GB2568680A

GB2568680A - A flotation safety device

Info

Publication number: GB2568680A
Application number: GB1719356.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fitzgerald Peter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-11-22
Filing date: 2017-11-22
Publication date: 2019-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 2037-11-22
Also published as: GB2568680B; GB201719356D0; EP3489127A1

Abstract

A flotation device comprises an inflatable object 1 having an outer surface 8, an internal bladder unit, wherein the unit comprises an inner bladder 14 and an outer bladder 10, and a rope 4 attached to the outer surface of the object. The bladder unit may inflate to a pressure between 60 and 120kPa. The object may comprise a spherical ball or a prolate spheroid ball. The ball may have a circumference of between 500mm and 800mm, and preferably be 700mm in circumference. The outer surface may be smooth, textured or a combination thereof, and may comprise dimples. The rope may be attached to the object by means of a male/female arrangement, a loop and karabiner arrangement, by a closed loop arrangement where the rope is spliced back on itself integrally, or clamped by a galvanized metal or plastic collar. The rope 4 may comprise Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) along its sides, and the rope may be fluorescent, with the object being fluorescent/partially fluorescent. The specification further comprises a housing (fig 3A, 3B) having a door (202, fig 3A) for the object and comprises a compression alarm that is sounded if the door is opened and/or the device is removed.

Description

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to water flotation safety devices. In particular, the invention relates to a substantially circular water flotation safety device.

Background to the Invention

A lifebuoy, ring buoy or life preserver has been used for over 100 years as a means to provide a buoyancy aid to person(s) in distress in water. The commonly used lifebuoy rings seen along waterways around the world provide buoyancy and help prevent a person from drowning when used correctly.

However, they tend to be large, heavy and cumbersome to throw. Even if thrown correctly, they can sometimes injure the person in trouble in the water should they get hit by the lifebuoy ring once thrown to them. Other disadvantages of the ring lifebuoy are that they are rarely deployed because people are intimidated by its size, shape, weight and lack of familiarity with its use (99% of the world population have never thrown one). Further, the lack of aerodynamic features, combined with the weight, means that most young and healthy adults will not be able to throw the traditional lifebuoy very far across a water body, especially in open water.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome at least one of the above-mentioned problems.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a flotation device comprising an inflatable object having an outer surface, an internal bladder unit, the unit comprising an inner bladder and an outer bladder, and a rope attached to the outer surface of the object.

Preferably, the object has a circumference of between 500mm and 800mm.

Preferably, the object has a circumference of about 700mm.

Preferably, the bladder unit is inflated to a pressure of between 60 and 120 kPa.

Preferably, the device remains buoyant when a force of between 70 and 110 N is applied.

Preferably, the external surface is manufactured from leather, imitation leather, composite materials, rubber, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, or combinations thereof.

Preferably, the external surface is a single piece of material or a plurality of panels attached to one another. Ideally, the panels are attached to one another by being stitched with polyester, Kevlar® thread, glued by thermal heating or by a combination thereof.

Preferably, the external surface is smooth, textured or a combination thereof. For example, the surface may have raised dimples, dots, lines, ridges, divots, raised ribs, non-slip raised lines, geometric patterned lines, and the like. Ideally, the textured surface is dimpled.

Preferably, the bladder unit is manufactured from two-ply butyl rubber, vulcanized rubber or latex.

Preferably, the device further comprises a layer of cotton or polyester between the outer bladder and the external surface.

Preferably, the rope is attached to the outer surface of the object by a male/female arrangement; by a loop and carabiner arrangement; by a closed loop arrangement where the rope is spliced back on itself integrally or clamped by a galvanised metal or plastic collar to secure the rope.

Preferably, the rope is detachable.

Preferably, the rope is made from manila hemp, hemp, feathers, linen, cotton, coir, jute, straw, sisal, polypropylene, nylon, polyesters (e.g. polyethylene terephthalate (PET), liquid crystal polymer (LCP)), polyethylene (e.g. ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene), Aramid fibre, acrylic fibres, steel or other metal alloys, silk, wool, hair, rayon, or combinations thereof.

