HK1158151A - Salvage suit for shipwrecks - Google Patents

Description

Life jacket for ship accident

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a variety of industrial technologies and vehicles such as ships and, thus, to life saving devices for use in marine or other water environments. More particularly, it relates to a life jacket for a ship accident, which can keep a wearer in a completely floating state, the wearer being movable inside a body container; the suit is waterproof, winter-proof, protects the area around the head, and collects rain water while the wearer waits for rescue.

Background

Several types of life saving equipment are known up to now, mainly including life jackets or life jackets, in which the body of a person suffering from a ship's accident is protected from attack factors before (e.g. fire, high temperature, etc.) and/or after (e.g. in water, low temperature, etc.) the ship's accident.

Therefore, a survival suit comprised in patent document US1102772 is known. The suit has two independent openings: an upper or head opening and a front or chest expandable opening. The latter is based on an unstable tight fitting system that can feed and discharge water to and from the air bags inside the suit.

Patent document US1314299 shows a life jacket with inflatable chambers that do not cover the entire life jacket, but are located in the region of the bladder filled with air blown by the wearer.

Patent document US2181150 shows a locally expandable survival suit, but it does not have an expandable sleeve. The suit does not take any measures to cover the head or face, it only provides for vertical flotation.

Patent document US2761154 shows a lifejacket in which the wearer enters through an upper opening with expandable capacity and then can tighten the opening around the face. Although the upper end of the suit may expand to a tubular shape, it is not actually fitted with a tubular sleeve. The suit is still vertically floating. Its material is waterproof, but not thermally insulating. It also requires inflatable bladders to maintain the floating state.

Patent document US4242769 uses small air bags to provide insulation and flotation, but these air bags are not permanently closed and require inflation. Therefore, to perform this function, they must be inflated to expand.

Patent document US4599075 relates to a life jacket for protecting the head and face, which has a hygienic disposal capability for collecting urine and feces, allows a wearer to eat solid food and drink liquid beverages, and allows the wearer to do certain actions therein. These actions allow the wearer to pull his arms off the sleeve and move his legs toward his torso, rub against body parts, and the like. These actions are achieved thanks to the bellows or pleats, the flexibility and material of the suit allowing the wearer to pull his arms out of the sleeve and place his legs in fetal position. Due to the exposure to cold, the wearer has to assume such a position, since this suit does not have sufficient protection against extreme temperatures.

Patent document US4704092 shows a life jacket whose wall comprises two cellular plastic sheets with air chambers between them and containing a heat reflective layer of aluminium. The upper opening of the lifejacket is free of expandable sleeves and is free of armour.

Patent document US5560043 shows a life jacket, whose head opening has two hoods, although without expandable sleeves: an outer shroud and an inner shroud, which may overlap.

It is also known that the same invention is applied to a fire-resistant suit of patent document AR P040104230 having the same inventor as the present invention. The wall of the suit is free of cellular plastic layer components, its sewn and sealed gloves are made of rubber and asbestos, it is free of lifting armour or expandable outer sleeves capable of protecting and collecting water, and it is a suit that conforms to the body of the wearer.

Also known is a durable life jacket of patent document AR P080101604 having the same inventor as the present invention. The wall of the suit has no outer layer forming a heat-insulating sealed air bag with the inner layer. It also requires the wearer to wear a garment having a vest and a shield before entering the lifejacket.

Generally, conventional neoprene survival suits do not protect the wearer well enough from low temperatures. The cold liquid (seawater, lake water, river water, etc.) permeates the chloroprene rubber, acts on the liquid and moisture existing between the body and the life jacket, and the temperature can reach 14 ℃. We must note that liquid conduction velocity is thirty times faster than air.

It is also considered that the bare and moist face loses temperature due to the accelerated conduction action of air (between 20 and 60 km/hour, or faster), thereby cooling the water droplets contacting the face. This exposure to cold is highly undesirable, and in some life jackets, the following areas are exposed: the feet, wrists, hands and the area around the zipper.

