Quick float life preserver

May 28, 1963

3,090,979

F. SEGREST

QUICK FLOAT LIFE PRESERVER

Filed April 3, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet, 1

<img file="US3090979A_D0001.tif" />

<img file="US3090979A_D0002.tif" />

ATTORNEYS

May 28, 1963

F. SEGREST

3,090,979

QUICK FLOAT LIFE PRESERVER

Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed. April 3, 1961

<img file="US3090979A_D0003.tif" />

May 28, 1963

Filed April 3, 1961

F. SEGREST 3,090,979

QUICK FLOAT LIFE PRESERVER 4 Sheets-Sheet, 3

<img file="US3090979A_D0004.tif" />

<img file="US3090979A_D0005.tif" />

May 28, 1963

3,090,979

F. SEGREST

QUICK FLOAT LIFE PRESERVER

Filed April 3, 1961

Sheets-Sheet, 4

<img file="US3090979A_D0006.tif" />

<img file="US3090979A_D0007.tif" />

ATTORNEYS

United States Patent Office _{Palenled M}._y ”⁹;⁹^

3,090,979

QUICK FLOAT LIFE PRESERVER Frank Segrest, 160 Fernhiil, Lafayette, La.

Filed Apr. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 100,223

Claims. (Ci. 9—318)

This invention relates to life preservers and more particularly to life preservers which can be comfortably worn deflated by the user and which automatically inflate when the user is in the water with provision for manual actuation of the inflating device by the user.

Even more particularly this invention relates to novel valve structure for use with an inflatable life jacket which is actuated automatically when the user is in the water to inflate the life jacket with provision for manual actuating means for use by the user to inflate the life jacket, if desired.

Even more particularly this invention relates to an inflatable life preserver having novel valve structure which is so constructed and arranged that the user of the life preserver can readily test the life preserver to be certain that it will inflate when required.

More and more people are spending their leisure time in boats, swimming, water skiing, fishing and the like with a steadily mounting death toll due to drownings. It is therefore imperative that a life preserver be provided which is obsohitely dependable in use and which can be worn in perfect comfort by the user.

There are several different types of life preservers on the market, the most common being that filled with a buoyant material such as kapok, foam rubber and the like. This type of life jacket has many disadvantages. They are inclined to deteriorate; they are very bulky and uncomfortable to wear and are therefore not suited for use when the wearer is required to be active physically, as in the practice of water sports or when the wearer is working on or adjacent to the water. Another known type of life preserver inflates with gas upon manual actuation of a valve by the wearer. This type of life preserver is not acceptable to many safety organizations because, in many instances, the wearer will not have time to actuate the inflating device; the wearer may be injured by the fall into the water and so incapable of actuating the inflating device; or may be unable to actuate the inflating device because of extreme excitement, and the like.

'Another known type of life preserver uses a dry chemical which when mixed with water forms a gas which inflates the preserver. This type of preserver will stay inflated for a comparatively short time and there is a possibility that the chemical will deteriorate with age. This type of life preserver is dangerous because of these disadvantages.

The life preserver of the present concept, with its novel automatically actuated valve for inflating the life preserver, for the first time provides a life preserver which the wearer can test to be absolutely certain that it is operative; the preserver is comfortable and easy to wear and is not bulky or cumbersome when uninfiated; the preserver inflates automatically the moment it is submerged in water and yet it can be worn in any kind of weather without danger of inflation; the automatic valve for inflating the life preserver can be manually actuated, if desired, and the preserver will inflate almost instantaneously in from 1 to 3 seconds either automatically ² or manually actuated when submerged; and when fully inflated the life preserver will support the wearer with head and face above the water. Further, the novel valve construction of the present concept is such that the auto5 matic inflation feature can be easily and readily removed so that the preserver can be inflated only by manual actuation, this feature being desirable when the life jacket is being worn during the practice of water sports such as water skiing.

