GB2082979A

GB2082979A - Survival Vest With Attached Hypothermia-resisting Hood

Info

Publication number: GB2082979A
Application number: GB8124648A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-09-02
Filing date: 1981-08-12
Publication date: 1982-03-17
Also published as: DE3133955A1; FR2489240A1

Abstract

A combined survival vest utilizing a buoyant body, which includes inflatable cells 12, 14 and has permanently attached thereto a hypothermia-resisting hood 26. The hood 26, when the vest is not in use, can be rolled or otherwise collapsed in an out-of-the-way position in which it extends along the back portion of a neck-receiving opening of the vest. In use, the hood 26 is unrolled, and readily positioned in protective, overlying relation to the wearer's neck and head. In another embodiment (Figure 6), buoyancy is imparted to the vest by plastics foam. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Survival Vest with Attached Hypothermia Resisting Hood This invention relates to survival devices comprising buoyant vests and hypothermiaresisting hoods.

Considerable advances have been made in survival devices intended to preserve life during marine disasters, and in recent years much has been done towards providing life vests which are relatively light, especially when of the inflatable type, so as to be adapted to be worn by crew members on ocean-going vessels with minimum interference to the execution of their normal duties. Life vests of the type referred to are conveniently provided with neck-receiving openings, and extend around the back of the wearer's neck, and across the chest of the wearer, being secured in most instances about the waist by adjustable straps.

Life vests of this type are also used by airlines, for immediate distribution to passengers and effective deployment in the event of an actual or impending disaster over water.

While life preservers of this type are of remarkable efficiency, remaining inflated for very long periods of time, it has nevertheless been found that the life of the wearer may be lost, even though he or she is kept afloat, due to hypothermia, which is the creation of an abnormally low body temperature.

Hypothermia sets in when a person is exposed for a substantial period of time to a low temperature. This can occur to a person sustained by a life vest, in cold ocean waters, awaiting rescue that may not materialize for hours or even days. To lessen the risk of hypothermia crew members and passengers are advised to double the knees up against the chest, assuming the foetal position, and to hold their knees there with the hands and arms. This minimises the area of body in contact with the water and slows the onset of a hypothermic condition.

This practice, though desirable, still does not prevent loss of body heat through the head. A person may lose as much as 80% of body heat through the head, and accordingly the provision of hypothermic hoods has been recognised as being increasingly important.

Normally, a hypothermia-resisting hood is provided on garments, such as jackets. It is known, indeed, to provide jackets with flotation means built into the lining thereof, so as to permit them to serve, normally, as clothing while still being adapted to serve, to some-degree, as flotation devices. Such jackets may have an attached hood, as disclosed, for example, in U.S.

Patent No. 3,199,128.

However, so far as is known it has not previously been suggested to combine a life vest itself (as distinct from a jacket, coat or other outerwear) with a hypothermia-resisting hood. A life vest, per se, performs no real function as a piece of wearing apparel, and though it often must be worn during the regular performances of shipboard duties, it tends to be bothersome and cumbersome. Accordingly, light, thin, sleeveless life vests have become increasingly popular, especially those that do not interfere with the wearer's normal activities.

It is important, therefore, that in combining a life vest with a hypothermia-resisting hood, one should design the hood so that it may be furled or otherwise collapsed into a relatively compact area, either within the life vest itself, or in direct contact therewith, where it will not interfere with normal activities, but will nevertheless be quickly available and capable of being swiftly unwrapped for use as necessary.

The present invention stems from the need for a life vest, as distinguished from ordinary outerwear or foul-weather gear, combined with a hypothermia-resisting hood, so as to provide a high degree of protection against hypothermic losses for the survivors of a marine disaster while awaiting rescue. The invention aims to ensure the presence of a hypothermia-resisting hood without the necessity of incorporating a hood of this type in the clothing of passengers or crew. This is especially important, for example, for craft passengers, and it is also important with respect to passengers or crew of vessels in warm climates, where the wearing of heavy, hooded outer garments would be extremely uncomfortable.The provision of this concept would be of importance, also for the crews of racing yachts, to permit them to wear light clothing that will not impede their strenuous activities under racing conditions.

According to the invention a survival device comprises a buoyant vest having an opening for receiving the head and neck of a wearer, the opening having a back portion extendable along the back of the wearer's neck, and a hypothermiaresisting hood having a flexible body secured along an edge thereof to the vest along the back portion of the opening and adapted to be collapsed into an elongated form when not in use, in which form it extends along the back portion of the neck-receiving opening, the hood being positioned to be pulled forwardly and upwardly from the back portion of the opening, when in use, into covering relation to the head and neck of the wearer.