Disclosure of Invention

Advantages and objects

The present invention is based on several objects and has a number of advantages, namely:

it enables a person who has suffered a shipwreck to enter the suit faster, without the action being impeded by the clothing or shoes he wears when he wears the suit.

The evacuation of the wrecked ship can be faster, since the suit can be worn faster.

The same opening for wearing the suit has an expandable inner sleeve for receiving and covering the head. This inner sleeve has multiple positions to close, and this allows it to act as a hood when the sleeve is closed around the face, or to completely cover the face by closing the sleeve over the head or around the neck, allowing the head to move freely.

If the outer sleeve is expanded and closed, the inner sleeve can remain open so that the wearer can sit like in a kayak with the head, torso, and hands inside the outer sleeve. This allows the wearer to see and receive a rescue boat, boat or helicopter. The outer sleeve can also work outside the suit with the head, torso and arms when it fits tightly over the waist and the wearer is sitting as in a kayak.

When the outer sleeve is expanded and closed, the wearer can see himself within the lifejacket, can use the lifejacket to embed paddles, drink water and eat, drain feces and urine, maintain hygiene, do sports, massage, remove or don vests or other clothing, seal wounds, sleep, etc.

The expanded outer sleeve acts as an additional container so that the wearer is still protected from waves, rain and wind, thereby achieving a waterproof function.

Sufficient handling of the expandable sleeves allows for excess hot air to be taken from inside the inner vessel or inner space, or heat to be accumulated, and even in the event of rain, fresh water to be collected between the two expandable sleeves.

Since the two expandable sleeves can be opened easily and quickly, the wearer can more easily drop out of the water and leave the suit when he logs into any form of rescue vehicle (boat, helicopter, etc.).

Because the container is spacious, different actions can be performed in the life jacket. Such as: the legs are pulled out of the legs of the life jacket and extend to the main body of the life jacket, the arms are pulled out of the sleeves of the life jacket, and different floating postures are changed for more comfort, and the like.

The ability to float is provided by the cellular sheet, sealing the air chamber and body receptacle so that the suit is almost completely above the water, which reduces the area of the body in contact with the water, thereby protecting the body from exposure to cold when the water temperature is low.

At the same time, the wearer protects his face, neck, hands and arms, he has a hundred percent water-tight barrier, and sufficient protection from hypothermia is obtained. Therefore, the wearer can stay in the cold water for a longer period of time.

The insulation from the ambient temperature is not only due to the presence of the air contained, but also to a series of convection (within the hood and honeycomb sheets) and transmission (achieved by micro-aluminization which may be double, i.e. two per sheet) which are enhanced between them.

The use of very low density honeycomb layers, for example, in a convective process can reduce the exchange or permeation rate from a hotter environment. In the air contained in the honeycomb layer the following occurs: 1 °) there is a convective process; 2 °) a space with very low mass density area ambient transmission is created (note: high quality iron inhibits or reduces transmission, not only refracting, but also failing to accumulate or conduct in the absence of mass, as opposed to areas without mass).

The enhancement of the thermal insulation is achieved by the different convective processes, the lack of conduction and projection, so that the temperature exchange between the wearer's body and the water is very small, which allows him to stay longer in cold water, and, if the wearer is wet by himself while wearing the suit, it returns the body to normal temperature. Since the lifejacket has a significant difference in floating performance, greater thermal resistance and maintains a small contact surface with water, we also do not need to place the legs in fetal position in order to reduce the area exposed to cold.

The suit allows almost the entire body to float in water, which makes it very easy to swim with the back up or chest up (and therefore more likely to face against wind and/or reverse flow), and more advanced, in the event of a puncture, tear or immersion, the inner bladder of the suit is not lost, as we have the air of the cellular layer, sealed air chamber and body container.

The insulation occurs not only because of the air contained, but also because of a series of convective processes (inside the structure and within the honeycomb-for example, integrated in a very low density honeycomb layer, so we reduce the exchange or permeation speed from the hotter environment-and the air space existing between their layers) and enhanced transmission (achieved by micro-aluminization) between them. The thermal insulation enhancement achieved by several convection and transmission processes almost eliminates the temperature exchange between the wearer's body and water.