(The following advantages are obtained by the life jacket and novel valve construction of the present concept including almost instantaneous inflation of the life preserver when submerged in water; the life preserver can be easily tested for operability; -the inflation valve can be manually actuated and will be -actuated automatically if the wearer fails to actuate the valve manually; automatic actuation of the valve can be eliminated easily so that the preserver can be inflated only by -manual actuation; the life preserver is light -in weight and can be worn with complete -comfort as long as desired or needed; the life preserver can be folded into a very small and light package; the life preserver when inflated will maintain the -user’s -head above -water for easy breathing; the flexibility and lightness of the uninflated life preserver prevents injury to the wearer when striking the water, as in the case of the bulky and stiff life preservers conventionally used; the life preserver of -the present concept is -relatively cheap and easy to manufacture, it is attractive to wear; it can be worn safely in any kind of weather, even -in heavy rains without danger of inflation; it can be worn over or under conventional clothing in absolute -comfort; and it fits snugly to the wearer so that it is impossible to slip out of the 'life preserver when in the water.

Other and further objects of the present invention will appear -from the following description of illustrative embodiments thereof. These illustrative embodiments should in no -way be construed as defining or limiting the invention.

The present invention is capable of various mechanical embodiments one such embodiment being shown in the accompanying drawings and will be described hereinafter to illustrate the invention. -In 'the accompanying -drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts, FIG. -1 is a front view of a life preserver in accordance with the present concept showing the positioning of the novel valve construction used therewith;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the valve construction used with the embodiment -of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the valve of FIG. 2 removed from the associated life preserver structure;

FIG. 4 is the view from above of -the valve of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the -line 5—5 of

FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 6—6 of

FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the valve construction of FIG. 5 showing the capsule piercing needle -and valve construction in detail;

⁶⁰ FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view on the line 8—S of

FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view on the line 9—9 of FIG. 10 to illustrate the automatic actuating structure of the present concept;

3,090,979 ό

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view on the line 10—10 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a view, partly in section, of a suitable check valve construction preventing gas from the inflated life preserver from escaping through the valve.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1-6, a suitable life preserver is generally indicated at 20 made of light weight gas impervious material and shaped to provide a head opening 21 with chest engaging portions 22 and 23 connected by tab 24 and by waist belt 25. Portions 22 and 23 and connecting portion 26 are hollow and tubular and are sealed at ends 27 and 28 to form an inflatable garment. A suitable pressure release valve 29 may be provided to deflate the life preserver after use.

Chest portion 22 is provided with a pocket 30. This can be used for any purpose including storage of extra gas cartridges, if desired, and chest portion 23 is provided with a flap 31 suitably secured thereto and provided with snaps 32 to cover the inflating valve mechanism shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2 the flap 31 has been partially removed to show the inflating valve mechanism generally indicated at 33. Valve mechanism 33 is held in place by a suitable tie 34 secured to chest portion 23 at one end and by a snap fastener 35 at its other end.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, valve 33 is seen to comprise a housing 36 having a gas cartridge or capsule receiving chamber 37 provided with external threads 38 to receive a screw cap 39. Gas capsule 40, of known type, fits snugly in chamber 37 and enters chamber 41 in valve housing 42 which is threaded into chamber 37 at 43. An O-ring 44 is provided to seal the neck of capsule 40 in chamber 41. Needle 45 is mounted in chamber 41 and extends into extension chamber 46 of chamber 41. Chamber 46 is provided with a passage 47 which opens into cross passage 48. A valve seat 49 is provided at the bottom of chamber 46 to receive valve head 50. Valve head 50 is provided with a valve stem 51 which extends downwardly through passage 47. Needle 45 is externally grooved, as is clearly seen in FIG. 7, for the passage of gas from capsule 40 into chamber 46. A compression spring 52 extends between the base of needle 45 and valve head 50.