In a more particular sense, the invention encompasses the provision of a hypothermiaresisting hood, having an edge attached to at least the back portion of the neck-receiving opening of a life vest, in position such as to permit the hypothermia-resisting hood, in some instances, to be rolled up within encapsulating covers that are also used to enclose and protect the deflated cells of the vest. In this arrangement, the hypothermia-resisting hood is secured either to the outer edge of one of the covers, in a fashion such that the cover becomes a part of the hood when the cells are inflated, or alternatively is secured to the neckband exteriorly of the space within which the inflatable cells are housed between the covers.

In another preferred form, the invention features a direct attachment of the hood to the neckband of a life vest that does not have protective covers of the kind described above. In this instance, the hood is usable with a reversible vest, so that the hood can be extended to either side of the vest, without regard to how the vest is put on by the user.

in still another preferred form, the hood is attached by adhesive or the like, directly to the edge of the opening of a life vest of the solid type, as distinguished from a life vest of the inflatable type, and this is true whether the solid life vest is rigid or alternatively is formed of a flexible material.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a life vest of the encapsulated type, in a deflated condition with a hypothermia-resisting hood enclosed protectively with the inflatable cells, Figure 2 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view through the back portion of the vest, taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the vest inflated with the hood in protective relation to the head of the wearer, Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the combined vest and hypothermia hood of Figures 1 to 3, the cells being inflated and the wearer's head being shown in chain-dotted lines, Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the same cutting plane as Figure 2, showing a modified form in which the hood is disposed exteriorly of the space between the encapsulating covers, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form in which the hood is combined with a solid life vest, the hood being shown in full lines in a collapsed or furled position, and in chain-dotted lines in an extended or operative position, Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 7-7 of Figure 6, Figure 8 is a front elevation of another modified form, wherein the hood is combined with a life vest of the double cell type, Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 9-9 of Figure 8, Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the life vest of Figures 8 and 9 in an inflated condition with the hood in use, Figure 11 is a sectional view on the same cutting plane as Figure 9, the hood being shown in full lines extended to one side of the cells, and in chain-dotted lines extended to the opposite side, Figure 1 2 is a front elevation of another modified form in which the hood is shown attached to a life vest of the single cell type, and Figure 13 is a sectional view on line 13-13 of Figure 12, the hood being shown in full lines in collapsed or rolled condition, and in chain-dotted lines extended in two alternative positions on respective sides of the cell.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 is a combined life vest 10 of the encapsulated type, and an attached hypothermiaresisting hood normally housed with a double cell flotation means within a protective capsule.

The life vest itself is of the type disclosed, for example, in pending British Patent Application No.

81.01946. The vest 10 includes a protective covering or capsule for the inflatable cells, said covering comprising upper and lower panels 16, 1 8 formed of a flexible, strong fabric, the panels 16, 18 being of horseshoe shape defining a neckreceiving opening 11 enabling the vest to be worn collar fashion by the user. The covers or protective panels 1 6, 1 8 protectively enclose inflatable cells 12, 14, which extend substantially the full length of and correspond in shape to the respective cover panels 16, 18.

The cover panels 1 6, 18 have outer edges to which are stitched or otherwise secured tapes that extend the full length of the outer edges of the panels, said tapes being designated 20, 22 and being provided with complementary pads respectively having interengageable loops and hooks, such as the pads known by the Registered Trade Mark VELCRO. The inner edges of the cover panels 1 6, 18 are connected through tiie provision of a neckband 24, which is stitched as at 25, along its respective longitudinal edges, to the inner longitudinal edges of the cover panels 16,18.

The entire life vest, when so formed, is very light, and in the deflated condition of the cells 12, 14, is substantially flat so as to be comfortably worn around the neck. The life vest, at the lower, adjacent ends of the cover panels 1 6, 1 8, may be provided with waist-encircling straps, not shown, for the purpose of holding the life vest in place.

Alternatively, the life vest can be detachably connected to a crew vest 27 of open mesh material or the like, similar to that disclosed in copending British Patent Application No.81.01947.

It is thus seen that a life vest is provided, including a protective capsule which is normally completely closed throughout its entire length.

The capsule, on inflation of the cells 12, 14, separates along the outer edges of the cover panels; that is, the inflation of the cells 1 2, 14 exerts an outward pressure on the respective cover panels 1 6, 1 8 such as to cause separation of the tapes 20, 22. In these circumstances, the inflated life vest appears as in Figures 3 and 4.

