Patent ID: 8833517
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: A62B,B64D

Abstract:
1. An inflatable rescue apparatus comprising: a central inflatable toroidal chamber; an upper inflatable toroidal chamber; a first plurality of inflatable shafts connecting the central inflatable toroidal chamber and the upper inflatable toroidal chamber; a lower inflatable toroidal chamber; a second plurality of inflatable shafts connecting the central inflatable toroidal chamber and the lower inflatable toroidal chamber; a first plurality of pieces of air-impermeable fabric, each of the pieces stretched between inflatable shafts of the first plurality of the inflatable shafts; a second plurality of pieces of air-impermeable fabric, each of the pieces stretched between inflatable shafts of the second plurality of the inflatable shafts; a first membrane stretched in the central toroidal inflatable chamber when the central toroidal inflatable chamber is inflated; a second membrane stretched in the lower inflatable toroidal chamber when the lower toroidal inflatable chamber is inflated; a gas source connected to any one of the central toroidal inflatable chamber, the upper toroidal inflatable chamber, the lower toroidal inflatable chamber, the first plurality of inflatable shafts and the second plurality of inflatable shafts, such that upon inflation of the any one of the central toroidal inflatable chamber, the upper toroidal inflatable chamber, the lower toroidal inflatable chamber, the first plurality of inflatable shafts and the second plurality of inflatable shafts, all other inflatable elements are also inflated, wherein a diameter of the central inflatable toroidal chamber is smaller than a diameter of the lower inflatable toroidal chamber, and wherein the diameter of the lower inflatable toroidal chamber is smaller than a diameter of the upper inflatable toroidal chamber, wherein the central inflatable toroidal chamber, the upper inflatable toroidal chamber, the first plurality of inflatable shafts, and the first plurality of pieces of air-impermeable fabric form a first truncated cone when in inflated state, wherein the central inflatable toroidal chamber, the lower inflatable toroidal chamber, the second plurality of inflatable shafts, and the second plurality of pieces of air-impermeable fabric form a second truncated cone when in inflated state, wherein the second membrane forms a base of the second truncated cone, wherein the first truncated cone is inverted relative to the second truncated cone and shares a common base with the second truncated cone, such that all the inflatable elements, in an inflated state, form a generally hourglass shape.