Preferably, the rope is between 4mm and 10mm in diameter.

Preferably, the rope further incorporates one or more Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) along its side.

Preferably, the object further comprises a valve unit.

Preferably, the rope is fluorescent. Preferably, the object is partially or fully fluorescent.

Preferably, the object is water-resistant. Ideally, the device is water-proof.

Preferably, the object is a ball. Preferably, the object is a spherical or a prolate spheroid ball.

Preferably, the device further comprises a tracking device such as a radio-frequency identity (RFID) tag, a Bluetooth tracking device, a GPS device, a WIFI tracking device.

There is also provided a housing suitable for storing a flotation device described above, the housing comprising sidewalls, a base, a roof, a door and a seat configured to accommodate the device 1.

Preferably, the housing further comprises a compression alarm configured to sound if the door of the housing is opened and/or the device is removed from the seat.

Preferably, the door of the housing can be locked using a securing means. The securing means can be any suitable security means such as a lock and key mechanism, a padlock, a clamp and receiver. Ideally, the security means should be sufficient to keep the door closed while allowing the user to open the door without any effort should the need to use the device arise.

In the specification, the term “bladder unit” should be understood to mean a dual bladder unit having one bladder (inner bladder) housed within another bladder (outer bladder). The dual bladder unit connects both bladders by the use of a valve unit. The bladder unit is also housed within the inflatable object. The role of the bladder unit is to inflate the object.

In the specification, the term “outer surface” should be understood to mean the outer shell of the object which houses the bladder unit.

In the specification, the term “object” should be understood to mean the flotation device described herein. The object is generally spherical in shape, but can also be ovoid, ellipsoid or a prolate spheroid.

In the specification, the term “textured” should be understood to mean where the surface of the object has a roughened surface. For example, the surface may have raised dimples, dots, lines, ridges, divots, raised ribs, non-slip raised lines, geometric patterned lines, and the like.

In the specification, the term “valve unit” should be understood to mean a slit-type valve commonly used in the art that extends through a hole in the outer surface of the object and into the outer bladder of the bladder unit. The valve unit permits the inflation of the object to the desired pressure by connecting it to a suitable air pump. This valve may be sealed with a Velcro® flap cover.

In the specification, the term “spherical” and “prolate spheroid” should be understood to mean substantially circular in cross-section (spherical) or a sphere-like body that is generated by a half-revolution of an ellipse about its major axis.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Figure 1A illustrates an embodiment of the device of the claimed invention, while Figure 1B is a cross-section of the device. Figure 1C illustrates an embodiment of the device with a different shape from that depicted in Figure 1 A.

Figure 2 illustrates an element of the device of the claimed invention; and

Figure 3A and Figure 3B illustrate a housing for storing the device of the claimed invention.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

The present invention provides a flotation device for use along waterways or other similar areas such as swimming pools, canals, harboursides, the seaside, ponds, lakes, rivers, public baths, and on vessels such as boats, ships, sailing craft, aircraft, hovercraft and the like.

Referring now to the figures, where Figure 1 illustrates a general embodiment of a tap of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 1A illustrates a view of a flotation device of the present invention, and is generally referred to by reference numeral 1. The flotation device 1 comprises an outer surface 2 and a rope 4 attached to a securing member 6. The securing member 6 is integral with the outer surface 2 of the device 1. The securing member 6 is illustrated in the figure as a loop through which the rope 4 is secured. It should be understood that any reversible attachment means may be used to attach the rope 4 to the device 1. The rope 4 is generally 4mm to 6mm in diameter or a 6mm to 8mm flat rope. The rope 4 is preferably luminous so that the rope 4 can be seen in low light.

The outer surface 2 can be composed of a plurality of panels 8 that are stitched or glued together to form the outer surface 2. The panels 8 may be textured with dimples 5 or other structures that allow the user to gain a grip on the outer surface 2 when throwing or kicking the device 1 to a person in need of the device 1. In this embodiment, the object is substantially round or spherical in shape.