The inflating means is wholly conventional, and is not shown. When the cells 12, 1 4 are inflated, forcing the cover panels 1 6, 1 8 apart, the upper cover panel 1 6 is forced by the inflation of the upper cell 12 to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4. In these circumstances, it is forced up against the back of the neck and the lower portion of the back of the wearer's head. At the same time, a rolled hood 26 is exposed, where it can be conveniently grasped by the user and unrolled.

The hypothermia-resisting hood 26 is of a flexible, suitably protective, close-woven fabric or rubber, designed to contain body heat. It includes a body, designated at 30, having a lower edge 32 stitched or otherwise secured to the outer longitudinal edge of the upper cover panel 1 6. As seen from Figure 2, the edge 32 in the illustrated example is disposed between the tape 20 and the outer longitudinal edge portion of the upper cover panel 16, so that the stitching 28 used to secure the tape 20 to the cover panel 1 6 is also used to secure the lower edge 32 of the hood body 30 to the outer edge of the cover panel 1 6.

The result is that when the life preserver is in use with the cells 12, 14 inflated, and the cover panel 1 6 has been forced to the Figure 4 position by inflation of the cells, the hood may now be unrolled, to the Figure 4 position. In these circumstances, the hood completely and snugly encloses the head of the wearer (save for the face), in cooperation with the cover panel 1 6. The cover panel 1 6 itself forms a portion of the hypothermia-resisting hood, in that the panel 1 6 extends along the back of the wearer's neck and along the sides of the wearer's neck and head, with the hood body 30 covering the upper portion of the head and being gathered snugly around the wearer's face through the provision of a hem 34 enclosing an elastic, expandable element 36.The sides of the hood body 30, as shown in Figure 4, are tapered forwardly, so as to extend the hood protectively as far forwardly as possible, along the sides of the wearer's head.

Normally, as shown in Figure 2, the hood 26 is completely enclosed within the capsule, along with the flotation cells 12, 14. It is important to note, however, that when the cells 12, 14 are inflated, the cover panel 1 6 is automatically forced upwardly by the cells against the back and sides of the wearer's head, and serves as a part of the hood itself. This exposes the rolled-up hood 26 for convenient access. The wearer need merely unfold the body 30 to complete the hood, at which time it will appear as in Figure 3.

In Figure 5 there is shown a modified embodiment. This is identical to the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 in that it includes inflatable cells 1 2a, 1 4a encapsulated within a protective covering composed of panels 1 6a, 1 8a normally separably connected along their outer edges by tapes 20a, 22a, and connected along their inner edges by a neck band 24a.

In Figure 5, however, the hood 26a is stitched to one longitudinal edge of the neckband 24a, and is rolled up into overlying relation with the panel 1 6a. Thus, in this case the hood 26a is not enclosed in the capsule itself, but instead is disposed where it could be used, for example as a head covering by a crewman performing his regular duties on the deck of a ship. In the modification of Figure 5, when the cells 1 2a, 1 4a are inflated, the panel 1 6a does not itself form part of the protective hood. Instead, the hood is comprised entirely by the body 30a, and can be unrolled and used in a similar way to that shown in Figures 3 and 4.

In Figures 6 and 7, there is shown an embodiment incorporating a life vest of the solid, as distinguished from the inflatable, type. A life vest of this type may be a moulded member formed of a buoyant plastics foam, or of kapok. In either event, the life vest is provided with a neckreceiving opening 11 b, similar to the neckreceiving opening 11 provided in the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 4. The hood 26b attached to the vest 1 Ob is formed of the same material as in the other embodiments of the invention already described.Thus, the hood 26b comprises a flexible body 30b which is adapted to be rolled up in the manner shown in full lines in Figure 6, the body having a lower edge which may, for example, be adhesively secured at 37b to the back portion of the neck-receiving opening 11 h (Figure 7). The rolled-up hood body can be readily adjusted to the shape shown in Figure 6, in which it protectively encloses the top, sides, and back of the wearer's head to minimise hypothermia in the event of long exposure to the chill of the ocean waters.In this form, as in the other forms described, there is a hem 34b enclosing an elastic element 36b. In addition, at its sides, the body of the hood is extended forwardly through the provision of tapered siçie portions 38b.