Housing 42 is cut away at 53 to receive a lever 54 which is pivoted in housing 42 at 55. Lever 54 engages the lower end of valve stem 51. Housing 42 is closed by cap 56 which is slotted at 57 for lever 54. Housing 36 is provided with a chamber 58 which opens downwardly therethrough and is closed by cap 59. Housing 36 is oppositely slotted at 60 and 61 so that lever 54 can pass therethrough. A compression spring 62 is mounted in chamber 58 and bears against slide 63 which has openings 64 therein for the passage of water into the space beneath head 65. Stem 66 bears against lever 54.

In the position shown in FIG. 5, spring 62 exerts a force downward on slide 63 so that stem 66 acting on lever 54 will rotate the same in a counterclockwise direction about pivot 55 unless restrained. It is apparent that lever 54 can always be manually actuated for rotation in a counterclockwise direction about pivot 55 to raise valve head 50.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, housing 36 is provided with an opening 67 surrounded by a raised boss 68 upon which slide 69 is mounted. Slide 69 can be moved from its upper position, as shown, downwardly to cover opening 67. Opening 67 is provided for the insertion of a water soluble pellet which extends beneath head 65 of slide 63 to hold slide 63 in its upper position, as shown in FIG. 6, against the tension of spring 62. When the valve structure is submerged water entering the space beneath head 65 through slots 6!) and 61 and openings 64 will dissolve the pellet and spring 62 will then force slide 63 downward rotating lever 54 in a counterclockwise direction about pivot 55 thus raising valve head 49 to admit gas under pressure from capsule 40 into passage 48 which, in turn, will inflate the life preserver as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Referring now to -FIGS. 2 and 11, an axially bored fitting 70 is threaded into cross passage 48 and is provided 5 with a knurled surface 71 for ease in mounting and dismounting. An elbow 72 is threaded into fitting 70 at 73 and opens at 74 into the interior of the life preserver 20 for the admission of inflating gas thereto. A check valve 75 of known type is threaded in elbow 72 at 76 to prevent IQ escape of inflating gas from the life preserver back through the valve structure.

As noted above, needle 45 is externally slotted to permit gas from capsule 40 to enter chamber 46. This construction is seen in FIG. 7 where the axial slots are indicated 15 at 77. It will be seen from this enlarged detail that valve stem 51 is provided with an axial passage 78 having entries 79 and 80 for registration with chamber 46 and with cross passage 48, respectively, when valve head 50 is raised, as is shown in -FIG. 7. An O-ring 81 may be 20 employed about valve stem 51 to prevent leakage of gas around valve stem 51.

The user of life preserver 20 inserts capsule 40 in chamber 37 and threads cap 39 on threads 38 forcing capsule 40 downwardly within O-ring 44 so that needle 45 will 25 pierce the end of the capsule, in known manner, and supply gas under pressure to chamber 46. A slight downward movement of handle 54 by the user will then raise valve stem 51 until opening 79 just clears the edge of valve seat 49. The gas under pressure passing through this 30 restricted opening will whistle indicating to the wearer that the life preserver is ready for instantaneous use.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are enlargements of the structure shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 including a readily soluble pellet 82. As noted above, pellet 82, which may be any one of the 35 readily soluble medicinal-type pellets presently available upon the market, is slipped into opening 67 with slide 63 raised and spring 62 compressed so that pellet 82 can enter under head 65. Slide 69 is then lowered to cover opening 67. When water enters the space beneath head 40 65 pellet 82 rapidly dissolves losing its sheer resistant strength so that spring 62 can move slide 63 downward and rotate arm 54, as above described, to admit gas under pressure from capsule 40 to life preserver 20.

When non-automatic actuation of the life preserver is 45 desired a non-soluble pellet can be substituted for soluble pellet 82. Such a non-soluble pellet should be distinctively colored so that no confusion can arise as to the type of pellet being used.

It should now be apparent that the present invention in 5Q every way satisfies the several objectives discussed above.

Changes in or modifications to the above described illustrative embodiment of the present invention may now -be suggested to -those skilled in the art without depriving from the present inventive concept. Reference 55 should therefore be had to the appended claims to determine the scope of this invention.