Since the present suit may contain aluminium in the form of small sheets, this material creates a phenomenon that helps maintain the temperature of personnel encountering a shipwreck:

-an internal transmission inside the hollow structure,

-a transmission towards the outside of the suit,

-an interior transmission towards the interior of the life jacket container,

convection in the area without conductors and projection of the entire insulation system: inside the structure, the convection of air circulation confined in the cells and in their inter-cell spaces allows internal transmission processes inside the layer to take place, thus achieving thermal insulation. So, air can be confined because of radiation and convection (inside each cell).

Tests have shown that in different cold environments and all below the body temperature of the wearer (36 ℃/37 ℃), the temperature of the survival suit container is continuously maintained at about 33 ℃. The immersion test was carried out in water at-2 c and the head sleeve was always open (and therefore heat was lost from the head opening) during the 8 hour test, demonstrating that the container temperature was at 28 c. The wearer normally has to stay still inside the container, which is not only a living temperature but also a comfortable temperature. Since the suit is as spacious as the hold, it allows the wearer to evacuate the body of the container, pulling his arms and legs out of the sleeves and legs of the suit which are more susceptible to cooling.

The fact that the suit can float and keep parts on the water and the container creates a dry environment also contributes to the insulating properties of the suit.

This survival suit still has further advantage: it allows the wearer to swim prone without getting his face wet, it does not have complicated mechanisms (e.g. zippers), it is safer to operate, it comprises an outer cover that can effectively cope with friction and mechanical effects, it comprises a fire-resistant cover, etc.

Drawings

For the purpose of better illustrating and understanding the invention, reference will now be made in detail to the accompanying drawings, which show a preferred embodiment thereof, in one of its forms, and which are given by way of illustration and not of limitation:

fig. 1 is a top view of the inventive lifejacket.

Figure 2 is a top view of the survival suit partially deployed with the aid.

Fig. 3 is a detailed top view of the inner balloon shown in one of the possible embodiments, in which the circular honeycomb cells can be seen.

Fig. 4 is a top view of a detail of another illustrative internal bladder in a possible embodiment form, in which rectangular honeycomb cells can be seen.

FIG. 5 includes three sub-graphs, graph A, graph B and graph C, where:

fig. a, a sectional view of an inner and outer airbag, is a sectional plan view indicated by a-a in fig. 3.

Fig. B, a sectional view of the inner and outer bladders, is a sectional plan view indicated by B-B in fig. 4.

Fig. C is a sectional view of the inner and outer bladders in accordance with another embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the suit with the outer sleeve expanded.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the head of the suit, with the head sleeve folded and surrounded by a protective sleeve.

Fig. 8 is another cross-sectional view of the head of the suit showing how the expanded head sleeve carries a protective sleeve connected to it by a joint.

Figure 9 is another cross-sectional view of the head of the suit where the outer sleeve has been expanded around the circumference of the head sleeve.

Fig. 10 is a top view of a deployed thermal insulation apparatus, as compared to the profile of a life jacket.

FIG. 11 includes three sub-graphs, graph A, graph B and graph C, where:

FIG. A, a top view of the insulation assembly when deployed,

FIG. B, a top view of the folded insulation with the wings rolled up when not in use,

figure C is a top view of the folded and wrapped insulation unit.

Fig. 12 is a top view of the folded and wrapped insulation arrangement, as compared to the profile of the survival suit.

Fig. 13 is another perspective view of a suit head showing the expanded outer head sleeve with a helmet in the shape of a head covering.

Figure 14 is a top view of a life jacket with armor design.

Figure 15 is a rear view of the suit with the armour design.

Figure 16 is a top plan view of the armour taken away from its normal assembly in the suit.

Fig. 17 is a rear view of the suit showing the portions of the suit legs that provide enhanced thermal insulation.

Figure 18 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a leg jacket wall showing the distribution of the inner and outer layers with the thermal insulation reinforcement between the inner and outer layers.

Figure 19 is a top view of the suit showing the distribution of compartments and/or pockets for holding different items.