In Figures 8 to 11, another embodiment of the invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the invention is applied to a life preserver of the type in which the inflatable cells are exposed, rather than being protectively enclosed in a capsule or covering of the kind shown in Figures 1 to 4. The vest 1 0c comprises cells 1 2c, 1 4c shaped to provide a neck-receiving opening 11 C, and adapted to be separably connected below the opening by separable fasteners 1 7c.

A life vest of this type is provided with a neckband 24c which is secured to the inner edges of and extends between the flotation cells. This arrangement is similar, for example, to that shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,002,203.

A hood 26c shown in a collapsed or furled condition in Figure 9, has its edge 38c secured by stitching 40c to the mid-portion of the neckband, that is along an area extending longitudinally and centrally of the neckband. The neckband extends around the major part of the opening 11 C as shown in Figure 8, and the hood edge 38c is secured to the neckband 24c for at least the major part of the length of the neckband 24c.

In this embodiment, the hood 26c overlies the cells 1 2c, 1 4c and is readily accessible when the cells are inflated, so as to be capable of being pulled forwardly and upwardly over the head of the user, in the manner best shown in Figure 10.

A life vest of the type shown in Figures 8 and 9 is often intentionally designed to be reversible.

This permits it to be put on by the user without concern as to whether there is a top or bottom side to the vest. As a result, the life vest can be donned without regard as to which of the cells 1 2c, 1 4c is uppermost.

Figure 11 shows the adaptability of the hood 26c for use with a reversible vest of this type.

Since the hood 26c is secured along the midwidth portion of the neckband 24c, it can be unrolled to either side of the inflated cells. Thus, if the user puts on the vest with the cell 1 2c up, as in Figure 10, the hood is unrollable to the right in Figure 11. If the vest is reversed, with the cell 14e up the hood can be extended to the left in Figure 11 as shown in chain-dotted lines.

In Figures 12 and 13, there is illustrated a life vest 1 Od, of the single cell type, in which the cell is not protectively enclosed. A life vest of this type is used, very commonly, by airlines for its passengers. Such a vest has a neck-receiving opening 11 d, and may have separable fasteners 1 7for connecting the side portions of the vest together below the opening 11 d. The vest may also have waist-encircling straps, not shown, and this would of course be true of all the other vests heretofore illustrated and described.

In this embodiment of the invention, there is again provided a neckband 24d, stitched or otherwise secured to the material of the cell, along the inner edge of the cell. The neckband 24d thus bounds the opening 11 d, and provides means whereby the hood 26d can be secured along its edge 38d, to the vest proper.

In this form, the vest is again reversible, and hence, the hood 26d can be unrolled either to one side or to the opposite side of the cell, as shown in chain-dotted lines in Figure 13.

In all the described embodiments of the invention, the hood is a permanent part of the vest, and provides highly effective means for combating hypothermia if the wearer is subjected to lengthy exposure in cold water. A person using the combined vest and hood is afforded maximum protection against the effects of hypothermia: the person can draw up and tightiy grasp his knees, to reduce to the minimum the exposure of the body to the water below the surface while at the same time being provided with a high degree of protection by the attached hypothermia-resisting hood, to prevent the normally heavy loss of body heat through the neck and head, either where they are exposed to the water or to air above the water level.At the same time, the device does not add appreciably to the overall bulk of the life vest, and indeed, in at least one embodiment of the invention, is completely enclosed in the flattened vest, along with the flotation cells.

Ciaims 1. A survival device comprising a buoyant vest having an opening for receiving the head and neck of a wearer, the opening having a back portion extendable along the back of the wearer's neck, and a hypothermia-resisting hood having a flexible body secured along an edge thereof to the vest along the back portion of the opening and adapted to be collapsed into an elongated form when not in use, in which form it extends along the back portion of the neck-receiving opening, the hood being positioned to be pulled forwardly and upwardly from the back portion of the opening, when in use, into covering relation to the head and neck of the wearer.

2. A survival device according to Claim 1, wherein the vest includes inflatable cell means and a neckband attached to the cell means and extending along said back portion of the opening, said edge of the hood being secured to the neckband and being adapted to be extended to either side of the cell means when pulled into covering relation to the wearer's head and neck.

3. A survival device according to Claim 2, wherein the inflatable cell means is in the form of a single cell, the edge of the hood being secured to the neckband substantially midway between opposite faces of the cell.

4. A survival device according to Claim 3, wherein the hood, when in its collapsed condition, extends in contact with one side of the cell.

5. A survival device according to Claim 2, wherein said inflatable cell means comprises a pair of cells and a neckband secured to both cells and extending therebetween, the hood being secured to the neckband for extension to either side of the neckband when in use.