The device 1 further comprises an internal bladder unit 10, as shown in Figure 1B. The bladder unit 10 is inside the outer surface 2 of the device 1 and comprises an outer bladder 12 within which is an inner bladder 14. The bladder unit 10 is what is termed a double bladder. The bladder unit 10 is connected via a valve unit 16. The valve unit 16 configured to inflate both the inner bladder 14 and outer bladder 12.

Typically, the device 1 is inflated using a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, helium, carbon dioxide and argon pressurised. The device 1 typically weighs between 400 and 500 grams, and preferably between 450 and 480 grams.

The rope 4 is secured within the securing member 6 and is capable of withstanding a 130kg person holding onto the device 1 and being dragged through water by the rope 4.

In this embodiment, the object is substantially circular or round. However, it should be understood that the device 1 can also have an elliptical or a prolate spheroid in shape. When the device 1 has an elliptical or a prolate spheroid shape, the configuration of the of the device is that illustrated in Figure 1. That is, the elliptical or a prolate spheroid flotation device comprises an outer surface and a rope attached to a securing member. The securing member being integral with the outer surface of the device. The outer surface can be composed of a plurality of panels that are stitched or glued together to form the outer surface. The panels may be textured with dimples or other structures that allow the user to gain a grip on the outer surface when throwing or kicking the device to a person in need of the device.

There is also provided a bag 50 which is weighted and adapted to store the rope 4 when not in use. The bag 50 is a cylindrical, waterproof and rot-proof bag, which can weigh up to 1500 grams, including the rope 4. In one example, the diameter of the bag 50 is about 100-120 mm, while the length of the bag 50 is about 400-450 mm. The bag 50 contains the rope 4, which is about 48 mm in diameter and up to 50 metres long. The bag 50 is a duffel-type bag having a neck 52 and a tie 54 which allows the bag 50 to be sealed when not in use. The bag 50 can also have reflective strips 56 placed on the outer surface thereof, to make the bag easier to see in darkness. The purpose of the bag 50 is to store and transport the rope 4 for the device 1 after it is removed from its fixed housing 200 at the waterside.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is illustrated a housing 200 for storing the device 1. The housing 200 is typically a cube-shaped object comprising sidewalls 204a,b, a rear wall 204c, a base 204d and a roof 204e. The housing 200 further comprises a door 202 which is hinged and attached to a sidewall 204a,b, floor 204d or roof 204e of the housing 200. The door 202 typically has a clear-fronted screen 210 of glass, tempered glass, reinforced glass or acrylic. The door 202 can also have a solid and non-transparent front. The housing 200 is composed of a robust, weatherproof, heavy duty thermoset plastic. The door 202 is closed using any suitable locking means, for example, a clamp which allows the door 202 to be closed using the resistance of the closing of the clamp engaging with its receiver. The clamp is attached to a securing means on the frame of the door 202 and the receiver is attached to a sidewall 204a,b of the housing 200. The clamp generally pivots from the securing means. When the clamp engages with the receiver, pressure is applied over and against the edge of the door 202 and the door is locked when the clamp is secure in its receiver. The diameter of the clamp is slightly larger than the diameter of the receiver. This difference in diameters allows some resistance to be generated when closing the clamp and prevents the clamp from opening again unless a large force is place on it. In this instance, the clamp may be made of rubber.

The interior of the housing 200 further comprises a seat 220 configured to accommodate the device 1. The device 1 rests within the confines of the seat 220. The bag 50 can attach to a clip 230 positioned either within the housing 200 or attached to one of the sidewalls 204a,b or the base 204c. An optional extra is to include a compression alarm within the housing 200. When the door 202 of the housing is opened and/or the device 1 is removed from the seat 220, an audible alert will sound. One of the purposes of the alarm is to alert the person in distress that a person is going to use a flotation device and also to deter misuse of the device 1 when in situ along a waterway. The roof 204e is preferably at an angle to allow for rainwater runoff.