Figure 20 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the suit showing the location of the compartments and/or pockets.

Fig. 21 includes two sub-diagrams of fig. a and B, where:

fig. a, a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the suit, showing the position of the wearer with the body inside the container,

figure B, a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the suit showing the position of the wearer with the wearer's head inside the head sleeve.

The same reference numbers and/or letters in the various drawings indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Reference to the list of reference numbers:

(1) life jacket

(1a) Gloves for life jacket (1)

(1b) Life jacket leg (1)

(1c) Life jacket leg belt (1b)

(2) Body container

(2a) Sealing chamber

(2b) Head opening (through it to body vessel (2))

(3) Expandable head sleeve

(3a) Head binding device [ which fits closely with opening (3) of expandable head sleeve ]

(3b) Helmet or head cover

(3c) Expandable wall

(3d) Viewing port

(3e) Head marker

(4) Expandable outer sleeve

(4a) External lashing device [ which fits closely to the opening (4) of the expandable outer sleeve ]

(4b) Adjacent vessel [ formed by an expandable outer sleeve (4) surrounding an expandable head sleeve (3 ]

(5) Protective sleeve

(5a) Joint between an expandable head sleeve (3) and a shield sock (5)

(11) Inner cover

(12) First plastic tissue layer

(12a) A first plastic tissue layer (12)

(12b) A second layer of the first plastic tissue layer (12)

(13) Thermal insulation layer

(14) Third plastic tissue layer

(14a) A third layer of a third plastic tissue layer (14)

(14b) A fourth layer of a third plastic tissue layer (14)

(14c) Marking layer

(15) Second cellular plastic tissue layer

(15a) Honeycomb cell

(15b) Honeycomb wall

(15c) Honeycomb wall compartment

(20) Outer cover

(21) Protective cover

(22) Top compartment

(30) Life line

(30a) Rope anchoring member

(31) The anterior anchor is lifted.

(32) Auxiliary device

(33) Marking device

(40) Heat insulation accessory

(41) Accessory back (40)

(42) Covering wing

(42a) Rolled or unrolled cover wing

(43) Head wing

(44) Closing device

(50) Armor

(51) Fastener for leg of life jacket

(52) Waist fastener

(53) Front fastener

(54) Chest fastener

(55) Cross back fastener

(56) Back anchor

(60) Heat insulation reinforcement

(61) Front compartment or pocket

Detailed Description

In general, the present invention relates to a survival suit for shipwrecks comprising a loose body receptacle (2) capable of receiving a body subject to a shipwreck as a floating mini-pod; the body container (2) is limited by an inner cover (11) formed by plastic layers (12), (15), (14), the inner cover (11) is separated from an outer cover (20) by a sealed air chamber (2 a); the body container (2) is accessed through a head opening (2b) having a deployable head sleeve (3) and an outer sleeve (4) therein.

The specific description is as follows:

more specifically, the suit (1) comprises a container (2) formed according to the anatomical shape of the person encountering the shipwreck. Nevertheless, it is designed to be sufficiently loose to allow the wearer to move within said container (2) so that the container looks like a floating mini-tank.

The suit sides (1) project a pair of top extensions ending in two tight-fitting gloves (1a), while the bottom part projects a pair of suit legs (1b) ending in two tight-fitting feet.

The body receptacle (2) is bounded by at least two layers of an enclosure (11), (20) comprising an inner enclosure (11) and an outer enclosure (20) separated by a sealed air chamber (2 a). It is foreseen to include a third layer or protective cover (21) whose composition may give it a delayed ability to resist fire or other protective capabilities.

The inner cover (11) comprises a first plastic tissue layer (12), a second plastic tissue layer (15) and a third plastic tissue layer (13). Inside the first plastic tissue layer (12), we can see a first plastic layer (12a) and a second plastic layer (12b), between which first plastic layer (12a) and second plastic layer (12b) there is an insulating layer (13) made of an insulating material such as aluminum.