6. A survival device according to Claim 5, wherein the neckband extends along a major part of the neck-receiving opening and said edge of the hood is secured to the neckband substantially medially between the opposite longitudinal edges of the neckband, and extends over at least a major part of the length of the neckband.

7. A survival device according to Claim 1, wherein the buoyant vest comprises a solid body in which said opening is formed, the edge of the hood being adhesively secured to the body along the edge of the opening.

8. A survival device according to Claim 1, wherein the vest includes separable covers, means connecting the covers along the back portion of the opening, and flotation cell means enclosed by the covers when in a deflated condition, the edge of the hood being secured to one of the covers, said one cover being movable to a position in protective, overlying relation to the neck of the wearer responsive to inflation of the cell means and being disposed to position the hood for extension over the head of the wearer.

9. A survival device according to Claim 8, wherein the covers have inner edges bounding said neck-receiving opening and outer edges spaced outwardly from said opening, said covers having separable connections along the outer edges thereof adapted to separate and thereby free the covers on inflation of the flotation cell means, said edge of the hood being secured to said one cover along said outer edge thereof.

10. A survival device according to Claim 9, wherein said one cover, responsive to inflation of the flotation cell means, cooperates with the body of the hood to form an extension of the hood adapted to be pressed against the neck and the back of the head of the wearer responsive to inflation of the flotation cell means.

11. A survival device according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the hood, when the covers are

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. 26c for use with a reversible vest of this type. Since the hood 26c is secured along the midwidth portion of the neckband 24c, it can be unrolled to either side of the inflated cells. Thus, if the user puts on the vest with the cell 1 2c up, as in Figure 10, the hood is unrollable to the right in Figure 11. If the vest is reversed, with the cell 14e up the hood can be extended to the left in Figure 11 as shown in chain-dotted lines. In Figures 12 and 13, there is illustrated a life vest 1 Od, of the single cell type, in which the cell is not protectively enclosed. A life vest of this type is used, very commonly, by airlines for its passengers. Such a vest has a neck-receiving opening 11 d, and may have separable fasteners 1 7for connecting the side portions of the vest together below the opening 11 d. The vest may also have waist-encircling straps, not shown, and this would of course be true of all the other vests heretofore illustrated and described. In this embodiment of the invention, there is again provided a neckband 24d, stitched or otherwise secured to the material of the cell, along the inner edge of the cell. The neckband 24d thus bounds the opening 11 d, and provides means whereby the hood 26d can be secured along its edge 38d, to the vest proper. In this form, the vest is again reversible, and hence, the hood 26d can be unrolled either to one side or to the opposite side of the cell, as shown in chain-dotted lines in Figure 13. In all the described embodiments of the invention, the hood is a permanent part of the vest, and provides highly effective means for combating hypothermia if the wearer is subjected to lengthy exposure in cold water. A person using the combined vest and hood is afforded maximum protection against the effects of hypothermia: the person can draw up and tightiy grasp his knees, to reduce to the minimum the exposure of the body to the water below the surface while at the same time being provided with a high degree of protection by the attached hypothermia-resisting hood, to prevent the normally heavy loss of body heat through the neck and head, either where they are exposed to the water or to air above the water level.At the same time, the device does not add appreciably to the overall bulk of the life vest, and indeed, in at least one embodiment of the invention, is completely enclosed in the flattened vest, along with the flotation cells. Ciaims

1. A survival device comprising a buoyant vest having an opening for receiving the head and neck of a wearer, the opening having a back portion extendable along the back of the wearer's neck, and a hypothermia-resisting hood having a flexible body secured along an edge thereof to the vest along the back portion of the opening and adapted to be collapsed into an elongated form when not in use, in which form it extends along the back portion of the neck-receiving opening, the hood being positioned to be pulled forwardly and upwardly from the back portion of the opening, when in use, into covering relation to the head and neck of the wearer.

connected with the cell means in a deflated condition, is housed in a collapsed condition with the cell means between the connected covers.

1 2. A survival device according to Claim 1, wherein the vest includes inflatable cell means, a pair of covers housing said cell means in the deflated condition thereof, said covers having inner edges bounding the back portion of the opening and connected to provide a neckband along said back portion, the covers having outer edges having separable connecting means adapted to separate on inflation of the cell means, said hood being secured to said neckband and being disposed, when collapsed, exteriorly of the covers in contact with one of said covers.

1 3. A survival device constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.