its wearer afloat, keep them warm, and provide food and water in an emergency.




2. Description of the Prior Art




The use of anti-exposure suit is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,921 describes an inflatable immersion suit that has an inner layer that is inherently more elastic than the outer layer so as to ensure a close fitting around a user. Another type of anti-exposure suit is U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,072 having an anti-exposure suit that protects a user against environments of extremely cold temperatures.




While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that includes features to keep the user nourished and hydrated as well as warm and afloat.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing the user with food and water as well as warmth in an emergency situation.




Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new survival suit that would prevent the user from drowning.




Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new survival suit that would be very thin and fit like a pair of gloves, thus being comfortable for the user to wear and increasing the safety value of the present invention because the user would be more apt to be wearing the suit in when an unexpected emergency arose.




To this end, the present invention generally comprises a main body portion and leg portions that extend from the main body portion. Arm portions extend from the main body portion and shoe portions extend from the leg portions. A hood portion extends from the main body portion. An inflatable bladder is coupled to the main body portion, the leg portions, the arm portions, the shoe portions, and the hood portion. An automatic inflation assembly is coupled to the main body portion and in environmental communication with the bladder to selectively inflate the bladder. The bladder extends along the side portions of the main body portion and the leg portions to facilitate free movement of a person in the anti-exposure suit.




There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.




The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:





FIG. 1

is an in-use view of a new survival suit according to the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a front view of the present invention.





FIG. 3

is a top view of the present invention.





FIG. 4

is a top view of the present invention.





FIG. 5

is a cross-sectional view of the present invention.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to

FIGS. 1 through 5

thereof, a new survival suit embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral


10


will be described.




As best illustrated in

FIGS. 1 through 5

, the survival suit


10


generally includes a main body portion


12


and leg portions


14


that extends from the main body portion


12


. Arm portions


16


extend from the main body portion


12


and shoe portions


18


extend from the leg portions


14


. A hood portion


20


extends from the main body portion


12


. An inflatable bladder


22


is coupled to the main body portion


12


, the leg portions


14


, the arm portions


16


, the shoe portions


18


, and the hood portion


20


. An automatic inflation assembly


24


is coupled to the main body portion


12


and in environmental communication with the bladder


22


to selectively inflate the bladder


22


. The bladder


22


extends along the side portions


26


of the main body portion


12


and the leg portions


14


to facilitate free movement of a person in the anti-exposure suit.




A manual inflation tube


28


is coupled to the main body portion


12


and in environmental communication with the bladder


22


to permit manual inflation of the bladder


22


. A light assembly


30


is coupled to the hood portion


20


. The light assembly


30


is illuminated when the bladder


22


is inflated. The light assembly


30


includes a pressure switch


32


in environmental communication with the bladder


22


whereby the light is illuminated when the bladder


22


is inflated.




The bladder


22


extends along the top portions


34


of the shoe portions


18


. Each of the shoe portions


18


has a rubber sole portion


36


positioned for supporting an upright person wearing the anti-exposure suit. Pockets


38


are coupled to the main body portion


12


to permit storage of food or water containers. A slit


40


extends along a front of the main body portion


12


for facilitating putting on of the anti-exposure suit. A closure means


42


is provided for selectively closing the slit


40


to secure the survival suit to a wearer. A release valve


44


is coupled to the main body portion


12


and in environmental communication with the bladder


22


for facilitating deflation of the bladder


22


. The automatic inflation assembly


24


includes a carbon dioxide cartridge


46


, the cartridge is coupled to a one-way valve


48


coupled to the bladder


22


and is openable to inflate the bladder


22


.




The light assembly


30


includes a base housing


52


, the base housing


52


is coupled to the hood portion


20


. The light assembly


30


includes a battery


54


positioned in the base housing


52


. A light socket


56


coupled to the base housing


52


. A light


50


is coupled to the light socket


56


such that the light


50


extends from the base housing


52


, and a dome member


58


coupled to the base housing


52


for protecting the light


50


from damage.




In use, a person would put on the suit covering their torso, arm portions, leg portions and foot portions. The bladders could be inflated manually or by blowing into the tubes that would protrude from the front of the suit near the shoulders.




With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.




Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. An anti-exposure suit comprising:a main body portion, leg portions extending from said main body portion, arm portions extending from said main body portion, shoe portions extending from said leg portions, and a hood portion extending from said main body portion: an inflatable bladder coupled to said main body portion, said leg portions, said arm portions, said shoe portions, and said hood portion; an automatic inflation assembly coupled to said main body portion and in environmental communication with said bladder to selectively inflate said bladder; wherein said bladder extends along side portions of said main body portion and said leg portions to facilitate free movement of a person in said anti-exposure suit; a light assembly coupled to said hood portion, said light assembly being illuminated when said bladder is inflated; and said light assembly including a pressure switch in environmental communication with said bladder whereby said light is illuminated when said bladder is inflated.
  • 2. The anti-exposure suit of claim 1, further comprising:a plurality of pockets coupled to said main body portion.
  • 3. The anti-exposure suit of claim 1, further comprising:a slit extending along a front of said main body portion for facilitating putting on of said anti-exposure suit; and a closure means for selectively closing said slit to secure said survival suit to a wearer.
  • 4. The anti-exposure suit of claim 1, further comprising:a release valve coupled to said main body portion and in environmental communication with said bladder for facilitating deflation of said bladder.
  • 5. The anti-exposure suit of claim 1, wherein said automatic inflation assembly includes a carbon dioxide cartridge, said cartridge being coupled to a one-way valve coupled to said bladder, said one-way valve being openable to inflate said bladder.
  • 6. The anti-exposure suit of claim 1, further comprising:said light assembly including a base housing, said base housing being coupled to said hood portion; said light assembly including a battery positioned in said base housing, a light socket coupled to said base housing, a light coupled to said light socket such that said light extends from said base housing, and a dome member coupled to said base housing for protecting said light from damage.
  • 7. The anti-exposure suit of claim 1, further comprising:a manual inflation tube coupled to said main body portion and in environmental communication with said bladder to permit manual inflation of said bladder.
  • 8. An anti-exposure suit comprising:a main body portion, leg portions extending from said main body portion, arm portions extending from said main body portion, shoe portions extending from said leg portions, and a hood portion extending from said main body portion; an inflatable bladder coupled to said main body portion, said leg portions, said arm portions, said shoe portions, and said hood portion; an automatic inflation assembly coupled to said main body portion and in environmental communication with said bladder to selectively inflate said bladder; wherein said bladder extends along side portions of said main body portion and said leg portions to facilitate free movement of a person in said anti-exposure suit; said bladder extending along top portions of said shoe portions, each of said shoe portions having a rubber sole portion positioned for supporting an upright person wearing said anti-exposure suit.
  • 9. The anti-exposure suit of claim 8, further comprising: a manual inflation tube coupled to said main body portion and in environmental communication with said bladder to permit manual inflation of said bladder.
  • 10. The anti-exposure suit of claim 8, further comprising:a light assembly coupled to said hood portion, said light assembly being Illuminated when said bladder is inflated.
  • 11. The anti-exposure suit of claim 8, further comprising:a plurality of pockets coupled to said main body portion.
  • 12. The anti-exposure suit of claim 8, further comprising:a slit extending along a front of said main body portion for facilitating putting on of said anti-exposure suit; and a closure means for selectively closing said slit to secure said survival suit to a wearer.
  • 13. The anti-exposure suit of claim 8, further comprising:a release valve coupled to said main body portion and in environmental communication with said bladder for facilitating deflation of said bladder.
  • 14. The anti-exposure suit of claim 8 wherein said automatic inflation assembly includes a carbon dioxide cartridge, said cartridge being coupled to a one-way valve coupled to said bladder, said one-way valve being openable to inflate said bladder.
  • 15. An anti-exposure suit comprising:a main body portion, leg portions extending from said main body portion, arm portions extending from said main body portion, shoe portions extending from said leg portions, and a hood portion extending from said main body portion; an inflatable bladder coupled to said main body portion, said leg portions, said arm portions, said shoe portions, and said hood portion; an automatic inflation assembly coupled to said main body portion and in environmental communication with said bladder to selectively inflate said bladder; wherein said bladder extends along side portion of said main body portion and said leg portions to facilitate free movement of a person in said anti-exposure suit; a manual inflation tube coupled to said main body portion and in environmental communication with said bladder to permit manual inflation of said bladder; a light assembly communication with said bladder whereby said light is illuminated when said bladder is inflated; said bladder extending along top portion of said shoe portions, each of said shoe portions having a rubber sole portion positioned for supporting an upright person wearing said anti-exposure suit; a plurality of pockets coupled to said main body portion; a slit extending along a front of said main body portion for facilitating putting on of said anti-exposure suit; a closure means for selectively closing said slit to secure said survival suit to a wearer; a release valve coupled to said main body portion and in environmental communication with said bladder for facilitating deflation of said bladder; wherein said automatic inflation assembly includes a carbon dioxide cartridge, said cartridge being coupled to a one-way valve coupled to said bladder, said one-way valve being openable to inflate said bladder; said light assembly including a base housing, said base housing being coupled to said hood portion; said light assembly including a battery positioned in said base housing, a light socket coupled to said base housing, a light coupled to said light socket such that said light extends from said base housing, and a dome member coupled to said base housing for protecting said light from damage.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Number Name Date Kind
1147274 Simon Jul 1915 A
1314299 Zaccard et al. Aug 1919 A
2181159 Temple Nov 1939 A
3925839 Smith Dec 1975 A
4242769 Rayfield et al. Jan 1981 A
4673366 Hawkins Jun 1987 A
4734072 Lastnik Mar 1988 A
5013271 Bartlett May 1991 A
5067921 Bramham Nov 1991 A
5458516 Uglene et al. Oct 1995 A
D429384 Crupi et al. Aug 2000 S