The second plastic tissue layer (15) is of the honeycomb type. It contains a number of air-filled and closed honeycomb cells (15 a). The compartments are bounded by honeycomb walls (15b) connecting the first plastic tissue layer (12) and the third plastic tissue layer (14). In this embodiment, the honeycomb cells (15a) are circular, so the walls may also determine the formation of the honeycomb cells (15 c).

In the third woven plastic layer (14) there is a third plastic layer (14a) and a fourth plastic layer (14b), between which there is also a thermal barrier layer (13). It is foreseen that in another embodiment, outside the insulating layer (13), but inside the fourth plastic layer (14b), there is a marking layer (14c), for example painted with a flashing paint.

The cover (20) may comprise a plastic tissue layer formed from one or more layers of a suitable plastic material.

On the other hand, the body container (2) of the life jacket (1) can be accessed through a head opening (2b), the edge of which protrudes in a deployable head sleeve (3), the head sleeve (3) being surrounded by a deployable outer sleeve (4), and a deployable protective sleeve (5) being provided at the outer part of said sleeves (3), (4).

The deployable head sleeve (3) may consist of a transparent plastic tissue layer, which may end up in a device for binding the head (3a), allowing the adjustment of the sleeve edge (3) on the face of the wearer. It is also foreseen that the mentioned head sleeve (3) comprises a helmet, a head covering or cover (3b) for providing better protection and putting on the head of the wearer. For example, a helmet (3b) in the form of a "shield" is foreseen, comprising a covering head and most of the face. The helmet (3b) can be constructed as a multilayer material comprising a plastic, heat-insulating protective layer.

An expandable outer sleeve (4) surrounds the head sleeve (3). The outer sleeve, which may also be transparent, may be unfolded to form an abutting receptacle (4b) around the head sleeve (3). The adjacent container (4b) has different uses. One of the uses is to create a protected environment around the head of personnel encountering a shipwreck. Another use is that it may be a container for collecting rain water.

A protective sleeve (5) is arranged on the outer part of the outer sleeve (4) and adopts a structure similar to a protective cover (21) of the life jacket (1). The protective sleeve (5) has a joint (5a) which enables it to be connected to the expandable head sleeve (3) as the case may be, so that when the outer sleeve (4) is folded, they can be expanded together.

For the material forming the plastic tissue layers (12), (15), (14), it is foreseen to use compounds such as linear low density polyethylene and biaxially oriented polypropylene. The use of such materials is highly water-repellent and makes it possible to form a metal layer [ micro-aluminide ] as the heat-insulating layer (13).

On the other hand, the life jacket (1) comprises armor, and the belt of the armor forms a leg binding piece (51), a trunk binding piece (52), (53), (54), (55) and anchoring pieces (30a), (31) of the chest and the back. More specifically, it comprises straps arranged around the legs (1b) of the suit, around the central part of the receptacle (2) for the body torso and around the shoulders.

The straps form a set of survival suit leg bindings (51), waist bindings (52), cross chest bindings (54) and a set of chest and back bindings.

The chest and back ligatures comprise a set of chest ligature sections (53) connected across the shoulders by a waist ligature (52) and an intersecting chest ligature (54). From this, the back ligature sections (55) extend and cross until they end in the waist ligature (52).

It is contemplated that the armor (50) may be secured to an interior portion of the protective cover (21), for example.

The armor (50) also provides at least one set of anterior anchors (30a), (31) and a posterior anchor (56). In an embodiment, the dorsal anchor (56) may be long enough to be normally placed in the front part of the suit (1) with a temporary fixture in the front part so that it can be used when the wearer desires.

It is foreseen to use the insulating accessory (40) as an open vest, placed inside the body container (2). The heat-insulating attachment (40) comprises a back (41), a head wing (43) projecting from the back (41) and two lateral covering wings (42). When not in use, the two side cover flaps (42) may be rolled or folded (42 a). In use, they are wrapped around the body of the ship subject to the shipwreck and secured by a zipper (44) which holds them in place.

It is foreseen to add different auxiliary devices. For example, a lifeline (30), an accessory (32), etc. from the chest compartment (22) may be used. We can also include other anchors for the rope, bindings (1c) for the leg (1b) of the suit, marking means (33) etc.