The advantages of the flotation device described herein is that the spherical or prolate spherical shape permits the user to easily kick or throw the device to a person in distress in water. The weight and size of the device also permits persons of all ages and abilities to be able to use the device safely and easily, especially when compared to the traditional ring-shaped buoy. This point is particularly relevant as the traditional ring-shaped buoy has a far more likely chance of injuring a person in distress when the buoy is throw at or to them. The outer surface of the device means that the device is durable and easy to grip when wet. The rope attachment permits easy retrieval of both the device and person in distress, as well as the device alone. In addition, the dimensions of the device will support a weight of up to 100kg. The device can be used along rivers, lakes, beaches, swimming pools, seaside or harboursides, on ships, boats, reservoirs, canals and other waterway systems.

The advantages of the device of the present invention is that the shape of the device would be familiar to the majority of the people who may have to use one. The shape and weight of the device is aerodynamic and user-friendly, permitting the user to kick or throw the device quite far and with accuracy. In fact, the device is so easy to use, it can be launched by the elderly or a child. There is little danger of injuring the person in need of the buoyancy aid and can aid flotation of a person weighting upwards of 120kg.

In the specification, the terms comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising or any variation thereof and the terms “include, includes, included and including or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation and vice versa.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

1. A flotation device comprising an inflatable object having an outer surface, an internal bladder unit, the unit comprising an inner bladder and an outer bladder, and a rope attached to the outer surface of the object.

2. A flotation device according to Claim 1, in which the object has a circumference of between 500mm and 800mm.

3. A flotation device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the object has a circumference of about 700mm.

4. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bladder unit is inflated to a pressure of between 60 and 120 kPa.

5. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the device remains buoyant when a force of between 70 and 110 N is applied.

6. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the external surface is manufactured from leather, imitation leather, composite materials, rubber, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, or combinations thereof.

7. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the external surface is a single piece of material or a plurality of panels attached to one another.

8. A flotation device according to Claim 7, in which the panels are attached to one another by being stitched with polyester, Kevlar® thread, glued by thermal heating or by a combination thereof.

9. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the external surface is smooth, textured or a combination thereof.

10. A flotation device according to Claim 9, in which the textured surface is dimpled.

11. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bladder unit is manufactured from two-ply butyl rubber, vulcanized rubber or latex.

12. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a layer of cotton or polyester between the outer bladder and the external surface.

13. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the rope is attached to the outer surface of the object by a male/female arrangement; by a loop and carabiner arrangement; by a closed loop arrangement where the rope is spliced back on itself integrally or clamped by a galvanised metal or plastic collar to secure the rope.

14. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the rope is detachable.

15. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the rope is made from manila hemp, hemp, feathers, linen, cotton, coir, jute, straw, sisal, polypropylene, nylon, polyesters (e.g. polyethylene terephthalate (PET), liquid crystal polymer (LCP)), polyethylene (e.g. ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene), Aramid fibre, acrylic fibres, steel or other metal alloys, silk, wool, hair, rayon, or combinations thereof.

16. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the rope is between 4mm and 10mm in diameter.

17. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the rope further incorporates one or more Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) along its side.

18. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a valve unit.

19. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the rope is fluorescent.

20. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the object is partially or fully fluorescent.

21. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the object is water-resistant.

22. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the object is water-proof.

23. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the object is a ball.

24. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the object is a spherical or a prolate spheroid ball.

25. A flotation device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a tracking device such as a radio-frequency identity (RFID) tag, a Bluetooth tracking device, a GPS device, a WIFI tracking device.

26. A housing suitable for storing a flotation device according to Claim 1, the housing comprising sidewalls, a base, a roof, a door and a seat configured to accommodate the device 1.

27. A housing according to Claim 26, wherein the housing further comprises a compression alarm configured to sound if the door of the housing is opened and/or the device 1 is removed from the seat.

28. A housing according to Claim 26 or Claim 27, wherein the door can be locked using a clamp and receiver.