It is also envisaged that a set of lifejacket leg insulation enhancing means (60) may be included behind each lifejacket leg (1 b).

They are thermal insulation walls between the inner cover (11) and the outer cover (20) at the level of the rear part of the wearer's knees. The reinforcement device comprises a first plastic tissue layer (12) with at least a thermally insulating layer (13), a second cellular plastic tissue layer (15), and a third plastic tissue layer (14) with at least a thermally insulating layer (13).

It is evident that, given the particular details of construction and forms of construction, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims (15)

1. A survival suit for shipwrecks intended to contain inside a body subject to a shipwreck, prepared to resist sinking into water, with floating capability, characterized in that:

it comprises a container formed according to the anatomical shape of the person encountering the shipwreck, but it is sufficiently loose to allow said person to move within the container as a floating mini-tank,

-the container is bounded by at least two layers of hood,

the shield comprises an inner shield and an outer shield separated by a sealed gas chamber,

-the inner cover comprises: at least a first plastic tissue layer with at least a heat insulation layer, a second honeycomb-shaped plastic tissue layer and a third plastic tissue layer with at least a heat insulation layer,

-the cover comprises at least a plastic tissue layer,

it comprises a head sleeve which can be deployed to act as a nose cap and which has ligature means,

it comprises an outer sleeve which can be deployed in an outer portion of the head sleeve and which is capable of forming an environmental reservoir around the head sleeve.

2. The survival suit for shipwreck of claim 1, wherein: the outer sleeve may be expanded to form a receptacle that may also be used to create a protective environment around the head sleeve or to collect rain water.

3. The survival suit for shipwreck of claim 1, wherein: it comprises a deployable protective sheath with means for attaching it to the head sleeve, which can be deployed until it covers the outer part of said head sleeve.

4. The survival suit for shipwreck of claim 1, wherein: it comprises a second outer layer made of a protective material, which has a unique appearance.

5. The survival suit for shipwreck of claim 1, wherein: it comprises thermal insulation accessories (fixed or removable) as open vests, placed inside the container, with the accessory walls, which can be folded until they close and cover the body of the ship in case of a crash.

6. The survival suit for shipwreck of claim 1, wherein: it comprises an accessible external compartment inside which at least one deployable cable is located.

7. The survival suit for shipwreck of claim 1, wherein: it comprises a device which is tightly matched with the life jacket.

8. The survival suit for shipwreck of claim 1, wherein: the sealed plenum is defined by a partial and sealed joint of the inner and outer shrouds.

9. The survival suit for shipwreck of claim 1, wherein: the inner cover is placed inside the outer cover and the two protective covers are both sealingly connected at the neck, thereby forming a sealed air chamber between the two covers.

10. The survival suit for shipwreck of claim 1, wherein: it has an armour whose straps form leg bindings, trunk bindings, and chest and back anchors for the survival suit.

11. The survival suit for shipwreck according to claim 10, further comprising:

several straps formed around the suit legs, torso and shoulders:

-a set of suit leg bindings,

-a waist binding member for binding a waist,

a set of back and chest bindings separated at the front portion, the bulge spanning the shoulder portion and intersecting at the back portion,

-cross chest bindings extending between the chest and back bindings.

12. The survival suit for shipwreck of claim 1, wherein: the armour includes at least a dorsal lift anchor accessible to said front portion having front strapping means to retain it within reach of the wearer's hand.

13. The survival suit for shipwreck of claim 1, wherein: it comprises a plurality of suit leg insulation enhancement devices at the rear of each suit leg, each comprising an insulating wall between an inner cover and an outer cover with tissue layers and/or layers at the level of the rear part of the wearer's knee.

14. The survival suit for shipwreck of claim 1, wherein: it comprises at least a material selected from the group consisting of plastic based laminated, Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and bi-oriented polypropylene (I3 OPP).

15. The survival suit for shipwreck of claim 1, wherein: it comprises a set of top extensions ending in two tight gloves and a set of suit legs ending in two tight feet.